-||Truth Behind the Mask||-

[Rosalind Bloom]

Haven gave up on finding him after a while of searching then went down to the kitchen in hopes of finding Juliette. She had a question that she needed answered and hoped she knew just what that answer was. She finally made it there and walked in.

She had a lot on her mind at the moment but the book and her grandmother were the main thoughts. She didn't understand what that was about and knew her mother must know something. She didn't know whether she should be hurt or not. No, she shouldn't jump to conclusions it was wrong.  

[- symphonic disaster -]

Alex ventured through the room in silence knowing that he wouldn't be pursued in this wing. It was hard to navigate for the most part and he'd only been there a few times. As he walked around he studied the pictures on the wall. This was a useless room but there were books in here too. He slowly sauntered over to the bookshelf and found his mother's diary. He writing was neat cursive that seemed to decorate the page rather than to record information. He flipped through the pages to the same day that his father had made that hideous entry.
This is what it read:

I am fearing for my son at the moment because my husband has seemed to ignore him more as of late. He has told me he has business with a neighboring kingdom but I know it is a lie. An old woman had come to visit him at one point and their discussion in low voices had scared me. Something tells me that my life is in danger and my son is doomed. I fear the worst.

Juliette was in the kitchen at the moment studying a book she'd gotten down from one of the high shelves. It had information on different types of meals that she could cook for Alex. He needed change in his food because that was what kept him happy. They only received food from the forest and a small garden that some maids kept up near the castle.

Meanwhile the maids sent to retrieve Haven's mother had gotten her and were beginning their route back. They had picked up some materials also for making new clothing and some books for entertainment.  

[Rosalind Bloom]

Haven wasn't smiling at all as she walked over to where Juliette was and leaned against the counter. "Juliette?" She started. "I have a quesion for you." She said. She hoped that she knew the answer, if she didn't then she'd have to ask Alex but that was too risky. "Did you see the old woman who put the curse on Alexander?" She asked. "And if you did, do you by chance remember what she looked like? Maybe what she was wearing?"  

[- symphonic disaster -]

"No miss," Juliette responded in a confused tone. "I do remember him describing her as very old and wearing what looked like rags. He had asked why someone would curse him when he hadn't done anything." Juliette shook her head because she believed that the only reason he was selfish was because of his loneliness.

Alex picked the book up with his mouth and went to his own wing. He wanted this near him because it gave him comfort to know what his mother had been thinking during that time. He would be looking through the entire thing later to get details about why she had died.  

[Rosalind Bloom]

Haven nodded then sighed a bit disappointed but she didn't mind. "Ok." She said simply then leaned against the wall. She needed some advice as well and since her mother wasn't there yet she decided to ask Juliette. "What would you do if you found out someone in your family had been hiding something from you?" She asked casually. She didn't want to get into details about it.  

[- symphonic disaster -]

"Well naturallY i'd be angry," Juliette said trying to take it from a different position than her own since she hadn't seen her family in years. "I would probably ask them about it just to make sure that I had gotten the facts straight."

After Alex had deposited the book in his room he ran down to the main entrance and managed to force the door open. He would meet up with Alex's mother and the maids and escort them to the castle. He would know what to do after that and it would be easier for him to calm himself moving through the forest.  

[Rosalind Bloom]

Haven nodded. That was exactly what she was thinking she should do. "Thanks." She said then asked, "What are you looking at?" She needed to get her mind off it until her mother came. Well, she would at least try to. It wasn't everyday you find out your grandmother may have been a witch who quite possibly caused someone you enjoyed spending time with to suffer.  

[- symphonic disaster -]

"It's a recipe book that I got from my mother that goes through all the different foods and herbs that are good for someone under a curse or just for anyone in general. It's a very old text and I've been looking for it for a long time," Juliette responded. "I try to make a variety of food for him because it was one thing that always changed when he was younger."

The wind in his face was beginning to clear his mind already and when he came upon the carriage escorting Haven's mother he had changed into a human. The run had been short since they were very close. When the maids saw him they welcomed him on board eagerly. "Hello ma'am," Alex said in a polite tone, his blond hair ruffled slightly though his eyes were clear. "I was the one that sent for you. Your daughter is safe at my castle."  

[Rosalind Bloom]

Haven nodded. "That's nice." She said trying not to sound distant. She feared she may actually get very mad at her mother if what she thought was true. She was basically never wrong and that's what worried her.

Haven's mother Beth, smiled at him. "I'm so glad she's ok! That man chasing after her and she said she'd be right back...." She said distantly. "Thank you." She said smiling warmly.  

[- symphonic disaster -]

Juliette merely nodded slightly not wanting to actually tell Haven that she knew something was wrong. Juliette had been able to read people's emotions quite easily since a young age because she lived her. While watching Alex she'd seen him go through a multitude of mood shifts and Haven not being her usual happy self was a sign that made her worry.

Alex wasn't surprised by her warmth but was surprised by how she treated him. Most people had treated him poorly when they came to visit the castle. It was the details about his father that made it clear why they did this. "I have plenty of room at my home," he said mildly. "Besides, it gets lonely there and I have a few problems I need help sorting out."  

[Rosalind Bloom]

Haven watched Juliette as she continued with what she was doing. How was she going to confront her mother about this? If her grandmother wasn't a witch, then she'd sound crazy and didn't want to in front of her mother. But if she was.... What was it that her grandmother use to tell her? She was now beginning to think she should have paid more attention to her stories.

Beth smiled at him and said, "I would imagine so. I hope Haven driven you too crazy with her constant talking. She can't seem to keep quiet for too long..." She sighed then said, "Castle you say? In the woods? How nice." She wouldn't say so but she knew from her mother's stories this was the boy whom she had cursed.  

[- symphonic disaster -]

Juliette was watching Haven carefully though it wasn't obvious. She put her book down finally and looked up at Haven. "Can you tell me what is bothering you?" she asked bluntly. "I can tell you aren't happy at the moment."

Alex nodded slightly in agreement. He had noticed that Haven was a bit pushy at times. This was something that bothered him a lot because he wasn't used to someone actually caring. "It is nice," Alex admitted. "I'll get you a nice room set up so you can heal faster."  

[Rosalind Bloom]

Beth smild at him and said, "Thank you again. I'm just glad it was me that was poisoned and not poor Haven." She looked out the window lost in thought for a bit now as they headed to the castle.

Haven looked at her and bit her lip. "I don't know... I... well I'm afraid you'd judge me." She said quietly. She didn't want Juliette to get mad at her for what her grandmother might have possibly done to the person she raised as her son.  

[- symphonic disaster -]

"It's fine," Alex responded. It wasn't really fine actually, but it did provide the company that he needed from time to time. He'd have to figure out how to get away from her more frequently though because her questions bothered him. He'd realized it when he gotten alone.

"I won't judge you," Juliette said earnestly. "There are far too many things I've seen people do for me to judge you for something. Now tell me what it is." She had a motherly tone to her now and she leaned against the table in front of her and was looking at Haven.  

[Rosalind Bloom]

Haven sighed and looked to the ground. "While exploring with Alexander, I found a book and well, it was about witches and curses... I flipped through the pages curiously and I... I found a picture of my grandmother along with her name and in the description it said she was one of the most famous of her kind and that she was famed for her work with putting curses on those who.. needed to be taught a lesson.. I need to talk to my mother when she gets here, if its true I need to know if she knew." She explained and not once took her eyes off the ground.