Chapter 183: I am leaving soon
(Third POV)
"You're welcome," Alexis told Anastasia, adjusting the high collar of her dark blue dress to make sure it covered the bite marks on her neck.
The jade pendant felt warm against her throat as if cheering her on that she has done well. She turns to walk away. But before she could take more than a step, a familiar voice called out from the garden.
"Alexis!"
She turned to see Gwen waving at her from beside the lake, sitting on a bench near the statue of Norelle. Alexis walked over with a smile, truly glad to see some color had returned to Gwen's face instead of the paper-white, ashen features she'd seen on her since she arrived.
"Hi, Gwen," Alexis said warmly. "Hello to you guys, Iris and Ellis." She smiled at them all, not forgetting to ruffle the golden curls of the kids as they giggled and danced around her legs.
Alexis couldn't help but admire the beautiful eyes of the children. They were golden-green, absolutely fascinating. The color seemed to shift like precious stones in the morning light.
"Thank you, Alexis. Truly, I appreciate you for giving me another chance at life," Gwen said, and Alexis could feel the genuine happiness coming from her eyes.
"I am glad I could help," Alexis replied, though she found herself continuing to explain. "I should have done that from the very beginning. It just didn't occur to me it would help, and my internal flame has always been such a part of me."
Alexis didn't know why she was explaining herself, but deep down in her heart, she did know. She had been scared, worried when the idea came to her at first.
She had been scared of losing her golden ticket, so she felt guilty, for chosing herself over Gwen. That's why she was explaining herself now.
"Mama, mama!" Ellis interrupted, tugging on his mother's dress. "Look what I found!" He held up a shiny pebble from the lake shore.
"That's beautiful, sweetheart," Gwen said, taking the pebble and examining it with exaggerated interest. "It's almost as pretty as your eyes." Alexis couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. It was a first seeing Gwen play with the kids.
"Can I keep it?" Ellis asked, bouncing on his toes.
"Of course you can," Gwen laughed.
Iris, not to be outdone, ran over with a handful of flower petals. "Princess Alexis, are these magic flowers?" she asked, her golden-green eyes wide with wonder.
"They might be," Alexis said, kneeling down despite the soreness in her thighs. "What do you think makes them magic?"
"They smell really good!" Iris declared, shoving the petals under Alexis's nose.
"And they're pretty colors!" Ellis added, abandoning his pebble to grab some petals too.
"You're both right," Alexis agreed. "Sometimes the most beautiful things are the most magical."
Gwen smiled at her children's enthusiasm, then looked back at Alexis with understanding in her eyes. She could see the guilt in the eyes of Alexis.
"It's alright, Alexis," she said softly. "Thank you for looking at me and thinking I deserve a second chance at life."
"Mama, why was you sick?" Ellis asked suddenly, his little face scrunched up with concern.
Gwen's expression grew tender as she pulled her son closer. "Sometimes people get very sick, baby. But Princess Alexis helped make me better."
"Like magic?" Iris asked, her eyes lighting up.
"Exactly like magic," Gwen confirmed.
"Can you teach us magic, Princess?" both children asked at the same time, making Alexis laugh despite the heaviness in her heart.
"Maybe someday," she said, though she knew she might not get the chance. Plus, these kids were the center core of magic themselves. They don't need magic, it was magic that needed them. Alexis smiled at her inner thoughts.
The children started chasing each other around the bench, their laughter filling the air. Gwen watched them with such love and relief that it made Alexis's chest tight with emotion.
"They almost lost me," Gwen said quietly, so only Alexis could hear. "I can see it in eyes of everyone sometimes, that fear. But you gave us all a second chance."
"Everyone deserves that," Alexis replied, thinking of her own situation. Of the choices she was about to make.
"Will you be staying much longer?" Gwen asked, something knowing in her expression. "The children have grown quite fond of you."
"Actually, I need to speak with Ava about some travel plans," Alexis said carefully. "I may be leaving soon."
"Princess, no!" Iris cried out, having overheard. "You can't leave! Who will tell us about magic?"
"And who will make mama smile?" Ellis added, making both women's hearts clench.
"I'll try to come back," Alexis promised, though the words felt hollow. "But sometimes we have to go places to help other people too."
"Like being a real princess?" Iris asked solemnly.
"Exactly like being a real princess," Alexis confirmed.
Gwen reached out and squeezed Alexis's hand. "Sometimes we have to leave to find what we're really looking for," she said softly. "Just remember that you always have a place here if you need it. Ava will never mind at all."
"Thank you," Alexis whispered, touched by the woman's understanding.
"Promise you'll come back?" Ellis asked, wrapping his small arms around Alexis's legs.
"I promise I'll try my very best," Alexis said, ruffling his golden curls one more time.
"That's all anyone can do," Gwen said with a sad but understanding smile.
Alexis waved goodbye to the small family, her heart heavy as she walked toward the eastern tower. The children's laughter followed her for a few steps before fading into the general sounds of the castle coming to life.
She climbed the stone steps slowly, her body still aching from the night before. Every step reminded her of Lucien, and it pushed her on, to do it. Meet with Ava.
Tell her she is leaving and won't be coming back. for awhile although, she will provide everything needed to look search for Drogon and his highness.
At the top of the castle, she could hear Ava's voice through the thick wooden door, speaking with someone about supply routes and safe passages. Always working, always thinking of others before herself.
Alexis took a deep breath, her hand moving instinctively to touch the pendant one more time. She was about to change everything, leave this safe haven, return to her people and her duties, and then chase after a vampire who had turned her world upside down.
Some people would call her plan crazy. Dangerous. Stupid.
But after feeling truly alive for the first time in years, how could she go back to merely existing? How could she marry Milkalo and pretend to be happy when every cell in her body craved someone else's touch?
She raised her hand to knock on the door, ready to set her new life in motion.
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