The sun was bright even through her eyelids. At least she thought it was sunlight. However when she opened her eyes Althea realised it wasn't the light of the sun at all, or even candlelight for that matter, but a buzzing, unnatural, beaming light coming from the ceiling of the room she was in.
Ceiling... where was she?
The last thing she remembered was laying down on the forest floor, looking up at the sun peaking through the trees… and she had a terrible pain in her head... the pain was gone now, as was the pain in her feet and legs, and well the rest of her body really.
She attempted to reach her hand up to her head when she noticed she couldn't. Upon looking down, she could see that she was being held to the bed in which she laid, with thick, woven straps. Where was she? Oh god, had they found her? Found out what she did and placed her in an asylum? Althea began thrashing about, in an attempt to release herself from the restraints.
As she looked around, she noticed the bed frame and door were both made from metal. There was a pulling at her arm, she'd not noticed the tiny tube stuck into her skin. It led up to a bag full of clear liquid. What in god's name was this place? She'd never witnessed anything like it. Not even in the asylums she'd read about, had she heard of bright white lights not made of flame, or small incisions connected to tubes. Did she die and go to hell as Sir Herbert had told her she would? Was this her payback for all that had happened the night before?
Suddenly the large metal door opened and a woman strolled in. She looked surprised as she made eye contact with Althea. This woman had pale skin, and dark brown, almost black hair. She wore what looked to be a painting smock of some kind, it was all white with long sleeves.
"Why, you're awake!" the woman beamed. Her accent... it wasn't one Althea had ever come across, it wasn't Scottish or French or even Irish. "Now we can finally find out more about you."
"Where... where am I?" Althea asked, stuttering over her words.
"These are our medical quarters," the mysterious dark haired woman answered, unhelpfully.
"And I am your physician, Charlotte Rawlings. You're Althea right? Althea Lezant?"
Althea blinked, this bright light was beginning to hurt her eyes. Medical quarters? This did not look like any apothecary or place of medicine she'd ever witnessed.
"How do you know my name?"
The woman, Charlotte Rawlings, only smiled.
"Thank you for your patience Althea, I know you must have a lot of questions for us, and I assure you, we will answer them. Let me just get my assistant in here to examine you first."
Us? We? How many more people were here? Where was here? Althea had so many questions she didn't know which to ask first.
"Examine me?" she paused, "examine me for what exactly?"
"The magic within you, of course." She said the words as if it were obvious… as if a statement such as that were completely ordinary.
Althea's eyebrows furrowed together, but before she could get another word out Miss Rawlings walked out of the room, leaving nothing but silence to answer her many lingering questions.
Magic? It hadn’t all been some wild dream then… maybe everything that took place in Sir Herberts manor had actually happened… she’d been silently praying that it was all just a horrendous nightmare… that she had drank too much wine with dinner and had imagined it all in her drunken slumber. But if it had all been real, if she had really… Sir Herbert's words echoed through her mind, witch.
The door opened again and this time Althea recognized the face that graced her.
"Hi Althea," the familiar French accent of Monique greeted her ears. The girl from the Duke and Duchesses gala. Those warm, golden locks that had bounced over her shoulders as she ran through the maze of hedges were pulled up and secured at the nape of her neck now. Even in the white attire she wore to match Miss Rawlings, she remained just as lovely as she had been in all of her finery. Yet, beneath the blinding white lights, one could discern the weariness in her eyes, marked by deep, tired bags.
"You..." Althea trailed off, unable to properly gather her thoughts.
"Yes I know this must all be very strange for you, but I promise, all will come to make perfect sense soon. Do you mind if I remove these restraints from your arms? We only had them on to control the thrashing you'd been doing in your sleep. I believe you were having some rather vivid night terrors."
For lack of any words, Althea just nodded, still staring at the girl with what must have been clear bewilderment. Monique untied the thick straps and smiled down at Althea sympathetically.
"How long have I been here?" she asked, as Monique set the straps aside.
"About a week," she answered.
Althea gasped. A week! She couldn't have been unconscious for that long! How could she have gone without food or water for such a time?
"I know it probably seems like a long time, but you were nearly dead when we found you. Even the birds thought so, for they picked at the wounds on your legs and feet. It's a lucky thing Jasper and I found you out there."
Jasper. She had nearly forgotten the young man who had danced with her under the moonlight that evening at the Duke and Duchesses gala. Was he here too?
"Would you mind lying still while I examine you?" Monique asked. Althea nodded, despite the questions bubbling inside of her.
Monique closed her eyes and lifted her hands to hover over Althea's body. She began waving them slowly in the air, her eyes twitching slightly beneath her lids. Althea furrowed her eyebrows, wondering what on Earth she was doing. Suddenly Monique stopped mid wave, bunching her nose and focusing hard on something, and Althea could have sworn she felt a pulling sensation from deep inside of herself.
"It's strong," Monique declared.
"What is?"
"Your power."
Her power? Althea was beyond confused. Magic? Power? Again she wondered how these people could speak these words as if they were anything but the devils rambings. She recalled the texts she’d read, about the witches burned in the colonies at the end of the last century… was she… How could she be one of them?
"What power? What is it you speak of?" Althea asked.
"The abilities you have. I could sense them within you from the moment I met you at the Duke and Duchesses gala. You see, that's my power, the ability to sense another's magic and tell how strong they are, what exactly their power is and how long ago they've used it." She paused, noticing the horrified stare Althea gave her. Monique sighed. "The first night I met you, your power had been dormant. I could sense it on you but could tell you'd likely never used it. But now... now I can smell it all over you, this whole room, honestly this whole wing is filled with your buzzing energy."
Buzzing energy… Was that what she was experiencing with Sir Herbert and Mr. McNeil?
"Tell me, did you use it for the first time? Your ability to manipulate the fourth plane?"
Those words undid her. They proved that everything that had happened hadn't merely been a dream. It was all real. Suddenly she flung herself over the side of the bed and heaved up nothing but the air in her empty stomach. Monique sprang to her side, pulling back her loose brown hair.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry Althea, I didn't mean to frighten you. I know how confusing this must be for you. How about I just let you rest a bit more and then we can resume this conversation later—"
"No," Althea coughed, looking up at Monique, "I've rested enough, I'm ready to get up."
She looked down at the tube stuck into her arm and started to reach for it but Monique stopped her.
"Wait Althea, you should really let doctor Rawlings take that out, that's how you have been receiving all of the nutrients your body needed to survive for the past week."
"What is it?" She stared down at the contraption in confusion. How could this tube possibly feed her and keep her hydrated?
"It's called intravenous therapy, or as many of us non-professionals call it, vein therapy. You see, this hollowed out needle," she pointed to the needle stuck into Althea's skin, "it feeds medicine and nutrients directly into your bloodstream from this bag."
What kind of sorcery? Never in her life had Althea seen or even read of such a thing. It terrified her, but also... it intrigued her.
"I know you have many more questions and I promise we have answers, but let me go get doctor Rawlings in here to make sure you are well enough to get out of bed."
The girl turned on her heel and walked towards the door, sharing one last smile before she exited.
A few moments later, Dr. Rawlings entered the room once more. After thoroughly examining Althea to ensure she was indeed well enough to get out of bed, she offered her a fresh set of cotton linens and exited the room. The garments were unlike any Althea had ever seen, as were most of the things in this place, Althea had begun to notice. They were dark grey trousers and a shirt made of woven cotton. There were no petticoats or corsets or layers of skirts. These garments were quite unusual indeed. Althea stood on wobbly legs as she dressed herself.
Once she was, as she assumed, fully clothed, she made her way over to the heavy door and opened it. The corridor beyond the metal door was bathed in the same harsh, unnatural light that had filled Althea’s room. Dr. Rawlings and Monique stood a mere few feet away, their attention snapping to Althea as the door creaked open, and their faces momentarily illuminated by the glaring light.
"You're sure you're feeling up to this Miss Lezant?" Dr. Rawlings asked. Althea nodded quickly, she wasn't sure she could stand being alone with all the unanswered questions that tumbled around in her mind.
"Yes, I am quite sure."
"Okay, Monique you can show her around the institution but please pace yourself Miss Lezant, I want you to feel better as soon as you can and much rest is required, okay?"
Althea nodded, looking at Monique who beamed back at her, with that bright, warm smile.
"Well, shall we?" Monique reached out her arm for Althea to take. She did so graciously and they made their way down the corridor, until they reached an odd contraption. There was a glowing orb of light beside it. Monique pressed it and suddenly the door slid open to reveal a small lit up box. Althea jumped back, terrified of whatever this thing was.
"Relax, it's a simple pulley system, it will take us up to the main floor of the institution without us having to take the stairs. I just don't want you to get too tired on me."
Althea trusted her. After all, Monique had not attempted to do her harm. She assumed if anyone here wanted to do so, they would have just killed her while she’d been unconscious. So she stepped into the odd box, and tried not to let her fear take over as the doors closed on their own once more, trapping them within the tight space. There were additional glowing numerals and letters on the inside of the box, they started with B1 then B2 and so on ending with B4 then there were stand alone numerals 1-12 above those. Monique pressed down on the one with a numeral 1.
Suddenly the box started to move and shift. As if in expectation to Althea's unease, Monique gripped her tighter.
"This pulley system, it's called an elevator, or it will be," Monique said, presumably attempting to take Althea's mind off of the witchcraft taking place around this box.
"And I'm assuming you've never seen light not made from fire or the sun before?" Althea shook her head.
"Neither had I until I came here when I was a child. You see, all of the knowledge of these things was brought here from the future." Althea furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"I know it sounds strange but I assure you, as you learn more about your own abilities, everything will begin to make much more sense."
She kept saying that, but Althea still had no idea what exactly she meant.
"How did you find me? In the woods I mean?" Althea asked, breaking off from their current topic of conversation.
"Well, if I'm being honest, we didn't exactly find you, Jasper and I were asked to keep an eye on you after that night we met at the Blenheim Palace and I sensed your dormant power. The board wanted to make sure you were kept safe, and if your powers were to manifest, as they did, that you were brought here."
"The board? Who are they?" Althea asked. How many more people were here in this institution?
"Oh, they are the leaders of our cadre consisting of five elders who vote on any decisions we make as a group." Althea nodded slowly.
"Kind of like parliament?" she asked and Monique nodded.
"Yes! But we have no king or queen."
"So how many of you are there in this cadre?" Althea asked as the elevator door opened and they were greeted by another long corridor, this time lit by candlelight sconces on the walls. Althea silently praised whatever god watched over her for the small kindness to her aching head.
"Hm, I'm honestly not sure, you see not everyone lives here in this institution, we have one in nearly every large city, Paris where I am from, the eastern empires, the colonies, so overall, we likely have over four or five hundred individuals, but the number changes everyday as there are always new people who join."
There were that many people who were a part of this whole... cadre? Althea hadn't expected the number to be so high. Did all of their institutions mirror this one with bright light and those elevator things?
"Does everyone in the cadre have abilities as you call them?"
"Yes most do, although some, such as doctor Rawlings, have a gift for curing ailments with medicine and technology from the future." Again such casual words, as if talks of travelling through time were normal. Althea wondered what other kinds of abilities the members of this cadre might have. They must be quite vast considering how opposed hers and Monique's were.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"So you can sense another's power and tell what kind of ability they possess… What are some of the other abilities individuals have here?" Monique shrugged.
"Well Meg and James are like me… oh and Jasper, he has what we call the eye. He can see fate itself before it comes to pass. But there are many different abilities, some have healing gifts, some can transform their bodies into other forms, and on the rare spectrum, there are those who possess fourth dimension manipulation, or time manipulation, as you have, but I have some theories of my own about you." Monique's eyes glinted with curiosity as she stared at Althea. "I can sense your power is quite strong. But there is something different about it. Almost like an essence.” She paused and there was an odd sort of gleam in her eyes. Before Althea could question that look, Monique clapped her hands together and declared abruptly, “but most of it is dormant. With practice, I think we can release a bit more."
Althea didn't know what to say. All of this, the powers, the cadre, the institution and its odd contraptions, none of it seemed real. It felt as though she'd fallen asleep reading the epic poems of The Faerie Queene and dreamt herself into the pages. How could something this big ever go undiscovered by the entire world? Individuals that could heal almost any illness, and yet there were still people withering away on the streets in poverty? It felt to her that if so many possessed these powers, why weren't they using them to better the lives of everyone?
"How do ordinary people know nothing of this place or the ones like it?"
"They wouldn't understand, not at this time anyway. These people aren't advanced enough for such ideas to even be plausible. If Dr. Rawlings were to heal an ill child with the medicine we’ve retrieved from the future, they wouldn't call her a physician, they would call her a witch and have her burned, as they would the child, assuming it had been cursed by her. Most of them would never understand people like you and me. We are gifted Althea, everyone here is."
She knew Monique was right. Sir Herbert had immediately threatened to burn her for witchcraft just from her skin being too warm. Even she had caught herself declaring this place must be possessed by witchcraft. But her last words, gifted. Perhaps she should stop declaring the things she did as wrong, and start believing them to be the contrary. After all, she was only saving herself from a fate that was… she didn’t want to think about what would have happened if she’d not summoned her power and escaped.
"I suppose that is true."
"That is why it is important to never purposely use your abilities in front of regular human eyes."
"I'm afraid it's a bit too late for that..." Althea said slowly.
"I know your power is no longer dormant as it was a couple of weeks ago, did something happen at the manor you were staying at to make you use it? Or did it just happen?" Monique asked.
For a moment Althea thought of withholding the truth, it would be much less complicated if she just said it was unprovoked. However, Monique's thoughtful, sympathetic eyes, and the way her brows scrunched in, the face of concern, made her submit. She told Monique of what had happened, what she had witnessed at Sir Herbert's manor... She also told her of what had occurred to make her so terrified of him. She told her of that night at her fathers estate. Maybe it was her sympathetic nods of encouragement or perhaps the way she did not judge Althea a single time for her words, that made her feel safe enough to talk about it with Monique.
"Althea, I want you to know, you have nothing to be ashamed of, and I can sense that you've been told otherwise. The problems you've faced are not any fault of your own. Please do well to remember that okay? And as for the use of your ability, we will take care of Robert Herbert and ensure he doesn't come looking for you, not now and not ever. If you want, we can do the same for your aunt and father, tell them you've found a lovely husband and will be starting a new life elsewhere? I understand if you are apprehensive, this is no small decis—"
"Yes, I would like that," Althea needed no extra time to think.
For the last month and a half she had spent every moment wishing, praying, for a way out of marriage to a stranger, and now those wishes had been granted. She needed no time to think on an answer because to her it wasn't a question. This was her way out. She had no idea what this place was or who these people really were but in the short time she’d come to know Monique, even the others she had met that night and Dr. Rawlings… She felt safe here despite the uncertainty.
Monique raised her eyebrows but smiled.
"I will send word to the board right away, and they shall send out letters to your kin. I believe this will be great for you Althea! Here you will learn to control your abilities, and harness that power within yourself, plus I think you will make so many great friends here. You'll find we are a somewhat peculiar group of individuals, and we do not behave as many traditional people you may know."
Althea was tired of the way people acted in this society, so hearing this only made her more certain in her answer.
For the next two hours, Monique walked Althea through the entire institution, there were various rooms, some with desks or meeting tables, others with beds or chairs for sitting and chatting, a very large kitchen where Monique said they had chefs from around the world to create marvellous dishes for them, and a courtyard complete with a garden that put both Sir Herbert and the Duke and Duchesses to shame.
"Alright, the final room I will show you to is where almost everyone is right now, the dining hall!" Monique grinned. "I hope you're hungry!"
Althea did long for a meal. The last she'd actually eaten something, well in the traditional fashion anyway, was at Sir Herbert's manor. As they neared the dining hall the smell of roast and vegetables engulfed her senses. That, and she could hear the chatter from the corridor.
She followed Monique through the large double doors, as she let them sweep open and thud against the walls, as if she wanted everyone’s undivided attention. It worked. Everyone's eyes turned towards them and Althea wanted to turn back and flee from the nagging dread of so many eyes on her. She felt her palms become damp with sweat and she itched to wipe them on her trousers but made no move. Some people turned to the ones sitting next to them and whispered. Monique said they get many newcomers, but as she peered back at all of them now… it felt as if she were an alien, someone or something wholly unlike any of them.
Monique cleared her throat, raising an eyebrow at the room full of people as if to say ‘manners’!
"Everyone, this is our newest member of the cadre, Althea Lezant! She brings with her, her amazing talents and we look forward to having her here with us."
It appeared not everyone was as thrilled as Monique that Althea was here amongst them.
A dark haired man muttered to the gentleman next to him, "they say she's one of the ones who can manipulate the fourth plane. Remember what happened to Charlie?"
Althea swallowed hard. She was unsure what to do, but she desperately wanted to turn and run, to find somewhere isolated, particularly dark too, and lock herself inside.
Suddenly the sound of a chair scooting echoed through the large dining hall as someone stood up. Her eyes met with the familiar hazel gaze of Jasper. She'd nearly forgotten he would be here. She could feel her face heat and likely flush, as she wondered why he had stood from his chair.
"Cheers," Jasper lifted his cup from the table, "to our newest member, may you make this place your home," he called out. To her surprise, a large number of people also lifted their glasses and there was a small roar of mimicked cheers through the room.
Monique turned and smiled at Althea. "Come, let's sit."
She followed Monique to the table where Jasper sat. She also recognized two more faces from that night at the Duke and Duchesses Gala.
As if reading her thoughts, Monique said, "Althea, you remember James and Meg, don't you?"
She nodded quickly and smiled at the two who sat side by side.
"Pleased to see you again Althea," James said kindly.
"Yes indeed, we've all been very intrigued since Monique told us what she sensed of your... abilities," Meg followed, a most curious look in her eyes, as if she wanted to pry but forced herself not to.
"I am still wondering about that myself, as I have no idea what exactly my ability is or how to even use it," Althea said truthfully.
"Well it's time manipulation dear, it will be no easy feat, especially considering you are the only–"
"Enough idle talk Meg, the girl is starving! I say we eat!" Monique cut in, giving Meg a strange look. However, Althea was too hungry to ask questions and the roast and vegetables in front of her looked delectable.
After their meal the five of them made their way to the outside courtyard in the centre of the institution. It reminded Althea of the first time she’d met them all. When they danced together and became merry from the drink they shared. That night would forever be in Althea's mind, it was the first time she felt truly free, and the first time she felt as though she belonged. And now here she was with those very same people, destined to spend a great deal of time with them, and she was... happy.
For the first time in a long time, she felt truly happy as she watched Meg and James laugh with one another and Monique grinning at them. Jasper, who smiled too, turned to glance her way. Their happiness was contagious, even she found herself smiling alongside them.
"What are you thinking of?" Jasper asked quietly, so as not to attract the attention of the others. Althea smiled.
"You want the honest truth?" she asked.
"No lie to me. Of course I want the honest answer," he chuckled.
"I was just thinking about how for so long I have found myself lost in worlds that don’t exist, longing to be anywhere but trapped within a society that values me so little… and now… the dreams I had of finding such a place have come true. I am so happy to be here amongst you all." Jasper stared into her eyes, as if he could see her entire world through them. Perhaps he could, with his ability.
"We are all very elated you made it to us as well." Suddenly her hand was engulfed by the heat of his own. "Could I show you to your chamber?"
She wasn't sure she'd be able to speak, for the words felt lodged in her throat. Her chamber, already she had a room of her own here.
"Yes, that would be nice, I should probably get settled in before it gets too late," she finally spoke.
He smiled, then turned to the rest of the group who seemed to have been glancing towards them trying not to seem as though they'd been eavesdropping.
"Monique, I'm going to show Althea to her room so she can get settled in and be well rested for tomorrow."
"Oh, okay," Monique looked at Althea as if to confirm this was okay with her. This small gesture was worth more to Althea than she likely knew. And it was one of the many things she was coming to love about this place. Both men and women were regarded with respect, treated as equals, rather than one being considered superior. "Do you know which room is hers?"
Jasper chuckled and rolled his eyes, "yes, I am able to see the future you know?"
James smirked at Jasper, looking between the two of them as he said, "does that imply you’ll be frequenting Althea’s bedchamber quite a lot?"
Her face grew vibrant with colour, she could feel her embarrassment move from her face to her neck and even to her ears. She was likely burning red. Jasper only rolled his eyes again, not seeming to notice her own flustered complexion.
"Very funny James, but no, I just know where it is, okay?" Jasper replied in a mock tone. Then he offered his hand to Althea, helping her out of her place on the stone bench.
"It has been very lovely spending the evening with the lot of you, thank you for welcoming me to the cadre," Althea nodded towards them.
Monique smiled radiantly and nodded back.
"It is our pleasure to have you here Althea, we will see you in the morn."
And with that Althea and Jasper took their leave from the group.
"So... you've seen me in your um.. mind?" Althea asked once they were back inside.
Jasper smiled, showing off his set of sparkly white teeth. Most Englishmen she'd met didn’t have such a nice set of teeth, it was something that had drawn her to him from the first time they'd met.
"Yes, I have, more than once actually." He glanced at her from the side with what almost appeared to be a mischievous look.
"Oh?" she questioned, unable to hide her already blushed cheeks.
"I just knew you would be coming here is all, I'm happy it's finally happened."
She raised a brow.
"How does that work? Your power I mean? How could you see me coming before I did so?"
He sighed, but didn't look annoyed. It was the kind of sigh one makes when they at last give in to someone, like a mother getting her child the pastry they begged for, only Althea had not pushed him for anything, had she?
"The night we met, when I first caught a glimpse of you, it was as if we already knew one another. I get bits and pieces of a larger picture, and when I saw you, I saw this, you standing before everyone in the dining hall today, me escorting you to yer bed chamber, the two of us... becoming friends over the course of time," he stated with a smile. "And the feelings that took over me, I do not know you well yet, but I know in the future you are someone who will show me immense kindness, someone who I will care for.”
Althea didn't know what to say to this. It was so odd to see someone prophecies such things… to see things she had yet to do, conversations they were yet to have… feelings she had yet to create. And the honesty in that statement, the rawness… She was glad he hadn’t just brushed off her question.
"My apologies Althea, I've overwhelmed you, that was not my intention, I only w–"
"It's quite alright, I am the one who asked, and I thank you for your candour," she smiled.
"On the topic of candour, would you mind answering one more question?" she asked. He nodded, smiling politely as they continued walking through the long corridor.
"Do you know who Charlie is?"
Jasper's smile vanished from his face and it was as if she had imagined it altogether.
"How do you know that name?" he asked, no sign of the joyful spirit that was just within him. He was wholly serious now.
"I heard some of the other cadre members mention his name earlier when I entered the dining hall, they were whispering amongst each other but I could still hear them."
"Foolish lads and lasses," Jasper muttered, nearly under his breath. "They should’na have said anything near you. But aye, I'll give you the courtesy of being honest with you," he paused as if to collect his thoughts, "Charlie had a gift like yours, he was the most recent member to have the ability to manipulate the fourth dimension here at the London institution, seeing as it is a quite rare ability to have. And the reason for that, is because it is not an easy power to maintain. Many of those throughout history who have been gifted such a power have not lived long once their ability is no longer dormant. You see, magic like that, it takes its toll on the mind of the individual practising it. And as a result of this, many of you... well your minds just can't take it and you go completely mad and begin slipping in and out of multiple places, multiple times and dimensions, until you are either forced to take your own life, or do something to get yourself killed."
Althea's breath hitched in her throat, and for the first time since she'd awoken today, her mind stopped buzzing. All of those questions she was dying to know the answers to disappeared momentarily. She had no idea, she'd not even taken a second to consider that there may be consequences to this new found power she had inhabited.
Suddenly Jasper's hand brushed her own, Althea hadn't realised she'd been picking at her nails in front of her stomach.
"Please, don't let this shy you away from the ability which you possess, it is not a curse, but a gift. And being here with us, this is the safest place you could be. They are going to teach you how to control what lies within you, so that you may not end up like the others who came before you." He looked into her emerald eyes as he said this, his own eyes begging her to trust him.
She only nodded, she was unsure of what exactly to say to these words. Luckily she didn't have to think long as Jasper pulled his eyes from hers, looking over his shoulder to the wooden door at his side.
"This is the room you will be calling home for your time here, however long that may be," Jasper's smile returned. Althea found herself grateful that she didn't have to respond to the conversation they'd been having only a moment ago.
"Oh," she breathed out, staring at the door. She was unsure why but she felt somewhat... nervous. As if by opening this door she was declaring herself a part of this place. But that was a good thing wasn't it? Already these people had treated her more kindly than her own kin had for the last twenty years.
"Ready?" Jasper asked, raising a questioning brow.
Breathing in deeply, Althea nodded. He twisted the doorknob and it opened with a creak. Inside, it was dark, but Jasper grabbed one of the candle wall sconces to light the candles in the room, and once it was lit, it was... Althea sucked in a breath as she peered at the room around her. Never did she think she would receive a room so grand. At most she assumed there would be a bed and a vanity, but this was... exquisite.
The walls were a silver grey that reminded her of the clouds against the full moon, with dark wooden floors and ceilings to create a beautiful contrast. The ceilings stood tall, with carved details that looked as though they belonged in a museum. And then there was the bed, which held a satin canopy atop it with matching grey, satin linens. Not only did she have a vanity fit for a queen but it was accompanied by a large hand crafted wardrobe which she could only assume would hold at least forty gowns. The entire room appeared to be made for a grown woman, and she couldn't help but feel as though she was but a child in it. But that left plenty of room for her to grow, she supposed.
"Wow," was the only word she could muster as she looked around the room in awe.
Jasper chuckled at her gaping mouth. "I'm glad you enjoy it. It will make it easier, being away from your home and those you love."
She looked at him from the side, a small, sad smile encompassed her lips. If only she had anyone she would indefinitely miss. Her heart ached as she thought of her father… for so long she had believed him to be her protector… nothing could have prepared her for the impact of his words that night, the look of disappointment in his eyes as he blamed her for what had happened. Deep down, she didn’t even despise the man who had nearly forced himself on her… the hatred that burned through her was for him, her father, for letting such a thing almost happen and then for holding her accountable for it. Her father was dead to her. Althea’s hand clenched into a fist at her side as she slowly quieted that simmering rage within her. The only person who came to her mind to miss now, was her ladies maid, Cynthia. She hoped the poor woman would find employment elsewhere in Althea's absence.
"Yes," she replied quietly, letting those enraged thoughts drift away. If Jasper had sensed her disdain, he said nothing of it.
"Well, I will see you tomorrow m'lady, I bid you goodnight," Jasper said, walking backwards until he reached the door.
"Goodnight Jasper, I'll see you tomorrow." With one last smile, he exited the room, leaving Althea alone with only her thoughts.