Stern footsteps crunched against the overgrown gravel that led up to the shed. The doorknob twisted and the door was yanked a few times before finally opening. It shook the shed to its core.
Eilownia looked up, her eyes wide with fear and nerves. She scrambled up and bowed her head.
"Father." She greeted her tone flat.
His eyes darted around the building taking in the state of decay with complete disdain.
"Eugh," he spat with disgust, "Are you no more than an animal, girl?"
Eilownia bit her lip and slowly nodded her head, "Yes, father."
He didn't dare step into the shed and continued to stand just outside of it, stroking the white hairs of his pointed beard, his other hand tightening its grip on his cane.
"Animals upkeep their shelters better than this do they not? What is this," He shook his finger towards the warped and damaged wood, "I give you a place to live and you repay me by allowing it to fall into squaller?"
Eilownia remained still, "I apologize, father."
"Throw that filth out as well. If you are going to be less than a disgusting, feral beast, at least don't keep trash around you. Or are you of the status of a cockroach?" His finger flailed towards her mildewed rabbit plush.
"You're right father, I apologize. I will do better."
Her eyes darted up to meet his but he refused to even look her way, his eyes full of anger and disgust.
"Putrid." His lips furled downward as his tongue darted out as if to spit out some offensive taste.
A sense of deep, utter, shame came over Eilownia as she fought back tears.
He cleared his throat and realigned his tie, standing up straight as he took a step back.
"I trust you know what is coming up?"
"The annual Evans Estate Spring Ball, father."
Eilownia's eyes fell back down to the ground, her words coming out just a little bit louder now that he'd taken a step back.
"Yes, that's right, the annual Evans Estate Spring Ball. You know what is expected of you, do you not?"
She took a breath to answer, but that wasn't fast enough for him. He raised his cane and thwacked it against the shed's doorframe, splitting some of the wood. Her body flinched at the sound.
"DO YOU NOT, GIRL? I ASKED YOU A QUESTION!" His voice was deep and strained. Eilownia dared not look up at him, but she could tell he was red in the face, could feel his spittle landing on her hands that were clasped in front of her.
"I am not to come out. I am to remain unseen. I am to stay quiet. I am to skip a meal, for if a maid were to be seen bringing me food it would raise suspicion. I am not to light any candles or torches. I am not to stir inside the shed, in case it creaks from my weight. I am not to sleep in case I may snore or speak in my sleep. I am to sit in the corner and wait until the ball concludes, father."
Her father, Lord Evans, looked pleased, or at least as pleased as he could have possibly been given who it was he was speaking to.
"You know what will happen if you do not abide by the laws of this Estate?"
Eilownia nodded her head, "Yes father."
"Shut this door now. I feel I've caught something breathing the air of this rancid place. I shall have to call a doctor."
As she shut the door behind him and he marched off, she could hear him barking orders at the servants.
"Make sure everything is perfect! General Marix will be attending tonight, and we cannot afford any mistakes!"
Crescent moons formed on her palms as she balled her hands into fists.
A stinging sensation replaced the absence of her nails as she relaxed, hearing his footsteps fade into silence.
"Don't worry," She said softly, turning to face her rabbit plush and kneeling in front of it, "I won't throw you out. It's alright, don't be scared. He won't pay another visit here again for a while. Until then we have plenty of time to find a hiding spot for you."
She grabbed the doll and the plush and held them in her hands and smiled at both of them.
"The Spring ball~ Would you two do me the honors of being my date? It would so much fun to go together, don't you think?"
Eilownia moved the two of them to make it seem like they were nodding in agreement.
"Good, good~ I will go to the seamstress and purchase all of us brand new dresses for the occasion. I've heard there will be many princes at the ball. Maybe there will be one as handsome and as kind as Lord Harris."
She hugged the dolls to her chest and stared up at the skylight, taking a deep breath.
"It will be so wonderful. I'm sure I will find a husband to whisk me away to a faraway land, full of love and adventure. And you two can come along with me too~"
As Eilownia and her 'friends' whispered about the ball, the temperature began to drop and the light began to fade.
The first horse drawn carriage could be heard arriving and Eilownia swiftly placed the two back onto their shelf and got in position in the corner of the shed, sitting and waiting.
She sat there, waiting.....waiting....
Her legs were aching, her fingers were going numb.
Then, her back spasmed.
With a smile, she grabbed her two toys and jumped up.
"It's time for us to go to the ball!"
She pressed her body against the door and wiggled the handle, forcing it open. The night air bit at her skin and sent goosebumps running up her arms and cheeks.
The garden looked immaculate.
Not a single leaf was out of place. The flowers painted the hedges in beautiful hues of purple, pink, blue, yellow and white. She'd never seen it look so beautiful.
A stone garden bench marked where an old, broken wheelbarrow had once been.
The mossy fountain in the center of the garden that had long dried out, looked brand new and was spurting crystal clear water out of the top.
Eilownia stepped forward and dragged her hand in the bowl of it and brought some to her lips. It was cold and refreshing with a biting mineral taste.
"It must've taken a lot of people to clean it up so well, don't you think?"
She placed her toys on the garden bench and kneeled in front of it.
"I think so too~ Would you two like some tea? I hear they acquired a new tea from a far away continent and it tastes delicious."
Eilownia lifted her hand and pretended to pour some tea into imaginary teacups before placing them in front of her doll and rabbit.
She then brought her own imaginary teacup to her mouth.
"Mmm~ Hints of honeysuckle and rosebuds but luxurious! You know I love rosebud tea the most. How delightful!"
Her gaze darted upwards at nothingness.
"Of course Prince Harris, I would love to dance with you~"
She stood up and began to twirl in circles, her nightgown flaring out around her like a flower itself.
"Damn General Marix, brazen and annoying as always, causing s'ch a scene with 'is talk of spies. Tsk. Psh. Damn him. Damn him!"
A man stumbled into the garden, his face flushed and his eyes dazed.
Eilownia gasped and tried to hide behind the fountain.
His suit was a deep, emerald green, embellished with beads and golden trim. He was tall with dark hair and handsome as well.
A faint blush appeared across her face. It was clear he was a nobleman.
Could she be dreaming? Was this....could he be...a real life Lord Harris?
She bit her lip and smiled. No, no, how impossible would that be?
Too busy in her own imagination, Eilownia didn't notice him approaching her.
He reached out and grabbed her arm, yanking her towards him.
"And who might you be?"
His breath smelled bitter and pungent with a hint of something sweet. Her nose wrinkled and twitched as it assaulted her nostrils.
Then, reality hit her. This was no dream. This man was a nobleman from the ball and he had caught her.
She yelped and tried to free herself from his grasp.
"I-I'm sorry my Lord, but I must go."
He looked her up and down before tightening his grip.
"You're no maid, I can tell by your clothes. No noble'd be caught outside at this time of night, especially not with a ball going on. Who are you?!"
She continued to try and free herself from his grasp, "I am no one, please let go of me!"
Panic was starting to set in now and her movements became more and more frantic.
"GENERAL MARIX! YOU'RE RIGHT! THERE IS A SPY!!!!"
He started to drag her towards the ball and she let out a shriek.
"N-No! Let go of me! LET GO OF ME!" Her voice tore from her throat as she began scratching at his grip and throwing her weight away from him.
They emerged from the garden and Eilownia gasped, her heart pounding.
She threw herself onto the ground, but it was no use. The nobleman reached down and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"LET ME GO!!!!" She screamed as she pounded on his back.
A guard approached from his station outside the entrance. His eyes widened at the sight of Eilownia.
"My lord, you've had too much to drink. Please, allow me to escort you back to the ballroom."
The guard grabbed her and yanked her out of the nobleman's grasp, throwing her towards the ground and onto the garden.
'THUD!'
Her body felt frozen from pain, but her mind willed it to move. She scrambled upwards and ran to the shed.
The next morning her body ached so much she could barely move. She winced, frustrated with herself that she didn't sleep more of the pain off.
Reluctantly, she sat up and headed outside, towards the back of the shed to bathe.
As she stood there filling up the rusted tub with water, she overheard a few of the gardeners begin talking.
"Did you hear about Lord Smith?"
"The one that caused a ruckus with General Marix?"
"Yes, he was found dead in the river this morning….."
"He left the ball so drunk, raving about how he'd seen spies running around all over the property. He probably tried to walk it off and fell into the river."
"Shame. I wonder who will inherit his fortune."