As the sun slowly crawled up the sky from the horizon, the great clock tower of Bellmont read six hours after midnight. The early morning light fell upon the city. With the light came a sense of serenity and joy before the streets would erupt into chaos.
Lucian, however, did not feel very at peace.
He couldn’t remember when he woke up, only that it had been hours before sunrise. His mind was full of dread and nervousness. He had gotten used to thinking of his initiation as a distant hurdle he would never arrive at. Now it was mere hours away and the mere thought of it weighed as much as the ocean itself. He sat in the living room quietly pondering, too nervous to look down the hallway. The silence was calming but it wasn’t enough. So he sat still even as the morning light flowed in through the windows. He stared at the floor, too drowned in his thoughts to notice the things happening around him. All he could hear were the whispers and static as millions of thoughts raced through his head. He imagined what the ceremony would look like, ever since childhood he had been told that it was an event of utmost importance, a rite of sacred passage passed down from their ancestors from the ancient moor. He imagined walking down the hall with so many eyes fixated on him, judging him with glares and whispers behind their masks. He imagined the knife, the blood, the pain and the audience staring at him with disappointment. It was almost too much to bear.
“It’s not that bad.” The sudden voice had him jump in his seat. He looked up to find Willow sitting a few feet away from him in a red velvet chair, wearing her blue shirt over a whitish blue nightgown. She had a cup of tea in her hands, and a tray full of several more cups floated next to her head. “I think you’re too frightened of something so trivial.”
“How long have you been here?” asked Lucian, feeling quite awkward and embarrassed that he did not notice her sitting there.
“Give or take ten minutes. I thought you’d come around eventually but you were too busy wallowing in your own misery to notice me” She then made one of the cups in the tray float into Lucian’s lap. Lucian grabbed the cup and laid it on his knee. “For you. I made more for the Hatlys. They will be coming along any minute now. You better want to apologize once they show up.”
“Why is that?” asked Lucian as he blew on his tea. Willow smirked. “Because your thoughts were so loud that they’ve kept them up for the past few hours, especially little Elliott.”
Lucian’s face turned a mild shade of red. He nervously glanced toward the living room entrance. Willow just kept talking. “I suppose you’d want to talk about your deadly fear of ceremonies, it won’t do you any harm.”
Lucian stared at Willow. “Is that why you came here? Does talking to me alter the future somehow?”
Willow giggled as though Lucian had said something funny. “Of course not, silly! Is that how you think the future functions? You and I talking has no implications on any of what is to come.”
“Then why are you so keen to talk? Seems unnecessary in that regard, don’t you think?” asked Lucian, who appreciated it but also felt odd about it due to being used to Lily’s often not-so-sincere attitude.
“I’m bored,” Willow said simply, rolling her eyes. “What I’m here for won’t happen for some time so might as well observe your depressing state to pass the time”. Lucian felt a sudden sense of familiarity. Willow almost sounded exactly like Lily.
“Has my sister been telling you things about me?”
“She doesn’t need to. But I have seen her complaining to Charles about how difficult it is to live with someone who sobs and moans about something so small. I wouldn’t usually believe the ramblings of a younger sibling, but you’re not making yourself look better.”
She then leaned closer to Lucian, perhaps noticing his look of betrayal once he heard about Lily. “I hope you do not seek petty retribution against your sister. And if you do, keep my name out of it.”
Lucian sighed. He then raised his cup of tea and drank it all with one sip. It hurt his throat a bit but he didn’t mind. Even Willow seemed to change her demeanor to a more sympathetic state. However, Lucian wasn’t sure whether it was sympathy or pity.
“I suppose it is fair to fear the dagger, but It is not something to dread as though it were the end of your existence.”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Lucian grimly, “There is no avoiding it now.”
Willow sighed. It was clear Lucian’s state was sadder than she expected, despite being able to see the future. “At least you’re not alone. That counts for something, does it not?”
“I don’t do well with crowds,” Lucian replied plainly.
Willow tilted her head. “Even if those crowds are composed of your friends and relatives?”
Lucian scoffed. “Especially if they’re friends and family. At least with strangers you only meet them once.”
Willow smiled sympathetically before leaning into her chair and drinking her tea. “Well, at least-” she began but she was interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming from outside the living room. Two people in white nightgowns then entered in a dizzy haze. They were Laura and Charlotte Hatly. Willow stopped talking when she noticed them and so she didn’t finish her sentence, she just continued to drink her tea. Meanwhile, Laura and Charlotte appeared as though they hadn’t slept in weeks.
“Why good morning!” said Willow with a smile.
“Why are you both awake at this hour?” asked Laura, blinking several times in quick succession from sheer exhaustion. Meanwhile, Charlotte helped herself to a chair in the corner of the room.
“Why are you?” Willow simply asked back. Lucian said nothing; he simply sat in his chair and tried to look normal.
“Charlie and I couldn’t sleep; someone here was having the loudest nightmares I have heard in years! Hours of muffled incomprehensible rambling! Whoever it was kept waking up Elliott, and unfortunately his fits are more difficult to avoid than their thoughts,” said Laura in an exhausted and frustrated voice as she sat on a small sofa. Lucian saw Willow smile and chuckle behind her tea cup.
“Well I wouldn’t call what you heard nightmares,” she said. She then took two cups of tea from the tray and floated them into Laura and Charlotte’s hands. Charlotte seemed too tired to drink while Laura reclined on her chair and slowly took several sips.
“Why is that?” asked Laura. Lucian saw Willow shoot him a glance. Both Laura and Charlotte gave him a look of surprise and annoyance.
“All that ‘muffled rambling’ was him contemplating his initiation as though it was the end of the world. I’ve been trying to console him for the past few minutes,” Willow said, and then placed her hand vertically on her mouth to cover it from Lucian’s view. “And it’s not working” she whispered as though she thought Lucian couldn’t hear her.
It was at that moment that Lucian’s patience was overtaken by the desire for petty vengeance. He flicked his finger just as Willow was about to take a sip of her tea. Within moments, the cup from which she drank changed as the top shifted, stretched inward and covered the mouth making the cup more like a ball than a cup. Willow did not see this immediately and as her lip touched the edge of the cup; instead of her tea she was met with the feel of warm, partially heated ceramic.
She gasped and jerked backwards towards her chair in surprise for a moment before actually looking down at the cup and realizing what had happened. She gave Lucian a stern glare. Lucian simply smiled smugly. He also saw both Hatlys giggle in amusement as Willow’s annoyance.
“Why are you here, Willow? I doubt Morrows are ever anywhere they don’t need to be,” said Laura.
“Oh don’t worry,” said Willow while casually placing her now unusable cup on the floating tray. “I’m not here just so I can observe him,” she said with a smile gesturing heavily towards Lucian. “He’s merely entertainment. What I’m actually here for hasn’t arrived yet.”
Lucian didn’t know how to feel about being called ‘entertainment’ in his current state. He knew Willow had not meant it harshly, yet it made him feel awkward. He did not speak up about it, instead he watched as Laura continued her questioning.
“Care to elaborate?” asked Laura curiously.
But Willow simply nodded her head. “If I did, it may change the outcome.” Her comment made Lucian raise his eyebrow since she had said the exact opposite to him earlier. Had she been lying? Before he could complete those thoughts, Charlotte chimed in.
“This isn’t about Joe’s little scheme, is it?”
Laura glanced at Charlotte, as though wondering why she hadn’t thought that herself. But nonetheless, she seemed to agree with her sister. “Are you waiting for one of the adults?” she asked with more suspicion.
“I do not endorse Joe's plans,” assured Willow, clearly realizing that refusing the Hatlys was fruitless. “I was just curious. Perhaps he has a point.”
“Curious? Aren’t you the one who can see the future?” asked Laura.
“I cannot clearly fathom futures involving my own family, hence I am blind,” said Willow swiftly, as though she took insult in the Hatlys doubting her ability. “Besides, if Joe is indeed correct, we might as well know more about what our parents are planning.”
Lucian suddenly remembered the conversation he had yesterday with Lira. She had said something about the ‘worst outcome’. As he was thinking, Laura gave him a glaring look, clearly having sensed something. Lucian panicked, recalling his vow of secrecy. He tried to get those thoughts out of his mind. Their eyes met. Lucian noticed that Charlotte had not reacted the same way Laura had, he assumed she had not sensed Lucian’s thoughts. He shook his head slowly at Laura. She saw this, but simply turned her gaze and opened her mouth to say something to Willow. Lucian panicked.
“Our parents have many secrets, and they all seem intent on hiding them. Even I cannot look into their minds. They’re all so…fortified”
“In any case,” Charlotte chimed in. “Who among us here actually wants to associate with Angelmore?” He is conniving and distrustful. Always has been.”
“I wouldn’t blame Joe too much,” said Laura. “Hearing voices behind closed doors can be a curse. And even if it wasn’t, I feel like being the only child of a Great House would make anyone distrustful. The Circle has a history of traitors.”
“No member of a Great House has been killed in fifty years,” argued Charlotte.
“But it is still not wrong to fear the worst,” said Laura in return.
Lucian once again remembered Lira’s statement from the day before, “The lives of your peers…” the words rang in his head. But this time he blocked those thoughts before Laura or Charlotte would notice.
“I think it is best we find out what we can,” he said. “You all read the paper. The Circle is involved in some conflict with the Order. And that means danger is in the air.”
The room went silent. Willow nodded, while Laura and Charlotte exchanged glances. “Well, I’d never thought I’d see you agree with Joe of all people. I thought you detested each other!”
“We don’t detest each other,” Lucian snapped back, “He just detests me” he thought to himself in his head. Charlotte raised his eyebrow at Lucian. He simply ignored her “We just have never been… close. I do not agree with him on everything. But, he was right. It is suspicious that all the children of the Great Houses were brought to the same place on the same day.”
Lucian then heard something coming from outside the house. It was the sound of clanking metal and sliding rubber. The sound of a car. Lucian swiftly made his way over to the window with the Hatlys close behind him. He pulled back the curtains and peered outside. Outside the house, he saw what appeared to be a retinue of cars, five or six in all. They were all black and they circled the street before parking in an organized line outside the front door of the house.
“What’s going on?” he asked himself. The Hatly sisters were standing on either side of him and seemed to be wondering the same.
“Now I would appreciate it if you would all remain quiet,” said Willow as she sat sternly on her chair. Lucian and the Hatlys watched as a crowd of people came pouring out of the cars. Lucian noticed that most of them were wearing navy blue cloaks over white uniforms. Some had golden star-shaped badges and small golden chains holding their cloaks to their shoulders. Among them was also a small group of men who wore brown cloaks with no ornaments. Lucian didn’t know what he had expected, but this was definitely not it. They looked more like soldiers, not drivers.
“What are they?” asked Charlotte, perplexed.
“The blue ones must be the Gratousy,” deduced Laura, “Regular soldiers wear brown and silver. And I’ve never seen any except Boroughman who wear gold”
Lucian wondered. He knew what the Gratousy were. The most elusive branch of the Circulion army, made entirely of the most powerful and most loyal soldiers in the Circle. They answered to no one other than the Great Houses, their only objective, to serve and protect their lieges. Lucian had been around these elite men and women his whole life, he knew that all their drivers were Gratousy, as well as that at least a few of them patrolled Allison Street. They only allowed a select few people to enter the road, including the boy who delivered their newspapers.
“What are they doing here?” asked Charlotte, “And why are they all dressed in uniform?”
“That I don’t know,” replied Laura. Lucian and the Hatlys then continued to watch as the men dressed in blue and brown gathered around outside the house. Willow still sat on her chair ignoring them. Lucian watched as some of the men opened the rear doors of some of the cars. Some people in suits appeared from the back. He recognized all of them. From one car came out his father, Henry and his uncle, David. He also saw Willow’s father, Mr. Eustice Morrow and another he knew to be Laura and Charlotte’s father, Mr. Carlyle Hatly. He even saw a woman appear among them, he knew her to be Mrs. Morning, Arthur and Evelyn’s mother.
Lucian saw them all approach the front door; they seemed to be talking to each other. Lucian then turned to Willow. “Is this what you’ve been waiting for?”
“Yes,” said Willow, who was staring at the front door. “And I would very much appreciate it if you sat down and pretended to be somewhat oblivious! Can’t have the adults being suspicious.”
Lucian and the Hatlys obliged. They all rushed to their seats as the crowd of adults made it to the front door. Lucian returned to his lonely position on the sofa just as he heard the doorknob turn. He watched as the door opened and the first person to come inside was his own father, Henry. At first, he did not notice them. He was busy saying something to one of the Gratousy. It took him a few moments to turn towards the living room. Lucian saw him pause mid-sentence as he saw the four children staring directly at him.
“Oh…” he said, looking directly at Lucian and the others. “What are you all doing here?”
Lucian froze. He had not thought of an excuse for this moment. “Uh…” he stuttered. But luckily for him, Willow had him covered.
“Well we were all just having some tea, Mr. Demon,” she said, showing Henry her undrinkable cup. Henry raised his eyebrow and Lucian buried his face in his hands. “Figured we’d wake up early for such an important day, right?” she said gesturing towards the Hatly sisters, who seemed as unprepared as Lucian was. Lucian suddenly saw Laura fixate on Henry, as though she had seen something, or read something.
“Uh…yes! Yes indeed” said Laura immediately agreeing to what Willow said. Charlotte then nodded too. Lucian saw Willow’s father Eustice stare at her suspiciously, but Willow acted as though nothing was wrong. Her casual demeanor was almost incredible.
Lucian also noticed Laura’s father Carlyle surveying the room from behind the others. He tried his best to flood his brain with random thoughts. His father looked at him with doubt. Or was it doubt? Either way, he tried his best to keep eye contact and maintain a normal appearance. What followed was an awkward moment where both parties remained silent. A silence that was only broken by Mrs. Morning.
“Well then, it is certainly very nice of you all to stay by Lucian’s side! Is it not?” she said, holding Henry by the shoulder as she made her way to the front of the group. Henry, unfortunately, was too focused on the children to notice immediately. Henry flinched and jerked his head when his mind finally registered what Mrs. Morning had said.
“Yes!” he said quickly and almost half-heartedly, “Very nice indeed”
“Good, so why don’t we all let them be? We have other business to attend to after all” said Mrs. Morning. Henry then straightened himself and nodded. “Yes, agreed” he then gave Lucian one last look before turning to the soldiers. His father gestured his hand and pointed in various different directions. They then scattered with some going back outside and some going further into the house. Once he was done with that, Henry turned to his peers and gestured towards the staircase.
“If you all may,” he said with a polite smile. Mrs. Morning left without a fuss. But Lucian saw both Eustice and Carlyle look at their children suspiciously. Especially Eustice. Henry then turned to Lucian and, to Lucian’s surprise, nodded his head. Lucian, who was still quite unprepared, awkwardly nodded back. Henry then turned around without a second thought and left.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
The moment all the adults were gone from view Lucian saw both Willow and the Hatlys sigh deeply with relief. And from his right, Willow stood up from her chair. She kept her undrinkable cup on the tray and placed the whole thing on a nearby desk before standing up and heading out of the room.
“Where are you going?” asked Laura, floating her cup onto the tray as well.
“Can’t you read it from my mind?” Willow asked. “I’m going to follow them.”
“Why? Won’t you be seen by the soldiers immediately?” asked Charlotte.
Willow simply smiled smugly. “And what would they think? I doubt they will assume I have any ulterior goals when it comes to talking to my own father! Besides, I have the future on my side.”
Charlotte tilted her head doubtfully, “So that’s your plan? Walk into a room and hope to learn something?”
“No,” Willow said simply. “I hope to get something. As soon as your sister tells me what she saw when the adults walked in here.”
All eyes diverted to her, Laura gave Willow a glance. But she didn’t try to hide anything. “I didn’t see much,” she said, trying to recollect what she heard. “Just letters, numbers and an envelope. Everything else was shrouded in worried thoughts.”
Lucian didn’t like the sound of that. But Willow only seemed to pay attention to the first part of what Laura said. “An envelope, you say? A letter of sorts?” she said with intrigue.
“Yes, white with a wax stamp. But that’s all I saw” said Laura. It seemed to Lucian that that was all Willow needed.
“Well, I assume it must be important for it to occupy Mr. Demon’s mind so thoroughly,” she said, more convinced than ever. Laura nodded. Charlotte still looked at Willow with doubt. And all of it made Lucian’s curiosity reach a fever pitch. He knew that Willow was right, and he wanted to know more.
“I’ll come with you,” he said standing up next to Willow. Willow looked at Lucian with genuine surprise for a moment; she then smiled smugly and turned towards the Hatlys. “See? At least Lucian here is nice enough to help me,” she said while nudging Lucian on the shoulder.
“You didn’t ask for our help…,” said Laura. A response that Willow was apparently waiting for since she immediately cut her off. “I shouldn’t have to, it's common courtesy to help a friend. Even with something some would consider rather questionable, wouldn’t you agree?” She said, turning to Lucian. Lucian looked at Laura and Charlotte, both of whom were unimpressed. He did not respond even though Willow apparently expected him to. However, his silence still did not defer her.
“Well then,” she said, turning back to the Hatlys. “We’re off! And you’re welcome to join. I assume you’re a little bit curious… or bored,” she said. What followed was an awkward silence, as she did not receive any response to her very convincing pitch, even from Lucian. So she continued. “Besides, we still have hours before Lucian’s ceremony. We won’t even have breakfast for another three hours! Are you going to just sit there and do nothing for a whole day?”
Lucian saw Laura raise an eyebrow, she then glanced at Charlotte who shrugged. Lucian knew they needed their help. He tried to echo that through his thoughts in a subtle manner, hoping they would take the hint. Finally, a moment later, Laura rolled her eyes and stood up.
“I suppose you’re right, we might as well come along with you,” she said, straightening her gown. To which Willow smiled joyously, “Wonderful! Our prospects for success are no longer non-existent!” she then momentarily turned to Lucian and whispered, “No offense to you”
Laura flinched. Her mood slowly shifted towards anger. “So you need us? Why didn’t you tell us that from the start? Instead of being so long winded!” she said with a voice laced with an undertone of annoyance.
“Oh I could’ve” Willow said casually, “But where’s the fun in that? Many people would like to know the future, but few would ever like to understand it. Best to just let them do it all on their own, it’s more amusing that way”
“And more frivolous, '' Laura remarked quite harshly. But Willow simply laughed at such a statement. “Time is an infinite road, Hatly. Everything you or I do is frivolous in the end. So why not have some fun?”
Laura went silent, and so did Charlotte and Lucian. Yet Willow continued, “I wouldn’t be so insulted by a little verbal mischief. Or are you just upset that you can’t read my mind as easily and conveniently as everyone else’s? Not when I don’t want you to.”
Laura was not amused; she stared at Willow with utter disdain while Willow smiled innocently. She then sighed and took a deep breath before composing herself. Willow said nothing; instead, she walked out of the living room gesturing to the others to follow her. Lucian saw Charlotte give a sympathetic shrug to her sister as she walked past her. He himself then began to follow her as they made their way out of the room. Laura walked up behind Lucian, staying quiet as they made their way to the stairs.
“Do you even know where the adults went? They could be in any one of these rooms!” said Charlotte walking beside Willow.
“Well, that’s a bit tricky. They could be anywhere. But I know they would be somewhere secretive” she said. She turned her head back to address Lucian, “Is there any place your father isn’t particularly fond of you being in? A private office? A study of sorts?”
“A study,” Lucian replied swiftly. “The second door in the hallway to the right. It’s my father’s private study”
“Then that’s where we’ll look first!”
Willow then quickened her pace as they made their way to the second floor. Charlotte followed suit, trying to keep up. Lucian also tried to walk faster but before he could take another step, he felt a hand grab him by the right shoulder. He turned around and saw Laura holding him back while the other two walked further and further away.
“You have some explaining to do,” she said in a quiet whisper.
“What do you mean?” asked Lucian with a shrug. Laura then walked in front of Lucian while still holding onto him in order to prevent him from walking away. “You’re hiding something! I’ve seen it. Your mind is burying something important”
Lucian tried his best not to panic at that moment. He had known that an eventual confrontation would come from either the Hatlys or the Morrows. But he wasn’t prepared for it. Lucian didn’t know whether he should talk. Would he be betraying Lira’s trust? Or was it inevitable? He took a deep breath and straightened himself while trying to keep his mind as blank as possible.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why would I hide something from you?”
It was clear that his oblivious approach wasn’t working, Laura looked behind her for a moment and then grabbed Lucian by the collar once she realized no one was looking.
“I know you’re hiding something! You’ve been hiding something since yesterday. I can see glimpses of it in your mind. I know you lied to the Bernsteins, I know it!”
She then leaned closer to Lucian, her voice sounding cold and frustrated. Perhaps because she had been unable to get the information out of Lucian’s mind. “So what is it? Does it have something to do with our parents?”
Lucian’s mind was racing, still conflicted. “I’m not supposed to say. And it doesn’t have anything to do with our parents!”
Laura let go. Apparently realizing that Lucian wasn’t as persistent as she had original expected. Lucian tried to be as vague as possible while still trying to keep his mind blank.
“If it isn’t about the adults, then why are you so keen to hide it?”
“Lira told me to keep it a secret, and apparently I can’t even do that properly” Lucian remarked. The name Lira made Laura raise her eyebrow. “So Lira is involved? So that’s the reason she called you yesterday”. Lucian nodded. She then placed her hand on her chin and pondered. “Of course she knows something; I suppose the adults are willing to let her in on the secret since she’s the oldest”
“She didn’t tell me much, just that the Morrows saw something. Something that will happen today! And it isn’t good”
“The Morrows?” said Laura, now more calm and curious. “So this has something to do with the future. Why didn’t Willow say anything? Actually, never mind that. Knowing her, she would convey it through a long series of ‘jokes’ that no one would find amusing”
“Willow doesn’t know. Remember, she said she couldn’t see anything involving her parents” said Lucian in Willow’s defense. Laura sighed. “So what is this future that Lira thought so dire as to warn you about? And why hasn’t she told any of us?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that it will happen after the ceremony. Maybe Lira thinks if I tell you it would change the future. Maybe that’s the reason they brought so many Gratousy here”
“Hmmm” he heard Laura murmur. “Perhaps you’re right. But I doubt it. Knowing them it was probably to stop us asking too many questions”
“Well, I still don’t think you should tell this to anyone else,” Lucian pleaded. “It isn’t very useful and I don’t want to take the risk of changing the future”
Laura pondered some more, perhaps wondering whether Lucian’s concerns were worth taking into consideration. “So what are we supposed to do during this so-called ‘bad event’?”
“I’m supposed to take you all into the Mirror for safety. When my ceremony is done, I’ll have the ability to open the Gateway. Lira told me that I would be the only one who can when the time is right”
“The Mirror? You mean the place that is impossible to traverse and the place that’s supposedly infested with grotesque monsters. The place that no Circulion is allowed to enter?” said Laura doubtfully. Lucian was worried whether she would think he was making this up.
“Lira said it will be the only safe place when the time comes, if the time comes. And that’s all she told me, I swear on the Moor!”
Laura narrowed her eyes on Lucian. Perhaps she was still trying to read his mind. She stayed that way for a few moments before relenting. She then turned around and gave Lucian a side-eyed glance. “I suppose telling the others right away wouldn’t be of much use. Not until we know more”
Lucian sighed in relief. Laura then turned around and gave him a stern glare. “But don’t think you can hide a secret from me or Charlie. You know better than that”. Lucian calmed himself, “I told Lira that, she didn’t seem to think you’d be a problem”
Laura chuckled. “Well it is clear that she was wrong”. She then smiled, apparently satisfied by Lucian’s reluctant openness. “It is bad enough that I had to endure Morrow, don’t have me worrying about you. Joe told us to trust each other”
That made Lucian almost laugh aloud. “Ha, I would bet my life that Joe is secretly suspicious of all of us. You know he is just waiting for a chance to accuse one of us. So it’s ironic of him to preach trust when he trusts no one”
Laura raised her eyebrow, seemingly interested in Lucian’s opinion about his peer as he ranted. She then began to laugh quietly while Lucian still spoke. Perhaps she saw all the thoughts Lucian didn’t say out loud floating around in his mind. “I suppose you’re right, but so is he. If we are to figure out what’s going on here then we should trust each other. Don’t you agree?”
Lucian nodded and managed a small smile. Laura smiled back in response. Then they both turned and walked in the direction of Henry’s study in order to catch up to Willow and Charlotte. They entered the second floor and turned right onto the second hallway, the hallway itself was sand green and plastered with a pattern of golden stars. Lucian walked onto the hallway and saw Willow and Charlotte standing in front of the second door. Both he and Laura walked up to them quietly as Lucian noticed that Charlotte had knelt down on her knees and placed her ear on the door. Willow saw them coming and sighed.
“Oh good, you came. I was beginning to worry that you both had run off”
“Was there a future where that happened?” asked Lucian. Willow tilted her head back and forth in response. Neither confirming nor denying.
“What are you doing?” asked Laura, watching perplexed as Charlie kept her head on the door.
“I can’t read their minds through the door, they’re too quiet,” she said in response while not moving. “I can just barely hear them through this door”
“Perhaps we should get Joe’s help. Hearing is of course his specialty,” suggested Willow. “I think his room is on the fourth floor”
“I’ll go!” said Charlotte, volunteering immediately, taking her ear off the door. “I can’t stand listening to this! It’s all jumbling and bickering!”
As Charlotte stood up to leave, Lucian took her place. He was curious so he knelt down on the floor and kept his ear to the door. He realized Charlotte was right; all he could hear was muffled noise coming from several arguing voices. He could barely make out which voice belonged to who. The only one he could recognize was his father’s, most likely because it was familiar to him. He could hear words like ‘you’ and ‘we’. But other than that he couldn’t hear anything substantial.
He watched as Willow and Charlotte walked off into the hallway in the direction of the stairs. Meanwhile Lucian took his ear off the door and leaned against the wall once he realized there was no point.
“Aren’t you worried?” he asked Laura.
“About what?”
“About the adults opening the door and finding us here. Wouldn’t you think they would find that peculiar?”
“I doubt Willow would leave us here without telling us that. Besides, I can hear their minds enough to know that they have no intention of coming out at this moment”
“You can hear them?” Lucian asked with mild surprise and intrigue.
“Just their loudest thoughts. I can hear minds better than Charlie, but walls always present a very difficult barrier,” said Laura, staring at the sand-green wall.
“Can you hear all their minds? Even your father’s?” Lucian asked, more curious than ever. The mentioning of her father made Laura look at Lucian with an expression of surprise But such a look only lasted for a moment before she went back to staring at the wall.
“No,” she said plainly. “I can’t hear his thoughts. Frankly, I have never heard them. My father has spent decades building walls around his mind that neither I nor anyone else can see through”
Lucian paused for a moment and thought about it. He felt bored and some thoughts ran across his mind. “So I imagine it must feel quite odd, listening and only hearing silence”
Laura cracked a small smile. “No, it doesn’t feel odd. It is quite relaxing actually. Listening to thoughts is quite overwhelming. It’s nice to hear nothing for once”. But Lucian then saw her frown. “Though it is quite daunting”
“How?” asked Lucian, eager to keep the conversation going. Laura didn’t seem quite as eager but she replied anyway, “There is a sense of longing in not hearing the thoughts of one of the people you’re closest to. Especially when you can hear everyone else. Imagine hearing the feelings and opinions of everyone around you, but never being able to hear it from one of the people you value the most”
Lucian understood what she meant. And in that moment he felt as though he shouldn’t have asked. He stayed silent and decided just to stare at the floor instead of probing further.
But just then, just as Lucian was about to wonder where Willow and Charlotte had gone. He heard the sound of a click and a clang. And when he looked at the source of the sound, he saw the door knob turn and the door open.
Within moments, Lucian saw Laura eyes widen with shock. Lucian himself staggered onto his feet while still leaning into the wall as though he were trying to avoid a monster. He saw an arm emerge along with the door, a body followed the arm, multiple bodies followed the first body and before he knew it, the adults surrounded him as they obliviously walked onto the hall.
The moment they exited the room Lucian saw all eyes turn to him and Laura. He saw Henry turn his gaze away from his discussion with Mr. Hatly and he felt its weight as it fell on him. He noticed Laura freeze when confronted with her own father. He saw that all the adults had shifted their expression from pleasantly casual to utterly confused.
“What are you doing here?” Henry asked suddenly after a long and awkward pause. And while his volume was not loud enough to be frightening it still made Lucian shake. “I...uh” he stuttered. But his whimpering did not seem to improve his father’s mood. He saw Henry raise an eyebrow. He saw Mr. Hatly glare at him sternly.
“Nothing!” he then heard Laura say. He watched as all eyes turned to her. Eyes that were equally as confused.
“Nothing? What do you mean nothing?” Carlyle Hatly asked roughly. Laura seemed to be just as nervous as Lucian was. Perhaps she too was trying to block her mind. “What I meant was...” she said but then broke off, as she apparently had no idea what to say next.
“Soldiers,” said a voice echoing through the short hallway. Lucian desperately looked at the entrance of the hallway and saw Willow, Charlotte and Joseph standing there. Willow marched towards them with a cheerful smile on her face. She stood next to the adults and maintained a casual demeanor as she spoke.
“We came here to ask you about the soldiers. Specifically why you brought so many of them”
“Is that a problem?” asked Eustice standing tall next to his daughter. Lucian saw Willow waver, but she didn’t crumble like him or Laura. “Not at all, it’s just…concerning,”
“Well, I wouldn’t worry, dear” said Carlyle. “There is nothing to fret; it’s all just for extra safety,”
“Safety from what, though?” Willow inquired. Eustice then sighed. “You heard Mr. Hatly, Willow. There is no need to worry. And no need to inquire further,” he then turned to Lucian and Laura “And that goes for all of you, understand?”
They all shook their heads in agreement. Both Mr. Hatly and Mr. Morrow seemed to be satisfied. But Lucian saw Henry eyeing him suspiciously, so he put his head down and tried to avoid eye contact. Every second seemed to feel like an eternity. But luckily Mrs. Morning once again broke the sense the tension was slowly creeping into the room.
“Well, now that that’s settled. I feel like indulging in some wine, don’t you?” she said. “Besides, we have some things to discuss with Leonard. Oh wait, is he even awake, dear?” she asked suddenly turning to Laura. Laura took deep breath and calmed herself; the initial shock from the sudden confrontation seemed to leave her. “No, Mrs. Morning. I don’t think so. I didn’t see him downstairs,” she said sternly.
“Well thank you, dear. I suppose he’ll be along later. But in the meantime, I feel like getting a drink. What do you say, gentlemen?”
There was still a sense of uneasiness in the room. But it was clear to Lucian that they had somewhat successfully avoided seeming too suspicious. But Lucian wasn’t sure. “I think that’s a splendid idea,” said Mr. Morrow. A reply that made Lucian sigh quietly in relief. “I personally cannot wait to taste what old Henry has in his stores, right?” he said nudging Henry, who had been quite quiet this whole time, in the shoulder.
“Yes, yes” he said weakly, his mind seemingly preoccupied with suspicious thoughts about his son. “But don’t drink it all…or I’ll make you pay for it!”
All three of the others laughed cheerfully, especially Mrs. Morning. “Good, good. So why don’t you all stop pestering the children and let’s have some merriment while we’re all here!”
She then slowly pushed both Eustice and Carlyle by the shoulder until both of them turned away and walked out of the hall. But Henry wasn’t so quick to leave, his gaze still fixated upon Lucian.
“Is there something you need to tell me, son?” he asked, narrowing his eyes. Lucian momentarily glanced at the others. He saw both Laura and Willow shake their heads slightly. He returned his gaze back to Henry.
“No…father,” he said with as much confidence as he can muster. Henry glanced at the other children. He seemed to realize that whatever confession he was after, he wasn’t going to get it. So he simply turned away and walked out of the hallway without saying a word. Lucian watched tensely as Henry turned the corner and when he did, he unleashed a breath of relief so relieving that it nearly made him collapse onto the ground.
“Well, thank the Moor that that’s over,” said Willow, who seemed equally relieved.
But Laura didn’t seem to feel the same way. She jerked her head towards Willow maliciously. Willow took a step back. But within a moment Laura lunged at her, her face riddled with fury.
“Why did you DO THAT?” she screamed. She nearly reached Willow with her hands outstretched but luckily, Charlotte grabbed her by the waist and held her back while Willow hid behind Joe.
“Do what?” she whimpered. “Why didn’t you TELL US THAT WE MIGHT GET SEEN?” Laura continued after she stopped struggling to break free from her sister’s arms.
“I didn’t know! I can’t see any future where my father is present, remember? Have some civility!” said Willow still cowering behind Joe, who seemed too out of the loop and sleepy to do anything.
“She’s right!” said Charlotte letting go of Laura once she calmed down. “Besides, why couldn’t see them coming?” Laura turned to her sister, still angry. “I was distracted! And even then I could only hear vague thoughts; they were still in their discussion when they came out!”
“Well there’s no point in being needlessly angry about it now!” said Willow, “They are gone now. And you, thankfully, managed to avoid revealing all our secrets to your father!”
“Well I don’t think they were fully convinced of our innocence. Given Demon’s less-than-subtle performance, if you could even call it that,” said Joe, yawning with his eyes fixed on Lucian. “I wasn’t trying to be obvious. I was just taken by surprise, just like Laura”
“I’d say you couldn’t fool anything other than a worm. I doubt many Demons are astute liars”
Lucian frowned. He raised his finger in order to argue. But before he could, Charlotte spoke up with an intent to break up the arguing.
“Would you all stop this nonsensical bickering? Do I have to remind everyone of what we came here for?”
Everyone went quiet. Lucian put his hand down and Joe seemed to back off as well. Willow and Laura still glared maliciously at each other but neither said anything. Charlotte then approached the door and turned the doorknob. Sure enough, it was locked.
“We need to find a way inside if we intent to get to that letter” she said pulling on the door a few more times. “Do you have a way to get in?”
Lucian shook his head. He saw Joe raise his eyebrow snidely. Lucian did not take kindly to that. He approached the door and attempted to open it. It still wouldn’t budge. He then kept his hand on his chin and pondered while staring at the lock. He could try to force it open by shifting the door. But he knew such an action would be hard to conceal.
“Can’t you force the lock? Make it turn from the inside?” asked Willow. “That tends to be a common trick”
“I tried it once when I was younger,” said Lucian, trying Willow’s suggestion by placing his hand over the lock and attempting to open it through sheer will. “I wanted to see why he always fussed over this room. Unfortunately, he caught me rummaging through his desk. He was not pleased. I am sure he had the lock changed in order to make it harder to do”
He noticed Willow and the Hatly sisters give him amused and sympathetic smiles and gasps while Joe rolled his eyes out of disinterest. He tried to find some other way to open the lock. However, as he thought he heard a sudden voice echo through the hall.
“What are you doing?”