The True Story of Emily Lockwood / g. karim

𝟞. 𝔸 ℕ𝕖𝕨 𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕

~ / Episode One - Part One \ ~

"you should see me in a crown"

❀

--The doorbell rang, not long after Anthony and Emily's conversation in the kitchen. Their tea hadn't even gone cold yet, which just goes to show how quickly the person materialized on their doorstep. 

They were currently testing another girl, who was quite squeamish. 

"I thought you said we were done for the day?" Emily asked Anthony, from her perch on the sofa. The girl was trying to listen to the objects, horror plain on her face. 

"I was under the impression that we were," his brows furrowed. "George, would you-"

"Mind getting the door?" The boy interrupted "I guess not." Emily turned her face to look at her brother, giving him a stern look. He simply shrugged, and went back to paying attention to the girl.

He was in his usual outfit, the suit which Emily had once made fun of - but she realized it was a sort of armor for him. Something he felt comfortable in. Emily's rule was, if you could fight someone in it, it was a good outfit. His suit passed the test; they'd sparred while he wore it, once. 

Emily had forgone her suit, no matter how unstoppable it made her feel. Instead today, she chose a dark brown turtleneck and long skirt. Comfortable, and she could hide knives under her skirt!  Her outfit, like Anthony's, passed the test. 

She could hear George's voice, not very clearly - but very faintly. It seemed, whoever the girl was, had read their ad this morning, and Emily could feel she was quite desperate. Poor thing. 

"Okay, take a look at this," Lockwood said, handing the girl another object. "Tell me what you think it is." The girl took it into her shaking hands, and shrieked almost immediately. 

"Get that thing away from me!" She cried out, before gathering up her personal effects and dashing out the door. Emily sunk into the sofa, and Anthony went to fiddle anxiously with some of their trinkets on the mantel. 

"You win," George informs her brother "there was one more." 

"No, you win," Anthony responded distractedly "I checked the list. That was the last one." 

"Oh, put me out of my misery," Emily groaned.

"Then whose this?" George asked, and both twins stopped their grumbling to face the girl. She stood a bit awkwardly behind George, and Emily felt how distraught the girl was. Something happened to push her here, something that left her feeling hollow inside. 

Perhaps she lost someone? Emily guessed, but she didn't bother inquiring since she'd probably be running out of the door in a few minutes' time. 

"Hello," her brother said, laying the charm on thick. Idiot. "I'm Anthony Lockwood." 

"I'm Lucy Carlyle," the girl introduced herself "i know I don't have an appointment, but I-"

"Saw our advert in the paper," Emily guessed, watching the girl's face "and you were in the neighborhood? Lovely! Emily Lockwood." Lucy's face was that of mild surprise, but she smiled anyway. 

"Hello." She handed Anthony her CV, and they got to talking business. Emily stood up beside the other two members of the team. 

"Would you like some tea," Anthony asked "or has George already offered?"