*On Hiatus* A Midnight Dance

Blessings under the Moon

All too soon we arrived home. I thanked Peter before going inside. Thankfully, I didn't encounter anyone on the way to my room. Tired I placed the travel bag on my desk. A small headache throbbed on my forehead. My bed called out to me, but there was too much to do.

Instead, I focused on organizing my room. Many of thread and ribbons returned to their place on the rack. I hung the fabric and outfits on standing mannequins. By the time the sky turned into dusk, my room grew dark.

Loud chirping caught my attention. Walking over to my closet, I opened the door and Belle greeted me with large eyes.

"Let me get the window for you," I told her.

Once she had a means to leave, Belle flew around the room before going out the window. Sighing, I sat on the bed, fully intended to go downstairs for dinner but the softness of the mattress called out to me. Five minutes, I told myself. I'll close my eyes for five minutes.

One second I had closed my eyes, the next I heard screaming. Jolting from the bed, I sat up. At first, I thought I had imagined it but the screaming started again. I rushed out of my bedroom and saw Emily going upstairs. I followed after her.

"What's happened?" I asked.

Emily stopped, breathless. "The - the madam," she began.

I didn't wait for the rest of the sentence. I ran upstairs, stumbling over my dress. What was wrong with mother? Fearing the worst, I reached her bedroom. Vivian waited outside, crying.

"What's happened?" I asked her.

She looked up at me, with blood shot eyes. "She's uh, she stared . . . throwing things and uh, Charles, he uh - "

Something shattered inside the room. Vivian flinched, visibly shaking.

"Charles is in there?" I asked.

Vivian stared ahead, hugging herself. I grabbed her shoulders.

"Vivian! Is Charles in there?"

She looked at me with round eyes, nodding.

Emily came up the stairs behind me.

"Take Vivian to her room," I instructed. "And call Dr. Howard. Where's Marie?"

"Jonna took her," Emily said. "She, Marie, she got hurt and -"

"Call Dr. Howard. Tell him to bring a sedative." To Vivian, I said, "Have Elaine stay with the twins. Don't let them come up here."

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and went inside. Broken vases were scattered around the room. Pillows and chairs had been thrown. Charles was by the fireplace, guarding it.

Our eyes met.

"Avaline, get out," he said.

Then, I looked at Mother and my heart broke.

Her once neatly braided hair was no a wild mane like someone had pulled it. Her nightgown was pulled down on one shoulder. Her gaze passed over me and she didn't even recognize me.

"Mom?" I croaked. I cleared my throat. "Charles, how long has she been like this?"

"I came in after dinner," he said. "I tried singing her to sleep, but I think the lullaby reminded her of father. She got hysteric."

"Are you hurt?"

"No, Marie had hot tea spilled on her. I didn't want Mother grabbing anything from the fireplace."

"Dr. Howard is on his way. I've sent for him."

"Ava," he began.

I gave him a look. "Charles, Mother needs help."