A/N: Thank you reviewers; one and all. (Though those are practically the same). I really appreciate every supporting word you've put into this story. I'll try my hardest to get this finished, but don't be surprised if there's a long, mysterious gap after chapter 5. (That's as far as I've gotten) Just hang in there!
Chapter Three
It was the beginning of my third or fourth day there, and everything was still going smoothly. Today I made plans to talk to the Princess about her life and why she chose this place. I remembered Guy's story about Badaq, the previous owner, but I was still surprised that Natalia had not abandoned this place. In a house with so much music around, I found it strange that she was never out there listening to it.
Breakfast was as interesting as ever, Guy, Jade, and Tear all sitting around the large table with me. The food was delightul and Jade seemed to be in an especially good mood that morning, striking conversation and evoking a small giggle from Tear every now and then. When his eyes met mine, I got a strange sensation that something was going on that I didn't know about. But his glance left me and turned back to his food, and he never looked my way again.
Shortly after the meal, I headed to the bathroom to take a bath, since I had nothing else to do but talk to Natalia. I figured I would do that in the afternoon and spend my morning reviewing what I already knew about this place, and what I had to ask.
I turned the faucet off after the bath tub was filled with steaming water and undressed, the heat of the bath already filling the room. Slipping into the hot water, I let out a sigh and felt myself soak. The water sent a tingling surge along my scalp as I lowered my hair into the water and closed my eyes.
Badaq Oakland owned the estate, but gave it to his daugter Natalia after his death in the war. The house was more like a museum because of Badaq's love of fine objects and art. Natalia was ill for some unknown reason, and I really didn't know how Jade entered the picture, except being a friend to Badaq. Guy no doubt signed up for the job of servant, and I remembered he said that Jade had brought Tear to this estate, as if to have Natalia adopt her.
Then I remembered Guy had also said something about Badaq's sister and her dream to obtain the estate. I wondered what she was like, someone who would want to take all this beauty from the house. So I decided I would ask Natalia about her love of music and how it came about, as well as her illness, perhaps. After all, if I saw her ad in the paper, she must have been hoping to get a new caretaker. And I might even ask why she chose to adopt Tear, and how she felt about each resident.
Steam clouded the mirror as I opened my eyes, and more time had passed than I thought. I quickly washed my hair and got out, then dried off and pulled the tub drain. My hair would dry on its own and I shut off the light and headed to my room to get dressed.
Once there, a powerful aroma filled my lungs as I breathed in the scent of the candles that were strangely lit. No one could have been in my room, but it was clean and the curtains were pulled aside, exposing the light of day to the fire-tinted room. The already orange hues were illuminated with the flames of the candles and everything was organized perfectly, which was not how I'd left it.
Still, I didn't trouble myself with it and got dressed, combing my hair to look more presentable. I hung up my towel and left my room. Starting down the hallway, I weaved my way around the house for a while. No one was in sight, as usual, but this moment felt heavier, as if no one was even in the building. I entered one of the many sculpture rooms and took a long look around.
I must have loitered longer than I had expected, because the next thing I knew, the clock struck eleven. The grandfather clock's chorus chimed through the empty halls. I had a lot of time to waste before I even planned to talk to Natalia, so I headed back to my room.
The whole place seemed to grow more boring, seeing that I had nothing to do except walk around, eat, and ask questions. But I'd lived my life with boring things, considering my old job was to ask questions to people about how they felt. I still wished I could make some kind of discovery or find out some lost secret. Maybe I would when I talked to the Princess this afternoon.
I arrived at my room again and opened the door. The room was still filled with the fragrance of cinnamon and vanilla, and rays of sunlight were streaming in the east window. I lied down on my bed and sighed, thinking for once about nothing. The smell of the candles lulled me to sleep and I found myself in a dream I could not very well escape.
The sound of wind rustling tree leaves stirred me from my slumber. Blinking myself awake, I found the room to be very cool and less stuffy. So I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and looked to the right to see my floor-to-ceiling window was open, leading off to a small balcony. The curtains strayed outside the room, being pulled by the soft wind and the candle flames danced in the breeze that entered my room.
I rose from the bed and stepped out onto the stone balcony. It was a pleasantly cool day, the sunlight seeming to warm everything around it and the wind seeming to chill everything it touched. For an autumn day, it was surprisingly warm, and I knew it would continue to get hotter as the day went on. That is, I didn't know the current time, so I couldn't really say.
Thankfully, the clock bellowed out its deep song and chimed one o'clock. So I'd slept for two hours. Now would be a good time to see Natalia; I'd spent enough time loafing off. Starting out of my room, I made sure to close the window-like door and blow out all the candles, all of which were burnt nearly all the way.
The door closed with a click and the house was still empty. But I remembered where the Princess's room was and started in that direction. I found her room and knocked on the door, but no answer came.
Waiting just a moment, I knocked louder. "Princess Natalia? It's Luke." Still nothing. I decided she must be out or away, so I left and decided to come back later.
"Strange, I thought she would be too weak to go anywhere," I said to myself, starting down the stairs to maybe ask Guy where she'd gone. Heading in some unknown direction, my ears picked up a sound. Not just a sound, but a song.
I immediately walked toward the Performance Room, hoping never to miss another song that filled this household. The sound did indeed grow louder, a terribly sad and stunning song playing. The notes were sometimes heavy with feeling, and sometimes fleet with kindness. I couldn't distinguish the instrument, so it could not have been the harp. Wasting no more time, I gently opened to the door and stepped inside.
At first my eyes saw the brilliance of light against the polished white floors and walls, sunlight beaming in golden streaks. Everything seemed to glimmer in the luminance and the sound echoed gorgeously through the room.
I saw, quite a ways away, the great piano was exposed, it's blackness contrasted with the sheer radiance of the room. What I saw next made me stop walking and my jaw dropped in surprise.
Seated before the piano was none other than Jade, playing the piano like I had always visioned. I stared in awe from a distance and it took me a while to see he was not alone. Lying atop the piano was Tear, her magnificent silk gown cascading off the piano top. She was on her stomach, her arms crossed with her head resting on them. She faced Jade and looked so relaxed, I thought she might have been asleep. Her hair fell to nearly to the piano's keys, but Jade didn't seem to mind at all.
The song I heard was so striking I could not even begin to say how I felt. I could only say that the way Jade's hands pressed the white keys produced a sound that made my heart ache. A sad melody was all I could think of when he stung at the higher keys, and every chord was in perfect harmony with the song.
His fingers that usually wore gloves now swept across the piano freely and gracefully, dancing to the song they created. As I neared closer, I could see Tear was looking down at the keys, a blank, thoughtful stare in her eyes. Jade's eyes, however, were closed.
Every effortless movement was continuous and well-versed, each tone floating to the next. The tune fell and rised again, beauty in its sound. Somehow I could see Jade's expression grow more difficult as he played a part of the song so painfully moving, Tear closed her eyes and pressed her lips together tightly. My heart jumped at the music's intent, creating something that made me shiver.
Agile hands continued to turn and his fingers fell on each selected key as the song slowed down, the music left in silent suspension for a moment. When he picked up again, it was quieter and coming to an end. Low sounds left more gaps as it continued to get slower and slower. I stepped closer yet again.
His left hand swiftly rolled from chord to chord, his right still pressing the keys gently. I looked at Tear, but the shifting of my eyes made me aware, suddenly, that I was crying. I was amazed that the third song I had ever heard in my life had brought me to tears, but it had. I looked down at my trembling hands, and up at Jade again just as the song came to its finale.
His back was to me, but I had no idea why Tear had not seen me. Perhaps she had been so involved in the song that I went ignored, just as before. He depressed each ending note so gently, the sound that ended up resonating through the room was just the right volume, the chord's beauty wavering in echo for what felt like minutes.
Jade's red eyes finally opened, so filled with emotion that I had never seen him with before. Tear turned to him with a smile and closed her eyes, saying something I could not understand. They sat in silent communication while I wiped my eyes hurriedly, then approached the two, within talking distance. It took me a moment to see that Tear's expressive blue eyes were not crying, and she had been there through all of that. Perhaps I was just moved because I had never heard something so marvelous before.
"That was..." I started, and the two turned to me abruptly. Although I felt ashamed for interrupting, I finished, "Amazing." The smile on my lips expressed my gratitude and Jade stood from his stool as Tear sat up, letting her long legs dangle off the piano.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. That was the first song I ever learned," Jade explained, and I was so shocked that he would tell me that instead of something rude and stern. Tear nodded once and turned to Jade. To my surprise, he closed the board back over the keys and offered a hand to help Tear off the structure. I didn't think he would end as soon as he saw me, but perhaps he always limited his time to one song only.
"So what brings you here?" Jade asked, he and Tear lifting the grand sheet back up to cover the masterpiece.
I was going to say the sound of his music had brought me, which would be more honest, but instead I replied, "I was wondering where the Princess was. I've been meaning to speak to her."
Tear jumped up at this and clapped her hands together, looking at Jade excitedly and grinning. Amazingly, she must've understood me. Jade looked back at her and she did a hand motion, to which the man nodded. "Tear says that Natalia should be in the garden. Sometimes she goes out there to relax." Looking at me with the coldness returning to his eyes, he said, "You may go find her if you want."
I nodded and said "thanks", making my way out of the room. Had that been why Jade was in such a good mood this morning? I couldn't tell, so I just started for the garden once outside and let the song fill my head.
The weather outside was unusually sunny and warm, as I had predicted earlier. I retraced my steps to the garden that I had taken days before and found myself once again at the inviting gates of the floral paradise. I stepped in and wound my way through the intricate pass, walking by roses and tulips of romantic red, lilies and daises of pure white, and morning glories of Prussian blue. A rare sea green butterfly flew past me, black streaks across its wings. This place was so peaceful, and so calm, I felt immediately at ease.
The soles of my boots shifted on the dirt that was strewn onto the path, leaving brown smears. To have so many flowers growing the near midst of autumn, the place must be very well taken care of. I didn't know who attended to the garden, but I assumed it was Guy since he was the servant.
I turned back around to face the estate building, trying to find the large window that was in the Performance Room. But I couldn't see it, and started walking again, thinking of that gorgeous song that had so recently brought me to tears. During my thinking, I fell upon the garden center, entering from the back path so I saw the backside of the twisted-straw chair. However, someone was seated in the chair this time, unaware so far of my presence.
"Excuse me," I said quietly, walking around to face them. They looked up at me, and I saw that it was the Princess. She was wearing a canary yellow sun dress, quite different from her usually formal attire. Her feet were bare, but I saw a pair of sandals pushed beneath the chair. Her face was flushed with the warmth of the outdoors and her headband was now white with a small peony on the side of it. Wearing a gentle smile, the first one I'd seen since my arrival, she nodded her greeting.
"Good to see you, Luke." Her voice was still thin with her illness and her exhaustion could be seen in her clouded hazel eyes. "Nice day, isn't it?"
Looking up at the sky, I replied, "Yes, it's very nice out." So that chair is hers. She must come out here a lot. "I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about yourself, and this estate." Natalia turned her empty eyes away and I cleared my throat so she wouldn't avoid the topic. "If you were ever to consider me as the new owner, I wouldn't want to be in the dark about these types of things." I bowed humbly so as not to destroy my chances.
"Alright, ask away," the Princess said, not without some annoyance in her tone.
So I began. "How did your love of music and fine objects of art come about?" Natalia shifted.
"Jade Curtiss brought music into my life, and our servant Guy Cecil kept it there," she answered so vaguely I nearly slumped in disappointment. She must've seen this because a kind smile crept across her lips and she continued. "Do you want the whole story? It's a long one."
"I've got time."
Sitting up straight, the blonde woman began to tell me her story. "As you know, Badaq, my father, owned this estate, went to war, and I inherited it." I nodded, surprised that she knew of my knowledge of this. "Well, before all that happened, my father was fighting in a war quite near our old home. This was back when I was about thirteen or fourteen years old. I was on the battlefield, and as a daughter of a soldier, I had responsibilities, too."
Six years ago, on a battlefield on the outskirts of a small village
Rain came down in torrents, and the sun had long since set. Soldiers on horseback stomped to the frontlines, and a young, blonde girl stood back. Determination was fiercely present on her rain-soaked face, and her blue dress was now drenched to near black. "I want those cannons loaded and ammunition out of the rain! Let's move, soldiers!" she cried with a voice loud enough to be the army's commander. Everyone heeded her directions, knowing she was the daughter of their best soldier, Badaq.
A gunshot rang into the black of night, and a dimly lit torch under an unstable tarp flickered light across the girl's face. A soldier screamed in pain and fell dead off his horse, which ran ceaselessly into the dark. Natalia saw this and turned her head sharply to the side, slapping her wet hair onto her frozen cheek. "We lost another one, get out there!" she ordered to a resting soldier, who sprinted to the field. She followed him a ways, ducking as a cannon went off.
Picking up the dead man's sword, she slashed it at a man with both her hands, who fell back in pain. The downpour dulled her senses and every lit torch seemed to blur in the humidity. With another strangled shout, she drove the sword through the abdomen of her enemy soldier, twisting it to the side. His struggles ceased and she held the sword in place, breathing heavily. The clang of crashing metal was heard and Badaq's angered cry filled the air. "F-Father!"
She couldn't see him through the black sky and gray-streaked rain, but another opponent charged at her. The girl screamed and fell back, barely dodging the sword slash. She tried to pick up a wooden plank to strike him with, but it was saturated and far too heavy for her weak, aching arms. The man brought his sword down on her just as she rolled to the side, collecting mud on her dress.
Natalia winced in pain as I listened carefully. "I was terrified, there's no doubt. But despite how close I was to death, I was still saved." I think she was surprised at my interest in the story, because as it was going now, it had nothing to do with the estate. She knew this, and I knew this, so she went on.
A horse came galloping through the night like scissors through silk and the man turned in surprise. Natalia stood to get a better look, but shouted in surprise as the rider's arm swooped down and picked her up, carrying her back towards the town. She didn't know if it was an enemy or not, so she struggled endlessly, yet uselessly.
"Put me down!" she demanded, prying at their firm grip. "Do you hear me? I said put me-"
"This is for your own good," they replied icily, the horse going through the town and surprisingly, in the direction of the girl's house. When they stopped just outside her door, the cloaked figure set Natalia down gently and knocked on the door. It was immediately answered by Natalia's mother, who gasped in such shock and gratitude that she leaned on the doorframe for support.
"Natalia!" she cried, embracing the girl with tears in her eyes. "I was so worried about you!" Her mother looked up and stood, a brilliant smile on her face at her old friend. "Thank you so much, Jade."
Natalia looked at my astonishment and laughed kindly. "So Jade left that night and life went on as normal. I'm not sure how the battle turned out, but my father returned the next morning and everything was fine."
"Jade was on the battlefield...and he saved you?" Everything was suddenly making sense, and this was only half the story. So that's how the two met, that would explain Jade's military status as a friend of Badaq and his family, but...what about music?
"Now let me tell you about what happened a couple of weeks later," she went on after nodding to my question. "There had been no wars, perhaps a month or two had gone by, and my father asked me to go and thank Jade for saving me. So he sent me to Jade's house and that's where it happened."
The girl tentatively approached the front door, and found it to be open. "Mister Curtiss?" her voice echoed as her footsteps treaded lightly across the marble floor. "Hello?" She figured he wasn't there, but searched further into the house anyway. Then she heard a sound, and it was piano, playing a song that she had never heard before. The sound was so enchanting that she ended up walking all the way to the back room to find it.
Jade was sitting, playing a slow and peaceful, yet happy song on the grand instrument. His eyes were closed and he was smiling pleasantly. The girl only needed take one step closer and his eyes opened, looking at her as if he had been expecting her. He went on with his song, and Natalia drew close enough to hear each tone within the piano's body. She listened in wonder, placing a curious hand on the shiny piece to feel the vibrations.
Soon, the song was over and Natalia cheered for the musical welcome. "I wish I could play piano," she said longingly, turning her gaze downward. Jade tilted his head and gave her an asking look.
"Well I could give you lessons if your father would allow me to," he said, and the girl silently celebrated. She knew her father loved music just as much as she did, and before she knew it, she was playing her future through her head, becoming a famous musician. She was so caught up in her enthusiam that she forgot to thank Jade.
"So I learned to play the piano, and it was a dream come true," Natalia said, gazing reminiscingly across the flowers. With a light chuckle, she added, "Don't worry, I did eventually get around to thanking him."
I nodded slowly. "That would explain a lot. So that's why you moved here? To be with all this music?"
"That's right. As long as I had a piano, I could be happy. I played it all the time, and Jade came over quite frequently to help me. I love this estate, and my father did too. He paid quite a sum of money for it, and I'm so thankful I was able to inherit it."
"So why don't you ever play anymore?" I asked, and suddenly, the Princess's eyes grew very distant. I clasped my hands and bowed my head apologetically. "Ah, that's right. Your illness." Natalia's head snapped back to me, utter surprise on her face.
"How did you know about that?" she asked accusingly, though more in fearful shock than rudeness.
I shrugged and figured I might as well tell the truth. "It's just in the way your carry yourself. And your eyes..." I looked deep into the sad pools that I knew were filled with anguish. Her dream was crushed because of her health. "How did you get sick?"
With the wave of her hand, she slipped her sandals back on and stood uneasily. "That's enough story-telling for today," she commented, implying to me that there was another lengthly story behind her sickness. I offered an arm to her and she took it. Together, we walked back to the estate, alive and glimmering with beauty of music and pride.
A/N: I know the beginning was slow, but this chapter is probably the most important one so far. Please review if you read this chapter! I hate it when people read and then leave without saying anything.
