What Lurks in the Cellar

chapter 14

Fiora

i woke with Sophie shaking me, not the first time. the first time it was Will but now it was Sophie. she looked really worried and helped me up.

"How are you feeling, lady Fiora?" she asked.

"Much better. thank you." i said.

she smiled, i could still see pain and worry in her eyes but she looked away. 

"I thought you could pick your gown today." Sophie said.

"But Sophie,you always choose the best gowns for me to wear." i exclaimed.

she nodded and got up, walking to the closet and looking around. she came back caring a deep red dress and tripped throwing it at the dresser, scattering some of the items. she gasped and rushed to the dresser. i ran over and helped her clean it up. 

"oh dear me, i am so sorry." she said whipping a few loose tears.

"Why are you crying?" i asked.

she pursed her lips. i could tell she was hiding something from me. she looked anywhere but at my eyes as she continued to rearrange the items.

"Sophie." i warned. 

"Please, i beg  you to forgive me! i was walking by and i heard you speaking to Lord Adolf, are you leaving us!" she said sobbing.

 i gave her a smile and hugged her close to me.

"Please, i will do better at being a servant! you have just been so good to me and the lords need someone to brighten their day and you have! please don't go!" she said between cries. 

"Shh, don't worry Sophie, i don't plan on leaving." i say.

she stops crying and looks at me.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Quite, now i want to show you a secret." i say

her eyes widen and she nodded scooting closer to me so i could whisper it into her ear. i pulled out my phone. she starred at it with wide eyes, she touched it. i turned it on and she gasped.

"Are you some kind of Sorceress?" she whispered.

"No, not at all, it is called a phone. here smile." i say turning the camera on Selfie mode.

she gasps as the picture snaps. i show it to her and she laughs at her face. i hand it to her and she snaps a picture of me laughing. i smile and we take a photo together, she is grinning. we ended up taking Selfies for a long time. finally she dressed me and snapped a picture of the gowns and room. we left speaking of what a phone was and what it did, and what was cool about it. she asked a lot of questions of the phone and i answered them as quietly as i could.

"Could we all take a picture together?" she asked.

"I would like too. maybe we can explain it to them." I replied. 

she beamed and nodded.

"I will tell Gavin, you tell the others!" Sophie said happily. 

i smiled and she escorted us into the dinning room.

"Ah finally, we have been waiting for you. well most of us." Laird Evans said  standing.

i smiled and walked over to see Gavin halfway through done with his food. he sent me a friendly glare before he continued on. Will was seated next to me and stood when i walked over. i gave him a smile and sat down. Adolf was seated next to Will and smiled to me. 

Sophie came back holding trays of food, she set it down and smiled at me. i already knew what she wanted me to ask. i smiled at her reassuring her that i would bring it up. 

"I was wondering if we could get a picture of all of us together." i said with a smile.

"A painting? well i guess so." the Laird began.

"No, not a painting, i have something else in mind. something quicker." i said.

Adolf chocked on his food and starred at me shocked that i would bring it up. i smiled and grinned, Will sighed and shook his head.

"Well i think it would be a good idea. when shall this happen?" Jonathan asked.

"After this, in the sitting room!" i added cheerfully.

everyone was excited for the picture and finished in seconds. Laird Evans laughed as Jonathan and Gavin walked hastily to the sitting room. i laughed and followed the two in, Gavin searched around the room looking for the camera that was hidden in my sleeve.

"Where is it?" he asked.

"get into a position you want." i commanded. 

Laird Evans sat in a great arm chair, Jonathan came over and stood next to his father, Gavin coming sitting next to his father. Will stood behind Gavin, already knowing what i was going to do. Sophie ran in practically jumping and urged me to hand her the phone. Gavin watched her suspiciously, i smiled and pushed Adolf to get in the picture. He sat down next to Gavin.

"Alright, you must smile! on the count of three Sophie will take the picture and then she'll show you." Fiora instructed handing the phone to Sophie. 

Sophie giggled and i walked to the center, sitting on the floor in front of Laird Evans. Sophie smiled and doubled checked that we were all smiling. soon the picture was taken and Sophie came back to show them. they marveled and Will, Adolf and i explained that it was a new technology that was created in Utah. 

"I want another of Sophie in it!" Gavin instructed. 

she blushed but handed the phone to Adolf who said he would take it. Sophie stood next to Will stiffly and i pulled her down to sit next to me. she grinned and Adolf took a couple of photos on his phone and on mine. Laird Evans laughed as he scrolled through the pictures Sophie and i had taken of each other.

Will laughed at our faces and i gave him my best smile. he smiled back, not giving up eye contact with me. he had such pretty eyes, i finally broke the contact when i began to blush. he smiled at me and i looked up to see Adolf giving me a sad smile, we both knew what my decision was. he was going to leave and i was going to stay.

"What is wrong?" Sophie asked.

i shook my head and gave her a smile. she nodded and we began talking again. when Laird Evans excused himself to go and take care of some paperwork Jonathan left too. Gavin was speaking to Sophie telling her about the knights training. 

"I'd better go, those wimpy men don't train themselves." he said with a stretch getting up.

He left soon after and Sohpie excused her self to go clean the house. Adolf walked over and sat down next to me.

"You're staying aren't you?" he said sadly.

i nodded.

"What of your last two years of high school?" he asked.

"I don't know, i think i love it here more." i replied. 

he nodded.

"What do i tell Chris and Austin? they both wanted to take you to Homecoming." Adolf said with a small laugh.

"Show them the pictures." i replied.

he nodded, and stood.

"I guess we will have to find Susan soon then, eh?" he said helping me up.

i nodded, i noticed movement behind Adolf and saw that Will stood behind us watching. i nodded again.

"I think i know where she is." i said.