Sleepwalker

Chapter Thirty-Two: Daydreams and Dancing

I scrubbed at the last bit of unclean floor, a faded wood. My arm was soaked in the wash I’d used. I emptied the bucket out into the snow and extinguished all but one lantern, which I carried into the cellar with me. I smiled at the figure on a cot. “Hi.”

Dill grinned up at me, “Good evening, milady. How were the floors tonight?”

“I do believe they are cleaner than they’ve ever been.” I rubbed at my tired eyes. “You said that you had something for me?” I tilted my head as he pulled out a slip of paper. “Is that my letter? Do you think Professor Lester wrote back already?”

He shook his head. “Jenny, you mailed it only a few days ago. They probably have not even received it yet. This is different. It’s an event notice. I know it is a bit soon since it is tomorrow evening, but ah, all of the rich folk in Caligeria will be there. I thought perhaps you might find your mother there. I know you have been discouraged at the archives lately.” The previous days, I had been in such a fury that I had not spoken.

My cheeks heated. “What sort of event is it?” I wondered.

He hesitated, “It’s a ball. I know, how cliché, but if there were a chance your mother would be there, I thought you might like to go. And I would accompany you… for safety reasons of course.” He watched me hopefully, anticipating my answer.

“Armadillo Green, I would love to accompany you,” I replied, though I was so unsure of myself lately. We had flitted around each other since the incident with the Valiant Villains. I found myself resting my head on his shoulder or reaching for his hand. In turn, I found him holding doors for me and complimenting me at odd times. And as flattering as it was, the romance scared me, and a romance with Dill terrified me.

He stared at me expectantly, “Have you rejoined the living?” After I hastily excused my ditzy behavior, he resumed, “It is good that you said yes because I’ve already purchased my suit as well as your dress. So that we can blend in well.”

“We do not exactly radiate an aura of wealth, Dill,” I reminded him. I flopped onto my bed to untie my bootlaces. With a grunt, I pulled my feet from the boots.

“While that is true, Jenny, I do believe anyone could mistake you for a lady with the proper attire. We only have to appear convincing enough to slip into the entrance. Then we are free to do whatever. Search for your mother, eat, drink…dance,” he added.

I nearly laughed. “Yes, dance, because I can scarcely walk without tripping. I assure you that I will not be dancing.” Turning from him, I changed into my nightgown.

“Really? Do you think it so? I shall have to prove you wrong then. By the end of the evening, you will dance.” He lay down, leering at me. “I assure you that.”

Dimming the lantern, I rolled my eyes and retaliated, “Oh, but of course.” Long after, Dill’s snores rumbled through the cool damp cellar, but my own thoughts kept me awake. My chest ached with the desire to be home, but it also fluttered at the thought of meeting my mother, extremely plausible at that time. But what would come next? Would I visit her? Would she visit me? Would she even want to see me, the daughter she tried to kill? I tossed and turned in the cot before deciding to rise from the bed. I rubbed my eyes and tiptoed up the stairs. I heated a kettle and poured myself a cup of tea. I basked in the solitude; it’d be so long since I’d had any. I sipped at mug and inhaled the steam.

“Well, well, Genevieve, I must say a job well done.” A smoky voice resounded from behind me. Professor Jerref sank in the chair next to me by the dying embers. “How are you, child?” He asked, displaying the gnarled grey teeth of his mouth.

I nodded, “I am well, sir. How are you?” He didn’t reply, but continued to stare at me, waiting for me to say more. “Thank you. Thank you for everything, Sleepwalker.”