[@akje]
"Silence... I implore you." Avalai murmured, for once making a request and not a demand as she kept her eyes forward and fanned herself. Her display had left her a bit spent. Keeping up appearance was ever such a bother. But as the changeling spoke, she could feel his words like nails hammered into the back of her skull as each insecurity was spoken aloud. However, as she was the favored pet of the Count himself, it could not be shown. 

"The ancient's curse will not affect me now. Not after so many years since his heart stopped beating. He was a great ruler... once upon a time. But all stars fade and die in an explosion of dust and sparkling mist. Just as his abilities have." 

After her words, the Queen became unusually quiet as she made her way upstairs, only her handmaiden and the changeling following now. Perhaps her thoughts were on what the shadowy creature had said, perhaps it was on different matters. Nothing could be said for sure with the stoic expression on her face. 

"I thought you seemed familiar," Avalai suddenly spoke, breaking the silence that waited beside the echoing of their footsteps on the staircase. It had grown dark, and the handmaiden had lit a candle to see better. "You... lived in a mirror in one of my manors many years ago, did you not?"