Isabela's eyes fluttered open whilst she was in excruciating pain. She groaned. “What happened?”

“You passed out.” A girl about her age with red-ish hair smiled at her. “Are you feeling okay?”

Isabela recognized the girl to be the Princess of Wraevidore—Acco Friseal.

Isabela nodded, rubbing her head. “Yeah. I think so.” She coughed.

“I’m Acco.” She smiled at Isabela. "...If you remember meeting me. The physician says that he thinks that you might have a concussion."

Isabela inhaled, before trying to stand. She immediately started to stumble, feeling dizzy.

Acco caught her, before lightly forcing her back into the chair. “You should really sit down.” She moved closer to the chair that Isabela resided in. “I'm not sure if you remember or not, but I’m one of your suitors,” she explained to the other girl.

Isabela didn’t say anything—-she just remained quiet while studying each intricate detail on Acco's face.

The physician stepped into the room. “You've awaken," he began, sounding surprised. "Bad news, my liege-” He was cut off by Acco.

“What’s the bad news?” Acco questioned, concerned.

The court physician glared at her. “I was about ready to get to that, you dip.” He shook his head, noting the look on Acco's face. "Sorry. Where are my manners?" He changed what he had said before. "I'm sorry. I was about to get to that, my lady."

Acco hung her head, somewhat upset. She swallowed, before issuing the apology she thought was needed. “Sorry.”

The physician turned back to face Isabela. “As I was saying, my liege, I have reason to think that you have the plague.” He paced a little while saying, "Your symptoms… they seem to line up perfectly."

Isabela raised her eyebrow, a lump forming in her throat. “M-meaning?”

The physician sighed. “You’ll be dead in weeks. If not, less." There was a pause. "So far, I have yet to find a proper remedy that would work affectively against the plague."

Isabela swallowed the lump in her throat, before bitting her lip. “What does my mother have to say about all of this?"

“The Queen said this means you’ll have to get married sooner than scheduled…" A sigh from the physician. "...before your demise."

Acco slunk out of the room, thinking it was long past her cue to leave.

The physician watched Acco as she went before approaching Isabela and whispering into her ear, “But… of course, there is a way to get around it if you’re willing.”

Isabela was a little nervous to hear what the court physician had to suggest. He's an old kook, Isabela began to think to herself. He's bound to say leeches will cure my wretched ailment. Isabela inhaled, then she exhaled. “Sure. What is it?”

"I've heard quite the amount of tales in my time," the physician began, picking up a bottle of hemlock, twisting it around, and setting it aside again. "But, this one…" he began, trailing off a little. "This one…" He stopped again. He exhaled. “Deep in the heart of the forest outside of the kingdom's capital, is a wise, ancient creature of the night called Akuppi-Adad-” he was cut off.

"You mean a vampire?” Isabela wanted to laugh, but she was afraid the court physician might backhand her across the face if she did.

The physician hushed Isabela, using his hand to gesture that she best keep her voice to a quieter level. “Don’t say that word in here!" He hissed before he lowered his voice. "I'm well aware of the fact Queen Elena and King Beniamin hire vampire hunters," he warned.

Silence ensued as the physician looked back and forth through the room, checking and keeping an eye out for any of the King's knights that might be posted outside the door, waiting for any signs of magic or the paranormal.

That was a knight's job, after all—-hunt monsters and burn innocent peasants at the stake who's only crime was witchcraft.

"As I was saying…" the physician started back up again. "He can turn you into what he is… He can cure you… You'll live forever… Not once succumbing to your illness. So, my liege, thoughts?"

Isabela examined her wrists, finding it hard to maintain solid eye contact with the physician. Finally, she looked up in his general direction. "It's worth a shot…" She trailed off. "But, I can't exactly do anything if I'm stuck in here, can I?"

The physician tilted his head toward the door. "Not if I dismiss you." His voice grew somewhat louder. "Oh, I guess it seems that there's nothing in my abode that can aid you. I suggest you take the day to rest… compliments of the physician, of course."

Isabela stood, nodding. She headed toward the door, leaving the physician's quarters, ignoring the knights stationed throughout the halls. She continued on until she reached the main entrance of the palace.

“Where are you going?” Acco asked.

She must've been following me since I left the physician's quarters, Isabela thought to herself. Without turning around to face Acco, Isabela simply answered with, "Somewhere."

Acco continued forward, falling into place with Isabela. She looked Isabela right in the eyes, much to Isabela's discomfort. “But, you’re in no condition to travel." Acco placed a hand on Isabela's arm, lightly. "You’re dying!”

Isabela yanked her arm away from Acco before continuing on. “Sorry. I gotta go.”

And as Isabela left the castle, she could hear Acco calling out her name—-but, she never turned around.