Affirmation

In her apartments above the ballroom, the girl paces. Rain courses down the windowpanes, a silken silver lullabye in the darkness and the dim light that filters through the clouds. The moon is full behind her coverlet, and the puddles that touch between the cobbles of the street below shine back some of her muted brilliance.

The girl paces, staring out the window. A spidery arm appears from behind the curtains of her tall paned windows, reaching out to her. On her next turn, she stops, seeing it, and taps her foot with impatience. The voice like dry leaves sounds again, all the more incongruous for the pouring rain outside. "Mistresssss, do you require anything? The Ssshadowssss, we feel your disssquiet, and we are worried for you."

Rumpled taffeta rustles as she resumes her pacing. "No, Eddie, I'm fine. I appreciate your concern, but please tell them all that I'll be fine."
"Asss you wissssh, missstresss." The arm vanishes, and the girl is left to herself and the sound of the rain. She gazes out over the rainslick City, and murmers to herself.

"It will all be fine. Everything will be alright. It will all turn out well in the end."