I do not own ACIII,but oh, how I wish I did
Sophie had a pep on her step as she opened the door to James, oh he was so handsome, with that blond hair and silver gray eyes... with a dreamy sigh, the plump maid opened the door to let him in. James nodded in her direction, and that was enough to make her lean against the wall to fan herself, a bright red taking over her chubby cheeks and nose. Arlette blinked as James appeared on the doorway leading towards the kitchen, a small smile on his face, "Arlette." he nodded politely, reaching down to press a kiss on the back of her small hand, "You look beautiful this afternoon." his voice was smooth like silk, but Arlette preferred Connor's voice much more. It was deep, sensual and most important of all, it belonged to him.
"Thank you." she said hesitantly, moving her hand towards her chest and curling her fingers around the small bow on her corset, "What are you doing here?" Arlette made sure to give one step back away from him defensively, she didn't wanted him kissing her hand again or even trying to touch her at all. James noticed that,but if he was going to follow the plan he had plotted on his mind, he had to leave it that way. The blond man ran a hand over his golden locks in exhasperation, cursing under his breath as the Irish girl started to move away from him, "Arlette, wait." her eyes snapped towards his figure with one of her eyebrows up to her forehead, "I'm deeply sorry for making you upset...when I said that about your mother." Arlette had flinched, narrowed her eyes while her pinkish lips turned into a thin line. She wasn't going to believe that easily.
"Alright." her voice was quiet, measured towards that man, "Don't bring my mother in the conversations anymore, if you want to marry me so badly." the way her eyebrows went up by the end of her sentence made James fight back a curse. She was dead serious about that, and he didn't knew why, but suddenly he felt a strong aura coming from this petite girl. It was like Arlette could murder him with her eyes. "I promise." he held up his right hand, his other was pressed above his heart while a smile took over his features, "Would you like to go to a walk Arlette?" she stared at him through her lashes and James held up his hands, "I won't do anything bad." he was hoping that his charming smile would be enough to make that girl stop bickering and frowning around him, but of course Arlette had to manage up an excuse.
"Now?" she asked, furrowing her eyebrows a bit in her forehead.
"Yes."
"I don't think so." Arlette said firmly, placing her hands on her elbows as James' smile dropped to a frown. As she started to walk away, James followed her with eyes narrowed in anger, but managed to cover it very well, "And, may I ask you why?" the blond man asked, clenching the sides of his hat with his hands as Arlette looked over her shoulder towards him. She knew he wasn't going to give up, but today... she had only one man on her mind and it was not James. "We can go tomorrow." Arlette said before she could take a hold of her words, clenching her eyes in frustration when it occured to her that she had accepted James' request. James blinked, smiling so wide it was showing a bit of his gum, "Well, great!" he laughed a bit in the phrase, placing his hat on top of the blond locks, "I'll see you tomorrow then." he was fighting back a leap of joy, the ones where people hit the heels of their shoes together, his plan was just going to be perfect!
Arlette widened her eyes as James' lips pressed against her cheek. Surprised by the sudden action, she snapped her eyeballs to his face while the smug look remained on James' features, "Arlette." he tipped the front of his hat politely, opening the door to walk back to his wagon. Arlette peeked at James through the window, touching where he had kissed with a disgusted look upon her face, "What's he planning anyway?" she asked herself in a quiet voice, considering her father was upstairs but could hear everything even if he was three miles away from the house. Arlette frowned, walking away from the window while tucking a strand of bright red hair behind her ear, she felt something wasn't right. James got nice from all of sudden, a completely different man, what was he trying to do anyway?Arlette shrugged slightly, knowing that her moment of thought wouldn't help discover his plans just yet.
Arlette shook her head slightly, "Stop thinking those types of things." she scolded herself gently, before walking towards her parent's bedroom. The doctor was still inside and Arlette didn't dared to knock on the door, so she just stared at it for a couple seconds until the doorknob started to move. The voices belonged to her father and the doctor, Arlette gave a step back so they could walk out without anything blocking their way out. Her eyebrows scrunched together as the doctor patted her father's shoulder gently, slowly shaking his head as they walked to the staircase "...oh no..." she breathed out quietly, managing to slip into the bedroom to check upon her mother's condition. Helaine was resting her back on the headboard, the long ginger strands falling over her chest and shoulders and a calm smile adorned her face.
"Mum?"
Helaine moved her head towards Arlette. She didn't said anything, simply rose her arm and beckoned to her daughter to step closer; which Arlette quickly complied. The girl lied beside her mother, her cheek resting upon Helaine's bosom as the older woman caressed Arlette's scalp with the tip of her fingers, "Mum...what did the doctor said?" Arlette asked quietly, fighting the urge to close her eyes and soak into her mother's caress. She was worried by her mother's silence, the way she hugged her close and how cold she was now, "Mum?" Arlette asked again, rising her head to lock gazes with her mother. Helaine smiled, touching the side of Arlette's face, "Look at you." she whispered, her blue eyes shining with tears, "You grew up to be such a beautiful young woman..." Helaine gently ran her fingertips along Arlette's jawline, "You got your father's jawline...and his eyes as well." a cough interrupted Helaine's speech, but she managed to continue soon after, "Dear... I'm gonna die."
Arlette frowned, pressing her cheek against Helaine's shoulder as her mouth opened slightly, "I know mum." both females got silent after that. After all...what was there to say? Helaine sighed through her nostrils, caressing her daughter's head as the two bonded in silence, enjoying the slight chilly breeze entering by the window. Arlette moved her irises to the side, holding her mother's hand tight before the words left her mouth, "I'll miss you."
"And I will miss you." Helaine replied, cupping her daughter's face with her left hand to kiss the tip of her nose, just the same way she did when Arlette was a young girl. Arlette rose from the bed, furrowing her eyebrows as she gently let go of her mother's hand, watching it fall back against the sheets. Helaine smiled calmly, taking one deep breath before closing her eyes, Arlette kept looking at her mother's upper body, "Oh thank God." she whispered in relief when it started to rise an fall in a slow pace. The girl left towards the hallway, carefully closing the door and letting out a quiet huff of air. Her blue eyes had moved towards the front door, she had to leave the house, to take a deep breath, to relax...there was too much information going on.
"Oh God." Arlette flopped down on the bench swing, placing her face on her hands as a whimper echoed on her throat. It wasn't long until she noticed she was crying.
Actually, she was sobbing.
Her mother was really going to die. The doctors couldn't do much about it anymore. Tears were wetting her palms, some of them dribbled their ways around the girl's thin fingers and fell against the ground as she continued to sob violently, not caring if Sophie saw her, or even if her father saw her. She just wanted to be alone, to cry all of what was kept inside since her mother got sick. Arlette started to move her body back and forth on the bench, clenching her eyes shut as the tears rolled down her cheeks, "This is actually happening..." her voice was cracked as she spoke to herself, wiping her palms over her eyes before sniffing, leaning back against the bench and pulling her knees towards her chest.
At night, Helaine Cunningham had passed away.
All of the Cunningham's surrounded her now cold body, Robert was hugging Arlette as their father sobbed against his wife's chest, clenching her white camisole tightly with his fists. It wasn't long until the corpse was taken away for the funeral on the next morning. Arlette got free of her brother's hug and walked towards Arthur, biting her lower lip as her father choked out a sob, "Daddy..." she whispered, kneeling by his side and caressing his back in a comforting way, but that was not making the Cunningham patriarch get any better. In a halt, he stood up with his face firm but eyebrows curved downwards, "Excuse me." Arthur's booming voice was quiet and cracked, with a turn on his heel the Irish accountant made his way out of the room.
Arlette had her hands clasped together, her irised moving to Robert who looked back at her with teary eyes and opened his arms. Engulfing his little sister on an embrace, Robert choked out a sob against her shoulder, clucthing Arlette close to himself,"S-She's really gone." he whispered while crying, sniffing quietly against his sister's shoulder. The girl clenched her eyes shut, biting her lower lip to prevent the violent sob to leave her throat while nodding in silence. Robert took a loong intake of air, wiping his hands below his eyes as he looked down at the bed their mother stayed for the past eight months, "We all knew it'd happen."
"Yes." Arlette completed, lowering her gaze towards the floor, "We did...we just didn't wanted to believe it would happen so soon." she whispered, hugging herself, carefully walking towards her mother's vanity, fingertips gently caressing the light colored wood as a smile widened on her face, "Do you remember?" Robert rose his head towards Arlette, "Mum would always bring us here...she'd read a book while we played with her jewelry..." Arlette gave a light chuckle, scrunching her eyebrows together as she opened the small marble music box. Inside was only one necklace, her favorite one.
The pendant was a beautiful Jade stone, sculpted like a small bird, a swallow. There was melted gold on the eyes and beak, behind the swallow it was written the word 'Love' in golden curvy letters, "Dad gave this to mum." Arlette whispered, curling her fingers around the pendant, the small swallow resting against her palm as the closed hand was pressed close to Arlette's heart, "Will you tell grandpa?" Arlette asked, moving her head over her shoulder to stare at Robert. With a sigh Robert nodded silently, "I have to. Dad won't be able to tell him..." Robert looked out at the sky, nibbling on his lower lip gently, "I should go."
"To where?"
"I can't stay here Arlette." he said, motioning the room with his hands, opening and closing his mouth before the words finally came out, "I need to stay away from here...you should too." with that,Robert left. Arlette stared at the closed door with wide,scared eyes, her hands still holding the necklace. Her brother was right...she had to leave. Arlette was sure that her father was probably on a pub on the Irish district, drinking down his sorrows and only coming back at tomorrow night. The girl walked to the door, slowly turning the doorknob and giving the empty room one last look before walking out. The three maids were crying silently down the stairs, Sophie was holding her rosary close to her chest while whispering Helaine's name silently, giving her one last prayer. Arlette frowned, walking to her bedroom in order gather all of her drawing supplies, a camisole and a dress, "I think this is enough." she whispered, pulling a dark blue cape from inside a bulky red chest and wrapping around her shoulders.
"Miss Arlette?" Sophie asked as the girl walked down the steps, her hands still encircling the rosary, "W-Where are you going?" the maid asked quietly, wiping one small tear that dared to roll down her cheek. Arlette bit her lower lip as her hand held the shawl closed, "I'm going out...I-I...I can't stay here. Not now..." she whispered, Sophie frowned a bit, but nodded meaning that she understood, "We'll stay here...to guard the house." the plump maid said gently, making Arlette smile kindly toward her, "Thank you Sophie." she whispered, picking the kerosene lamp on the table and lighting it up with a candle. Arlette walked out the front door and whimpered as the harsh wind slapped against her cheek violently, red strands of hair moving along with it, "Oh dear...I-I just hope this is a good idea." she whispered to herself, pulling the hood over her head before walking to the stables. Arlette explained to Nathaniel what she wanted to do and where she wanted to go, "But don't tell anyone."
The wagon driver scrunched his eyebrows but nodded, getting the horses ready to the night trip. Arlette entered the wagon and pulled the hood down, the kerosene lamp was nestled against her hands, warming her palms up. The ride wasn't as long as she presumed, but the wagon had stopped suddenly, "Miss Arlette, I don't think the horses can walk anymore." Nathaniel said from his spot, making the red haired girl climb out of the carriage with her eyebrows down. The wind once again castigated her skin, making goosebumps form along her arms and neck, "It's alright, I'll walk from here." she said gently, picking the lamp up and pulling the hood over her head. Nathaniel widened his eyes, "What?Miss Arlette! It's past midnight! Who knows what will be there? I'll go with you." before the driver could even leap out of his spot, a quiet meow made both look towards the stone covered ground.
"Adrik!" Arlette said, hugging the large black cat close, "Oh God...I missed you..." she whispered, pressing a gentle kiss atop of Adrik's head before placing him down, "Don't worry Nathaniel...Adrik will protect me." she said, smiling gently towards the worried driver. Nathaniel gulped, pulling his collar a bit as a wave of fear darted up and down his spine. would not like that...
But Arlette was gone before the poor man could object, "Oh dear Lord." he whispered, picking up the reigns and turning the wagon around to leave that eerie place. Arlette sighed silently, taking deep breaths as she finally stopped on the front door. Achilles was the one who opened it after several minutes of waiting, she told him what had happened as soon she got inside and the old Assassin let her stay as long as she'd like. "Thank you." she said softly to Achilles as her belongings were placed on top of a dressed on one of the several guest rooms, "I-I won't stay long." she whispered, but Achilles held up his hand, "Stay as long as feel you should. Now rest, you had a long night so far." he finished his phrase with a calm smile, closing the door silently and walking away. Arlette sighed, sitting on the bed with her hands on her lap. She gently ran her thumb over the Jade swallow, smiling weakly before placing it on a small shelf next to the bed.
She just hoped that Connor didn't mind.
And yeah...Helaine died :c it started to happy, then...ugh.
I got pretty emotional on this one, It was hard to write.
Reviews are love and I need a tissue.