Constance's scream bounced from the walls of the cave for several seconds before fading away into the silence again. In her panic, the eldest Merryweather had pushed her sister back. Constance stood face to face with a hooded woman. Despite being terrified she felt a strange sense of déjà vu towards the strange woman. Constance was certain she had seen her before but could not place where or when.
The woman removed her hood fully and it showed her golden matted hair. Despite her wild appearance the wide smile she sent was warm and inviting which seemed to help Constance relax by a small amount. She had concluded that this woman was of no real danger to herself or her sister yet she was not entirely at ease either. Maria stepped forward to break the awkward silence despite the tug on her sleeve from Constance. "Who are you?" she asked firmly yet received no answer, just a small smile and a signal to follow her through what looked to be a tunnel.
"She looks just like the lady in the painting outside our rooms." The younger Merryweather said lowly. Once Constance had heard what Maria had whispered the realisation hit. She could now recall why the woman seemed so familiar. Before the elder Merryweather could say anything in return the pair heard the strange lady softly call out to them. "Come along." Those two words were all she said before vanishing behind one of the large cave walls.
Constance did not want to go in there but it would seem her sister had other ideas. "Maria, will you please stop wandering off all the time." Constance was not surprised when she was ignored, it was a frequent thing that happened to her. The consequences of Maria's actions never fell upon her. No, poor Constance had to deal with everything. Once again, the older girl tailed glumly behind making sure to be an arm's length away at all times.
Maria stopped suddenly due to the strange sight before her and to make things stranger her sister was peering over her shoulder trying to get a better look. "Won't you move forward Maria? I do not particularly like being in the darkness of a cave." The younger girl did as her sister requested and now, they both stood in the open doorway which allowed them to take in the sight before them. "Oh, do come in!" The unnamed woman called to the pair as she set her cloak down on a branch that seemed to form a natural hanger.
With her cape removed Constance was able to take in the crimson red gown that she wore. The overall look was simple. Much like the place she appeared to call home, the dress the woman wore seemed to be taken over by nature itself. The sleeves looked like cobwebs and the lines across the bodice looked like gashes where the fabric had been torn but at a closer glance, it was just vines.
The two Merryweathers awkwardly walked into the room unsure of where to go. Maria was exceptionally nosey and did not even attempt to hide it. She was poking her nose around wherever she could. Her eyes trailed the walls to see what mysteries hung there. Constance on the other hand was a different case. She could not quite get over the fact that they were in a strange lady's house... in a cave... in a forest. As always Constance followed Maria sheepishly around and both girls noticed the same thing at exactly the same moment. The exact moonlight grey dress which had been left for the elder of the Merryweather girls on her first morning lay neatly folded on the large chest which sat at the end of the woman's bed.
Constance felt her stomach drop. "I don't like this one bit Maria. We need to leave." She whispered and for once her sister nodded in agreement. They took the opportunity to escape while the woman's back was turned. Despite being overly quiet they were still caught. "Oh no, please don't leave. I'm sorry if I frightened you!" The siblings froze only a few steps from the narrow doorframe. "Are you the L on the dresses that randomly show up in our rooms?" Constance asked and the woman nodded as she lowered down into an armchair. "My name is Loveday."
"How do you keep getting into our home?" Maria questioned. It seemed Loveday was hesitant to answer and as much as she willed herself to speak, nothing could escape her lips. "I need to show you both something." Not a moment longer did she stay in that chair. She was immediately on her feet and sauntered towards a large mirror hanging on the wall roughly in the centre of the room.
The two girls stood firm in their place but she waved them over which led the pair to cautiously making their way over. Loveday positioned the girl's side by side in front of the ornate mirror, which hung over the fireplace, and she then stood behind them holding her right hand up. Her eyes were wide. Her soft smile turned to a firm line. And her gaze focused on their reflection. "Geranium's wither and die. Rosemary cures the shivers. Our time is nearing its end my dears. The moon shall not allow us forever."
Constance felt as though she was being transported through the glass of the mirror into another reality. A picture began to form before her very eyes. At first, she was gazing at her own startled expression but then her face gradually began to fade and the moon was in front of her instead. Its sheer size was terrifying enough but then, as if gravity had brought the moon down to the face of the earth, it unleashed a mighty power that spread across the valley destroying anything that stood in its vengeful path.
The vision then changed. It was as if she were high in the clouds looking down at the familiar landmarks. They were the same ones which she had caught herself lost in thought gazing at in her window seat. The Merryweather manor gardens reflected a bright orange hue from the moon once it had reached its point of contact. The light reached her within seconds but she could not react. She had to watch it target her and was sure that she could feel the oppressive heat emitting from the vision. Constance had no option but to let the light encircle her body.
But, she never felt anything. It was as if she was never there because now she stood in what looked to be an underground tunnel with torches. But then she blinked and the scenery changed again. Now she was in what seemed to be an ancient bedroom. Then she blinked again, this time transported to Merryweather beach. At first, Constance felt a sense of peace but then a large wave, which held no intention of crashing against the sandy shore, edged closer and closer and refused to stop climbing. Constance wanted to run but her feet were stuck to the floor. Her whole body froze and she was unable to close her eyes, scream for help, raise her hands to cover her eyes... but nothing, she was frozen in place. Within mere seconds the wave engulfed her into a cold darkness leaving her feeling like no air could reach her lungs. "Constance..." She tried to gasp but nothing was happening. "Constance!" She tried to scream but once again nothing happened.
"Constance!" The traumatic vision subsided and the eldest Merryweather caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror before collapsing to her knees in shock. Loveday was quick to react and joined the girl on the floor. She placed her hands on the trembling girl's shoulders and asked "What did you see?" In a desperate attempt to understand. "I-I... No! It does not matter, we have to leave Maria!" Constance rose from her kneeling position frantically and desperately searched the room for her misplaced luggage before being stopped by Loveday. "No, no, no no! Please, forgive me. I'm sorry that I frightened you! You see I'm not used to visitors and I do hope that we can be friends."
Constance took in a shaky breath and looked at her sister who was exceptionally calm. Loveday extended her arms and each girl took hold of one of her hands. Her soft reassuring smile soon turned to a glum one. "It's no use you know? Trying to escape. Your father, he tried to run away too but there is nowhere to hide. He sent you both here because he loved you and because Moonacre is where you belong. You are stronger than either of you could possibly imagine and your father knew it too. If anyone is destined for breaking the curse over this valley it's the two of you."
Loveday's words led to mixed emotions to be felt by both Merryweather sisters. Hearing their father had once done the same in order to escape the fate the valley is predicted was eye-opening. He too was scared. But he believed in them both and despite him not being able to say it to them himself, Loveday made them realise that they already knew he was proud. "Come along, let us get some fresh air." The pair heard their new acquaintance say. She did not wait for a reply instead, she walked towards the door immediately.
The Merryweather siblings followed her tracks. Around the small cave tunnel, into the open grassland and then up a rocky hillside. By the time they had all reached the top all of them were panting from the incline. The three women sat beside one another overlooking the beautiful green of the valley in order to catch their breath.
The suns rays were peaking through the gaps within the leaves of the trees and as they kissed Constance's skin, she felt the warmth radiate through her body. She closed her eyes hearing the birds singing. Every breath she took was welcomed as its freshness was a wonderful thing for her lungs to embrace. Her eyes opened once again when she heard Loveday speak. "We are all the same. Except..." Loveday looked deeply into Constance's eyes and the eldest Merryweather could not decipher the emotions within them. Maria questioned Loveday which allowed her to regain her train of thought. "Except where I failed you both may succeed."
"What about our uncle, Sir Benjamin, can't he help?" Maria asked naively. Constance knew first hand that he could not. He would not have displayed such distress and panic in her presence otherwise. The mention of their uncle seemed to be a sensitive topic for their new friend and for the first time she raised her voice. "Never, ever mention that man to me again. Do you understand?" Maria did not like being scolded by her own family let alone someone she had just met. Instead of apologising she just tilted her head down. "Your past is behind you and your future awaits, if you want it. It is your turn to decide." Loveday continued.
Constance decided to speak up to relieve the pressure that was put upon her sister. "We want to help. We are just unsure of where to begin." Loveday turned to face the eldest girl. She knew the tale. And she knew the risks that doing this would put upon her, but they had to try. "You must find the string of pearls, nobody knows where they are. Each family blames the other for taking them."
Constance thought carefully of the situation and still believed that both families are accountable for the curse and it seemed Maria was too as she recalled the story aloud. "The De Noirs took the casket and we must have the key." Maria seemed to be deep in thought as she muttered something to herself again before swiftly turning to where her bag sat. Constance rolled her eyes when she saw the book that was the source of all of her troubles. "You brought it with you?" She asked her sister irritably. "Well I couldn't leave it behind, father gave it to us. Anyway, hush for a moment I'm looking for something." Of course, she was right but that didn't make Constance feel any better.
Seconds later Maria turned back to face Loveday and her sister with a small, golden strangely shaped key in her hand. "The key! We have to go to the castle! You'll have to take us there, Loveday." she declared with a smile plastered across her face. "Where?" the lady asked with confusion laced in her tone. "To the De Noirs, you have to take us to where they live."
This not only took Loveday by surprise but Constance as well. There were many reasons why this was a very bad idea. Number one, her uncle had warned them both already about how the De Noir clan and their followers were bandits and plunderers. They did not even need to rely on his words as they had experienced it multiple times themselves. Secondly, she did not fancy bumping into a certain De Noir boy. That would mean endless conversations of her sister asking questions once again and Constance was not feeling up to that.
Loveday was hesitant but after Maria's constant persistence she gave in. Constance did not fancy lugging her heavy bag with her and nor was she going to allow her sister to do that either. Loveday kindly suggested that they could search for the pearls and then return with her to fetch their things which the two Merryweather graciously agreed to.
The walk to the De Noir castle was long. The sun was no longer shinning. Dark clouds loomed over them which created an eerie environment. The forest was becoming darker by the minute leaving Constance to feel uneasy. Maria was excited as she believed this outing to be an adventure. Despite not knowing where she was going Maria took charge of leading their party only turning when instructed by Loveday.
Constance was in the middle of her sister and Loveday. She did not like the thought of being at the back which was no doubt due to the fact that Robin had snuck up on her that dreadful day Maria had displayed an astounding temper tantrum.
Constance's gaze lifted from the floor when she heard the crunching of leaves quicken and get loader. The eldest Merryweather saw her sister running several metres ahead looking at something before turning around to reveal her smile. "There it is! Look! We've made it!" Constance shushed her sister. "Do you want the bandits to come charging at us from all corners just because of your excitable screaming?" Maria shook her head. "Well then, keep your voice low will you."
Maria then focused her line of sight on the woman trailing behind her sister. Her head was hung low and she was muttering something that neither of the Merryweather girls could understand. "Loveday, are you alright?" Maria asked with concern leading the woman to look up with distress clearly displayed across her usually soft features and her chest rising unevenly due to her laboured breathing. "I'm sorry, I can never go back there!"
Constance's eyes widened when Loveday turned and darted down the slope they had just climbed. Not wanting to be alone in the forest she felt her feet move for her. Constance however was no runner. She could not keep up with the woman. Maria called her name countless times but neither girl was successful in stopping her.
Maria and her sister stood beside each other unsure of what to do. "We can't just turn back now Constance." The eldest sibling sighed. "No matter how much I try and deter you, you are still going to walk to that stone structure aren't you?" Maria nodded and sarcastically said. "Of course!"
"Well, we better get going then..."
Meanwhile, at Merryweather Manor Sir Benjamin and Miss Heliotrope were in the entrance sitting room. The governess sat on the armchair in a frenzy whilst the head of the house paced anxiously back and forth. "Where are those girls?" The middle-aged man questioned aloud. The woman who sat on his chair was a wreck and he found no use in engaging in conversation with her as all she would do is mutter or repeat his words.
Sir Benjamin decided to search their rooms to see if they left any notes regarding their whereabouts. Perhaps it was all a very big misunderstanding. How wrong he was.
He first search Maria's room and all he found was a messy room, typical of a teenager, and the Moonacre rabbit, which was still healing, resting on her bed. He checked the desk for any note but did not find one. If either of the two girls were to think of writing him a letter it would be the eldest so he strode up the stairs to her room.
Constance's room was the opposite of her sisters. Everything was tidy and looked after. Her bed was made and her shutters open allowing daylight to embrace her room. Sir Benjamin's eyes scanned the room eager to find any sort of sign that she might have left regarding her sister and her own whereabouts. Yet he found nothing.
However, his journey to the tallest point of the manor was not useless but, it was not fruitful either. Sir Benjamin's eyes locked on the pearl hairpiece which was missing a pearl. It still sat on Constance's dressing table. His heart dropped in his chest leaving him to feel sick.
He watched as a pearl, which was second in from the end, fall from the metal jewellery piece. His eyes closed tight to hold back any tears that threatened to fall from his eyes.
Where ever it was that she may be at that moment in time would be dangerous for herself and her sister.
The next stage of the curse was about to begin...
Fun fact, at this point of the story I am only 46 minutes into the movie. I have so much for you readers to enjoy in the next chapter. I honestly cannot wait! We are about to go on a rocky journey folks ekk! How is everyone finding it? I know, no Robin for a few chapters now but SPOILER next chapter we will get a special appearance!