Post by Manon nó Courcel on Apr 9, 2010 22:05:59 GMT -5
I was ten years old the first time I saw a Valerian adept. Barely ten, in fact, and hiding from one of my tutors. Today we were supposed to be learning the proper way to curtsy, depending upon the station of whomever one was speaking to, but I thought that that sounded dreadfully dull. Besides, something more interesting was going on and it involved Angelina, my nemesis. I stalked her that morning, with her pale blond hair and perfect porcelain skin that never had so much as a blemish upon it. Mama had said that she might go to Camellia House, she was so lovely, but I personally thought that having a horrid personality outweighed good looks. Besides, her nose was too big and her baby blue eyes set too far apart, at least in my opinion.
It wasn’t an adept from Camellia who arrived to see Angelina, however. Not that I could tell the difference just by looking at him, but the man who arrived to speak with the Dowayne simply did not have the look of Camellia about him. I was in the sitting room with my ear to the door when I realized that he and the Dowayne were coming this way. If I was caught again, well the punishment would likely be unpleasant, as punishments went. Frantic, I ended up hiding behind the couch and praying that no one saw me.
I listened while barely breathing as the man and the Dowayne talked about Angelina and then after a few minutes, they left to fetch her. I breathed a sigh of relief and then resolved to get out of there before it was too late. However, on my way out, I saw a bag on the table that hadn’t been there before. It was a black silk bag, and my curiousity would not allow me to leave it be. Stealing a glance at the door, where I heard or saw no one, I walked over to the bag and gently tugged at the drawstrings to see what was inside.
Candy! I did love candy … was this for Angelina? Why should she get an entire bag of candy? There were actually only about 7 pieces inside, but since I was in a hurry, I shoved them all into my mouth at once. It was a tough fit, but after last week’s contest over who could hold the most mashed potatoes in their mouth without choking (which I won) I was prepared for it. At first the candy tasted heavenly, and I was rather proud of myself for getting to it before the man could give it to Angelina. However, after a minute or two, the burning began. My eyes watered and I felt my nose begin to run, and my first urge was to spit the candy out.
That was not to be, however, as I heard the Dowayne’s voice in the hall. Desperately I fled back behind the couch, the candy making my mouth feel like it was afire. I knew I had to keep still and quiet however, or risk the Dowayne’s wrath. It took every ounce of stubbornness I possessed to keep the candy in my mouth, the fiery burn causing tears to leak from my eyes and my heart to race. I dimly heard the man looking for the candy, but it was now hard for me to pay attention to anything but the spice in my mouth. The taste of the candy was still there, sweet and smooth, and I tried to concentrate on that sensation instead of the pain. Of course, because I was not paying attention, it was several minutes before I realized that the Dowayne was standing over me, face pinched in disapproval.
The man reached down and pulled me to my feet, while I wiped the tears from my eyes. Most of the candy had dissolved and I found that I could hardly feel my tongue. “Where is the rest of the candy, young lady?” He asked, watching me with more interest than anger. Angelina was staring at me with fury in her eyes, bright spots of color staining her pale cheeks. That was the only redeeming thing about this entire affair and it was with some satisfaction that I opened my mouth and stuck my tongue out, where three flat disks still remained. “You ate them all?” He asked incredulously, turning to the Dowayne. “Why didn’t you mention this child when you summoned me?”
The Dowayne was flustered, and I knew at that moment that whatever else came of this, I was going to be up to my elbows in dishwater and laundry for a year. “I had no idea … she’s accident prone, but I never suspected that she … well, she’s honestly just trouble.”
The man pursed his lips and then returned his gaze to mine. “Why didn’t you spit them out when they started to burn?” He asked, his eyes searching mine for something, I knew not what.
I shrugged then, swallowing the last of them and looking longingly at the sideboard for water. The Dowayne saw and bid Angelina to fetch me some, which was in some respects the highlight of my day. “I did not wish to be caught,” I said, though there was something else there as well. I didn’t know how to articulate the fierce pride I had felt at enduring the pain that obviously impressed him. Instead I bragged, “It wasn’t so bad.”
He laughed then, uproariously, slapping his hand against his thigh and shaking his head. “Trouble eh?” He said to the Dowayne, still chuckling as I began to down the water that Angelina brought me. “I can see that … she’s spirited, but I think Trinette will want to meet her. I’ll send for her on the morrow, if that is acceptable?”
My stomach was beginning to feel ill, but not before his words sank in. “Trinette … nó Valerian?” I asked, frowning slightly. There was no answer, however, as the adults moved away to discuss this further. I was left to stare after them, dumbfounded, while Angelina smirked.
“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” She said, tossing one perfect blond ringlet over her shoulder. “See where that’s gotten you? I guess it’s my lucky day after all…” She might have said more, but that was when my stomach rebelled and I heaved the contents of my lunch all over the front of her dress. She shrieked like a baby, of course, but because I was ill, the adept that came in fussed over me and sent me along to bed, where I lay curled up on my side staring at the wall.
Valerian House … the words struck awe and curiousity in most of us, though I don’t think we really understood why. Just as Mandrake House always sent a little shiver of fear through me … was I the only one who thought that way? Was this why? These thoughts kept me awake long after the candles were blown out and the House had retired for the night. I did not know what would happen, but I knew that things were about to change … but for good or ill?
It wasn’t an adept from Camellia who arrived to see Angelina, however. Not that I could tell the difference just by looking at him, but the man who arrived to speak with the Dowayne simply did not have the look of Camellia about him. I was in the sitting room with my ear to the door when I realized that he and the Dowayne were coming this way. If I was caught again, well the punishment would likely be unpleasant, as punishments went. Frantic, I ended up hiding behind the couch and praying that no one saw me.
I listened while barely breathing as the man and the Dowayne talked about Angelina and then after a few minutes, they left to fetch her. I breathed a sigh of relief and then resolved to get out of there before it was too late. However, on my way out, I saw a bag on the table that hadn’t been there before. It was a black silk bag, and my curiousity would not allow me to leave it be. Stealing a glance at the door, where I heard or saw no one, I walked over to the bag and gently tugged at the drawstrings to see what was inside.
Candy! I did love candy … was this for Angelina? Why should she get an entire bag of candy? There were actually only about 7 pieces inside, but since I was in a hurry, I shoved them all into my mouth at once. It was a tough fit, but after last week’s contest over who could hold the most mashed potatoes in their mouth without choking (which I won) I was prepared for it. At first the candy tasted heavenly, and I was rather proud of myself for getting to it before the man could give it to Angelina. However, after a minute or two, the burning began. My eyes watered and I felt my nose begin to run, and my first urge was to spit the candy out.
That was not to be, however, as I heard the Dowayne’s voice in the hall. Desperately I fled back behind the couch, the candy making my mouth feel like it was afire. I knew I had to keep still and quiet however, or risk the Dowayne’s wrath. It took every ounce of stubbornness I possessed to keep the candy in my mouth, the fiery burn causing tears to leak from my eyes and my heart to race. I dimly heard the man looking for the candy, but it was now hard for me to pay attention to anything but the spice in my mouth. The taste of the candy was still there, sweet and smooth, and I tried to concentrate on that sensation instead of the pain. Of course, because I was not paying attention, it was several minutes before I realized that the Dowayne was standing over me, face pinched in disapproval.
The man reached down and pulled me to my feet, while I wiped the tears from my eyes. Most of the candy had dissolved and I found that I could hardly feel my tongue. “Where is the rest of the candy, young lady?” He asked, watching me with more interest than anger. Angelina was staring at me with fury in her eyes, bright spots of color staining her pale cheeks. That was the only redeeming thing about this entire affair and it was with some satisfaction that I opened my mouth and stuck my tongue out, where three flat disks still remained. “You ate them all?” He asked incredulously, turning to the Dowayne. “Why didn’t you mention this child when you summoned me?”
The Dowayne was flustered, and I knew at that moment that whatever else came of this, I was going to be up to my elbows in dishwater and laundry for a year. “I had no idea … she’s accident prone, but I never suspected that she … well, she’s honestly just trouble.”
The man pursed his lips and then returned his gaze to mine. “Why didn’t you spit them out when they started to burn?” He asked, his eyes searching mine for something, I knew not what.
I shrugged then, swallowing the last of them and looking longingly at the sideboard for water. The Dowayne saw and bid Angelina to fetch me some, which was in some respects the highlight of my day. “I did not wish to be caught,” I said, though there was something else there as well. I didn’t know how to articulate the fierce pride I had felt at enduring the pain that obviously impressed him. Instead I bragged, “It wasn’t so bad.”
He laughed then, uproariously, slapping his hand against his thigh and shaking his head. “Trouble eh?” He said to the Dowayne, still chuckling as I began to down the water that Angelina brought me. “I can see that … she’s spirited, but I think Trinette will want to meet her. I’ll send for her on the morrow, if that is acceptable?”
My stomach was beginning to feel ill, but not before his words sank in. “Trinette … nó Valerian?” I asked, frowning slightly. There was no answer, however, as the adults moved away to discuss this further. I was left to stare after them, dumbfounded, while Angelina smirked.
“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” She said, tossing one perfect blond ringlet over her shoulder. “See where that’s gotten you? I guess it’s my lucky day after all…” She might have said more, but that was when my stomach rebelled and I heaved the contents of my lunch all over the front of her dress. She shrieked like a baby, of course, but because I was ill, the adept that came in fussed over me and sent me along to bed, where I lay curled up on my side staring at the wall.
Valerian House … the words struck awe and curiousity in most of us, though I don’t think we really understood why. Just as Mandrake House always sent a little shiver of fear through me … was I the only one who thought that way? Was this why? These thoughts kept me awake long after the candles were blown out and the House had retired for the night. I did not know what would happen, but I knew that things were about to change … but for good or ill?