A foreboding title isn't it...?
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The Dawn of War
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Gasping, I twirled around, casting one last guilty look to where my shoes had dropped out of sight. My spontaneous actions had gotten me in trouble once again. Who would believe that I would actually throw my shoes off a cliff?
"I'm sorry Lord Westford. My actions seem to be a bit brass at times," I bowed my head in embarrassment.
"I seem to have caught you at a bad time," his eyes twinkled, "May I ask your name, dear lady? I believe I have never seen you here before, after all, I do not forget faces... especially with such a face as yours."
I rolled my eyes inwardly. He was an admirable flatterer, I knew that. Undoubtedly, he knew it also.
"I believe you have met my sister, Lady Moonhaven, who I believe, is your fiancée."
A silence hung in the air as I watched the gears in his head start to turn, "I was not aware that she has a sister."
"She doesn't talk of me much," I answered quickly.
He nodded, his eyes starting to twinkle again, "I can see why."
Was that an insult?! Was he deliberately provoking me?! That nerve of him!
"I beg your pardon?" my voice was testy, daring him with my gaze.
"No hard feelings meant. It was simply a comment," he answered casually, meeting my gaze with his own calm one, "May I ask what you are doing out here malady?"
I rolled my eyes, "What does it look like? Throwing my shoes off a cliff of course.
The edges of him mouth curled into a smile. It wasn't a smile really, but it was a start. It suddenly occurred to me that I never saw him smile. He was always so uptight that his face almost always stayed in a frown.
"I take it that you live here?"
I didn't know. This sudden turn of events had me thinking spontaneously, giving me absolutely no time to plan everything out. Still, where else could I live? "Yes, I do," I answered finally.
He sensed my hesitation, but said nothing.
"I should probably head back inside. Lady Aino must be looking for me," I turned on my heels and walked away. My plans had just being ruined. How was I supposed to juggle three separate lives?! There would be no way that I could keep up with everything. Still... not all ways lost. Smiling a secrete smile, I let a red rose fall to the floor. Being the rose maiden, the rose would be my insignia.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was with a satisfying feeling that I felt as I looked through my mirror. I had spent hours in bed, thinking about my new course of action. To Darien, my 'sister' lived in this house, and there was no way I could be in three places at once. So, the logic part of my mind has to be put to use. All I had to do was to combine my 'sister' and the Rose Maiden to one person. It was a simple plan and all I needed was a bit of acting on my part. To start off, I threw a beautiful vase out the window, watching as it smashed to the ground below. Next, I told my driver to take the coach and go somewhere with it... anywhere, as long as it is not to be seen from the house. He looked at me with puzzlement for a moment, but hurried to follow my orders. Everything was set. It was all up to me now. I returned back to my room, puckered up my face and pretended to throw a tantrum.
With delight, I heard footsteps hurrying my way. I bawled ever louder, hoping to attract more of their attention. To my surprise, there were five people that appeared at my doorway, looking at me with puzzlement. I recognized two of them as Westford and Princeton. Great, my embarrassing behavior was to be shared by all. After this, my reputation in this household would never be the same.
I stopped sobbing for a second to reconsider my options. I wasn't really given much of a choice, "Lord Westford," I squeezed out some more tears, "Selene... she left. She took my carriage and swore never to return."
Darien however, didn't seem to care. His manner was calm and totally impassive. My distress was nothing to him, "Pray tell, who's Selene?" his voice remained bland.
"She's my sister," I saw his eyes widen in recognition. I bawled even louder, "I'm afraid we had gotten into a fight earlier. She threw my priceless vase out the window in her fury and just marched off. I was only trying to help her. I only wanted what was best for her." I commanded my voice to take on a whiny, typical lady voice, twisting the napkin in my lap this way and that.
"What was your argument over?"
"I told her to stop this nonsense. This twaddle. This mockery of our family name. She wouldn't listen to me. I pleaded and begged on bent knees for her to heed my warnings, but they were in vain. She chose the Rose Maiden over her own sister!" I dropped the words like a bomb. The room quieted to an eerie silence. I covered my mouth in silent horror.
"Your sister is the Rose Maiden?" his voice was low and dangerous.
I gulped nervously, "Um... that was a just a slip of my tongue. I really did not mean that milord," I tried the best to be unconvincing, while being convincing in the deception.
I could tell Darien did not buy my lame excuses. His eyes narrowed, "Clean up the mess," he beckoned to my room. I blushed.
Without another word in my direction, he departed, his men following him. I could tell he was angry with me. The fierce glint in his eyes and the set of his chin told me that he was furious with my behavior and public humiliation of myself in front of his friends.
I couldn't really blame him. Frankly, I found it interesting that the disappearance of my sister had bought out a more vivid reaction from him than my distress. It certainly gave me quite a bit of information; information that I would need for further reference. I was ready to take full advantage over this. Meanwhile, I will try to be as stuck up and 'ladylike' as I could.
I leaned back in the armchair, plopping my feet on the table in front of me. I found it ironic that Lord Westford could be so easily deceived by me. Of course, my identity has slipped quite a few times and by no doubt, he must be suspicious of my true attentions. As long as they remained only as suspicions, there would be no problem. Still, I was worried. I knew I was underestimating my opponent, something that might cost me everything in the end. I couldn't help but underestimate him. I knew the man was an absolute genius. I knew he could smell deceit. I knew he was a relentless man that got whatever his heart desires. I knew. I just didn't care. It might be that I'm not taking this too seriously. Indeed, if my deception was to be discovered, my name would be ruined. I would be ruined.
A smile began to spread on my face. The concept was simple; if I was not discovered, I would not be ruined. All I have to do is to make sure that I am not found out.
Simple, right?
It would be if I was dealing with the normal pathetic male species. But I wasn't. Not a problem, right? I wish. The second I found myself in this little plot of mine, I knew that all my problems will begin with Lord Endymion of Westford. This was a battle of wills, a soon-to-be war...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
End of 'Dawn of War'
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Ah... I know, I know. Another short chapter. But at least this one came out quickly. It'll be my last chapter before I leave for Disney World, so that's why I don't have time to make it long. Besides, I think this is kind of a cute cliff hangar. After I come back, chapters will be more than 2000 words. But for now, you could consider it as a kind of special circumstance. ~ Till next time (and thanks for all reviews)
Before I forget... there seems to be some mistakes in my work. I'll go over those and reload my chapters, but as I have said, I'm low on time at the moment. So please put up with them for a bit longer. I'm sorry I cannot make them better, but I'm not perfect and I have so much schoolwork to work on.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Dawn of War
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Gasping, I twirled around, casting one last guilty look to where my shoes had dropped out of sight. My spontaneous actions had gotten me in trouble once again. Who would believe that I would actually throw my shoes off a cliff?
"I'm sorry Lord Westford. My actions seem to be a bit brass at times," I bowed my head in embarrassment.
"I seem to have caught you at a bad time," his eyes twinkled, "May I ask your name, dear lady? I believe I have never seen you here before, after all, I do not forget faces... especially with such a face as yours."
I rolled my eyes inwardly. He was an admirable flatterer, I knew that. Undoubtedly, he knew it also.
"I believe you have met my sister, Lady Moonhaven, who I believe, is your fiancée."
A silence hung in the air as I watched the gears in his head start to turn, "I was not aware that she has a sister."
"She doesn't talk of me much," I answered quickly.
He nodded, his eyes starting to twinkle again, "I can see why."
Was that an insult?! Was he deliberately provoking me?! That nerve of him!
"I beg your pardon?" my voice was testy, daring him with my gaze.
"No hard feelings meant. It was simply a comment," he answered casually, meeting my gaze with his own calm one, "May I ask what you are doing out here malady?"
I rolled my eyes, "What does it look like? Throwing my shoes off a cliff of course.
The edges of him mouth curled into a smile. It wasn't a smile really, but it was a start. It suddenly occurred to me that I never saw him smile. He was always so uptight that his face almost always stayed in a frown.
"I take it that you live here?"
I didn't know. This sudden turn of events had me thinking spontaneously, giving me absolutely no time to plan everything out. Still, where else could I live? "Yes, I do," I answered finally.
He sensed my hesitation, but said nothing.
"I should probably head back inside. Lady Aino must be looking for me," I turned on my heels and walked away. My plans had just being ruined. How was I supposed to juggle three separate lives?! There would be no way that I could keep up with everything. Still... not all ways lost. Smiling a secrete smile, I let a red rose fall to the floor. Being the rose maiden, the rose would be my insignia.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was with a satisfying feeling that I felt as I looked through my mirror. I had spent hours in bed, thinking about my new course of action. To Darien, my 'sister' lived in this house, and there was no way I could be in three places at once. So, the logic part of my mind has to be put to use. All I had to do was to combine my 'sister' and the Rose Maiden to one person. It was a simple plan and all I needed was a bit of acting on my part. To start off, I threw a beautiful vase out the window, watching as it smashed to the ground below. Next, I told my driver to take the coach and go somewhere with it... anywhere, as long as it is not to be seen from the house. He looked at me with puzzlement for a moment, but hurried to follow my orders. Everything was set. It was all up to me now. I returned back to my room, puckered up my face and pretended to throw a tantrum.
With delight, I heard footsteps hurrying my way. I bawled ever louder, hoping to attract more of their attention. To my surprise, there were five people that appeared at my doorway, looking at me with puzzlement. I recognized two of them as Westford and Princeton. Great, my embarrassing behavior was to be shared by all. After this, my reputation in this household would never be the same.
I stopped sobbing for a second to reconsider my options. I wasn't really given much of a choice, "Lord Westford," I squeezed out some more tears, "Selene... she left. She took my carriage and swore never to return."
Darien however, didn't seem to care. His manner was calm and totally impassive. My distress was nothing to him, "Pray tell, who's Selene?" his voice remained bland.
"She's my sister," I saw his eyes widen in recognition. I bawled even louder, "I'm afraid we had gotten into a fight earlier. She threw my priceless vase out the window in her fury and just marched off. I was only trying to help her. I only wanted what was best for her." I commanded my voice to take on a whiny, typical lady voice, twisting the napkin in my lap this way and that.
"What was your argument over?"
"I told her to stop this nonsense. This twaddle. This mockery of our family name. She wouldn't listen to me. I pleaded and begged on bent knees for her to heed my warnings, but they were in vain. She chose the Rose Maiden over her own sister!" I dropped the words like a bomb. The room quieted to an eerie silence. I covered my mouth in silent horror.
"Your sister is the Rose Maiden?" his voice was low and dangerous.
I gulped nervously, "Um... that was a just a slip of my tongue. I really did not mean that milord," I tried the best to be unconvincing, while being convincing in the deception.
I could tell Darien did not buy my lame excuses. His eyes narrowed, "Clean up the mess," he beckoned to my room. I blushed.
Without another word in my direction, he departed, his men following him. I could tell he was angry with me. The fierce glint in his eyes and the set of his chin told me that he was furious with my behavior and public humiliation of myself in front of his friends.
I couldn't really blame him. Frankly, I found it interesting that the disappearance of my sister had bought out a more vivid reaction from him than my distress. It certainly gave me quite a bit of information; information that I would need for further reference. I was ready to take full advantage over this. Meanwhile, I will try to be as stuck up and 'ladylike' as I could.
I leaned back in the armchair, plopping my feet on the table in front of me. I found it ironic that Lord Westford could be so easily deceived by me. Of course, my identity has slipped quite a few times and by no doubt, he must be suspicious of my true attentions. As long as they remained only as suspicions, there would be no problem. Still, I was worried. I knew I was underestimating my opponent, something that might cost me everything in the end. I couldn't help but underestimate him. I knew the man was an absolute genius. I knew he could smell deceit. I knew he was a relentless man that got whatever his heart desires. I knew. I just didn't care. It might be that I'm not taking this too seriously. Indeed, if my deception was to be discovered, my name would be ruined. I would be ruined.
A smile began to spread on my face. The concept was simple; if I was not discovered, I would not be ruined. All I have to do is to make sure that I am not found out.
Simple, right?
It would be if I was dealing with the normal pathetic male species. But I wasn't. Not a problem, right? I wish. The second I found myself in this little plot of mine, I knew that all my problems will begin with Lord Endymion of Westford. This was a battle of wills, a soon-to-be war...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
End of 'Dawn of War'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ah... I know, I know. Another short chapter. But at least this one came out quickly. It'll be my last chapter before I leave for Disney World, so that's why I don't have time to make it long. Besides, I think this is kind of a cute cliff hangar. After I come back, chapters will be more than 2000 words. But for now, you could consider it as a kind of special circumstance. ~ Till next time (and thanks for all reviews)
Before I forget... there seems to be some mistakes in my work. I'll go over those and reload my chapters, but as I have said, I'm low on time at the moment. So please put up with them for a bit longer. I'm sorry I cannot make them better, but I'm not perfect and I have so much schoolwork to work on.