Lord Liverchester

Chapter 24

It had been a while since any of my dreams brought about foreshadowing of the future. It was a blessing and a curse, as I relied on that power sometimes. When some of my nights were dreamless, I wondered what brought about my abilities. I couldn't turn them on at will, struggling to do many things even when the thought was there. I badly wanted to know what Friday's show would be like, and Dorian's birthday. I tried desperately for days before I finally got a small flicker in a dream. On Friday morning, I was finally offered a trial sized version of what I could expect. In short, it had me excited. I awoke wanting to run around the house, eager to get an outfit together and to go into town. I hopped to my knees and shook Dorian, rocking him back and forth until he came around. He wasn't so excited at first, blocking out the sunlight with a pillow. I begged him to stay awake for me, still shaking him even after his eyes were open. He didn't pull himself out of bed yet, lying there growling and talking to me in a low gravelly voice. There was a list of things that had to be done before we left. With Bladrian coming with us, the house had to be locked up tight like never before. Usually Dorian was the only one to leave, taking care of outside necessities. All of us would be out now, so many tasks had to be undertaken. They were the tedious sort, a boring melodrama before the final act that closed the day with an uproar. We stayed in bed for hours just thinking about it, but Dorian easily lifted my spirits again. He asked for my best Irish accent, and I delivered.

"Its a little bit airing on the Scottish side, but nobody will know the difference," he laughed. "Good enough for joking around, not so much for every day use."

It was nearly noon by the time we got up. He tried many times to pull himself from a relentless tired state. It wasn't breaking or letting him go, so he lied in the same spot, curled up with his blankets burying everything but his head. I moved closer to run my fingers through his hair, further pushing him back toward sleep. I had to shake him again, gently squeezing his soft arm. His eyes slowly opened again and he sat up, shaking his head vigorously. Things were off to a rough start, but he pulled himself together. We got dressed, choosing to wear black and white. I finally had a chance to wear Irvine's clothes and I took the opportunity, fitting into one of his waistcoats and a blazer much more comfortably than Dorian's. From there, we took on the various other duties before the afternoon's enjoyment could begin. I paced the house while Dorian and Bladrian secured the outside doors, keeping the collection of keys on my belt like Dorian wore his. They jangled as I walked, a sound that followed me everywhere. Deep in the house, away from the others, it was cold. The warmer rooms were kept that way by carefully watched fires in black painted brick fireplaces. The two of us were only using the front part of the house. Bladrian kept to himself in the back rooms, but he was used to the cold. I still shivered as I ventured further in. A feature I didn't expect were purple walls throughout the eastern corridors of the house. There was also another staircase that led upstairs, and one that led downstairs too. I didn't have time to explore them, making a mental note that they simply existed. Dorian called for me, his heavy boots thumping against the floors as he searched for me. I followed the sound of his voice and met him halfway, stopping him in his hurried tracks. With one arm around my shoulders, he led me to the parlor. It was finally happening. First, we had a small meeting by the door. Dorian spoke in a serious tone to me and Bladrian, his voice loud and clear.

"Whatever you do, do not talk to any of the Rovarian guards. Doing so will only get you into trouble. Furthermore, please don't wander too far from my side, either of you. We have to stick together. We may see people we know, as I invited some of our friends. We'll approach them as a group."

His list of rules was long and involved, and he spoke to us like we were children. He wasn't wrong, and his motivation to protect us was valid. I wouldn't leave his side even if somebody paid me, but we could all keep my tendency to wander off in mind. I nodded in agreement and Bladrian and I saluted Dorian in the end. He was our captain and now he took the whole ship under his command. Out on the front porch, he locked the door, testing the knob to make sure it was secure. We started to walk away, and he ran right back up the rotting wooden steps to check again. This happened two more times before Bladrian got annoyed, pulling him down the walkway. It was a beautiful day, a few gray clouds threatening rain as they moved in with the wind. The sun was shining anyway, warning the clouds to stay away. Dorian looked up at the sky as we huddled close together as a pack, walking down the street into town. I stayed close to Dorian's side, stumbling over the stone pavement and holding my violin to my chest. Upon first glance, the town square looked deserted, only one or two people seen walking in opposite directions on the street ahead. In my anticipation I was beginning to think we'd be lucky and hardly anyone would be at the concert. I wasn't wrong, but my correctness was debatable. I had forgotten that it was held at the tavern, but it was partially outdoors. People were standing around or sitting beside a large wooden stage outside the building. Dorian tried not to alert anyone of his presence as he led us inside, making a beeline for the owner behind the bar. We sat down and Dorian spoke in a quiet, hushed tone. I didn't listen, bouncing nervously and using my powers to tune out anyone I could. Most of the people around us disappeared then; the only ones remaining for now were the two men beside me. I liked the warm atmosphere of the tavern, feeling like I was trapped in amber without being stuck. It smelled so strongly of cigar smoke though, making it hard to breathe. I admired the lighting and woodwork, but there wasn't much else to see. It was such a small building and the real party was outside. I looked back at Dorian to see him still talking to the barkeep, who I could no longer see. Dorian was smiling and laughing though, deep in conversation. On my other side, Bladrian was looking up at the ceiling. I looked up too and there was a spider in the corner wrapping up a fly. I couldn't bear to watch that unfold, looking for something else to find interest in. It was another moment of waiting, bored out of my mind. The desperation to stop my anxiety before it even started was a lasting battle. Dorian was drinking another brown liquid and ice out of a glass. The likes of which I had seen before but I had never smelled. It wasn't unpleasant, rather sweet, in fact. After it was served to him, Dory checked his pocket watch and stood.