Francesca's Dream

Meeting at Midnight

The day drug on, never had she seen so many rooms in a house. She had cleaned twelve on her own including the parlor that Eric had spoken to her in. Francesca checked the time on one of the mahogany grandfather clocks in the hallway. It was only six o-clock; how much longer could she wait to see Eric at midnight. Mr. Ellis came walking briskly down the hall towards her; "Miss dinner will be served shortly in the kitchen." He said, and just like that he was off again down the hall. Looking back up at the looming clock once more she continued down the hall way towards the kitchen.

Walking through the swinging doors of the kitchen, the smell of fresh baked bread hit her. Her stomach responded with a dying whale like grumble, her mouth began to water. Heather hobbled around the room with folks and pans of food ;stark white flour on her face and apron. Heather grabbed up a small stool, standing atop it she reached into the oven pulling out bread in pink oven mitts. Placing the golden bread on the oak wood counter top. "Hey, I guess Ellis told you that dinner was almost ready. Can you do me a favor and stir that pot on the stove for me. I still need to watch the rest of the bread in the oven.' Heather said sweetly. "Sure" Francesca said walking towards the stove, grabbing a wooden spoon in hand. Heather grabbed her stool once more heading over towards the oven, oven mitts in hand.

The whole staff came into the kitchen like clockwork at six thirty. Mr. Ellis, Sarah, Morrghan, and two stable boys. Upon further inspection Francesca realized that they were twins. Each boy had baby blue scales that traveled up their hands, stopping at their elbows. The group of hungry mouths swarmed the pot of soup that Francesca had been string, grabbing pieces of the fresh baked bread, making their way to a matching oak table in the middle of the kitchen. Francesca sat next to both Morrghan and Heather. Both of the boys sat across from them; Sarah pushed herself in between the twins. "I'm Atticus and that is Declan" Atticus said addressing his twin to the left of him. "The only way you can tell them apart is from their eyes, Atticus has a green eye on the right, Declan's is on the left." Sarah piped up. This had been the first time Francesca had heard her say anything.

"She's right." Declan said smiling; his blue and green eyes alight in joy. From what she could tell, both boys seemed fun and mischievous. Mr. Ellis stood at the end of the table bowl of soup in hand; he seemed to be half listening to the conversation. The group continued to chat for the rest of the evening. Suddenly the sound of grandfather clocks came alive, being heard through out the house. Francesca darted her eyes at the wall clock in the kitchen; her heart skipped a beat. It was midnight, she was going to be late. Mr. Ellis glanced up at the clock "Alright its time for me to retire to my room, goodnight all." He said in his loud and slightly squeaky voice. "Yeah we should get to bed too." Morrghan said sweetly. Crap! Francesca thought. I have to see Eric, I cant be seen! "you guys go ahead I think I forgot something in the other room." She lied. "Okay once you find it come up." Heather called back as her and the rest of the staff headed for their rooms.

Francesca ran silently down the hall towards the grand staircase. She climbed higher and higher counting the steps as she went up. 43, 44, 45-; forty-five steps to the top of the banister. Francesca stopped for only a second, catching her breath. She walked down the hallway towards the door at the end. Little tresses of fare hair had come undone in the midst of her running and climbing of the staircase.

Standing at the ebony door she knocked three times.

KNOCK- KNOCK- KNOCK-

She waited, hearing faint footsteps approach the door. The silver knob turned quickly, Eric was standing in his full glory in front of her. He had on midnight blue pajama pants, a white V- neck sleep shirt, with a glass of red wine in his left hand. His golden eyes shown back at her with excitement and fear. With his free hand he grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into his room forcefully quick; closing the door behind. Francesca looked around at the spacious room; it was very elegant, while still having that boyish feel to it. The room was a mixture of color between midnight blue with touches of light grey thrown around.

He walked around her towards a set of ebony chairs with grey upholstery. In between the chairs stood a ebony table, on it sat a silver lamp and a red book inscribed with gold lettering. He sat down in one of the chairs; setting his glass of wine on the dark table. "Sit" He said in a commanding tone. Francesca walked over, sitting on the opposing grey chair. She looked around the room once more. He had a mahogany king sized bed with navy sheets. A exposed closet; his uniform and a few suits of dark color could be seen hanging. And a writing desk with fountain pens sat facing the wall opposite of the bed.

After drinking in the beautiful harshness of the room, she looked back at him. Those golden brown eyes where staring at her with curiosity and intent. "Have you finished gazing around my room Miss. Evenson?" He said coy her. "Yes I have." She said quietly. "As you may know your friend Vincent I think is his name; is building a tunnel underneath the compound. As an Atrox party member and guard, I simply cant ignore that." He said taking a sip from his glass.
She looked at him quzicly with with a hint of worry in her eyes. "So what are you going to do?" He set down his glass, " I should be a loyal soldier, but Im not. Insted I am going to help your friends escape. You know already that I hate the party and what it's doing. But buisness is buisness, and I have the favor of the queen to back me." He said now standing, looking out his window at the vast darkness, sipping his wine cooly. "Why am I hear then? I know Vincent traded me to you, but why did you want me?" There was a pause, as if he were trying to choose his words carefully as if trying not to break fine china. "I want you here to act as a spy, and courier. I had one of your friends moved to the news office. I will be sending instructions as to the best way to escape, alone with other information." He said draining his glass of wine. Francesca now knew the reason for ber being her, she was going to help her friends.

"Thank you." He voice cracking a bit. She looked up at him, a smile cracked across her porcelain white skin. " the pleasure is all mine" he said softly. He set his empty glass on the table; gesturing her towards the door. Francesca stood, smoothing down her dress. She walked towards the door; stopping only once outside of the room to thank him once more. "Thank you" she said again; her smile still plastered across her face. "Your welcome." Eric replied before he closed the bedroom door for the night.