From Shadows to Starlight

A Decision

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Cerise made her way down the grand staircase, holding onto the ornately carved marble banister and hoping that she didn’t fall down the stairs. She still struggled to push away the fog of sleepiness over her brain; she’d only gotten a few hours’ rest before being woken by Alana all of a sudden. A feeling of dread had crept into her heart at what her cousin had told her, and only grew stronger the more awake she became.

What am I even doing? Cerise wondered as she reached the bottom of the staircase, her footsteps echoing on the floor. The grand room looked so different now than it had last night, completely empty except for a few servants here and there cleaning.

A bit hesitantly, she approached one of the maids. “Excuse me.” The maid looked at her expectantly. “Do you know where I might get some bandages? My…cousin has hurt herself and needs some.”

“Yes of course.” The woman nodded. “If you’ll wait right here, mademoiselle, I’ll bring them to you shortly.” She turned and headed off down one of the hallways, leaving Cerise alone with her thoughts, which grew clearer by the moment.

What have I gotten myself into? Why in the world would someone shoot Erik, and also, why would he and Alana have been out in the woods last night? Why would anyone have been out there? It was evident that something strange was going on at the chateau, and she wondered how deep into it her cousin was. Cerise needed to make sure that she and Alana made it back home to Paris safely, but now, she was worried that maybe, there was some possibility that things would somehow become very, very different. She had no idea what the near future would bring, and she was beginning to feel afraid.

“Mademoiselle?” Cerise jumped as someone spoke, and spun around to face the maid, who was standing in front of her, carrying two rolls of bandages. She breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank you.”

“It‘s my pleasure, mademoiselle,” the maid said with a curtsy. “Should I call for a doctor for your cousin?”

Cerise shook her head. “Oh, no, the injury is quite manageable, but…it may keep her in her room for some time, so would it be all right if I could bring some food from the kitchen to her?”

The maid looked back at her a bit strangely for a moment, but then nodded, smiling, and said, “Yes, mademoiselle, follow me.”

She led Cerise through the halls and down a short flight of stairs into the servant’s quarters. The people that they passed shot confused glances her way, but they said nothing to her. Soon Cerise began to hear the loud clattering of pots and pans, and then they turned into the kitchen. Cooks and servants were everywhere, washing dishes and cooking all different types of food.

“Now, what is it you wish to bring for your cousin?”

“Hmm.” Cerise hadn’t really thought about it. “Some bread...and some apples and grapes as well, I think, things that won’t spoil too quickly.”

The maid looked at her strangely again.

“Oh, my cousin is very concerned about things spoiling in the open air…she…got ill once, from eating something spoiled…oh! Could I also bring her a flask of water, and another of wine?”

That earned her another suspicious glance, but the maid curtsied. “Yes, mademoiselle. I’ll bring everything you’ve requested.” In no time, she’d delivered the food and drink and Cerise had put it all in the bag she’d brought with her.

“Thank you so much for all your help,” she said to the maid as they climbed up the stairs to the main floor. “I don’t know what I would have done without you!”