Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

I internally screamed when he said that but I just sighed and walked over to the scene, under the warm kiss of the sun, trying to look around if Polly was in sight, and she is. She gave me a determined smile and a nod that it made me chuckle. I started approaching the other gardeners to ask for a task.

I approached a group composed of three men and one woman, “Good morning to all of you,” I began and they turned to me with a small bow and a smile,

“My, another flower as graced the garden soil,” the woman noted as she looked at me and I swear if they don’t stop complimenting me I will melt. Why are they so nice?

I giggled as I curtsied in return, “Please, that’s too much, how can I help around?” I replied, and they paused and exchanged glances with wide eyes and even wider smiles,

“So it’s true, how wonderful to finally speak with you, my lady,” one of the men noted as he handed me what I would assume to be a water sprinkler,

“Indeed, I thought it was just another rumor, you sound exactly as I thought you’d be,” the other said as they started to disperse but keep within close to my vicinity, they were right in that sense, Pelomina's voice is kind of breathy and mellowed with faint voice cracks. Simply timid, which is expected when you haven't used your voice in years.

I hummed as I checked the contents of the water sprinkler. There seem to be some rocks inside. Is that by accident or are those rocks actually put there? There has to be no reason for rocks to be in here right? It must be an accident, but before I could reach in to get them out, I heard Lykus snicker in the distance.

“Please take this seriously, lady Pelomina, don’t play with the instruments,” he quipped.

‘Oh, my goodness is he ever going to mind his own beeswax?’

I shut my eyes and exhaled, the other gardener must’ve been used to this kind of scene because they only chuckled and waved at me to beckon me closer, I approached the lady and stood beside her as she pointed to another flower patch, “You should start in this area my lady, walk down this whole aisle, don’t water too much and don’t strain yourself, do you have questions, my lady?” the woman said,

I looked at the trail she was pointing out, almost mesmerized by the view, a floral pathway that almost goes on and on, filled with colorful flowers that I DO NOT KNOW THE NAME OF. Darn it! I should’ve studied more. What if they ask me about these? Apart from Polly, everyone probably thinks that the real Lady Pelomina adored flowers.

Honestly, I think that she really does like them… I mean, she had such intricate drawings and sketches of them. Maybe what happened that night was just a moment of weakness, or maybe she didn’t like how the flowers grew? There has to be something fishy that happened during that night.

I started watering the flowers as the gardener instructed, I still feel like they’re giving me menial tasks so they won’t strain my body, I would’ve been eager to prove them wrong but at least if I get to do light tasks, I could focus my energy on my next steps.

One of those is finding out an exit in this building, except for the main and most obvious entrances and exits, of course. I can’t just stride out of the castle and wave goodbye to the guards as I walk out with confidence.

The water was starting to run out so I had to lift the whole sprinkler higher, it’s not even that heavy but for some reason when I raised my arms. I felt a sharp pain in my chest and back. My joints ached like they were being bent the wrong way, but I made sure not to make a noise. That last thing I want now is for Lykus to hear me in pain, then go about spouting how I’m helpless and weak and all that. It's getting really old.

But even if I tried to walk further ahead, my ankles also started to ache sharply that it was hard to even just move them, I tried to breathe through the pain because that usually works for me but after a few deep breaths even breathing became so difficult that it feels like I’m not even breathing at all.

‘What is happening?’

It just happened all at once, no warning what so ever and I gasped for air as I fell to my knees, I could hear myself grunt and wheeze, and the image of people running in my direction became a blurring scene, I could make out Polly’s face filled with panic and fear as I continued to agonize with the intense pain. I’ve never felt anything like it that at that moment it made me want to die just so it would end.

I could feel myself getting carried, and the yelling got louder until the figures were no longer recognizable and only vague lights coming from every direction as all I could see, and slowly the bright light was slowly dimming from the corners, I’m starting to blank out and it only took minutes until I there was nothing apart from darkness.

Along with that, the pain also subsided, and I felt numb, like I was paralyzed unable to lift a finger, yet strangely enough, I feel awake. I was awake. I couldn’t hear or see anything, but after a while, I started to feel the rest of my body move.

And I walked…

As I threaded the darkness, the light started to seep out from the distance. It was like walking into a really long tunnel, a bright light, a tunnel… don’t tell me I died?

'AGAIN?'

The light was starting to get brighter, yet I still couldn’t make out what was on the other side of this tunnel-like vision; I looked at my hands and feet and they glimmered in the light. I could see the tattoo I had on my wrist that one time I got drunk—This is my real body!

I looked at my whole body as much as I could, and even my hair was back to normal, and my skin wasn’t as pale as Pelomina Vaustero’s there has to be something that happened, did I finally get back to my real body? Am I back to being Pelomina Capiz and not Pelomina Vaustero?

I started jogging to the tunnel light and as I got close and closer, I could see the bustling city lights of my hometown. I could also hear the faint sound of car exhausts, maybe even some roadwork. Nothing out of the ordinary for my city. Although they sounded muffled, it's there.

‘No way!’

I thought as I ran faster, I’m going back! I’m back! I’m—

“Mina,” an ominous voice echoed from every direction that shook the whole place like a vocally induced earthquake.

‘Who was that?’

“Mina, wake up,” the voice spoke again and the whole place continued to shake, and it feel like the nonexistent walls of this abyss were crumbling to the ground.

Lights were seeping out of the cracks and after the constant turmoils, the walls of darkness just crumbled away, blindingly so that it pierced my eyes and it felt like it started burning, I tried to blink the pain away but after fluttering my lashes I awoke with a gasp, my heart pounding and my limbs heavy.

I tried to move, but I barely lifted a finger. I could breathe properly at least.

I couldn’t see anything and felt a cool rag over my eyes and forehead, seems like I’m lying on a bed too. My pains were gone, but I had zero energy. What the heck happened back there?

“Mina?” I heard a voice call out again. It sounded so soft and faint, like a whisper.

“Yes?... Is that me?” I answered back, ‘Mina’ could be short for Pelomina but who knows maybe there’s another person in the room named Mina. I wouldn’t want to make it awkward for us.

The voice chuckled, and I felt quite a large hand stroke the top of my head, “Yes, that’s you… how are you feeling?” the voice asked, I get the idea that this is a man but I couldn’t make up any vocal texture, whoever he is, he should pursue a career in the ASMR content creation. He and I must be close for him to even call me ‘Mina’.

“I feel better, tired but it doesn’t hurt anymore,” I replied and I could hear clothes shift and move around,

“That’s good, I…” the voice trailed off. I hear him clear his throat before coming closer, “I thought that the pains would disappear along with getting your voice back,” he began and I gulped.

‘This is bad,’

Another person who knows something about Pelomina more than I do, I still have no idea what happened that resulted in this and I lost interest in trying to find out, since it didn’t look like it was any important until now. I just figured no one would actually be this curious about it. I regret my decision. Please, just let this conversation pass,

“I’m not so sure about anything anymore,” I replied, and the voice sighed.

“Then is it not true that the only way to get your voice back was to share a passionate night with the man you love?” the voice asked again.

Who is this? What’s with that question? This could count as harassment, right? Does he have a right to be all up in my business?

I frowned even under the wet rug and flared my nostrils. “That’s silly, what kind of sickness could be cured by bedding with someone?” I spat back. I didn’t mean to sound so harsh, but that’s just way over the line.

I could hear the voice chuckle and stroke my head more, “Of course, indeed how silly of me to even ask,” he said, and I hummed, biting my tongue in case I actually said something harsh to someone I shouldn’t, who is this even?

“Well, that’s all that I wanted to hear from you, I hope you get enough rest Mina, I’ll send your attendants here,” he said tapping my forehead and I could hear him leave, opening and closing the door. He didn’t make loud noises to say, but he has a distinct presence that once he left the room felt empty.

I just waited for them and soon enough, Java, Keion, and Eustace came in. They sounded worried. I could tell because I could hear sobbing the moment the doors opened.

‘Oh, here we go,’