Thank you all so much for your reviews! I was so happy that I wrote this chapter this morning before I had to go in to work. =) Please enjoy, and don't forget to tell me how you feel!
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As Tessa awoke, nothing could seem more normal. The pillow beneath her head was soft and warm, the bedding that surrounded her bunched comfortably around her torso. The room was silent as what appeared to be dawn broke through the crack between the cloth curtains and a bird call sounded, muffled by the glass.
Rolling onto her back, she stretched her arms above her head and smiled in contentment. A pang went through her as she attempted to sit herself up, rising a soft curse from her sleep-laden lips.
A soft chuckle from her opposite bedside had her frozen, ignoring the pull of her muscles when she whipped her head around.
"Good morning, Miss Gray." Spoke the silvery haired man, his matching eyes alight with humor.
At a loss for words, Tessa merely nodded. With her eyes glued to the man, she shifted to pull the large comforter towards her chest. 'For God's sake,' she thought, 'I'm only wearing my nightgown.' What sort of man watches a women sleep? How improper.
"I've sent Sophie to fetch you some tea in the case that you decided to wake up, looks like it was a wise thing to do." The man rose from the high-backed armchair and leaned towards her, a lean hand outstretched. "You look quite pale Tessa, is everything alright?
Though the motion looked harmless enough, Tessa flinched backwards slightly. Catching herself at the opposite edge of the bed, her eyes wildly searched his face.
As things began to come into focus, the sleep drained from her eyes. Suddenly, she realized that she did not recognize the bed that she was now in, nor the room or man that now seemed quite taken aback.
"Tessa?"
"W-who are you?" She stuttered, overly aware of the heartbeat that drummed through her head and made her shake with its rhythm.
The man's mouth parted slightly, his hand dropping. She watched his eyes glaze, calculating.
"Please excuse me, Tessa, if this is too forward… but, do you know where you are?"
"Of course I don't." she hissed, gripping the headboard for support as she slid her legs to the floor. The room's floors were warm as she dragged the comforter with her to the opposite wall.
'Why does he keep calling me by my Christian name?' she thought, oddly irritated.
He visibly winced at her curtness, a vague hurt flashing across his features.
"I see," he said slowly, rising from his chair, "please excuse me for a moment."
He shot her a final look before crossing quickly to the door, closing it softly behind him.
After a brief pause, Tessa padded her way to the door. Testing the handle, she realized with a spurt of giddiness that the man must have forgotten to lock it in his hurry.
Glancing to the side, her eyes picked up a glint of green in the corner of the room closest to her. She slunk herself towards it skeptically, curiously tapping the cane with her toe. When she decided that it was safe enough to touch, she lifted the slender, but oddly heavy tool into her firm grip. The top of the object seemed to be sporting some sort of animal's head, beautifully sculpted gems of green staring up at her.
Towing the cane with her, she made her way back to the bed. She quickly made work of adjusting a second, more suitable gown around her middle. It seemed to be nothing more than a robe of sorts, but it would be much easier to maneuver in than the bedding.
Against her will, she felt a pit of unease unfurl itself inside her. What exactly did she plan to do once she got out of this place, if she could? How would she find out where she was?
Shaking the questions away, she slipped back to the door. All she knew, for right then, was that she needed to get out of there.
The door swung open just as she reached for the handle. As quietly as she could, she spun herself to the side, following the door so that she was concealed behind it. In terror, Tessa had to pinch her lips together to keep herself from breathing.
"Miss Gray?" a feminine voice chirped, the sound of clanking china sparking a memory.
'That man said that someone was coming to serve tea, a Sophie.'
"Miss Gray, are you dressing?" the woman asked, her voice muffling as she made her way to check behind the paper screen.
Without another thought, Tessa slid from behind the door, bounding silently across the room. Before the shorter girl had a chance to turn, Tessa brought down the black section of the cane across her shoulders with a sweep of her arms. Sophie groaned slightly before toppling forward, landing with a thump on the wooden floor.
Tessa almost felt guilty as she darted for the open door, her feet tiptoeing over the now shattered porcelain cup.
Candlelight spilled over the dark interior of the hallway as Tessa pushed herself over the threshold. She paused briefly out in the open, frozen in fear. She could hear footsteps, coming from the right. Just as she darted to the left, the whisper of lowered voices reached her.
The girl thanked the heavens as she ducked behind a strategically placed statue of what seemed to be an angel, pressing herself against the wall. The cane rested itself against her thigh as she used a space behind the statue as a peek-hole.
"What the hell do you mean she can't remember you?" a gritted voice spat, clearly closer than she expected. They must have paused outside her door. She let out a breath when she realized she had indeed closed it behind her. "I'm not sure, but do be careful, William."
She could almost hear the rolling of the second man's eyes, followed by the soft creaking of her door. "By the angel…"
At that, Tessa began to silently scoot herself along the wall.
"What is it?" the calmer gentlemen asked, his footsteps freezing after he had stepped into t he room.
'They're in the room!' her thoughts screamed, her body twisting into a full-blown sprint along the edge of the hallway. Her breaths racked out of her, cane held to her side as she finally reached a fork. Ducking around the corner closest to her, she fought against the pain in her side as her feet beat against the carpeted floors.
"Miss Gray!" a voice called from far away, telling her that they had yet to find her out. "Miss Gray, please!"
Just as her lungs felt as if they would explode, she came upon a large set of double doors, wasting no time as she threw herself onto them and over the t threshold. Closing them as quietly as she could, she limped her way to the farthest part of what she quickly found out to be a library. At any other point of time, and in any other situation, she would have been captivated by such a magical place. Lean, tall bookshelves lined the walls and stood in rows for what seemed like miles. Everything was illuminated by the breath-taking glass windows on the opposite wall, smiling at her in her pain.
She jogged her way to the last row of shelves, ducking into the cover of their shadows as she slowed to a stop. Everything about her ached, starting from the soles of her feet to her loose and disheveled hair. Her breaths began to come as small whimpers, the kink in her neck intensifying now that she had stopped running.
A shudder rocked through her at the boom of the double doors, obviously rushed footsteps turning her blood cold.
Forcing herself up, the leaned heavily on the cane for support. 'Damn it.' She thought, limping her way to the end of the shelf and ducking behind the corner. In horror, she realized that her side had been oozing blood when her toe caught the small puddle that had ringed itself back around the shelf to where she had collapsed.
She flipped the cane around so that the animal's head was on the end, her slick hands tight on the smooth wood. She would have to fight, because whoever was here now would find her.
She bit her lip, her arm shaking as the footsteps stopped, an inhalation of breath alerting her that they had seen the tracks.
"Tessa." The voice called, worry lacing their tone. The footsteps started up again, quicker now as they reached her.
She was sure they were close enough when she heard the man's shoes squelch with moisture.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she heft up the cane. With one, final burst of energy, she dove from her hiding place and swung the cane as hard as she could muster.
WOOT-chapter two done! =) Please, please tell me what you think. I really did appreciate you're reviews. =) I'm hoping to add in some Jem lovin', even though the story will eventually play out in Will's favor. Thank you so much for reading-update for chapter three soon to come!