Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
D awn came early the next day. I woke to an empty bed. Maaier had chosen to remain in his own bed to not raise more suspicion than necessary about our situation. Dorian had snored most of the night. Sniffing through her dreams as if saddened by something. She was desperate to return home, anyone could see that.
The two small girls had spotted her yesterday. Heeding my warning as she walked past them. They drifted back into the wall. Running up the stairs in the opposite direction. To be frank, I would have too. Dorain had had a vision that morning that had left her almost volatile. Even the staff dared not to go near her. She had stormed through the manor like a typhoon. Victor was the only one game enough to go after her.
I had dressed quickly before escorting Maaier into town. The Cursed Life of Death sitting hidden in my bag. I didn’t want to tell Maaier about it. Not yet anyway. I didn’t think he would be upset but I wanted to know the last little shred of the story for myself.
The carriage bumped over the damp road. The rain stilled long enough for us to get through.
My breath fogged the window. The cold chill of the air settled into the cabin. I glanced at Maaier across from me. His focus on something on the horizon.
“They are hanging the maid from the manor today,” He said so softly I had barely heard it.
I narrowed my gaze. Confused for a second before the realisation dawned on me.
“No,” I responded, Maaier shrugged.
“They found enough evidence to charge her with the murder of her husband and his mistress.”
“But Gracie couldn’t have done that. She wouldn’t have.” The woman was smaller than me for Christ sake. How could she have slaughtered her own husband?
“I agree,” Maaier said, reading my face. I slumped back in the chair.
“I don’t believe it,” I breathed.
“Me either.”
“How did they say she killed him?” Maaier straightened at my words. His dark eyes never left mine.
“They say she stabbed him sixteen times in the chest.”
“And the mistress?”
“Slit her throat.”
I exhaled, a small laugh of disbelief falling from my mouth.
“Horse shit. Complete and utter horse shit. The woman was scared of her own shadow!”
Maaier frowned but sat back. “I know. I saw her in the prison cell.”
“What did she say?” How on earth was he allowed in. And then it dawned on me. He himself was but a shadow.
“She was pleading to any guard that would listen that she didn’t do it. That she didn’t commit the murder. But the guards weren’t kind.” He avoided my gaze.
I muttered a curse under my breath. Damned pigs. My hands fisted in my green skirt. My teeth clenched hard together. Almost cracking under the weight of my frustration.
“Do you have to take their souls?”
Maaier frowned. That was all I needed to know. The poor man had a hard enough job. I couldn’t imagine taking the souls of the worst humans to the other side. I only hoped there was a special hell for each of them to live out their lives as if they were the victim on a continuous loop.
“I don’t take them to a good place. They go to the darkness. They don’t get an afterlife. They get nothing but endless nights with no stars to guide them.”
“Like me?” I whispered. Not wanting to hear the response as if I hadn't already chosen him.
Maaier nodded once before turning out the window. His face dropped with despair.
We arrived at the main street in silence. Maaier left me to take the soul he needed and me to find the strange bookstore. I needed to know where the book came from.
I wandered the city. Avoiding the people as they passed, staring at me like a ghost. I snorted back a laugh. If only they knew. The townsfolk didn’t bother to hide their stares. Each murmuring to the one next to them as I weaved my way through the crowd. Catching snippets of their words “attacked in the kitchen” “that witch Dorian” and “How could she be alive?”. Did they truly not notice me the last time I came? Surely the news didn’t travel that slowly.
“I heard that the maid who went mad was her personal maid.”
“I would go mad if I was her maid too.” Two young women giggled as I passed.
I ran my tongue over my lips, willing myself to stay calm. There was no use defending myself. Instead as I smiled my way past them, I lifted my hand. Knocking the ridiculous bonnet from the woman’s head. The ribbon around her throat tightened as it fell in my grip. The woman gasped before toppling backward with the imbalance.
I stifled my grin as I continued on. The people all gathered around her. Pulling her up from the muck but not one dared to say a thing to me. Good. Stupid people.
The street loomed before me. But the bookstore was nowhere in sight. The same bakery lined one side but next to it was a butcher. Not a bookstore.
The bell sounded as I made my way inside. A large stocky man stood behind a counter. His hands crossed over his large belly.
“Can I help you, love?” He said. His thick moustache moved like a worm as he spoke.
“This is going to sound rather strange but was there ever a book store here?”
The man shook his head once at my words. “Not as long as I've been alive. Been working here for almost thirty years, before that it belonged to my father." The man's gruff voice sounded confused but with the slightest hint of concern lingering through.
“My mistake. Thank you for your time.” I offered a warm smile before entering the street once more.
I questioned my sanity. The whole store had to be real. Where else would I have gotten the book? I reached into my bag. It was still there. In all its old faded glory. My fingers ran along the spine. My head spun with scenarios. Was this just another trick from Maaier? I lifted my gaze. Looking over the road before looking toward the police station down the road.
My skin chilled beneath my sleeves as gooseflesh rose. The frown on my face only grew. I squinted my eyes. Trying to see more of the person. A tall light haired man stood over a dark haired girl leaning against the wall of a building. Slowly, I walked down the road. Keeping to my side of the street.
This can’t be.
Father stood rolling his shoulders back. The girl grinned up at him. Her stare alluring. Father beamed back almost bashfully. People swept by me, no longer acknowledging my existence. As if I were a ghost once more.
I watched as my father took the young woman's hand and led her down the alley. Bile rose in my throat. My stomach clenched at the sight. The woman was no older than me. My poor mother. She had always dreamed that my father would love her long after she was gone and here he was throwing it in her face.
I sucked my teeth. Anger rose through me, warming my cheeks. Just as I went to take a step to cross the road a hand gripped my shoulder.
“There you are!”
I spun to face the voice. Victor smiled warmly before laying both his hands on my shoulders.
“What are you doing in town?”
“I came to pick up some supplies from Donovan for Dorian. She has insisted on making your birthday dessert,” He said brightly, I swallowed my rage. Stifling the fire burning. Was my father the attacker all along? I was annoyed at Victor for stopping me. Maybe I should tell him. He leaned forward. His breath skirted my ear.
“It’s not worth it,” He whispered softly so only I could hear. I stilled. My eyes widened. I was confused beyond measure. Victor’s words made no sense. “Do you trust me?”
I stopped at his question. My eyes found his light eyes. The same bright eyed expression as usual mirrored back.
“With my soul.” I admitted, “But Victor, what if he is-”
“I don’t think he is.” He cut me off.
I shook my head. More to clear it than anything. My head was spinning with questions. I couldn’t make ends of anything.
“Just because you don’t think he is, doesn’t mean he isn't capable of it.” I pleaded with him with my eyes. Needing him to understand and not believe the best in people like he always does. The skill was both a blessing and a curse to possess. One I didn't envy.
“He may be capable of it.” Victor dropped his hands from my shoulders. His hands now cupping my elbows. The townsfolk stopped to watch the sweet interaction.
“But?” I dared to ask. He looked around before meeting my gaze staring up at him.
“I will tell you more at home,” He said softly before turning and walking away from me.
Frustration roiled like a spark. His distraction from my father was not necessary. I stepped onto the road. Hurrying through waves of carriages to the alley way. The stench of urine and human waste rife in the air. I blocked my nose with my sleeve. The damp earth swallowed my footsteps. My skirts clenched in one hand so they didn’t drag through this filth. No voices floated from the shadows. Just my own shallow breathing against the cotton on my mouth.
“Vile people.” I muttered before facing the end of the alley way. Meeting a tall brick wall.
“Damn Victor!” I cursed under my breath. My one shred of information was now lost.
“Are you looking for the young girl, lassie?” A man’s voice drifted from over the wall, his Scottish accent was thick.
“How did you know?” I called back. My heart beat increased. This was a stupid idea to come down here unarmed.
“She made her way through the door but five minutes ago. Headed right down to the docks she did.”
I bit my lip. Looking at the wall once more and finding a small door on the right hand side. I knew better than to open it. I had no clue what was on the other side.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me, love. Thank the man escorting her down there.”
“Shit,” I cursed. The man laughed loudly, the sound like a hoarse bark.
The door swung open with a strong push. I thrust myself against the old wood. Stumbling as I ran through the alley way. I couldn’t spot the Scotsman but I called out a thank you to him anyway as I sprinted as fast as I could down the cobblestones. Stairs met the end of the alley and took them two at a time. Not caring if I fell. I needed to find my damned father.
I hurried down the streets. My eyes darted over each face. Boats loomed in the distance and I pushed forward. The sound of my foot falls pounded against the stones. People darted out of may. Staring at me like a mad woman as I ducked under the logs they carried and various other cargo.
There in the distance stood my father. His focus solely on a ship. The young girl waved to him from the bow.
I hissed through my teeth as I pushed forward. The crowd grew around the boat as they said their goodbyes. Tears and various calls shed to the sea as the ship pushed off. The girl practically leant over the rails to say goodbye to her family on the docks. They surrounded my father, who turned from the boat. Noticing me through the mass of people. A snarl large on my face.
Who in the hell was that woman and why was he sending her off?
My name hit my ears like a weight. Father pushed forward through the bodies of emotional people continuing to call their goodbyes to their loved ones.
I shook my head and turned away. I was so lost. Why was he sending her off?
“Vespera!” He barked my name once again.
I faced him as his hand met my shoulder. Fire burning within me.
“Sent her away so you can’t kill her too?” I tilted my head. A savage venom tainting my lips.
Father‘s eyes widened. His expression turned incredulous.
“Vespera, you have it all wrong!”
“Tell me what exactly I have wrong! Were you not in the alley with that girl?”
He stumbled for a response, his words scrambling over each other.
“Funny how she looks just like all the other girls murdered in town.” I kept my voice low. The dock now buzzing with people moving around us as the ship set for its course..
“Come on now. If you ain’t working, get off the docks!” A gruff man bellowed from behind. I turned my back on my father, feigning sweetness to the man.
“Sorry sir!” I called before pushing back into the crowd leaving for the streets. The scent of sea water made me nauseous.
Father called my name again but I paid him no mind. No doubt I would see him at home.
Was that what Victor had distracted me from? My father sending a young woman off? But why would he do that?