Game of destiny

"But I have some questions. In that movie, they said that some of the events were based on a true story. So is it true?" She looked at Victor while trying to find the answer.

Victor: "Yeah, some of the things were in fact true but the movie spiced it up and made it sound like a horror mystery. I mean, yeah... Cassandra did disappeared from her grave after the incident but that doesn't mean she was kidnapped by a creepy monster like they showed in the movie." He laughed by remembering the movie scene. The monster was really funny looking.

Anastasia got excited. "Does that mean, Cassandra is still alive?"

Victor: "Yes she is."

Anastasia: "Oh my god! So do you love her like they showed in the movie?"

Victor got awkward. "Umm.."

Anastasia felt guilty for asking this. She covered her mouth. "I am sorry, did I make you awkward? I should have never asked about this. I am so stupid." She blamed herself.

Victor: "It's not like that... Me and Cassandra were just friends, nothing more."

Anastasia got confused. "But I thought she was your fiance? Wikipedia shows that only."

Victor: "She was my fiance but not anymore..."

Anastasia: "Ohh... So if there was no love story and no monster then how did you died?"

Victor: "I died because of love." He said while thinking of someone.

Anastasia became confused "If you didn't loved Cassandra then who..." Her eyes turned big with shock. "There was someone else!?"

Victor got up from the bench he was sitting on. "It's already late. I need to go to work." He didn't wanted to reply.

Anastasia: "You can't just run away without answering my questions?"

Victor: "I am sorry kid. but I need to leave." He decided to leave because he was very late for his work, but then Anastasia said something that made him stop.

Anastasia: "Uncle Victor please tell me." She really wanted to know who his lover was.

Victor was stunned when he heard her call him uncle. "What did you call me?"

Anastasia: "I am sorry. Can I call you that?" She don't know why she said it.

Victor nodded. "Sure." He thought about something and then he remembered.."Yeah... I forgot to give you this" Magically a grimoire appeared in his hand. He then handed it to Anastasia.

Anastasia took it from his hands. "What is this?"

Victor: "This is my sister's grimoire. She was also a resurrector, just like you. That's why I thought I should give it to you. There are many spells inside it so please learn them. It might be useful for you in the future." After that, he heard cackles of woodpeckers from the sky. That means Cassandra was calling him.

Victor: "I should go. Take care of yourself. If you need to call me then cast a spell that is written in the book. I will be there for your aid.'

Anastasia nodded. "Thanks."

Victor disappeared right after saying that.

Now Anastasia was alone in the park. She took both the books in her hand and kept staring at them.

Maybe by reading those books, she can learn a few things about her power.

She heard her phone vibrating and noticed that poppy was calling her for the past few hours but she didn't noticed it.

She dialed her number and called her back. "Poppy why did you called? What happened?"

In return, she heard a loud scream from the other side. "COME HOME FAST!!!" Her eardrum broked by hearing poppy's voice.

After that, poppy got disconnected from the call.

Looks like Anastasia needs to go home and check what exactly happened to her.

***

When Anastasia arrived home. She saw poppy waiting for her while putting her hand on her waist. She looked very annoyed.

Anastasia got frustrated. "Now what!? What did I do!?"

Poppy: "You have a boyfriend? And you didn't told me about him? How could you do this to me?" Poppy became emotional because she thought Anastasia tells her everything. but looks like it was not the case.

Anastasia got confused. "Huh!?" She looked at Emily so she could understand what exactly happened to poppy. But in return, Emily kept staring at her while smirking.

Emily: "You don't need to lie Anastasia. If you do have a boyfriend then there is nothing wrong with it. All you have to do is, just tell me his full name and I will do his background research myself."

Anastasia laughed while hearing their talks. "You both are freaking crazy. I know, I keep telling you guys that I am having an affair but that doesn't mean, I actually do... It was just a joke, get over it, you stupid people."

Poppy became defensive. "Then who was the guy you were with before? I saw you guys from the window."

Anastasia became silent. Looks like poppy saw Ezen. Now, what excuse is she supposed to give?

Anastasia: "Where is the proof?" She looked at Emily. "Emily, did you saw that guy?"

Emily shook her head in no. "No, i didn't. I only believed what poppy said." Her face turned sad because she really thought that she is finally going to meet her brother in law. but Anastasia ruined it all.

Poppy grasps. "That's not true, I do have a proof. I took a pic of you both, but my phone is broken that's why I can't show it to you."

Anastasia: "The law needs proof and if you don't have it then that means I am not guilty."

Poppy: "But we are not in a court."

Anastasia yelled. "Then why did you treated me like a criminal?" She sighed. "See, I am tired now. I am going to check on mom. And by the way, Aunt Charlotte is calling you that's why you can leave if you want."

Anastasia went towards Claudia's room to check on her illness but she heard poppy yelling.

Poppy: "Anna, you know that you lied."

Anastasia blew her a kiss. "If I am in love with someone then I am going to tell this to you first."

Poppy smiled "I bet you will!"

Emily rolled her eyes. What about her? Is Anastasia not going to tell her anything about her boyfriend? Even though she is the one Emily cares about the most.

Emily got mad and then she also screamed. "And what about your sister!? Are you not going to tell me anything?"

Anastasia stopped before going into the bedroom and giggled. "You know what? All of us will have a round table discussion about my love story. but first, let me find a man."

Emily nodded. "Make sense."

***

Anastasia entered Claudia's room while still chuckling.

She sat near Claudia and checked her temperature.

Now she was far better than before. Claudia looked peaceful while sleeping.

Yesterday night, Anastasia healed half of her wounds. That's why her face looked normal thab before.

When she thought about leaving. A woman with a brunette hair held her hand.

Claudia gently opened her eyes and kept staring at Anastasia like she wanted her to stay. 

She whispered slowly. "Stay..." She tried to get up but she couldn't do it because of being weak. That's why Anastasia helped her to sit on the bed.

Anastasia: "Mom! Be careful..."

Claudia kept staring at her daughter with utmost dept. Her head was paining very badly but by seeing Anastasia, it all disappeared.

She holded Anastasia's arm and ordered her to sit. "Calm down, I am alright." But suddenly her head felt heavy that's why she touched it.

Anastasia got anxious "Are you okay!?*

Claudia hidded her pain. "I am fine, it just..... What happened to me? For how many days have I been unconscious?"

Anastasia: "Do you really not remember anything?"

Claudia became confused. "No... Why? What happened?"

Anastasia sighed. "Two days before. You told us to visit grandma in Scotland. Do you remember that?"

After hearing about Scotland, Claudia became hyper. "What!? Scotland? Do you mean I told you guys to go in Stafford village? When?" Her head started to hurt. "Why can't I remember anything?"

Anastasia: "Mom calm down!"

Claudia held her hand. "Tell me you didn't went there. You didn't visited Stafford village. right?" She looked very scared that time.

Anastasia bitted her lower lip and nodded. "We did..."

After hearing that, Claudia closed her eyes tightly to stop tears to come out from it. She shook her head in no. "So... You met mom? What did she say?"

Anastasia said while looking straight into her eyes. "She wanted to see you. Why did you lose contacts with her?"

Claudia wiped her tears. Even she wanted to meet her mother but it was impossible. "You won't understand."

Tears started to form in Anastasia's eyes. "I think I do... You left the village because of me, right mom?"

Claudia because startled. She quickly went near her and wipped Anastasia's tears. "No love." She shook her head. "It is not because of you. I left the village because of me. It is not your fault."

Anastasia: "Don't lie, mom." Her voice cracked. "I know everything."

Claudia felt very anxious at the moment. She was feeling like she lost something. "What do you mean?"

Anastasia: "Grandma told me everything." She looked at her with her teary eyes. "I know that I am not your real daughter."

Claudia got mad after hearing this. "What did you said!? You are not my real daughter? Seriously?" She felt weird, the daughter she raised with her blood and sweat is now saying that she is not her real daughter.

Which mother would like to hear something like this?

Anastasia: "Mom, don't get me wrong. I didn't meant to say it like that." Her voice was shaking.

Claudia: "You believed that, Anna? I raised you, I loved you and did everything I could for you. Does that not make me your mother? Is the blood bond more important than emotions?"

Anastasia shook her head while crying. "No, it is not. I know it, that's why I tried to ignore it..."

Claudia: "But you couldn't. Right? I know that feeling. The whole village just kept talking that you were not my real daughter that's why I got sick of them. This is the reason why I left Stafford village."

Anastasia: "But what about grandma?"

Claudia: "I told her to come with me but she declined. I can't do anything about it."

Anastasia: "But mom! She misses you. Please call her. Now, even I know the truth so please don't be like that anymore. Please talk to her, atleast for me." She hugged her.

Claudia hugged her back and caressed her hair. "Fine, but tell me one thing. Did grandma told you anything else?"

Anastasia got confused. "No, Is she supposed to tell me anything?"

Claudia chuckled to hide it. "No, it is nothing." She sighed with relief.

Anastasia picked up Claudia's phone and dialed Isabelle's number on it and passed it to her. "Here you go." She was really excited.

But on the other end, Claudia was very nervous. It's been 17 years. She didn't know what she was going to say.

Anastasia decided to leave because she wanted them to talk privately.

Isabelle picked up the unknown call while being suspicious. "Hello? Who is this?"

After hearing her mother's voice after so long time. Claudia couldn't control her tears, that's why she started to cry.

Isabelle was feeling very weird. "Who is this!?"

Claudia: "Mom!? It's me."

Isabelle finally understood who it was. "Claudia!?" She begins to cry. "Oh my god! It's you. You finally called me back."

Claudia nodded. "Yeah.." her voice cracked up.

Isabelle: "Looks like Anastasia told you everything."

Claudia: "She did..." She looked down. "But I am happy... that you didn't told her anything about what happened on her 5th birthday." Her voice turned low. "I don't want her to blame herself."

Isabelle became sad. "I am not stupid to tell her that. But she could still get her memories back."

Claudia raised her eyebrows. "No, she can't. The bracelet Agnes gave her might have, wipped out her memories of that time. Right?"

Isabelle: "She took it off..." After that, the other side turned silent.

Claudia was shocked. "What!? But how!?" She begins to panic. "No, no-no-no. I don't want her to remember what happened that time. Mom do something!!"

Isabelle: "We can't do anything about it. It's the game of destiny. All we have to do is just protect her.... Keep her emotions in check. If she remembered what happened on her 5th birthday then this world will..." She stopped because she don't want to think about something like that.

Claudia bitted her lips while trying to not get emotional. "I'll try my best. But for that, I need you with me. Mom please, I miss you. I need your help."

Isabelle understood it but she can't do anything. "I know.... But I can't leave the village alone for a bit...." She closed her eyes. "But don't worry, if something bad happens then i will be there. I promise."

Claudia: "As you wish..."