Secrets Can’t Stay Hidden
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Clarence knocks on the door, waiting for him to answer. The air is colder this early in the morning, winter is arriving quickly. Frost coats the grass and plants in a thin layer of white. The sun will no doubt melt the iciness away once it fully rises.
Holding his coat closed, the door opens up to his uncle’s sombre face. “Angels, it’s freezing. Get inside, Clarence.”
He doesn’t have to tell him twice.
Clarence steps in quickly, the door closing behind him and Will helps remove his coat, folding it and placing it on the small seat beside the door.
“What brings you here this early?”
He follows his uncle into the parlour, where a mug is already sitting on the side table, half drunk. An open book is placed on the arm of the chair, keeping it open. “I actually thought we could talk.” Clarence says as casually as he can muster.
“Tea?” Will offers to Clarence.
Clarence gives an answering shake of his head.
Will returns to his armchair, and his nephew sits down opposite him.
Clarence’s eyes move onto the bowl of browning produce in the middle of the table dividing them. Red apples bruising and peeling like they’ve been sitting there for a week too long .
“What did you want to talk about at,” he checks his pocket watch, “seven in the morning?” Will asks, taking a sip of his steaming tea.
“It’s nice having you back in London.” Clarence admits to his uncle, not answering his question immediately.
Will nods, swallowing his mouthful of milky liquid. “It’s good to be back.”
Clarence lazily runs his fingertip along the rough fabric of the armchair. “I know Kora missed having you around. I can’t believe Robert sent you away for seven weeks this time.”
Will looks at his nephew for a second with a flash of perplexity. It’s replaced quickly by cool indifference. “We had a lot of business to attend to.” He replies flatly.
“Right, yes,” Clarence continues, leaning forward onto his elbows, “tell me, though. What did that business entail?”
His uncle straightens his spine, his jaw visibly tightening. “Why are you suddenly so curious, Clarence? You never once asked me about my work before.”
“Since I am twenty-one and old enough to work for the Ascendancy, I thought I should be more invested. I should know more about what it is you do for Robert.”
Will shakes his head, a smile forming on his lips. “When you get to my position, you don’t discuss your work with anyone besides the leader.”
“Is that because it’s a secret?” Clarence asks, leaning closer to his uncle, “or because you’re doing something that you shouldn’t be?”
His uncle’s murky eyes narrow on his. “That is none of your business, Clarence. And if I were you, I wouldn’t question my work or what it is I’m doing.”
“Was part of your work going to see someone in Farringdon during the soiree at the Bladesmith manor?”
Will flinches, “Who told you about that?” his voice angry and gruff .
“What were you doing in Farringdon, Will?” Pestering him further, not wanting to stop until he gets an answer from him.
“You shouldn’t dig for information that you know nothing about, Clarence. It will just have you hurt.”
Clarence leans closer, his elbows digging into his knees. “What were you doing there?”
Will’s jaw ticks worriedly. “Stay out of this, Clarence, for your own good. I mean it.”
“Was it something that will get you into trouble?”
His uncle brings his clamped hands to his lips, the knuckles white with how tight he’s bracing them. “I had to see someone. About something Robert doesn’t know about. I didn’t want to be followed or questioned, so I went while everyone else was busy at the soiree. I just needed to speak with an Elemental about things I overheard in Ireland. That’s what I was doing.”
Clarence’s eyes shutter on Will’s, not entirely believing him. “Is this about my parents again?”
Will nods his head. “The Elemental had nothing useful though, it was just a suspicion I had, but it turned out to be wrong.”
“And why couldn’t you touch the blade?”
His face stills. “What blade?”
“Kora’s blade. It burnt you.”
“I told you, sometimes it chooses its owner.”
“I don’t believe you. Kora can touch it. I can touch it. Why can’t you? What are you not telling me?”
Will exhales deeply, his leg beginning to shake with anxiety. He stands from his chair. “I was wounded in Ireland. That’s why I came home early. I had demon poison in my system still. But I didn’t want Kora to worry about me, so I said that so she wouldn’t question me about the attack.”
Clarence stares at his uncle. He wants to believe him, but deep down, he can’t. Something isn’t sitting right in his chest .
“All right,” Clarence breathes out after a long minute, “if that’s what happened, then that’s what happened.”
He stands himself, facing Will, who seems agitated.
“You wouldn’t lie to your nephew, would you?”
Dark green eyes meet his as Will shakes his head. “No. But I also swore an oath to the Ascendancy I wouldn’t share any restricted information. So, you can’t breathe a word of the attack to anyone.”
“Fine. I won’t. Thank you for your honesty, Will.” And Clarence leaves his uncle in the middle of the room as Will blows out a long, drawn-out breath.
* ? * ? *
“Percy, I wasn’t expecting you here.” Tobias’ voice sounding just as surprised as the expression covering his face. It’s just before midday and the sun is trying its hardest to break through the thick layer of clouds blanketing the low sky.
He opens the door wider to the Carter manor. Percy gives him a half-smile, which makes Tobias uneasy. “I know you were not expecting me, but I have some news from Robert. Another body was found last night, after the ball.”
Tobias’ mouth gaps open as he stares at him in disbelief. “That can’t be. Who was it?”
“Mabel.” Percy says with a twinge of regret in his voice.
Tobias covers his mouth with his hand. Sweet little Mabel he and Josephine looked after when she was an infant.
“What happened?”
“She was found dead. Her body was carved in circles this time. Similar to Clara’s body, but with a different symbol.”
Tobias gasps as Josephine appears in the hallway behind him, wiping her hands dry on a piece of cloth. “Percy, what a surprise. I have pot of tea ready if you would like-” she trails off, seeing the grim expression on Tobias’ face when he turns to face her, “what is it?”
“Mabel was found carved this morning.”
The piece of cloth drops to the floor soundlessly. Josephine mimics the same gesture as her husband, her blue eyes wide with shock. “How?”
“Same as Clara, I presume,” Percy informs her from the doorway. “The White Women have been called back to examine her body, yet I am expecting them to say the same things as they did with Clara’s. If you would like to come to the infirmary, you may. Robert has asked the Elders to come to the Ascendancy.”
Tobias looks at Josephine beside him. “We should go.” He states.
She nods at her husband. “I shall tell Jordan we are leaving,” she says before glancing back at Percy. “Thank you. We shall be there shortly.”
“Of course.” He says, stepping backwards to the Chiswick carriage that’s pulled up in the front of their estate.
Tobias shuts the door as Jordan appears at the top of the staircase. “Son, there has been another death overnight. A young girl. Your mother and I are required at the Ascendancy.”
Jordan rushes down the stairs. “Who was it?” he asks hastily.
“Mabel Sallows.”
Jordan lets out a sigh of relief.
Both of his parents look at him as if they are questioning why he’s so relieved to hear her name.
Jordan shakes his head, clearing it of the thoughts of Kora possibly being found dead somewhere. “Go. I’ll stay here with Valarie.”
“Very well. We shall be back this afternoon.”
Josephine touches his cheek gently before following Tobias out the door.
They walk into the Ascendancy atrium hand in hand. Worry etched into Josephine’s face .
Hurrying down the spiral staircase into the infirmary where Will, Thomas, Percy, Adeline, Robert and Lucy are all standing around the cold body of Mabel. Josephine sees her familiar brown hair splayed out on the metal table, a white sheet covering her body past her clavicle.
“Where’s Jack and Louisa?” Wondering for a moment if nobody told her parents.
Robert clears his throat. “They have been down here all morning. You just missed them. Jack took Louisa home after I told him we would need to examine her body. She didn’t want to be here for it, which is understandable.”
Tobias steps closer, looking at Mabel’s stiffened figure. Eyes closed, lips colourless and skin as white as snow. “She was carved just like Clara?” he half asks.
“Yes, however, the carvings appear to be circles this time.” Percy states, stepping beside Tobias.
“Have you managed to find anything in your research yet that might suggest what this is, Percy?” Thomas Edevane’s voice fills the silent room.
Percy shakes his head. “Not yet. There doesn’t seem to be much in Seraphim history that’s similar to this. But my guess is that this has something to do with Shifters. Crescent moons and full moons. Look at the circles,” he lifts the sheet off half of her body, “that has to mean something.”
The others turn away, not able to stomach the mangled body lying before them. Pale white skin carved all over in deep, red circles. Dried blood clinging to her flesh. Her bare chest is still and lifeless.
Josephine and Adeline cover their mouths as Lucy turns to avoid looking down at the deceased girl.
“The White Women don’t suspect Shifters, though.” Will interrupts.
“But it makes sense,” Thomas opposes.
Will glares slightly at him .
“I think we should leave it for them to decide. They have the most experience about death.” Robert says definitively, brushing his fingers through his ink black hair. “Yet, it is safe to say, we have a creature targeting Seraphim.”
The others all nod in agreement.
“Both young Seraphim too. Both carved by this particular blade and attacked at night with no witnesses.” Tobias murmurs just loud enough for them to hear him.
“We might need to consider restrictions if this occurs again. We can’t afford to let our children out on their own if their death is probable.” They all agree with Robert as he covers up Mabel’s body with the sheet once again.
Josephine drops her hand from her mouth. “We should go see if Jack and Louisa are all right. This is certainly devastating for them. I can’t imagine how Millicent is feeling. She’s only eight and now without a sister. We need to see them.” Tugging on Tobias’ hand.
“I will come with you.” Adeline decides.
“I should as well.” Lucy agrees, strolling over to the two ladies.
“We need to wait for the White Women to come.” Percy indicates with his hands to the men in the room.
Josephine nods, giving Tobias a kiss on the cheek before disappearing out of the room with Adeline and Lucy.
“If they find her blood poisoned as well, then we have a repeat killer on our hands. I just can’t believe someone is out there killing these young girls. They did nothing wrong. And what if it is a Shifter or some lunatic Spellcaster, they’re not even our sworn enemies. The fact that something is out there doing this on purpose makes it even more heartbreaking.” Thomas’ voice breaks.
He feels Tobias patting his shoulder encouragingly. “I am sure Daisy will be all right, Thomas.”
“I pray so.”
“We can’t let this get to us. We are the Elders, the leaders of this Ascendancy. We are here to protect everyone. And that is what we’ll continue doing, protecting everyone. We can’t let this killer break us.” Robert’s fists his hands beside him as he speaks.
The sounds of sparks fill the air once again as the swirling silver portal appears on the wall between them.
Four White Women step out of the portal one by one. It snaps shut as soon as the last one enters the room.
Silver eyes fall onto the body lying limply on the metal table. “We received your request,” Lavina says to Robert. “It’s time for us to examine.”