Chapter 9: The Haunting Of The Past

Samson and Lucasta had been living together for a month, and he had also taught her to recognize and distinguish almost everything around her.

She could have said more according to what she thought.

His living time also changed completely, waking up in the morning and sleeping at night even though he didn't get a full night's sleep.

Most of the time, he was just hanging around at home. And when the sun went out, he dared to go out to pick mushrooms, pick vegetables and collect firewood.

Every day, he still took Lucasta to Maris' castle, but today she was busy taking care of the sick owls, so he didn't want to bother her anymore and he had to take his sister to the forest to pick mushrooms with him.

Although the sun was out, because Samson was afraid the afternoon wind would cool Lucasta's head, he put on a wide-brimmed hat and a cloak for her.

She looked like the biggest mushroom in the forest.

- Do they look familiar? These are the mushrooms I used to cook for you. You just sit here and spit them up and put them in the basket. – Samson handed her a small basket and instructed.

- How many can I pick? – Lucasta asked.

- If you fill this basket, they will be enough for you to eat for two meals. – He said as he plucked a mushroom and shook it clean for her to see to imitate.

- Why only pick mushrooms for two meals? - She widened her eyes and looked at him.

- Well, if you pull out the mushrooms too much and leave them for too long, the mushrooms will lose their taste.

- Why do mushrooms lose their taste when we keep them for a long time?

- Because they will wither, no longer be fresh, so they will no longer taste sweet, have a foul smell, and will cause stomachache.

- Why do they cause stomachaches when they have a foul smell?

- Because they were attacked by bacteria that are harmful to your stomach.

He patiently answered her constant questions.

Children who are learning everything around them will be like that.

When she asked about beans, she had to ask dozens of questions.

She asked why it was red, why she had to eat it, why not put it in this dish but put it in another, and then asked why people need to eat beans, why the body needs nutrition… All were questions of why and almost never-ending until he interrupted her and left her alone.

- Come on, you can pull out the mushrooms. I'll go over there to get some firewood.

Samson rubbed Lucasta's wide-brimmed hat and walked over to where the dry branches scattered over the dense grass.

A month has passed and Lucasta still has no recollection of what happened before. She brought with her memories from the day she met him and lived innocently and happily, but he always felt that she was pitiful.

Whether the past is dark or sad, people always need it, but she only has a future, and this present is temporary even though he has devoted all his efforts to loving and teaching her.

Lucasta's small hands carefully plucked each mushroom and shook off the dirt on it.

The basket Samson made for her was only the size of his four hands, and it was soon full.

She was excited and was about to run to him to show off her achievements when she suddenly saw a wolf cub lurking nearby.

It had white fur, like the cloak she was wearing.

Because the wolf cub looked so cute and funny, Lucasta was immediately attracted to it. She put down the basket of mushrooms in her hand and crept up to the wolf cub.

In her mind, she simply wanted to catch it, to play like Maris's owls.

- Hello. – Lucasta waved to the wolf cub and smiled brightly.

Because Lucasta saw the wolf cub standing still and looking at her, she gently approached it and crouched down.

But before her hand could touch it, it had already left.

Because she felt it was too cute, she immediately chased it.

When the wolf cub approached the old tree, it stopped, and the mother wolf walked out.

The mother wolf was much larger than Lucasta, and its eyes were sharp as it stared at the human girl.

- Hello.

The girl continued to speak without knowing that danger was near her.

The small legs kept walking forward, and the mouth kept enticing the two animals to come to her.

Their fur resembled the teddy bears Samson gave her and that was what delighted her.

The mother wolf howled and leaped towards Lucasta.

The moment its sharp talons almost touched her lovely face, Samson promptly appeared and knocked it back before her terrified eyes.

The pained howl of the wolf resounded throughout the forest.

Samson intended to kill the mother wolf but because he saw the wolf cub nearby, he tried to control his anger and the moment he lowered his hand, the mother wolf and the wolf cub ran away together.

- Lucasta, didn't I tell you to sit still? Why don't you listen to me? Did you know you were in danger?

Lucasta was still in shock when she was scolded by Samson.

His expression was terrifying now, his eyes glittered like fire, his teeth were clenched and his whole body was shaking.

After she tried to hold it back for a while, she burst into tears and couldn't say anything. She didn't know those two animals were so ferocious. Their faces didn't look like his now.

- Lucasta.

- I hate you.

As soon as Samson reached out, Lucasta immediately turned and ran. She was not used to this ferocious expression of his.

Samson stood still and watched the little girl running. He saw her like a mushroom peeking through the bushes. All he could do was sigh and quietly follow.

He didn't want to raise his voice to her, but just now, he couldn't control himself. That feeling of fear still haunts him to this day.

The two of them were running close to the castle when Lucasta stopped when she spotted Maris perched in a tree with some owls.

Maris lowered her head and asked when she saw Lucasta crying.

- Hello Lucasta. Where are you going alone? Where is Samson?

After Maris finished speaking, Samson also stepped forward. However, he was just behind Lucasta.

Fortunately, Maris saw him. Or else she would have forgotten that Lucasta was human and had jumped down from the tree branch in front of the little girl.

Poor Maris, while she was in a hurry to slide down from the tree, her red dress got caught in a sharp branch and was torn a long way.

Fortunately for her, it was only torn to the knee, or else she would never have dared to see Samson again. After all, he was a man. It was a shame that she exposed her body in front of him.

- Stop crying, Lucasta. Let me hold you. - Maris coaxed Lucasta while glaring at Samson.

Samson told Maris what happened earlier because her eyes looked like she was thinking he was a child abuser.

Anyone who was in that situation would lose control, just like him. After all, he was once been a human before turning into a bloodthirsty demon.

- How does Lucasta know they are wolves? How does she know they are dangerous? It's your fault. It's your fault. You should've taught her about them. – Maris put all the blame on Samson's head to soothe the heart of the little girl.

- You mean I have to bring back a wolf to tell Lucasta?

- What are pencils and paper used for? You should draw the wolf on paper if you can't catch it.

- Oh my gosh, what are you talking about?

Before Samson could get angry, Maris picked up Lucasta and walked back to her castle.

Samson walked after her.

There was a hint of sadness in his eyes when he realized Lucasta wasn't even looking at his face.

- I don't want to go home with him. I want to be with Maris. - Lucasta sobbed because she was afraid Maris would return her to Samson.

- Ok. You will stay here with me.

Maris said while winking at Samson. He understood what she meant, so he quietly turned his back and went back into the woods.

His lonely figure disappearing into the dark purple afternoon made Maris feel pity.

She knew she was too harsh on him.

Perhaps the obsession of a hundred years ago made him unable to control his words and unintentionally upset Lucasta.

Samson's wobbly footsteps stopped in front of a basket full of mushrooms lying alone in the afternoon forest.

Just now, he and Lucasta were still chatting happily, and she was singing while pulling mushrooms and now she's mad at him.

If he hadn't been so absorbed in thinking about the days he and Eirlys were together, he wouldn't have been so distracted that he didn't know that Lucasta had followed the wolf cub.

He sat down and picked up the scattered mushrooms outside, put them in a basket, and brought both the mushrooms and the firewood back to the castle.

He also didn't know if Lucasta would stop being mad at him tonight and come home for dinner. However, he would still cook for her.

At this moment, Maris had lulled Lucasta to sleep.

When children cry, they will easily fall asleep. Sleep is a temporary way to erase their frustrations and when they wake up, they will feel better.

As Maris went out into the yard to cut some roses to put in the vase, she suddenly saw Samson's back leaning against the gate.

He didn't call her, but just stood there and waited.

- Samson, come in. - Maris pulled the gate and whispered.

- Where is Lucasta? – He asked while looking inside the castle.

- The child is asleep. Don't worry too much. After sleep, she will be fine and forget everything that just happened. Don't think too much about children's words.

The two of them walked together to the table in the middle of the courtyard and sat down.

The image of the little girl with a tear-stained face and reproachful eyes kept lingering in Samson's mind, and he saw himself as evil and fierce.

- I did not do a good job as a brother to my sister. I voluntarily claim to be her brother, but perhaps I can't…

- No, you did a great job. Samson, stop blaming yourself. I'm sorry for saying those words to you. It's not your fault at all.

Regardless of what Maris said; Samson still blamed himself.

Perhaps Lucasta will stay here tonight, not return to the castle with him.

If sleep could really make the past fade away, then he wouldn't be engulfed in pain and torment for the past hundred years.

He just hoped things would be different for Lucasta because there were sad stories from his childhood that he still can't forget.