Saturday 21 March 2009, Edinburgh, Scotland
"The days went by, I was already training for the next mission, anxious to be able to arrive at the Cavendishmansion knowing that my little sister would be there, it would be the opportunity to visit, well the days inbetween were very quiet, I was taking advantage of the sabbatical year to take some time off and I wasoccasionally helping my girlfriend with the book arts she was doing, still without telling anything about whatwas happening with the books, at least for now, time to tell about this experience of having seen my littlesister because for me it was very good."
I've arrived, Daryl has been away with her daughters for a few days, they've actually gone on a trip to Disney, leaving Diana here alone without being able to enjoy anything, just with the maids, this woman really wants to leave my little sister suffering, she just wants to let the other two enjoy themselves, I hate this woman, good that I've arrived and now I can start to see her without being able to reveal myself.
I get to my room and go there to change, dressing up as a maid, which I have a mission to do that could take a whole day, it's good that I can replace most of the relics that are here, it'll be about three days before they pick me up again, I can make the most of it, now that I'm changed it's time to go there.
I leave the room and go down the corridor, where I'm approached byAnna who is near the room where the relics are to be replaced, I don't understand why she's here, but I'm a bit barred.
"Master Chariot, I don't think we'll be able to do it now, Master Diana is in the library right now" she said.
"Really? Then I think I'll wait a bit and go and talk to her" I say, turning round and Anna takes my arm.
"Please, Master Chariot, don't do that, she might recognise you" I'm calm about it.
"She won't, don't worry, with those glasses and that wig, she won't recognise me, I'll sort it out later in some other situation, it can serve as a distraction for now" I say, rubbing the back of my neck and walking away.
I go through the corridors just thinking about seeing my little sister, something I've hardly been able to see much of, it's always been from afar or by photo, the mums had already been forced to split up by the time I was free, well, now's my chance to be close to Diana, I can't miss this for anything, she's my sister, I'm just not going to reveal myself so as not to blow the cover or anything.
I get to the library, I can see her, she's so beautiful and so cute, a child that size looking at a pile of books, what a cutie, she's really a witch who's going to be a prodigy, I get close just to chat like someone who doesn't want anything.
"Hello, Master Diana, do you want something?" I ask her.
"No thanks, if I want anything I'll call you, you don't have to come here, please let me study on my own" She's really dedicated.
"What have you been studying so much, mistress?" I'll try to engage you in conversation.
"I'm studying Latin, I want to increase my vocabulary of magic, I don't think I should understand, because I'm still a mundane person, but as a witch it's more than vital that I have an understanding of it, please, I beg you to leave me alone with the books" I won't fill Diana's patience.
"It's OK, little mistress, it was my mistake, I'm new here, I promise I won't make a mistake, whatever you need, just call me" I say, walking off with a dust mop.
She's still in the books, she's so dedicated, I had no idea she'd get so stuck in books, it's amazing how dedicated Diana is in this area, even more so than Hellene, she may be a witch with a wealth of knowledge, but now I'm going to clean this place up and dust it off for her, She looks just like Mum Bernadette and Mum Laura, so pretty with those freckles on her face, her eyes are like Mum Laura's too, Mum Bernadette's face and her hair, it looks like it has more colour, wow, that was the first time I'd been so close to my little sister. I'm wiping things down, dusting, seeing my sister from afar, who will actually be reading here for a long time, I see that Anna is watching me and everything, which I wave to her, showing that everything is going well, but well I can't get distracted, the mission is important, which after pretending a little I look at the table where she is sitting and I huff and turn round.
Bye sis, unfortunately I won't be able to talk to you any more than that, nor will I be able to mingle, until. I'll see you when I do some housekeeping, I've got an important mission ahead of me, so I'm going back to the place where I'm going to replace some family heirlooms.
"You really went to her to talk, didn't you? What did you go and talk about?" Anna asks.
"I just wanted to see how she was, but apparently she's studying" I answer and even huff a little.
"That's just the way little master Diana is, she's been dedicating her days to studying, she's a prodigy, a girl who's too intelligent for her age, that's why she's always studying, she wants to make her mum, who's passed away, proud... That's why there's always pressure for perfection, she's giving up her childhood to mature earlier" that's awful.
"Doesn't she enjoy it once?" I only see heads nodding in denial.
Poor thing, it shouldn't be like this, Diana has to have some fun, life isn't just about studying, studying and studying, this way she'll end up becoming a very bitter person, but well let's get back to the mission, I have to stay focused, if I take too long this will never be accomplished, sorry for the distraction mum, but it was necessary, I've never seen my sister up close.
I get to my room and stare at the things, well it's time to work, I'm a bit sad, I look at the books on the list and it's good to get my hands dirty, I'm going to take one by one of the items in the house to be replaced, so Diana doesn't notice since this is a bit close to the library.
"I'll keep an eye on Diana, if anything happens I'll let you know" said Anna, helping me up and I nodded in agreement.
Well let's go, the list is in hand, I'll take the first thing and put it in a trolley, I don't think I need to go one by one, I can just put everything in the trolley and put it together, with this comes some smaller relics, Anna has left, that is she is watching Diana, it's the sign I need to fulfil my part of the mission, this is going to be too important.
I put a cloth over it and off I go, I know I'm stealing for a good cause, I can't even resist, in a few years' time, in three years' time to be precise, I'll be able to live with my little sister, I hope she reacts well to this, it'll be a few years before that happens.
[...]
It's already late, it's dark, I've already replaced a lot of the things that are relics, but nothing, Diana's living in the library, I'm just going to have to do it at dawn and go through the books, I won't even be able to do that, it's dinner time, she's even left the library, so I'm taking the food, Anna lets me take what I'm getting close to quite anxiously while she herself stares at me and I leave the plate next to her.
"Here, Master Diana, I'll cut it up..." She took a piece of meat herself without needing me to cut it.
"You don't need to cut it, I already know how to do it myself" quite independent, my sister.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, I'll be right there..." She takes my hand.
"You must be new here, stay, help yourself, I want to be able to eat with company" Oh how cute.
I sit down next to her and even take a piece, without being too clumsy, I also take some mashed potato and some peas, fill a glass with milk and also fill hers with juice which I see her drinking and eating calmly, she really has been a sweet person, I think I'm going to continue eating, I hope she hasn't discovered anything.
"What's your name?" What do I say now? I didn't think of a fake name.
"My name is... Cha... Charlotte, that's it!" I say to Diana.
"Charlotte, you don't have to feel pressurised, I'm not like my aunt, I won't let them sack you, feel free, I know Anna must instruct you very well" she said.
"I'm grateful, Master Diana" I say politely, but a little nervously.
"You give me the impression that you're a good person" She continued to eat, in her own way.
Me too, she has no idea who I am, I can see from a distance that Anna is watching me and she puts her hand over her face, while I signal with my thumb as if everything is fine, which I see a brief smile coming from my sister's face, I think she laughed a little at this situation that I couldn't even disguise.
I finish eating, and then I get up politely, pick up the plates and cutlery, put them in the trolley in a gentle way and try not to be clumsy, and see that my little sister is still at the table, I think she wants dessert, but she's also leaving.
"Thank you for joining me here, I appreciate your company Charlotte" she said.
"Aren't you staying for dessert?" I'll try to be a little kinder.
"Dessert? Why would I eat dessert? Isn't it wrong? I can see that dessert makes you fat and that it's childish" I start to deny it with my head.
"You're a master child Diana, I promise to bring you your dessert quickly, you deserve something delicious to eat, a very studious and dedicated girl like you deserves even more than that" I try to smile at the girl who is always just sad, my little sister deserves it.
I went back to the kitchen and I had made a special cake with ice-cream for her, I know she'll like it, it's even cold, perfect for her to eat, I picked up the plate and took it lovingly to the table where I could see the little one's eyes shining, she continued to sit and started to eat while I stood and watched her.
"Thank you very much, Charlotte, if you wanted to please me in any way, you succeeded" said Diana.
"The mistress deserves a good dessert, it's a reward for all the study she's done" I say to her, trying to be more natural, even though I just want to see my sister smile.
"It's very good, I confess I've never had a combination of cake and ice-cream, this is very interesting to eat, you've been very creative with this Charlotte, would you like some?" She even offers it to me, but I refuse.
"I don't want to mistress, I've already eaten enough" I think it's too much and I see her sleepily yawning.
She eats it relatively quickly, but delicately at the same time, it's so cute, it reminds me so much of Mum Bernadette, I miss her so much just seeing it, I imagine that now she herself must look at it in the sky with a huge smile on her face.
After eating, she yawns and looks at a pocket watch, which is strange, but at the same time very cute, she looks like a sophisticated English lord with this, I don't know where she learnt these manners but I'm impressed by her etiquette.
"My bedtime is approaching, I have to go to my room, please Charlotte prepare my bath" she said yawning too.
I nod my head and we walk along the corridors, I go up the stairs, I even look into one of the bedrooms, where one of mine used to be, I miss this place, what I've experienced in this room, what I've played with, until I get to her room and I can already see that it's a different kind of place, she goes over to the dressing table, I'm a bit lost, I don't remember much from here.
"The bathroom is over there, please leave the bath ready for my bath, I'll be waiting, after that leave me alone, I want privacy" I nod.
I walk into the bathroom and wow, it's been a long time since I've been in here. I immediately have memories. When I was a child, my mums would always prepare my bath the way I remember it was so delicious: they would turn on the hot water and let it reach a certain point, Then they would make a mixture of bath salts and other things to leave the scent in the air, while the water filled up and mixed on its own, forming bubbles, the bath getting to the ideal temperature that I even measure, using the water, even a bit of magic, I know the little secrets.
Leaving everything ready in the bath, I then leave the bathroom where I see that my sister has even tied her hair up in a bun and then she comes over to me, going near the bathroom.
"Good evening Charlotte, thank you for helping me, I hope the bath goes really well, you did a great job today" said my little sister.
"Good evening, Master Diana, I hope you enjoy yourself, I did my best, with all the care I could learn from someone special" I say, going to the door and leaving the room.
I see that Anna was waiting for me, she smiles at me and I smile back, then I walk out the door, well as tonight I only have the night to enjoy it and have time to steal, I'm going to do it, I take a deep breath and walk away, I even get a little emotional, having seen my sister a little happy, I hope she likes the bath with Mum Bernadette's special recipe, she used to make it that way.
I'm getting back to the work of replacing things, now it's books and more books, I'm going to try to do it all night, I'm going to dawdle with this mission, at least for today, then there will be much less left, come on Chariot.
[...]
It's five o'clock in the morning, I'm dead tired, I've finished changing all the books, so I throw myself on the bed to give myself a good rest, feeling my body with every part of it tired, I think I've worn myself out a lot, I throw myself on the bed, I'm going to rest, sleeping deeply, like a stone, I hope I don't cause anything, I have to sleep and I won't wake up until the afternoon, I've messed up my whole schedule to do this, it's of great importance.
[...]
Well I think I've woken up, I see the clock and it's midday, I've slept for 7 hours, I think that was enough, I'm still a bit tired, but nothing compared to having to sleep in the comfort of home, well come on just a few more objects to go, I can finish this today, I get up, change, look in the mirror, put the finishing touches on and now it's time to start the action, even so I'm exhausted, I never thought I'd take it so hard.
I leave the bedroom and walk to the kitchen, I'm very hungry, I haven't eaten anything yet, so I end up in the dining room and I see Diana eating, she waves to me, I sit down next to her, I think this could be the start of a friendship, too bad I'm leaving soon.
"Sit with me, Charlotte, you can eat whatever you want" said my sister and I sat down, grabbing a few things from lunch to eat.
"Thank you, Master Chariot, I'm starving" I say to her.
"Charlotte, you knew exactly how to take a bath the way I like it, how can you do it like my mum used to? Even Anna doesn't get it right?" I just shrug.
"I've only learnt this myself, I try to dose everything just right and add a little love too" Magic comes into it and that's what helps in the bath, I remember Mum using magic for the bath to have the effects it has.
"You were just like my mum used to be, you're amazing, I really enjoyed having you here Charlotte, thank you for that bath, I learnt even more what a wonderful person you are" she smiles and I smile back.
I think I've only done what I had to do, but I still have an important mission ahead of me, unfortunately I have to get back to work, the Cavendish family's things can't wait, they have no idea who I really am, I hope it stays that way.
I just don't think I'll be able to use this disguise much, what will I do next? I don't know, well anyway, I made my sister smile, I think I'm going to finish eating now and now I'm feeling a bit relieved and also a bit more energised, phew, I didn't think I'd feel that way, finally.
"I'm going horse riding now, do you want to come with me, I can't reach the saddle on my own yet, will you help me?" I think I'm going to have to.
"I do, Master Diana" I think I've got a little closer now.
"I'm so grateful, Charlotte, really, you help me a lot" she said more cheerfully.
I get up from the table, I remember that there are horses around here, but I was never as enthusiastic about it as Mum Bernadette was from time to time, I remember when I always saw her riding the horses around here, Mum Laura and I would watch her all excited, it was like a whole world of her own, Diana looks cute wearing those clothes too, she looks a lot like Mum when she was still alive.
We went outside and the reason I didn't like it was the strong smell that was starting to be noticed a little way from the property, I can imagine how expensive these horses are, but Diana must be having a lot of fun, she got on one of them, it was the one that used to be Mum's too, before she left.
"This one is Pegasus, the name Mum gave him, she always rode him and I watched, I learnt to ride with him, you know, but he's usually careful..." He recognises me from afar, doesn't he? I even get very close to him when he's calm.
"You can rest easy, Pegasus, we're going to help little Diana ride" I say, stroking his fur and even helping him off.
"Woah, even Anna can't make Pegasus behave, he's always difficult, with everyone but me and Mum" He wasn't with me either, I learnt to ride this horse, I've known him since he was a foal.
We leave the stable and with that I fit the saddle, give affection and then I help Diana onto the horse, I could see an extra smile on her face, unfortunately I can't reveal too much, maybe one day I'll see her again, I even take a deep breath, I think I ended up doing too much, if I'd just stayed quiet in my corner I wouldn't have caused all this, but on the other hand she's my sister, I can't just do nothing, I know that in time she'll find out the truth.
[...]
She had a lot of fun riding a horse, I think I realised after so many years why it's so much fun, then she went back to the library, even more excited, which I must have helped a lot, well now I think I've done everything I had to do, I have to get back to the mission soon, otherwise everything will be delayed a lot.
"Thank you for everything Charlotte, you've brought me a smile I haven't had for many days, I'm abusing you a bit, I'll excuse you for now, when I need you I'll call, your company for today has been very good, I'm going to study now" She's a very dedicated girl.
"Keep dedicating yourself like this, little Master Diana, you'll become a very intelligent girl and a more prodigious witch than your mother was" I say, smiling.
"I won't be like her, there's no way I'll be as big as Mum, but I'll still be someone she'll be proud of" You're already very proud of her and her family, you just don't know it yet.
I'm leaving the library, she even looks at me differently, after all she's a child who wants to have fun, now let's go, I'm going back to get the things, there's already a list to do, on the way I end up bumping into Anna, she looks at me worried, how am I going to react to this now? I don't know, but I hope it's something good.
"You have some idea what you've caused, don't you?" Anna asks.
"I couldn't help it Anna, I want to be able to make Diana smile?" I tell her.
"You shouldn't have got close to Diana, she could end up jeopardising your plan" I know that.
"I'll still try to make things better, Diana is a clever girl, the plan will still work Anna, you can be sure" I say with my hand on her shoulder.
"I hope so, if I were you I wouldn't tell Laura about this, she'd abort the plan on the spot, I think we'll be very meticulous about this and talk to Diana afterwards, at least so you can keep coming round and give her a bit of love and affection, I don't think it's bad either, but I know the risk you're exposing yourself to Diana" I huff a bit sadly.
"I just wish I could be close to my sister, it's sad for me to know that this is the closest I've ever been to her... I feel bad about a lot of things I've done to her" I say, walking away.
"I understand you, I understand you, I'll try to cover up as much as I can, but one day the bomb will explode Chariot" It won't, we'll manage to make everything work.
I go back to the bedroom, there I look at the list, there are still a few objects to change, well there aren't many, but hands on, I have to work, unfortunately I still have to do this, but Anna is right, I've done too much, I can't just tell Mum that I got close to Diana with my disguise, she's so lonely and deserves love, deserves attention.
I know a lot about Mum Bernadette, I know how to let her have a little smile, I know that this will be special for Diana... I'd better not cry, I'd better get to work, come on Chariot, let's get to work.
[...]
The day has come to leave, I've finished everything, it's time to leave, I go with Anna to Diana's room, where we'll talk a bit, which I see her all excited about, but unfortunately I have to say goodbye, I won't be able to show up here much, unfortunately she could end up revealing my presence to Daryl and make the plan fail.
"Master Diana, we have to tell you something about Charlotte" said Anna.
"What? She's been helping me smile a lot Anna" said Diana.
"I'm not going to stay here for long, I'll always visit when your aunt isn't here, or when it's a quiet place to come, you promise you'll keep my coming here a secret from her, I don't want her to end up sacking me for treating you well" I say to her and she gets a sad look on her face.
"Are you leaving? My annoying aunt will be here soon, please stay" I can't.
"She can't, Master Diana, Mrs Charlotte can only come here when it's safe for her to do so, but we promise she'll come soon and bring you more smiles, that's for sure, but it's our secret, I brought her here so I could make you happy, but without Daryl knowing, she might end up getting annoyed by Charlotte being friendly with you" said Anna, helping out.
"Oh I understand, auntie's going to be mean and send you away, I wish you'd stay longer, but that's fine, I'll wait and I'll always talk toAnna asking her to bring you here, I want to see you more often" I'll come.
"You can help us by letting us know when your aunt leaves for more than three days, that'll do the trick" I tell her.
"I'll try, I want to see you again Charlotte, you're too much" said little Diana.
"I'm glad you can keep it a secret, I promise I'll come and bring you presents and lots of smiles, I'll do my best" I say smiling.
"You know how to do the things Mum used to do, you seem very nice, you seem to know Mum well, I'll keep it a secret, Auntie won't know anything, nor will my cousins, but I want you to come here often" She's funny.
Then I stand there with my arms open and my sister comes and hugs me, I'm crying, I'm all emotional, it's the first time my sister has hugged me, I've never been able to hug her, I'm trying to control myself but I can't, I think I'm going to end up fogging up my glasses, after the hug I'm still crying, very emotional and I can see the tears coming from my sister's face, which breaks my heart even more.
"Do you promise to come back soon?" She gives me the finger
"I promise, Master Diana" I say to her.
"You can just call me Diana, you're my friend now, we're going to be very close, we're going to play a lot" she said, opening up more to me, after all, she is a child.
"A special witch once told me that your magic is believing in yourself" I say, stroking her head.
"Do you know her too?" She's stunned.
"We'd say I was once her friend, very close, now I'm going, one day I'll tell you about this story" I leave the room crying, little does she know that I'm the special witch.
We walked through the corridors, looking around, wow, I was really moved by all this, I didn't expect to burst into tears, I went all the way down the corridor, until I got to where I was leaving, while Anna was looking after my little sister, I was immediately greeted by Carter, where I went to the bedroom, there I took off my maid's disguise.
I go in my normal clothes to Carter, who guides me outside and I get into the car, still crying.
"Apparently you've become very attached to the little mistress, but it's not for nothing that you're sisters, even if you're not by blood, you have to be careful Chariot, your disguise could be blown that way" I know that.
"Well, I trust Anna and Diana, we talked now, she understood my whereabouts, now I'm going home, I just hope my mum doesn't find out yet" I say to the butler.
"Will you keep it a secret for her?" I will for now.
"Until things are sorted out, I think Diana could be a great ally, if I tell her by any chance the plan might just stop being carried out, or something worse could end up happening, the best thing is to dance to the music Carter, I know that with the presence of my little sister it might be easier" I say to him who just takes a deep breath.
"Well I hope you don't get into any trouble Chariot, I'm worried about you too and so is my wife, you're walking on eggs and you know it, it's a danger and a risk you're putting yourself in" I know that very well.
Well, I want to take this risk to make my sister smile a little, when the moment happens that she is kidnapped to the Du Nord family home, or when I take her, it won't seem so much like a kidnapping, I'll save her and in the end it will all seem very spontaneous, when she goes to the Du Nord family home she'll end up understanding everything and with that I think I can make her stand by me more, unfortunately I'm making questionable decisions, but I'm not perfect.
"So you got attached to Diana straight away, I knew that could happen... Who'd have thought that you'd beenhiding from me for all this time, so was that the reason you ran away? Or is there more to it, because 2010 iscoming and I want to know what caused you to run away and all that."
"That may have been one of the reasons, since Daryl didn't like me very much, I ended up going more thanonce in hiding as Charlotte, as you may have remembered, so much so that we're already arriving at one ofthose moments, I really felt alive, it was as if I were... I felt more complete for being able to treat Diana well,she didn't deserve that, my dream of giving people a smile for a while was coming true with my sister."
"And I have a lot to thank you for everything you did for me Chariot, I had my suspicions, but I was able tolive some happy moments in 2009 and even 2010 when you were there, a pity I think I know what mighthave happened."
See you, sister witches...