A few hours had passed since I suggested Mr. Richtofen lie down to rest his head. I assumed he had fallen asleep, weary from his panic attack earlier, but I had not gone to check on him. As I prepared dinner, which was bratwurst, Edward's favorite, I put on an old record that I found in the attic the very first night I arrived here. It played a single song, the instrumental version of Amazing Grace. It was a song that I knew well, as I had grown up in a very religious family.

Before long, I found myself humming the precious tune, my lips coming closer and closer to forming words.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that save a wretch like me... I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now, I see. T'was grace that taught my heart to fear... and grace, my fears relieved..."

"You have the most beautiful voice," Mr. Richtofen interrupted unexpectedly, startling me greatly.

"Mr. Richtofen!" I said, wheeling around to face him.

"Edward," he corrected.

"My apologies, Edward," I said rather hesitantly.

He shot a shy smile my way and headed to the table. I felt as if I should say something that would fill the now present silence, but could not bring myself to speak. I hadn't really spoken to Edward before, without first being spoken to.

"I am... sorry for... the incident earlier," Said Richtofen as I continued to cook.

I shot a glance of mixed emotions, including both pity and concern, toward the man, although he wasn't looking.

"No apologies are in order, sir," I assured, piling edible delecacies on the glass plate.

"I put you through much trouble. I am sorry."

I thought a moment before answering his plea of forgiveness. "Your apology is accepted... although it was not necessary." I walked over to the table with a massive plate of food and sat the plate on the table. "I made your favorite, sir."

Richtofen smiled down at the plate of food, taking in its entirety. "You simply do know how to cheer a person up, Eliza." He picked up the fork and took a bite. "Mmm... as delicious as ever."

Richtofen's POV

I watched as she began to walk into the living area, taking her leave. I wanted to stop her, and tell her to stay and eat with me. But my shyness once again left me at a disadvantage. I watched as her hips swayed up the stairs, revealing to only myself, a side of me that I had never attended. I felt something as I watched the girl move swiftly up the stairs, and shamefully tore my eyes away once her form had left the scene. Surely not, Edward... I scolded myself, finishing the plate of food before me quickly. You dare stoop so low... What would father think? He would surely be mad. Your father is dead! Both your father and mother are dead, they mean nothing! The other voice in my head chimes in angrily. "Shut up, the both of you..." I audibly speak, hushing the voices. "It will not happen again."

Later that evening I was in the library, my nose buried in the depths of a book, when I heard a knock at my door.

"Come in, Eliza," I spoke, assuming that it was my servant. I was surprised when another form stepped into the doorway. "Doctor Maxis!" I rose from my seat to greet him, only to be waved away.

"Please, don't let me interrupt your studies!" Maxis said, casually sifting through the bookshelf closest to me. "A fine selection you have," Maxis said, smiling. "A selection which I have helped to increase. In fact, I used to live in this very house, when I first came to work here as a young apprentice to Group 935!"

This revelation surprised me. He had lived here? "Truly? I had no idea," I replied, a slight grin denting my cheeks.

Maxis smiled. "For sure, my dear boy. Now, I didn't come here to ramble about my past encounters... I came to talk to you about the... er.... conflict earlier. Have a seat."

Instantly my smile fell, vanishing into the dark recollection of the event of which Maxis spoke. I could vividly see blood gushing from the victim's body, as if I were watching it, the final glance of his eyes before his body fell limp. I took a seat, prepared to listen to Maxis's words, as he sat across from me.

"I'm very sorry you had to see that so soon after you arrived, Edward. It truly was a tragedy. But the man simply had to be stopped, he was a danger to us all. You understand this, correct?"

I thought long and hard before I answered Maxis's question with one of my own. "Why? Why was he a threat to our safety?" I charged boldly, a little anger now seeping into my voice.

Maxis looked at me with disbelief. A sigh escaped his lips before he began to explain. "Now that you are officially a part of Group 935, you have a right to know the things that happen in our facilities. That man was part of an experiment used to test a biosubstance that our researchers at Group 935 have created over the past three years. Had that subject escaped... He might have ended us all. We cannot be sure."

Before he could continue, I interrupted with my burning question. "Where did he come from?" I prayed that the answer was not as I foresaw.

Maxis continued, "He volunteered... He had been suffering from a miserable case of cancer in his brain. He was insane to begin with."
Accepting this answer, I inquired further about this fluid which Maxis had mentioned.

"We call it Ultrafluid. It's the purple liquid you saw being injected into that man. Edward, you must understand. If we can harness the full power of this substance, the German army will be unstoppable. We can conquer the world."

It came suddenly to my attention that Maxis had been holding back much more than I had originally anticipated. Was the military worth this kind of extent? At any rate, I nodded my head, simply wishing for Maxis to leave me to think.

"Please do not let this get in the way of your studies. I will leave you be... if you need another day off, so be it. But I expect to see you back the next day." With these words, Maxis advanced toward the door of my study, taking his exit.

I let out a breath of relief now that Maxis had left. I thought to myself long and hard about the things that had just been clarified for me. Before I could get in a complete thought, another knock came at my door.

"Come in," I spoke shakily, rattled by Maxis's words.

In stepped the small light-haired girl, a silver tray in her hands. She walked towards me, her eyes trained on the pitcher of liquid that set on the platter. "I've brought you some tea," Eliza smiled sweetly, but I sighed and left my head in my hands.

"Thank you, Eliza," I said as she sat the tray on the small table next to me. She began to walk away leaving me to my thoughts. I, however, no longer wished to be alone. I wanted to tell someone what had happened. "Eliza, would you care to stay?" I asked before my tongue could stop the words.

Eliza paused, her back still turned to me. She turned around slowly, her eyes meeting mine. "I really should be getting back, I haven't swept the floors yet..." She blushed.

I almost let her go, but something inside made me continue to fight for her attention. Her attention? Her company I surely mean... "The floors can wait, better yet, don't even sweep the floors tonight." I surprised myself.

She looked toward the ground. "W-Why do you wish for me to stay?" She stuttered.

"Because.." I wasn't sure even I had the answer! Company, I suppose? "Because I want to learn more about you." My mouth completely disobeyed my brain, sending those words flying. Did that sound strange? Pedophile-like even? What would she say!?

To my surprise, the girl walked towards the seat on my left, and took it, smiling softly and sending blood rushing to my face. I smiled back at her welcome presence. Originally my problems had been my motive, but now I was completely focused on learning about this girl.

"What do you wish to know?" She settled into her seat, turning her head to face me.

I pondered for a moment in deliberation, scrambling for a question to ask. There were so many, I decided to make something of a game of this.

"How about we play a game? I'll ask you a question, you answer, then you can ask anything you'd like."

Eliza looked unsure, drawing back from me slightly. "Are you sure, Mr. Rich- I mean... E-Edward?"

"Of course... Since we are here together, I think we should learn more about one another." Great, Edward. Way to make this sound creepy.

Eliza swallowed noticeably, as if nervous. "Very well, sir."

Yet I still drew a blank. What to ask? I started with a simple question. "What's your favorite color?"

Eliza half-smiled, looking at her lap. "Rainbow."

I raised an eyebrow. "Rainbow?"

"Yes sir. I've debated between colors for so long that I simply can't decide... So why not have them all?"

I grinned. "What a fantastic reason... It's your turn."

She looked away, thinking. "Okay, what is your favorite color?"

For a reason I knew not, this question took me by surprise. "Hmm... I must say, I haven't thought about it near enough to answer." I looked into Eliza's eyes for a split second, and then I knew the answer. Blue, like her irises, one of the most beautiful things I had seen in a while. I would not dare say this now. I leaned back in my chair and continued. "Do you prefer the indoors or the outdoors?"

"Oh, the outdoors are my favorite place. I love nature." She answered surely, a look of yearning in her still eyes.

I had never seen her out before. This house had a remarkable backyard, yet I had never taken notice of her presence there. Perhaps it was too cold? Autumn was in it's fling. Of course I could not settle for my imagination, I wanted her to confirm. "Why don't you venture outside more often?"

Instantly her expression fell to gloom. "I am not permitted to do so."

A look of confusion surfaced on my face. "What? I have never ordered you to stay inside..."

"Not you, sir... Doctor Maxis."

This infuriated me. This woman had been ordered to confinement? For what reason? More immediately, what authority did Maxis have over MY servant? Without my tongue stopping me, words flowed freely from my mouth.

"Why does Doctor Maxis command you? Why is he your master, and not I?" I listened with great intent.

Eliza sighed and looked as if she were thinking too hard. "You are... But he is the head of France's branch of Group 935," She answered finally. "Even you cannot escape his command."

I noticed a flicker of doubt in Eliza's eyes, as if she were hiding something. She stared at the ground, almost looking afraid that I would inquire further.

"If it's alright with you, sir... I'd like to retire now..." Her eyes remained trained on the carpet.

There was so much more that I wanted to ask her, but I could not, in good conscience, force her to stay. I nodded. "You may go now, Eliza." I watched as she bobbed her head in appreciation, rising from her seat.

"Thank you, sir." She turned and started toward the door. Regrettably, again, I allowed my eyes travel down her waist. Nein, Edward... I scolded. I jerked away my gaze. There was one more question I needed to ask.

"Eliza," I called before she reached the door.

She wheeled around. "Yes sir?"

I hesitated to ask the next question. Back and forth, I went in my head, eventually deciding against myself. "Goodnight."

She smiled. "Goodnight, sir."

With that, she took her leave, and I was alone once again with my thoughts.