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Fire and Ice

By Sakura Takanouchi

Chapter Eight

I woke up in a cold sweat, looking around me in a confirmation that my dream was over. I was in a strange room, one with Victorian-styled furniture and rich red carpeting and draperies. A fire was blazing in the marble fireplace. I looked down and noticed I was wearing a green dress better suited for European nobility. There was a lacquered tray standing up next to the couch I was lying on.

Before I could get up, a strange woman bustled into the room carrying a steaming bowl of soup and a mug of tea. She wore what looked like an old-fashioned maid's outfit. 'Whoa…Did I just go back in time?' I thought.

The woman paid no attention to me at all. "Oh good, you're awake," She said as she set down the soup and tea on the tray. "We were sure worried, right we were, when we almost ran you over back there. You took one look at the car and fainted. You were chilled to the bone, miss. Sorry about your uniform, but it's torn and soaked. The seamstress is patchin' it up as we speak, so it'll be as good as new very soon. Be glad we got you indoors before the winds started picking up." She motioned to the window, although neither of them could see out of it. "I imagine it will start hailing any day now, what with all the strange weather occurring. Who knows, might even be a hurricane!" She motioned for me to start eating the soup, which I fell on ravenously.

Don't worry, love, although I'd be surprised if there was school tomorrow of any kind. You go to Domino High, right?" I nodded, my mouth too full of soup to talk.

"Your uniform told me, miss. Our Duke doesn't go to Domino, although he should, in my opinion. Homeschooling's too good for 'im, not when there's pretty things like you goin' to that high school!" I blushed, and hid my face behind the soup bowl.

"That soup'll warm you up, dear. Once you're warm we'll see if we can get you to a real room, then. The parlor's the warmest, and when we got you in here you could barely move, you were that numb."

I finished the soup and sat up straighter as I took a sip of the tea. It was an herbal blend that I couldn't place.

"Who are you?" I asked, setting down the mug of tea.

"Child, you're so sweet. I'm Hannah McAbbot, the head nurse, maid, and cook here at the mansion, but just call me Hannah." My head spun when she said that. I was in a mansion! Hannah asked, "Ooh, dearie, would ya stand up for me?"

At her request I stood and spun around. It was then that I realized I was wearing a green dress with three-quarter sleeves and lace, ribbons, and ruffles everywhere. It was beautiful but it also looked like an antique. The full skirts of the gown moved with me. Nervously I took a strand of my hair in my hand as I looked at Hannah. The effects of the rain on my hair made it wavier than usual. Hannah studied me for a moment, and then broke out into a smile.

"Oh, child," she sighed, "I was right worried it wouldn't fit, but it does, love. You make it beautiful."

I blushed again at her compliment, and I gazed contentedly at my surroundings.

"She is absolutely correct," A deep male voice said. Startled, I turned around. A tall, slim man dressed in a blue button-down shirt and black pants stared back at me. "Duke Devlin, pleased to make your acquaintance," he said as he took my hand and gently kissed it. It was then that I noticed I was wearing cream-colored gloves.

"I'm Serenity," I said softly. I felt like I was in a dream. I would have curtsied if I had known how. Duke still hadn't let go of my hand.

"Would you like a tour of my home?" He asked, slowly leading me away from the parlor.

"Certaintly," I answered, as we began to leave the room.

"Come back to the dining room when you're done, and therey'll be a real dinner for you two!" Hannah said.

"Here is the library," Duke said, slowly turning on the light switch at the side of the door. Soft lighting accented the seemingly endless aisles of books.

"Wow," I said, eager to begin reading, one of my passions.

"This library is certified and contains over ten thousand volumes, many of them antiques and classics," Duke continued. "Now, let me show you where you will be staying." He led me away down a long hall, and then up a flight of stairs. "This is the Sapphire Room, he said, turning on the light switch so I could see better.

I gasped and sank down into one of the blue chairs near the door. The room was huge. It would rival the size of my entire apartment. A king-size bed stood in the back wall, flanked on each side by nightstands and jet-blue shaded lamps. A picture with a crane fishing stood behind the bed. A chest of drawers stood on the far wall and a vanity was placed opposite it. An antique mirror was mounted on the wall across where I was sitting. The walls were a light blue with a darker blue pattern sponged over it.

I was speechless. The whole mansion was wonderful, and this room seemed like it was made just for me. Duke stood behind the chair and gently let his hands rest on my shoulders.

"This reminds me of the fairy tale The Beauty and The Beast 1," Dukecommented softly.

"Yes," I agreed, "But there is no beast."

Quickly Duke walked around to the front of the chair and took my hand. "Come! The lady must have jewels."

I sat down at the vanity as Duke selected a string of diamonds with a single emerald at the throat. He clasped it around my neck, although I did protest. "It's too much," I choked out, on the verge of crying.

"Nonsense," he said, bringing two matching earrings out of another box for me. "Their beauty pales in comparison to you." He held me gently for several moments before standing up and looking at his wristwatch.

"Dinner's waiting for us," he said kindly, helping me up and offering his arm to escort me to the dining room. We passed several guest suites, Duke's office and bedroom before coming to another stairwell, which we descended. Hannah was waiting for us in a small room just off of the parlor. The table was set for two with fine china and Duke pulled out a chair for me. He sat in the chair opposite mine. Hannah came back in with a pitcher of water and a steaming pot of tea.

"Hannah's tea is famous for curing anything from a bad cold to a bad mood," Duke said. I held up my teacup. "To life," I suggested.

"To you," Duke said, and we stared into each other's eyes until he broke it to take a sip of tea.

Hannah came in a moment later to bring in our plates. We both had salmon with spinach and mashed potatoes. Duke finished his meal while I only managed a few bites of everything. "The food is very good," I commented when we were both done.

"Hannah's cooking is famous, too," he said, and we laughed. Duke then stood up and motioned for me to follow him. Through the dining room doors we walked into a huge room with gilded accents and beautiful wood flooring. Then I heard music weaving its way through the room. Duke looked at me charmingly, one hand held out. "Care to dance?" he asked.

I took his hand as we started to waltz around the room. "Of course," I agreed.

After the number was over, Duke paused, lost in thought. "Serenity," he began, "Tomorrow night, there will be… a gathering. A business party here for many of the top electronics companies in Japan. It will be a very important night for me, and I need a date. Can I count on you?"

I looked at his friendly, open eyes with an expression of amazed shock on my face. 'Why?' I thought. 'I suppose I'm just the backup, being stuck here in this mansion, having danced the night away with this charmingly handsome stranger! It is terribly romantic, though. Do I even have a choice? Could he throw me out if I refused?' I nodded my head, a faint smile on my face, more for effect than emotion. "I'm honored to accept."

"Wonderful!" Duke said, grinning boyishly. "Now it's getting late. There'll be plenty to do tomorrow, then, so let me show you back to your room." He gently escorted me back to the Sapphire room, where I fell asleep almost instantly, for the first time in weeks without dreams.

A/N

I know this is a little short, but it seems like a good stopping point for now.I'm sorry this is kind of a longtime overdue, but I've beenSO busy.I should get the next one up sometime this weekend.

I'll bet you guys are laughing your heads off at Duke's 'Duke-ish-ness'. But, I mean, wouldn't you love it if you were knocked out somewhere and woke up in a charming mansion with charming, uh...people? (That didn't come out right) And I mean, its not like she had a choice about the dance. I mean, not knowing where you are, (can't leave) and being stuck there with him? Awk-ward!

Just for the record, I'm sorry if the whole "company party thing" feels so overused, but I love it, so I don't care! But if anyone knows any good fanfiction with similar themes, oh do tell. I'd love to read it, even if its something you guys are writing. (Do I even have any more readers? It's been ages since I've updated anything)

1: I also love fairy tales! Not the stupid Disney version of Beauty and the Beast (don't own!) but the old-school French story one. It's loads more interesting and everything, so check it out!

Nothing else to say,

Sakura Takanouchi