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Post by Carolina on Oct 17, 2008 18:13:17 GMT -5
*Carolina was brought to bed by Rebecca, and tucked under the warm covers while her eyes were drifting shut.*
"Papa...promithed me...another thtory..." *she murmured softly.*
"I know, sweetheart--he will come and tell you a story once he has finished his business," *explained Rebecca. Some letters of great import had come from Vienna, and Rudolf had been answering them, holed up in his study since supper had ended.* "He will not forget. Now say your prayers and give your Mama a kiss."
*Carolina mumbled her way sleepily through her prayers and reached up, putting her little arms about Rebecca's neck and kissing her mother before curling up in her bed with a small sigh. Rebecca tucked Carolina's favourite, though rather worn doll into the crook of her arm, and the girl snuggled poor old Katie close.*
"Goodnight, lovie."
"...'night...mama..."
*Rebecca turned down the lamp, but left it burning low for Rudolf when he would come, and quietly shut the door behind her.*
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Post by Héloïse de Chagny on Oct 17, 2008 18:34:03 GMT -5
*Now was her time. She had watched, and waited, for years, now. Living a half-life in the shadows, in that filthy network of passages and chilled, abandoned cellars--watching. Always watching.
She waited until silence had reigned in the room for some minutes before creeping out through the secret door, hidden behind a thick tapestry that had hung undisturbed for so many years and was ripped right out of The Secret Garden. She had planned it perfectly. She carried a closed lamp in one hand to light her way, and wore a curiously girlish gown of soft white organdy. Her hair was near-white, now, and she had left it loose, combing it until it shone. Her wrinkled face she forced into an attitude of gentle kindness.
The sleeping child stirred and blinked, looking through the dimness.*
"...papa?" *her gaze focused on the woman holding the lamp, and a puzzled look came over her face.*
"--do not be afraid, my dear," *said Héloïse softly, with a smile.*
"...are you an angel?" *asked the little girl.*
"No..." *laughed the old woman.* "Angels have sweeter faces than I."
"...yo' fathe ith nithe..." *chirped Carolina.*
"Why thank you, child...you know--I once had a child, myself..."
"--w-what happened?" *asked the girl uncertainly, hesitant to know the child's fate but curiosity overwhelming her.*
"He went to Heaven...because of a cruel lady."
"...Heaven ith cruel?" *queried the child.*
"No!" *snapped Héloïse, momentarily forgetting herself and her tenuous grip on patience. She was so close--too close to lose this, now.* "It was only cruel that she took him from me, forever. Which is why I have come."
"...wha--why?" *Still sleepy, Carolina rubbed her eyes, trying to understand.*
"I will show you...come, will you go on a walk with me? I have been so lonely..."
"...my papa will come an' read me a thtory...what if I mith him?"
"You will be back in plenty of time...I know your papa...I know him very well. And your mama.'
*Something in her tone hardened at this, but Carolina did not grasp it. She got out of bed, reaching for Katie.*
"Can my doll come, too?"
*Footsteps were sounding along the corridor, and Héloïse's head shot up at the sound, her demeanour quickly changing as panic seized her.*
"There is no time! Quickly, child!"
*She scooped up the little girl with one wiry arm, prising the doll from her grasp and in another moment had vanished from the room, leaving the low-burning lamp to illuminate only the tumbled bedsheets and wretched little Katie crumpled upon the floor, one arm torn off in mute testament to the brutality of the abduction. Carolina's frightened wail was cut short as the thick hidden door gave a hushed thud and closed behind them, the tapestry falling back into place to hide it and bury their flight in silence as Héloïse descended into the network of passages below the house, to the waiting hired cart where she shoved the sobbing child into the back, hissing at her to be silent or risk a whipping. To Carolina, who had never had a finger laid on her in anger before, the prospect seemed as terrible as death, and so she fell into a whimpering, and then into terrified silence, clutching one of Katie's arms in her little fist as the cart rattled away along a rocky back road, and disappeared into the darkness.*
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Post by Rudolf on Oct 19, 2008 19:36:35 GMT -5
*Finally, Rudolf was able to finish up his work and keep his promise. The work had been bearable only because he'd be able to spend time with his youngest. He loved all his children with all his heart, but Carolina seemed to bring out even more of the best of him. He would never call her his favorite, but he felt that way. When there was no answer to his knock on the door, he wasn't worried--it was quite likely that she'd fallen asleep while waiting for him. It irked him, though, that work ate into the time he had with his family... She wasn't in her room. Maybe she was playing a game with him--she'd pretened to be hiding, once--but no. She was nowhere. "Carolina?" He went across the hall, then moved up and down the hall, calling her name. The activity woke servants, who were quickly sent out to help him find her. No sign. He ran to Rebecca's room. "Becca! Becca!"
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