Fearies

She gasped in wonder when Mina asked her to open her eyes.

-"To think that a place so enchanting could exist in a battle-hardened fortress like this one."

The lush grass reflected different colors of green, blue, and white with melting snow. The trees of silver trunks hung with ice that shone in the sun looking like clear crystals. She heard the sound of rushing water. There was a step waterfall that flowed into a large pond with steam rising in the air creating a mist around the place. The place was surrounded by ancient grey walls that were engraved with ancient syllables and seams. The place was warm and welcoming. She also spotted flowers growing at one close end.

Datura and Demons Orchid grew. She was careful to not get near them fearing any poisonous reaction to them. Many other gothic flowers found their home in the garden.

-"It's warm in here." she felt her cheeks flush feeling the warmth of the hot spring. The foot of the walls were covered with moss.

Mina grabbed Luciana's hand and led her through the droopy branches of the willow trees.

"Milady will want to see my little secret." she insisted.

After walking through the curtain of willow branches she saw plants. Species she was known to and those that remained unknown to her knowledge. She heard the laughter of a child.

"Mina... This is... "

"This is my little garden milady," she said in excitement.

"Not even Derran knows of this place. I always ask Big Brother to buy me plants. Only Master and Big Brother know of this place."

"And me too!" Ahriman grinned.

"You stalked me all the way here. That's why you know this place," she growled as if to gauge his eyes for sinning.

"Milady please save me. I was wrong to like her." he stood behind Luciana as if to protect himself from Mina's wrath.

"The feeling is mutual!" she snapped at him.

"She likes Ciaran milady," he whispered to Luciana.

"Ciaran?" She asked.

"He's on a mission with the lord," he explained.

"I'm afraid I don't recall." Luciana shook her head when Mina rebuked him.

"Don't get close to the lady!" she pushed him back so he maintained his distance from her.

Meanwhile, Luciana let Mina continue with her bickering and observed the flowers. There were not just flowers growing but different herbs. Very few of which she studied back home in her mother's diary that she entrusted to her.

A disturbing thought mingled with her mind.

-"Had she predicted what was going to become of me? For me to become a demon's bride?"

She was lost in thought when Nemesis who had been fast asleep in her arms fidgeted.

"Mina hold Nemesis for me," she called for the young maid.

"Ah! Coming milady." she instantly stopped her bickering and hurried towards Luciana to hold the child.

Ahriman was finally allowed to be relieved from her constant argument.

She was glad that Nemesis had gone to sleep. Or he would've started whining and wouldn't let go of her.

She returned to observe the plants.

There were spider lilies, blue and red. A few were violet and purple. She noticed the pattern of the growing flowers.

"This pattern..." she winced studying the blooming flowers. The dullest grew at the center while the brightest bloomed outwardly with the herbs of certain species growing in between them.

She suddenly heard a soft touch on her cheek. She didn't pay much attention waving it off as the wind's doing.

Something brushed against her again. This time she heard a small high-pitched laugh.

Turned her head to see who was beside her.

She found no one.

-"My mind must be playing tricks on me."

She turned back when she found an odd-looking creature in front of her startling her to back away instinctively.

She got up as it vanished again.

"What's wrong milady?" Mina came up behind her.

"I-I... There was something around here," she muttered looking around for it.

"Was there something troubling you milady?"

Ahriman joined them out of concern.

Suddenly Nemesis who was asleep started to cry startling them.

Mina tried to calm him down but failed to do so. Luciana took him in her arms and started humming a lullaby for him. He stopped crying and went back to sleep. They let out a sigh of relief as she patted him gently on his back.

A small creature appeared in front of them.

It was small and could fit in a palm. It had skin darker than coal and fire burned from sockets and head in place of hair and eyes.

They had deformed legs. Sharp pair of canines up and down.

"Fearie. " Mina said annoyed.

"Fearie? " Luciana recalled being told about them.

"They like inducing children with fear in their sleep. It's no wonder why the young master started to cry suddenly." Ahriman explained.

"But they usually don't appear in front of anyone unless they find someone to their liking. They can also be loyal to them."

It circled them and then alighted where Nemesis slept. Luciana tried to wave it away from the sleeping child when Mina cautioned her to not provoke them.

"Milady, I understand your concern about them but they will only grow more irritated and will pick on you."

"With their size?"

"Unfortunately they attack in groups. There may be one right now but others hide and watch what this one is doing."

"Oh!"

"It's best to remain on their good side by being patient."

She heard the little one speaking in a language she did not know.

"It's the ancient language they speak milady," she told her as they watched Ahriman talk with it.

"Does he understand them?"

"He has a knack for learning languages," she replied.

"Brother was fond of reading books so he used to join him."

"Milady this little one says that it liked your song," he called out to her.

"It has grown fond of the young lord as well."

She didn't understand why would they become fond of Nemesis.

She clutched the sleeping child more tightly.

"What makes them like him?" she asked.

He asked the fearie her question and translated the words back to her.

"The young master's eyes have a rare color. It matches their fire."

"Milady it's a good sign," Mina informed her excitedly.

Luciana could not figure out why it was a good sign.

"M-Mina I don't understand."

"They can be loyal to you or the young master. They won't hurt you."

"T-then that a relief." she was famished as the midday approached them.

"Ser, Could you please escort me back? It seems my child is hungry." she noticed that Nemesis woke up.

"Mina let's come here another time." she thanked her for showing her a mystical place that changed her opinions about this place.

"Milady, the fall brings beauty to the trees. There are red leaves right before winter comes. But you'll be able to see them come next fall."

Luciana smiled and nodded lightly. But in the back of her, mind something else was more concerning to her.

-"Only if I stay here till then."