Between A Rose And Its Thorns (ON HOLD)

Wait...Talking Tea Cups?!

Lucinda's point of view

I remember a time, long ago, when Isabelle used to be scared to sleep by herself and she would crawl into my bed. Saying how I made her feel safe. However, over the years, she has stopped doing that. Mostly because I forced her to. Why?

I jump out of bed, eyes wide as I hear a blood curdling scream.

My sister has a tendency to scream in her sleep.

I turn to the bed, but she wasn't there. Confusion fills me until my eyes turn toward the window where my sister stands... attacking a tea cup with her pillow?

"Uh, Isabelle?" I ask and try to get her attention, walking toward her.

"Lucinda!" She screams, her eyes wide with fear as they stare at me. "This place doesn't only have a beast, it has ghosts!"

I stand there for a moment. "Ghosts...?" I say slowly. "What do you mean?" I ask her as I try to take the pillow away from her.

"That!" She shrieks, pointing at the cup on the bed side table. "Is what I mean!" I glance at the small tea cup then look at my sister. I raise an eyebrow at her. "Okay, okay, I know what you're thinking, that I'm insane, right?"

"Honestly, I have always thought you were insane," I smirk and carefully take the pillow from her trembling hands. I laugh as she glares at me.

"What I mean is, this thing talked! And was floating!" She shouts and grabs onto her head, her fingers clenching a bit too tightly on her delicate golden hair.

"This little thing?" I coo. I walk pass her and place the pillow back on the bed. Bending over, I carefully pick up the small tea cup. I sigh as my thumb touches the rim, a small chip in it. "Oh, Isabelle, did you do that?"

"No, it has always been like that!" I gasp at the sound of a young boy's voice. It really is haunted! My shoulders tense and I throw the cup away from me. Isabelle grabs her pillow and hits the cup in the air, making it land into the covers of the bed. "Hey! Easy! Easy! This is my favorite tea cup!" The child says again.

We both watch, jaws dropping as the bed dips and the cup begins to float.

"Phew! I was sure it would have been scratched, but it's okay!" The boy voice laughs. "Like I said, it is a lucky cup!"

"Um..." For once, I'm speechless.

"I told you!" Isabelle screams and runs behind me, holding the pillow close to her chest.

"How rude of me! Mama taught me manners yet it seems I never use them. Hi! My name's Jonah!" The voice laughs, the cup coming closer to us.

Isabelle shrieks and holds up her pillow like a shield. "Stay back, ghost!"

"What? There is no..." The boy's voice pauses for a moment. "Uh...yes! I am a ghost!" My tense figure relaxes as I listen to the boy pretend to be a ghost. I watch the floating cup move around the room, random objects being picked up and moved from one place to another. Isabelle seems to believe it though as she watches the invisible child with wide eyes.

"Jonah?" I jump at the new voice, this one sounds more feminine, and much older than the child's. "Jonah?!" I look to toward the direction the voice seems to be coming from. I gasp as I stare at the open door, a floating tray is floating in the doorway. The tray holding a tea pot, two tea cups, and a jar.

"Oh no!" Isabelle gulps and grabs onto my arm. I wince as I feel her fingers dig into my skin. "There's two of them!"

"Jonah? What are you doing to these two poor girls?" The feminine voice snaps, the floating tray entering the room.

"I'm sorry, Mama, I was just having some fun!" The boy whines. I can't help a small smile on my face at the sound of the boy's pouting.

"I think I'm going to faint," Isabelle murmurs, lifting up a hand to fan herself. "Ghosts have parents!"

The woman's voice laughs as the tray in place down on the bed. "Ghosts, dear? I can assure you, we are not ghosts!"

"Aw, Mama! You're always ruining my fun!" The boy continues to whine.

"Oh, I can be fun. But we have work to do first. Now, where was I? Ah, yes, good morning puppets! My name is Mrs. Thompson and the boy with the chipped cup is my son, Jonah." Mrs. Thompson introduces herself, Isabelle looks at me, confused.

I shrug and clear my throat. "Well, it is a pleasure to meet you both. My name is  Lucinda, and this is my sister, Isabelle." I smile and gasp as the tea pot is lifted into the air, as well as one of the tea cups.

Such a strange thing... how is this accomplished?!

"I cannot believe my sister is talking to a tea pot." Isabelle mumbles and fans herself some more. "Perhaps the villagers were right, my sister is going crazy!" I elbow her and glare. She winced and whispers a soft apology. I turn to the tea pot and give it what I hope was a friendly smile.

The tea pot tips over, pouring its substance into the awaiting tea cup. I take in a deep breath and sigh. I am not one who likes to drink tea... but it did smell refreshing....

"Do you like honey in your tea, puppets?" She asks as the jar, too, begins to float.

"Um..." Isabelle looks at me as she bites her lip. I nod to her. "I would like some honey, please..." she whispers. We watch as a spoon is placed into the jar, scooping out the honey inside before placing it into the tea cup and mixing the two liquids together. Isabelle's trio on my arm tightens as the cup gets closer to us. With great hesitation, Isabelle reaches forward and takes the cup. "Merci," she says and takes a sip.

"And you, dear?" The voice asks and pours another cup of tea. "Would you care for some honey in your tea?"

"Oh, no thank you," I decline politely. I thank the invisible woman as she gives me my cup, I hold it between my hands carefully.

"Be careful, now! It is quite hot!" I nod at her warning and blow into my cup. My eyes move around the room, finally able to see properly as bright sunlight moves inside through the window. I step away from my sister and sit on the bed, taking a drink of my tea. I hum at the remarkable taste.

"Oh, don't get too comfortable!" The woman scowls me, I glance at the end of the bed, watching as the tea pot was placed back onto the tray. "Domain is coming to give you girls a tour of the place. He should be here any minute, now." She says, answering my unsaid question.

As I take another sip, I could feel smile spreading on my lips. I may be wrong, but this tea tastes just like Camomile! I sigh blissfully and continue to drink. One of my few favorite teas... I open my mouth to see if my suspicions were correct when there was a knock on the door.

"Enter," Mrs. Thompson says. I pout as my cup is taken from me, as well as Isabelle's. The two cups fly through the air before landing on the tray.

The  door soon opens, to reveal a floating candelabra, however the candles in it where unlit. That is strange... The candelabra bends over, almost as if it was bowing. "Bonjour, mademoiselles! Are you ready for your tour?" A male voice asks, sounding no older than Isabelle than I.

Isabelle laughs nervously as she stares at the floating objects. I stand, walking toward her, I grab her hand and give it a squeeze.

Isabelle smiles at me and returns the squeeze.

"Ready as we will ever be," I smile.