The Forgotten

Abandon Hope, Ye Who Enter Here (Part One)

I sit around reading until it's time for dinner. I consider not going down, even for that. I realize I have to when a servant appears at the door.

"Miss Bristill," she begins. I shake my head.

"I know, I'm going," I say quickly, setting down the book and getting up. The maid shakes her head.

"There is a boy 'ear to see you," she says in her high, deep accent.

"Oh," I say, slightly surprised. "Okay." She leads me to the front hall. Will is standing there.

"Raven, hey," he says. I give him a small smile.

"Hi, Will," I say. "What's up?" He looks nervous, very nervous. I cross my arms. "Is something wrong?"

"No," he says quickly. "No, nothing's wrong, I just...well I..."

"Well..." I press. He gulps.

"I want to ask you on a date," he spits out.

"A...a date?" I ask, shocked. "A real date?" He grins.

"Yes, a real date." I glance down. My hands are shaking. Honestly, conspiracy and murder don't scare me but the idea of going out with a guy does? So not fair.

Then again, when is it ever?

"I...I don't know what to say," I stutter. Curse you, feminine attraction!

"Then just say yes," he states. I bite my lip. As much as I like Will, I don't know how to act on a date. It's completely new territory for me. I'm either going to sink or swim and I'm placing my bets on sink.

I open my mouth to say, "No." It comes out as, "What time?"

Will grins. "How about seven o'clock? Tonight?" I nod nervously. Oh, so now I can't speak. That would've come in real handy before I agreed to go out with him.

Will nods at me, then lets a servant show him out. I plop down on the bottom step and put my face in my hands. I am such an idiot. I didn't even consider what people will think if they see me going out with Will the day of Jess' funeral.

As they think I'm Raven, they think that I was in love with Jess. Not only will is make me look heartless, but also suspicious, despite York's charge. Who knows? People might think I eliminated Jess to be with Will. If so, I better had go out with Will. I'll need him for an alibi.

"Girl!" Mr. Bristill yells from the dining room. I cringe. I have a feeling he's addressing me. Cautiously, I make my way towards the place I believe Dante would inscribe with: Abandon hope, ye who enter here. I think. I'm not quite sure how that quote went. I only read The Divine Comedy.

The Bristills are in their usual places at the table. Mrs. Bristill is busily eating mashed potatoes and medium rare roast. Cardinal is watching Mr. Bristill stare at me. No, not stare, glare. The look he is giving me definitely would be classified as a glare.

"What is it?" I ask innocently. As usual, I know exactly what he's pissed about. It feels like old times with the guards. They never could get a confession out of me; I don't know why Mr. Bristill thinks he can.

"Father," Cardinal intervenes. Mr. Bristill ignores her.

"I forbade you to tell her."

"Oh, so that's what this is about," I say, trying to sound as though I didn't see it coming.

"Yes, that's what this is about," Mr. Bristill growls. "You promised you would keep the secret."

Cardinal quickly blurts, "I told her you said it was okay." I stare at her, surprised she's covering for me. I recover quickly.

"You don't have to lie for me," I tell her. Most people in such a deep hole would probably shut up and accept the shovel. Tip: don't do that. If you try to push back the shovel, the captor (or interrogator or whatever) will trust and believe you more and pull you out themselves.