Page 54 of The Masked Baron
The Whites’ place had been a safe house to him on several occasions over the years. This room was rarely used. It was on the bottom level, and the window made for an easy entrance and exit when he needed it. As much as he despised his mask, he hated the constant sneaking around even more. He’d spent his adult life playing spy, and he desired nothing better than to settle with a wife and children like the rest of the male population his age.
Ellis kicked off his boots and threw his dress coat onto the chair by his bed. Then he untied the mask from his face and flung it onto the pillow opposite him. He fell into his bed, fully clothed. The one luxury of not having a wife or a mother was there was no one to nag him about whether or not he was ruining his clothes. He massaged his eyes and tried to relax. Thankfully, thoughts of bitterness did not keep him from falling asleep. He slept for maybe a half hour when he woke up coughing. His throat was dry, and his eyes burned. A light flickered in the corner of his room. Ellis leapt from his bed. Through the smoke he could see the outer wall of his room was on fire!
Chapter 19
Annie!Ellis had to getto her. Her room was right above his, an accommodation he had insisted upon. He didn’t trust anyone anymore, and he had a feeling tonight was going to feed those misgivings even more.
He ripped the bolt from its slot and threw the door open hard enough to knock it off one of its hinges. At the top of his lungs he yelled, “FIRE!” and then pounded on each door he passed.
As he ran down the long corridor, he counted in his mind. It was a tactic for coping he had learned long ago. He still had time, and there wasn’t reason to panic yet. The staircase seemed longer than usual, and the run back down the passage took more precious seconds than he had to spare.
He reached for Annie’s bedroom door and threw it open. It was unlocked. He would have to kiss her later for her foolishness.
“Annie!” he yelled. He could see flames through her window, but her wall was still intact. He had no idea if the floor would hold long or if his room had been swallowed up in the fire yet.
Annie stirred, but she was still asleep when he reached her. “Annie! Wake up!” He shook her as gently as he could under the circumstances.
Annie’s eyelids fluttered open, but she didn’t really see him.
“Oh, it’s you.” She smiled and then closed her eyes again.
Ellis groaned and scooped her into his arms along with the blanket she was wrapped in. It was a blessing they both had not been sleeping as deeply as she was now. He kicked her door open wider and raced back down the corridor and stairs. He threw open the front door and did not stop running until he was a hundred feet from the house.
The jostling had awakened Annie. Panting hard, he set her down on a large rock so he could catch his breath. He collapsed on the dew-glossed grass next to her and wiped the sweat from his brow. He watched his friends’ house as the side of it was quickly encased with flames. The servants were across the lawn trying to douse the building with puny buckets of water, but there was nothing to be done now unless the heavens decided to open up and rain. He was about to run to their aid when he felt Annie’s eyes on him. She’d had quite a night.
He reached over and squeezed her hand. Her small fingers always felt so comfortable in his. She was in her nightdress, with her silly necklace ever present around her neck, but at least the blanket from her bed would keep her from catching cold.
“The Whites will feel it keenly when they see their beloved home for generations gone overnight.”
Annie didn’t comment. She was staring at him in a strange way.
“Are you well?” Ellis asked. An intense desire to see Annie’s smile overcame him. Her happiness was beginning to be his first priority. He couldn’t bear to see her upset again.
“Ellis?” she asked, her voice betraying how dazed and confused she was.
Ellis frowned, still short of breath. “You aren’t still asleep, are you? I’ve heard of sleepwalkers, but I’ve never seen one who looked as awake as you do now.”
Annie did not answer. Instead she reached her hand out toward him. He got on his knees to steady her in case she suddenly fell back asleep. He wasn’t experienced in the ways of sleepwalking, and the last thing he needed tonight was for her to fall off the rock and get hurt.
“It is you!” she exclaimed. Her hand finally reached Ellis’s face. She stroked the skin around his right eye and down his cheek, and realization hit him with a sickening thud. He’d taken his mask off before he had fallen asleep. It was probably being burnt to a crisp at that very moment.
“Yes,” Ellis answered airily. “You have found me out.”
Annie shook her head, her face so full of shock her skin matched the color of her nightdress. “But it cannot be.”
Ellis had wanted her to know, but this wasn’t the way, nor the time. He had wanted to explain first. “I hope that wild imagination of yours isn’t too disappointed. You’ll have nothing to be curious about now.”
Ellis’s attempt at humor fell flat. It was as if Annie had not heard him at all.
“Your skin... it’s... it’s...”
“It’s not as horrific as you had hoped,” Ellis finished for her. She had seemed to have a great love for the distasteful rumors about him. But, honestly, he was pleased she finally knew. He felt freed in a way he hadn’t for the longest time. Now he might have a chance against Kerrigan.
Annie shook her head. She dropped her hand from his face to wipe a tear that had escaped down her cheek. “I’m not disappointed. Relieved, really. Though, I think I could summon up some anger if I thought on it a bit. Right now, though, I am just so very happy for you.”
Ellis’s own eyes filled with moisture. He had once thought his heart dead, but now, seeing Annie this way made it felt very much alive. “I’m glad. Glad you aren’t yelling... yet. And glad you’re safe.”
“But why? Why would you wear a mask when there isn’t anything to hide?”
