AN: Hi, readers, thanks for clicking on my very new story. Jul here (;Yes, you read right! I am most definitely writing a new Clique story, but this has an odd twist. Set back in the 19th century in London. Sounds interesting, right? Well, this is just the first chapter, and it's just going to give you a little bit of info about Massie's family! Hope you like it, and don't forget to review.(;
"Lady Massie Kendra Rose Block? Are you alright, my dear? You look quite ill," a boy around the age of 20 murmured anxiously. "Shall I call the doc?" Her beautiful porcelain face was pale, her luscious brown curls were sprawled around her face, and her amber eyes were hazy. The boy, Sir Matthew Dillan Block, bent down to the ground, and stared at the younger girl.
Lady Massie's eyes opened, and she struggled to sit up. "Mattie," she choked out, rubbing her eyes. Sir Matthew helped her to a sitting position, and waited for her to explain her sudden outburst. Here they were, sitting in the parlor room enjoying tea, just like every other day, when she nearly fainted. It was quite scorching in the mansion, but not nearly enough to pass out. Sir Matthew tugged on his breeches, and pulled them up as he leaned down. He almost laughed out loud when Lady Massie called him by his childhood nickname. Lady Massie was never one to follow the rules, and at age 15, she sometimes acted like a young child still.
"What's wrong, my dear?" The boy asked again, desperately hoping she was okay. "We need some water," He called to the petite, black woman in the corner. The girl's eyes widened at being called upon by him, and she scurried out of the room to fetch some water. Sir Matthew Dillan's eyes lingered in the corner for a second longer, right where the young black girl was standing, and then he jerked his head back to look at the fragile porcelain doll in his grasp.
"I'm fine," She whispered, wiping her forehead. Her eyes looked fiery red, and she seemed to be burning up. The maid appeared with the water, which Massie so gratefully took. Lady Massie swallowed the cool water, and sighed. "I don't know what happened," She offered, with a sheepish smile towards the older boy. Matthew shook his head.
"Was it, perhaps, something I said?" Mattie brushed the stray curls from the side of her face, and helped her over to the cushioned love seat. Massie's eyes widened, and she clutched her stomach. Realization dawned on her, and she remembered what had happened only seconds before she crumbled.
-10 minutes before-
"Brother, dear, the tea shall be out in only a moment." Lady Massie Kendra Rose said, running her fingers through her long, obnoxiously curly, auburn hair. She grinned at her brother and, forgetting proper lady-like etiquette, bounced on the cushioned seat. Sir Matthew smiled back, and calmly pressed a hand against Massie's bouncing knee.
"Why are you excited, Massie?" He wondered aloud. He sat back in the seat, and crossed his legs in front of him. He admired his new shiny black boots, and then he caught sight of the maid in the corridor. Mattie's eyes brightened when he looked at her; from the cautious way she walked so as not to spill their tea, to her shining blue eyes against her black skin. Matthew quickly averted his eyes; he wouldn't want people to get the wrong impression.
"Here is your tea, Lady Massie Kendra Rose Block and Sir Matthew Dillan Block," She quavered, her voice soft. She delicately placed the tea tray on the wooden table, and quickly shot Sir Matthew a look. Seeing that he was staring at her intently, she blushed pink, and hurried out of the room, muttering an "Enjoy."
"That was quite odd," Massie started, giving her older brother a knowing look. He flushed red, and tugged on one of his brunette curls. Massie poured the tea, and offered him one teacup, while she kept the other.
"I don't know what you're talking about," He blurted hastily. Lady Massie looked at him amused. "Yes. So, um, as I was saying…" He stopped talking, confusedly. "Um, what was I saying?"
Massie laughed her sweet, twinkling laugh. "Don't you even want to know her name?" Massie was a sweet young girl, innocent as a rose. She watched as her brother, who she knew better than she knew herself, twisted awkwardly in his seat. He wasn't meeting her eyes. She grinned triumphantly; she knew he must like this girl.
"Eh, um, what are you talking about, Mass?" He stuttered. Once they were out of the public eye, they usually called each other by nicknames, instead of those ridiculous titles. Sometimes they both made up long, irritating titles to joke or call each other by in private.
"Her name is Emilyana Quentin, but most people just call her Emily. She was born in Haiti, but right after she was born her parents died in an earthquake, so tragic. She was brought to England, and raised by a lady she calls 'Nana' who raises her like she's her own daughter. And then she got a job as a maid at our manor! Happy ending," Massie sighed contently, thinking about the young girl she had talked to so many times. Her maid was an inspiration to Massie, and she found herself enjoying telling the story.
"Eh, um, how do you know all of that about Emilyana?" Matthew asked, obviously startled by her knowledge. Lady Massie grinned.
"Well, I like to talk. You know that well enough, Matthew." She said. It was true. Massie was a sweet girl, and she talked to everyone. She was friendly, and everyone she met instantly felt a bond with her. She could bring out the best in people, make them shine. She was a good listener, a good friend, and would sit for hours listening to her friends mope or cry about their latest husband scandals.
Matthew grinned, but quickly changed the topic. "Anyway, dear, I had something very important that I wished to address with you," Massie's eyes widened when he said this.
"Are you getting courted?"
"No! Heavens, no,"
"Are we out of the family fortune? Did we run out of money?"
"No! For Goodness Sake, Mass."
"Well, did father do something to you again? Hit you?"
"Not recently, he's been too hung over to do anything."
"Are you in a fight with Lord James?"
"I hardly ever fight with James, Massie. You know that,"
"Well, then I give up! Tell me," Massie groaned impatiently. If he wasn't getting married, and they weren't out of money, and Sir William Block hadn't been acting up again, then what was up? "Tell me," She begged again. She lifted her teacup to her full pink lips, and took a small sip. Matthew looked at the teacup, and then back at her.
"Mother gave us those teacups," He whispered. Massie glared at him for bringing up their mother. Lady Kendra Rose Block had died nearly 5 years before, when Massie was 10. It was hard on the entire family, but especially the dad. He became an alcoholic and drug abuser, and was rarely home. But when he was; it was torture for the two siblings. They had made a promise when Sir William Block had hit Massie for the first time when she was 11 that they would always stick together. That's what family was for.
"Yes," Massie encouraged. "Now tell me what you had to say,"
Sir Matthew Dillan Block took in a deep breath. "Massie, I'm going to be leaving you for a while." He said, simply, putting an arm on her leg. Massie's smile wiped off her face, and she stared at him in complete shock, forcing him to continue. "I've enlisted in the British army, to learn combat."
"You're going to be in the army?" She repeated stupidly. He nodded. "What about our pact? When we were little? You promised me,"
"Oh, Sweetheart," He murmured. "You'll be fine. And if you need me, it's only 6 hours away from London! It's going to be okay, my dear, you'll be fine," He repeated. She continued to stare at him. Then she stood up, and backed away from him. Her teacup dropped from her loosened grasp and shattered, and the young delicate girl crumpled to the floor.
-Normal Time—
"Yes, actually it was something you said." Regaining her energy and composure, she stood up without his help, and backed away into the corner. She stared at the man she knew all her life. He was acting like a completely different man. "I can't believe you!"
"Now, Sweetheart-" He reached an arm out to her, but she wrenched it away from his grasp.
"You son of a bitch!" She screamed, extremely unlady-like. The old gossipy neighbors could probably hear her next door, and would have a rumor going around town in no time. "How could you leave me with our father? You know how he is! And all by myself, at the mere age of 15,"
"Massie, I've given this a lot of thought and-"
"Oh, I bet you have!" Massie snarled, hoisting up her dress. "I hate you!" She yelled, before pushing through the door. She slipped off her high heels, and ran in her stocking feet. She ran and ran, away from her bittersweet life. Away from her crazy mixed up family. She kept on running until the sun had gone down, and her lungs felt like fire.
AN; I know this might sound bratty, but I'm going to need at least 10 reviews to continue. If I don't get good feedback that means you guys don't like it. I hope you like it, I do. So if you like it, review and I'll upload faster. 10 reviews, guys, that's not so bad.(;