"Figures," Lily sighed to herself, tears of frustration rolling down her cheeks. Was there anything that could make this day any worse? Defeated, Lily turned around to head back into the dark night.
Suddenly, she heard a soft creak from behind her. Looking back, she saw the heavy oak door had opened a few inches. Too tired to be scared, Lily stuck her head in the door.
"Hello? Anyone there?" she asked waveringly, her voice slightly echoing in the seemingly empty hall. Although it was dark, her eyes caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a faint light which outlined a shadow at the end of the entryway. "Hello? Please, can you help me?" Lily called, pushing her way into the mansion. She had only taken a few steps when she heard the soft creak again and then a thud. The door had closed behind her. Fighting the temptation to turn around and fling open the door in panic, Lily instead focused on the dim glow. Walking forward, she mumbled softly, "My life sucks."
Almost as if in response to her words, the shadow began to move, and seemed to take on a humanoid shape. In fact, if Lily squinted, she almost throught she could make out a male figure wearing a tailored suit. However, it was fuzzy in the sparse light, and his face was wreathed in dark shadow.
"Ah, my dear, you seem to be in some distress, why don't you come in," a unctuously pleasant male voice sounded from the shadow, and seemed to bow in her direction. Glad she seemed to have found someone, Lily trotted forward.
"I'm sorry for barging in, but I was hoping you could give me some directions?" Lily asked, following the man deeper into the mansion. Although the lighting was dim, she could make out the outlines of the floor and walls. She could not really make out any details about the man, however. His voice had failed to give any real indication of his age, although it did not sound childish or elderly. He gave the impression of being well-mannered, at least in his speech and walk.
"Now now, before that, why don't you sit down and collect yourself. You seem to have had quite an evening," the man said softly as he entered a sitting room, slightly better lit than the corridor, but still dark enough that Lily could not make out the man's face. "Why not tell me what is troubling you? Sometimes it helps to have a stranger listen to your problems." Normally, Lily would be creeped out by some stranger prying into her business, but today had just been too much. And besides, the man seemed kind and concerned. Not to mention, Lily felt like she was ready to boil over. It would do good to vent, even if it was to someone who would have no idea what she was talking about. Therefore, Lily went ahead and recounted the trying day she had had, capped off by the betrayal from the two people she thought she could trust most in the world.
"I hate my life," Lily sobbed, finally breaking down entirely. The man stepped over and handed her a hankerchief in his white-gloved hand. Taking it, Lily covered her face, her tears coming freely. "Sorry, just tell me how to get to my dorm and I'll get out of your hair."
"Only a cad would make a young woman cry," the man said placatingly, "And only a vermin would turn out a lady in distress. Please, have some tea and be at ease." Unbeknownst to Lily, a tea tray with a piping hot kettle and two teacups had appeared behind the man. The man smoothly poured some tea into the cups, then picking up what Lily thought was a small pitcher of cream, poured a slight bit of the substance into one cup, then extended that cup to her. Lily hesitated a moment at taking a drink from a strange man, but at this point she figured she had nothing left to lose. Finally taking the cup and saucer, Lily sniffed the aroma of the herbal tea, then took a sip. It seemed soothing, so she gradually drank a bit more. The man, sitting in the shadows, held his own teacup, but did not take a sip, but simply watched her. Lily finished her cup, feeling much calmer, and placed the cup and saucer on the table, then sat back. As she did so, the man spoke.
"So you do not find joy in your life, young lady? Tell me, whose life would you rather have?" Lily felt a bit drowsy from the exhausting day and the lovely warm drink, but still answered.
"Anyone's life but mine," Lily said, frowning. "Anything has got to be better than this," Lily mumbled, then finally fell asleep on the chair. Watching her from the shadows, the man smiled.
"Is that so?" he whispered.
Lily scrunched up her eyes at the morning light, squinting around her. She remembered leaving the party, but what happened after was fuzzy. She got lost, knocked on someone's door, then...
Suddenly remembering the prior evening, Lily sat up.