Miss Margie's Mansion

Chapter 5:Confrontation

I have to do chores with Charlie. Lovely. I woke up still quite exhausted from yesterday's escapade,after all,I did do a good bit of running. Oh I'm so sore...the pain! The agony! My consciousness screamed at me. As much as I wanted to lay back down and sleep,I wanted to actually be on time to breakfast more so. Looking at the clock,I realized with horror that it was already seven thirty,and breakfast started at eight. Well crap I thought as I limped into the jeans and t-shirt I was going to be wearing that day.

I struggled to walk to the dining hall with all the pulled muscles I had,but luckily I managed to make it to the dining hall at seven fifty nine. Aunt Margie was already munching on what looked like guinea pig food. I grimaced,hoping that I would be eating actual people food today. Pembrooke brought me my plate,and I wanted to cry. On the plate was the same exact food Aunt Margie was eating. Aunt Margie looked up from her "food" and as always,cheerfully said"Well eat up,I don't want you to be looking half starved when your mother comes to get you. Plus,you need your energy for today,the chores won't do themselves!" She beamed at me. I gave her a half-smile,inwardly crying. When I put the first bite of "food" in my mouth Charlie walked in from the kitchen,carrying his own plate of food. Actual food. I smelled the aroma of some kind of pastry...strawberry I think it was...and is that a hint of---I sniffed the air---cheesecake crumble?!?!

I stared pitifully at his plate as he sat down,not even registering that he was watching me with amusement.
"Would you like some?" Charlie asked me.
Resist...Resist! It's probably poisoned...I shall never take food from the enemy!!
"Um,no,thank you though."I replied,trying not to drool
He chuckled,seemingly reading my thoughts.
I'm going to starve here.

Charlie resumed speaking after he had eaten his small piece of heaven,saying
"So the line of chores today is short,it shouldn't take us that long. First we have to tend the garden,and second we have to clean up one of the forest trails. We don't want it getting to overgrown back there. Then,perhaps after we finish,we could go swimming in the river?" He asked hopefully.
Sure,Charlie,sure. This will give me more time to interrogate you. I thought to myself as I responded,
"Ok that doesn't sound too bad. I'd love to go swimming!"
"Alright,let's get started." He said,heading for the door.

Tending a garden is much harder than it looks. I didn't have any garden gloves,so I was pulling weeds with my bare hands. By the end of the gardening session,both of my hands were raw,and I was drenched in sweat.
"You doing ok?" Charlie asked,hardly a drop of sweat on him.
"Yeah,yeah I'm doing fine.." I panted.
"Good,because we aren't done. We still have the forest trail to work on." He walked towards the forest,taking two machetes out of his pants.
Where did you even have room for those? Are you going to attack me? I thought as I gaped at him.
He came closer to me and I swatted at him. He laughed and ducked,stepped back to where he was and handed me a machete,still smiling.
"These are for cutting down bushes and small trees,not you,little lady"He grinned at me some more.
"Oh...good..I knew that,I was just playing."I nervously laughed.
He turned thought saying a word towards the forest and started walking,waving with his machete for me to follow. He headed straight for the part he walked into yesterday.
What are you planning I thought to myself as I followed him,alert to my surroundings.

We were chopping little trees and shrubs for what seemed like hours,but it had probably been only thirty minutes. We sat down to take a break for a little while,quietly sipping our water.
"How about we end chores for the day and just go swimming? You seem pretty exhausted."
"Yeah,let's just do that" I replied,with a tired smile.

This feels amazing...I thought as the cool water ran over my body.
Charlie seemed to be in his element while he was splashing and swimming in the water,his blue eyes shining. He tried pulling me to the deeper side of the river,and I kicked and squealed at him.
"It's just a little water,what are you afraid of?" He asked,voice full of mischief as he threw me into the deep side of the river. He hopped out and sat on the riverbed,resting. I watched his chest rising and falling as he seemingly slept,but all of the sudden he piped up.
"What are you looking at?" He flirted.
I was about to respond when something grabbed my ankle and pulled me underneath the water. I thrashed and screamed accidentally chocking on water. The Thing pulled me deeper and deeper until my vision darkened and I felt myself losing consciousness.

When I woke,I was in a bed. I didn't open my eyes because they hurt. I heard two voices arguing above me.
"Kona I couldn't just let her die! I swore a vow to protect her!" I recognized Charlie saying that.
The other voice was familiar,but vague to my memory. "You didn't have to save her. She is just a human. Of what importance is she to us?" She said,her voice high and sleek.
"She so the heir to the throne,and I am her protector. I will not ever let her die."
"And what of the dark sprite? Did you dispose of it?" The girl named Kona asked.
"Yes it is dead. We only have the other dark creatures to worry about now." Charlie responded.
Dark creatures? What the hell is going on?! I thought to myself as my heart rate increased and my breathing quickened. Kona must have noticed,because she turned to Charlie and said,"Verndari,it seems that the princess has awoken."

Oh no.