And then there was light...

Opening her eyes, drowsy and lethargic, Poppy woke to the shafts of sunlight spilling into her chambers. Sleepily, she turned her head and noted that her bed was directly across the double doors that led out into the courtyard. The doors were closed at present, the light from the sun spilling in through the gauzy curtains. A glance to her left revealed to her a tall armoire, a vanity, and another door. Straight across from her bed were a small settee, table, and a bookshelf. Directly above the headboard of her bed was a mirror, but it wasn't. It rippled and showed various scenes. A stormy sky, lightning creating a web across the glass, and then it changed; it was now a forest just after rain, winds rustling the leaves of the trees.

Closing her eyes, Poppy thought to herself that it must be a spying mirror. That he could see into her room with it, though lesser minds would be distracted by the images it presented and not guess at it's real purpose. She would not be one of those. She would question everything in the room. Complacency and ignorance had no place here.

Blearily she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, sitting up with effort. Lethargy coated her body like a second skin. Pulling back the covers and swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she came to realize she wasn't wearing the clothes she was wearing the previous day. She was dressed in a loose white gauzy shift that reached to her ankles, and was cut in an Empress cut at her bodice.

Why doesn't he get himself a doll and stop dressing me?

Rising and making her way to the armoire, hoping that maybe, just maybe, she'd find her own clothes within its confines. Upon opening the door, she found that her hope had been in vain. There were an array of shifts, gowns, robes, and whatnot, but it only turned her stomach. The colors and the styles were his, not hers. Slamming the door shut, she moved to the door she'd noticed before, doubting it was an exit, but curious just the same. It opened to a large and spacious restroom. Slamming that door shut as well, she went to the double doors and threw them open, needing sunlight, fresh air, and the illusion of space.

There was a blessed breeze blowing, renewing her as she stood beyond the fountain a moment, getting her bearings. Reaching out a hand, she touched the water with her fingertips before she traced the petals of the lotus flower nearest her hand. Removing her hand, she glanced around once more, looking at the clear blue sky, wishing she could define her location more than anything.

Perhaps if she gave herself a tour of the villa, she might find something, anything that would hint at her location. Moving briskly, she left the courtyard; selecting a different door than the one she'd made the mad dash down the day before. Looking left and right, Poppy saw the corridor was long in either direction. Biting her lip a moment in thought, she decided to try both, but took the right hand direction first.

She didn't bother to try and quiet her footfalls along the corridor, as she knew he'd find her anyway, and there was no way out at present, she decided that trying for stealth would only alert him quicker, that if she showed she had no intention of leaving, it might not bring him running to where she was. Though, she really wondered at her logic as she kept her pace down the corridor.

Coming to her first door on her left, she opened it to find an empty bedroom, but most likely a guest room, as it showed no hints of belonging to him. She noticed there were only a bed, a vanity, and a dresser; nothing like a desk to keep notes or any such things within. Sighing, she left the room and continued on her way, knowing that really, she had all the time in the world to keep exploring and that there was no rush, however impatient she was.

Another door, this time on the right, opened to reveal a dining room. There was a door across from the beautiful cherry wood table, which opened to a kitchen, and a door beyond that lead into a parlor of sorts, yet there was nothing that could hint at a locale in the room. There was nothing, no map or note that gave a name of any sort. It curdled her stomach.

There has to be something in this entire villa, anything!

Gritting her teeth, she kept moving, through the atrium, study, game room, and out into a large ballroom which held double doors that lead her right to the beginning of her quest, the courtyard. Granted she hadn't yet explored the other corridor from where she started, but for the moment, her search was over. Lethargy was winning over her. Tired as could be, Poppy made her way to the willow tree, tumbling into a heap beneath it, instantly asleep in minutes.

I have to admire her spirit. It really is endearing.

Aurelius watched her sleeping form from his own window, watching the way the willow branches and leaves moved over her in the wind. He wanted desperately to go out there too her, but he had business to attend to, and it couldn't wait. He was, however, consoled that she would be here when he returned.

Taking up his cloak, he left his window and moved to the full-length mirror just beside his door. He took up some ash from the pot upon his desk, tossing it at the surface of the mirror, which rippled and came alive.

"Maison de l'Oleandre," Aurelius intoned, waiting for the image of the Manor house to appear before him. Smiling a Cheshire cat smile, he walked into the mirror and appeared at the front door of the Manor in the next moment. He knocked on the door and waited a moment or two until the door opened, revealing a rather tall house elf that had exceptionally pointy ears. "I'm here to see Lena," Aurelius informed the elf. Nodding, the elf stepped aside, bidding him enter. "Miss is waiting, she is," the elf told him, taking his cloak.

Aurelius smiled. "I know."