The Rose That Never Withered (Wattys 2017)

‡Chapter 10 - Late Night Guest ‡

"I cannot remember exactly the first time your soul whispered to mine, but I know you woke it. And it has never slept since" - Jm Storm

I wasn't aware how that little scene had brought a smile to my face. I was smiling like an idiot up until now.

"Close your mouth Eli. You'll catch flies."

Oh god. Up until now I was grinning like a fool. "Yes Greta." I replied.

She just smiled.

I was entrusted to Greta today by Dianne. Apparently she had business to attend to today and couldn't be bothered to tell me what it is, no matter how much I tried to know. Greta was a plump woman, but as short as she was, her happiness was always on the high. I've never even seen her on low spirits before.

I was washing the dishes, helping in the kitchen as Greta cooked supper for the Grimoires, Regan's family. After that little scene in the stables, Regan hasn't bothered me all day, which I found strange.

Not that I miss his bothering, that would just be absurd.

I finished the last batch of dishes to clean turning to look at Greta "What's cooking Greta?"

"The usual things we serve to guests." She replied cheerfully. She stirred her pot with a wooden spoon, which she later used to point to me. "Mushroom cauldron soup for everybody!"

I laugh softly "I see."

"Can I ask a favor from you Greta?" I interrupted her again.

She transferred her attention back to me "I'll see what I can do." she said unsure.

"Could you, maybe- So to say, put some kind of temporary poison, not to kill or anything, but to maybe paralyze or produce spots, into master Regan's body?"

She stared at me with wide eyes. A hearty laugh followed afterwards. Well, as hearty as a plump woman can produce.

"What had he done to you that you'd risk your neck, and mine, just to kill him?" she started stirring again, her laughing slowly reducing to light ones. I shrugged, preparing the dishes for serving, opening the wooden drawers, and laying it out on the table.

"He's a pompous ass, that's why." I stated, chin held high "He gets in my nerve every time. And a while ago he-"

She stopped stirring and turned distressfully fast towards me. "He what??" she practicallydemanded.

"Nothing! He was just bothering me at the stables." I quickly defended. I finished laying the dishes on the table. "That is all." I finished lamely.

"Do not entertain the lad Eli, you know the rules. He's bad news. Stay away from that lad." And giving a light chuckle, she added "Even if he looks like an angel"

Now it was my turn for my eyes to widen. My face heated up and I'm pretty sure they're the color of cherries right now. "Indeed he is Greta"

"Anyways, I won't be having a food poisoning tonight. I'm sorry but I must decline your request, I would like to keep my head in tact, thank you very much."

"I wouldn't count on it" I left the kitchen. The other servers had already entered the kitchen that moment and helped Greta carry out the food to the table.

I proceeded to my quarters, opening the doors and closing it afterwards. Because of the previous dreams I had for the past few nights, I look forward to sleeping every night. Strangely enough, it only happens at night. Whenever I tried to sleep at noon or at any other time of the day, I never dreamt of anything.

Come to think of it, these dreams started at my eighteenth birthday, could all of it somehow be connected?

My birth date, those men from my dreams, the master, my parents, could it really mean something?