Faetality

1. Isla the kind

Isla's eyes were glued to the dress Lady Esme had brought in. Every move she made on the dress was perfect as she worked her silver threads into the bodice. The ball was in two nights and if she did well enough, the lady was sure to take interest in her work and be of great service. There was no hiding it. The only reason Isla was working with Madame Angelica's shop was that she had connections to the noble and Isla's dream was to one day become the royal dressmaker. As she paused for a moment to brush off the strands of hair that restricted her line of sight, Isla noticed Madame Angelica's figure hovering before her.

"You are one devious woman," The dressmaker commented.

"Mistress, How do you mean?"Isla inquired, knowing full well the woman she was speaking to was no fool.

"You don't work this hard when it comes to the fabrics of the many that come here but you seem to have taken a very keen interest in giving women of the higher class unfair treatment. It is probably why Lady Esme always insists you handle her dresses. But forget about that, I have an errand for you."

Her statement made Isla look up, the side of her mouth filled with pins of varying sizes.

"What errand?"

The dressmaker handed Isla a package wrapped in bright red paper. That kind of exotic paper was only used when Madame Angelica wanted to hand dresses to Nobles. It made Isla's heart jump. She swiftly collected the package, admiring the feel of exotic paper.

"This package should go to the house of O' Gara." Her mistress informed.

Without waiting for another word to leave the woman's lips, Isla bolted out of the shop and ran through the busy roads of Paragons as she thought of who she was dropping this too. Was it Lady Rose or the beautiful countess Faye? Isla did not care. As long as she could touch hands with nobles who dined with the Royal house or even say her name right in their faces, it was fine by her.

"Where are you bolting to?" A familiar voice pulled her back and Isla stopped to see who it was. It was Beatrice, the witch. Of course, Isla never saw her in that light but it was what the elders and people had seen before they pushed her out of her husband's home and ostracized her. It was not the first time Isla was meeting Beatrice. They had even talked times too many but something was different this time. At bright and busy days like this, Beatrice remained hiding in the thicks of the forest, waiting for night to fall before she ventured out. It was much safer for her then as men and children alike took it to themselves to punish Beatrice for a sin she never committed once they got the opportunity. On her body were bruises and cuts she had sustained from previous altercations and when she closed the space between them, Isla could do nothing but wrench her nose. Beatrice smelled like a dead fish.

Waiting until the peeping eyes that passed vanished, Isla spoke to Beatrice. "You know you should not be here Beatrice. It's not safe."

Beatrice frowned, clenching onto the waist side of her tattered clothes like she was hurt.

"What can I do about it?" She said. "I am starving."

Isla spared a look around her. They were far away from the busy life of the village and she was close to the inn where the house of O' Gara was currently residing. There were a few furious children who were watching Isla closely. They wished to know what she was doing with the witch that killed and ate her husband. Isla reconsidered if she was to take such a risk. Giving Beatrice the food she had kept for herself would raise questions and the rumors going around about her. She already had pockets in her clothes and the men would not stop babbling about it but Isla was in a good mood. It might be stupid of her to think that the women of the noble house would even take interest in her. After all, she dressed like a vagabond and looked like an imp. The men whose advances she had rejected had told that to her many times but even if she looked nor dressed any good, she was a talented dressmaker and it was an indisputable truth.

Isla finally put her hands in the confines of the pocket she created herself and handed her lunch, wrapped for later to the starving woman."Take this."

Beatrice collected it and almost immediately ripped it apart. She looked at the beans with the mad glee of a child before sending a silent thank you down Isla's path but it never reached her. The young woman once again broke into a sprint, eyeing the inn that seemed to get bigger and bigger the quicker her legs threaded forward. Soon she was at the front door of the inn, the only inn the village of Paragon had and it was owned by none other than Count Richard O' Gara.

Isla remained rooted at the front door for a few seconds as she tried catching her breath. The last thing she needed was to actually get her wish and start panting like an Impala in front of the famed sisters. When she finally got a hold of her breathing, Isla proceeded to knock on the door.

"Who is it?" A voice sharp as steel snapped.

Isla knew who it was. Paragon was not a large village so practically everyone had a relation of from sort and such a reply to a potential customer could only come from the innkeeper. Isla herself did not know the woman's name but everyone knew her foul nature.

"I am from Madame Angelica. I have a package for Lady Rose."

Isla heard the woman grumble something before coming over to the door and unlocking it. Without much of a hello and a false smile, The grey-haired innkeeper stretched her hands forward and demanded the package.

Isla refused to let all her plans go down the drain. She had to make contact with the fine Lady at least.

"I am most sorry but my mistress strictly instructed that I place it in the hands of Lady Rose."

"Look child," The woman snapped. "Neither Lady Rose nor any single relative of the O' Garas is here at the moment and they will not be back from their meet-up until midnight so I would prefer you not waste both our time and hand it over. I will be sure to leave the message that it was from Madame Angelica."

Isla's heart sank. The woman could not be lying. It was not in her nature to lie. She hated life and she hated people. Isla considered that it was smart to leave and let the grumpy woman have her peace. She begrudgingly handed the sealed package over. Once the innkeeper took it, she slammed the door shut in Isla's face making her ears tingle.

"Isla," A voice that hit too close to home whispered into her ear. Isla felt cold and made a slight turn to see who it could be. That voice made her shiver and although she knew it was physically impossible, a part of her wished it was who she thought it was. Only her father called her name in that manner. The tingling in her ear vanished when she peered in the direction she was sure the voice had originated from. He is dead and he is not coming back, Isla pacified herself proceeding to blame her false hearing on the tingles the door slam had caused. It had to be it. Isla walked through the lonely path when another sound made its way to her ear. It sounded like an animal. A creature that needed help and Isla was not someone who could resist helping animals in need. Isla held her breath as she took a detour down her original path. The purring got louder and Isla caught the sight of a brindled coat and an extravagant ruff of fur laid against the earth its neck turned in her direction and its long tail curved and wiggled like a fishing hook trying to entice fishes.

"Hey there," Isla spoke to the pure white puppy. It had a cut in its leg and Isla guessed it ran deep if its mother had abandoned it. She was determined to give it a fighting chance, so against common sense and a plan of what to do if she took the unfortunate creature in, Isla lifted the pup in her hands and returned to the path.