{Le Château du Seul.}

Isabelle

Isabelle woke up with a start. Had she really fallen asleep again? Isabelle hugged her dressing gown around her, wondering what had woken her.

Isabelle could hear faint footsteps trudging through the grass. She looked around, and saw the retreating form of Joshua walking back toward the guest house.

"Joshua," Isabelle murmured. "Joshua!" she called softly. He froze, but didn't turn to face Isabelle. Isabelle looked at him for a moment, then glanced away, feeling ashamed. What could Isabelle say to him? Isabelle didn't think a simple 'I'm sorry' would even begin to cover Isabelle's regrets. But it was the only phrase Isabelle could think of.

Isabelle sighed, rubbing her temples, but stood up and walked toward Joshua. He turned to face her slowly. Isabelle stopped. Their eyes met, and Joshua and Isabelle were at a standstill.

"I'm sorry," said Isabelle quietly. Joshua didn't move. Isabelle searched among the threads of his mask in the dim light, looking for something, anything, beyond the stiff face of the mask. She sighed. "God, I can't tell you how sorry I am," she repeated, looking over Joshua's shoulder for a moment. She steeled herself, then looked back. "I never wanted this to happen," she said quickly. "I never expected him to com back. I never thought it would have so many consequences. And I know I should have been more open with you from the start. None of that can be helped, now, I know. But I felt like we had to have this conversation now, before any more complications arise."

Isabelle spread out her arms. "And if you are furious with me, I understand that. I'm furious at myself. And I understand if you feel I'm imposing myself on you. I only needed to be frank with you, and apologize as best I can."

Joshua

"I understand Isabelle. Everyone has a past. Everyone makes mistakes. You should get ready. Your fiance will be here soon enough." His sentences were breif, cold, not having any meaning. The only thing that could have possible revealed the turmoil of emotion going on inside of him was the way he said the word fiance. He had hissed it, almost as if he just wished the word did not exist.

"I don't think you do Joshua. I am sorry I didn't mention any of this before, I just didn't think anything would come of it."

Well something did come of it. Joshua nearly said those words but he didn't. He masked his true feelings once more. "I understand, and that is why I agreed to go with you. I will be here for you if you need someone."

But even he doubted those words now.

-----------------

~Incognito

Isabelle

Joshua turned and walked back to the guest house without another glance in Isabelle's direction. Isabelle watched him until he disappeared through the door. Isabelle felt like she had been physically punched. She looked toward the ground and swallowed.

Frustration welled up inside Isabelle. In a spout of uncharacteristic anger, she kicked at the dewy grass visciously. She spun on her heel and marched toward the gurgling marble fountain at the far end of the garden. Isabelle stared at the water cascading into the fountain basin for a moment, before she plunged her arms into the cold water.

Isabelle let her head hang as she felt the current of water flow around her arms. It was calming, in a strange way. The water reached to about Isabelle's elbows. Isabelle forced herself to concentrate on the soft, steady movement of the water swirling around her lower arms. Isabelle exhaled slowly, forcing every ounce of air out of her lungs. She took a deep breath, and stared at her arms in the clear water.

Furious did not even begin to describe what Isabelle felt for herself at that moment. Isabelle was frustrated, tired with her life. With all Isabelle's heart, she wished for a brief moment of normalcy.

Isabelle kicked herself. Normalcy. It must be four or five in the morning, and Isabelle was standing in the middle of her parents' garden with her arms in their fountain! Normalcy was a concept far out of Isabelle's grasp, for the moment.

Sighing, Isabelle took her hands out of the water and shook them off. She folded her arms tightly against her chest, and leaned against the fountain. Isabelle's eyes drifted around the garden, and landed on the guest house. Isabelle was reminded of how badly she had botched this whole mess.

She could have said something. She should have said something. And now, Isabelle seemed to be in a downward spiral. Every time she began to claw herself out of it, some monster from its depths came to drag her back in. And Isabelle always seemed to drag someone down with her.

At least, Isabelle reasoned, the spiral seemed to be close to its end. Isabelle had no more ideas. She was drained. At least this time, Isabelle wouldn't be able to blame anyone. That is what she had always done, looking back. Isabelle always found someone to focus her anger on. More recently, she'd done it to Tash, Mercy, William, Joshua. Isabelle could remember dozens of others.

Isabelle froze. Joshua. Isabelle could no longer ignore it. Her feelings for him had been growing steadily. Isabelle remembered his face when he had learned about Pierre. Isabelle remembered the horrible, cold, derisive way he had said 'fiance', and how she had flinched at the sound. Those few syllables had been the most painful Isabelle had ever heard.

Isabelle stopped her train of thought forcefully. She wouldn't think about that. She couldn't. Not hours away from Pierre coming to take her to a masquerade where he would announce their re-engagement. It would be too much for Isabelle. She would say something that would make Pierre furious, and he would take his revenge without mercy.

Isabelle glanced at the sky. The sun was beginning to peak out from the horizon. Isabelle walked back toward the guest house. She would pack lightly, and then Pierre would be there.

Should I edit my post to make it more, er, 'repliable'?

Oh! Sorry! I haven't been around lately.
I am just going to make Joshua get ready and the carriage pull up if that is alright.

Joshua

He looked at his reflection in the mirror solemnly. Once again he was in his old tweed suit, the red of the lining seemingly darker then he thought it was before. But he did not care. It seemed he didn't have much to care about these days. He combed his red hair lightly, set the comb down while turning and grabbed his overcoat.

He hated the lighting in this place. He missed his attic room. The lighting seemed to make everything look fake.

Sighing lightly, he slowly walked out of his acquired quarters. He didn't want to use the crutches. His leg was doing fine enough, and he didn't seem the need in lugging the wooden items around. It hurt, but he relished it because it reminded him that he could still feel pain, one of the only human characteristics left.

But suddenly the right door opened and he saw his sister stride out, dressed in a full gold ballgown, embellished in her finest jewelery, a golden mask hiding her face. It was mildly surprising to him.

"What are you doing?"

"Coming with you people."

"And why the hell would you do that?"

"To be a woman for once." Constance said with a small smile, then grabbed his arm casually and together they strode to the front room. William was already standing there waiting, looking down on his feet. Mercy stood by him, dressed in a black, Gothic gown. Even Mikeal was there.

"Don't look so surprised," Mikael said noting Joshua's surprise. "We can't let Isabelle do this alone. She needs our support. I seem to have grown quite fond of you people."

"The carriage won't at all be big enough for us all."

"I have my men. They have a carriage set up and ready for the rest of us. We are all ready for departure."

Joshua only nodded, leaning lightly on Constance for support. This was almost too much for him. All of them stood there is finery, masked and hidden. Just like that night. He couldn't help feeling happy that they were all coming, because he didn't think he would have been able to maintain going to this masquerade alone.

There was the crushing of gravel as Pierre's carriage pulled up, and suddenly a burst of nervousness overcame him.

This was it.

-----------------

~Incognito

Isabelle

Isabelle stood outside the front of the guest house, her eyes on the gravel drive. Her finger fiddled insistingly with a piece of lace on her gown. Isabelle raised her head as she heard the approaching carriage. He was here.

The carriage pulled to a halt in front of the guest house. Pierre stepped out lightly, blinking in the morning sunlight.

"Ah. Isabelle," he quipped. "I half expected you to have disappeared by this morning."

Isabelle licked her lips. "No. I am still here."

"Are you ready, then?" asked Pierre, his beady eyes watching her. Isabelle reached behind her, putting a hand on the guest house's doorknob.

"Pierre," she said quickly. "You know I brought friends with me." Pierre's eyes glittered, but Isabelle pressed on. "They are coming, too."

Pierre's eyebrows raised. He laughed. "That's very bold of you. But, yes, they should come. I warn you though, Isabelle. I will have the authorities on standby should anything... undesirable... occur."

Isabelle let out a breath. She had been worried Pierre would refuse. "If you'll wait for a moment, I'll get them," said Isabelle.

"Get them?" Pierre asked incredulously. "Oh no, no, Isabelle. You are very mistaken. They are perfectly capable of hiring their own carriage. They will not be riding with us."

Isabelle blinked at Pierre. "Very well," she said slowly. "I will... go tell them."

Isabelle backed into the guesthouse quickly. She was surprised that Mikael, Constance, and Mercy were waiting in the front room. "I - Well. He's here. He'll let you come, but he won't let you ride in his carriage."

"My people have a carriage waiting for us a short ways away," said Mikael, standing. Isabelle turned to him, surprised.

"Thank you," she said slowly. Isabelle glanced over her shoulder. "I better go now. But, really. Thank you all."

Isabelle backed out of the guest house. Pierre opened the carriage door for her, and Isabelle climbed into it. Pierre entered behind her, and then they were off.

I edited the last post a little... ^^

Erm - hello??