What Ifs and Whatnots

The small dust particles dances in the light of the sun that peeked into the top of the dungeon, its warmth infuriatingly out of reach, even if I hadn’t been chained to a wall. My body shivered night and day, although the cell was cold it was bone dry, even when rain fell one day outside the metal bars not one drop added to my discomfort. My wrists were starting to blister and rub against the rough metal of the underused manacles. When I first woke up I had tried to get out by standing and yanking the chains out of the wall. They had seemed weak enough but I had been very very wrong. After collapsing from exhaustion I woke up the next day to find that the chains had been shortened although I couldn’t figure out how. I felt horribly vulnerable and powerless in my current state; neither Riann nor Arianna could face it. Riann would quietly fume and drive herself mental with wanting to get out and Arianna would just curl up as small as she could, crying until her eyes seemed too dry to shed any more tears even though sobs would still rack her thin body. I became nothing, unable to put a name to the person I became sitting, sleeping, living in that dungeon with only the air for company.

“If she doesn’t get anything to eat she’ll die-“
“Be that as it may be, the master said-“
“Tosh! She’s injured and it’s been days-“
“The master said no one was to go near her we’re going against him even now-“
“’ow so? Ve are on zis side of ze vall, she is on ze other probably in some ‘alf conscious stupor of pain and hunger. Have heart man!”
“I do have a heart, one I would prefer to keep beating-“
“How can you be so selfish?”
“We have lived many years-“
“Which is why I’m not going to let her go and starve, the poor dear-“
“You are far too soft-“
“Now let’s not get too ‘asty, all zis arguing is going to wake ze gel uhp-“
“I wish we knew her name, it’s horrible to just think of her as ‘the girl’-“
“Yes it is rather horrible to think of her as ‘the girl’ seeing as we should be thinking of her as ‘the prisoner that our master has set very clear boundaries with’!”
“Hush you!”
“Me?”
“You!”
“Well I never!”
“I zink zat you two ‘ave just voken her up.” The three voices were confusing and I couldn’t figure out exactly where they were coming from, one was warm, feminine, reminding me of a kind woman who had been a mother to many. Then there were two male voices, one pompous and aloof, he seemed to be very intent on living and abiding by his master’s rules, whoever this master was and the other was softer, a luxurious mix of several accents that sounded like velvet through the stone walls. The last sentence had stunned all three into an odd silence as I tried to find a possible place that they could be. I hadn’t seen a door in the dungeon at all. There was the small barred hole in the wall but that led to the outside and it was too small to get someone into the dungeon even without the bars making it near impossible. I heard someone panting and then a new voice piped up, it was younger than the others and more panicked.

“He’s coming, the master’s coming!” I heard him gasp in a voice that told me he had grown out of his boyhood but hadn’t entered manhood yet.

“Oh dear, oh gosh, the master’s coming, the master’s coming and if he finds us here he’ll wring our necks!” the pompous voice cried. Well at least now I’d be able to find out (sort of) who their master was.

“Your panic blinds you to the fact that you have no neck.” that voice, from the man who had held me so easily off the ground…my right hand curled around my neck, the skin was tender to the touch and rough, covered in dried blood. “How long have you four been here?” the malevolence of the voice seemed to make the walls shake around me and my wounds started to throb with pain.

“Uh…a-about ten minutes sire…uhm…this afternoon, sire.” The pompous voice answered nervously.

“If I may sire, the poor girl hasn’t had anything to eat or drink since you brought her here. It’s been several days, she’s not going to last much longer without some nourish-“ the woman spoke hesitantly, respectively but it wasn’t good enough for their master.

“I am aware of her condition. It will be a lesson to her not to trespass on the property of others.” The master growled I felt my body start to shake, when had I trespassed? I tried to learn every name that had land, know every single path before me and if anybody owned it. The woods hadn’t belonged to anyone and I’d never even heard of a dwelling within it. I groaned in dismay. Trespassing was such an annoying ting to be caught for, especially when it was purely accidental as nobody believed that anymore.

“She’s awake!” The young boy exclaimed in a loud whisper, a growl from his master shut him up and he murmured a swift apology.

“Sire, ‘ow do you intend to make zis gel learn ‘er lesson?” asked the accented man, obviously having chosen his words very carefully so he only sounded curious, as if he was far too stupid to have thought of anything to answer that question. I still couldn’t tell from where my five visitors were watching me from and this displeased Riann who was starting to come through more as I grew more awake and aware. However, I was also waiting to see what the master was gong to do with me so I stayed quiet. It would do no good to goad my captor and his servants.

“She will learn. Mrs Hett, give the girl has food and water. Oswald, make certain everything is…suitable for the new addition to this household.” the master barked out his orders, a small menacing chuckle that reverberated around the confines of my prison accompanied his finished sentence. There was the soft whisper of material on stone and a door slammed sending a small shower of dust floating down towards me. Silence reigned for a full minute.

“Is the master wanting the girl alive a good thing or a bad thing?” the boy asked worriedly. I didn’t like his tone of voice that got me worried.

“I don’t know pet, but at least he isn’t going to make her starve to death. I’ll just go down to the kitchens see what chef’s got cooking for-“

“Oh no Mrs Hett, I shall go down and arrange the girl’s food. You will be far too soft on her. She is not a guest and therefore shall have bread and water-“

“Nonsense she needs a nice hot broth and some warm mulled wine. I am going down to the kitchen to get some Oswald and you will not stop me.” Mrs Hett disagreed vehemently and after a small huff of disdain she appeared to flounce off judging by Oswald’s frantic protests that eventually faded into nothing. I heard a soft sigh and then a slapping sound.

“Boy, ‘ave you seen what zis gel looks like?” the other man asked. There was a soft no and a sound of speculation. “I am a bit…shall ve say displeased zat ze master ‘as not given me anyzing to do concerning ze gel but, I am a mere servant, I cannot go against my master’s vishes.” His voice held deep melancholy, I guessed that he was quite melodramatic and loved all the attention his theatricals allowed.

“Also the master knows that you would spoil her too much Vermentino. That’s probably why he hasn’t given you any jobs concerning her. Mrs Hett will look after the girl no matter how much Oswald tries to stop her.” the boy said practically.

“You are right, it vill be joyous indeed to see dear Osvald make a fool of ‘imself in zis matter. Zank you boy, you have ‘elped me to see the good in all of zis. Now, let’s have a look at ze poor gel shall ve? Come on boy, don’t be shy. I could not possibly lift ze door, you shall ‘ave to do it.” Vermentino, I presumed, sounded a lot happier now that he had someone to laugh at. He was most definitely a vain man as he could not possibly lift the door. But what door? Was it really above me? My eyes rose to the darkness above as a small crack of light appeared. Slowly a square of light shone down, dazzling me instantly. I cried out and looked down at the floor, blinking rapidly to soothe my burning eyes. As they grew accustomed to the new light I raised my head slowly.

“Vermentino, how did the master get her down there?” The boy asked, I couldn’t see either of them but their voices were much clearer. However the square of light was quite small and showed that the trapdoor was quite a long way above me. I couldn’t wait for Vermentino’s answer.

“Dropped ‘er maybe? I do not know…my my, she is a vild little zing isn’t she?” Vermentino murmured.

“Wild? What makes you say that?”

“Look at ‘er eyes…so beautiful, so large and vulnerable, yet she is a strong gel, once she is out of zose chains, well, I zink zat she vill give our master a run for ‘is money. Ah, do not vorry Cherie; Mrs Hett comes now viz some food and vater.” Vermentino called down to me. I frowned, what the hell did Cherie mean? I heard Mrs Hett’s voice, bickering insistently with Oswald. It appeared that Mrs Hett didn’t much like Oswald’s opinion of me.

“Vermentino what have you done?” Oswald’s accusing voice getting louder as Vermentino sighed.

“I merely zought it vould be a good idea to open ze door ready for Mrs ‘ett ven she returned wiz ze food and look at ze gel Osvald, she is basking in ze light.” Vermentino said with his debonair voice. I stared as hard as I could, from what I could tell all four were around the trapdoor but I couldn’t see any of them and I was pretty sure that Oswald and Vermentino were looking down at me. I should have been able to see their faces at the very least. I suddenly heard a gasp of horror.

“Goodness gracious me! Vermentino, did you know of her wounds? Oswald?” Mrs Hett cried with distinct distress. I flinched and glanced down at my body, I didn’t think that my injuries looked too bad…at least not the ones I could see.

“This is the first time I’ve seen her, Mrs Hett, as it is the first time any one of us has seen her so no I did not know the extend of her injuries. I still say that we should give her some bread and water. At least they could be given to her.” Oswald added darkly as Vermentino made a small ‘ah’ sound.

“Mrs ‘ett...’ow exactly did you zink you were going to get ‘ot broth and mulled vine down zere to ze gel?” there was a hesitant silence. Obviously Mrs Hett hadn’t thought about exactly how I was going to get the food that smelled so delicious.

“I’ll get it down to her. Don’t worry Mrs Hett, it’ll be easy enough let me just go grab a rope.” the boy answered for her there was a sound of soft shoes slapping on stone followed by an impatient silence. Apparently no one knew what the boy was up to and they couldn’t wait to see exactly what he’d been talking about. I couldn’t get my mind motivated enough to think of the possibilities. There was the sound of the door closing once again and more leather slapping against stone as well as a bit of panting. The boy was back.

“Just what are you planning to do with that rope boy?” Oswald asked imperiously, there was a soft chuckle from the boy and I heard the whisper of rope as it was pulled tight against metal.

“Just watch Oswald. You’ll soon understand.” I could imagine his young face grinning and his eyes sparkling with delight. There was a few seconds of muttering from the three adults, to themselves or to each other I had no idea. A rope was thrown into the dungeon, landing just by my feet. “There, all set. Give us the tray Mrs Hett.” The boy’s voice sounded confident, eager even. Vermentino made an appreciative sound and there was a tinkle of metal against metal which indicated the tray being passed from one to the other. I heard the scuffing of clothes on stone and then saw a faint shadow fall over my legs. Looking up I saw the back of a boy’s torso slowly lowering itself into the hole.

I watched as the boy lowered himself slowly, a loop in the rope acting as a seat, one thick muscled arm holding onto the rope that had been thrown into the dungeon. I realised that his hold on the rope was what was keeping him from plummeting down to the ground and felt my eyes widen in horror as Arianna refused to look but Riann couldn’t look away. With excruciating slowness the boy lowered himself to the floor and turned around to face me. I stared, unable to take my eyes off him as he slipped out of the loop and crouched lower to my level. I heard my breath come out in ragged gasps and a fear gripped my mind in an iron fist that wouldn’t let go. I watched him lower the tray to the floor and push it towards me gently.

“Yeah, it’s a bit of a shock ain’t it?” he spoke softly and I tried not to scream. Maybe I was only hallucinating I hoped I was only hallucinating. Going insane was a much better thought than facing the truth. “Can you reach that?” he asked, his voice dripping with concern. He seemed to sense my fear and chuckled softly, awkwardly.

“You know it’s not that bad, being like this I mean. There are a load of benefits being corporeal for a little while.” I could barely register his words and he sighed, sitting on the floor in front of me. “Would this be better?” his voice was sad and I instantly felt guilty for not being able to comfort him with just a word of acceptance. But then it was pretty hard to accept him, when he’d just disappeared. Riann tried to figure out just exactly what the boy was while Arianna fought between the urge to hide from him or to hug him.

“Ve are not ghosts Cherie, Ve are ze shadows of our former selves. Do not vorry, ve shall not ‘arm you.” I heard Vermentino’s voice float down from the trap door. That broke the trance I was in and I glanced up again but saw nothing. Looking back in front of me I saw the boy sitting in front of me. His black figure was hunched over, looking the image of utter dejection. His shadowy head was bowed, a black finger tracing a small pattern on the ground between us. I tried to apologise but nothing came out and I still felt uncomfortable staring at a black shadow where the boy’s face should have been.

“Pet, open the broth for her. I don’t think those chains will be long enough, Oswald can’t you get them to lengthen a bit?” Mrs Hett spoke softly and Oswald muttered something but seemed to walk off. The boy in front of me reached out and removed the silver lid from the bowl. A heavenly scent wafted towards me and my body cried out in joy. The boy held out the bowl and a silver spoon. I tried to lift my hands to accept the offerings of food but my left hand remained useless. A small sound of despair dragged itself from my throat and I saw the boy glanced up at the other above us. There seemed to be a silent conversation as the boy nodded and put the food and spoon back down, moved the tray and shuffled closer towards me. He sat directly in front of me and picked up the bowl once again. Dipping the spoon into the broth he gently scraped it on the side of the bowl and held it up to an inch from my mouth. Instantly I went to taste the broth. It scalded my lips but I didn’t care as he tipped the spoon and refilled it. Riann grumbled as she accepted the food and was instantly hushed by Arianna who was ready to accept all the help she could.

All too soon the broth had disappeared and a silver goblet was pushed into my right hand. It almost fell from my fingers and I felt the strong hand of the boy wrap firmly around my fingers, helping me to tip the goblet to my mouth and drink the contents. By the time that the goblet was empty my body was content. I had warm food and drink inside me and the pain around my injuries seemed to lessen. There was an important clearing of the throat which seemed to suggest that Oswald was back and the boy glanced up and seemed to flinch. It had obviously been a clear reprimand for helping me so much. I turned my gaze up and glared hard at the area where the sound had come from.

“Oh ho ho Osvald, I believe that she is not ‘appy viz you.” Vermentino said, obviously enjoying my open annoyance at the pompous halfwit.

“Hmph. Well the chains won’t move. They’re following the master’s orders and won’t accept any new orders.” he huffed, sounding very ruffled indeed. I wondered exactly what the master had ordered and why Oswald was making it sound like the chains had actually denied him his request.

“Well then, I guess I’ll be seeing a bit more of you then Miss.” the boy in front of me said seeming quite pleased with this thought. “Oh, I’m Luca by the way.” he added happily. I nodded to show him that I understood, my voice didn’t appear to want to work at this particular moment. I felt the warmth of a smile and then Luca slipped back into the loop and pulled himself up, taking the tray with him. I watched as the tray was taken off him and he pulled himself up out of the trapdoor, pulling up the rope and closing the door with a small wave. It appeared that I had people who liked me in this prison. A small smile in my mind I leant back against the wall and closed my eyes, eventually I fell into a deep sleep.