Chapter 10: A miracle
A different sight greeted Arabella the next day. The canopy that usually met her gaze first thing every morning since her arrival at the Eleazar manor had been replaced by the warm smile on a familiar face.
"Morning, Miss. It is time to rise," Ada chirped as she leaned over Arabella.
Eyes still only half open, Arabella let out a little moan before muttering in the tiniest of voices, "What is happening?"
"I came by your room to bring you breakfast, but you weren't there. Oh! Please, Miss. Don't rise too quickly,"
Ada immediately took Arabella's arm in order to provide support when the young woman seemed to struggle getting up.
The world had begun to whirl in Arabella's eyes when attempting to push her weight off the lounge chair she'd been sleeping on which forced her to shut them and halt all movement in a brisk manner.
She held her pulsating head in one hand while the other supported the weight of her upper body into a sitting position.
"I couldn't wait in order to escort you back to your room yesterday. I assumed one of the nightwalker servants would handle the task, but when I came to bring your breakfast, you weren't in your room and then Master Silas came by and told me you'd fallen asleep in his chambers," Ada spoke as slowly and softly as she appeared to afford.
At those words, Arabella finally compelled her heavy eyelids open, leisurely glancing from left to right.
A foreign and yet familiar picture surrounded her as the many sculptures and carved pieces that occupied almost every flat surface in the room, besides the floor, sure were recognizable. The cushy lounge chair beneath her was no stranger to the touch and most notable was the large canvas that stood by the desk in the corner.
So, what was so dissimilar about it? She wondered.