The Bewitched Soul

The hall was a little small in size compared to the main hall. There was only a piano in the middle of the hall and a chair for the pianist alongside another.

Alexander walked straight towards the piano. He sat on the chair with his back straight, arms relaxed and straight in front of him. The hall was filled with silence except for the clock, which produced soft ticks periodically. He stared at the keys as if he was reading the notes within his mind. His slender fingers glided over the keys, hitting few keys which created a haphazard tune. Slowly, his fingers started pressing the keys randomly. The music seemed to fill the silent hall. Gradually the pace of the music increased, while the fingers danced on the keys smoothly. The tune was now more like a harsh one.

He kept pressing the keys continuously as if he was ranting his heart out. But then, suddenly he stopped. His head bends towards the keys, hair falling past his shut eyes, he breathed heavily.

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"You know how to play the piano! Can you teach me?" the same beautiful young lady in a pink gown asked Alexander.

"What do I get in return?" Alexander smirked, his eyes flashed a glint of mischief.

"Nothing," she answered boldly.

Hearing to her reply, he quickly scooped her in his arms and started walking towards the hall.

"What are you doing Alex? Let me down," she glared at him and struggled to get off him, but it was of no use. Her strength was a no match with his.

She then quickly buried her face in his chest to avoid looks from the maids, her hands circled around his neck. Looking at how adorable she looked, Alexander laughed. She was a dose of cuteness.

Both entered the hall adjacent to the main hall. He finally let her down.

She gazed at the piano in front of her, a small squeal escaped her lips. She immediately covered her mouth, not to embarrass herself more.

Alexander held her hand and started walking towards the piano.

He sat on the main chair and started gliding his fingers past the keys. Noticing that she still stood beside him,

"Come, sit beside me" he pulled the chair for her and gestured her to have her seat.

She obediently followed his orders.

He played a Largo, his fingers lazily hovered over the white keys. From the lazy tune, he swiftly changed it into an Andante, the pace slowly increased. Moderato, and in the end Allegro, his fingers danced sweetly yet fastly on the keys.

She admired how perfect this man was. The man in front of her held a great charm and was artistic.

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Alexander kept on playing the same tune, but all in Allegro. His fingers kept on pressing the keys hard, his moist eyes moved followed his fingers over the keys.

Hearing to the music, Julius came running towards the music hall. Upon reaching, he saw Alexander kept on pressing keys with no sign of stopping. The music was pleasant to hear, but only he knew what harsh reality was behind the melody.


"Lord Alexander" running towards him, Julius shouted.

All of a sudden, his fingers paused. The fingers slightly quivered.

"Lord Alexander, I- I-..." Julius trailed off, he didn't know what to say next.

After so many years he played this tune, but this time, it didn't sound fine.

Serving the Lords of the Brookville for centuries, he knew Alexander very well. As a small boy, he used to come, ask him to play with him. He used to give him company wherever the boy went. He was like his shadow, and he blended well with the shadow of the boy.

Alexander didn't speak, but his hollow stare at him was enough to give goosebumps.

"What happened, Milord?" Julius asked carefully, his eyes looked at him with much concern.

A long silence prevailed in the huge hall, they could hear the huge wall clock ticking along with the pendulum swinging.

"Find more about Margaret, daughter of Corbette," this one sentence from him was sufficient enough for Julius to understand.

"Yes, Milord. I shall give you the information real soon," he bowed.

"You may leave," Alexander stood up from his seat, took his coat and when striding towards the main door.

It was still tipping down. The wind was so strong that the heavy rain ends up falling horizontally instead of vertically.

Alexander stood there, raindrops splattered on his whole body.

After a while, he went straight to his room.

Changing into a new set of clothes after a nice shower, he went to sleep immediately.

This night would be a never-ending one for him.

Meanwhile, Margaret was busy cleaning her room.

Today was Christmas, a day well spent.

Thinking of all the things that happened today, she smiled.