Cleorata paced up and down her room at Mayfair Manor, her mind a whirlwind of worry. Samuel, her lover, had not returned, and each passing minute felt like an eternity. The grand clock in the hallway chimed, marking the late hour, but sleep was the furthest thing from her mind.
She fell back onto her bed, her thoughts racing. What could have happened to him? Was he in danger? The possibilities were endless and each more terrifying than the last. She clutched the bed sheets in distress seeking some comfort in its coolness.
A sudden, urgent knock on the door jolted her from her thoughts. She sat up, heart pounding, and called out, "Come in!"
The door creaked open, and the maid, her face pale and eyes wide with worry, stepped inside. "Miss Cleorata, a saddled horse just walked through the manor gates. It's Samuel's horse."
Cleorata's breath caught in her throat. "Where is he? Did anyone see him?"
The maid shook her head. "No, miss. The horse was alone."
Desperation clawed at Cleorata's chest. She rushed to the window, peering into the darkness, hoping to catch a glimpse of Samuel. The manor grounds were eerily silent, the only movement the gentle swaying of the trees in the night breeze.
"We must find him," she said, turning back to the maid. "Gather the men. We need to search the grounds immediately."
The maid nodded and hurried out of the room. Cleorata grabbed her shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders, steeling herself for what lay ahead. She couldn't let fear paralyze her. Samuel needed her, and she would do everything in her power to find him.
Cleorata stood in the courtyard, the search party dispersing into the night. Her eyes were fixed on Samuel's horse which held by the horseboy.It stood eerily still, its saddle empty. The horse's eyes seemed to glimmer with an unusual intelligence, and Cleorata felt a shiver run down her spine.
Miss Cleorata called for Samuels horse to be brought closer to her. She held its reins tightly patted its head softly.
Suddenly, the horse's head lifted, and it began to speak. "Cleorata," it said in a deep, resonant voice.
The men around her gasped and stumbled back, some falling to the ground in shock. Cleorata's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. She took a hesitant step back letting go of its reins, unable to believe what she was hearing.
"Who... what are you?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"I am Samuel's horse," the creature replied. "But I am also a messenger. I have come to warn you."
Cleorata's mind raced. A talking horse? A messenger? It was all too much to comprehend. "Warn me? About what?"
The horse's eyes seemed to darken. "Samuel has deceived you. He never intended to help you find the Moonflower. He wants it for himself."
Cleorata felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under her. "N-no, t-that can't be true. Samuel loves me. He promised to help me."
The horse shook its head. "He has been using you, Cleorata. The Moonflower holds great power, and he seeks to claim it for his own purposes. He has lied to you from the beginning."
Tears welled up in Cleorata's eyes. She wanted to deny it, to believe that Samuel was the man she thought he was. But the horse's words rang with a terrible truth. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she held her hands together tightly to prevent them from shaking.
"Because you deserve to know the truth," the horse replied. "And because you have the strength to stop him. The Moonflower must not fall into the wrong hands."
Cleorata wiped her tears, a new resolve hardening within her. She would not let Samuel's betrayal break her. She would find the Moonflower and protect it, no matter the cost. "Thank you," she said to the horse. "I will do what I must."
The horse nodded, its eyes softening. "Be strong, Cleorata. The path ahead will be difficult, but you are not alone.I will show you the way.
With those words, the horse fell silent, its head bowing as if exhausted.Miss Cleorata took a deep breath, walking slowly towards it.She would confront Samuel and uncover the truth, and she would ensure that the Moonflower's power was kept safe.
As she climbed on to the horse out into the night, the cold air bit at her skin, but she barely noticed. Her mind was focused on one thing: finding Samuel and bringing him back safely. Cleorata led the way, her heart pounding with each step that the horse took. The night was filled with shadows and whispers, but she pushed forward, driven by love and determination. She would not rest until Samuel was found.The search party assembled quickly, lanterns in hand, and they spread out across the manor grounds, calling his name.