Words which feed imagination [Evie]

[Evelyn Skye Kage]

Outside the large oak framed window, the wind whistled through the trees blowing greenery to and fro. It was surprisingly cold for summer but Evelyn liked that.She felt at ease with the wind and rain as if underneath all of the chaos and anger there was something peaceful and residing. She strolled gently along the oak floors her arms and fingers outstretched, almost touching the walls. Her head tilted backwards causing her long blonde locks to sway across her back. She stood upright, her petite frame shadowed by the windows and portraits which lined the corridors of her Great-Aunt's stately home. They lived like royalty. Evelyn's bedroom held a large 4 poster bed which was covered in sheets, duvets, throws, cushions and pillows. Either side stood majestic bedsteads, on top of which sat - most of the time - her ipod and mobile. The two most prized possessions which she owned. Surveying the room was a chore in itself. Several doors led off into different areas of the house, including a hidden passage which branched down wards into a private room, only accessible to Evie. Here was her stadium, her arena, the only place she could be total alone; undisturbed in her practice of those arts which she had learnt from such a young age, and perfected in her most recent years. The rest of her bedroom was exactly as you would expect it to be in a mansion such as this. An oak dresser took pride of place opposite her bed, and the large windows opened up onto a ivy covered balcony on which Evie had spent almost every morning that summer.

The rest of the house was no exception. It was like something out of a Jane Austin novel. The dining room housed a table which could seat up to 100 guests, not that it was a frequent occurrence; and the choice of 5 living and sitting rooms was vast, each just as unique as the next. No matter where Evie went within the mansion, there always seemed to be people. The west wing, the east wing, the kitchens, the living rooms. She could never just be along. Even now, as she walked along the hallways which weaved in and out of the house, she could count at least 4 servants whisking in and out of doors, polishing the gold doorknobs and washing the windows. There was only one place the servants never went. Evie's solitude. Yes, her practice room was private, but now and again a servant was known to end up down there for one reason or other. But the library. Only Evie and her Great-Aunt dared to venture in. The task was too big for the servants to even consider and Evie liked that. The fact that the many thousands of books intimidated them gave her some kind of strength. As if she was not to be defeated.

Approaching the doors always caused her to skip lightly. She grasped the freshly polished doorknobs firmly and twisted in opposite directions. The doors flew open, causing a cascade of light to form on the floor, like a puddle of sunlight. The library was the central most point of the mansion and therefore had no windows. Instead the light came from lamps which adorned the many banisters and bookshelves. Evie stepped into the room and closed the doors behind her, her back pressed against them as she sighed. She reached her left hand out for the wall, found the switch and no sooner had she touched it the room was flooded with light. It made her grin every time. The sheer awe of the bookcases. The many ladders and balconies which surrounded the room, enabling her to reach every book in the room. This was hers, all hers and she loved it. The room was circular and the central point was a round desk, large enough to accommodate 10 people. At each seat a large arm chair stood upright and to attention, prepared for Evie to sit and relax. Each chair was covered in a different covered leather, all slightly faded and worn. Evie never sat in the same chair twice. She found it monotonous to stay in the same place every time. Change was so much more interesting, more fun. She strode forward, humming a tune softly which echoed around the room. She walked straight past the desk, running her fingertips along the tops of 3 or 4 chairs, instead heading for the far shelves. As she reached them she grabbed the banister to one of the spiral staircases, spinning delightfully upwards, higher and higher, until she had reached the very top of the room. She could almost touch the cieling, the many angels which lived upon it smiling down to her, reached out. She greeted them like she always did set about the books. Her beloved books. Each bound with their own destinctive leather cover, the names swirling down the spines in gold lettering. Nothing about this room was meek, everything was extravagant.

She walked along the balcony, pulling book after book from the shelves. There were think books, thin books, blue and green books. But what they all had in common was the author. William Shakespeare trailed along each and every front cover in Evie's arms, all in the identical gold lettering which distinguished these books from any other.After picking out a meer 1/3 of his works, Evie decended the staircase and laid the books around the desk. Each was open at a specific page, in a specific act and at a specific point. She dashed about the desk, added posts here and there where they were needed. To an observer she would appear crazy, however, Evie's work was ordered and deliberate. She was looking for exact phrases which summed up Shakespeares times and writings, exact phrases which she could use and quote for further reference. She was so busy bustling about amoiung the many chairs and books that Evie didn't even notice the gentleman who was stood in the open doors observing her. He didn't move and didn't say a word, just stood impermiable and immoveable in the doorways.

Evie paused. There was a draft coming into the room which was rustling her pages. It frustrated her when the servants tried to enter, and realising she was already here, would leave forgetting to shut the door behind them. She sighed heavily a look of anger growing on her face and turned deliberately towards the doors. She opened her mouth in preperation to yell at one of the many maids, but was confused when faced with a middle aged man. There was nothing unusual about him, except the fact he was standing in the doorway of her library. He looked like a school teacher, perhaps like her geography teacher from high school. He was dressed in what appeared to be tweed and chord, something which Evie despised. However, she found herself intrigued by his presence. She hid the confusion from her face "Are you lost?" She was concerned that he would enter her library, enter her area and enquire about her books. "Perhaps you were looking for my Great-Aunt?"

[/b]She asked politely yet slightly pushy, desparate for this strange man to leave. "I can get one of the maids to call her if you'd like..."

Evie had raised her arm out in a gesturing motion however no sooner had she taken a step towards the man had he raised his hand. "No need my dear, it is after all, you whom I search for." Evie's arm dropped to her side as she awaited more of what this gentleman was about to discuss. It confused her as nobody ever came to the house for her, possibly as she had previously boarded at a school in London. It had only been recently that Evie had returned home to her Great-Aunt. Even since then, nobody had called for her. This man intrigued her and as began to speak she sat patiently in a bluey-green arm chair nearest the doors. He introduced himself as Benjamin Curtis, a name Evie had never heard of before and as he continued she could understand why. Apparently, he was a senior tutor at a school called the Deveraux Academy, a place where students were taught the art of secret agents. As she listened to the many subject choices and opportunities which this school proposed, Evie couldn't help but feel that this sounded like a fiction novel, one which couldn't possibly be true. She was about to tell Benjamin this when he interrupted her.

"I know what your thinking. This isn't try. It's a wind up. It's a fairystory. It's not I can assure you. Incase you don't believe me, here is a letter explaining everything. If you wish to attend you must confirm your place within the next 48 hours." He produced a brown envelope which had a suit of arms marked on the front. He placed it in her hands, looked at her for just a moment and then turned and left exactly as he had arrived; swiftly and silently. Evie was left sitting alone in her library like so many other days. Unlike the maids, Benjamin Curtis had closed the doors behind him, however Evie couldn't seem to take her eyes off of the doors. Finally she gave in and turned to the desk. The letter was still in her hands. She looked at the front of it, then turned it in her hands and inspected the back. She placed it on the desk, straightening up slightly, left then right. "Bugger it" She said sweeping up the letter and ripping it open. There were a number of pages enclosed and as Evie scanned through them she realised with astonishment that he had been telling her the complete and utter truth. She sunk back into her seat, shock covering her face. What was she to do? Should she go? She scoured the letter for an address. According to this the university wasn't that far away. So many things were running through her head and yet the prodominant thought was excitement. A New adventure on which to embark.

She sprang up from her chair, letter in hand and sprinted out of the library, her books which she loved so tenderly left helplessly on their own. Evie ran through the corridors, zig-zagging left and right, right and left until she reached a small door. She stopped in place just inches from the door itself and straightened herself up. As she looked down at her appearence she began to panic. Her jeans were covered in dust and her t-shirt in paint. Nevermind. It was too late now. She knocked on the door and waited patiently. A commanding voice called "Come" and Evie obeyed. Sat infront of a roaring fire -goodness knows why in the middle of summer - with her back to the door, sat Evie knew, her Great Aunt. "Well girl what do you want." Her british accent was still impecible despite living in the USA for 40 years. "I need to make a phonecall Auntie." Her Great-Aunt's face peered around the corner a look of confusion and curiousity upon it. "What on earth for?" A Grin crossed Evie's face and she lept across the room and into a complete recall of events, leaving her Great-Aunt at her mercy.[/blockquote]