Ring
Ring
Ring
I turned over in my bed still scented with chlorine and stained by my wet hair. I had laid my head down for maybe 45 minutes before the service bell connected to my room went off.
The worst part was Mr. Fierro knew I had left the roof before him and had decided that he was intent on torturing me.
I worked my wet hair into a bun and pulled on a long black skirt and loose blouse. Instead of the lift I took the stairs to the fourth floor, once again the room door was slightly ajar.
“Mr. Fierro?” I called
The room was empty.
I looked towards the service bell on the side of the wall. Someone must have pressed it.
Taking a few more steps inside I didn’t hear the shower, the bedroom door was closed and I wondered how far I should push my boundaries today.
“Clara!”
My heart nearly gave out as Emile jumped out from behind the couch.
“You scared me.”
“You should have seen your face”, he said embracing me into a hug.
“I’m glad you’re here”, I said, “I could use a friend.”
Before we could catch up the front door opened. Emile jumped up and gave Mr. Fierro a half hug.
“Good to see you, friend”, Mr. Fierro greeted him.
“More than good”, continued Emile not noticing both of us had wet hair.
Emile shuffled around in a large suitcase throwing items around the room, which I promptly picked up. He finally pulled out a leather bound book.
“It’s done.” Emile announced
Mr. Fierro took the bound pages and flipped through them, anxiously looking through a few pages.
“This is ahead of schedule . . . and before the Assembly.”
“Brilliant, I know.” Emile joked.
“Ms. DeLune”, he suddenly remembered I was there, “The room needs keeping . . . and Victor wants you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Victor requested you do some work for him as well.” he didn’t even
look up from the book as he rephrased his sentence.
He led Emile out of the room, both of them speaking in hushed tones. As the door closed I noticed Mr. Fierro’s watch sitting on the table. I carefully picked it up.
It was apparently working now but ticked slowly.
I set it back down and went to work.
+++
The ballroom, apart from being the heart of the palace, also
lead to the royal gardens. Unlike the garden I was used to, the royal garden
had hundreds of thousands flowers and plants. Each beautiful in their own way, connected in a colorful living maze.
I located the rose section and had set to work planting the rose bulbs (as instructed) somewhere where they would get enough sun but not too much. I felt oddly accomplished planting them with nothing more than my bare hands.
“Clara?”
Emile walked up to where I was kneeling, a towel in his hands. He offered it to me to rid the dirt on my hands.
“You said you could use a friend”, he said
“I did”, I got up from the ground, “It’s just. . . shouldn’t I have reached acceptance yet?How do you grieve your own death when there is so much life around you ?”
The flowers seemed to be mocking me.
“Clara I felt the same way, but now why I am here could be very well important to Nightfall’s existence”
“How so? Is this about the book?”
“Yes, but it’s also about what’s right, what comes natural”
“You said it was a Greek tragedy, your book?” I remembered
“Yes, it’s about Persephone—“
“Queen of the underworld, of course.”
He laughed but continued
“Yes, but remember after she is tricked by Hades Persephone is allowed on earth
for a certain amount of time for the seasons. One day when she is set to return
she decides to runaway. Upon hearing this Hades sends the underworlds’ notorious
inmates out looking for her. It goes on in exciting detail about the wreckage
the Titans and Persephone cause on the living world.”
“I see”, I cleaned off my hands,” So, it’s propaganda. You’re trying to make people not want to become ghost.”
“Clara!” he seemed insulted.
“I’m sorry-”
“Take this entire Royal family for example”, he started, “they send Specters out to kill living family members to ensure an even generation flow.”
“Doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.”
“Clara, I know you miss your family—“
“Enough, Emile”, I said, “I have work to do. . . I’m tired of hearing about this It doesn't make for pleasant conversation.”
I regretted it the minute I had gotten so cross with him, but didn’t have the heart to apologize.
+1+
It must have been the same everywhere. Almost the exact same Sanctuary in the middle of The City of Bordeaux, as the one in Litany Village. As usually people stayed away from it unless they were entering.
I walked across the street and into the building. The lighting was just as dim but I wasn’t.
I took a seat at one of the pews when one of the men in a white suit noticed me. I felt tense but prepared.
The man looked at me disapprovingly.
“Why are you here?”
“I want to see my fiancé”
“Yet, you’ve been seen with a Loyalist”
I didn’t question how he knew this.
“I just work for him, that’s it",I said
“You don’t have much time.” he said
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll have to make a choice soon.”
“I know”.
At that moment I would have said anything. I was tired of living among strangers.
This time the dark colored pews looked friendly and welcoming. I barley felt the man’s hands around me before the darkness began to separate.
The clock ticked 7:00.
It was as if I had just come through the door, I was standing
at the head of the dinner table, behind my father’s chair . I could hear him finishing grace as everyone looked up.
Mother and Father were at either end. Clarice and her boyfriend, Colin, filled out
one side while Claudia and Peter sat on the other.
There was one empty chair.
Peter smiled nervously as my mother offered him more wine but he kept his eyes on his empty plate. He was uncomfortable, yet I knew he hand probably traveled hours from Manhattan just to be there.
It was our traditional weekly dinner like this one I had been late to when my car had been hit. They had all probably been sitting just like this when the phone call came in.
I moved beside Peter, his deep green eyes did not seem sad but he made the occasional glances at my empty chair and the clock.
“Peter, darling how is work going?”
My mother’s kind voice asked.
“It’s good, Claire”, he said much to quickly, I had never gone this long without hearing his voice.
“You don’t even want to be here”, Clarice spoke up, “You shouldn’t be”
Her tone was sharp and annoyed. It was very unlike Clarice
“Clarice!” My mother scolded her 25 year old daughter
“Mother, he doesn’t want to be here, he didn’t even come to help us pack the apartment—“
“Stop it Clarice—“
“No, Mother. He is not apart of our family. He sure as hell can’t replace my sister.”
Clarice quickly excused herself, Colin followed giving a quick apologies. I watched with fascination as Clarice paused at my picture above the piano before leaving.
Back at the table Peter was already standing up. His keys in hand and mumbling more apologies. Claudia seemed to be on the verge of tears and looked to Father for comfort.
The rest of the scene faulted to memory as I was distracted.
My empty chair wasn’t as empty anymore.
A rigid timid and beautiful figure almost like a reflection stood in front of my chair with one long elegant hand on Peter’s. As quickly as it was there it was gone.
But I saw it.
Her
“Grandma?” I called
The candle on the table flickered out quickly and I felt my time was done.
+++
“I saw her, Emile.”
I paced around the suite as Emile listened quietly but I knew he was angry with me for even going near the Sanctuary combined with my outburst yesterday.
“It’s not uncommon, Clara”, he offered, “. . . we can see others. Good timing I suppose”
“I know but I mean she was there”, I tried to clarify, “She’s always been, even when I was still alive. I can’t tell you how strangely good that feels.”
Emile stayed quiet as I expected, he certainly didn’t agree but I knew he wanted to be happy for me.
“That’s good for you Clara”, he said
“Mr. Fierro told me that sometimes Specters can intervene. I was strangely at peace when I died, she must have been there. . .”
“Don’t”
“Don't what?”
“I know what you’re thinking. You want to join her . . . eternity is a long time you are better of spending it here, being a Specter can drive a person insane", he looked at his watch "Clara you’re going to be late.”
I looked over at the clock. Both hands were closing in at
the twelve and I was supposed to be meeting with Victor in the ballroom to do some work for him
“I know, I just wanted to talk to someone.”
“Later, then.”
I turned back to Emile, “I’m sorry about before. .. . for someone who doesn’t have many friends I was terrible”
“It’s in the past.”
I kissed him on the cheek and rushed out of the suite to reach the lift just before it closed.
I’d expected the ballroom to be empty instead there was a line of shockingly beautiful women standing in the center, shoulder to shoulder. They were standing in height order, separated by hair color.
I heard two loud claps and saw
“Good Afternoon”, I greeted her
“Afternoon”, she returned, “Get into line, please”
“You don’t understand”, I said, “Mr. Fierro sent me... he said Victo—“
“Yes, I’m aware.”
She took me by the shoulders and led me down the line
“We need an extra server for Hallow’s Eve Ball”
She placed me in line beside a short brunette who I remembered
as Millie.
“You need to smile more”, she said when she got to me.
I nodded and then she slowly continued down the row.
She continued this for about an hour, I listened but as always had very few of an idea of what was going on.
“
“Yes, Ma’am”, I said
“Millie, will get your costume fitted”.
“Um, I’m a little confused”, I said.
“Confused ? you should be lucky. Do you know what girls in
this city would give to work a Bordeaux
party.”
“No”, I said honestly, “I can’t believe I’ve gone from being a maid to a waitress. “
“Don’t think of it that way.”
“Why not”
“Well, Victor and Victoria only picks the prettiest girls.”
She opened an amour stuffed with garment bags, she flipped
through them till she came across one and unzipped an full skirted
peach-colored gown, layered with gauze and chiffon. The bodice was covered in
silver and pearl beading.
“Am I supposed to wear this ?”, I could see myself tripping in it now.
“Don’t be to amazed, there will be about 30 girls wearing the exact same dress.”
“What are we supposed to be, anyway ?”, they didn’t look like much of a costumes
“Anyone you want”, she said.
I watched as she unzipped the dress and offered me a chance to step into it. I shyly slipped of the dress I was wearing and stepped into the gown,
It was tight around my waist and Millie began working magic removing threads and buttons. I admired my reflection in the mirror for a few moments. Millie seemed to notice and began to work faster.
“You look pretty”, she said
“Thanks. . . I think.”
“No, I mean it. I’ve seen 30 girls try on this dress. None of them pull it off quite like you.”
She opened the back door to the dressing room to let in some air. After she had finished sewing up the bodice she left to get more thread.
I took a few steps around the room in the dress, I just had to walk slow to avert disaster. I couldn’t imagine having to carry a tray in the dress.
“Clara ?”, I heard Victor’s voice calling me from the back door. He must have seen me practice walking, “Was that you ?”, he continued.
“Uh, yes.”, I said struggling to get out of the dress before
he reached the door.
Millie had practically sewn me into the dress and I struggled to find a way out before he opened the back door a little wider.
Victor was dressed quite casually in a pair of black pants and gray shirt. I briefly wondered if I should curtsy but would probably fall over in the heavy dress's layers of tulle.
“Hello.”
“I knew you would be a perfect replacement”, he said taking my hand
“Thank you”
He led me slowly towards the back door and outside into the giant maze that made up the royal garden. Looking around I could see where I had planted the roses the other day.
“It’s a shame the ball is at night. You look wonderful in this light.”
“I imagine the other girls would too.”
“I imagine”, he said taking me a little farther from the fitting room and into the garden, which made me feel a little anxious
“Where are you taking me ?”, I asked
“I just want to show you something I was told you might enjoy.”
I followed him through the maze, trying my best not to fall over.
“Tell me”, he started, “How did a girl like you end up working for, Fierro?”
“Well, we’re neighbors. He offered me the job so I could afford this piano I want. . . I don’t hold his same beliefs if that’s what you’re wondering.”
“Partially, it’s always good to know your opponent.”
“Opponent? You think Mr. Fierro wants you throne?”
“Who knows what a man really wants”,
I decided to let go of his hand and just follow him.
“I’ve heard”, I said not wanting to name Emile, “That you send Specters down to kill your family members . . . that sounds terrible . . . if it’s true”
he laughed
“We thought it was a family curse . . but it's tradition. There are only two Bordeauxs at a time in Nightfall. Usually every 50 or 100 years, When my Uncle left I asked him to send Victoria, and besides, think of how crowded Nightfall would be if everyone stayed.”
“But still . . . ghosts are frightening.” I said thinking about the one I had seen, I’d been.
“I agree”
"How long have you been here ?"
"let's see. . .more than 100 years.", he seemed very relaxed about it.
“Can I ask you something no book or person has told me.”
“Go ahead.”
“Well”, I jogged a little to keep up, “How exactly does a person become a Specter ? .”
“It’s not pleasant”. He stopped walking,"A soul, Clara ,is like this”, he took out my earring.
“A diamond.”
“It’s precious, hard to destroy except by their own kind. Many believe a soul is symbolized by fire snuff out the fire . . .”
He handed me back my earring, “You burn them?”
“I told you it wasn’t pleasant.”
We continued in silence until we came across a white wicker gazebo, at first there appeared nothing special about it until I noticed the modest Piano that stood in the center. A few tables surrounded the gazebo.
I carefully lifted the dress and ran up the steps to sit behind the piano. The lid was open and I ran my hands over the smooth keys.
“May I?”
“Go ahead.”
I didn’t need much convincing.
I closed my eyes trying to find the perfect song. I hesitated when nothing came to mind. I decided to play a simple piece I had heard at a wedding once. Victor seemed amused and encouraged me to play as he wandered around the garden.
I tried not to think of the dreadful family dinner I had walked in on. Or the impossible glimpse of my grandmother. I concentrated on playing for a few more moments when Victor stepped up to join me, his hand behind his back
“I have something for you.”
“I wonder what it could be.” I said looking at the thousands of flowers in the garden never taking my hands from the keys
He placed a bouquet of flowers that had been hastily arranged on the piano.
“Let’s see”, I said taking apart the flowers to see if I could name them, “Lilac . . . white English rose.”
I stopped to smell the last one.
“Correct”, he said.
I twirled the third one inn my hand for a while, not sure of its correct name.
“Bell Flower, Codonopsis I believe ”, the answer had not come from or Victor but
Mr. Fierro who was m
aking his way through the maze.
I stood up as if I were supposed to be doing something and made my way down the steps, Victor close at my heels.
“I believe you dropped one”, said Mr. Fierro picking up a leafy stem from the ground with little white blossoms I recognized.
“Lemon blossom?” I said, it was like the ones on my lemon trees.
“Lime”, he corrected me
“Very funny, Addie”, said Victor
“I’m sure, Victorious”, he replied, then turned to me, “Leave us Ms. DeLune.”"
"Victorious ?", I questioned, "that is interesting"
"Terrible family name", he said
"Try having Cinderella as a middle name, if it had been up to my grandmother it would have been my first name.” I unexpectedly shared a piece of myself with him.”
“Clara Cinderella DeLune, that is beautiful and very interesting.”
Mr. Fierro seemed to be watching us very attentively I had almost forgotten he was there.
“Hurry along Ms. DeLune”, he finally said
I clutched the little bouquet and hurried back through the maze to where Millie was waving me in. I tripped over the top step and chased my shoe as it tumbled down the stairs.