Post date: 24-Oct-2011 20:39:47
I have reflected a lot on the human nature when going through my diary, the way we can both adopt quickly when needs arise, and ignore the obvious when we can't add things together. The first week in the Abode I was still convinced that I only could be in an enormous town house in the middle of London overlooking a Park that could only be a very wild and empty Chelsea Physic Garden, in my mind that was the only possible explanation. It might have been the old man himself, or the Abode, which kept my mind ignorant of small tell-tale signs that things where not that simple.
September 24th, 2007 (2760AUC)
I don't know if it was the suns warmth over my face or the faint smell of breakfast that woke me in the morning. But the sun, filtered through the leafy crown of t tree outside the window, was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes. It felt warm and comforting, the bed was soft and smelled of clean linen, I was convinced that this must be a dream and I did not want to wake up just yet. But as my eyes slowly got used to the light, the strange surrounding suddenly brought me back, I sat bolt upright, trying to remember what had happened and surveying the room.
It was a rather large room with rustic oak furniture, a huge wardrobe, a desktop with an old leather and wood office chair, and a large worn green leather armchair opposite. The bed was with posts, but no canopy, which I somehow expected seeing the posts striving upwards, instead the whole roof was painted as a starry sky with fantasy constellations, at least there was none I recognised even if the stars seemed to be in their right places. The window was deep set and barred and it's glass panes seemed old, just as the rest of the room.
I remembered being brought, or rather pushed, here yesterday, after I had been shown, or shoved into, the huge bathroom with it's marble tub filled with hot water, just a few doors down the corridor. And there had been a glass of hot milk with honey, and after that I had fell asleep. Perhaps they had drugged the milk...
My mind did another jump: It had been a huge cat that had guided, and pushed me around, last evening. And this house seemed so out of place in London, and then there where those...
My stomach made itself felt, a faint smell of somebody's breakfast with notes of scrambled eggs and fresh bread, and I needed to go to the bathroom after the long nights sleep. Maybe if I found my way to the kitchen I would meet the other servants of this house and present myself. I didn't think I would last long here, but I could at least try to be respectable. My soiled yukata was on a stool besides the bed, it looked past any help for the moment so I choose to put on the bathrobe I had been given by the cat yesterday evening, perhaps not the best way to introduce myself, but I was somewhat out of options. I imagined a large clean kitchen with a set table and a cook by the stove and perhaps a manservant or chambermaid, eating breakfast. They would probably look at me like something the cat had dragged in: the thought made me giggle; it would rather be like the cat nudged in.
I had no idea where to find the kitchen, but following my nose I arrived there shortly, and stopped dead in my tracks. The place was not large, it was huge.
Lining the walls where stoves and fireplaces of different types, sinks and large counters laden with dirty dishes, cupboards and portals into several storage areas, all of it well used and seldom cleaned by the looks of it. The central part was divided by two large counters, large enough to prepare a couple of oxen's, with heaps of kitchen utensils in varied conditions, at the end of one was a round fireplace, at the other end of the second counter was the trunk of a large tree, spreading its limbs in an intricate web, before disappearing into the roof. Scattered throughout the kitchen was more than half a dozen large oak and marble tables, together with an assortment of chairs, no one like the other. The roof was high and beams laden with pans and kitchen utensils criss-crossed it, the limbs of the tree weaving its way between them. Large windows let in the sunlight, which highlighted the dusty air and messy tiled floor. There was quite a commotion in the branches by one of the windows, where something that looked like a bunch of guenon monkeys with large bushy tails where fighting over some scraps while watched by a large colourful macaw. In the farthest corner, and close to a glass door that seemed to lead out to an orangery, the old man from yesterday sat reading, the only person in the huge place, so I carefully navigated through the kitchen towards this table. The tabled had been cleaned and laid out for two, a large frying pan with scrambled eggs and tomatoes seemed to have just been taken of the stove, a wonderfully smelling loaf of bread stood besides a golden round cheese and huge teapot. As I arrived he put down the book and looked up, laugh wrinkles by his eyes and looking like someone who really would enjoy some company, I could scarcely believe it was me he greeted that way. I had no idea what to say.
- "Sorry for being late, sir", the excuse felt as lame as it sounded, but he didn't seem to care
- "I trust you had the chance to sleep well", he said with a huge smile, "I trust Cheetah took well care of you".
I was dumbfounded, I didn't know what to say, but just stood there. This was not what I had expected at all.
- "Please sit down, I guess that you are really hungry, and there are a few things that needs to be done today".
I looked around the kitchen and nodded.
- "I'll start as soon as I have eaten" I replied.
He looked at me with, cocking up one eyebrow, and then fired off a great smile.
- "I guess you might need something to do while you get your bearings, it can not be easy being dragged here without warning. But for the moment relax and break your fast, so that you have energy enough for later". He said while pouring a large cup of tea to me and adding milk as I usually have it, without even asking. I helped myself to the egg and tomatoes, and cut a large slice of the bread and a nearly as large slice of the cheese.
- "Thank you sir", it tasted delicious, and I quickly finished my portion and helped myself to another.
- "A healthy appetite at least", he said with another smile.
- "Excuse me for being rude, but what might I call you sir?" I asked, "and where are all the others?". I was still convinced that there should be a whole staff in a house like this, even if the current condition of this kitchen might contradict this.
- "Aah, yes, well we are the only humans here for the moment" he said, "although a few others might show up sooner or later". "As to what to call me, people usually call me the Old Magician, other names would only confuse".
- "So you are performer, or was?" I asked. He didn't look the part, and if he was a famous artist I thought I should have known, after all, he didn't look that old.
- "No the name has nothing to do with stage illusionist or magic", he said, seeming very amused, "its just an old nickname that has stuck".
- "And this place?"
- "I guess you can say that the Abode is stuck with me in the same manner". He looked like he found this very amusing, but I didn't really understand why. "And the next question is if you are going to stick around".
I didn't really have to think on that, where was I to go otherwise, I just might stay here as long as I could, With my luck I would probably be thrown out within a week or two.
- "I'll stay, if it is al right with you sir, I will do my best". I felt like a little girl, a bit confused and very shy, not knowing what the future would have in store. Well, there were worse things than being a maid in an eccentric performers house, I just hoped that he had no more sinister motives. Perhaps the old servants had fled this house that he called "abode".
- "I took the liberty to get you some clothes", he said with a smile, handing over a large bag, "while at it, I bought three of them".
I looked in the bag and found three identical blue dresses with flower pattern and white aprons, several pairs of socks, and a pair of new shoes. I was going to look more like some forlorn Alice, than a maid, going around with these...
- "Thank you", I had a feeling that something was missing and added: "Sir". He looked up as if anticipating what would come next. "I came a bit unprepared, and s it possible to get a toothbrush and such until I have a chance to go out and buy some myself?.
- "Don't worry" he beamed, "everything is ready for you, I think you will find all hygienic articles you might need in the bathroom cupboards, you are the only one to use it in quite a while, so you can take anything that is not marked 'Ree'".
- "Is that your stuff"?
- "Heavens no, I keep my stuff in my own bathroom, it's just the things a lady friend of mine sometimes uses. If there is anything you need that is not there just tell me, or Cheetah".
- "I think I prefer to tell you then sir", I laughed a bit nervously at his joke.
- "Whichever way you prefer, but Cheetah is often faster to get things than me".
We talked a bit more while I finished my breakfast. It seemed like the small monkeys, that he referred to as squirrelcats where residents of the kitchen since a long time back, and that the great macaw kept watch over things. Somehow it didn't surprise me that the kitchen looked like it did given those circumstances.
After a last cup of tea, and probably an hour later I was in a better mode than ever, even with the prospect of being the one cleaning this kitchen later.
- "See you in my study in an hour", Old Magician said as he tucked the book under his arm and walked towards one of the doors leading into the kitchen.
- "But, I don't even know how to get back to my room!"
- "Ask Cheetah", he said disappearing through the door. I was about to run after him when I felt something nudging my thigh, and looked down to see the square head of the giant cat, if it really was a gepard it was the hugest one I ever saw. He took a corner of my bathrobe between his teeth and tugged softly, giving me no choice but to follow if I wanted to keep my bathrobe on. In the last moment I remembered the bag, and was nearly disrobed as Cheetah kept his grip, I guess it looked rather comical.
As he said I found almost everything I needed in the bathroom: new toothbrushes, toothpaste of several kinds and unknown brands, several kinds of soap and shampoo of likewise never heard of brands and just about everything one would need. There was one exception however: there was no make-up of any kind, even though the range of brushes and other utensils indicated that it was equipped for a lady. I choose a Shampoo marked "Natural Hair", hoping that it would help my straggling black coloured hair into a somewhat better shape and lustre. I filled the tub with water and washed myself with a scented soap, last night I had only soaked in the warm water too tired to actually wash, washed and rinsed my hair thoroughly. I was quite surprised when I looked in the mirror and found my hair had turned back to my natural dark-blonde. The next thing missing was any blow-dryer, as far as I could see there was no electrical appliances at all, so I ended up with a rather frizzled hairstyle.
I was not surprised to find that the clothes where of an unknown brand as well, what did surprise me was that everything fitted perfectly, even the shoes. The one thing that was missing however was any panties and I briefly wondered if he had done that on purpose. It felt silly to ask Cheetah about such a thing, whatever would he be able to do even if he would be able to understand me, and I would not humiliate myself by asking the old man about it. Strange how even a knee-length skirt can feel short when not wearing anything underneath, this did nothing to make me less nervous when starting out to find the Old Magicians study.
Luckily Cheetah appeared as I began to make my way towards the kitchen and nudged me in the other direction and up a set of stairs.
- "And don't you dare peek up my skirt until I have some panties", I said a he followed close behind while ascending the stairs. The only response was that I felt his wet nose buffing my knee from behind: so much for his understanding.
The entrance to the study was a big oak door at the end of a corridor looking like it belonged in a Gothic film-set, but by now I was not surprised, I guess the kitchen had prepared me for almost anything. Whoever designed this house must have been quite eccentric, it looked genuinely old though, so I doubted it was the old man himself, unless he was really ancient, and no, he did not look that old.
I knocked politely on the door, and was then brushed aside by Cheetah who promptly butted it open, so much for politeness, the Old Magician sat behind a huge old desk in a large circular room filled with strange things. There where old tomes resting on pedestals, heaps of notebooks and sketches, cupboards with arrays of vials and bottles, strange instruments of science and of music, both ancient and new, skulls of humans and unknown animals Even if it looked cluttered there still was an air of order about the room, everything had its place, the cupboards tidy and the surfaces between things clean, quite the opposite to the kitchen. The Old Magician looked up and waved in the general direction of the chair opposite his desk.
- "Do you know why you are here?" he said.
The question surprised me and I struggled to find an answer, suddenly recalling yesterdays events that I somehow had successfully suppressed since I woken.
- "I think those sphinxes found me by chance and brought me here" I answered meekly.
- "Nothing is by chance, but by choice. Do you remember what they said to you?".
- "Only that they had seen the possibility that I kill myself and what would happen if I did. But they convinced me not to do it, so I guess they saved me". I thought it began to make sense now; they had presented the possible outcome of my attempt on my own life and brought me here. Perhaps that was the purpose, holding on to that I continued:
- "Somehow you saw my suicide attempt and sent them, and now you offer me a place to stay and work to help me?". It sounded a bit hollow and naive somehow...
He raised an eyebrow and looked at me.
- "Do you believe that?"
I suddenly felt cold fear creeping in, if he threw me out I had no where to go at all.
- "If you need repayment, I can work for free; I'll clean the kitchen and the house, but please don't throw me out and don't harm me."
He looked on me with a curious smile, and I could begin to feel tears burning in my eyes.
- "Why would I harm you, and now that you are here you are welcome to stay as long as you need, that is the terms of the contract". He made a short pause, then continued:
- "How often have you ever met with sphinxes?"
- "Never, I didn't know they even existed", come to think of it, they shouldn't exist, but I didn't say that out loud, I had even felt them, or their wings, but maybe I really had gone mental...
- "Sphinxes never lie, so if they said you died, then you have died, in all realities but one. The strength lies therein that there exists a reality where you should have died, but did not. You are a being true in one, and one only of all universes, that makes you special"...
My thoughts raced again, I had always been told that every individual was special, but what this man told me was a slightly different version: I was special because I was the last of me?
He looked on me and shook his head. I suddenly realised that I must look like a fish on land, mouth open and eyes starring, and made an effort to steady myself and look less stupid, even if I felt that way.
- "Let's leave that for now, I guess that the metaphysics of it might be a thing to come later. Lets go through some details and rules, and please sign here, to verify that you accept to stay here of your own free will. You are free to use any name you want to be called here, but remember that it will be your official name from now on."
He shoved a parchment with arcane writing in front of me together with a pen. Somehow I doubted that such a document would hold in any court and signed it without even looking through the text, slightly perplexed by the title stating something like "Acceptance of Apprenticeship", and the strangely familiar insignia at the bottom from the "Council of Mages". For a moment I was sure that I was caught up in some strange live role playing game, but if that was the case what to do but play along. I signed it with my nickname Tomomi (ともみ) in hiragana, a strange tingling feeling crept up my arm as the signature was finished, almost like some weak electrical current
- "Great, now you can feel at home, while you are here you are protected by this agreement!", he beamed towards me. "Since you are so prone on cleaning, you can start your apprenticeship with that duty, I have heard of several others who use their apprentices as labour before, so I guess that wont harm, and it is a great way to get and know the Abode, or at least part of it".
I only sat there nodding my head, so I was accepted as maid, or whatever, then. Somehow it did not feel that bad, more like something out of a novel or manga, I only hoped that there was a happy ending somewhere ahead.
- "Now I have a few rules you need to follow for the time being", he said as e rolled up the parchment.
- "You are not to go outside of the Abode until I give leave, not in any circumstance, if you need something, ask Cheetah or me.", his voice was sober and sharp.
- "Be careful with things you don't recognise or know about, most things are harmless, but you never know. You are free to move, but remember that a locked door is usually locked for a reason".
He turned around and took out a large leather-bound tome that looked very fresh and new, then turned to me again.
- "I have one big favour to ask of you as well" he said handing over the large book, "you are to keep a diary, as detailed as you possibly can manage".
I took the large book in my hands and turned it over; it was locked by a large clasp that didn't even budge as I tried to open it.
- "You need to initiate it first, just press your index finger against the onyx on the clasp".
I did as he said and jerked my finger back as it was pricked by something sharp. The stone was smooth as before, but there was a small drop of blood on my finger.
- "Don't worry that is just the first time, now it is imprinted and only you can open it".
I didn't know what to say, so I sucked my finger and then said a shy "Thank you, I will do my best".
- "I guess you must be a bit confused and want some time for yourself, I'll bring some dinner by evening in the kitchen, and expect that breakfast will be ready when I come down tomorrow. Cheetah will show you the way back."
Thus dismissed I took my diary and went back to my room, gently nudged the right way by Cheetah. To my surprise I found a large pot of hot tea and a platter with biscuits on my writing desk, I decided not even to think about where it came from. I sat down, poured a cup of tea and opened the diary. The pages of the book was of a heavy paper that both felt and looked exclusive and possibly handmade, funnily enough they seemed much thinner as I leafed through the empty pages. A red and gold pen was fastened to the binding, protected by the clasp. I flipped back to the first page and took the pen to start writing, when I suddenly felt Cheetah's nose buffing my thigh. I turned my head and saw that he had a small package in his jaws which he dropped in my lap and then disappeared through the door. It was a neat package carefully wrapped in rice paper, slightly indented by Cheetah's teeth, but otherwise unharmed. I carefully opened it and found a half dozen white cotton panties with small blue rosettes, perhaps not what I would have chosen, but definitely better than nothing. Perhaps there was more to Cheetah than I had expected, and I still wonder how he knew my size so well...
I never did write down much more about the first day in the diary, but remember that I began the Herculean task of cleaning the kitchen. That the Old Magician helped to prepare a simple dinner, where I most of the time tracked Cheetah getting ingredients from various supply chambers. I was completely exhausted when I returned to my room that evening, but I still started writing down what had happened, as best I could. I think I must have fallen asleep over the book when I had written the last passage recorded, at least I don't remember how I got to bed, even if I woke up on in it early the next morning...