Hidden

Chapter 14

The woman's hair seemed to create an angelic-like halo around her head. It glowed in the sun's light which streamed through the white lace curtains hung on the window. The woman's mouth was moving, and at first, the sound was just a hum of noise. But as the scene focused more, the hum transferred into words, into a song. The woman's voice was soft as silk as she sang. 

"... Oh, Sun child, where doth thou be,

hidden in the forest or hidden in the sea.

What can I give to you fair child,

for you to understand

how much love you have, Sun Child

and how much your power will demand..." 

The woman smiled down at Jane and caressed her softly as she finished the song.

Suddenly two small boys appear looking down at Jane with big toothy smiles. The voices are lost again in a hum of noise, yet Jane can only feel a warmth. A sense of feeling totally complete and comfortable in this woman's embrace, and a sense of playful joy from the two boys. She felt something in her heart which was so foreign...

Suddenly the happy setting is destroyed as a big black shadow appears above Jane. Its never-ending inky blackness encompassed the once sunlit room and Jane felt helpless as she heard the faint sound of screams of terror. 

The figures which once produced a complete feeling within her now were blacking out. They were disappearing as if the black shadow was not only engulfing the room but the people in it. The happy feelings inside of her were being destroyed piece by piece. As the figures disappeared, so did her feelings of comfort. 

She was sinking. Sinking into the black abyss which was this shadow which had wrecked her dream. Jane was terrified. Her ears suddenly focused on a high pitch wailing which surrounded her. She was screaming. Her throat hurt, her cheeks wet and sticky with tears. 

She felt completely hopeless.

"Please wake up Lady Jane, please, please please."

Minnies voice brought Jane back and she sat up as if she felt she was falling. Minnie dabbed Janes forehead with a damp flannel which brought Janes attention to her.  The maid's eyes were wide with alarm and worry as they stared down at Janes. 

"Perhaps you really are not well Lady Jane. You have gone as white as these sheets. " Minnie said, her voice shaking slightly with fear.

At the sight of Minnie's face, Janes feeling of being scared from her dream almost vanished, and her worry, instead, for Minnie took over.

"Oh please, Minnie, don't mind me." Jane took Minnie's hands in hers. "It was just a bad dream is all." Minnies frightened face eased slightly, but not completely. "I was never ill Minnie, I think we both know wine does not agree with me, look at me, I'm fine," Jane added jokingly, pushing down her sickening feeling and jumping out of bed to twirl around dramatically to emphasize her point. 

Although it may not have done anything positive for Janes heavy stomach, it made Minnie laugh, and that's all that mattered right now. 

"You had me worried for a second there, you know?" Minnie stated, walking over to open the curtains.

"I know. I'm sorry. It's just these stupid dreams, nothing to worry about, I swear." Minnie looked at Lady Jane again softly, but could only huff as a reply. 

In her flowing white dressing gown, Jane moved towards her dressing table as Minnie sorted some flowers in the room in front of the window. Meanwhile, taking the chance to look out to see the Prince and his trainer on the castle's grounds below.

"I do hope that new trainer isn't working his majesty too hard." Minnie states with a sigh.

Jane, not really listening to her nanny, her mind lost in her dream again, sits down at her dresser and begins brushing her hair. Minnie walks over and takes the brush from Jane and takes over the job of brushing the golden locks. In the morning sunlight, it seemed to gleam off every individual strand magically.

"Mr. Redire, I think his name is. He's quite the handsome young man, do you not think?" Minnie pries, having seen them dance at the ball last night.

At the sound of his name, Janes ear prick up. "Who?"

Minnie could only tut and put the brush down to begin a braid.

"Mr. Redire, my Lady. Your majesty's new trainer. I think you met him last night..." Jane stopped listening again as her mind was spinning with thoughts.

Mr. Redire... Alex's trainer...

Minnie, unaware of Janes thoughts, continued her rambling. "I'm surprised you don't remember, those eyes were just enchanting.

Peta Redire... Janes' brain was producing thoughts a mile a minute.

"You know, in fact, his eyes are very similar to yours, I only realized now actually that-"

Minnie was cut off as Jane jumped up alarmingly.

The Note! The meeting! Jane remembered.

"-You know what Minnie, I just remembered I was planning on meeting Charlotte for Lunch. So I will need to get dressed now." She pulled Minnie by the hand, leading her towards the door.

"Okay, well I hung up your dress-" Minnie began.

"-Yes thank you, that's just lovely." Jane interrupted opening the door to lead Minnie out.

"And Ms. O'neil has already begun preparing you some lunch should I tell her to canc-"

Jane had managed to get Minnie outside her room, holding the door open, but as if to close it.

"Yes, tell her to cancel. I will be going out for lunch." Minnie could only nod, but her head was tilted curiously at her Lady's bizarre behavior. "Thank you!" Jane added, before closing her bedroom door on her Nanny.

As soon as the door was closed, the fake smile which Jane had plastered on her face for effect, disappeared. Instead, she hurriedly walked over to where the dress she was wearing last night was hanging and rummaged in the pocket until her fingers stroked the hard rigid feeling of parchment. She grabbed it and pulled it out of the pocket.

Her heart was beating fast and her mind racing. She had so many questions for this Peta Redire man.

Very slowly, she opened the crinkled piece of brown parchment and scrawled in black ink was the message;

Meet me on the 9th hour at The Jewels Inn

P.R

The Jewels Inn. Jane mulled the thought of actually meeting this man, and what danger it could entail for her. 

Yet she knew, on top of everything that this man was important in some way. There was no way she could refuse that to herself to find out how important...