Lien le Storm

Dear Diary,

Last night was one of the worst so far. The first indication that something was not entirely as it ought to be was when I felt a small nip on right foot. I quickly tried to jerk it back but found myself unable to move. Something was bound around my foot and I could do move it little more than a couple of inches. Another bite. Harder than the first and I tried to get up only to find all four of my limbs bound to the bed. I felt sluggish. My reactions slow and limbs heavy.

My eyes slowly adjusted to the light and I found my bed swarming with rats. I screamed, loudly. But no one came.. My father was away on business and the servants had long since retired. I screamed again.

The glass on my window shattered and Arden was there, rope cut with his knife and sweeping me up into his arms.

Another of my sister’s pranks, one of the worst. I like to think that she knew it was one of the nights that Arden and Teena regularly came by and that I would of been released before I was eaten to death. But… I’m not so sure.

I could see it in the eyes of my friends that they were worried, fearful even of her. And would you believe I got in trouble for the smashed window?

Ping. Ping. Ping.

The sound of small stones hitting the window pane across from my silk clad bed eventually woke me. It was a good two hours past dark fall. Not that I had been in a particularly deep slumber, sleep having been difficult to find since the ‘rat incident’ a few months back.

Grabbing a luxurious black velvet cloak, I quickly wrapped it around my nightwear, and approached the window to find my friend Arden’s face pressed to it. I directed a pointy finger down at the lock that secured it closed and frowned, putting on my best pouting face.

With a wide grin that forms deep dimples in his freckled cheeks, Arden brandishes a small silver pick and starts to work on the window lock. Tongue out in focused concentration, he eventually pushes the tumbles in just the right way and with a mighty click, it’s open.

“Your rescue, my Lady.” Arden greets, opening the window with a flourish.

“We must be quick, before my evil sister finds us.” I recite, familiar with the routine that we’d been playing since we were kids. I peeked down below and saw Teena’s cheery face looking up at with me, I wave down at her.

I duck down and step through the window, and once on the other side, I produce a small bow. Both wait expectantly to see what I will do this time and I grin, making a show of considering. Then, with a quick hop, I’m off, flying through the air, I tumble three times before landing on the ground in a crouch, from which I rise to bow and bow again. Arden makes a humph like sound and clambers down the old fashioned way.

“I liked the carty one better tha’ you did last week,” Teena teases.

I poke out my tongue in retort to Teena and ask, “So, my friends, what mischief are we up to tonight?”

Arden holds up a stolen bottle of wine, and a small wrapped paper packet that I immediately recognise as one likely to hold the delectable little sugar cubes we three were more than a little fond of. “Ooooo … well then, tonight shall be fun. The barn? Anyone else coming?”