Chapter 11: The Healer
The blue skies, the cool wind dancing with the leaves, and the warm sunlight cast on land…A very nice weather everybody could wish for, except for a certain lady.
"Lola!" Calista's face darkened as she covered her eyes with the back of her hand. She was waiting for a guest and had tea on her balcony while on it. Everything was nice and to her liking, but the good weather others wanted.
"Yes, My Lady! I'm coming," Lola replied from the room, rushing to get the lady a parasol. The maid walked in huge steps to the balcony while holding a black parasol the lady could use in nice weather.
"Ah! I thought I was going to burn," Calista complained as Lol positioned the parasol over her head. "Hm. That's better, Lola. Just keep it like that," she ordered, her face turning bright again.
Lola couldn't help but smile, watching her lady's satisfied smile. All she wanted was to provide comfort for the lady and seeing Calista with a great expression on her pretty face brought joy to the maid's heart.
"The dessert you requested should be ready by now, My Lady. Do you want me to prepare them for you?" Lola asked after setting up the parasol.
"Sounds good. She's probably on her way here by now. Did you tell the chef what to make? We have a picky guest, after all." Calista flipped her hair to the back and leaned on her chair as she crossed her long legs. "I prefer rainy days, really," she grumbled.
A light bulb appeared over Lola's head when an idea popped. "My Lady, would you like to have frozies instead of tea then? The chef baked macaroons as you requested. It will be nice to pair them with fruit frozies."
Calista turned to her maid with a disbelieving look. "Wow, Lola. I never thought of that. Indeed, I rather eat cold and sweet stuff in this funny weather," she agreed, fanning herself with her hands. "Then get rid of the tea in front of me. I don't even enjoy having them," she mumbled.
Lola giggled at how honest her lady could be. She was grateful to be the closest person to Calista. For Lola, her job was like a VIP pass that allowed her to see exclusive content that wasn't available to others.
"Yes, My Lady. Please wait for a moment while I prepare your frozies and desserts," Lola smiled and bowed slightly before clearing the table and leaving.
"It's almost noon. Where is she?" Calista muttered as she looked at the gate ahead. She had been restless since morning while waiting for her guest.
After helping Lola survive another night of the ordeal, Calista ordered her maid to send an invitation letter to someone. She clearly stated what she wanted in the letter and assumed that the other person would understand it. However, it was already past 10 in the morning and her Calista's guest hadn't arrived yet.
"What's taking her long?" The lady mumbled with a frown. "I'm going to break her bones when we meet again if she refuses to come and see me today," she added, clenching her fists.
"My Lady!" Lola's voice rang into Calista's ears like an annoying bell.
Calista turned her head to see what her maid was up to, only to see her running while holding a tray of frozies and macaroons.
"Careful, Lola. What would you do if you tripped and wasted the food?" Calista raised her brow and grunted. "There's no need to run. Nobody's after you, silly."
Lola shook her head furiously. Her round eyes were filled with panic and confusion. "I'm sorry, My Lady. Something happened at the back gate, so I have to rush here. Your guest…Hah! Hah!"
Calista frowned. "Breath first. I wouldn't understand whatever you're going to tell me if you're talking like that," she suggested.
Nodding her head, Lola put down the tray on the table and took a deep breath.
Calista shook her head as she watched her maid. She took the glass of orange juice from the tray and handed it to Lola. "Drink this and talk."
Despite her initial hesitation, Lola gulped down the juice when Calista shot her a glare.
"Better? Now, talk."
"Yes, My Lady. So, I was getting your snacks in the kitchen when I heard the maids talking about some unusual old woman lingering at the back gate. She has a beautiful silver hair, but she's an old woman. What do you think, My Lady?" Lola watched Calista's face turning into red as she listened to what she said.
"Ah! It's her. It's her, Lola." Calista rubbed her temples. "I don't know what she's up to, but I need you to get her in to meet me now," she added, shutting her eyes.
"I'm close to losing my mind and I need her to stop it," the lady mumbled.
Lola clenched her fists. She knew why the lady always had to summon someone the day after the third full moon of the month. Calista would end up experiencing excruciating pain whenever she devoured the beast trapped in Lola's body that only appeared during the third full moon of the month.
The lady's guest the next day, after battling with the beast, could purify her flames. Otherwise, Calista would end up possessing black flames, something that the demons wield.
Calista found out about her maid's condition when Lola turned 13… a few years after the maid started working in the duchy.
She hated to admit it, but Calista liked Lola so much, and watching her poor maid suffer for having the beast taking over her body made her feel terrible for the other. It was then that the young Calista subdued the beast, afraid that it would kill her maid.
"I'll take care of it, My Lady. Please enjoy your snacks while I fetch the healer," Lola said in a serious tone. Calista might say nothing, but she could see how much the lady was trying to look okay when she was not.
"Lola," Calista called, halting the maid. "Make sure you ask her the magic word. If she couldn't answer it, just close the gate and get back here."
Lola smiled and nodded. "Yes, My Lady. Leave it all to me," she said and left.
"Hmm…" Calista grinned when Lola was gone. "Let's see how you can win against my maid, Lady De Lux," she said and laughed.
Lola took a deep breath before opening the gate at the back of the mansion. Just like what the maids said in the kitchen, there was a suspicious-looking old woman out there.
'It's her,' Lola thought when her eyes met with the old lady. She had seen the healer every month for seven years and could tell it was her at first glance. Although she didn't know how a youthful lady she met just a month ago suddenly became old.
"Ahem!" Lola cleared her throat to get the old lady's attention. "May I know what you're doing here?" The maid asked.
'Ah! I should have asked for the magic word first!' Lola screamed in her mind.
"Goodness! I thought you recognized me there," the old woman said in a young lady's voice. "Ah! I forgot I'm not supposed to talk!" she screamed after realizing her mistake.
Lola sighed. "Good day to you, Lady De Lux," the maid greeted. "I don't know why you came here like this, but the lady's been waiting for you since daybreak. Please come in." the maid opened the gate wide and let the guest in.
"Eh? But Lola, are you sure you will not ask me for the magic word?" The old lady asked in confusion. "I don't think Calista would let you off if you don't do what exactly asked you to," she added.
Lola sighed again. "Lady De Lux, I know a bit about your ability. There's no point asking you the magic word when I don't know what it is to confirm your answer," the maid explained. "I just wish you could hurry to help the lady. You see…It happened again this month."
The old lady nodded her head. "I understand. I'm glad someone like you is looking out for that brat. So, what she's doing now? She's not lying on the bed while playing dead, is she?"
Lola shook her head. "I'm afraid not. My Lady is having frozies and desserts on the balcony."
"Macaroons?!" The old lady's face lit up. "I know Calista really wants to thank me for taking care of her to have asked the chef to make his signature dessert. Let's go, Lola. I've eaten before leaving home, but now I can hear my stomach grumbling."
The old lady hurriedly walked ahead when she remembered something and stopped. "By the way," she started, looking at Lola suspiciously. "H-How did you know it's me? Louie may be still young, but his ability is top-notch. He could already control it when he was only three. There's no way you'd know it's me even before I spoke earlier."
Lola felt a chill running down her stomach. She was not sure why Lady De Lux was suddenly suspicious of her, but she really could tell it was her at first glance. Lola also thought it wasn't hard to know…But if Louie De Lux was added to the picture…
"Louie knows why I should come here in disguise, thus he used his ability to help me change my appearance. Unless I speak, nobody would know it's me. But you, Lola…" The old lady took a step toward the maid. "I have a feeling you already know it's me before I even open my mouth. So, why?"
Lola swallowed a lump in her throat. She understood why the guest was suspicious. But how on Lair would she be able to explain the reason to her? After all, Lola didn't need to hear the guest's voice.
The moment she opened the gate and sniffed her out, she knew who it was.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
jane_au23
jane_au23 Hi!
How’s your weekend? I’m glad you made it to this chapter.
What do you think of today’s chapter? Let me know in the comments.
Questions yet?
With an emotional meltdown,
Jane
UPDATE: I'm not getting any better. I'm so sorry but I don't think I can write an update for days.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone