A/N: Sorry for the late posting. Twas too lazy. ^^;; Ok, new format type thing
"***" means separation from the story to the people in the gallery (duh)
"*~*~*" means scene switching in the story.
"It was like fate had named her Melody."
***
Just as soon the piano keys stopped moving, the crowd around the theater clapped with fire crackling like sound. Melody stood from her step and gave a respectful bow, which earned her more applause. She gazed at the innumerable people with the lights stunning her eyes. The curtains fell and some of the staff aided her with ether water or make up. She just wiped some sweat off her forehead and returned to her room to rest. Her butler, Shivers, was accompanying her and waited outside in the carriage. It was her last performance for the year. Shivers watched the clumps of people move out of the theater. They mumbled and agreed that the performance was one of the best. Shivers sighed. They've always said that. 'Beautiful and talented Melody…' he thought. 'Why has heaven cursed the Earth with an angel like you?'
Melody was dressing into cooler clothes and waited for the public to leave. She glanced out the window and saw Shivers' lonesome face. One of the maids in the room peered at what she was looking at.
"Is that your father?" she asked. Melody smiled.
"Oh, no. He's my butler."
"Why does he have such a long face?"
"It's a long story." The blue haired beauty turned her face away from the window. The maid didn't know when to quit.
"Can't you summarize it?"
"I guess so." She closed the shudder of the window and locked the door. "Long time ago, his wife was burned to death while their house was on fire. He witnessed it all and became traumatized and homeless. My family took him in and he wanted to pay us back for our kindness. Now, he lives with me in the mansion."
"I'm so sorry," she said. "Don't you think that he might harm you?"
"Of course not. I think he's too old to do so. Maybe he's over it." But doubts began to fill her head anyway. "His wife sort of looked like me when she was my age…"
She walked out when the whole house was cleared and started towards the awaiting ride.
"Good evening, Melody," Shivers spoke politely. She smiled at him and nodded as she stepped inside.
"You look uneasy."
"Oh…rough day."
*~*~*~*
She lazily drug her pale fingers across the keys of her piano. She wasn't really playing anything, nor could have at midnight. Her parents would've scolded her. She sighed in weariness and boredom, but thoughts of the "trusted" Shivers tugged her eyelids up. What also shook her awake were the peering eyes of the butler.
"Ms. Pianzza, it's dark. You should be in bed," he advised her. She could tell he was worried. With or without the candle light that glowed in the room.
"I know. I still need more time…to…to think," was her reply.
"Who on Earth would think that this hour? You haven't had a wink of sleep ever since the ride home." He took a seat near the harp. "And that was hours ago."
"Why do you worry over me, Shivers?" she hid her eyes under the shadow of her bangs.
"What kind of absurd question is that?" he moved over to her to feel her forehead.
"Don't touch me!" she snapped. The elder man removed his hand in an instant. Paranoia entered her mind. Her eyes looked cold and untrusting.
"Miss…are you stressed from today's concert? It's the last and-"
"Please answer my question." She was holding her temper.
"Well, since your family was kind enough to get me back on my feet, I should return the kindness, am I right?"
"Liar! What kind of a fool do you take me as?!" she snatched the tri-topped candlestick and pointed the bright end at him.
"What has gotten into you?" he stood, backing panic.
"What's wrong Shivers? Afraid of a little fire?" she jabbed the flames threading at him.
"Have you gone mad!?"
"Don't call me names!" she threw the candleholder at his feet with much rage. He jumped due to fear. The fire smoked the curtains and ate up the near by musical instruments. Shivers couldn't let the same thing happen again. He snatched her by the wrist and led her out before more smoke could rise. Melody was in a daze, unaware of her moving feet. Shivers didn't bother looking back. All he wanted was Melody to be safe.
The butler yanked open the door to his room and let the musician rest. He quickly moved odds and ends from a wall. He then shoved the wall.
"Melody, stay in there. That is the treasury. There's a mirror trick that will bring you into the parlor so you can escape. Just stand in front of a mirror and close your eyes." He instructed. Melody looked at him questioningly.
"What about you?" she asked.
"I will try to put out the fire and alert your parents."
"But—"
"Go! Go now!" he lightly pushed her in the room. She watched him leave both rooms. Shivers tried to get to the kitchen, but the hallway was covered in flames. The red-orange matter had dominated the walls, doors, and floor. Thick, black smoke traced the yet to be burned. The ruffed red carpet below him started to glow. He backed away and hit a dead end. His time came sooner than he thought.
The heir to the Pianzza family stood before a mirror. Her time to escape was quickly shorting. She didn't care. All she cared about was the demon staring back at her. This was her fault, and she knew it. Barely blinking, she used hatred again. Hating herself for bringing Hell's fire. Brainwashed by the Devil. She calmly sat down and watched the poisonous black clouds form in the room. Her justice was served with every deep breath made.
***
"My theory is, she returned to the room that started it all. She might have been trying to change the past. Meanwhile, Shivers lives what happened after."
"Well, what happened to the house? Was it rebuilt?" Luigi asked.
"Some neighbors help put out the fire before it got too big. Her parents lived and sold the house after it was repaired."
"Who'd it transferred to?"
"Many people. But I'm guessing you wanted to know which portrait ghost. The wealthy Lydia."