Several days had passed since Bella had been told of the news. The entire time she'd had been drifting in and out of consciousness gradually. She still recalled nothing. The Bates family, a sweet elderly couple, had come by that morning and introduced themselves. She would be going home with them in another two days. The doctors had shown her what they had found of her possessions. That was all they had to identify her with.
First had been her clothes. Long thick black robes and a matching cloak were the first articles. When she had asked why she had been wearing a cloak, the doctor had told her that the carnival had been themed as a masquerade. That everyone had been dressed in costume. The other things they showed her included a black pair of pants, and a plain long sleeved shirt that she had been wearing under the robes. Heeled boots served as footwear.
In addition there had been a single silver band, which from its discovered position on her left hand was assumed to be a wedding ring, worn with a silver and emerald ring, which was in turn, assumed to be an engagement ring. The last piece was a necklace. A round and flat coin of silver was strung on a black cord. The front of the piece was an engraving of a serpent. Tiny green jewels were set in place for the eyes. While the engraving looked ordinary enough, something about it captivated her. She had stared at it for what seemed like hours, but was probably only moments when they first showed it to her. Then, on the back were words, engraved carefully and in a small beautiful script. If was from here that the doctors identified her.
Bella,
Amor Omnia Vincet
yours,
Rodolphus.
The words were simple enough, but something about them haunted her. That night, as she drifted off to sleep, they were all she could think about. Once she was asleep though, they left her in a flash.
They stood assembled in the front hallway, still and silent. Bella's arms were crossed, her face still set in a scowl. Andromeda stood next to her, hands clasped behind her back and eyes downcast, and Narcissa stood on her other side, freshly clean and dressed. The green haired doll clutched in her arms was the only sign of the mornings activities. The nursemaid stood in the corner, behind Narcissa, doing her best to blend in with the wall.
A sound echoed at the far end of the entry hall and the double doors leading to the parlor flew open. In swept her mother and father, looking as perfect as they always did. The picture of grace, class, and elegance. Her fathers dark hair was impeccably combed, perfectly matching his dark robes. Her mother was stunning, blond curls held up with a jeweled pin, her complexion pale and perfect as always. The strode down the length of the hall quickly, coming to a halt just in front of the girls. The clock could be heard somewhere in the distance, striking the hour. A crash could be hear outside of the entrance. The footmen swung the front doors open.
Her cousin's family stood on the front step, their discarded portkey laying on the marble floor. Her parents welcomed the adults with open arms and they swept off, disappearing into the parlor while the children were left to fend for themselves. The little boy standing on the stoop came inside and the footmen closed the doors. He stood still, eying her with fury. Andromeda returned to the porch with her book, and little Narcissa burst into tears and was carried off by the nursemaid.
She was left alone with him... He was just her age, and they were cousins, which would lead one to believe that they were playmates. Far from the truth actually. They hated each other. One look at his obnoxious face wanted to send Bella running to her room to stay away from him. He got along with Andromeda well enough, but he was considerably younger then she, and she was preoccupied with her books. This however, left him with only Bella. The only good thing to come from their relationship was that he seemed to hate her with just the same passion as she hated him. At least they were on equal ground.
Frowning, she turned on her heel and stormed off. To where she didn't know. As long as she didn't have to face him again... At least until dinner anyway. She was always next to him.
The English countryside was flying by at a dizzying rate. This 'car' they were riding in was highly uncomfortable. Bella's head lay against the glass as she tried very hard to keep down her breakfast. The car still mystified Bella, which further mystified the doctors. She recognized most common objects, and her basic skills, but there were strange pieces missing. Usually with regards to technology. The car was one of those many things. It had made her uneasy at first, but now she just felt sick.
"We're almost there," Mrs. Bates called from the front seat. Bella nodded gratefully, afraid to open her mouth.
Ten minutes later the car pulled to a stop in front of a small, well kept home. Tidy lines of rosebushes led up the paved walkway, and the driveway ended in front of a massive looking door of sorts. It didn't open however, as Mr. Bates parked the car in the driveway and hopped out. Mrs. Bates opened the front door, while he fetched her bags out of the trunk.
Before heading home, they'd stopped and bought her some clothes to have besides the ones she'd been found with. Bella slowly climbed out of the car, her stomach finally settling, and followed the couple up to the front door. She was still in the process of adjusting to being outside of the hospital for the first time in weeks. Mr. Bates hung the keys on a small wooden plaque by the door and walked into the living room with the paper he'd picked up on the way.
"Hello Duke," Mrs. Bates said to the large black dog that had come scampering into the room. She picked up one of Bella's bags, who took it as a signal to pick up the other, before following her up a crickety set of stairs to the second floor.
"The bathroom's the first door on the left," she said. "And our room is right across the hall. Stephan's room is second on the right."
"Your son?"
"Yes. But don't worry, he doesn't live here. We keep it open for him when he's visiting." She continued down the hall. "Your room will be the second on the left." She knocked the door open and set the suitcase on the bed. She opened the curtains and propped open the front window.
"Please make yourself at home Bella." Bella looked around.
"Thank you for your kindness Mrs. Bates."
"Oh please dear, call me Jane. And call that old man down there William."
Bella smiled. "Thank you Jane." She left, closing the door behind her and Bella was left to her own devices.
The room was nice enough. The hard wood floor was covered with a braided rug and the white walls were covered with paintings of flowers and famous sayings neatly framed. The bed was white, and made up with a light green comforter, and the white dresser was bare. An armchair sat by the window, and the door to the walk in closet stood open. The white lace curtains over the windows fluttered in the same breeze that tossed her hair.
With a sigh she turned and lifted the two suitcases onto the bed, clicking them open. The robes she was found in she hung carefully in the closet and the jewelry she wore. Undergarments were shoved in the dresser, and an assortment of skirts and shirts and pants for all occasions were hung in the closet, a few pairs of shoes lined up on the floor.
Finished, she carefully pulled off the sweater she was wearing and settled down in the arm chair, surveying the landscape. Idly, she turned over her arm, running her fingers over the skin. The thin outline of a skull resided there, faint against her pale skin. This identifying mark had also puzzled the doctors. It wasn't quite a tattoo, but she had no idea what else it could be.
Jane's voice echoed from downstairs calling Bella to an early supper, and she stood slowly , closing the door to her room softly behind her.
POTC Freak: Wow, I can't believe I missed that. What on earth was I thinking? Thanks for catching it. I do believe its right in the third chapter though. When she's referring to her cousin there, she's not talking about Narcissa.
Thanks for the feedback everyone! Please keep it coming!
