Eleanor VanCottner & the prince of shadows

Chapter 3

Eleanor was taking a walk at night, she needed to clear her head, after everything that happened 'Eleanor... Dad... h-he's Dead.' Those words kept repeating over and over again in her head, those terrible, terrible words. Eleanor wasn't paying attention to anything, her head and heart were foggy, she didn't know what to do. Her father was just announced dead, while she was just lazing around Virginia looking for a suitor. 'I should have been there.' or 'This is all my fault.' were the only things she could think of as a tear slid down her cheek. The tear felt like it was as cold as ice, and could cut through solid glass, even though Eleanor was completely unaware of it, do to her complete blockation of the outside world. Eleanor couldn't tell what was happening, her heart was in pain, so she didn't feel the cold hard gravel street under her feet, she couldn't hear the shouts to get out of the road, and she didn't see the bright lights in the corner of her eye, where the carriage was.

"CRAAAASSSSHHHHH!!!" The next thing she knew Eleanor was in her bed, surrounded by warmth, and comfort. She slowly started to open her eyes, and suddenly saw a dark shadow, looming over her.

"AHHHHHHH!!!!" She screamed as she did not expect to see a strange man, looking over her while she slept, actually she didn't even expect to be in a bed. Eleanor tried to remember what had last happened to her since she didn't remember her activities the night before, but as soon as she tried to remember, she was met with an excruciating head pain and had to immediately stop thinking about it. Eleanor sat up, looking at the strange man who had been watching her in her sleep.

"Who are you?" Eleanor said; not a drop of anger in her voice, just suspicion and calm.

"I saved you."

"That's not the question I asked though."

"I know, but it's relevant to what's about to happen."

"And, what is that?"

"This." And almost like magic as soon as, the strange man said that word, Eleanor realized, she wasn't in her room! She was in a huge room, with velvet curtains, a marble floor, and she was suddenly in huge king size bed, with a deluxe double mattress, goose feather pillows, and fluffy warm blankets, surrounding her small and frail body. She was no longer in her own bedroom, and in the master sweet of a huge castle. Eleanor started panicking, but the strange man just started to shush her, and remain calm.

"Where have you taken me!" Eleanor screamed, in anger and panic.

"You were in dire conditions, so I saved you and brought you here."

"Wait, What do you mean 'I saved you'?"

"Well a couple of nights ago, you got into an accident with a carriage, and ever since then, you have been sleeping in this bed. I think it was exactly... 3 days ago."

"Well... as surprising as this is, I have to say thank you, you took care of me for three days, while I was just recovering in, I assume, your mansion. Thank you"

"Your welcome, but you best be getting home soon, your friends must be worried."

"Oh that's fine, I don't really know anyone here, I came less than a week ago."

"Oh, well then if your up and well, and you have no need to get home, why don't you join me for dinner this evening."

"Well, that sounds like a delight."

"Great, I'll have Maxine show you to a room, and help you get ready."

Almost like on cue, A pale skinny girl showed up in the room, she didn't look too old, but she didn't look like she was in the best condition either. She was about 15 or 16, and Eleanor wondered how this girl, got into this state but was interrupted, by a door closing. The mysterious man had just left the room, and Eleanor got up, letting the girl lead her to a large room, with the same format as the last one, except with a peach-colored wallpaper with roses covering it, and light pink bed sheets, instead of the white and red valentine theme in the last room. The small girl showed me to the dimly lit washroom and the dressing room. The tiny maid then left letting me get ready for the day. I looked around the room, exploring it, and decide to freshen up a bit before I did anything else. I walked into the washroom and got inside the glass shower. I turned the cold water on, and felt the water slide down my body, as I cleaned myself or the first time since I was inside my little home. Half an hour later, I came out of the shower all clean and ready to go, I headed towards the dressing room, and was amazed at all of the elegant and fancy dresses. Sure my family wasn't the richest family in the country, but this was beyond comprehension, there were dresses made of velvet, and the finest kinds of cotton I've ever seen, the fine designs were made of silver and gold thread, the outfits were fit for the highest royalties, and they were for me to just try on. After a long time, of contemplating which dresses, would best suit my style of clothing. I finally decided on a lavender dress, with a golden rose pattern. I changed into the dress, then not too much later, the girl Maxine, came in holding a plate of luxurious food, with scones, tea, pork, and eggs. She said in a quiet raspy voice 'You should eat madam, keep your health up for tonight.' After I was done eating I started wandering around the huge castle-like mansion. After about two hours of just walking, I found two libraries, an indoor garden just for white roses, a sewing room, and multiple bedrooms, filled with luxurious indoor comforts, fit for the highest royalties. Later on, I went back to the room to get ready for the dinner. Maxine helped me with my makeup and clothes. I ended up wearing a teal silk dress, with a silver vine pattern on the outside. Just as I got my bag, and was finally ready the door opened revealing the mysterious man, now in a suit, but with the same mask as he always had on. The man told her to call him the Prince of Shadows, for that, was supposedly his formal name. The prince took Eleanor into a beautiful white and gold carriage led by 4 black horses, and a forty-year-old butler, inside he gave her a bouquet of 20 white roses. The prince took her to a fancy restaurant, but they were not there for long, considering how, he also took her to the park, a castle, and a ballroom, that they would later dance in. After that night, Eleanor was so enchanted, that she let the mysterious prince of shadows steal her first kiss, as she gracefully fell asleep, and he carried her off to her small apartment, where he only left a letter and the bouquet of white roses. After that day, The Prince and she would spend multiple nights together, either in Eleanor's bedroom, talking and stealing kisses from one another, or going out in the dark, just exploring the night, where it is said that lost children, will come out and perform satanic rituals. Eleanor knew that spending her time with this strange man would not end up good, but ever since the first time she saw him, it was like he put a curse over her, so she would constantly love him, no matter the consequences.

Oof... That was a long chapter... Oh well, next is a short one =3