Original Story - Locked Behind Glass

(Image by Seidenperle on Pixabay)

The crease lines on Judith’s brow deepened as another knock sounded on the door, but she continued to ignore it. The third knock caused her to growl before answering, her tone sharp. “Yes?”

Her housekeeper peered around the door. “Begging your pardon, Miss. You have a visitor. It’s your sister, Miss Edith.

A sigh escaped Judith as her shoulders slumped. “Thank you, Colton. Show her in.” Her gaze quickly swept over her desk, making sure nothing lurked among the different bottles, instruments and magnifier that would arouse her sister’s curiosity.

“Judith, darling, why do you always make me wait?” Edith swept into the room, her dark blonde hair piled on her head in the latest fashion, the long skirt of her fitted powder blue gown trailing behind her.

Judith straightened on her stool and turned her face as her sister leaned in for a kiss. “You know why.”

Edith flicked her gloved hand at the long wooden table. “Yes, yes. Your precious examinations. Though what harm you think I could possibly do–”

“With your unbridled curiosity, what harm indeed?” Judith’s raised brows and widening grin countered Edith’s petulant expression, which turned into a cheeky smile. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your delightful company?”

Edith walked past Judith, her fingers brushing the spines of the leather-bound books in the bookcase. “Does there need to be a reason?”

Her younger sister’s seemingly blithe tone didn’t fool Judith. Edith’s distracted demeanour, her failure to meet Judith’s gaze hinted at an underlying despondency. She watched Edith walk around her study and noted her downturned expression. “What’s wrong?”

Startled, Edith turned, her eyes wide. “Why-what makes you think there’s anything wrong?” The smile pasted on her face was almost painful in its falseness.

“Edith. You know you can’t fool me.”

She held Judith’s gaze a moment longer before she slouched as if her body could no longer support itself. Bowing her head, she said, “I’m getting old.”

“What?” Judith couldn’t help herself. “You’ve barely turned twenty-three. And if you’re old, what does that make me? Wait. Has something happened with Walter?”

“I-I, I caught him looking at another woman. A much younger woman.”

Judith paused in case the impatience she felt sounded in her reply. “Men will look at women just as women look at men. Don’t argue, you know it’s true. Hand on heart, tell me you have never looked at another man since Walter began courting you.”

Edith slowly closed her mouth, her obvious attempt at an argument silenced. After a moment’s silence, she said, “You didn’t see her. She was very beautiful.”

“As are you, my dear sister.” Judith had moved to stand before Edith. “And whoever Walter may look at, he remains committed to the day you will both be husband and wife. Is that not so?”

Slowly, Edith nodded and returned Judith’s embrace.

“There’s my girl.” Kissing her sister on the forehead, Judith said, “Will you stay for lunch? I’ll tell Colton to prepare chicken.”

“Oh, yes please.”

Once she’d given her instructions to the housekeeper, Judith returned to her seat and pulled the magnifier closer.

Edith continued to walk around the study. “That’s a pretty bottle.”

“Which one?” Judith didn’t look up as she wrote in her notebook.

“The one with the sparkling green liquid.”

Judith glanced at Edith, stood in front of the glass-fronted cabinet. “That was payment for a task I’d completed.”

Edith gasped. “Judith. The liquid, it’s swirling. The bottle is still but the liquid inside is moving. How is that possible? What is it?”

“I don’t know.”

Edith straightened and stared at Judith. “You still took it? That’s unlike you.”

“I only did to be rid of him. There was something about him.” She paused then shuddered. “He made my skin crawl.”

“You didn’t ask him about it?”

Judith shook her head, swivelling on her seat to face Edith. “I wasn’t interested but he still told me. It can supposedly turn anyone into. How did he put it? An exquisite creature,” she finished, chuckling.

Blinking rapidly, Edith said, “Why haven’t you taken it?”

“I haven’t been able to work out its properties.”

“Let me have it,” said Edith breathlessly, her eyes overbright.

About to turn back to her work, Judith frowned. “No.”

“Why not?”

“I just said, I can’t work out its exact properties.”

Edith scowled and pulled at the handle. “It’s locked.”

“For good reason.” She deliberately raised her brows at her sister. “It’s only there, behind glass, because it’s pretty to look at but I insist on keeping it locked away.” Judith returned to her work. “I’m sure I don’t need to remind you again about meddling with things we know nothing about.”

“But when I do, you always put it right, sister dear.”

“So far, yes.”

“I have complete faith in your skills.” Edith, now standing behind Judith, kissed the back of her head.

“I thank you for your belief in me, but I’d rather you not test me as you did when we were younger.”

Laughing, Edith said, “Would you mind if I stayed the night? Walter is away until the day after tomorrow, which means I will be on my own until he returns.”

“Dramatic child. How is it possible to be on your own in the same house with our doting parents?”

“Oh, Judith. I love Mama and Papa, but you and I barely spend time together. You’re always so busy with these studies, and–”

“Edith, I would be happy for you to stay with me tonight.” Judith had to laugh as Edith hugged her and showered her with kisses.

Judith prised her eyes open, expecting to see Edith, and came fully awake when she realised it was Colton leaning over her.

In her dressing gown and sleep cap, the housekeeper’s wide eyes reflected the light from the lamp in her trembling grasp.

“Colton?” Judith propped herself up on her elbows. “What time is it?”

“Early, Miss, still early. You must come–”

“What’s wrong? Has something happened?” She pushed the bedclothes off, and grabbed her dressing gown, jamming her arms into the sleeves.

“Noises downstairs, strange noises. Clara woke me,” she said, referring to one of the younger servants. “She’s scared, Miss, we all are. Fred’s ready to look, but I told him to wait.”

Hurrying past the knot of servants huddled on the stairs, Judith ran to the study ahead of Fred. She could see light coming through the slightly open door. Ignoring Fred’s plea for her to wait, she pushed the door open, heedless of any possible danger, and came to an abrupt stop. Behind her, Fred exclaimed.

A strikingly coloured, magnificent yet delicate bird, the like of which she’d never seen before, hurtled around the room, crashing into bookcases before falling onto the table.

Even as Judith wondered where it had come from, her widened gaze lit on the broken glass of the cabinet, the bottle lying on the floor, a woman’s nightgown.

The bird cried out, its melodious voice tinged with bewilderment.

Slowly, Judith approached it. “Edith?” she whispered.

Reaching up, the bird rubbed its head against hers, and placed its wings awkwardly around her.

“No.” Judith shook her head, not wanting to acknowledge what she knew in her heart to be true. “No, it can’t be. You can’t be–”

The bird repeatedly called, bobbing its head up and down, as if nodding then rested its head on Judith’s shoulder, making a piteous sound.

“Oh, Edith, Edith. I told you. I said you can’t have it. And now. I can’t, I can’t put this right. I don’t know how,” said Judith as she held the bird close, her sobs mingling with the plaintive wailing of the bird that, only yesterday, had been her sister.