Touch of Flame

Darcy cried in silence for what seemed like forever. Not only would it mean that her father was dead, but her mother too. She lay curled in bed, crying over people she couldn’t remember but still, she grieved their loss. Now, she would never know them.

And then she remembered, Russell called her daughter. She was utterly confused, her mind thinking of what that could mean. Her head began to hurt, so she allowed herself to sleep again.

When she woke she was met by two female servants when she left the room. “Good morning, My Lady.”

My lady again. It felt odd. She was no lady. Or she used to be. She used to be a princess?? What?! She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t feel like a princess.

“Good morning.”

“We have prepared a bath for you.”

Oh really?

They motioned for her to follow them and so she did. Once they took her to the room they prepared clothes for her as well.

Darcy looked at them waiting for them to leave but they remained in place.

“My Lady? Won’t you bathe?” One of them asked.

“Won’t you leave first?” She asked.

They looked at each other. “Don’t you want our help?”

Oh no! She wanted no one near her when she undressed and certainly no one bathing her. The painful memories came back briefly.

The servants curtsied and retreated. Darcy still felt cautious undressing and she quickly got into the tub. She didn’t take time to enjoy the bath. She washed off quickly and then hurried to get dressed.

She looked at the dress on the bed. It had been a long time since she wore a dress. As she tied the straps she remembered something else. Her sister helped her get dressed and them combing her hair. Her long her, before she cut it. Her sister made her braids.

“Ravina.” She tested to say her sister’s name out loud.

And she was Corinna? A princess.

She went to look at herself in the mirror. What part of her looked like a princess? A lady?

She touched her wet hair that reached her shoulders. She combed through it with her fingers. Then she touched her face. Her skin was dry, and she took notice of her hand being drier. She was no lady.

The moments in the darkness with the Phantom came back to mind. Would she see him today? Her heartbeat accelerated. She was still embarrassed. She wasn’t sure how she should have acted but certainly, she shouldn’t have melted in the arms of a man she didn’t even know the name of.

When she walked out of the room, more servants were waiting outside, startling her.

“My Lady, breakfast is ready.” A well-clad male servant spoke.

Darcy followed him to the dining hall. Would she see the Phantom? It was too bright so she guessed not but she hoped he would come and reveal himself.

“Will the Lord of the house join me?” She asked.

The servant smiled politely. “You will be on your own, My Lady but we will be here to serve you.”

He pulled out the chair for her and she sat down. She was served an extravagant breakfast. If only the crew were here.

For the rest of the day, she had servants attending to her every need while she took care of Russell and had physicians examine him as well.

“We can now only wait and see,” the physician told her.

This man, whether her uncle or father, she needed him to live. He woke up a few more times, calling out their names. Deep inside, the way he called them made her feel like he was her father and not her uncle. But how come?

When became late, she left the room again in hopes to meet the Phantom. She wandered down the dark halls with anticipation. She took each step, her heart drumming in her chest, recalling the feel of his lips on her neck, his hair in her fingers, and his body against hers. The way she had felt in that moment, the intensity of it frightened her but also made her want to feel it again.

Her feet slowed down when she sensed something. His scent lingered here. She followed it and almost stumbled, realizing there were stairs ahead. Curious, she climbed them. The second floor wasn’t as dark. Light came in from large windows in the hall. When she came to the end, she turned down the hall. She ended up in a dark room.

Here she could feel the smokey scent stronger than ever. Wait? Was she perhaps in his room? Then this was a very bad idea. She turned around immediately to leave when she saw his silhouette at the entrance. The light from the hall behind him made it possible for her to discern his figure clearly now.

She already knew he was tall, standing on strong legs. He certainly didn’t have the body of a human male. She could see his broad shoulders almost filling the frame, hair tied back she guessed, and a loose shirt on his torse. She could tell it was one of those elegant shirts from the loose sleeves, probably laced at the ends.

He stepped inside as her heart changed rhythm, following his movement.

“I… I didn’t mean to pry,” she hurried to say.

“It is alright. How was your day?”

“I was well taken care of. Thank you for everything.”

“Please sit,” he told her.

She looked around, trying to distinguish the furniture. She found the couch nearby and sat down. He sat somewhere else, on a bed possibly, keeping a distance from her.

“Are you comfortable in the dress?” He asked.

“Yes. I feel… like a woman.”

She could feel him smile. “You are.”

“I know.” She shook her head feeling silly. He reminded her yesterday that she was a woman. She had never felt more woman than the moment she was in his arms.

Would he say something about what happened last night?

“Last night…” he began.

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A big thank you to my supergifters Onix_Rain24 and Ivette_M11 <3