Before Time Runs Out

Chapter 2

Ethel awoke to the morning light of the winter sun peeking through the curtains of the room. She slipped out of the warm covers of the round bed, her feet touching the cool rug, as she walked over and flung them open. The curtains were to a bay window, the only windows in the room, and she could see off in the distance the city where she had come from. The houses and stores seemed so small, and for miles, all she could see was trees and snow. The fireplace was already lit, although just started as the embers were still fresh and the wood was not charred yet.

 The bed was round instead of a usual rectangular bed, and the quilt was a delicate pattern of flowers and roses. The wallpaper was a pale-yellow background with the same pattern as the bed, and the rug was a lemony color. The fireplace was at the wall to the side of the bed, with a few pale-yellow armchairs. The walls around it were shelved with books, and the twin nightstands had matching crystal kerosene lamps. The room had a fresh floral scent, and off to another wall, there was an armoire with a large chest of drawers next to it. The bay windows had a small sunbed, with a cream bed skirt to match the one framing the main bed. Ethel had never seen a room this grand for simply her, and it took her breath away. She cast a gaze into the large mirror on the wall, studying the intricate detailing of the pink nightgown she had been put in. It was made of real silk and had bows and frills in all the right places so that it could look lovely and still be comfortable. She sighed as she grasped a woven blanket folded neatly on one of the armchairs and pulled it around herself, sitting down carefully by the starting embers of the now sweltering fire. She warmed her hands and could slowly feel the rest of the room sweep out the cold of winter. The house was waking up slowly, and the heating system of the furnace was starting, as heat now traveled through the whole house through the iron grates of the vents. 

She checked the time on the ticking clock on the wall, seeing that it was nearly six-thirty in the morning. Breakfast would not be for at least another few hours. Ethel rose and placed the blanket upon the bed, before opening the doors to her room and peeking her head out. No one was in the hallway, and she quickly grabbed a warm robe. Wrapping it around herself, she made her way down the halls of the house. It was like a maze, being larger than any home she had ever visited. She saw a few maids walk down other halls, carrying things like tea towels and linens, and cautiously made her way around them without disturbing anything. She had noticed that her bandaged hands did not have even a trace of pain, but she was hesitant to unwrap them of fear of seeing jagged scars. She heard the patter of sharp heels down the hall, and quickly opened a door and ducked into a room, sighing but catching her breath as she turned around to see the room. Carmelita was asleep on an armchair, propped up near the warm embers of the fire. There was an open book on her lap, a brother's Grimm fairytale book for children with hand-drawn pictures to go along with the words. Her curls were a complete mess, and her hand cupped her cheek as she rested her elbow on the arm of the chair. Her lips were no longer red but a faint blushed pink, and her chest rose with her steady breathing. Her figure was framed by her sheer black nightgown, and she was surprisingly not cold. A blanket that had been lazily strewn across her legs had fallen off and was now at her feet. Ethel took notice of this and slowly crept over, lifting the blanket, and tucking it across her lap but stifled a yelp when Carmelita's hand grasped her wrist tightly. Her amber-colored eyes were open, and studying every inch of Ethel, but soon gave her a small grin.

"I didn't know I would be awoken by a princess this lovely winter morning," She watched as a flush formed across Ethel's cheeks as she spoke. "Your hands seem to be doing much better already." She pulled Ethel closer so that she was right in front of her, before grasping her hands and slowly removing the bandages. Her hands were completely healed, without there even being the faintest scar despite how deep the shards of the glass had cut her. Ethel's eyes widened in surprise, while Carmelita stifled a chuckle at her surprised face. She slowly rose from her chair, setting the book and blanket aside, her eyes gracing their way over Ethel for a few moments. She then turned and made her way to the drink cart and poured herself a glass of wine, before taking a sip as she made her way back over to Ethel.