Chapter Nine: Torn 1.1

James stumbled down the hall, the last few hours where a blur, but one thing was crystal clear. The pure disappointment and distrust he’d seen in Verena's eyes, that was the only thing he could see really. Everything else was just some misty haze. He was sloppily making his way through the Hall, the door to his room looming at the end of it.

What was he doing?

He’d stood on that balcony until he nearly drove himself insane arguing with the voices in his head. Until some server had, for whatever reason, come out to him in the  moisture heavy air. Skillfully bearing a collection of champagne glasses upon a tray. James hadn't even the slightest moment of hesitation when the offer was spoken.

The pale amber liquid filled with pearlecest bubbles whispered sweet desire as he took the first sip. The pure nostalgia of something so long forgotten and craved, had him downing it in a single swig. The second glass made a promise to make him forget all his worries and the third made it true. 

Fourth.

Fifth.

Sixth.

Seventh.

Somewhere along the way it changed from champagne to something far more potent and daring. A dare perhaps. Some hazy memory of chants, deep laughter and slurred words filtered into his mind. Disrupting Verenas piercing eyes like a pebble throwing ripples in a pond.

He wasn't sure HOW he'd even made it home. Given how much the walls seemed to be twisting and turning

James' left ankle rolled as he pushed open the door to his room. His other foot overstepped, and he teetered towards the frame. His uncoordinated hands were catching the doorframe, and the side of his face hit the old, wooden planks, causing him to topple over onto the floor in a sloppy mess.

James groaned, eyes squinting blearily up at the ceiling. He lifted a hand and ran it down his face, wincing as it hit the blooming bruise. That'd be hard to hide.

He rolled over with another pained groan, sour acid creeping up his throat. He swallowed it and hauled himself on to the bed, not bothering to adjust his sprawled figure. One of his shoes teetered off his toes, clamoring to the floor. His eyes glazed over and the room faded into a dark fog.

“AMES!” Something was rattling,the door? Was his bed shaking? Was the room?

“JAMES” Oh. He only knew that tone too well.

James hoisted himself up.

”JAMES!’

His hands slipped, and he face planted into the firm mattress.

One hand slammed into the floor.

”JAMES OPEN THIS BLOODY DOOR!” 

Unable to stop the sheets slipping his body onto the hardwood floor. He grunted,”SHUT UP!”

The banging stopped, all was quiet. A dangerous sign.

”NO WAIT-”James attempted to scramble up from the floor, only resulting in a spinning head with  no further ascent from the floor.

The door burst open, he flinched as it swung, only to be caught by a swift hand before slammed into the wall.

Heels clicked ominously and her hand reached under and pulled him up by his shirt collar, twisting him towards her. His limbs faltered to balance himself on the floor. Eventually they found themselves both kneeling on the floor, James pressed with his back against the bed, Verena fist still clutching his shirt collar, leaning over him on one knee.

He once again found Verenas eyes inches from his. They seemed warmer now, but maybe that was the haze of alcohol clinging to his brain. Making it darn hard to think.

“You wana repeat that Jameson” Verena studied his sleep ruffled appearance, even more pitiful then his drunkard one he figured.

He swallowed, a haunted whisper of a voice emerged,”I'm sorry”

He could have sworn Verenas soul left her body, her eyes flashed in pure confusion,”what.” Her fist loosened.

James eye brows pitched,” I said I'm, sorry?”

Verena remain speechless.

James blinked,"has anyone eve-" Verena's eyes regained their clarity.

Footsteps were thudding towards the door, she scrambled back, hastily adjusting her hair. The footsteps counting down the seconds as they drew closer. James pushed himself off the floor, "what are yo-"

Verena shot him a sharp look,"sit on the bed!"

"But wh-"

"SIT" Verena practically whispered through her clenched teeth.

James flung his arms up and hoisted himself up on the bed, losing his other shoe in the process.

The doorway filled with dark swishing skirts."WHAT IS TH-oh" Madam stood in the door. Fury fading from her eyes.

"Ah Lady Parker," she glanced down at James before looking back at Verena,"I heard a racket, is everything ok?"

James smiled sheepishly, not really sure what what going on. His head was spinning like a Ferris wheel. Did they have fairs in this time? They must. When where they- oh. Verena was drilling her eyes into him.All the while the picture of a Lady. He adjusted his shirt collar.

Verena slid her eyes back to Madam Lauthsly, smiling sweetly. " Thank you for your concern, I'm afraid I'm just setting my butler straight. Simple misunderstanding."

"Ah, I see." Madam Lauthsly kept glancing at him, something was brewing behind those eyes of hers." I do hope things go smoother in the future, and if course, as any Lady would, keep things,"she paused, eyes darting presumptuously between James and Verena." appropriate."

James just nearly chocked. Verena folded her hands neatly, and ever so slightly leaned towards the woman, "now why ever would you say that my dear housekeeper," A smile bloomed over verena's shining white teeth.

If anyone knew how to put someone in their place. It was his Agent. If he hadn't been hungover and almost nearly strangled by her. James woulda pulled out some popcorn.

Mrs Lauthsly didn't seem to know where to put her hands. Suddenly being metaphorically tripped."well I simply, I mean. It's unorthodox, for a lady to be in a man's room uncha-"

"Are you to tell me that I'm not aware of this? Madam I was disciplining my servant, surely you of all people have done no worse?

"Well yes but-"

Verena took a small step forward, forcing the head maid to exit the doorway,"Will all due, respect, I'd like to finish my conversation with Chadwick."

Madam Lauthsly, opened her mouth, paused, closed it. Then pressed her lips together, giving James one last look,"very well."

James watched her black skirts brush the door frame once more, a few threads snagging on fine slivers of wood. Neither James nor Verena moved, listening to the fading click clack of the Madams heels as she left.

The beds steel frame creaked as James leaned to one side, peeking out the door more.

"I presume you've sobered up?" Verena's arms were crossed, her gaze pinned on his face.

His cheek.

His bruised cheek.

He brushed his fingers over it,"a foolish mistake."

She hummed. Fiddled  with the lace adoring her skirt," I told you to lay off the alcohol for a reason. It's not smart for missions. And your a sloppy drunk."

James scoffed,"no kidding."

He paused,"would you like to continue your, mad, uh. Yeah."

Verena found his eyes, her brow creased." No. I think that knocked you into your senses."

James nodded,frowning,"I hate being hungover. Shoulda listened to you."

Verena snorted. Then uncrossed her arms and sat down on the bed beside him," you know I'm al-"

"Always right,"he sighed dramatically,"yes I know."

He looked down at his ruffled trousers and started to smile. Pain pricked his cheek and he winked instead.

The bed creak and the mattress puffed up as Verena stood. Her lacey skirts brushed his legs. He winced again as she planted a hand on his head and ruffled his hair. "I think you need to clean yourself up. Chadwick."

James looked up,"clean up is an understatement." The light shifted as she smiled and turned. Walking towards the door. His head throbbed as his eyes adjusted to the sunlight. James squinted letting his head fall into his hands,”the weathers certainly cheery today”

“Indeed.”

Through his fingers, he watched the hem of Verena's dress swish around her heels as she turned and left, they paused in the doorway, beside his dresser, and something metallic clicked, and then she was gone.

James lifted his head up, hair falling into his eyes, looking curiously at the dresser. The room has grown brighter, and warmer, unless these were other side effects of a hangover he’d long since forgotten. The light reflected off something hard and metal on the top of the dresser, stinging his eyes, He rubbed his fingers into them, "This must be how vampires feel. Ugh.”

The spots finally disappeared, and James blinked his eyes open again, testing them against the light, he stood, half blinded, and pulled the thin curtains over the window, ”I sure hope they’ve invented sunglasses by now.”

Now that the room had dimmed significantly, although the warm light still peeked around the edges. The glint on the smell metal device had dimmed, revealing it as shining silver. James stepped over and pinched the cold metal between to fingers. It looked like a flattened sphere, fairly flat but domed slightly on each side like it was two halves. It also seemed like it was hollow. He shook it slightly, the elegant chain that was linked to the top jingled, and what sounded like small metal bits chimed inside.

James dug his nail into a small line that encircled the two halves, prying them open. It popped open. Revealing a delicate silver frame, inlaid on glass, under which was displayed a contently ticking clock.

“Huh,'' James flicked it closed, running his thumb over the intricate carving of a large tree on the cover of the small pocket watch,” that woman never fails to surprise me. Maybe this means she's not mad at me anymore? Or it's a warning.”

Either way, Verena had vanished from the halls, and he was a belittled mess of a human, with a wrinkled, well everything. Suit, hair, probably face, his brain certainly felt like it’d been tossed around and wrinkled.

After he’d dug out a new suit, and had a freezing bath, he still wasn't sure how they managed with this no running water thing. He felt significantly less wrinkly, maybe cold water did do wonders for your skin. He tucked the watch into the little pocket inside his suit jacket and decided to find out about those sunglasses.

It turned out these people did have some form of rudimentary sunglasses. The cook, who he had become prone to bugging, informed him that he'd be able to get some at the opticians. He then shoved a warm donut in James' hands and bade him farewell, lest he found himself stirring a boiling pot.

However, this meant that James had to make his way to the opticians. Which meant traveling from the Castle to the town, probably in the sun, which his head still didn't agree with. He decided that his next mission was to hunt down a pair he could borrow in the meantime.

James counted out the list of people who could be in possession of sunglasses. The head maid was off limits, after their recent encounter he didn't want to see her for a long time. The cook had had enough of him. Veena didn't have any. He briefly pondered that small boy that had first greeted them, He may be worth a chat. Maybe he didn't have any, but he could know of someone who did.

The only downside was that he didn't know where said child could be. He seemed like some sort of small errand boy, or possibly a stable hand. He decided he'd start there. At least it was somewhere. He hunted down a slightly too big fiddler's hat and pulled it low over his eyes, then slunk out into the courtyard.

It was still sunny, the light dimming and cooling every few minutes when a passing cloud lazily floated by. But the sun seemed to summon people like bees to a flower. He only recognized a few of the hired hands. They were scattered across the open formal courtyard, the gate was open, an invitation for a sunny stroll down the road.

Most worked at the garden, tilling up the soil, and tearing what few weeds that hid in the stone edging out. The stone ground was dark with water as it pooled in the low spaced between then cobblestones, trailing away from another worker who scrubbed at them. Washing away the dirt and grime of the winter.

James watched them working, squinting against the sun, and reveling in it as the warm rays soaked his clothes. A inviting comforting feeling washed over him, lulling his brain into a sleepy stance.

Something crunched loudly beside him, He blinked and jumped. A small figure stood beside him, crunching loudly on some nuts.

"Oh," James stared at him, "its you"

"I wouldn't stand there if I was you." The small boy who'd first encountered them in this time, looked up at him, shoving a sweaty fistful of nuts into his mouth.

James frowned at him, pulling out a playful expression," why not."

"Cuz," the boy stepped away and turned behind them to the set of steps leading to the door.

James swiveled, blinking up at the shining stone steps. Someone stood at the top, clearly focused on their task, and tipping a heavy bucket. Water sloshed out, splashing over the steps and soaking the youth, who tossed the bucket aside.

It flooded the steps, rushing right towards James shiny neat shoes.

"Hey!" He leaped to the side, his shout started the worker, he glanced up sharply. The small boy giggled, jumping in pure amusement.

James hopped about, avoiding the water that seeped wherever it pleased, until it pooled. Content. James found a dry spot next to the boy. Who was still giggling.

"I told ya!" His red cheeks beamed a toothy smile,

James sighed, shaking his shoes, freeing them from any small droplets that clung to them. Lucky enough to have overcome his efforts to avoid them.

"You told me not to stand there, not that i was going to get drenches."

"yeah but your not Mister."

James flashed the little boy a look of amused disapproval, simultaneously waving away the sturdy youth that poured the bucket. He'd clamored down the stairs, begging his apologies. James assured him he was not so great as to be conquered but a few dops of water. Besides, he had been standing in the way, utterly unaware of his surroundings. The sun should really look into a career in distraction or, whatever would be similar in the careers of large burning balls of plasma stuck in space.

The boy tugged on the corner of his suit jacket, "begging your pardon mister but why are ya out here anyway. Don't you have to serve the pretty lady. "

James adjusted his hat, "the pretty lady has no need of me today. At least, I think so."

"Oh." the boy blinked,"I kinda wanted to see her again."

"im sure you will eventually, bud." He patted the boys ruffled brown curls.

The boy ducked out of his hand and squinted his eyes at James,"You still didnt answer my question."

"Didnt I? I guess not really," he studied the small boy, who stood, looking up at him with some sort of strange admiration in his eyes. He couldn't be much older then the small prince Henry. Yet they were so different. The conditions and lack there of puzzled him. The boy poked him,"so? "

"oh, "James shook his head,"I don't supposed you know where I could borrow a pair of sunglasses? And say, what's your name."

The boy smiled, pleased at the question. He lifted his chin proudly," Its Samuel sir! Most people call me sam, Or sammy." He frowned disapprovingly, "i dont like being called sammy, sounds like im a weird fish.

James smiled, what a funny kid,"My names Ah," he paused, mulling over his name," Chadwick."

Samuel tiled his head,"chadwick," he said the word slowly, sound it out and testing it."It sounds funny."

James chuckled,"you could say that,"He held out his hand, "pleased to meet you Samuel," The boy grasped his hand with his opposite, attempting his best version of a formal handshake.

James pulled his hand out and ruffled Sams hair again, to which the child protested further,"now where did you say those sunglasses were?"