The Lost Princess

Rats In The Walls

It was leather-bound and heavy. It had obviously been placed there by someone. However, being that my room was on the second story I immediately canceled out Mrs. Stevens as the culprit.

    But it couldn't have been Eloise.

    Thinking it suspicious I left it under my pillow and made my way downstairs. As I reached the kitchen the heavenly smell of the food made my stomach growl. Mrs. Stevens has already prepared two separate plates, one is obviously for me seeing as the other is perched atop a silver tray and carries easier to swallow foods.

    I take the tray with me and make my way to Eloise's room. She's in the same position she was when I left her earlier. Her eyes follow me as I enter the room.

    "Madam," I make my way to her side and lay the tray gingerly on her lap. Her eyes never leave me, but I do my best to ignore it. 

    "Do you know Jonas that during the spring the trees outside sprout the prettiest pink flowers? My mother used to enjoy watching them with me when I was younger--of course, this was before..." She trails off a bit but quickly adds. "My father would sometimes accompany us, his head would always be stuck in his books most of the time so these small strolls through the garden were our bonding moments. Their plans were to host a feast that spring that the accident took place, although they never did."

    I stay silent. For one, I'm amazed she's managed to speak for so long without a single coughing fit. For another, I don't really know how to respond to tales of her deceased parents.

    For the longest time I, like many of the residents of Crestview, had believed the last living Moore had to be some hideous monster. They never came out into the light and not a single person had been seen entering or exiting the Moore manor. If I hadn't gotten a job as a butler I doubt I would have ever thought otherwise. Ms. Eloise Moore is not some supernatural creature haunting the desolate halls of the manor. She is a girl, young and sick.

    "...haunted house of Crestview..." I mumbled. Her gaze shot to me and she raised a delicate brow. Even in the darkness of the room, her eyes were a particular color, I'm sure they would look magnificent in the light.

    Clutching my hand to my chest I chastise myself. She is my master, and I her servant. Nothing more nothing less.

    "I wonder..." She seems to trail off before adding "Do all the young boys of Crestview look as handsome as you? It's been on my mind but why become a butler in the first place? Certainly, there's flashier work in bigger cities for boys like you."

    Ignoring the fact that she called me handsome I work to find a suitable answer. "I'm twenty-four madam I'm already old."

    In terms of all the people around me who'd been raised in the same neighborhood, I was doing poorly. Most of the boys from my middle school were married already with kids on the way. Then again most of those same boys were inheriting their professions from their parents. I didn't have such a luxury.

    It would be unfair to compare myself to Eloise Moore, but something told me she was a lot like me. Not too fond of lies. So instead of coming up with an excuse, I'm honest.

    "When I just started high school a couple of my friends got together to get a good look at the Moore Manor. At that point the place looked spooky and haunted, most of us thought that instead of people the halls held ghosts." I explained. "But the day when we stood outside the gates I saw it."

    A head had peeked out for half a second. I caught her gaze before she slipped from view but there was no denying it.

    "After that, I'll admit I became a tad bit...obsessed. I wanted to work here to discover who that person could have possibly been. But the Moore Manor wasn't taking in any new hires." It would be a total of seven years before Mrs. Stevens would traverse to Willows Manor to relay the message that Moore Manor was looking for a butler. The fact that I even have a job here now seems like a twist of fate.

    "Fate," Eloise seemed to read my mind the corner of her lip curling up in a sly smile. "And did I live up to your expectations?"

    As I thought, "Your eyes...they're like the stones the river sometimes deposited. Polished to gleam, meant for the light."

    "It's been so long since I've stood under cover of the sun," She admitted with a sigh. "I'll be honest with you Jonas I can't stand this bed. Not a single inch of it."

    My heart thundered in my ears. It had been a while now, but I was certain she hadn't coughed once since I'd entered the room. She grinned up at me and with a still-shaky hand swallowed a mouthful of the soup. 

    After swallowing her skin seemed to grow paler she keeled over coughing. Instinctively I began to rub her upper back. After a few seconds, she clutched onto my forearm and stared straight into my eyes. "I feel I can trust you, Jonas. Macy can't make it up here anymore and now I have you."

    There was a crazed look in her eye--no not crazed. Determined.

    "Soon the curtains of Moore Manor will rise and the stage will be set. At that time you must do everything in your power to stay by my side."

    "Ma--"

    A clattering from the hallway shocked us both. Eloise tightened her grip on my arm and yanked me close enough for her lips to whisper into my ear. "Rats exist within these walls. As my butler, it is your job to be rid of them. Can I trust you?"

    I knew she wasn't talking about actual rats. Somehow I felt offering her an answer was sealing my fate in some way.

    Nervously I glanced towards where her hand was clutching me with a death grip. It didn't hurt but her hand was shaking. 

    "As the Moore Manor butler, I am at your command."