Their Deal
WINIFRED
The familiar darkness in my vision greeted me when I regained my consciousness. I thought I would somehow wake up with my vision but admittedly, I was wishing for too much. I couldn't even see silhouettes anymore.
"You're awake."
His voice came suddenly and alarmingly. I had no idea where he was but he sounded close.
"It's scary when you do something like that."
"It would be scary either way because now, you can't even see me."
"That makes sense."
"Do you even realize what you've done?! You could've killed yourself!"
"I won't die," I mumbled to myself.
"A Saintess can die, Winifred. You're not impervious to death."
"But somehow, you are."
"Don't use that tone with me, young lady! You naively used magic on your eyes trying to 'cure' your blindness! How in the world would you think that could possibly work?! It's a stupid idea, even saying it out loud!"
"...I know."
He didn't say anything and I could tell he was shocked. There were other things I could've said but yeah, it was stupid. It was probably only because of him that I was alive.
"If you knew, why did you do it?!"
"I didn't like being looked down on."
"No one is looking down on you, not even me."
It's not like I'm going to believe him right away. I can't even see the expression on people's faces and I didn't trust him or anyone. I've learned a good lesson from trusting the wrong people. But where gratitude was due, I was going to give it.
"Thank you...for saving my life."
"It took a century's worth of my magic. I'm weak now. If my enemies wanted me dead, they could easily get rid of me."
"...you want to form some kind of agreement with me, don't you?"
"I'm grateful you catch on fast but people should be able to be manipulated, at least that's what I was told. They lied to me."
"You realize just how wrong that statement sounds, right?"
"If you don't manipulate children, you'll end up saying some really...stupid things. But anyway, I do want something. It's something hard for you to give but I think it's something I would value the most."
"You're really not expecting me to..."
"Yes, I want you..."
I held my breath, waiting for him to say something inappropriate. With these fantasy novels, you can't really tell.
"...to be nice to me."
"Did you...just say that out loud?"
"There is no way you can help me get my magic back. You're just a helpless child who can use magic for some reason. Even if it's dark magic, children can't just use magic. Still, that's not enough to give me a century's worth of magic. So, I'm taking something that's going to hurt. You're going to have to be nice to me, whether you want it or not."
That's...actually ingenious. But if this man thought I couldn't pretend, then he had another thing coming. He started this game, let's just hope he has the energy to finish it.
The door opened and I heard someone rush in. I soon could tell it was Darryl because he knelt by my side and held my hand, sobbing in a loud voice.
"Winifred, I'm so glad you're fine! You made us all worried! How could you do that to yourself?!"
"I didn't think it would work. I'm sorry for worrying you, Darryl."
"You're... apologizing? Did sowing your eyes shut really change you? Are you feeling okay?"
He...sew my eyes shut? THAT BASTARD SEW MY EYES SHUT?!
"I didn't even know my eyes were sewn shut. But I'm being genuine. I'm sorry for causing so much trouble for everyone."
"You're very calm, Winifred. I wonder how long you can keep that up, especially since your stitches have to heal."
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm being genuine here, Teacher."
I felt a hand on my temple. I just knew it was Darryl.
"You're not having a fever. You can stop acting weird now, Winifred. It's okay. Nobody's blaming you for anything. We're just glad you're alive. Lord Silver said he wasn't angry with you."
"You don't have to worry about anything, Darryl. I'm fine. And from now on, everything will be just fine."
DARRYL
Everything was in fact, not okay. Winifred wasn't the type to speak up normally but she seized speaking all together. She only spoke when necessary, completely excluding even mealtimes. She only ate what I gave her.
We thought it was only going to last for a few days and then she would go back to normal. We were so wrong.
The Prince heard about what happened to her and came running. He spent over two hours talking to Lord Silver in the office and no matter how curious I was, I had to stay with Winifred the whole time. When they were done, they came over to her room.
"Winifred, how are you feeling?"
"Hello, your highness."
"Why does it feel like you're a bit colder than before? Are you really okay?"
"I am fine, your highness."
He bent to her level and touched her sewn eyes. She flinched but didn't say anything else. Normally, she would've dodged contact with him. He also was quizzed by this and reached for hand. There was no response from her.
"Lord Silver, I thought you said the damage was only in her eyes. Something's wrong with Winifred."
"I can't do anything about her mental state, your highness. Her eyes only got worse after that stunt she pulled. The effect it had on her psyche cannot be measured."
"There's something wrong alright! I just said there was something wrong with her and she didn't react! Look at her face! If anyone saw her, they would think she was a pillar of stone!"
I held her hand tightly, nodding at what he said. I must have held it too tight because she flinched from the pain. She didn't complain, even though if I held her too much, she would go off on a tirade.
It only got worse from there. She stopped leaving the house and wouldn't even go to the library. I brought her books to read in her room and would often find her hanging by the window, staring into the distance she couldn't even see. The only other place she went to was the Library and dining room. She even stopped eating there after she refused to come down for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
She no longer complained about the maids and berated them. Most of them didn't know how to take care of a blind child so her corrections made her life more comfortable. She stopped correcting them or even requesting anything from them. The effects were seen right away.
Bruises filled her body from their mishandling and all the fat she managed to accumulate in the few months since we arrived all but vanished. She became next to skin and bones even though she was eating. She wasn't picky about her food anymore and ate everything she was given even though she was gagging, vomitting and developing hives everywhere on her body.
Everyone was begging her to say something and go back to the way she was. The maids I used to hear gossiping about how picky she was and her privilege despite being an orphan now completely turned their words around and were the main ones begging for her to go back to how she was.
"Winifred."
"Yes?"
"Do you want us to go back to the Orphanage? Do you think life was better then?"
"I'm not interested in going anywhere. You can go if you like. There's no need to take me along with you."
"You used to threaten to hurt yourself if I was apart from you for even a minute! What's wrong with you, Winifred? Please talk to me, Winifred."
"I'm tired, Darryl. I want to take a nap. You can leave the windows open."
It hurt. It really did. All I wanted to do was be there for her and take care of her but she was pushing me away. I didn't know when but the tears started to fall from my eyes.
"You're being a mean, W-W-Winifred! All I want to do I talk to you and you're sending me away! It's not fair!"
"Wait, are you…crying?"
"No…"
"Darryl, how am I being mean to you?"
"You won't tell me what's going on with you. You're so mean to everyone know and you're even ignoring me!"
"How am I mean to everyone if I'm not even saying anything? And how am I ignoring you? I just said I wanted to sleep."
"No! Let's go outside!"
"Why should we go outside?"
"Because we have to see the sun and go for a walk. Lord Silver said exercise is good for you."
"I appreciate that you're worried for me but all I need is a nap right now. We can go outside tomorrow."
"Really?"
"I promise."