Partners In Crime

Chapter 1

𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙴𝚅𝙴𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚁 𝙷𝙰𝚂 𝙰𝙻𝚆𝙰𝚈𝚂 𝙱𝙴𝙴𝙽 𝙼𝚈 𝙵𝙰𝚅𝙾𝚁𝙸𝚃𝙴.

Mainly due to the sunlight of such an hour exquisitely decorating my favorite room in the entire estate, making it all the more — my favorite. 

The room itself had been constructed in a circle-like shape; its walls holding hundreds, if not thousands, of novels of all sorts of genres. The unusually high ceiling of the room granted additional space for more books to be added to the already immense army of a collection. A mobile ladder with four sturdy wheels on its ends was attached to the wide shelves, allowing occupants full access to any literature stored within the boundaries of the vast verticality. In the center of the room was a comfortable leather chair that enticed you to feel as though you were sinking into its embrace the moment you took a seat, and a small tea table generally accompanied by a teacup, facing the only two windows in the entire expanse; one located at human height and the last right above it — allowing the sunshine to invite itself, spreading its luminance and blanketing the rows of books until the light slightly reflected from each colorful cover and, at last, landed on the floor. During this hour, the cream-colored ambiance of the room would get covered by faint blotches of various hues.

In my solitary, I was enveloped by the ottoman seat, holding a weighty novel with both hands. If it hadn't been for Rosie, a lifelong maid employed by our family, I would have utterly lost track of the time I spent in the company of hundreds of prominent figures, or rather, their names on the covers of their literary masterpieces. Engulfed by the story, her presence had given me quite the scare, in reaction I dropped the book.

"I apologize for disturbing you, Lady L/N!" She panicked, hastily dropping to her knees to pick up the object. Once I reverted to my regular breathing, I placed my hand on her shoulder, indicating that I held no grudge.

"Lady L/N... Lady Claire had asked of me to collect you for dinner, your grace." She placed the novel on the table with extreme care, retracting her hands until they met in front of her lower abdomen. 

"Thank you, please tell her that I shall be there shortly," I replied, taking the last sip of my evening tea and handing Rosie the empty mug, "Oh, and I beg, refer to me as Y/N. Lady Y/N if you must, but using my first name will help avoid any confusion." I remarked, taking notice of the puzzle Rosie solved at any moment she was required to differentiate me and my sisters when referring to us. She simply bowed down and exited the room. 

Preparing to leave, I stood up from the seat and took a spare minute to come to terms with the temporary achiness in my legs caused by the prolonged period of sitting in the same position. Prior to heading downstairs for the supper, I grabbed the book and hurried to the ladder, after which, I shoved it with my leg. Sailing smoothly through the hardwood flooring, the ladder's momentum decreased as it drew near the empty spot assigned for that very novel. Once I placed it where it belonged, I slid down the frames of the step stool and ran toward the dining room.

Fixing my attire outside the dual door, I grabbed the handles of the entrance and pushed them open, revealing Claire and Nina already seated behind the table full of food. While strolling toward my seat, my eyes landed on a white note Claire was holding in one hand while the other gracefully swirled her glass of wine, forcing it to perform a beautiful dance, consequently painting the sides of the glass in deep red. Though the paper itself lacked any hints of value, her face wore no worries or exhaustion — the opposite really, she was calm and perhaps even smiling. But I was certain something must've gotten in my eye. 

"Evening, baby sister." Nina smiled, cutting a slice of her steak much too large for her to fit into her mouth. Meticulously placing it in a horizontal arragement, she cut it once again into smaller pieces, before dropping it onto the floor. I casted a brief look at the staff standing four feet behind her, their faces formed in a pose impeccable for painting a piece I shall call, "Utmost Confusion". Grasping the bottom of the tablecloth, I raised the white fabric and dove to witness the reason for her activities with the rather lavish dinner... only to see a couple of raccoons holding the disappearing slices in both their paws, almost in a human manner. 

"Feed them too much and they might burst," Claire exclaimed, not once taking her eyes off the paper, before taking a sip of her beverage. I swiftly rose my body from the bent-over position, strainghtening my posture while exchanging a sheepish smile with Nina, who winked in response. Claire shot a telling look at the staff, and shortly after, two personnel approached the animals, gently raising them to later release outdoors. Upon doing so, she placed the sheet on a vacant spot of the table and raised her silverware.

"Y/N, do tell, how are your studies progressing?" She directed her query at me, placing a bite in her mouth.

"Quite well. There are no grounds for grievance." I succinctly replied, similarly biting my food. It was a reoccurring topic of the mass part of our interactions. Although we share a household, the three of us seldom see each other; each occupied with our own concerns. And yet, in an event as convenient for a more informative discussion regarding our well-being as the one we were currently partaking in, the topics remained undistinguishable. 

The sounds of silverware clinking on china and the occasional rustling of dining handkerchiefs filled the air as we ate in tranquility, our minds empty of any subjects worthy of wasting our breaths. In the nick of time, only as the three of us finalized our feast did Claire snap the dreadful silence in half...

"Nina, would you fancy informing Y/N of the news that landed at our doorstep along the wind's blow?" She looked at Nina through her brows, subtly and most likely subconsciously lowering her head.

The already somber atmosphere abruptly darkened, as though the moon had dimmed its light, leaving the night unattended. Nina's eyes had glued themselves on Claire's figure, observing her expressions in an attempt to see whether she had truly meant what she requested. Her lips moderately parted, drawing a shortlived inhale before her focus shifted in my direction, across from where she had been located, "Mr. Arkin has... transitioned from this world." Quietly vocalizing, her tone was that of a whisper.

My eyes widened as a chilly wave washed over my body. I ceased all motion, stunned by the unforeseen announcement laid out on the table. A truly impressive mathematician, Sir Arkin had been a sort of priced possession of our university, the pinnacle of academia's prestige image, with a great deal of freshly accepted pupils submitting notes of appeal to be taught by his elderly wisdom. Only a little out of an ocean-sized multitude managed to achieve their names to be assigned to his lectures. My name was one of those very few. 

His passing shall hold utmost grief among the scholars and professors alike, expanding throughout the entirety of Great Britain in the fashion of a thick, dark fog — urging the air to grow dense and heavy. 

"I shall pay his family a visit." Despite the deafening shatter of a heart ache reverberating through my ears, I mumbled in silence while keeping my eyes low. As knowledgable as Mr. Arkin was, he too was a benevolent man; the authenticity of his compassion for his students was of no secret as to their admiration of him. 

"See that you do. I am aware how high of esteem you held the gentleman." Claire supported my decision and caressed my shoulder in a nurturing style before declaring the closure of dinner. 

With everyone gone, a candle kept my face warm as I remained seated, alone in the dinning hall whose walls seemed to have been expanding as my statue shrinked until I saw myself pathetically insignificant amids the surrounding shadows and the monsters hiding within them.