((An odd little story that actually has a beginning, middle, and end but that has never been fully translated from the babble of my brain waves. I know their voices better than many of the others in my head and they were the most demanding for awhile. I know every action they take and every thing they say but for some reason there is never enough time to get it down. I hope one day to finish it though it will take time as it's a long story.))
‘Get back here you little mongrels the harsh voice snarled as the two children pushed their way blindly through the hedges in a desperate attempt to escape. He pursued them mercilessly though his bulk greatly hindered him. Then they were out, free, the cool night air brushed their faces like fairy wings and was no less magical to these newly freed prisoners. It did not low their flight however, for they knew the cost of capture was death. Amelia and Damian ran head long into the forest for they knew it was the one place their Uncle would not dare to follow them for he was a superstitious man and feared the tales he had heard about these accursed woods. As they had guessed he came to a halt just in front of the woods. ‘Hahaha and good riddance to you, he laughed maniacally as he shook his fist into the night. ‘I hope your end is as painful as you deserve.’ Then he turned and stalked away still laughing. Still, it was not until they were far into the woods that they dared to slow their steps and glance about to see where their act had taken them. They were a bedraggled pair. They wore almost identical grey rags, which were more torn and stained then before. The girl had long blond hair now full of twigs and cobwebs. A passing limb had scratched her cheek. It was her face that betrayed her personality, which was tough and brave and adventurous. Her brother with medium brown hair cut in the military fashion, stood slightly behind his brother. If she was brave and adventurous he was a bit on the timid side and had eyes that drank in everything they saw in an effort to assuage his thirst for knowledge. How mismatched these two were for their stations in life. Amelia, who was expected to be docile, marry young, and have children until she died. Damian, who was expected to join the military, receive a few medals and die bravely if foolishly for the ‘ greater good,’ wanted no part of that plan. The twins, whose parents had died a week earlier, leaving them at the mercy of their power hungry uncle who was ‘incidentally’ heir to the vast Corona fortune in the ‘unlikely’ even that both of the children met an early demise. ‘Well, that was certainly an adventure now wasn’t it?’ Amelia asked affecting indifference. ‘That isn’t even funny,’ he hugged not even bothering to mask the fact that he was out of breath. ‘Oh come now, it could have been worse,’ she said and began to walk deeper into the woods, obviously expecting that he would follow. ‘How?! How could it possibly get worse then it already is? We’ve lost our parents, our home, and ourselves now in these accursed woods.’ He snapped back as he trotted along behind her. ‘Well, it could be...’ CRASH ‘What? What was that? I know you weren’t going to say it could be RAINING! Please, this day could not get any worse if we died.’ ‘Don’t say that ‘Ian, it’s really not all that bad. We’re alive and uncle doesn’t realize it yet but the will clearly says that a coroner must examine our bodies if he is to inherit. There will be no bodies so there will be no money.’ She smirked and even he was inclined to smile at the thought that their greedy uncle would never lay a finger on the money he so coveted even over his own blood kin. They walked on through the dark and raining night. Finally they were completely lost, cold, and hungry. Suddenly in a flash of lightning they saw it. A huge castle complete with towers, turrets, and a barracks. If the lightning had lasted but a moment longer they would have seen a something move along the turret of the highest tower. As it was they didn’t. This was shelter and as it seemed uninhabited they quickly moved up to the massive front door and with both of them working together, they were able to push it open enough for both to slide through into the surprisingly warm inside. When they got in they found it wasn’t quite as uninhabited as they had first thought. A seemingly newly made fire lay in the hearth. Food was set for two places as though they were expected. Though not huge, the food seemed well spiced and elegantly made. The children fell upon the food without thought to whom it might be truly set for. In truth they had not eaten well, under their uncle’s watchful supervision for several days. When dinner was over, the two decided to explore but found only two unlocked rooms on the main floor. These were right next to each other with candles lit in the delicately wrought sconces. Both were bare save a four-poster with heavy maroon curtains, a bureau with nothing in side of it, and a desk with a mirror. Though there were two of them, they were not inclined to leave each other and slept huddled together in one of the large beds. For, being in a new place filled with possible danger they slept remarkable well. In their sleep though both thought they heard a door open and close. In the morning they awoke to find clothes lying on top of the bureau. Ian found and old fashioned courtiers outfit and Amelia found a ladies morning dress complete with hidden dagger for the high-healed bots. When they made their way to the main room from the night before, and after most teasing on Ian’s part about the dress (until he was introduced to the tiny knife). they found fruit laid out on the table along with cold pastries. They wandered the grounds that day checking out the landscape and the gothic architecture. One gargoyle in particular sat atop the high north tower looking darkly down upon them. ‘I want to get a better look at that thing,’ Amelia announced after a second turn around the grounds and much talk about their mysterious benefactor. Yet, try as they might, they could find no passage, nor staircase that would lead them to the tower although all the other towers were accounted for. From the west tower they got a fairly good view of it. It looked like a young woman with faiary like wings, four fingers, claw like feet and holding an antique sword in a fighting stance as though ready to defend the castle to the last. Her beautiful face was twisted into a face of hatred, the mouth open in a silent war cry. The sun was going down when they finally began their trek downstairs, just missing a loud cracking sound and movement from the unreachable North tower They aimlessly wandered through the halls that were kept in perfect order by some unknown hand, unseen and unheard. When they finally reached the main great hall they found a roaring fire once more lain and a succulent feast awaiting them. They talked of their hopes and foolish dreams over dinner as though what they wanted truly would have an outcome upon what life had in store for them. Amelia wanted to become a warrior, feared and powerful as any in the old histories. She had the strength and the will to do it too but who would give her the chance to prove herself? Damian’s dream was quite different in nature. He wanted to write, to draw, to be given the chance to show the world that he was not just muscles and a sword to be used to fight a meaningless war for a country that had no interest in whether or not he lived or died so long as they could prove they were right over their enemies by shear show of strength. When they reluctantly left the comfort of the great hall for the silence of their separate rooms they found them much changed. Ian ran into Amelia’s room to find old style maces and weapons hanging from the walls. The plain coverlet had been replaced by a black one with a scene on it depicting Artemis on the hunt. Tapestries hung from the walls showing women fighters and assassin through out history. ‘My room’s gained book shelves and more books then you can imagine,’ he told her as she continued to stare dumbly around. ‘And paper with all types of quills and ink.’ ‘It’s a trap, someone heard us. They know what we want and they’re going to use it against us. I just know it!’ ‘Or maybe they want to help us. Ever think of that Miss Para…’ Amelia gasped. Ian whirled around to see a figure standing in the doorway. She had the face of a goddess. Bright green eyes shown in a pale face. Black tresses brought out the sculpted shape of her face though it was pulled back in tight military braid down her back. That was all that was pretty about her. Her shoulders were hunched and a great hump seemed to be almost growing from her back. Her hands were misshapen because of one finger on both hands, which didn’t move with the others. These hands were covered in elbow length black leather gloves. Her feet must have been huge to fit such shoes and her knees under the grey dress she wore must have been inhumanly built by her stance. ‘I… I heard you out in the hall,’ she offered timidly, in a sweet lilting voice. ‘Are you the one who did all this?’ Ian asked staring at this warped form. ‘Where are the others?!’ Amelia demanded carefully looking the other woman up and down for warning signs of danger. She bowed gently. ‘There are no others m’lady. Yes, it was I, m’lord.’ ‘Who are you?’ ‘My name is Eliazara.’ ‘Well, Eliazara, we must have taken the wrong rooms for your changes since it is the male’s place to learn the art of war. Though it is not considered a woman’s place to read either,’ Amelia said slyly. ‘Oh? Don’t you like your rooms? I will of course change them immediately.’ She bowed again and made as if to depart. ‘Wait, I didn’t say that. I was only trying to point out the fact that the décor is at odds with society’s views on how females and males should act, do, and think.’ ‘Forgive my impertinence, mistress, but who is there to see what you do here except for me and I am but a servant with no plan to judge you. If you wish the rooms to be changed it will of course be done immediately for you.’ She bowed deeply and headed pout of the room with her odd hobbled gate. Ian and Amelia stared at each other for a moment longer, and then both dove for the door. ‘Wait!’ Ian shouted. Eliazara turned expectantly to them. ‘Yes m’lord?’ ‘We… like the rooms the way they are. Please don’t… have them changed,’ he stammered. ‘ As you wish m’lord. Now if you will excuse me. You two must be very tired and I have work to see to.’ As she said it, they both felt exhausted. They yawned a sleepy good night to each other and stumbled off to bed. The next morning or more precisely early afternoon, Ian and Amelia met in the great hall to find fruit once more laid out for them. After a quick brunch they decided to spend the day out of doors, as the day seemed so fair. When they got out, they found an archery range and dueling field with all the equipment laid out for easy access. Near it was an easel with paint of all the colors and hues imaginable and countless brushes going from huge rough horsehair bristles, which could have been used to paint a house, to tiny almost, one-hair brushes made of what seemed to be rabbit fur. After a few one sided duels with various weapons. Ian got tired of losing and went off to paint. Amelia tried her hand in the archery range as he painted the lush landscape. The trees here were full and well leafed. This was disturbing in comparison with the outer forest which had straggling, gnarled trees with snake like vines which choked out any other, healthier under brush. It leant itself to tales of horror and death told by those who live in it’s frightening shadow. Finally, after Damian had lost the light to further butcher his painting, and after Amelia had lost the last of the arrows into the thicket just beyond the range and nowhere near the target, they both decided to call it a day and head in to dinner. They found it, as before, laden with food. Everything from pheasant to marmalade and from honey cakes to what looked something like bear meat though neither could get themselves to quite touch it adorned the table. Suddenly Damian went still in the midst of reaching for another crab leg. ‘What? What is it? Asked Amelia, completely in tune with her brother’s moods and sensing his anxiety palpably. He looked around cautiously before saying; ‘I think she’s here again… that girl….’ He whispered. ‘There,’ ‘ he pointed toward a small entryway that they had not noticed before. It was not that he saw movement but that rather, it was an odd pulling sensation coming from that direction. ‘Come out here,’ said Amelia; sounding surer of herself then she looked. Something that both had taken for just a particularly dark shadow detached itself from the wall on the far side of the room in the other direction from the doorway they had both been looking towards and began to shuffle forward in a lurching gate in what seemed to be their general direction. ‘I trust you found everything to your liking, young master and mistress?’ Eliazara finally came into full view from the doorway. Damian too one last look at the corridor whence the strange feeling had come from but it had already dissipated. ‘Y… yes, yes of course. It’s all perfect. My compliments to the chef,’ stammered Damian, unable to hide his unease at the sight of this grotesque form he saw before him. ‘Why thank you monsieur,’ the creature’s countenance seemed to contract into a smile for the bares instant and then was gone so swiftly that it was later doubted that it had ever truly been. ‘You?! You’re the one who sets out and creates these wonderful dishes?’ asked Amelia incredulously.
‘Yes, as I told you last night m’lady, I am the only one here at this time. A caretaker and housekeeper all in one if you will,’ she said serenely.
‘I find it hard to believe that you maintain this huge house as well as the grounds and are able to set out such an extravagant meal without any help what so ever,’ Amelia fire back hotly.
‘Be that as it may, I did not say that you had to believe what I told you. However it is true. I do have some help though from…’
‘A-ha, I knew it! There are others here! See Ian! I told you we couldn’t trust her! Oh, she’s a sly one all right but not sly enough to trick me! I caught you in the act you admitted it yourself!’ she glared triumphantly at Eliazara and waited expectantly for a meek apology.
‘Actually miss, begging your pardon, what I was going to say was that there are some magical properties about this palace that make life that much easier for me. For example there is a self cleaning spell on many of the pieces of furniture in this castle so dust is not and issue and all of the floors are ensorcelled as well,’ she said giving a slight bow. Ian snorted but covered it with a fit of coughing as his sister sent a dark look his direction.
‘She’s got you there, Sis, ’Damian said finally recovering his composure.
Amelia turned the impact of her gaze upon him and said tightly, ‘I think she’s making the whole thing up to cover her mistake.’
‘But mistress,’ Eliazara began, ’I can prove it to you. You see that wine you spilled on the carpet a moment early on accident?’ She pointed and they both looked over expectantly. Amelia’s face grew red as she noticed the spot.
As they watched the stain began to disappear until the white rug, which they had commented upon to each other earlier about the impracticality in a dining hall, reverted back to it’s pristine former state.
‘W, well, it may just be a trick of the light,’ stammered Amelia now blushing a deep shade of scarlet.
‘There is no reason to be ashamed of being careful. I have given you no reason to trust me and you are acting as someone with a warrior’s spirit would if they were caught in a strange situation such as this.’
Later Scene:
‘Would you come here for a moment Ell?’ Mia swiveled around to face the door through which the gargoyle would be entering. She had planned this office out perfectly she thought with satisfaction. In coming into the room people were immediately at the disadvantage. This was not the office of a pop diva, was it? It looked like the sort of office where a swindling CEO would plan his next corrupt move and she liked it that way. With the floor to ceiling windows at her back, the large leather chair and the oversized mahogany desk she made an imposing figure for most who dared enter her private domain. On the other hand all this was lost on the current figure who was entering. She could not see the well thought out
