FOREVER KNIGHTS: #7 King of Assassins

Rosewynn Manor, Outside Meadowbrook, Grier Country (The Fallen found for eight years)

DERAGAN

While William found a room to put Nora in, Marcus set Beth in the cleanest bed in the cleanest room he could find. Yanking off sheets browned from dust, he shook out the blankets before tossing them over her.

He used matches from the stand and lit a candle next to the bed. Using it to start a flame in the fireplace to warm her.

Kissing his baby sister’s forehead, he whispered goodnight and pulled the door closed behind him.

As his footfalls faded Beth’s sobs emerged. Persistent tears trailing a dusty pillow despite her brother’s sincere efforts.

“What’s so wrong?” The voice floated in through the door.

Jumping at the sudden voice she squinted at the closed door. “Many, many things!” She proclaimed. Eyes widening at her own willingness to answer.

“Such as?”

“Who are you?” She peered at the slab of wood. “Are you Nora’s friend?” When there was only silence, she explained. “Airon told me she talks to the air sometimes. And she gets those flowers…Her favorite.” She drew a quaking breath. “Is that you?”

“Yes.” Was the hesitant answer.

Appeased she elaborated. “It’s scary here...” She confided. “And dark. I’m cold. And there’s this!” Lip quivering, she thrust out her doll for inspection.

“She’s broken!” She shook it to express the injustice than whimpered. “I did not tell Nora because she’s already worried about us. I couldn’t tell anyone!” Her arms fell limply back to the blankets.

“And this bed smells.” Her small nose wrinkled.

“Dusty.” He commented. “One thing at a time.”

Gold and silver lights brightened the room and poured over her blankets. Dirty gray wool covers swelled into a plush cream comforter. It smelled fresh-washed like the ones at home. It smelled like her bed.

“Thank you.” She said in awe.

“Now, about that doll...Come to the door.”

She opened the door with no sense of reserve. Seeing the strange shadowy shape sitting on the floor next to the door. The dark hallway made it impossible to see his face.

“You look real.”

“I do look that way. But I am only real part of the time.”

She frowned but the expression quickly fell away as she excitedly lifted the doll to him. A thick crack marred the delicately painted face.

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll help with that.”

Eyes dark saucers she nodded.

The doll was lifted from her hands and she watched the back of it floating. A dark haze like smoke held the doll. In moments the doll floated around to face her. A small ethereal light bloomed above it to illuminate only the tiny face.

“She’s fixed! Oh, Samantha!” Beth gasped. Clutching the doll in her arms. Dropping her cheek to the porcelain head.

“May I show you something?” He asked.

She nodded absently. Her gaze locked on her doll.

A narrow window at the far end of the corridor creaked slightly as the shutters eased opened. Setting Samantha aside Beth padded to it. The black lawn below held piles of dry clumped vines and in the center a high stack of withered branches. She sensed the presence next to her but knew she’d be unable to see it in the dark, so she stared out instead.

“Is that why it seems so horrible?” He queried.

“It doesn’t help.” She whimpered.

“Would this?”

Flashes of white crisscrossed like lightening peeling away the night sky. Vibrant as an afternoon sun it brought the orchard to life. Thick trees became green and heavy with fruit surrounding the lush lawn. Expansive with well-tended grass. The mass of vines in the center of the drive vanished, uncovering a glorious white marble fountain. Crystal water burbled softly down in the pond.

Drawing a deep breath, she saw daylight blooming toward them. Sticking her head out the window she watched vines clambering the wall. Winding tendrils reaching toward her.