One Look

Chapter 6

After almost thirty minutes of wandering aimlessly around the hallways, I finally found the one that led to the wonderful library. As soon as I reached the doorway, I could hear voices coming from inside it.

"Maybe she has not looked at the note yet", Mary-Anne sighed loudly, and I bit back a grin.

"Or maybe she has been illiterate all this time", a voice chuckled. I pushed the door opened and realised it was Lucas who had spoken.

"Excuse me", I gasped and all four of the siblings stared at me. "Reading is one of my favourite past times".

"How can we be so certain you are speaking the truth?" Lucas asked, his eyes narrowing at me until he broke into a grin. "Just joking", he laughed.

"Well it is nice to see you too". I jutted my chin out at him but could not help but return his smile.

"Nathaniel was sure you had gotten lost, but I knew you would come", Mary-Anne said softly. I looked over at Nathaniel and glowered at him.

"What?" he chuckled. "You did get lost, did you not?"

"Well", I began and plopped onto a seat. "Sadly, I still do not know my way around the palace".

"Told you sister", Nathaniel laughed, and Mary-Anne stuck her tongue out at him.

"Eloise, I had more faith in you", she sighed, feigning disappointment.

"I do appreciate it", I giggled. "Though my sense of direction has not improved with age". I pouted, as I kicked my shoes off and drew my feet under me on the chair.

"Nor your manners", Nathaniel stated, nodding at my now empty shoes.

"Hush brother, we all know you are just itching to take yours off too", Oscar grinned, and Nathaniel shrugged.

"Ah but I do not take them off, that is the difference", he pointed out, I made a face at him. I began to feel a little conscious though and made a move to put back on my shoes when they had all started conversing and laughing again. "Leave them off, I wasn't being serious", Nathaniel said quietly, but I ignored him as I placed my shoes back on.

"Better?" I asked him and he clenched his jaw, his eyes not leaving mine. It looked like he was searching mine to see had he upset me.

"Elle", he said softly, and I raised my eyebrows slightly, letting him continue but he just shook his head before he turned back to the book he was reading. I sighed before I got of my seat and walked over to Mary-Anne who was arguing with Lucas.

"Is everything okay?" I asked the two of them.

"Mary-Anne was just expressing how she wishes that yo--------", Lucas began but Mary-Anne shut him up by clamping her hand over his mouth.

"I mean it Lukey", she hissed, his eyes narrowing at the nickname she picked for him. "You say a word and I will tell mother what you were really up to last night". He nodded his head in surrender before Mary-Anne released her hand, he gasped for air dramatically and I couldn't help but laugh at the pair of them. Their relationship had always reminded me of mine and Patricks. "Fourteen-year olds, always thinking their smart", she shrugged, and I smiled at her gently.

"Eloise", Oscar called from behind me. "Come here for a moment". I left the younger two to continue glowering at each other as I walked over to Oscar who had been staring at a painting on the wall for the past five minutes.

"You okay?" I asked as I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Look at that painting and tell me what you see?" he asked, and I glanced up at the one he was pointing at.