Dining hall disaster

The maids moved away from the glass pane, shrieking at the sudden explosion. The fragments scattered everywhere, some even injuring Lillian's arms as she was the closest to the window. She scurried away as fast as she could, screaming in agony. The sudden crash had mortified her and now, her arms were wounded until blood started to ooze out of the cuts. Tears started to leak out as she held her bleeding arms and ran out of the dining hall.

Meanwhile, Samantha's stood petrified as soon as she saw the glass pane exploding into fragments before her eyes rolled back in her head, and she fell down unconscious. Fortunately, Itri sensed her friend losing her balance, and she held her before she fell to the ground. "Samantha," She shouted, attempting to wake up. However, the girl remained unresponsive, and her breath turned shallow as seconds ticked by.

"Samantha, wake up. Samantha." Itri patted her cheeks trying to gain her consciousness. But nothing worked. Her eyes were shut tight, and she did not respond to any of Itri's pleas. Itri looked around her in trepidation, seeking help. However, to her dismay, all the maids and the servants had evacuated the dining hall in fear after the glass pane had shattered. 

Samantha and Itri were alone, with Samantha still lying motionless in Itri's arms. "Somebody help me," Itri shouted, crying her heart out. "Samantha, please don't scare me this way. Wake up, Sammy. Please wake up." She begged, her tears running down her cheeks. "Somebody help." She screamed at the top of her lungs.

The sudden crash had alerted everybody in the Bradford, including Madam Lily. She rushed to the spot along with a few guards, only to find Samantha lying in Itri's arms while the shattered fragments lay around them. "Oh dear," She breathed, the scene before her confirming her fears and suspicions all the more. "Samantha," She kneeled before the girl and checked her pulse.

"Madam Lily, please save Samantha. I don't know what is wrong with her. She is not waking up. Please." Itri begged as she continued to cry for her friend.

Lily checked her pulse and touched her forehead. The girl did not have a temperature, much to her relief. She was just unconscious. Since the Bradfords had left the mansion the moment they had finished their breakfast to prepare for an event she did not know about, she was in charge of the mansion until their return. Lily turned to one of the guards. "Get the physician." She ordered, and the man was just about to leave the room when Samantha stirred lightly.

"Samantha, dear, can you hear me?" Lily spoke gently as she wiped the girl's forehead that was drenched in sweat.

"Sammy, Sammy, please wake up." Itri too tried her best, and this time, Samantha frowned with her eyes shut, holding her head.

"Ugh," She groaned and strived to get up. After a long time, she opened her eyes, a feat that sucked a lot of her energy, and the first person she saw was Itri who crying hysterically.

"Itri, why are you crying?" She queried, pushing herself up. Itri helped her to stand on her feet, supporting her hands. 

"How do you feel, dear?" Lily questioned her, and it was only then did Samantha realize the presence of Madam Lily and the guards around her. She also noticed the other maids and servants peeking from the dining hall entrance. They stared at her with worry, anxiety, and an emotion she could not decipher.

"I feel weak," Samantha answered honestly for that was how she felt. She wondered why she was lethargic all of a sudden. "And my head aches." She added pressing on her forehead lightly.

"Come with me, Samantha. Let's get you back to the servant quarters. You need to take a rest." Lily supported her on one side with Itri held on the other hand as they led her out of the dining hall. Samantha too did not fight them, she felt too debilitated to even move. Before leaving, Lily did not forget to nod at the guards who got to work at once. 

None of the servants were allowed near the place where the mishap had taken place. They were only allowed to peek from the entrance of the dining hall. The guards got to work, securing the area and making sure to clean the hall of the fragments. Meanwhile, they secretly sought the source of destruction for they had to report the matter to their Master when he returned home. This was a grave issue and they could not keep it hidden, not even on Madam Lily's orders.

While some guards stayed inside the mansion, taking a look around the small dining hall, a few guards rounded outside the mansion trying to find the culprit who might have attacked from outside. However, they knew that the possibility of finding anything was grim as they had not noticed any weapon that could have possibly shattered the window pane.

Since it was not their duty to interrogate the servants about the matter, they could only wait for Madam Lily to give them her next set of orders. They cleared the area, directing the other servants away from the spot. 

The servants took one last glance behind the guards before they dispersed, whispering among themselves about what had transpired a few moments. It was beyond their perception how the accident had even occurred. While some claimed it to be the work of a witch, the rational ones among them concluded it to be the attack from enemies of their Master. Since they had no substantial evidence to prove their claims, they could just discuss the possibility among themselves.

Meanwhile, Lily led an exhausted Samantha to her quarters and made her lie on the bed, that had gone cold after not being occupied for long. Samantha shivered and pulled the blanket closer to her, and seeing her struggle, Itri helped her cover her body until her chin. In no time, Samantha drifted off to sleep, and Lily pressed her forehead in distress, her gaze fixed on the sleeping girl.

'This is not good.' She thought to herself. Unlike the others who had no idea about it, she had a hunch why the glass pane had broken. 'It has to be Samantha. The girl's powers are too strong. What is she?' Lily tried to find an answer but in vain. Samantha was not a witch, she was certain about it. The girl did not have any traits that could classify her to be a witch. Lily grasped that she was nothing less powerful. 'I need to find the answers soon. If this continues, Samantha's life might be in danger. I cannot allow the child to be in peril.'

"Itri, stay with Samantha. Make sure she does not leave the quarters until I return. You are dismissed off your other duties for the day." Lily ordered and stood up. "Also, feed her once she wakes up. She needs energy."

"Yes, Madam Lily." Itri obliged at once, forgetting their plan completely. Her friend's life was more important than a visit to the capital. 

"I'll be back soon." With that, Lily left the two girls. 'Samantha, dear, I just hope you are not what I assume you to be. Otherwise, chaos will erupt in the kingdom, one that will spill blood everywhere.'