8 The unpredictable lifetime

"Does that mean that I could have died later?"

"If you wouldn't have pushed yourself like a dumb cow then yes!" Angus rolled his green eyes in annoyance.

"From your death book I figured you would have died of either a cardiac arrest or a car accident." that made sense since Anna traveled a lot by car and a long history of heart problems ran down in the family. It still didn't make her feel any better thinking of a longer life.

"Can you read all people's death books?" asked Anna after she recollect herself.

"No. Only 3 universes since there's too many of you guys on each Earth. Only Griella knows all of them including some of God's deaths."

"Do I still have a blank page in my death book?" she didn't really know if she wanted to know this information, but her mouth got the best of her.

"I'm not sure." he shook his head.

"When we formed the contract I immediately left the library. I had no time to check."

"Huhn..." maybe it was for the better that she isn't aware of her death. Unpredictability was sometimes euphoric.

"Does anyone in my family also have a missing last page?"

"Yes, curiously your sister and father have one." disclosed the snake. His casual way of saying the important information off put Anna.

'I can see why my sister had a blank page. She didn't expect to die at the hands of Derick, but for father...it seemed suspicious.'

"Wait...my brother has a predicted date of death?" she didn't expect that considering her father didn't have one.

"Yes, if things progress this way, he will be poisoned and while struggling for his life he gets assassinated. Oh...and he dies when he is 11."

"What?" Anna's knife hit the floor.

"All your sister's wonderful plan." laughed the snake visibly amused by the turn of events.

"Why?" is that how badly she wanted the Crown? But she was to marry Dominik so the sensible thing was to leave the heir alive. Even so, if Aura killed the rightful heir to the throne she left a useless chess piece - Selda. With no magical core, nor being married meant that Selda would have either been accepted as the future Empress or that a battle for power would start, but the latter sounded more realistic. Why would Aura miss such a thing. Why let Selda live? She tried to drown Anna once so she would not hesitate to kill her that's for sure.

"I'm not sure, I can only see the death books not their life. I work for Griella not Ilfridus."

"Derick must have protected her then." concluded Anna. She picked the knife and distracted herself for a second by inspecting the cutlery. It was made of silver beautifully polished, accentuating it's magnificent patterns. But it was silver not gold. Since it fell on the floor, Anna had no intention of using it again, more of a reason for Anna to throw it away. The next moment she chucked it off the balcony into the Rose garden bellow.

The snake stopped eating the Marmelade sandwich and followed the knife with his gaze until it landed in a bush. He opened his mouth wanting to say something but soon closed it, while suspiciously casting a glance at Anna.

"At least try hitting someone next time." Angus sighed and his head shook in disapproval.

"Aha...So what do you want to do for the rest of the day?"

"This God has no interest in your sources of entertainment." he knew what was about to come. Despite Anna being a woman in her thirties, she still sometimes behaved as a child. In the morning she liked reading but in the afternoon she liked playing pranks on the people around her. It started of easy, with occasionally running to the kitchen and adding spices into Aura's food but soon Anna found herself on a slippery slope, adding more than just spices. Laxatives were a go for when she couldn't get her hands on a new idea.

The reason why the kitchen was now in chaos, was because of Anna and the poor diet of Aura was the benefit. If she can keep Aura contained into her room because she cannot digest food properly then that is a win for Anna.

"Oh come on!" laughed Anna.

"Someone is enthusiastically waiting to become my friend. How can I not welcome her?"

"Oh Lord! Not Alessia!" the snake shook his head fanatically.

"Why not? She was so sweet to me earlier. It would be a sin not to reciprocate the sentiment." Anna went towards the bed and called the bell. When Angus finally parted with the food, two maids came in and started cleaning. Anna stopped one in their tracks:

"Mielda go fetch me some soil fertiliser. Make sure is pure." the maid was about to agree when she froze looking at the floor. She blinked forcefully but was unable to construct a sentence.

"Hurry up!" Anna singled her to leave.

"Oh and bring an elastic as well. Make sure it's big." after which Anna sat on her bed. She took a children's book and began reading. Soon both maids have done their jobs and Anna was presented with a bowl of pure fertiliser and a sturdy elastic. When the maids eventually left, Anna ripped the book and formed cylinders with an open mouth. She stuck two together with a string from her knitting kit. After successfully creating six cones, she ran to her bathroom where oil laps were placed around the bathtub. The were there only for aesthetical purposes since the Palace and wealthy people used crystals as light source.

Chemistry was very primitive here, even worst that she thought it would be. They had no idea what an antibiotic was or how it was created, so Anna decided to keep that for herself. She planned making big money later in life, when she will manage to procure the equipment necessary.

In their defence, they didn't have the need to create any medicine because doctors here depended more on their powers than science itself. This overtime lead to corruption, and now doctors are rich individuals that are not worthy of Anna's respect. She read recently that a doctor makes around 30,000 Krites per year. That's more than a soldier, a respected career here on Earth, who makes a mere 2,000 Krites per year and that is considered a hefty sum.

"What are you making there?" the smell was pungent, that Angus opened the windows.

"Something fun." she laughed maliciously while mixing the oil together with the fertiliser.

"Just take this piece of advice from me." bored the snake gazed at Anna saying:

"She can detect people around her."

"Is that why she could spot me this morning?"

"Yes, her senses are highly superior to yours. She will know it was you that threw this...this dirt in her direction."

"Who said I'll be near her. Tell me. Did she see me this morning?"

"No. She cannot see you unless are not hidden. She can sense your heartbeat but not be able to see your face if that's what you are worried about."

"So she doesn't know that she offended the second Princess then?" smiled Anna and continued mixing the bowl's contents.

"Hoho! She doesn't know what awaits her then."

"Y-you...are a lost case." the snake stopped complaining and just sat on the bed watching her.

After about two hours of labour Anna brought the finished products onto the coffee table and placed them in the empty fruit basket. She cleaned the mess she created and hid the rubbish underneath her bed, planning to get rid of it later.

"Let's find our new friend." enthusiastically Anna rushed outside and asked where her mother was.

"She is in a meeting, Your Highness." replied a maid looking at the floor.

"Who is she meeting?" inquired Anna.

"Umm..."

"Say it!" Anna threatened the maid. She became terribly scared and bend her head further replying:

"Baroness Fanglad is attending the meeting, Your Highness."

'Great. That brat must be around the Palace then.'

"Carry on." said Anna and left the maid alone. After she left the maid collapses on the floor tears running her red cheeks. She really thought the young miss would complain about her behaviour and cause her to lose her life. Thank God she was not in a bad mood, thought the maid praising the Gods. Now that she thought the situation through, the young Princess seemed in high spirits...too happy. Is she up to no good again?

The maid immediately dismissed this thought as she was safe and that was all that matters.

She got up and rushed around to carry out her duty, she didn't want to die at the hands of the headmaid now that she survived the Princess.

Anna on the other hand was walking around the Palace to look for Alessia. After walking for more than fifteen minutes she gave up and asked Angus if he can sense her.

"I'm not telling you." refused the snake.

"Come on, she won't notice. I'll promise I won't get near her. Look pinky finger." the snake rolled his eyes and avoided her gaze. Truth be told he was curious to find out what Anna made, but didn't want to put himself in danger for it.

"Huff...she's on the training grounds."

"Great." said Anna walking towards the soldiers training place. She didn't walk outside but walked upstairs and entered a room with a balcony overlooking the training grounds. She locked the room after herself and tied the string between two stone feet. She stretched it to make sure it was secure and looked for the hazelhaired girl.

"Found you, friend."

"Can you at least tell me what you made there?" asked Angus.

"Dynamite." said Anna with a evil smile plastered on her face.