Heartless

3

It was November and being stuck in a nasty room for two weeks was not fun. The heater barely worked and bugs kept buzzing near me during the night for heat. I was miserable, but it was all part of the plan. I needed to stay for as long as I could to gain his trust.

I haven't talked to Phoenix in person, but he had requested my presence soon. But before that, I spent most nights sneaking around through the dark and cold hallway, so I would wear the thick animal coat that I hid beneath the brown rags. It was annoying working in such a depressing atmosphere that I needed to gift myself during the night. I crept across the manor, careful to not make a sound by the wood flooring that was no help to me. I did this multiple times a night, remembering the precise placement of each awake guard throughout the night.

The morning was rough. Waking up to a musty scent and dust flickering on my eyelashes was not a joy. The food there was disgusting - soggy mash and cold baked beans were not my ideal breakfast, I must say.

"Miss Lockwood, Sir Phoenix is ready to see you now," Tom said as he observed the horrendous condition I was currently in.

"I'll be there." I grabbed my dagger and quickly inserted it underneath my skirt. I walked out, noticing that someone new had come in. This middle age, short, and brunette lady was dressed in bright yellow with a tilted polka-dot beret. She looked decent, but not necessarily head over heels. She was standing alone in a much smaller room than mine (and mine was already freakishly small), in the maids' quartet. I couldn't quite gather her facial expression although I was a perfectionist in that field. It was a mix of sadness and disappointment, but not exactly.

I wanted to ask her who she was since she did not look like a maid, but I didn't have time. I headed upstairs towards the large 'discussion' room which resembled much like mine back home. A long, rectangular table sat in the middle and Phoenix was standing at the far end. His eyes were observing down towards that same tea-stained, crinkly map. As I got closer, I couldn't help but notice (well I did actually) a red marking around Nottingham; the same place my manor was situated. I wondered if my mission had something to do with me, the real me. Well obviously it would, my luck in these sort of situations are a wonder.

"Ah, Miss Lockwood, thank you for seeing me," an unconvincing smile smeared across his sly face, "I would like to discuss your first mission."

This was all remotely far-fetched. I wouldn't think Phoenix would care to work with spies in such professional and comrade manners. His eyes, one red and one black were laid on me but they brought no sort of emotions out. They were cold. Like the eyes of the nuns as they continued to lie about how much they cared for us when they didn't. He was a quite handsome man now that I got a chance to discern him. His eyelashes were long and his lips curved perfectly against one another, letting the nude pink stand out from his cold cheeks. He had the sharpest cheekbones that made him look non-human; fitting perfectly with his eyes.

"I believe that you've heard of Corvina Nox?" There he said it. This mission was about me. I couldn't tell if I was glad or not that I was spying on myself. The good thing was that I could lie about my court and he would think it was true. I could lie about all my thought-out plans and have him think of me as the most loyal spy of his. It was going to be a fun ride.

"Yes, I have sir."

He signed to come and sit near him. I did so hesitantly.

"I want you to go to her manor and find out what she's going to do about the letter."

"The letter?" I tilted my head. I had no recollection of a letter by him so it must've been done when I was gone.

"Yes. I sent a letter to her court saying I would like her to meet me. It is a trick you see. I'm just curious what she has chosen to do about it," he said.