Sounds of Fire

7

Freshly showered and ready for the day, Anatolia brushed out her hair and left it loose. Her alarm had woken her up but it was Derek who told her to get dressed. Apparently, Lady Grace had plans in mind and they were all going to go somewhere and they should dress casually. Lady Grace hadn't told Derek where exactly, so Anatolia assumed it wasn't work. The fact that Lady Grace gave the whole staff the day off also gave Anatolia the hint that something strange was in the works. The day was sure to be unusual.

A soft rapping on her door made her turn, brush in hand. The voices told her it was Derek. Somehow he could always guess how long it'd take her to get ready. It was impressive.

"Ready?" He asked, the door only open a crack.

Anatolia put down her brush and tugged on her shirts annoying tag, the label scratching the back of her neck. "Yeah, come in." She tore out the tag as Derek stepped into the room. "Did Lady Grace tell you where we're going yet?"

Derek shook his head. He looked nice in his casual clothes- crisp jeans and tight t-shirt. Anatolia frowned when she realized they that wore a similar outfit. Her shirt was a darker shade of blue and the sleeves were shorter, but everything else was the same. If they went out like that, people would definitely know they were twins, if the similar faces didn't tip them off enough. Anatolia grumbled and went to her closet to change as Derek sat down on her bed.

"Where do you think she's taking us?" he asked. He smirked at knowing that Anatolia wanted to change so they wouldn't look alike. They never were ones to coordinate. "It's strange, don't you think? I can only imagine. The staff is already gone."

Anatolia stepped out of her closet in black shorts and a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. She felt better now that her and her brothers relation wasn't so obvious. "It's creepy. Sir Den never gave the staff days off, not unless it was really important. I hope this isn't some ruse so she can get us alone for... I don't know, actually. There aren't many places that she could take us, right?"

Derek shrugged and watched his sister slip on socks then shoes. "Maybe it's test? Or she's taking us to a class, maybe?"

"A class?" Anatolia scrunched up her face. "We haven't needed classes since high school."

"Yes, but you're a rebel. Maybe Lady Grace thinks you need a refresher course."

Anatolia rolled her eyes. "I'm not that bad."

"Yeah, you keep thinking that." Derek chuckled. "Why don't you ask the voices?"

"No, it's no fun if I use them all the time. If it's not important I prefer to pretend the voices are chattering elevator music. Besides, if we were going somewhere dangerous or something close, the voices would have told me by now."

"That's true." Derek stood. "Are you ready for sure this time?"

Anatolia looked herself over in her mirror. She liked what she saw. "Yes. Is Lady Grace ready?"

"She's been ready." Derek held the door open for his sister and they both walked downstairs and to the sitting room, where Lady Grace was waiting.

Anatolia hid a smile when she saw Lady Grace's attire. Lady Grace looked relaxed in an aqua chiffon sleeveless dress, with black flats adorning her feet. Her hair was tied up in a messy ponytail, rebellious strands loose to hug her face, and she wore a shy smile. Anatolia stuck her hands in her meager pockets and looked at the floor to hide a blush starting to form. All she could think about was lifting Lady Grace's dress and making her hair even messier. She wanted Lady Grace's lipstick on her mouth again. The thoughts were more than perverse, and Anatolia chastised herself, gulping.