Book One : The Prophecy : XIX : A Life So Changed

XIX

A Life So Changed

February 1941

Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken…

Frank Herbert.

Theodore wrapped at the reverends door loudly as the rain poured from the heavens above. It had rained for three weeks endlessly and with it the world had grown dark not just the greater world outside of Keswick but his world, the world he co shared with Eveline. Since their return some four weeks previous, all that he had hoped would return had yet to arrive for Eveline had taken a turn for the worse and had crept into the covers of her own bed upon the day of their return and had not since arisen. Theodore had himself been fighting a downward spiral of shock, grief and an unspoken joy at the death of Galean, once one of his greatest of friends. Galean’s death brought with it a new re kindled hope. A hope that Eveline would finally be his and his alone and a hope that maybe it would indeed be possible now for her to return to Unas where he would find no threat from the dead prince and heir. But despite his optimistic stance he still could not find it within him to look into the eyes of his wife, her betrayal and her actions still to bitter to induce honest kindness and care. He was no beast, he was a good man who simply wanted to protect his future but within the complicated mechanisms of his soul and heart he could not still quite believe that Jophiel had gone never to return and when his mind was reminded of this fact he found his heart turn dark. A sinister and disturbing corner of Theodore’s heart found satisfaction in Galean’s death, found contentment in the pain that now consumed his wife and found himself not struck by his own bad thoughts but comforted by them.

Still a great part of him was good and he did not wish to see his wife and friend wither into nothing. When faced with his corrupt self, Theodore simply drank it away so that it became paralytic and unresponsive. He wanted his wife to live so that they may return to their normal life, for he loved her greatly and knew that she too loved him.

“Cael?” a tired and bemused Reverend Matthew opened the door of the parsonage and looked down into Theodore’s face as the rain poured heavily. “You have returned?”

“I need your help,” Theodore asked aloud. Matthew saw the desperation in the young angels face and stood away from the door beckoning him to enter the sleeping house.

“Come in.”

Theodore stepped into the homely parsonage and took off his hat.

“Here give me your coat and hat, I will place them near the fire to dry,” Matthew said closing the door behind him as Theodore shrugged off his wet coat, handing it to the reverend with a weak smile. “Come in and sit by the fire.” Together they entered a small and comfortable room in which a small fire burned away. Two leather chairs sat before the fire and upon one of them lay an open book and a pair of glasses. “Forgive me, I have been absorbed in a little late night reading,” the minister smiled as Theodore made to sit upon the other red leather chair. “Now what is it I can do for you Mr Sampson?”

“It is my wife,” Theodore began as he sat forward with quizzical brows.

“I will not pretend I am ignorant of what had occurred these last few months Cael but you should have come to me straight away when you returned so that I may have initiated some system of security,” the reverend said with a stern glare as he laid his open book down upon a small foot stool. “You are both in great danger, now more than ever.”

“I know and I am sorry,” Theodore muttered as he ran his fingers through his hair. “When we returned I thought it better that nobody knew of our presence in Keswick in case there were any spies or indeed shadows awaiting us.”

“Do not worry yourself young man, I have had the town infiltrated with guardians and those of my masonic lodge, it is well secured,” Matthew smiled warmly. “I am sorry for you losses your mother in particular was a great woman.”

“Thank you for allowing her to be buried within the grounds of your cemetery, that was indeed very kind of you,” Theodore returned with a gracious nod of his head.

“As I said she was a great woman and she gave up her life to protect both you and your wife,” Matthew replied humbly. “How is Eveline?”

“It is on behalf of my wife that I come seeking your aid,” Theodore said with a heavy sigh as he rested his hands upon his strong thighs. “Since our return she has not been out of bed these last three weeks and barely eats. I am worried about her, she has fallen victim to great grief and depression and with each day she falls deeper into the abyss.”

“I am not shocked at all that she has indeed succumbed to the consequences of all that has befallen her,” Matthew replied quietly, placing his fingers upon his chin. “But in due consideration of all that has occurred and the danger you both now face I am glad you have come seeking my help.”

“She will not speak to me and at night she groans like an agonised animal, her cries deep and guttural,” Theodore explained with a worried gaze. Matthew looked on with concern as Theodore dramatically placed a hand about his throat to emphasise his worry. “I will be sitting downstairs occupied and then she will start to scream out, it is a wonder nobody has yet heard.” Matthew could smell the brandy on Theodores breathe and nodded. “And when I try to comfort her she simply pushes me away.”

“I am not entirely shocked by your admission, however I am worried that Eveline will slip away from herself unless we try to bring her comfort,” Matthew said, the embers of the fire glowing in his brown eyes. “Would you like me to come over and sit with her for a while? I could bring my housekeeper with me as well to help with domestic matters if you would like?”

Theodore sighed long and deep, his head nodding in tune with his heartfelt thanks.

“I would be eternally grateful if you would.”

*

Eveline curled her body under her warm sheets and placed her hands under her face as the sun began to rise over the lake which could be seen from her window. Her bones were weak and lifeless and her stomach growled with need of food but she bite down on her lip waiting until the trueness of her pain that often swept over her passed. Everything that bound her to this world, which bound her to life had begun to slip away with the death of Galean and her mother. A terrible and deadly plague of depression, anxiety and profound grief had crippled her so much that she could not find the strength within her to simply sit up. Her mind had turned in on itself, it had become her captor, teasing her with vivid and tormented memories that gnawed away at her like woodworm, slowly and painfully digesting all the light that had once radiated throughout her. Outside she heard the larks singing brightly and sensed that spring was around the corner. It seemed that every minute detail brought with it despair and she had become so sensitive to all the little details that swamped her burdened mind. Night brought no comfort either, only nightmares. If she dared to open her eyes she would find them resting on the figures of those who wished her harm, especially Lagar and her half-brother. With beads of sweat covering her feverish skin she would begin to wail, all the pain and anxiety rushing over her like a freak storm of water rushing down the hills. It seemed that nothing could bring her comfort not even the kind words of her husband nor the words of her mother. With anger she had forced her meeting with her grandfather from her mind, refusing to acknowledge anything, unable to see past the darkness that wrapped itself about her soul, sucking the life from her. With her right hand she felt for her jewel and touched it lightly.

“Galean?” she whispered so softly not even the ghosts of her terrors could hear. She looked down at the jewel and closed her eyes as no light eluded from its core. She bought it deep into her palm and held it close to her heart as the now daily course of tears flowed from her eyes. The prophecy had failed, her life had fallen and she would never awaken from this merciless state of existence. The songs of the birds were like poison to her ears, reminding her of Belle, Estelle, Wordsworth and Galean and all the beautiful moments they had shared here together as a family. The touch of her husband’s hand upon her shoulder reminded her of the pain she had inflicted upon him, taking his true love from him and his friends. And when twilight came so too did the realisation of who she was. It was during this hour before the rising moon that she growled deep with anger and frustration, the memories of her true parents and their deaths. Her growls turned to pitiful crying as she would punch her pillow with fisted hands, hating all that she was and wishing death would come and kiss her lips, claiming her existence and turning it to dust.

Any light that filled the room only forced Eveline to delve deeper into her misery, to cling harder to the vicious cycle that had claimed her as soon as she had lain down upon her bed. Sometimes she could feel the body of Wordsworth sleeping at the foot of her bed and would awaken with joy only to be met with nothing, her body falling back down with a slump as she began to cry once more. Days had turned into weeks and her tears had now began to vanish as she had turned into herself and found she had no voice or tears left, simply nothing existed within her. The pain was so white that no emotion could be extracted. Nothing became her everything and her only wish now was to die. Her thoughts turned to violent dreams of her death, dreams of her being punished and sentenced to die. A slithering and sickening voice would consume her mind, poisoning the human propaganda machine that lives within all humans. Death had become a symbol of hope, her once violent dreams turned to beauty and the words spoken within her psyche were poetic and enchanting. She would imagine herself standing alone within a great meadow, filled with beautiful flowers holding a small blade to her heart. The birds would sing and the sun would cascade over her, bathing her in a glorious warmth as the blade came closer to her skin. And as she drew the blade ever closer she in turn felt better, the pain began to evaporate and all the misery like a gust of wind, swept over the meadow and was gone. Each dream of death became sweeter like honey and she became intoxicated with its power, so much so that it pained her to awaken from such dreams. If only she had the energy to get out of bed and find that meadow. All her troubles would be forfeit and she would be not a burden upon the universe any longer, she would bring ease to all those she had brought pain too and her husband could live a happier life, free from her and the memories she induced.

“Eveline?” a male voice awakened Eveline from her dream, filling the room with unwanted noise. Eveline knew the voice of the reverend and felt her body stiffen as he entered her room gently, his footsteps leaving their imprint upon her mind as her crossed from the door and came to her side bringing with him a chair. “It is I Matthew, do you remember me?” the reverend asked as he sat down and glanced over at the small leather backed bible upon Eveline’s bedside table. He gently lifted the bible and opened its pages, his eyes widening at the message within from Galean. Eveline watched him darkly as he returned the bible to her table and smiled at her weakly. “You are probably wondering why it is I am here are you not?” he asked with a concerned look. Eveline simply stared at him, her gaunt face as white as a sheet, a look which had greatly disturbed him at first. This young woman had altered so much since he last beheld her that he felt a rush of anger towards Theodore. “Your husband came to me last night concerned for you and so I am here to help.”

“I don’t need help,” Eveline whispered, her lips and throat dry.

“Yes you do,” Matthew said with firm certainty. “What darkness you find yourself in child, how gaunt and changed you are.”

“Go away!” Eveline tried to cry out but found her words where nothing but air.

“No,” Matthew said with gentleness as he leaned forward. “I am bound to protect you, even if you do not will it so.”

“I want to sleep, I am tired,” Eveline lied to the pastor, who now placed a warm hand upon her forehead.

“You have been too long in your sleep Celestine, it is time to awaken.”

“I don’t want too,” Eveline said with force. “I don’t want to be here.”

“Why?” the reverend asked quietly. He had seen and aided many who had suffered from severe bouts of depression and grief and clearly understood that she had been caught by the hand of misery. For many of those with whom he had visited the depression never departed them and they became bound to its cycle for years. He knew that he could not allow Eveline to fall victim to the same severity, she was meant for greater things and he and his free masonry friends had a duty to ensure the granddaughter of Heiden lived on and took up her place upon the throne of Calhuni, no matter the cost. As he looked down into her child like face, a great sadness took him for her pain was so raw it reached out to him and with fiery hands ensnared his rationale mind. Her golden eyes once so bright were dull and spiritless. Her beautiful skin was greying and dry and her beautiful lips were pale and sickly. Little did she know that all the great and powerful minds of the world were a part of her story here on earth. Many called them by other names, many scorned them and many revered them. But those within the free masonry movement where bound to protecting her, they were made up of normal human beings and guardians all with whom had pledged their allegiance to Heiden and Celestine. Of course only a select few including himself had been informed of Eveline’s whereabouts and those within the Keswick masonic lodge were not just ordinary men and women, they were highly intelligent and gifted men and women chosen from around the world to live in the small and quiet Keswick.

“You are pale and in need of food Eveline, don’t you think it is time to awaken?” the reverend asked Eveline.

“I’m not hungry,” Eveline groaned as she moulded her head and body into the folds of her bed.

“But you are hungry,” Matthew stipulated sternly. “Even now your stomach rumbles at my words.”

“If you have come here to revive me then you have come in vain!” Eveline said coldly. “I am a curse to all that look upon me, I do not deserve to fill my stomach. I deserve nothing.”

“Those are the words of your captor,” the pastor said gently. “Who wishes you to fade away into nothing, who wishes you to inflict such misery upon yourself.”

“I am a murderer! I am the reason for all the misery that condemns man. I am not worth any of this.”

“Is that what you truly believe?” Matthew answered with furrowed brows. “That you are an arrow of death and misery and nothing more? Is that what Estelle, Belle and all those who loved you believed of you? Is that why they loved you even in death because you are a curse? Because you are nothing but a plague upon mankind?”

Eveline’s eyes widened with horror at the pastors words. No matter how hard she tried to push the words away they drenched themselves into her soul and mind.

“I killed them,” she whispered faintly, a tear falling from her dry eye.

“No you did not kill them, you were possessed,” Matthew whispered softly. “You were possessed by a demon, a demon called Nathaniel who relishes in violating the minds of beautiful and kind people. He killed those you loved.”

“Then why have I blood on my hands?” Eveline asked as she wiped her face with the back of her hand.

“Because he used your body against your wishes and abused it so that you would be forever covered with the blood of his victims,” Matthew said with passion. “If a man takes it upon himself to violate another is it the victims fault? Would you blame that victim?”

“No,” Eveline whispered shaking her head. “But I should have done more, I should have overcome him and I did not.”

“You had not the power or education to overcome Nathaniel,” Matthew said with raised brows. “You had not the ability to stand against him.”

“I am still a murderer.”

Eveline turned away from Matthew and wept into her pillow as the reverend watched on with grief.

“I am not gifted with the time in which to try and bring you back from this darkness that ensnares you,” Matthew said cautiously. “Even now you are being hunted from the furthest part of the universe. I wish I had the grace to enable you to mourn for those you love, to allow you the time to come to terms with all that has passed but I do not.”

“Then let me be no more,” Eveline cried. “I don’t want to live. I can’t live with my shame and guilt.”

“Everyone whose heart is filled with life and light is dependent on you whether you wish it or not,” Matthew said with a stern voice. He got up onto his feet and made for the second window and swept back the heavy curtains, letting a greater amount of light seep into the room. Eveline cried out louder as though burned. “You have the power to protect the needy, the vulnerable and the innocent from demons such as Nathaniel. You and only you have this power, would you see it turned to dust simply because you are unable to see past the darkness that blinds you? Is this what your parents would have wanted?”

“You cannot make me better!” Eveline cried out, thumping her fists against the bed. “I am an ill curse, I will bring only heartache and disappointment.”

“I will not allow that to happen do you hear me?” Matthew cried out, striding over to the other side of her bed and grabbing the sheets, pulling them off her body dramatically. “This world is in a state of peril because of man, how do you think it will bare when faced with the even greater threat of Lagar? Do not let your pride get in the way of who you are. You are too intelligent to allow that voice of doom to ensnare you with its deceitful propaganda that you are a curse, that you are worthless and that the universe would be a better place without you! Do not let your mind glorify in the thoughts of death” Eveline looked up into his passionate face and growled. “I know the route it takes within the mind, I know the power it can wield and the destruction it can cause. I have watched good men and women fall victim to its lies and have watched them whither into mere shadows of who they once were. If you think for a moment that I will allow you, you! To fall into the hands of its storm then you are gravely mistaken.”

“Who are you to speak to me as though you were my grandfather?” Eveline cried out so loudly that the room shook. Without thinking she arose from her bed and stood tall before the reverend, her eyes bright and her face unearthly.

“I am nothing,” the reverend replied coolly. “I unlike you do not have the power to change the course of the future.” Eveline stared hard into his eyes, her body shaking with anger. With a sudden weakness she fell down upon her bed and grabbed her sheets, plunging under them once more.

“Leave me.”

*

Theodore was pacing the morning room after hearing the raised voices upstairs. Around him the reverends housekeeper, Mrs Brown was busy cleaning undisturbed by the events that were taking place above them. Soon enough Matthew entered the room with a heavy sigh.

“Mrs Brown, a cup of tea if you wouldn’t mind?” he asked with a tired expression.

“Of course!” the elderly lady smiled, leaving the room and making for the kitchen.

“What on earth happened?” Theodore asked with an urgent expression. Matthew found a seat and sat down, placing his head into the palms of his hands.

“She is worse than I thought,” he said aloud. “Although there is hope.”

“Hope?”

“Did you not hear her yell?” Matthew asked, raising his eyes to the Theodore.

“Yes.”

“There is life in her still and strength if only we can encourage it to come forth.”

“And how do we do that?” Theodore asked as he took a seat opposite the reverend.

“Time and gentleness,” Matthew said with soft eyes. “Do you think it would be possible for Mrs Brown to live with you for a while, I feel she may aid our cause as a mother comforts her child.”

“But of course she must stay if she will help Eveline,” Theodore returned quickly with hopeful eyes. Soon the housekeeper entered with a tray of tea and biscuits.

“Thank you Mary,” Matthew smiled as he took a cup of tea from his housekeeper. “Mary would you mind awfully staying here for a few weeks and maybe attending to Eveline? You were a close friend of Estelle’s and she may find comfort in your presence.”

“If you wish it,” Mary replied with a warm face, filled with motherly concern.

“I do,” Matthew nodded. Mary left the room with a nod and when she closed the door behind her, Matthew slumped back into his chair.

“What is it?” Theodore asked cautiously, setting his cup down.

“I have received some un nerving information this morning,” Matthew replied before taking a quick sip of his hot tea.

“What information?”

“Have you heard of the four knights?” Matthew asked quietly, his hands folded before him.

“The four knights? No,” Theodore replied with a confused expression. “Who are they?”

“You have heard of the princes of Hell I take it?” Matthew asked patiently, the room growing dark as he spoke.

“Yes but what have they to do with four knights?”

“When Lagar came to power he resurrected great warriors of this earth and others and gifted them with great and terrible powers, for he cannot be in all places at once,” Mathew explained. “At first they were used to slay his brothers own knights as we call them.”

“You mean the battle of the Gods?” Theodore said with raised brows as he soaked in the information. “That was tens of thousands of years ago, I thought Lagar’s knights had been slain by Aedon?”

“No that is a myth long held by guardians and the like,” Matthew replied with a worrisome look upon his usually calm and collected face. “Indeed they were never again heard of and the reason for that may shock you a little.”

“Go on,” Theodore prodded, leaning forward a little with anticipation.

“In fact they grew too powerful for Lagar to control and so he had them killed.”

“Well then they are dead yes?” Theodore replied with a confused face.

“Think on my words a moment,” Matthew instructed the young angel, sitting back in his chair and taking another lengthy sip of his tea, watching the information pass over Theodores face until finally he looked up from the ground with wide eyes.

“They had been resurrected,” Theodore whispered fearfully.

“Indeed. It is said that their great bodies were placed within Lagar’s magnificent palace taking centre stage for all too see and fear,” Matthew explained as he drew his gaze away from Theodore and let it settle among the flames of the fire. “My source tells me that they have come to life once more.”

“How could your source know such a thing?”

“He is a shadow,” Matthew confessed. Silence filled the room as Theodore looked on at Mathew with angered eyes.

“You share information with a shadow?”

“Sometimes we must do things, things for which we are not always proud for the greater good,” Matthew whispered lowly, sensing the anger in Theodore and understanding it with shame. “It is the only way in which we can have eyes on the inside.”

“And how can you trust such a source?” Theodores said with a sour glare. “How do you prevent that said source from going to Lagar with information on you?”

“There is one thing that separates a shadow from a guardian, do you know what that is?”

“They do not want to be controlled and limited,” Theodore answered gruffly. “They are greedy and in want of power.”

“Indeed, we are pledged to ensuring there is peace within our universe and at times that means having to be selfless,” Matthew said turning his brown eyes to Theodore. “We willingly abide by our laws and God and in return we are given our safety and peace, but shadows,” he shook his head. “Shadows only want what they seek and to us that is against all that we are, but it means that they are easy prey when we are in search of information.”

“And this shadow? What does he or she receive in return for his not so honest information?”

“Position within his legion,” Matthew answered bluntly. “He wanted to become a commander but in order to become said commander he needed help with getting rid of the current now previous commander.”

“And how did you do that?”

“There are many gifted and talented guardians within the masonic fellowship, it was easy to get rid of him in return for information,” Matthew said with a shrug.

“Even so he may yet have lied to you.”

“He did not lie,” Matthew said with certainty.

“How do you know?”

“There are ways in which to extract the truth without the source knowing.”

“He may yet tell his master.”

“Not if he values his own life and new found position,” Matthew answered darkly. Theodore sat back again and sighed, this man so calm like and respectable was more complex than he had given him credit for. “Those within our fellowship are chosen very carefully. We are not all that you see. We must conduct our affairs in manners that may seem corrupt to you, but we do it with good intentions and place no one in danger.”

“I am not ignorant to the fact that there are many within our kind that also seek power and position,” Theodore murmured bitterly.

“No you are not,” Matthew said with a knowing look. “However all our actions must be cleared with our superiors before anything happens.”

“These knights that we all believe to be dead are now clearly alive, may I ask what their intention is?”

“Celestine of course,” Matthew said matter of factly. “These knights are so powerful their own creator fears them, for Lagar to bring them back from the dead means he is now in serious pursuit of Celestine and will stop at nothing to find her.”

“And they are where at present?” Theodore asked with frightened eyes, his hands shaking slightly.

“Of that we do not know yet, this news is only fresh, having only received it myself this morning,” Matthew answered, his shoulders bent and his head low. “But they will surely make for Keswick and that is why we need to get Eveline away from here immediately before it is too late.”

“She is unfit to embark upon another journey,” Theodore hesitated. “She cannot even get out of her bed let alone walk about her room. And where is it exactly that we would journey too?”

“Anglesey, it is the only place in which she will stand a chance against these knights,” Matthew pleaded. “She must make for the druids, they can protect her and from their she can make for Ravinston and then to the penrhos delis standing stones.”

“To pass through the stones and return to Unas?” Theodore asked with a frown.

“Yes,” Matthew nodded, his eyes curious as they searched Theodores face. “There is no place for Celestine here upon this earth, her identity has been revealed she is no longer safe. The druids can protect her from the knights and the headmaster of Ravinston being a druid priest can shelter you both until the summer solstice.”

“Eveline will never be able to journey to Anglesey in such little time,” Theodore said with raised hands. “She doesn’t want to return to her world, she wants to build a life here with me.”

“Theodore may we speak plainly?” Matthew asked with a serious face.

“I have a feeling you will speak either way,” Theodore replied, running his hands over his face.

“There is no time now for options, unless you want Eveline to die you will help her make her mind up quickly and return her to her world with swiftness.”

“And if she still wishes to stay?”

“I don’t think you need me to answer that, I think you know quite well what will happen if she chooses to stay Cael.”

Theodore understood the reverends command well and as he closed his eyes briefly weighed up the pro’s and con’s chiefly the death of Galean topping the list of pros. With no prophecy now and no competition with his once great friend there was nothing now to stop him from returning to Unas with his wife when she was better. The path forward was clear, he would take Eveline to the island of Anglesey and would with her pass through the stones of time and aid her in claiming back her throne.

“I will try my best to alter her mind-set, though it will not be easy she is to put it plainly stubborn,” Theodore said aloud as Matthew finished sipping on his tea and stood up.

“I am glad you agree with me,” the reverend replied politely. “There is not much time, she will need to be ready within the month.”

“Again I shall try my best,” Theodore replied as he stood and opened the door of the morning room.

“Then I shall take my leave,” Matthew exclaimed with a slight smile. “And do not worry the area is secure and Theodore?”

“Yes?” Theodore replied as the reverend came to stand before the cottage door.

“I will be coming with you to Anglesey as her grandfather has instructed,” Matthew said with stern eyes as he helped himself to his coat and hat.

“I see,” Theodore murmured as the minister finally finished putting on his coat and hat.

“He was insistent that I journey with you both for added security.”

“That makes sense considering we now have four incredibly powerful knights after us,” Theodore said with a sour smile. “We need all the help we can muster.”

“I am glad we both agree on that,” the reverend smiled as he bent his hat. “I shall come over in the morning and help Mary with her belongings. Until then I wish you well.”

“Good day,” Theodore smiled as the minister turned and walked down the cottage path, opening the quaint garden door and turning left walking down the country path and out of sight. Theodore closed the door behind him and sighed heavily. It would be no easy feat trying to bring Eveline out of her period of grief, no easy feat for both of them.

*

Eveline could feel the presence of Mary as she entered her room, her warmth radiating about her like a comfort blanket. At first it made her quiver with frustration and then somehow she felt herself soften as the old housekeeper came to place a small bowl upon her bedside table.

“Look at you child,” Mary chided gently as she rolled back Eveline’s blanket with a sigh. “So gaunt. When did you last eat?”

“I’m not hungry,” Eveline groaned, closing her eyes and curling her body even tighter.

“I won’t hear of you not eating, now come I have made you some broth,” the plump old woman said with a stern voice. “I fed you right up when you were ill with the measles do you remember? Stubborn then and still as stubborn now.”

“I am not a child anymore,” Eveline moaned as the housekeeper gently swept away her greasy locks of hair.

“You need a good bath too,” Mary went on as she a mother to four grown up daughters pestered Eveline to sit up, placing her pillows behind her back before wrapping her blankets about her waist. “Now that’s better,” she smiled coming to sit down upon the side of the bed, picking up the bowl of broth. “Now I won’t hear another word until you have eaten all of this.” Eveline scowled slightly hoping her appearance would place the fear of god into the homely old woman, but she was to wise Mary, she was not to be fooled and so Eveline obediently opened up her mouth and sipped on the broth. At first she tried to resist the motherly care but in time her eyes softened and her wall fell as the plain green eyes of Mary soothed her pain a little, her motherly affection reminding her of Estelle which in turn brought spikes of tears to her eyes. “Now, now it’s okay to cry child, that’s it let it out.”

After half an hour of feeding, the bowl laid empty upon her bedside table and her stomach was filled with warmth and she felt the blood in her body course through her with unspoken joy. Eveline laid back against her pillows and watched as Mary attended to the cleaning of the room, humming under her breathe as she dusted, her gaze reverting to Eveline every few minutes as though to make sure she was still breathing.

“I remember the day you first came to Keswick,” Mary smiled as she began to dust Eveline’s dressing table. “What a stir you caused what with those brilliant gold eyes and your burning auburn hair. You scared all the religious folk into a frenzy. I couldn’t understand why they took such a disliking to you for all I saw was a forlorn child in need of a good home. My own daughters of course were bewildered, your looks being so peculiar and singular. They asked me if the rumours of you being a witch where true and each time I roasted their ears. You were just a child like them and being orphaned as you were you needed comfort not ridicule.”

“I am not shocked by their observations, I was and am peculiar,” Eveline answered, seeing her own and Mary’s reflection in the mirror. She was shocked at how thin and gaunt she had become, shocked at how altered she looked. With a low groan she furrowed for her jewel and wrapped it within her hand, glancing down at her mother’s ring on her index finger.

“You were never peculiar to me,” Mary whispered seeing the yellow jewel beneath Eveline’s fingers. “My mother’s generation, well those in high society often thought them that were blessed with auburn or red hair were of the devil. Not I, such stupid ideas they had back then. How could children so innocent and gentle be of the devil?”

“Children are free of bad blood,” Eveline said with passion as an image of her beloved Belle formed within her mind. “It is we adults who are tainted in blood.”

“Those who choose to be my dear, not all of us as bad,” Mary smiled warmly. Now finished with the dressing table she turned to the windows and stood for a moment glaring down at the great lake. “It is a fine day is it not? Spring is coming and still our poor boys fight and endless war.”

“When has man never not been involved in a war of some kind?” Eveline exclaimed with an air of graveness. “As soon as one war is over another erupts elsewhere, our very story of humanity is one long story of war.”

“Men will never stop arguing or fighting dear, but it is the innocent young men that pay for it with their life’s,” Mary retorted with a sad expression, her hand stilling for a moment as she sighed. “My husband fought in the First World War and never truly recovered from it, do you want to know what he asked me when he came home?”

“What?” Eveline enquired quietly. Mary turned to her with a cloth in one hand.

“He asked me what it was for and I had no answer but that it was for the crown and country,” Mary said with a shake of her head. “Still there is no answer that can comfort his restless heart.”

“Men endowed with power will always want more and at times that means having to sacrifice the life’s of the innocent,” Eveline whispered as she slithered back down under her sheets, her heart and mind beginning to fall into the similar pattern of pain. Mary watched on with a grave face as Eveline curled up into the foetal position once more and began to groan with grief. Healing would take time and Mary vowed in that moment that she would take whatever time available to her in order to help the young woman get back on her feet. “Come now, it will all be alright just you wait and see,” she cooed, coming to sit by Eveline.

“Nothing will ever be alright,” Eveline wept into her hands.

“But it will just you wait and see,” Mary soothed, stroking Eveline’s head lightly with her free hand. “Spring is just around the corner and in time you will come to love the rays of the sun once again.”

“But will they love me?” Eveline wept pathetically, her body shaking with pain and sickness.

“How could they not?” Mary smiled warmly. “You were created in such a way one would almost think the sun put you together, your hair being so fiery and your eyes so gold. The sun is a part of you child and you apart of it.”

“I have lost everything,” Eveline moaned as she felt herself soften a little under Mary’s touch.

“Not everything Eveline, your husband lives and he needs you,” Mary said with sadness. “Together you can bare your burdens as one that is the joy of marriage.”

“I am a terrible wife.”

“There is no wife alive that is perfect, trust me,” Mary said with a slight lilt in her voice. “And there are no perfect husbands. Your marriage is still in its early stages yet you can choose to let it grow if you will it, but staying bound to your room and bound to this war of emotions will only separate you both when you need each other the most.”

“I wish I could believe in your words, truly,” Eveline sniffed as she turned her eyes upwards to Mary. “But if you knew the truth of it all then you would agree with me.”

“How do you mean?” Mary asked with a confused expression.

“If I told you, you would not believe me,” Eveline said with a sigh. “If it wasn’t for me, Estelle would still be alive. If it wasn’t for me then none of this would have happened.”

“Listen to me,” Mary said with an angry expression. “And you listen well to my words for I will only say this once.” Eveline ceased moving and found her eyes cemented to the old woman’s. “You are a beautiful young woman with whom was and is greatly loved and cherished by Estelle and your husband. If you believe yourself tainted then you are wrong, I have watched you grow up and defy all those within the town who would see you gone from this place. You have no bad blood within you, whatever it is you believe you have done to your mother I am sure was not done with intent. I have known and met many a bad person in all my years and you are not one of them, do you understand?” Eveline knew deep within that she could not argue her point and so merely nodded her head in recognition of the housekeeper’s wise words. “Now we may not cure this grief and depression for a while yet but I will not stand by and watch you succumb to it any longer, if not for yourself then for Estelle. I shall go and run you a warm bath and you shall let me bathe you, understood?” Again, Eveline knew she could not argue and so merely nodded her head once more. “Good, now I shall be back within the hour for you. Be ready.”

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