The Collector and Her Steed

Chapter 35

(A/N: Howdy folks! I am oh so very sorry about the unplanned break from posting. Work was pretty hectic for the last month and I was so dead after my shifts that I had no energy to put into my writing.  Thank you all so much for reading my writing and I do hope you all continue to enjoy it as the story unfolds even more.)

Once they were left alone, the girls all stood up and beckoned Mira to follow them. Hesitantly she stood and slipped around the table as they led her out of the dining room. Passing through the courtyard, they walked past garden beds full of flowers and trees. Turning left, they pass through a very grand looking door and head through a small door tucked away in a corner. Stepping through Mira is greeted by a warmly lit room with a grand piano and a small sitting area. A balcony ran around the outside of the room and looked to lead to other areas of the castle.

Daniela and Cassandra were chattering away excitedly, practically skipping through the room as they led the way, with Bela calmly walking behind the two of them as she pointed out a few things throughout the room as they passed through. Heading through another door they come to a room lit up by a skylight and candles lit about the room. It appeared to be a library with the bookshelves around the room, however it could easily also be an observatory of sorts since there was a lever that opened the skylight. The girls lingered a bit in the room, Daniela eagerly pulling the lever to show Mira how it worked.

"I absolutely love this room, you can come in here and just lay on the platform there and watch the stars." Closing the skylight, Daniela spun around to look at Mira. "We just have to be careful about when it gets colder outside." Waltzing back over to Cassandra, Daniela looped their arms together and they headed out of the room.

As the tour went on, the other two girls had a chance to show off their favourite areas of the castle. There were a few areas they avoided showing too much of, namely their mother's quarters and her area of the castle. They just passed through and showed small glimpses of the area before moving along. Around one in the afternoon the sound of numerous clocks going off throughout the castle rang out, followed by the faint sound of Alcina's voice ringing through the halls calling them to lunch.

Buzzing through the gorgeous hallways, the girls lead Mira back to the dining room where Alcina was waiting. As soon as all of the women were seated the food was brought in and their plates were filled. Glancing around the table, Mira frowned slightly at Heisenberg's spot at the table which was bare.

Clearing her throat, Alcina's voice filled the room. "Heisenberg wishes to focus on his work. He doesn't tend to stay here for long, so that usually means skipping meals in order to finish his task in a timely fashion. You mustn't worry your pretty little head off about that man thing, I'm surprised he even ate breakfast with us this morning." A strained smile formed on Alcina's lips as she looked down at Mira. "Seeing how close the two of you are, it was most likely to ensure you were properly taken care of. That man doesn't have much in his life that he cares about. You're the first living thing I've seen him act this way with." Taking a sip from her goblet, Alcina began focusing on the meal in front of her.

As the group ate, Mira pondered Alcina's words to her, which distracted her from the food in front of her. Each woman had her own cheese pie, although Mira's dish was the only one without a crimson sauce drizzled over it. Knowing exactly what it was, she was fine that she didn't have it included in her meal. While she picked at her food, occasionally nibbling at it, Alcina was busy asking the girls about their morning tour with Mira. The girls excitedly chatted away as Mira glanced at the door. She knew Heisenberg didn't really need to eat much, but it still worried her that he wasn't eating lunch.

Sighing she sat back in her chair and tried being more involved in the conversation. One of the maidens waiting by the hallway that led to the kitchen motioned for the others to join her in collecting the dishes as the women finished eating. As the dishes were being whisked away, a maiden walked in with the basket of cookies Mira had brought with her. The maiden went to each woman, offering the basket out as they took out the amount of cookies they each wanted. Mira was the last one offered the basket and she took out six cookies; two for herself and four that she would bring out to Heisenberg. Setting the four cookies down, she wrapped them up in a napkin and quietly nibbled away at her cookies.

"Oh Mira, these are delicious!" Daniela groans out as she stuffs her second cookie into her mouth, earning an exasperated sigh from her mother.

"Daniela please finish the food in your mouth before speaking, and do take care to slow down. Remember your manners child." Shaking her head, Alcina looked over at Mira as she nibbled at her cookie. "However what she said does stand, these are delicious Mira. Thank you for bringing them." Her eyes slide down to the wrapped up cookies and a faint smile tugs on the corner of her lips. "You are excused to go give Heisenberg his share of the pastries

Eyes widening, Mira nodded and quickly stood up. "Thank you, he's working on the elevator, correct?" Seeing Alcina nod her head, Mira scooped up the bundle of cookies and made her way to the elevator. She remembered it was by the entrance Heisenberg and her had come through the night before so she headed back that direction. As her feet carried her closer, soft grunts and grumbles filled the air accompanied by the twang of metal bouncing off of metal. Stepping through the door, the sight of Heisenberg stripped down to his wife beater and his work pants, coated in various stains caused by grease and sweat. He was tucked under some sort of mechanism from the shoulders up so the poor man was oblivious to the delicacy being carried in to him.

Getting as close to him as she felt she could without alerting him to her presence, Mira squatted down and cleared her throat loud enough to be heard over his own sounds. A slew of curse words flooded out from under the mechanism as he dropped his wrench onto his face. Scooting out so he could see who he had to murder for interrupting him, his very pissed off face was quickly replaced with his signature smirk as he saw Mira. She was doing a very poor job of holding in a giggle from successfully startling him.

Reaching out, she gently cupped his cheek so she could lean in and smooch the bridge of his nose on the clearly dented spot that the wrench had hit. "I brought you some sustenance since you're such a busy guy." Holding out the wrapped up bundle of cookies, she plopped herself fully onto the ground.

Taking the bundle from the woman who nearly broke his nose, he quickly stole a kiss from her. "Thank you for keeping me from starving away. At this rate, I might be as big as the Duke by the end of the year." Chuckling he unwrapped the bundle and popped one of the cookies into his mouth.

Rolling her eyes at the joke, she averted her gaze to the ancient looking elevator. "Well then I won't have to worry about having to chase you down when I eventually scare you away." Glancing over at Heisenberg, she shot him one of her own smirks. "I won't keep you too long, I know you don't like being here. I'd offer to help out but I don't know much about machinery and whatnot."

"Well buttercup, you know I'll gladly show you how it works and what I'm doing."