The next thing Rogue was aware of was a splitting headache. Her head felt as if it had been hit by a two-by-four. What had happened? She had a vague memory of being in a weird shop but other then that it was hard to concentrate on the details through the pain. Had she passed out? It wasn't like her but she wondered if even now she was lying sprawled out on somebody's floor. Shifting a little she could feel that the floor wasn't as hard as she would expect it to be, instead it was rather soft and yielding beneath her. Her sense of unease was growing and she couldn't help but think that something seriously wasn't right. Very carefully she pulled her aching body into a sitting position and despite the throbbing in her head slowly opened her eyes. Once her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight that was streaming into the room her mouth nearly hit the floor.
She was in a beautiful bedroom; the walls were a very pale yellow with a white trim border that seemed to glow in the sunlight. Following the direction of the light with her eyes she caught the barely perceptible movement of light ivory curtains. Across the wall to her left there were three large French doors that could only have led out to a balcony. One door was open and a cool breeze made its way in carrying with it the happy notes of some bird outside she could not see.
Even though the room was rather big Rogue could see it actually had very few pieces of furniture or decorations. There was a mahogany dresser and wardrobe on the wall to her right and a small writing desk across the room next to a door. The last piece was the mahogany bed she appeared to be occupying at the moment, with its snowy white sheets and cream comforter.
Rogue took in all these details in a moment and came to one conclusion. The room was nice but it held a major drawback: it wasn't her hotel room. Where was she?
Desperately Rogue searched her mind for an explanation. The first thing that came to mind was Remy. Hadn't she agreed to meet him somewhere, if that Swamp Rat had pulled something stupid like their first trip to Mardi Gras he was going to need more then some glowing pieces of paper to keep him safe. Her anger was starting to get worked up when the reasonable side of her brain decided to step in and remind her that her logic was flawed. Yes Remy could do something like this but he wouldn't have wanted to risk the beating he knew would accompany it, plus if he valued his life he wouldn't pull this stunt in the same town that Logan was in.
Frustrated beyond belief and still in pain she banged her fists on the bed and cried out, " Where the hell am ah?"
As if to answer her question a knock sounded on the door across from her and s familiar voice called " Can I come in?" and without even waiting for an answer Kitty opened the door and stepped into the room. Well at least it looked like Kitty, the hoop skirt was really throwing Rogue off. Was there a costume party Rogue hadn't heard about? She knew people wore costumes at night but in the middle of the day?
"Honestly Annabelle your still in bed?" this weird Kitty said with a slight impatient tapping of her foot, " You were supposed to be dressed an hour ago now we might be late."
"Dressed for what? Kitty would ya care ta explain ta meh what's goin' on." Rogue asked but the young girl ignored her as she began pulling out pieces of clothing like a madwoman from the dresser.
"Is she ready?" came another voice Rogue recognized from the hallway. Good she thought Jean's here and even though Miss Perfect annoyed her to no end Jean would at least be able to explain what was going on.
The tall redhead with moss green eyes appeared in the doorway dressed in the same attire as Kitty, " Is Annabelle ready Uncle Charles will be upset if we are late.
Then again thought Rogue maybe not.
Her head was really starting to hurt now as she said, "Look Kitty, Jean, ah'm not really in the mood right now ta play games, so would ya'll please tell meh what's goin' on."
Both girls looked at her in confusion, Kitty froze in place with arms full of clothes and Jean finally asked a little unsurely, " Who are Kitty and Jean, Annabelle? Are you feeling alright?"
"I knew dad shouldn't have let her stay so late at the ball last night. The room was to hot and now she's sick," the little brunette said to the redhead under her breath.
That was it Rogue was done being nice.
"Ah don't know what kinda sick games ya'll are tryin' ta play but ah'm not amused," she yelled getting up out of the bed noticing for the first time the weird nightgown she was wearing, "Now where am ah and why the hell do ya'll keep calling meh Annabelle?"
"Honey that's your name, Annabelle Manette Devereux," Kitty said her face growing dark with concern.
"I'm going to go back downstairs and tell Uncle to go on forward without us, Krispin will drive us." Jean said her voice shaking a little.
Back and Forward the words sparked something in Rogues mind. She desperately clung to the thought bringing it slowly into a clearer picture in her mind. Then as if a curtain lifted it all came back to her, the fortuneteller, the reading and the weird dust. "You must go back to move forward" she could hear S'ayapo's voice ringing in her ears and a knot began to form in her stomach. She turned her head to look at both girls carefully taking in every detail of their dresses, their hair in intricate braids and curls, and the sounds of horses now coming in through the open window. It couldn't be, it was impossible.
Rogue found her mouth suddenly dry but she somehow managed to form the question she really needed to know the answer to, "What is today's date?"
It was the redhead, who answered, "Today is The 23rd of May, 1855."
1855? Rogue felt the ground fall out from under her and she swayed unsteadily on her feet. The two girls were quickly by her side, gently leading her over to the writing desks chair so the cool breeze could hit her. Once they helped her sit down both girls backed away trying to observe and figure out what to do next.
Rogue could only stare blankly out the door into the street below. She was defiantly still in New Orleans, she could tell by the buildings outside but it was New Orleans over a hundred and fifty years in the past. Rogue wanted to close her eyes and tell herself it was all a miserable dream but she knew it was no use; it all was to real to be a dream. She could feel panic starting to rise in her chest but pushed firmly back down; she had to stay calm and think if she didn't want to stay trapped in the past.
Carefully she brought S'ayapo's words to her mind. The woman had said she apparently had to relearn a lesson from a past life and guessing that she was being told her name was Annabelle Devereux this must be it. Turning her head she gazed at the two girls who were watching her intently. It was so weird to know they were her friends and at the same time not her friends. She had read somewhere a long time ago that the people in your current life were probably people who were involved with you in a past life, just maybe connected to you differently, this appeared to be true in this case.
Rogue gave a small sigh and resigned herself to the only option that seemed open to her. She would have to play along and hope she found whatever it was S'ayapo had wanted her to find, it was the only way to get home.
Speaking slowly she addressed the tall redhead, "Ah'm sorry ah guess ah'm just not mahself this morning, ah wouldn't want us ta be late for whatever so ah guess ya better help meh dress." She was proud of herself and even managed to summon up a small smile, which set the girls at ease.
The little brunette immediately jumped into action, " I know just which dress you should wear to the picnic, you remember now the one at the Monroe place." Setting down the clothes she had on the bed she ran over, and before Rogue could stop her grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. Rogue closed her eyes and waited for the screams and the sensation of draining the poor girl dry, hating herself already for causing this poor girl pain. She was surprised when nothing happened, and opening her eyes she saw the girl staring at her.
"Are you sure your alright?" she asked
Rogue nodded her head for the first time a ray of hope had opened up in this nightmare, she could touch. For the first time in her life she felt free. This past life thing may not be so bad after all, at least it would be interesting if nothing else.
The girl shrugged and Rogue looked over to the redhead who was proudly holding out a corset and setting a crinoline hoop skirt on the floor in front of her.
Oh yeah, Rogue sighed at the sight of the clothes, this is defiantly going to be interesting.
A/N: Yeah chapter four is done. This one was hard for me it just did not want to work out right, but I got it and am already at work on the next chapter. Rogue is about to run into some more people she "knows" especially someone very special but not quite the way she expected :)