Scarlet Crystal
Bibbity Rabbity
During luncheon, I make arrangements for my precious letter to be delivered. I can only wonder how Hans is doing every moment or other; I cannot see him. But I do hope for the moment when we are once again embracing by the Lake, where we last met.
When I arrive home, I find the house in an uproar. The servants flee from room to room, as if trying not to be noticed by anyone. Quite confused, I go to my room to change into my evening gown. When I emerge, the house is this time deathly quiet. I can however, hear one sound, and that is of shouting in Father’s parlor downstairs. So I quietly muster all my skill of being invisible, and descend the stairs.
The shouting grows louder as I near the doorway. Alas, the door is open so I can’t listen at the keyhole. Though when I am right next to the room, I gather from a few glances that the room has at least ten people inside it. Cautiously, I edge into the doorway to listen and watch. Perhaps nobody will care if I’m present.
I am now in full view of the room. I can see Father in the center of the room, as well as a man that looks horribly familiar. Off to the side, in the arm chairs, are Daria and John, both very white-faced. Several servants and the familiar man’s coachmen are present as well. As I take a closer look at the man, I gasp with the horrible familiarity. It’s Noel. Thankfully nobody hears my gasp, and I press myself against the frame of the doorway. What does he want? It must be some kind of trouble because he and Father are yelling about something.
“I assure you, good sire,” Noel is exclaiming, “I come bearing all good will! Only sad tidings and a pressing question that I must ask!”
“How dare you come to my house with such an agenda?” Father roars. “I will not hear of it under my roof!”
“Regrets, regrets!” Noel cries, looking nervously distressed.
“Keep your regrets to thyself, man!”
“Please sir!”
“ARG. What?”
“I need only tell you the sad news.”
“Very well then. Speak on.”
Noel sighs and collapses into an armchair, wearing his full suit. Father looks very disgruntled, but holds his peace. Noel proclaims, “As of evening past, my good father Master Don is past into the shadow of death.” The room became deathly quiet.
Father broke the silence. “How came this event to pass?”
“We do not know for sure. But there was poison involved.”
I’m thinking at this very moment: hemlock. You foul beast. Freak. Go away before I speak up!
Father continues, “Do you have a culprit? Or- are you here to accuse any of my household of that crime? You tell me you are here with an accusation, but fail to present any charge or evidence?”
“Alack, no culprit has been captured, but I do believe he… or she-“ he pause and his eyes flit my way; my heart skips a beat and I step farther into the shadows of the adjoining room- “may be in this house. Not to be rude or to affront you, but it is possible, as in any other house.” Father’s breathing slows a bit.
“So what do you ask?”
“Only-“ Noel sends a glance my way- “that you question your staff and family.” As he says this, I can guess that things will get ugly if I stick around and he accuses me and shows me to my father. I would rather him raping me than my father hearing him say such a thing. So I back quietly away, and as soon as I near the door, I slip out into the street and trip over a cobblestone of that little street lined with thick-walled houses.
And the next thing I know, I’m running away from that house. I run down the street and down the hill and to the Lake, which is no longer shrouded in mist. But as I pass the Lake, I turn away from the Lake and the road and run up into the hills, all covered in heather and greens of sums I can’t image. But being in my evening gown and fancy slippers, I can’t run too far. So after some time, I collapse into the purple fragrant heather around me. After inhaling the pure scent for several seconds, I faint.
When I arrive home, I find the house in an uproar. The servants flee from room to room, as if trying not to be noticed by anyone. Quite confused, I go to my room to change into my evening gown. When I emerge, the house is this time deathly quiet. I can however, hear one sound, and that is of shouting in Father’s parlor downstairs. So I quietly muster all my skill of being invisible, and descend the stairs.
The shouting grows louder as I near the doorway. Alas, the door is open so I can’t listen at the keyhole. Though when I am right next to the room, I gather from a few glances that the room has at least ten people inside it. Cautiously, I edge into the doorway to listen and watch. Perhaps nobody will care if I’m present.
I am now in full view of the room. I can see Father in the center of the room, as well as a man that looks horribly familiar. Off to the side, in the arm chairs, are Daria and John, both very white-faced. Several servants and the familiar man’s coachmen are present as well. As I take a closer look at the man, I gasp with the horrible familiarity. It’s Noel. Thankfully nobody hears my gasp, and I press myself against the frame of the doorway. What does he want? It must be some kind of trouble because he and Father are yelling about something.
“I assure you, good sire,” Noel is exclaiming, “I come bearing all good will! Only sad tidings and a pressing question that I must ask!”
“How dare you come to my house with such an agenda?” Father roars. “I will not hear of it under my roof!”
“Regrets, regrets!” Noel cries, looking nervously distressed.
“Keep your regrets to thyself, man!”
“Please sir!”
“ARG. What?”
“I need only tell you the sad news.”
“Very well then. Speak on.”
Noel sighs and collapses into an armchair, wearing his full suit. Father looks very disgruntled, but holds his peace. Noel proclaims, “As of evening past, my good father Master Don is past into the shadow of death.” The room became deathly quiet.
Father broke the silence. “How came this event to pass?”
“We do not know for sure. But there was poison involved.”
I’m thinking at this very moment: hemlock. You foul beast. Freak. Go away before I speak up!
Father continues, “Do you have a culprit? Or- are you here to accuse any of my household of that crime? You tell me you are here with an accusation, but fail to present any charge or evidence?”
“Alack, no culprit has been captured, but I do believe he… or she-“ he pause and his eyes flit my way; my heart skips a beat and I step farther into the shadows of the adjoining room- “may be in this house. Not to be rude or to affront you, but it is possible, as in any other house.” Father’s breathing slows a bit.
“So what do you ask?”
“Only-“ Noel sends a glance my way- “that you question your staff and family.” As he says this, I can guess that things will get ugly if I stick around and he accuses me and shows me to my father. I would rather him raping me than my father hearing him say such a thing. So I back quietly away, and as soon as I near the door, I slip out into the street and trip over a cobblestone of that little street lined with thick-walled houses.
And the next thing I know, I’m running away from that house. I run down the street and down the hill and to the Lake, which is no longer shrouded in mist. But as I pass the Lake, I turn away from the Lake and the road and run up into the hills, all covered in heather and greens of sums I can’t image. But being in my evening gown and fancy slippers, I can’t run too far. So after some time, I collapse into the purple fragrant heather around me. After inhaling the pure scent for several seconds, I faint.