“We have to tell him.” The prince declared.

Once they were back in the hall of the captain’s house, after negotiations wherein they got everything they asked for without having to invoke Aster’s name to her smitten client, even once, Prin was clearly fired up.

It wasn’t exactly the reaction Elwin had to the whole story. He was more of the mind they should have also asked for hazard pay, just to be in the boy’s very unlucky orbit, but he hadn’t wanted to be greedy, the raise in pay and time off any time they asked for it would have to do, for now. Though he had a feeling if things went well with Valor, the sky was the limit on favors that could be asked from the sentimental old captain.

“What?” He asked.

Prin’s eyes were shiny bright as holiday ornaments, and he could barely conceal his expression of excitedly working out a puzzle. “About the curse! I mean, I have a feeling he might know, or heavily suspect. But on the other hand, what if he doesn’t? How can you break free of something that you don’t even know is weighing you down?”

When had Prin become so reckless? So . . . insensitive? Although Elwin was sure he didn’t mean it, as no one had a kinder heart then his prince. The way he had talked to the captain while he was telling the story of his daughter’s death had not been the best, though the captain seemed to take it in stride, being a blunt man himself. “We can’t do any such thing. Remember, we promised the captain? In no uncertain terms? And so far we have only ever seen his good side, I would hate to be visited by the other.”

“Hmm, maybe we have to get his father to tell him then.” Prin said.

Elwin snorted. “If getting hit by lightning. Twice. Didn’t move him to talk about it, what would make him do it now?”

“Me.” The prince grinned. “Okay, alright, I’ll work it out without getting us in trouble.” He took Elwin’s hand and squeezed it. “Maybe we can somehow help each other, Valor and I, as one very cursed guy to another.” He laughed. “I know it sounds funny. I do understand him better. I mean, anyone would have full on nervous breakdowns after what he’s been through.”

Elwin squeezed Prin’s hand in return and brought it to his lips for a kiss. “You’ve been through a lot too. Even more . . .”

“It’s not a competition.” Prin protested. “And I still feel sorry for him.”

Elwin split from the prince and went back to the front entrance mess. Based on their conversation with the captain, he wondered if he really cared about straightening up the mess after all, or if they were more there for the entertainment of his son. Still, the mess was bad enough to constitute some kind of fire hazard. And wouldn’t it definitely make it harder for Valor to navigate in most of these rooms?

Elwin decided to keep trying to work on it, he would just make himself available to Prin and Valor as needed, and not feel bad about it distracting him from his tasks.

The room had shelves lining at least one of the walls, although they were impossible to get to at the moment. After thinking over his strategy, it seemed like clearing the center of the room, to make a good walk way, and beginning to pile things that seemed like they should be trash all together in one area, would be good things to start with. He would ask Mrs. Frances to approve the trash before throwing it away, as it seemed like she would be more liberal about throwing stuff out then Captain Thompson.

After a while, Elwin got into the work and began to lose track of time. Finally, he had to go to the bathroom, and figured it was time to go check on the others anyway. He stood up and stretched. The trash pile was growing, he saw with satisfaction. Mostly, the decrepit remains of old boxes and sacks he had unpacked, as well as some mouse chewed old clothes and books and pamphlets in even worse condition.

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Elwin went out to find the bathroom. As he passed by the stairway, the sound of an angry female voice drifted down to him, and the footsteps that the voice accompanied told him someone was coming down the stairs. He didn’t know why he did it, what impulse would compel him, but Elwin went back into the front room and closed the door almost all the way, hiding out of sight behind it.

As the voice got closer, the unmistakable tones of Wrena’s voice (sort of like nails on blackboard, but not quite. Somehow worse.) became obvious.

“I just don’t understand why you ditched me last night!” Wrena whined.

“Look, you’re a grown woman. Weren’t you just fine?” Dru answered. Her flippant tone unchanged, unbothered by annoyance or anger. “Those kinds of parties aren’t really for me anyway. It’s more of a you thing.”

“But that’s where I told papa I was going to go.” Wrena said, voice wretched. “I couldn’t exactly leave. . .”

The two of them passed by where Elwin was hiding, just in time for him to catch a glimpse of Dru pulling the girl close. Wrapping her arms around her in a hug from behind.

Wrena tensed up and then sighed, sinking into the hug. “Why would I want to be there without you anyway?” She sniveled.

“To network with other rich people? You never know when it will come in handy. Who you know and all that, blah blah blah.” Dru said. “Anyway, I’m sorry if you were lonely.” She nuzzled her face into the other girl’s blond curls.

Wrena’s face turned pink. “I was. Lonely and bored. But it’s okay. . .” She sighed.

“In the future, you don’t have to do everything your papa expects you to do.” Dru pointed out. “You can go wherever you want to go, do whatever you want to do. That’s freedom, babe. All you have to do is reach out and take it.”

Wrena squiggled around to face Dru and playfully pushed her away. “Shows what you know!” She said.

She hurried off down the hall, with Dru following her in an unhurried manner. “Yep, shows what I know.” She said to herself.

Elwin’s mind tried to make sense of what he had just seen. What was the nature of their relationship?

There was definitely something off about that Dru. Devil indeed. He had already started to feel a little protective over this family, and it seemed like he should find out more about this recently discovered niece.

Meanwhile, when the prince returned to Valor, he found the boy asleep at the kitchen table.

“Poor tyke, I thought I’d just let him sleep.” Mrs. Frances said in hushed tones. “He’s had a rough morning after all.”

Prin tilted his head to the side, taking in the view of, possibly, the unluckiest kid alive, sitting with his head leaned back against the wall, eyes closed behind the pink sunglasses that crooked to the left, mouth gaped open slightly. Prin’s heart had softened enough that he could now see him as kind of cute. While he was sleeping anyway.

Was he really as unlucky as one could possibly be? He still had some things going for him after all. Did unlucky things happen to him inside of this house? Or only outside of it? Did the curse prevent any of the events from actually killing him? Were most of them indirect? How many of the incidents happened in the presence of his father? All of them? None?

The prince resolved to work out the boundaries of the curse. What were the rules? And how could they be broken.

The longer haired black cat twined around Prin’s feet, purring.

“Aww they like you!” Mrs. Frances said. “They hardly take to anyone beyond their young master.”

“What’s her name?” Prin reached down and patted the soft fur of the cat.

“That one is Clementine, and the other one is Blackberry.” Mrs. Frances said. “Originally they were supposed to be my mousers, but I’m not so sure they catch any mice.” She chuckled. “I know some say black cats are bad luck, but I say, bad luck? What’s a little more to the mix, who would notice?”

The prince couldn’t remember if Captain Thompson had said that Mrs. Frances knew about the curse. But he knew she knew. She definitely knew.

“That bad, huh?” Prin asked.

“Oh, no no no, what? Everything’s fine!” Mrs. Frances laughed. “Do you want a piece of cake?” She backed away nervously, clearly wondering if she had said to much.

Valor twitched but didn’t awaken. He did remind Prin of a cat, no wonder he got along with them so well.

“It’s alright.” The prince assured. “I’ve already committed myself to staying here. You can be honest. In fact, I insist.”

Mrs. Frances visibly relaxed, but continued to smile with an uneasy edge. “I’m afeared if you knew it all, how we live in this house. So carefully. You would run off scared, and who would blame you?”

“I don’t scare easily.” Prin said. “I will take that piece of cake though.”