The Rose In the Night

Tunnels

The fire stays lit all night as it does most. Managing to keep the room toasty despite the fierce ocean breeze. I can hear the  flames fighting softly with the wind blowing in from  the open arch ways. It's flames flying around wildly with the wind tonight like the angry ocean out my windows. I keep the comforter over my body in a effort to hide myself. Only exposing my wide eyes.They don't move from Lia's mattress. I barely allow my self to blink as I watch the flickers dance around her frame in anticipation. They expose the shadows in the room. Minutes begin to feel like hours as I wait. I've been like this for weeks now . Every night.

Watching

waiting.

Only to fall asleep before seeing anything. Wanting to catch her in the act.  to see if it were truly possible to sneak in and out of the castle without getting caught. With the mattress soft and warm my mind begins to drift off to sleep. The silk sheets  lovingly envelope me. Lack of sleep begin to weigh my eye lids down.

Just before I can feel my eyes begin to fall I see her shuffle beneath her blanket. My eyes shoot wide open again.

The angle I'm laying still giving me perfect view of her. I knew she would be able to see me also so I'm careful to watch where her eyes move. Making sure to Laying perfectly still. She stretches her arms as if just waking up from a deep sleep. She is careful not to make any sudden movements as she moves to her feet quickly. Without making any noise she puts on her cloak still sitting by the fire. Then She straps on her small scratchel around her. She walks to the furthest cornor of my room. A angle that's harder to see from my bed. From the Connor of my eye I can see her pause before turning her head.

Just before she turns her head I Shut my eyes and begin to pretend to softly snore. I begin hear more movement then a sudden click.

Causing me to open my eyes again.

Yet when I open them she's gone.

I force my sleeping limbs to move. I begin to tremble from the sudden lack of warmth beneath the comforter. I ignore My body aching for sleep as I get up slowly. No time to put on slippers I wrap a small blanket around me for warmth. I go to the corner where I saw her last.

I look around for a moment. It's as if she's disappeared
I think I had imagined everything for a moment. I look to the mattress on the floor. Her mattress lay empty. Then back around me again. I turn in circles looking for a explanation

No one can walk through a wall.

Can they?

What other explanation was there?

I stand there pondering for a moment. Theo told many people had hiding spots in the floors because of the war. In case invaders ever came to there house. Frantic I begin to check for spot on the floor. Looking for any gaps. My brow grows in confusion. There were none.

Did she use magic?

Was Lia a witch?

A raven suddenly flies in through the window. Crowing loudly. I scream in surprise. Putting my hands over my head in fear. It knocks into the wall only a few feet away from me. I can hear it's neck crack right before it lands on the floor. It's frame still. I walk over to it with anxiety. I touch it's still warm Frame. Suddenly The bird gets up and flies away. I do my best not to scream. I look closely at where the bird flew into the wall. I see a gap on the wall. It's so subtle if I weren't looking so close I would never see it. Anyone would miss it if they didn't know it were here. No wonder the castle guards never knew. My fingers brush over the wall not now knowing what I Was looking for.And then I feel it. I smile. A shallow panel. I try to pull using the edging on the floor as leverage. It doesn't move, frustrated I push on it and I hear a click. It pushes open like a door.