Miss Black…
"Miss Black…"
"Miss Black!"
Eleanora woke up with a small scream; she reached under her pillow for her gun and couldn't find it; it was on the desk, far out of reach.
Sebastian gazed at her.
"I'm sorry," he said, "but Bardroy already pulled a gun on me and I'm not in the mood for another."
He waited until she stopped swearing before continuing.
"I apologize for the late hour," he said, "but it's urgent."
"How the bloody ! did you get in here? I locked the goddamned door!"
"I knocked several times and you didn't answer. I was forced to open it myself."
"What if you were a murderer? I could be dead now!"
"Lucky for us then, that I'm not a murderer. Now pay attention."
"And this really couldn't wait until tomorrow?"
"No," he said. "It couldn't."
"I hate you," she informed him and then settled down to listen.
He didn't speak for a while. He just looked at her.
"What? Something on my face?"
"No," he said. "I just wanted to look at you for a while."
"Like what you see?"
"Mostly," he said. "You have very nice eyes."
Eleanora stared at him.
"They're blue," he continued.
"Brilliant," she said, finding speech again. "How long did it take you to figure that out?"
"You're a very smart young lady, you know," he said, ignoring her last comment.
"Thanks for…I'm what?"
"Tomorrow," he said, "and the days afterward, things might be a bit…up in the air."
"Why? Because of the murders?"
"Yes. And I want you to handle it all."
"ME? Why me?"
"Because out of everyone in this mansion, you're the one I trust the most."
Eleanora lost her voice again.
"You're not much for strength. Or speed. Or stamina. I remember all the times you managed to hit me," he gently touched one of his eyes, "and you managed to do that not by your fighting prowess, but because you were able to catch me off-guard. Not many people can do that. It's an excellent gift."
"We're glad you approve."
"I'm serious," he said, turning to her again. "Tomorrow, you're going to be in charge."
"What about Tanaka? Don't you trust him? Isn't he older and wiser and everything?"
"His stamina is a bit…unstable. And sometimes I question his intelligence. I've never questioned you yet, Eleanora. Please take care of everyone in this mansion, particularly the young Master." He rose up. "Now go to sleep. I leave everything in your capable hands."
"Mmm…" Eleanora said, already falling asleep. "I'm still wondering why we couldn't have had this conversation in the morning…"
"Because things will be different in the morning," he whispered and closed and locked the door behind him.
Eleanora was mostly-asleep until a thought jolted her awake.
"He called me 'Eleanora.'"