Story: Chapter 1 (Part 1-updated)

A/N (update): Hi guys! I changed this part of the chapter a LOT so you have to re-read it. If you haven't, just read on. I might have to change the 2nd part of the chapter to 3rd part or 4th part because I find the 1st part quite long. So, all the more reason you have to read again. I'm sorry guys!! Hope you enjoy!

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~Camille POV~


My eyes widened for the first time. In front of me is the most beautiful scene; mountains with snow-covered peaks and the forest that seems to grow taller every time I blink. It was magnificent! I ran along the path that has been dug out by the servants this morning while covering my face with my shawl. Well, they aren’t actually my ‘servants’. They’re just a group of people from the village assigned to watch over me and my parents.

As I slow down my pace, I remembered the things that I overheard from the servants these last few days. Of course they’re just rumours but for some unknown reason—even unknown to me, I have to confirm it no matter what. I stopped to take a breath and in front of me a village tower stood mightily where it holds a huge silver bell. According to my mother, it is used for informing the villagers of incoming danger or to announce the arrival of important guests although I never hear it ring.


It reminded me of the small bell at home which instead is used for signalling mealtimes. Mother would go ballistic if she founds out that I ran away. I did not run away from my luxurious home because I felt it’s like a prison for me (although I do feel like that at times). I ran away because today I woke up, feeling something was going to happen in the village today that I want--need to take part in.
Although I doubt the villagers would let it. Why? To the villagers, black hair and golden eyes are bad omens, so to get rid of these ‘bad omens’ which includes me and my father, they burned out our old house to drive us away from the village. Of course, it worked but as the village elder’s daughter, my mother put a stop to this.

The villagers think that my mother is insane for marrying my father when she already has a fiancé. Even though the villagers are reluctant to follow my mother’s orders, they agreed to let us build a home far away from the village under the supervision of a few trusted villagers. I was only three years old then.

Even though I’m happy to be far away from the village, I still have one question; why were the villagers so against black hair and golden eyes? I tried asking my father but he just shrug it off and quickly change the topic. It was really strange because whenever I asked him questions, he always tried to answer them. I shook my head to make myself concentrate on the problem that I have to face now; how to get in to the village without being noticed.

“Excuse me, miss!” a voice said behind me. I pulled my hood lower to my hide my face. I turned around and saw an old lady covered in a black cloak, limping towards me. “Miss, can you tell me the way to the village hall? I’m new a traveled here from another village”, she asked. Then suddenly, an idea popped into my head. I can pretend to be this old lady's granddaughter! I thought the plan was brilliant because the villagers love travellers and welcome them as if they're equally important to the queen. The downside of it is probably my facial features but I can hide my face with just my hood and shawl.
 “Of course. I’m on my way there myself”, I smiled and took the old lady’s elderly hand and lead her to the village hall. “Oh dear, you don’t need to bother yourself. I can still walk just fine”, she said, a bit surprised at my sudden gesture.

“Oh no. I don’t want to tire you since you have travelled a long way to come to this village”

"But, it will be a bother to you, child"

"Yes, but I like to be bothered and I can let you stay overnight at my house. It's dangerous at night."

"...then, I must return your help"

"Oh? Like how?" I smiled, knowing that the old lady was falling for my trap. "Oh, perhaps letting me do the chores?" she suggested. "The servants can do that but..." I paused, pretend to think. "I know! You can pretend to be my grandmother for the day! Imagine what funny faces when the villagers realised that you're actually not her!" I laughed.
"Oh dear. I shouldn't encourage you but it does sound rather amusing. Alright, I will act as your grandmother for today but I need to go to the village hall first", agreed the old lady. "Very well, let's go then. My name is Camille", I said, thinking that I should tell her my first name only to be safe. "Septima Cora Achillea is my given name but you can call me Septima or Grandma if you like", she chuckled and I laughed at the joke. 

When we arrived outside of the village hall, a guard blocked my way. "This hall is restricted for little children", the guard said in a bellowing voice while looking at me. I was about to say that I'm not a child anymore and that I just turned thirteen but Septima stepped in first. "Hello", she said coolly. "Hello. I've never seen you around before, are you a traveller?" the guard asked. The atmosphere seem to become much friendlier than before so I kept my mouth shut.

"Oh, why yes! We came from another village. This is my...granddaughter, Cammie", Septima hesitated a bit but the guard doesn't seem to notice. "A traveller eh? Are you perhaps from...?" I stopped listening to their conversation because I'm worried about the villagers that passed by behind us. Some looked at my direction but I looked down to avoid any eye contact.

"Well, I should let you and your granddaughter in now but it's going to be hard to find anywhere to sit", I heard the guard say. "Oh, it's alright as long we can get in there", Septima said as she smiled. "Very well then", the guard said as he opened the door to the village hall. "Thank you", Septima and I both chimed.

I winced at the sight of the villagers arguing in the village hall. Seeing that scene, I remembered the angry faces that the villagers made when they burnt our house. I gripped the old lady’s hand, afraid that I will lose her. It’s kind of scary to be the only child present there, surrounded by adults arguing about the current happenings in the village. “Politics”, Father would say.

“Shall we sit down?” Septima asked. I smiled to let her know we can. We found a seat at a small bench behind the village elder. It was the only space left in the entire room.

“We must not let this continue!”

“Capture them!”

“They’re the cause of these murders!”

I was confused. “What are they talking about?” I asked Septima. “Oh, you didn’t hear, child?” she looked at me, genuinely confused. “No, apparently not”, I replied. For two weeks, I’ve been locked up by my parents in my bedroom and not a word came to me except the rumours about a beast.
This ‘beast’ is supposedly peaceful but it just attacked and killed the villagers for no reason. Some died tried to kill the beast or defend their families. So I heard.

The elder, my grandfather stood up and everyone fell silent. “We shall not accuse them blindly on a groundless basis that they have black hair and golden eyes. We need to investigate thoroughly the true cause behind the beast’s attacks”, he said followed by an uproar from the villagers.

One man, a tall and sturdy man in his thirties, stood up. “Excuse me for my rudeness, Elder but aren’t you being unfair to us? We have been dealing with many problems ever since your daughter had a child with that cursed man!” he literally spat out the last part with so much anger and hatred that I could feel the hairs standing on the back of my head. Once again, the villagers were in an uproar.

“Don’t forget that you used to be my daughter’s fiancé, Gregory. My daughter would certainly hate me if I were to drive you away from the village. In fact, the whole village would turn against me if I were to do that”, my grandfather said while glaring at Gregory. Gregory glared back. When Grandpa revealed that Gregory used to be my mother’s fiancé, I was shocked. How can Mother used to love this vengeful man? ‘But I shouldn’t judge him. Mother mentioned that sometimes love can hurt someone unintentionally’, I thought.

I sighed because all this commotion prevented me from finding my parents. Even though I can’t see them, I know they’re hiding somewhere in the hall. I know that whenever my grandfather calls for a meeting in the village hall, they would go but with a disguise. They always do because they do not want to be chased out by the villagers again.

“What’s wrong, child?” asked Septima when she saw me intently looking at the crowd of the villagers. “Oh. It’s nothing. I’m…just looking for my parents”, I said as I focus my attention to the old lady. “Are they in there?” she asked as she extends her bony finger at the crowd. “I’m not sure”, I replied, looking a bit down. “Say, do you know where to look for your parents?” she asked, smiling. I stared at her and for some reason; I find her face vaguely familiar. “Forgive me if I were to sound that I’m intruding your personal business, but what is your purpose for coming here and why at this time?” I asked, choosing my words carefully. She did not reply but kept on smiling.

Then, I saw a familiar figure on the doorway. Her back was facing me but I instantly recognised that it was my mother. I ran towards her while avoiding the people thrashing one another. When I was about to hug her, I fell straight into a pile of snow. ‘What? What just happened?’ I thought as I struggled out of the snow. I looked around and saw that Mother was gone.

BANG! CRASH!

“What was that?” I said to myself. I walked cautiously towards the entrance of the village hall then I glanced inside. To my horror, I saw Grandpa beaten up by three men while the villagers around them cheering. A female figure—one that’s very familiar, raised her hand and all the villagers stopped cheering and looked at her. I couldn’t believe it! It was Septima!

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A/N: Comment please!! ^^ 2nd part of the chapter is coming right up!