The Prisoner on Alastor Street

The sun was big and bright again, mocking me. I felt anything but warm sunshine. I felt like I was going to hurl. There I was with miles of fabric draped into a dress that I wore and my air climbed to the ceiling. I sat with my hands folded, my left thumb stroking a protruding vein in my right hand. I was breathing very slowly, savoring every last breath of freedom.

"Don't look so morbid! You're going to do fine." Mary stated while rubbing my back.

"Easy for you to say."

I had just finished some etiquette lessons that Shore said I was in desperate need of before I lived in misery….oops…. I mean the palace. I now know how to get out of a carriage properly, address royalty and non royalty, and how to wear a corset, my new favorite accessory.

"Don't do anything stupid and you'll be fine." Peter added from across the carriage.

Peter is Mary's 19-year-old son. We had grown up together and he is like a brother to me. He views me like I'm his little sister, very protective.

We came to a sudden stop and I lurched forward, almost falling to the floor. Mary pulled me back and said one last thing before we exited.

"Remember, nobody knows except the King and Queen and some advisors. The prince and princess don't know and neither does the court."

I nodded and sighed. The door opened and Peter emerged first. He helped me out and Mary followed. The first thing I did was stare at the enormous palace. My mouth dropped slowly, but I quickly shut it at Mary's prick in the back. The place was massive, at least five stories high with gardens surrounding the entire estate. We had entered through a large and intricate wrought iron gate. Fountains supplied a rush of soothing noise and larger than life statues presented the lineage and power of the country.

I was pulled out of my trance by a greeting.

"Welcome to Alastor Palace, Mademoiselle." said a man trying to disguise how short he was with a big feathery hat. "I am Don Jesster, the house manager." he introduced.

"I will be forever grateful that you have arranged my stay." I said as I put on an innocent smile. Mary looked please. Don Jesster turned to look at Mary and Peter.

"I'm sorry but you must now say goodbye to your travel party."

I turned around and gave Peter a huge hug first. He whispered "Nothing stupid" in my ear. I rolled me eyes, but smiled. I then turned to Mary and gave her an even bigger hug.

I heard "Be safe" whispered from her. We detached and they climbed back into the carriage. I watched as they descended through the gate. None of us cried. We had done it to many times to get emotional.

I was brought back to reality-again-by a grunt like clearing of the throat. I turned to see that two new people had joined us. They had walked over from a nearby garden by the looks of it.

"May I present Princess Elodie and Prince James" Don Jesster introduced, motioning his hand to each person. I curtsied low at each introduction. Elodie was adorable. She was about five with messy blond hair and bright blue eyes. She held out a bouquet of flowers for me which I accepted graciously. James was about a year older that me and tall; taller than Peter. His hair was deep dark dark brown and messy and his eyes were the same blue as Elodie's but more intense, older, harder I guess.

"You shall meet the King and Queen later. Shall we go inside" said Don Jesster.

Elodie took a hold of my hand and we walked inside followed by James. The grand hall was blank and empty. It's only source of beauty was stain glass windows close to the ceiling. Faded tapestries hung on the walls and a lager marble staircase occupied most of the room. A small plump young woman ran down the staircase to us.

"This is Margarite, your maid." Don Jesster introduced. She gave a little curtsy and I bowed my head.

"I will show you to your room miss." She said and started up the staircase. I followed still holding Elodie's hand. We stopped on the third floor and down several halls and corridors. I memorized the maze to my room so I wouldn't get lost. We finally stopped at a large white door. Margarite let me open the door and I found myself standing inside a giant marshmallow. Everything was a plush white with gold trimmings, the windows, the chest, the walls. Even the ceiling was white with intricate and numerous gold moldings. The bed was huge and fluffy. It took all of my strength to not jump on it. Margarite explained that there were two hidden doors in the wall. One led to a bathroom and the other a closet. She also explained that I would meet the King and Queen before dinner.

"You must be hungry. Let's go down to the kitchen and get something to eat" piped up Elodie. You could easily tell that she loved guests, especially ones that behaved like older sisters.

The two of us went down to the main floor and into the breakfast room. The chef came out of the kitchen when he saw us.

"This is Chef Greg," Elodie introduced "the greatest chef in the world."

"I am always happy to receive that title from you Mademoiselle Elodie." he laughed. "How about I fetch you something new? It was just shipped in from Spain." With that he flew back into the kitchen and not a minuet later he was back with a round tin.

He placed it on the table and said "Now don't let your mother know I gave you this. It's going to be served at the upcoming ball but I'll let you two be guinea pigs."

A wide smile grew across Elodie's face. Greg pried open the tin to reveal an assortment of different brown colored squares. Elodie and I took one and bite into it. It was amazing. It was like nothing I had ever had before, sweet, moist, and melted right in my mouth. Elodie was already on her second piece.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Chocolate" Greg replied.

"It's delicious!"

Elodie and I sat there until we finished the whole tin. While we ate, Greg told us stories of how it's made and what makes it so good. We must have been there a while because Don Jesster came in and said that my presence with the rulers was requested. I thanked Greg for the treat and excused myself. Don Jesster led me down a hallway into a study. The walls were made of warm mahogany and a roaring fire warmed the room from a marble fire place carved to look like two lions.

"May I present their highnesses Queen Clairyssa and King Ormond."

I gave a low curtsy and a bright smile. "I am exceptionally happy by your generosity as to letting me stay inside your palace."

The pair smiled at my charm. They shooed Don Jesster away which only meant that they wanted to talk to me privately about my mission.

"We are forever grateful that you could help us in our situation." said Queen Clairyssa.

"It is my duty to serve and protect the nation." Eww, being proper is hard.

"Well, we would like to return the favor. Your leader Monsieur Shore has mentioned that you are unfamiliar with dancing. Is that correct?" said King Ormond.

I nodded my head, unable to speak. I was afraid of what was coming next.

"Since you will be attending all of our balls and parties, we found it necessary that you learn proper dancing and proper ballroom etiquette."

I swallowed hard. Great, more lessons.

"Let me introduce our governess, Madame Salope"

The wood doors opened behind me and in walked a tall, thin, stern looking woman. She stood vary straight and walked slowly and stopped in front of me. He eyes grazed me up and down.

The first thing out of her mouth was, "We have work to do"

Madame Salope became my own personal jailer, and I am the prisoner on Alastor Street.