The House of Ragan

THE ROOM WAS warm, except for the single stream of cool breeze that streamed in through the opened crack of the window. The bed's sheer canopy was drawn down to provide privacy to the one that slept on the bed, covering them for the eyes of anyone that might pry. However, it was needless for there was no one in the luxurious room other than Alice herself.

When she awoke, she found herself neatly tucked under silk sheets, her t-shirt and shorts long gone and replaced by a pale periwinkle dress that grazed her ankles. It was sleepwear, for certain, for it was far too thin and wispy to be something that could be worn outdoors.

Sliding off the bed, Alice took the time to examine the room in awe. It was most certainly different from her own bedroom. For one thing, the current room she was in was three times as big as her bedroom back at home. This bedroom had a queen size bed with draping mauve canopies and white sheets. On both of its sides were two side tables, one held an hourglass while the other held a vase of fresh flowers. To the bed's right was a floor-to-ceiling window that led to a balcony.

The bedroom was divided into two by a large archway. On the other side of the room was a sitting area. Two couches and two armchairs surrounded a short deep brown rectangular table. In the center was yet another vase of flowers, the stalks much longer and brighter than the ones on the bedside table. There was also a study table on the other side of the room, along with a matching window that could also be opened. The floors were lined with wine red carpets, the walls an off-white cream color with beige designs.

Alice couldn't remember much of what happened prior to waking up, only that she had just gotten back from a camping trip gone wrong and then went to bed almost immediately after she cleaned up. At the back of her mind, she sort of recalled images of a thriving, lush forest. There was also a boy with vivid purple hair and a man whose eyes were different colors from each other.

There was a shawl folded nearly on the couch and Alice bent to pick it up, toying with the material with one hand while placing the other on the backrest of the couch. She ran her fingers across the smooth velvet with curiosity. A thousand questions burst forth in her mind.

Where was she? How did she get here? What happened?

To her left came a soft click. She turned her head just in time to see the door pushed open and in stepped a young man. Although he indeed looked young, his appearance made Alice do a double-take. His hair was a pure white from root to tip, fine and powdery like freshly fallen snow in winter. He wore a light blue long-sleeved buttoned shirt, the sleeve buttons silver in color. The look was finished off with white trousers and light brown oxfords. He looked dapper and charming but also very out of place.

Behind him was a young woman dressed in a stereotypical french maid attire. Her hair was pulled back from her face and into a bun. She held a tray in her hands, carrying a teapot, a teacup, a pitcher of what Alice assumed to be milk, and a matching porcelain container most likely filled with sugar.

"... and ensure that Charlie's study is also served tea and snacks. He tends to get a little jittery without his sugar fix," the young man relayed to the woman, not yet noticing that Alice was standing there watching them the entire time.

"Yes, Master Wyatt." The woman dipped her head down in a bow.

Only after that had the young man turned around. He noticed Alice staring, causing him to step back slightly in surprise, eyes wide and eyebrows raised high. He took one glance at her attire before he immediately turned his head sideways. Alice thought that she might've even caught a hint of a blush on the man's pale features.

He coughed. "Oh, Miss Alice, you're awake."

The young woman quickly scuttled into the room, hurriedly placing the tray on the table before pardoning herself and then taking hold of the shawl in Alice's hands and draping it over the latter's shoulders. It was only after her upper body was covered by the shawl had she scurried back to the table to lay out the tea set. At that point, the young man also turned back to face Alice. This time, the red on the apples of his cheeks and the tips of his ears were clear as day.

"Yes." She nodded once, frowning. Then began her onslaught of questions. "Who are you? Where is this place?"

"Pardon me for not introducing myself first." Stepping a little closer, he smoothly took hold of Alice's hand with a gloved hand of his own, placing a delicate and brief greeting kiss on the back of her hand. "I am Wyatt Ragan, first-born son of Lord Philip Ragan. You've been brought back by my brother Charlie and his knight Miles. You were unconscious at that time and Charlie mentioned that you were from out of town and distressed about your predicament. Apologies, Miss Alice, but we took the liberty to have you changed into a fresh set of clothing. Hopefully, it is alright with you."

At his explanation, the full picture quickly returned to Alice in the form of her memories. She was indeed lost in an unknown world and had stumbled upon a boy and his knight, along with a group of unfriendly ruffians that were attempting to kidnap the young lord.

There were still many questions at the back of Alice's mind but she wasn't sure if she should ask them. After all, Wyatt, Charlie, and Miles were all strangers. She didn't know any of them well and if she had gone around spouting crazed questions, she might get branded with insanity.

One thing's for sure, though. Wyatt was a vision to behold. The young man had a smile that was as bright as an angel's halo, very similar to his younger brother. His dimpled smile and bright ruby eyes reminded Alice of a rabbit. Coupled with his kind demeanor and soft voice, he seemed even more like a small furry creature. Even if she did mind getting stripped of her clothing and changed into a new set without her knowledge and consent, it wasn't like she could turn back time to undo it. Besides, with how the young master blushed with just seeing her in a nightgown, it would be safe to assume that it had been one of the maids that had helped her change.

Behind her, the maid lightly cleared her throat to get their attention. "Tea is ready, Master Wyatt, m'lady," she said, bowing a little.

Wyatt beamed. "Thank you, Annette. You may take your leave now."

"Would you like me to bring you a separate teacup, Master Wyatt?"

"That would be splendid, Annette. Many thanks."

Another bow. Alice wrinkled her nose at Annette, silently wondering if all the formalities were necessary. After all, it seemed rather excessive for someone that had grown up in the 21st century. There was never a need for such things in her culture.

Annette quickly took her leave, scuttling off but not before shutting the door behind her. Alice could hear her footsteps echo down the corridor outside, slowly fading away once she was finally too far out of earreach. Once Annette was off, it was just Alice and Wyatt. She didn't know how appropriate it was for a lone man and woman to be in the same room together when they were both singles in this weird country she had somehow stepped into. However, if Wyatt didn't comment on it, then she wouldn't too. It wasn't as though she had never been in a room with a man alone before.

"Tea?" Wyatt gestured to the table, stretching out a hand to guide the way.

Alice complied, making her way over to one of the armchairs, perching herself on it before picking up the teacup Annette had set out before her departure. She wasn't sure what flavor tea it was but she added in her usual mix as closely as she could, considering how they used sugar cubes instead of grains. She added two cubes into the hot tea, watching it slowly melt away in the golden liquid before adding in a little bit of milk.

"I'm assuming that young master Wyatt didn't visit just to serve tea to a stranger?" Alice posed her question before taking a quick sip, her eyes trained on the young man as his lips stretched into a brighter, deeper smile. The tea had much more floral notes than Alice would've liked. Nevertheless, she continuously drank from the cup. A parched animal might just drink poison to quench its thirst and she was no different.

"Please, call me Wyatt. After all, you saved my brother's life. There's no need for formalities."

She slid the cup back onto the table. "Likewise. 'Alice' is fine."

Wyatt acknowledged. "Very well, Alice. And you are indeed a brilliantly astute young woman, just as Charlie described. I did indeed visit in hopes that you would already be awake to discuss the events of this morning, of course, as well as your background."

At the sound of that, Alice's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't sure if she should lie to them or tell them the truth and risk being sent into a mental institution or being burnt at the stake. If there was anything Alice had learned through her sixteen years of living, it was that the brightest smiles sometimes hid the darkest secrets. There was no way for Alice to know whether the man in front of her was just putting on a facade for her to see. She learned the hard way that some people weren't kind. They were just really good at faking it.

"What…" Alice took a deep breath to stabilize her breathing. "What do you wish to know?"

"Everything, Alice," came Wyatt's smooth reply. Alice's face only paled further. "For starters…" He leaned back on the seat, crossing one leg over the other, his fingers intertwined, hands resting on top of his knee. "Who exactly are you?"