|
|
Post by Cleo Frost on Jul 20, 2008 18:20:15 GMT -5
Cleo stepped into the shop and smiled at the man behind the counter. Her transformation had taken moments and she was now a respectable young lady. Her rose coloured dress gracefully followed her curves, her curls were perfect and her make up fresh and youthful. "I'm here to see Herr Snow" she said softly. On the outside she appeared calm, but within her heart was rattling in her chest at just what she was going to try and pull off. She waited patiently, focusing on her task ahead.
|
|
|
|
Post by Artemisios Snow on Jul 20, 2008 18:33:07 GMT -5
The man behind the counter nodded, recognizing her immediately, and headed to the back of the shop, returning a brief moment later to show her into Herr Snow's office. Herr Snow himself was already standing when the door opened. His dark eyes were stormy, but set with grim determination that had nothing to do with the girl. His gaze took her in, much like the last time she had come, and the grimness faded as his mind shifted from the unpleasantness of the morning.
"You are late," he told the girl. "I have discovered all I wished to know, and the matter has been dealt with." He did not dismiss her just yet, however. She might still prove useful in the coming days, as he brought his wayward daughter to heel.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cleo Frost on Jul 20, 2008 18:38:09 GMT -5
Cleo showed him the proper respect, even making herself bob a slight cursty to him. She rose but kept her eyes lowered, risking a glance at him from between her lashses. "Sir the matter was not in my control. You daughter proved elusive at first, and then I had to gain her trust. I came as soon as I could" she said. Her voice filled the quiet room, although it was soft and lilting. She remained where she was, not having been invited to sit. Cleo knew her place, although she did not like it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Artemisios Snow on Jul 20, 2008 18:46:43 GMT -5
Artemisios watched the girl, all quiet deference, and approved. She had been no less proper last time, if dressed in a more contemporary fashion than he preferred. However, she had been on her own that day, and today, when she had sought his company, she had dressed for the occasion. "Please, sit, Miss Frost," he said at last, gesturing to one of the chairs facing one another at an angle toward the desk.
"Tell me, schönes, when was it that you last saw my daughter?" The timing was such that she might have come from the school soon after his coorespondence with Adara. Artemisios trusted his hunches, as they were most often correct.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cleo Frost on Jul 20, 2008 18:52:51 GMT -5
Cleo took a seat as guided, waiting demurely for the questions she knew would come. "But half an hour ago Sir" she replied, careful to keep her voice even and calm. She played the part well and he could not suspect her true feelings. She had spent her life hiding herself, Herr Snow would not believe he saw anything but a proper young lady. Her gaze flickered up to him again, to look him in the eye would be a direct challenge, but she needed to read his expression.
|
|
|
|
Post by Artemisios Snow on Jul 20, 2008 19:00:17 GMT -5
Artemisios was watching Cleo as he rounded the desk, moving to take the seat across from the one she sat in. He made himself comfortable in the chair, letting silence stretch a moment before he responded. "Then you were with my daughter when the owls arrived," he observed. And she had only just missed seeing Sota escorted out the back door. "Tell me everything," he prompted, the words gently spoken, but edged in determination.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cleo Frost on Jul 20, 2008 19:07:25 GMT -5
"I happened upon her in the grounds and started talking to her." Cleo started, crossing her legs over as she leaned back into the chair. "I slowly gained her trust, she was quite wary at first but she soon warmed to me. I brought the conversation round to Emilian and she confessed her relationship with him. Before we could go further your owls arrived. I comforted her, acting like a sympathetic friend." Cleo paused for a moment to draw breath and steel her nerves. "After she sent her last owl she went off in search of someone, and I came here" Cleo finished. So she left out her return to the castle to make herself presentable but that was not important. She rose her head a fraction so she could watch his reaction to her account.
|
|
|
|
Post by Artemisios Snow on Jul 20, 2008 19:13:31 GMT -5
Artemisios watched Cleo dispassionately, the way one might view a painting, judging for himself the truthfulness behind her words. He knew his daughter, and how easily she attracted people to herself, and so he was justifiably wary. But he could find no fault in anything that the girl had said, and that piece of information which she had offered, whether inadvertently or not, was enough that he let his wariness fade. "Who did my daughter seek out?" he asked, mentally reviewing the list she had given him of her friends and acquaintances.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cleo Frost on Jul 20, 2008 19:19:23 GMT -5
Cleo though whether to pretend she didn't know or not. "A boy named Michael, I have met him briefly and she said they were good friends" she said carefully, neglecting to mention his link with Emilian, for all she knew, Herr Snow could already be aware of it. "I have gained her trust, Herr Snow, and she will confide in me and seek guidance from me" she said, prehaps a little too boldly. She bit her lip for a moment, pearly teeth scraping against her rosy lips.
|
|
|
|
Post by Artemisios Snow on Jul 20, 2008 19:32:00 GMT -5
She said they were good friends. She had said the same of Emilian Sota. Artemisios dismissed the thought that there might be more than that; his daughter had only asked that he meet Sota. Any further thoughts about Michael were ended by Cleo's sudden declaration. His dark gaze focused sharply on her, then softened at the insecurity apparent in the motion of her teeth against her lip.
"Yes," he said, his mind connecting thoughts and ideas, "you would do well to guide my daughter, a rare priviledge, schönes. She will be distraught when she learns of the fire in Hogsmeade." Artemisios slipped his hand into the inner pocket of his robes and drew out the remnants of Emilian Sota's wand. "Give this to her," he said, extending the charred pieces, "with my sincerest condolences."
|
|
|
|
Post by Cleo Frost on Jul 20, 2008 19:34:19 GMT -5
Cleo reached out to take the pieces, her fingers brushing against his. On the outside she was still composed but within her mind was racing. She forgot decorum as she looked up, gazing at him with her chocolate eyes. "Fire?" she questioned, placing the pieces in her lap.
|
|
|
|
Post by Artemisios Snow on Jul 20, 2008 19:50:17 GMT -5
Artemisios gave no sign of emotion as he answered Cleo's softly spoken question. "Sadly, there was a fire in Hogsmeade," or at least there would be by now, and likely throughout the night. "This is all that remains of Mr. Sota, which is fit for delicate eyes." That, by this time of day, was most certainly true. "For your own safety, Miss Frost, I would recommend staying clear of Hogsmeade for the remainder of the evening. I would not wish your...delicate person to experience the shock which that might cause." His heavy-lidded eyes shone less with concern than with warning, cushioned as it was with appreciation for her delicate person. She was, after all, under his protection.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cleo Frost on Jul 20, 2008 20:04:29 GMT -5
Cleo nodded numbly. Her shock was apparrent although it was due to the horror of what it meant for Adara, not at the repulsion of such a terrible act. "That is very said indeed" Cleo said, not sure what else to say. She looked down at the wand pieces in her lap, grieving. "I will inform your daughter in a way which does not link myself to you if that is acceptable. I am afraid she would not be so trusting if she knew I was in contact with you" Cleo said, hoping Herr Snow would agree. "I will be there for your daughter in her grief and guide her on the proper path." she added softly, watching him through her lashes.
|
|
|
|
Post by Artemisios Snow on Jul 20, 2008 20:15:18 GMT -5
The reminder that his daughter would be less inclined to trust because of him was a barbed one, and yet Artemisios knew the truth of it, so he excused the girl having pointed it out. He could see the grief in her eyes, and leaned toward her, one large hand taking one of her smaller ones in a gesture of condolence. "Your efforts are well appreciated, Miss Frost," he said, his voice low as he watched her. "If you need anything of me, you have only to ask."
|
|
|
|
Post by Cleo Frost on Jul 20, 2008 20:34:35 GMT -5
Cleo looked down at their hands, her own delicate on in his larger. She looked up at him, her expression unreadable although her tone remained polite and respectful. "Thank you Sir, you are too kind" she said softly, at a loss as to what else could be said. She wasn't relishing the task of telling Adara that Emilian was dead, but it was better coming from her than from someone else. "I will be sure to head your warning and stay away from Hogsmeade" she added, acting meek and thankful for his warning. "I know you have my welfare at heart" she finished.
|
|
