• Chapter 8: Imagination
    Rain poured from the black, gray atmosphere. I sat in the dinning room at the table, my head rested on my arms; I sighed as I gazed out the window. It was raining so hard that I couldn’t see, just like yesterday. I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever see the sun again.
    But there was a good side to all this rain, Ambrose hadn’t left in two days! I had him all to myself…well sort of. Ever since our new house guests Melody and Roy Excalibur moved in with us Ambrose had been playing with Melody along with Tobias and Annalise as well. Or he’d train with Roy.
    I didn’t mind sharing him, it was just we hadn’t been alone together in some time. I longed for him to wrap his arms around me again and kiss me, telling me stories of our life before my memory was erased.
    I sighed again and closed me eyes. Tiny footsteps paused at the table, “Rosette!” It was Melody.
    I opened my eyes and sat up, smiling at her as I did so. “Yes Melody.” I said.
    “Come play with us!” She shouted, grinning that special smile of hers.
    “Alright.” I replied. I got up from my seat; she took my hand and led me into the living room.
    Tobias, Annalise, Roy, Aidan, and Ambrose all gazed at me wearing smiles. Everyone was on the floor sitting Indian style. I followed their example and took a seat beside Ambrose. Melody walked to the middle of the floor, “Now that we’re all here we’re going to play a game! The rules are…there are no rules! Just use your imagination and make up a story as we go along!” She instructed, smiling.
    “Oh! Sounds fun!” Annalise cried happily.
    “Yeah!” Tobias agreed.
    “And little Melody what’s this game called?” Ambrose questioned, smiling my favorite grin.
    “It’s called ‘Imagination’ Uncle Ambrose! I created it!” She smiled.
    “Have you played before, Roy?” Ambrose asked.
    Roy laughed. “Yes, I am quite familiar with the game.” He said.
    “How do we begin?” I asked.
    “I start with the character names and then we’ll go from there!”Melody informed. “Ok. Uncle Ambrose is the cunning thief called Black Cat! Tobias and Annalise are Meow and Purr Black Cat’s companions. Aidan is the richest man in the town of Million Meadows. Roy is the captain of the guard Thomas and Rosette is the woman Black Cat falls in love with!”
    “Wow! Impressive story line, Melody.” I replied. I was amazed at how she came up with this on the spot. “But who are you?” I asked.
    “I’m the costume designer, and the scene designer and the narrator!” She said.
    Melody closed her eyes; she made some motions with her arms and suddenly the whole house transformed into the town Melody described. Houses, stores and other building had taken the place of our furniture and walls. The sky above us was the brightest blue, just like in Realm when it wasn’t raining. The sun was warm and the clouds look like cotton balls floating slowly pass us in the sky. The grass was green and refreshing to see instead of puddles and mud.
    Suddenly everyone excluding Melody began to float in mid air. My heart pounded in my chest; I was scared and shocked. I wasn’t expecting to be hovering the air, I quickly grabbed Ambrose’s hand.
    He gazed at me and smiled. “What’s wrong? Are you scared?” Ambrose asked.
    “N-No! I just wasn’t planning on being thrown into the air. I was just shocked!” I replied.
    Ambrose laughed, “Liar.” He said.
    I released his hand and crossed my arms; how could I forget? He knew what I was thinking! I pouted and sulked like a little kid. Abruptly I noticed my clothes were changing; my jeans and my light gray short sleeve hoody were now a beautiful light yellow dress. A matching parasol with lovely white lace around it formed in my hands. My hair which was in a messy pony tail was now down and had a yellow ribbon which matched my dress and my parasol.
    I realized that everyone’s clothes were changing. Ambrose who was wearing a white silk shirt and black pants now wore an entire suit of black. His hair changed too and so did his eyes. His hair which was a beautiful silver, white color now was black as well. And his eyes now were a golden color and seemed similar to the eyes of a cat. I was sad that they were now longer my favorite shade of the midnight, violet color.
    Tobias and Annalise’s outfits were similar to Ambrose’s, but their hair and eyes stayed the same. Aidan was no longer the small fire demon that lived in our fireplace, he was now a human man! His hair was a lovely chocolate brown, and his eyes were a beautiful shade of green. His skin was pale and his smile a pearl white. He wore a dark brown almost black suit with a bright red tie.
    Roy’s hair was no longer long and black, now it was a reddish brown and very short. His eyes were now a crystal blue just like Tobias and Annalise’s. He now wore a navy blue police uniform. We all returned to the ground, I was glad; I didn’t like hovering like that in the atmosphere.
    Melody was the only one who never changed. “Oh!” She exclaimed. “I got another idea!”
    Oh great! Don’t tell me she changed the story and we have to go back in the air for another costume change! I thought, I noticed Ambrose smirked at me and was chuckling quietly.
    Melody rushed over to Aidan, she grasped his hand and ran over to me pulling him with her. “You and Rosette are engaged because of an arranged marriage. You love her but she doesn’t because she loves Black Cat!” She replied, placing my hand in Aidan’s.
    “Um. A-Alright.” Aidan stammered. I noticed his whole face had turned bright red.
    “Melody, you have a very interesting imagination.” I said, patting her on top of her head.
    She laughed and returned to the middle of the floor.”Ok, is everyone ready?” Melody questioned. Everyone nodded. “Alright. In the town of Millions Meadow lived a very rich man named Amadeus Buck. He was engaged to the most beautiful woman in the entire town, his fiancée’s name is Beauty. One day when Amadeus and Beauty were strolling down the street they ran into the famous thief Black Cat!” She told.
    I locked arms with Aidan who was still red; and we walked down the street Melody had created. We acted like we were talking when suddenly Ambrose came out of no where and ran into us causing me to crash into the ground. He quickly turned around he gazed at me and then ran off like a scared rabbit.
    “Oh! Good heavens! Beauty are you alright?” Aidan questioned, helping me up from the ground.
    Aidan and Ambrose were very good actors, hopefully I could act as good as they were, I thought. “Um. Yes I’m quite alright, Amadeus.” I replied, brushing invisible dirt from my dress.
    Roy came rushing over to us. “Mr. Buck are you and Miss. Beauty ok? I saw the whole thing!” He exclaimed, worry filling his voice.
    “Yes we’re fine. Thank you Thomas.” Aidan reassured.
    “W-Who was that man?” I questioned.
    “That was that no good thief, Black Cat, Miss. Beauty.” Roy informed. “My squad and I have been trying to capture him for sometime now. He truly is a master thief.” He said.
    “Is he the one who has been crashing the parties of the rich and then stealing their things?” Aidan asked.
    “Yes madam that is him.”Roy replied.
    I gasped. “We are having our engagement party tonight! You don’t suppose he would crash it do you, Thomas?” I asked, fear filling my voice.
    We were really good at this! This game Melody had created was fun! I was really enjoying myself; I actually felt as if this was really going on. I smiled.
    “I’d hate to say this but I’m positive he will. After all your fiancée’ is the richest man in Millions Meadow and he is the only one he has not stolen from.”Roy said.
    “Thomas, why don’t you and your squad come to our party and if he comes you can capture him!”Aidan suggested.
    “No!” I shouted. Roy and Aidan gazed at me, “I mean what would happen to him if you did capture him?”
    “Well, we would execute him.”
    I gasped. “Oh! That’s awful!” I cried.
    Aidan wrapped an arm around me, “Enough talk. We will see you tonight Captain.” He replied and off we went.
    Suddenly the city scene changed and now Aidan and I stood in a lovely mansion. Our clothes changed again but this time we were safely on the ground. I now wore a beautiful white and gold laced ballroom dress. A matching mask was on my face; so Amadeus and Beauty were having a masquerade.
    Aidan now had on a black ballroom suit and matching mask. The ballroom was suddenly filled with people from Melody’s mind. In one corner stood Roy in his mask and suit, close by him was a group of men; I guessed they were is squad.
    “Now it is time for Amadeus and Beauty’s engagement party. The captain of the guard Thomas and is squad are there in disguise. And then suddenly the door flies open and in walks a mysterious stranger with two small children. The trio is dressed like everyone else…but they are really Black Cat and his friends Meow and Purr.” Melody narrated.
    Ambrose suddenly walked in, Tobias and Annalise were at his sides. They all wore masks and very exquisite outfits. Music now filled the air and everyone began to dance. Aidan bowed in front of me, “May I have this dance?” He asked.
    I smiled. “Of course, Amadeus.” I replied. I took his hand and he led me out onto the dance floor and we began to do a waltz.
    I noticed Ambrose making his way over to Aidan and I; he tapped Aidan’s shoulder and we paused. “Excuse me but may I cut in?” He questioned kindly.
    “Um Sure.” Aidan replied. He stepped back and a woman came by and began to dance with Aidan.
    Ambrose gently took my hand and pulled me close to him as we began to dance. “I don’t like to see other men touching you.” He whispered in my ear.
    I gazed up at him. “Well this is a game and Aidan is your best friend plus your heart. Just play along.” I said softly, as I laid my head against his rock solid shoulder and we swayed with the music.
    “Melody’s watching.” He said.
    I raised up and glanced over to see her pouting. I bit my bottom lip. “Who are you? Do I know you?” I asked. I noticed Melody began to smile.
    “I’ve been around town. You’ve most likely seen me.”Ambrose replied.
    “Please. Tell me who are.” I begged, as Ambrose twirled me around.
    Ambrose smirked. “I apologize for knocking you over today. It was very rude of me.” He said.
    I gasped. “Y-Your Black Cat!” I breathed hard.
    “Shh. Now that you know who I am you must promise me…you won’t tell anyone. You must protect me.” Ambrose said, brushing a cold hand across my cheeks.
    A chill ran down my spine. “I promise.” I said.
    The music stopped and everyone began to clap. Ambrose bowed in front of me, he took my hand in his and kissed it. “Thank you for dancing with me. Now I must leave you.”He said, sadly and then suddenly he vanished.
    Aidan made his way over to me and stood at my side. “Who was that?” He asked.
    I looked over at him, “I don’t know. He never told me his name.” I fibbed.
    “Now it is around midnight, Amadeus is asleep in his room. While Beauty is having trouble falling to sleep. She suddenly hears a noise.” Melody said.
    The scene changed again; I was now in a cold, dark room and was laying in a soft, cloud white bed. The clothes I had on now was a white nightgown. A loud crash suddenly came from nowhere! I jumped up in bed, my heart racing. I tossed the covers back and let my feet touch the cold floor and then I got up. I light a candle and walked out of the room and down the hall waiting for further instruction from Melody.
    “Beauty walks down the hall and finds Black Cat, Meow, and Purr stealing from the ballroom. Meow and Purr notice her and slap her with a metal pipe; Beauty falls to the ground unconscious which causes the candle to fall and catch the house on fire!” Melody shouted.
    Boy, Melody does have an interesting imagination! I mean she wants me to get smack with a metal pipe for crying out loud! I thought.
    At that moment a pipe abruptly formed in Tobias’ and Annalise’s hands. Annalise began to weep and Tobias just stood there, both hesitating.
    “Remember it’s just a game. Pretend.” I whispered, giving them a wink.
    Smiles suddenly formed on their faces. “Ok.” They replied.
    Tobias and Annalise rushed over to me and pretended they smacked me with the pipes; I fell to the floor just like Melody said. The candlestick began to send flames to our backdrops made of imagination.
    I then noticed that all I could see was darkness; I didn’t remember closing my eyes when I fell. I tried to open my eyes but I couldn’t; that’s when I realized that whatever was happening to the character was happening to us! My heart beat increased, pounding in my chest like a loud bass drum.
    Smoke filled my nostrils, I couldn’t move; I was paralyzed. I then felt someone pick me up; “Is she ok!?” That was Annalise’s voice. She was crying.
    “Yes, she’s breathing.” That was Ambrose. Sorrow swirled around in his voice, his tone was shaky; was he crying too?
    I tried to speak but I wasn’t able to. I was afraid; I didn’t want to play this game anymore.
    “Melody stop the game.” Roy ordered.
    “Ok. I’m sorry!” That was Melody; she was crying as well. Suddenly I lost my hearing; everything was quite. What was happening to me? Was I dying?
    I then felt comfort, like I was laying on a big, soft, cloud. The smell of smoke had left and I could now smell honey and tea. Everything was still quite, I tried to open my eyes again. Success! I could see now but everything was a little blurry; and something’s seem like they were spinning around above me.
    My vision quickly went back to normal; everything stayed in its place. I slowly sat up, I was in my room. Suddenly I heard someone whimpering; I looked down to see Ambrose was sitting beside my bed. He sat in the chair that usually stayed at my desk. His arms were folded on my bed; his face was in his arms.
    I felt my heart slowly break; I hated to see Ambrose like this. I stroked his hair gently; he looked up at me through tear stained eyes. “R-Rosette.” He murmured, slowly sitting up as he did so.
    “Yes.” I replied, smiling.
    He then wrapped his arms around me and I did the same to him. “Oh Rosette! I was scared…I-I thought I lost you.” He cried, holding me tighter and tighter.
    “I’m fine.” I said. I was fine but I was incredibly sore and tired.
    “Are you sure? Your not lying to me are you?” He questioned, gently stroking my face with his ice, cold hands.
    Well you would know if I was lying so why on earth would I lie? I thought. A smile formed on Ambrose’s lips; he laughed.
    “Now don’t get an attitude.” Ambrose replied.
    “Where is everyone?” I asked.
    “Downstairs. Do you want to get up?” Ambrose inquired.
    “Yes!” I exclaimed, smiling.
    Ambrose let out another laugh. “Alright.”He said.
    Ambrose bent down and lifted me up in his arms; I felt like a small child in his arms. But I also felt safe in those mighty, powerful arms of his. “You know you don’t have to carry me.” I replied.
    “I know. I want to.” Ambrose answered before he planted a kiss on my forehead. “And besides you wanted me too.” He smirked.
    I pouted. “Ok, please stop! It kills me that you know everything!” I shrieked.
    His smirk stayed. “I know that’s why I do it. It annoys you and your so cute when your annoyed.” Ambrose said.
    I grumbled under my breath. “Whatever! Let’s go!” I snapped, jokingly at him.
    “As you wish my lady.” Ambrose replied.
    Ambrose carried me out of my room and down the stairs. We walked into the living room where everyone sat. Melody, Tobias, and Annalise jumped up immediately when they saw us.
    Tears were running down Melody’s cheeks. “Rosette!”She blubbered.
    Ambrose let me down and Melody came running to me. My arms were wide open and I held her tight in my arms as she cried. “I’m so sorry! Rosette, I didn’t mean too! I’m sorry!” She whimpered.
    “It’s alright, Melody. I’m fine.” I whispered in her ear.
    Roy approached us, “I am sorry as well Rosette. I should have stopped it sooner. Sometimes when we play Imagination, Melody gets carried away. Please forgive us.” He replied, bowing in respect.
    “Roy, it alright. I know she didn’t do this on purpose, really it’s fine!” I reassured.
    “Are you sure? Rosette, you nearly died!” Roy shouted.
    “Really! I’m fine! Everything’s fine.” I repeated.
    “Alright.” Roy said. He then embraced me, “Still I’m so very sorry.”
    “It’s fine.”
    Annalise and Tobias rushed towards me and wrapped their arms around my waist.
    “We were so scared!” Annalise sobbed.
    “I’m fine, I’m fine.” I said softly, smiling down at them as I stroked their hair.
    “Thank heavens!” Aidan cried.
    I gazed over at him; he was no longer a human but was once more the small flame of fire that sat back in the hearth.
    Melody reappeared back in my arms. Her smile blinding me, “So did you like my game?”She inquired.
    “Well it was unusual and it was fun…yes I did.”I smiled.
    Melody giggled. “Next time we play I promise I won’t get carried away.” She vowed.
    If there is a next time, I thought. After all I been through today I’d like to take a break from Imagination for awhile! Ambrose put an arm around me.
    “Melody my little Melody, why don’t we hold off on playing Imagination for a while. Alright?” Ambrose replied.
    “Ok.” Melody said.
    I smiled and kissed her on the top of her head.