A Kindling Flame

Chapter 3

The next morning, Espen was awake long before the sun had risen. He wanted to be at the mansion bright and early, eager for his interview. He had washed his father's suit the night before, and a small smile came to his face when he saw it hanging in the closet. He changed out of his night clothing and slipped into it. The white fabric was crisp and bright, much different from his normal clothing. Then, he sat on the end of his bed and pulled on his father's old dress shoes. They were a size too large, but they would serve their purpose. 

Quietly, as to not disturb Lilith sleeping in the next room, Espen headed downstairs. He stopped at the bottom of the creaky staircase, a soft smile on his face. He had always enjoyed quiet mornings, enjoyed waking up with the sun. 

He walked to the kitchen, and opened the window, although it was still dark outside. He turned, opened a cabinet, and pulled out a box of coffee. It was just instant, but he had had the box for years. It had been his mother's favorite, and he had found the unopened package a few years ago when going through the cupboards. He had kept it for special occasions, and this was certainly a special occasion. 

"Espen?" Lilith's sleepy voice called from behind him. 

"Yes?" Espen called, turning away from the pantry. His little sister was standing in the doorway, rubbing her eyes with one hand while holding a blanket with the other. 

"What time is it?" she asked, wandering to his side. 

"It's early," Espen replied, kissing the top of her head. "You should go back to bed," he said. 

Lilith yawned. "Why's the coffee out?" she asked, spotting the box on the counter. 

"Because I'm having a cup. Now go get some more sleep," he answered, closing the cupboard door. 

Lilith shook her head. "If you're staying up, I'm staying up." She hopped up onto a chair, pulling her blanket around her shoulders. 

Espen sighed and shook his head. "What am I going to do with you?" Lilith flashed him a sleepy grin. 

After Lilith had been dropped off at school, Espen made his way to 485-783 Road, a light spring in his step. "Morning, Chrissy!" he called to a young girl sweeping the front steps of her home. 

She looked up and waved in greeting. "Morning, Espen!" she called back, brushing some of her wavy red hair out of her face. Espen smiled back at the girl, then continued down the street. 

He stopped after several minutes of walking, and looked up at the mansion looming over him. His amber eyes went round. 

Laid before him, was the mansion of the Plague doctor. It looked kinda shabby on the outside, the paint having started to peel off and weeds sprouting up from cracks in the cobblestones. Espen took a hesitant step forward, the flyer gripped tightly in his fist. He lifted his hand, and knocked twice. Then he let his hand fall to his side. 

He frowned after a few moments of waiting. Maybe nobody was home. 

He sighed, shaking his head. The job was too good to be true. Of course it was. He turned away from the door, and started to walk away, when he heard a creaking sound from behind him.

"Yes?" a voice called out. 

Espen whirled around on his heel, his eyes going round once more. 

A figure in a trench coat stared back at him, a Plague mask strapped around their face. "Did you need something?" they asked, sounding skeptical. Espen nodded hastily. 

"I-I'm here for the job interview," he stammered, holding up the flyer in his hand.

 The figure looked him up and down, somewhat skeptically, before nodding. "Right. Well, come on in. Do you like coffee? I was about to make coffee." 

They swung the door open, inviting Espen inside. He stumbled in, nearly tripping over the black cat that was lingering in the hall. The doctor scowled, nudging the feline away with a socked foot. "Shoo, Astral. Go on," they said. Now in closer proximity, the voice sounded almost feminine. 

Espen narrowed his eyes, pondering over this fact. "Who exactly are you?" he asked, following the doctor further inside the mansion. 

"I should be asking you that," the voice answered. "You never answered my question-do you want coffee?" The duo stopped at the base of a grand staircase, which no doubt led further up. 

Espen dragged his finger across the oak handrail, frowning to see the layer of dust on his finger. "Yeah, I'll have coffee. Don't you ever clean around here? And who are you?"

"Well, I'm a doctor, for starters," they replied, gesturing to Espen to follow them to the kitchen. "The last doctor, may I add. And I'm in need of an assistant." A pause. "Who are you?" 

"I'm Espen. Espen Dovelock," he answered, looking around. Each surface was either covered with dust, or with a jumble of papers. 

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Espen," they stopped again, causing Espen to nearly crash into the cloaked figure. 

"Ow..." He murmured. The figure sighed, before undoing the straps of the mask. They pulled it away, and Espen's eyes went round for the third time in half an hour. 

The Plague doctor, a young woman, who couldn't be any older than 20, peered up at him, her brown eyes large. Her long black hair was pulled back into a low bun, a few stray stands hanging in her face. 

"Are you done staring?" she snapped. 

Espen mentally slapped himself, a frown trying to tug its way onto his face. The girl sighed, shaking her head. 

"Men," she grumbled, turning on her heel and striding away. Her cat, Astral, waved in and out of her legs, purring.

 "Wait-" Epsen stammered, stumbling to follow. "I was just-" he started, but was cut off. 

"You're surprised I'm a woman? Yeah, I thought so. Most Plague Doctors are men. I'm a woman. Get used to it," she called over her shoulder.

"I didn't mean it like that," Espen replied, standing awkwardly in the kitchen doorway. 

The room looked to be the cleanest in the whole mansion. There were a few papers laying abandoned on the oak table in the middle of the room, and vials of plants sat abandoned on the counters. It was a bit chaotic, but at least every surface didn't have a layer of dust and dirt. 

The girl looked back over at him, setting a copper tea kettle on the stove. Astral meowed from the floor, peering up at Espen with big, brown eyes, which eerily matched her owner's.

The girl sighed, and strode over to Espen. She was about two inches shorter, but seemed much shorter when she stood just steps from him. She thrust out her hand. "Scarlet Mobius. The last Plague doctor," she said curtly, her eyes narrowed. 

Espen blinked, before taking her smaller, gloved hand in his. He shook Scarlet's hand firmly, a slow smile creeping onto his face. "It's lovely to meet you."