"I cannot remember exactly the first time your soul whispered to mine, but I know you woke it. And it has never slept since" - Jm Storm

I wasn't aware how that little scene had brought a smile to my face. I was smiling like an idiot up until now.

"Close your mouth Eli. You'll catch flies."

Oh god. Up until now I was grinning like a fool. "Yes Greta." I replied.

She just smiled.

I was entrusted to Greta today by Dianne. Apparently she had business to attend to today and couldn't be bothered to tell me what it is, no matter how much I tried to know. Greta was a plump woman, but as short as she was, her happiness was always on the high. I've never even seen her on low spirits before.

I was washing the dishes, helping in the kitchen as Greta cooked supper for the Grimoires, Regan's family. After that little scene in the stables, Regan hasn't bothered me all day, which I found strange.

Not that I miss his bothering, that would just be absurd.

I finished the last batch of dishes to clean turning to look at Greta "What's cooking Greta?"

"The usual things we serve to guests." She replied cheerfully. She stirred her pot with a wooden spoon, which she later used to point to me. "Mushroom cauldron soup for everybody!"

I laugh softly "I see."

"Can I ask a favor from you Greta?" I interrupted her again.

She transferred her attention back to me "I'll see what I can do." she said unsure.

"Could you, maybe- So to say, put some kind of temporary poison, not to kill or anything, but to maybe paralyze or produce spots, into master Regan's body?"

She stared at me with wide eyes. A hearty laugh followed afterwards. Well, as hearty as a plump woman can produce.

"What had he done to you that you'd risk your neck, and mine, just to kill him?" she started stirring again, her laughing slowly reducing to light ones. I shrugged, preparing the dishes for serving, opening the wooden drawers, and laying it out on the table.

"He's a pompous ass, that's why." I stated, chin held high "He gets in my nerve every time. And a while ago he-"

She stopped stirring and turned distressfully fast towards me. "He what??" she practicallydemanded.

"Nothing! He was just bothering me at the stables." I quickly defended. I finished laying the dishes on the table. "That is all." I finished lamely.

"Do not entertain the lad Eli, you know the rules. He's bad news. Stay away from that lad." And giving a light chuckle, she added "Even if he looks like an angel"

Now it was my turn for my eyes to widen. My face heated up and I'm pretty sure they're the color of cherries right now. "Indeed he is Greta"

"Anyways, I won't be having a food poisoning tonight. I'm sorry but I must decline your request, I would like to keep my head in tact, thank you very much."

"I wouldn't count on it" I left the kitchen. The other servers had already entered the kitchen that moment and helped Greta carry out the food to the table.

I proceeded to my quarters, opening the doors and closing it afterwards. Because of the previous dreams I had for the past few nights, I look forward to sleeping every night. Strangely enough, it only happens at night. Whenever I tried to sleep at noon or at any other time of the day, I never dreamt of anything.

Come to think of it, these dreams started at my eighteenth birthday, could all of it somehow be connected?

My birth date, those men from my dreams, the master, my parents, could it really mean something?

Just as I slipped in between my covers, a knock came from the door. I rose from my bed and sat upright instinctively.

Who could be knocking at this time of the night?

"Eli" it shout-whispered "It's me"

"Me who?" I retorted "I do not know any 'me'"

"Regan" the voice replied.

I stayed quiet. "Please. I need somewhere to hide. They're looking for me."

I stood up from my bed, wearing my slippers, and went to the door.

"Hurry" he said.

"I know." I shout whispered to the door.

Upon opening the locks, I opened the door and pulled him in quickly. Closing it fast afterwards just as I heard footsteps bounding down the stairs.

"You don't think he could be here? This is the servants' quarters" said a woman's voice.

"You're right," replied the other, deeper voice. It belonged to a man's, "Let's go. He couldn't have gone far."

I know those voices. They were his parents.

Oh no.

"He's he-" I tried to shout, but a hand covered my mouth.

"Sssshhhhh" he whispered. "I know what you think. But please, let me explain first."

I struggled against his grip, his arms tightening around my body, while my screams were muffled by his hand on my mouth.

The footsteps grew fainter as well as the voices. They were gone.

I frowned and started to panic. His hand was still covering my mouth and he had the audacity to smile "Don't you think this is at least a bit romantic? You and I, alone in your chambers, my hand covering your mouth. My face, inches from- Ow!"

I bit his hand hard. "No master!" I forcefully said. I grabbed the first thing I could get my hands on and it happened to be, of all things-

Oh great...

"Explain yourself or I swear I'll-" I threatened.

"You'll what? Hit me with a hairbrush?" he had an amused expression on his face. He was obviously belittling what I'm capable of.

"Oho, I'm done with formalities now Master Regan!" I swung my hairbrush and it hit him straight in the head.

"For blam's sake! That hurt woman!" he rubbed the spot in his head, I could see a bump growing somewhere in there "That hurt more than I imagined actually."

I plastered a victorious smile on my face.

His face tinted red "Fine. If you really want to know, I don't like the food Elizabeth." he cleared his throat "I never liked mushrooms" he mumbled faintly.

"So you hid?" I asked, flabbergasted.

"I tried to tell them, but they wouldn't listen! And our partner would be at the table and- Go on laugh all you want..."

"Hold your horses Master Regan. Pardon? Will the young master be at the table?"

"Yes, yes- and not eating all the meals served is such disrespect-" he rambled on.

I just stared out-mindedly as I tried to process this information.

The master was at the table.

This is not good. My curiosity's getting the better of me again. I wanted to see what he looked like.

Scratch that, I needed to see.

Every time I know he's near, I feel a strong attraction towards him, like he was the magnet and I was but a piece of metal drawn to him.

It felt like my life depended on it.

"Are you listening?"

"No time to argue. Let's get to the table." was all I said, before I grabbed his hand and made a motion to open the door.

"Weren't you listening?!?! I don't like mushrooms!!!" he protested.

"Zip it"

We rushed outside. I pulled him to the back door, leading to the kitchen, careful to slip in without being seen.

"Keep quiet." I said. "You'll get us caught"

"As much as I enjoy you holding my hand, I don't like the outcome of this situation." he shout-whispered.

"Sssshhhh." it was my turn to cover his mouth. He stared at me wide eyed. "I'm not getting you back to dinner. I just want to see the young master." He released a breath, obviously relieved. I took my hands out from his mouth.

"You could have told me sooner!" he shout-whispered.

"I could, but where's the fun in that?" I grinned. He pouted like a child.

We entered the kitchen, cautious not to make any noise that might expose us.

"Eli?"

I pray to god that it was Regan's voice that was only slightly higher. But God was not in my favor tonight. I sighed.

"Eli dear?" it repeated "Is that you?"

"Dianne." I confirmed. "It's nice to see you" Her eyes suddenly widened when her gaze landed on Regan. You'd be amazed at how fast it became so wide in a short span of time.

"Master Regan!" Dianne shouted, she switched her gaze to me "What are you up to Eli?"

"At ease Dianne. I was just with Eli here" he made a pointing notion to me. He had a sly smile on his face. "She really is the nicest dame" he added.

Glad to see someone obviously enjoying this.

"Master Regan, your parents are looking for you. They are at the table this instant and are requesting your presence at supper."

I grabbed both of Dianne's hands in mine, and with a face that could launch a thousand ships, asked "Dianne, do you trust me?" my face was dead serious. To say she was shocked was an understatement. It looked like she was near to fainting!

"What kind of a question is that? Eli darling, of course I do" her face held uncertainty, and so did her voice.

"She wants to see Julianne Vilgrain." Regan had speedily blurted.

You stupid weasel-

Dianne's eyes once again went wide like saucers. "You what!?! No I-"

"Trust me Dianne. I need to see him. I'm old enough to take care of myself" I squeezed her hands in assurance "Trust me." My face was one of determination. I was not going to take no for an answer.

She must have noticed this for her eyes had suddenly softened, her hazel eyes turning to porcelain.

"I do but- if anything happens to you-" Dianne's eyes watered. "I don't know what I'll do. I was a fool Elizabeth..." the last part had reduced to a whisper.

"Don't worry Dianne. She has me" Regan offered. It made me smile. Until he grinned like a fool and my smile was, indeed, replaced with a frown.

"You don't understand. I trust you, but-" she sighed. A deafening silence fell before us, until I had noticed a tear falling from Dianne's eyes. She slowly let go of my hand, placed it on my head, and softly kissed it. "Be careful Elizabeth" she whispered. She hugged me tightly, reluctance pouring out as she let me go..

Why does it feel like it was more of a goodbye?

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