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Post by Sophine Shahrizai de Amodour on Sept 22, 2009 0:24:35 GMT -5
I couldn't believe this was happening. I paced my room, my stomach twisted in knots, my view obscured by hot, angry tears. How could Dyan forbid me to see my best friend?
It had all begun at dinner, with an innocent comment about a joke Sandrine had made. Granted, it was a rather ribald joke, but I hadn't expected Dyan's reaction. Banning me from Mont Nuit? From even seeing Sandrine at all? It was unacceptable, and I had told her so. That outburst had landed me in my room, trying to keep my temper.
There was a knock at my door, and then Dyan pushed it open.
"I wasn't done talking to you, Sophine." She said, her hands on her hips. "I have had it up to here with your constant gallivanting about with the likes of Adepts and even foreigners!" My sister hated people who weren't of d'Angeline descent almost as much as she appeared to dislike Adepts. "Things are going to change around here, whether you like it or not."
I couldn't help it, my temper was at a boiling point. "You are a hateful hag, Dyan!" I yelled, heedless of whether or not my neice and nephew could overhear. "Just because you are a gold-digging, stuck up harridan, doesn't mean that I will follow suit. There is nothing wrong with Sandrine or Faolan, and I will NOT stop seeing either of them, no matter what you say."
"We'll see about that, missy. I have already hired a bodyguard for you, and starting tomorrow he'll see that you learn to behave."
She started to leave the room, just as I hurled a vase, which crashed against the door. "I hate you, Dyan!" I screamed over the shattering glass. There was no response, and without an outlet for my rage, I began to cry instead.
"I'm not staying here." I said aloud, going to my wardrobe and pulling out a bag, into which I began to stuff my most prized possessions, of which there were a precious few. I added a few dresses, and then hefted the bag over my shoulder while I opened my bedroom window. Sandrine had once climbed up my trellis, so I was already familiar with the means of leaving my room unseen.
Once in the cool night air, and away from my house, I paused to decide what to do now. I could go find my brother, in the North borough, but I new that he would insist I make up with Dyan and drag me back home forthwith. I could go to Luc's, but I didn't really want him to see me this way, in a rage with splotchy cheeks and swollen eyes. That left the place that had the added benefit of angering Dyan all the more - Orchis house.
I walked quickly, and soon found my way to the servant's entrance of Orchis. They knew me there, and most of them were aware of Sandrine's and my great friendship, so I had little trouble getting to her room. She listened without judging, as usual, and was comforting, also as usual. She was happy to have me, and soon I fell into an exhausted sleep, curled against the back of my best friend.
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Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
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Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Sept 22, 2009 0:44:32 GMT -5
I had to admit that I was a little surprised to see Sophine in the middle of the night. She was a bit more even keel than I was and while I shouldn't have been shocked, giving the nature of our friendship, I still was taken a bit aback. I listened as she paced around the room, venting about her older sister, commenting to make her laugh, until my poor friend finally tuckered herself out. My slight crush on her had almost faded, and so I thought nothing of her sleeping behind me. Better than sleeping alone, dreaming of her brother.
"Goodnight, dear," I whispered, stroking her hair gently before falling asleep myself.
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Post by Sophine Shahrizai de Amodour on Sept 22, 2009 22:00:08 GMT -5
I slept fitfully that night, not that Sandrine's bed wasn't comfortable, but my dreams were all shades of red and hot with anger. When I awoke that morning, I did not feel rested at all. Sandrine was still asleep, so I crawled gingerly out of bed, rubbing my eyes and walking to the window. It was dawn, and though the sky was gray this early, I thought I could see the first vestiges of sunshine coming through the clouds.
My rage of the night before having cooled, I felt badly for the things I had said to Dyan. Certainly she was wrong about Sandrine and Faolan, but that was something that we would get past with words and patience, not the throwing things and screaming like a child. In fact, I was rather ashamed of myself. In the morning light I could think of several ways I could have handled myself better. Well, there would be nothing for it but to go home and make amends, though I doubted that anyone had noticed I was gone.
Quietly, so as not to wake Sandrine, I scribbled her a note on the back of a loose sheet of paper I'd found.
Sandrine,
I've gone home to try to talk some sense into Dyan, and to apologize for being hateful. Whatever her faults, she is still my sister."
Love,
Sophine
Leaving the note where I hoped she would find it, I crept out of Orchis House on the same silent feet I'd crept in on. Walking back to the West Borough, I struck by the bustle of activity. It was rather early in the morning for so many people to be about, particularly the Palace Guard. Had something happened?
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Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
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Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Sept 22, 2009 23:04:06 GMT -5
I moved in my sleep and reached over to the warm body lying next to me. It took me a few moments to realize that warm body would be Sophine, if she had been there. Instead my friend was gone. Slowly I got up and stretched, bending down to pick up a note on the floor.
While I was sure I was the last thing Dyan would want to see this morning, I knew I had to follow Sophine, if only for moral support. She would do the same for me.
There were far too many people out there for this early in the morning. It took me much longer than I expected to find Sophine. I grabbed her arm, hooking it around mine. "You left without saying goodbye!" I said reproachfully, pouting a bit. "Not even my patrons do that, darling."
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Post by Sophine Shahrizai de Amodour on Sept 22, 2009 23:13:10 GMT -5
Preoccupied as I was, I jumped when Sandrine caught up with me, threading her arm through mine.
"I'm sorry." I said, making a face. "I just felt so bad about last night that I wanted to get home and make up with Dyan." As we continued walking, it was quite obvious that something was going on. The crowd had become thicker, and I now noted that what I had taken for clouds from Mont Nuit were now obviously something else. Smoke. Frowning, I exchanged a glance with Sandrine before stopping a passerby.
"Excuse me, but do you know what's going on?"
The harried woman nodded, pointing in the direction that we were headed. "A fire, in the West Borough. It's a pretty bad one, and if you're going that way, you won't get far. The Palace Guard is keeping people away."
With that, she continued on her way, and Sandrine and I on ours. I felt a sense of urgency and began to walk faster, tugging Sandrine along with me. Would they even let me in the borough to get home? Would Dyan realize I was gone and get worried? When we reached the edge of the West Borough, it was as the woman had said - the guard were letting no one through.
I began to argue my case with the first guard I saw, who did nothing but assure me that I would be allowed to go home as soon as the fire was under control. As it was, the less people nearby, the better. I realized quickly that arguing wasn't going to get me anywhere, so I meekly gave in, then turned to Sandrine.
"Any ideas on getting through?"
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Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
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Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Sept 27, 2009 0:46:17 GMT -5
I stood on my tiptoes, surveying the crowd. "Despite my mischevious demeanor, darling, rarely do I tangle with the Palace Guard..."
And then I spotted a familiar face, and a smile spread across my lips. I disentangled myself from Sophine. "Look pitiful," I said softly, before affecting my most charming smile and sauntering over to one of the guard. He looked a bit puzzled to see me, but he grinned back at me.
"You seem to have a knack for finding trouble, pretty one," he said, leaning down to give me the kiss of greeting. Marcel was almost a foot taller than me, and handsome in the way of all d'Angelines. He also just happened to be one of my favorite patrons.
"Ah, I will hear no flattery from you," I said, poking my lip out and pouting, watching him out of the corner of my eye. "Not after you treat me so badly. How long has it been, giant, since you came to play? You know I have missed you."
Marcel frowned. "Sandrine, if I could I would see you every day...however, money being what it is..." He trailed off, and I chanced a glance at his face. I felt a pang of guilt--he did look a bit chastened.
I turned to face him, smiling magnanimously. "You know you can come and visit me still, Marcel. We do not have to play that game every time, giant." Slowly I traced a finger down the middle of his chest, watching him shiver at my touch and lick his lips.
"Not now," he almost pleaded, looking around. "I am working, you know."
"So am I."
He laughed, despite his obvious arousal. "You see," I said, "I missed your laugh most of all."
"Well, how can I make it up to you?" he said, grabbing my hand at the wrist gently to stop me from touching him. "Name it, pretty one, and I'll do my best."
"Do you see that nymph there?" I said, gesturing with my free hand. "That is one of my dearest friends. She also lives in the area that you and your colleagues are blocking off." I looked up at him, batting my eyelashes. "Would it trouble you overmuch to let us through? Her family must be so worried."
Marcel thought for a few moments, looking at Sophine before meeting my eyes again. "Alright, love, but quickly."
Frantically I gestured to Sophine. "Don't worry, Marcel. I'll make it up to you tenfold." I blew him a kiss. "Please come see me again, I miss my giant."
He laughed and waved us through. "And I miss my pretty one. Be safe, love."
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Post by Sophine Shahrizai de Amodour on Sept 27, 2009 1:08:51 GMT -5
I followed Sandrine's instructions, although rather than pathetic, I think I looked anxious. I wanted to get home and make sure my family was all right, and make things up with Dyan. I watched as Sandrine did what she did best, charming the guard into letting us through.
Once we had dashed far enough down the street not to be obvious to the rest of the guard, I turned to her and laughed. "Well done, Sandrine! Someday I hope to learn to woo a man like that!" My laughter died on my lips, however, as we came around the corner and I saw my home - or what was left of it.
I stopped, staring unbelieving at the crumbled black remains of my sister's house, smoke still rising thickly from it, though it seemed as if the fire was contained. Several members of the guard were scurrying about, calling to each other and some were dumping large buckets of water in places where there were still small flames. I could hardly believe what I was seeing, especially when I happened to glance to the left and see three cloth-covered shapes in the street. I felt a lump of bile rise in my throat even as I walked toward those shapes, knowing what they were, but not wanting to even think it.
A guard stopped me before I had taken two steps.
"I'm sorry, miss, but we can't have people messing about here, it's dangerous."
"This is my house." I said woodenly.
"Oh." The guard said uncomfortably. "I'm very sorry, miss, but there don't seem to be any survivors."
I think I might have fallen if it weren't for Sandrine, but something he said didn't make any sense.
"But..." I gestured at the cloth-covered bodies. "There were four of them at home, and the servants."
The guard shook his head, stepping aside and gesturing to more bodies, that I hadn't seen before. I counted them quickly and shook my head again.
"One person is missing." I insisted, though the man was looking at me as if I were crazy. Just then, a guard erupted out of the front door, coughing and hacking, and carrying a tiny figure, also coughing.
"Denise!" I exclaimed, running forward to take my niece from his arms, holding her tightly as she coughed against my shoulder. "Thank Elua!" Somewhere in me, I knew that the rest of my family was dead, but seeing Denise safe seemed to keep that at bay, to allow me to deal with what was at hand, as best I could.
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Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
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Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Sept 27, 2009 1:29:53 GMT -5
I swallowed hard as I surveyed the remains, clutching Sophine just in case she fainted. Despite my run-ins with Dyan, I never would have wanted anything like this to happen. Poor Sophine. I was just about to say something, though what I wasn't sure, when the guard came with her young sister.
I stepped next to one of the guards. "Do you have any idea what caused this fire?" I asked, keeping an eye on Sophine.
The guard looked at me like I was crazy, and rightfully so. "Miss, I'm not at liberty to discuss..."
I drew myself up to my full height. "I beg your pardon? I should hope I will not have to tell Sir Marcel of your insubordination."
He blinked twice. "Marcel Duchamp? You know him?"
"I am his personal adjunct and liaison to Mont Nuit," I said, importantly. It was true, in a way. "He would not want you to withhold any information from me." I peered in the young guard's face. "Unless you want me to tell him how disrespectful you are being?"
The guard shook his head. "The investigation so far is inconclusive," he said, looking at me strangely. I couldn't blame him. "We have been ordered to report to Lord Duchamp hourly with what we find."
I nodded. "Very good. Thank you." I walked back over to Sophine, putting my arm around her. "Maybe you should come back to Orchis with me. Or...or maybe we should tell Guy." I shuddered gently at that thought, hoping Sophine would think it was the cold morning air. If I concentrated I could still taste his kiss on my lips. "What would you like to do?"
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Post by Sophine Shahrizai de Amodour on Sept 27, 2009 1:46:48 GMT -5
Sandrine's words echoed as if from afar, but one thing she said caught my attention. "Oh, Guy..." He would be so upset, he had only just begun to be reacquainted with this part of his family. "We should find him..." I was having trouble focusing, and before I could say much else, a guard approached me.
"Excuse me, miss, but did you say you lived here?"
I nodded mutely.
"And why were you out of the house last night, when everyone else was here?" He questioned, looking at me suspiciously. I could hardly find a voice to answer him. Because I was throwing a temper tantrum? Because I was acting like an ungrateful child? Because over a silly disagreement the last thing I had said to my sister was that I hated her? I couldn't voice those things, which only served to make him look at me all the more suspiciously.
"I was... spending the night with a friend..." I stammered, glancing at Sandrine. Perhaps he would think we were lovers and let it go at that. He looked from me to her and then back again, frowning slightly.
"And you are?" he said to Sandrine, his eyes running over her appraisingly. I wanted to slap him, even though I knew he was just doing his job.
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Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
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Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Sept 27, 2009 1:58:48 GMT -5
I was stroking her hair, trying to soothe her, when the other guard approached. I was used to being looked over, and I returned the favor. I was just about to open my mouth when my new friend walked over and whispered in our questioner's ear. I watched as the second one's eyes widened and I smiled in return.
"As you see," I said softly to Sophine, "I need no introduction."
"Do you need anything else from us, Adjunct?" the guard asked.
"No, Marcel requests that you continue to report to him. I'm sure that any information I need can come from him." I clicked my heels together and saluted smartly, which they both returned. Then I took Sophine's free arm and started walking toward where Guy was staying.
"Do you want me to take Denise?" I asked, once we were free from the knot of guards. "Are...are you okay?"
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Post by Sophine Shahrizai de Amodour on Sept 27, 2009 2:14:22 GMT -5
I was relieved that Sandrine had the situation so easily in hand. I felt numb, and yet as if I might shatter to pieces at any moment. I handed Denise to her gratefully, as we walked toward the North Borough, where my brother lived. How would I give him this news?
"I...I don't know..." I said, in response to her question. "I just cannot believe that they're... they're just gone. Last night we all had dinner together, and now..." My tongue felt thick as I tried to speak of how I had left things with Dyan last night, but I could not say the words. The guilt that lay over me was heavy and dark, and it seemed impossible to speak of. Of course, Sandrine was well aware of what had transpired last night, but I didn't want to say it aloud, as if that would make this all real.
"I don't know what to say to Guy..." I said, trailing off with a sigh. My only hope was that he would be strong enough to handle all of the arrangements, because it was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other.
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Sandrine nó Orchis
Adept
Orchis House
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
Posts: 776
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Post by Sandrine nó Orchis on Sept 27, 2009 2:21:10 GMT -5
I hefted little Denise in my arms, wiping a bit of soot from her sweet face. "It's okay, Sophine," I said, looking at her sidelong. "She had to...she knew you loved her, and that means more than any words between you last night."
I pursed my lips when she mentioned what to say to Guy. "If you don't think you can tell him," I said, "I suppose I can. But it might be easier hearing it from you."
We would be there soon. "I'm sure Denis or one of the servants will open the door. They know me a bit better than they know you. I can get us inside and then we'll find Guy. Or he might be outside practicing his forms. That would really be best. Just let me know what you want to do." I smiled at her. "How does that sound?"
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