Death at Kimbal

Chapter 2

Effie woke suddenly and sat up in her bed. She was still wearing the blue dress that she'd put on the night before, not having had time to change. Through a gap in the curtains she could just see the moon, framed by sparkling stars. She looked at the small pocket watch on her bedside table and groaned loudly.

"Midnight." She whispered before lying down and trying to sleep once more. No matter how she tried her eyes would just not rest. After thinking about it she decided that she would go just down the corridor to where Ed's room was and wake him as well. She stood up and crept towards the door, grabbing her nightgown to keep her warm.

She tip-toed along the abandoned passageway, taking care not to step on creaky floorboards or trip. When she reached Ed's door she knocked once and slipped into his dark room. She could just make out the silhouette of his body, hidden underneath the sheets. Effie sat on the edge of his bed and shook him gently. Ed turned around and jumped. He had obviously been awake and by the look on his face, crying as well.

"Ed." Effie gasped, jumping, "I just wished to talk to you. I had a bad dream and-" Ed swung himself around and hugged her tightly, cutting Effie off mid-sentence.

"I am so sorry Effie," He cried and hugged her tighter, "I never meant to."

"Never meant to what?" Effie said soothingly, stroking his pale hair.

"You do not know?" Ed said, pulling himself away from her and pulling his knees up to his chin.

"No." Effie smiled kindly, "Tell me Ed. What have you done? I won't be angry I promise."

"I found out about Ma and her 'dearest Lucian'." He frowned, "I was so angry at him for what he was doing. He is splitting our whole family up and then just holding parties and ignoring us!"

"Ed," Effie warned, putting a finger on her lips to hush him, "Shush. Carry on, but quieter."

"Yes," Ed mumbled, "I mean have you met him? He's horrible."

"Yes Ed, I have met him." Effie said seriously, "He is a nice man you know, give him a chance. You might end up really liking him. And anyway, it is not our decision. If Mama loves him then it is her choice."

"No," Ed said stubbornly, folding his arms, "I will not like him. He has ruined our life, so I am going to ruin his." He scowled deeply and sat back against his pillow. Ed sat like that for a couple of seconds until his frown melted and he started crying.

"I am so sorry," He whispered over and over again, "I'm so so sorry." He pulled himself up to Effie and cried into her dress.

"Ed," Effie laughed gently, "Do not be like that I beg you, just tell me. This will all be fine, I promise."

"Please Effie," Ed said, pulling away from her, "I told him."

"Who?" Effie replied, suddenly nervous, "Ed, who did you tell?"

"Papa." Ed mumbled quietly, "I was so angry and I wanted to-"

"You told Papa?" Effie gasped and stood up, "Oh good Lord, he'll kill her, and Lucian!"

"I could not care less if he killed him." Ed said maliciously, "I want to hurt him. Destroy him for what he's done." Effie ran her hands nervously through her long, knotted hair, terrified of what might happen.

"Ed, I need to go." She said quickly, "I need to go find Ma and tell her everything."

"Please no," Ed begged her, "Do not tell her."

"I have got to Ed," Effie said forcefully, "The wedding is in two days and with any luck we shall have a dead groom. Now go to sleep, there is a party tomorrow and you do not wish to be tired." She stroked his head gently until he climbed back under his covers and closed his eyes. Within minutes he was asleep and Effie left him, wanting nothing more than to return to her bed and sleep once more.

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"Party time Effie," Lucian grinned as he swung his head around the door, "Meet me downstairs in a couple of minutes, I'll go tell Ed."

"Thank you," Effie grinned happily and started to tie her hair back. She brushed it into a scruffy bun and smiled at her reflection. She was still wearing the same blue dress, she still hadn't found the time to change it. She had woken up at midday and hadn't left her room since then. She hadn't even found time to talk to her mother about what Ed had said last night.

A few minutes later Effie was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for her brother.

"Finally," Effie said, when at last he arrived.

"Stop it," He replied and punched her playfully on the shoulder.

"Well you did take hours dearest brother of mine," Effie groaned and punched him back, "The party has begun without us." Effie slipped her arm into her brother's and dragged him towards the hall. The room was packed, couples were dancing and people were chatting and laughing. They tried to slip in through the door and pretend they had never been gone but someone caught sight of them and cheered loudly.

"Hey!" He laughed and pointed at them. The man had a thick, Scottish accent and was wearing a kilt, "Come here Ed, join us at last." Ed darted away and joined the old man by the bar, leaving Effie standing awkwardly on her own. She scanned the room quickly, hoping to find her mother, but couldn't find her. Instead she saw Lucian, standing with a group of friends and laughing loudly. She walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder,

"Lucian," She said.

"Call me Luc sweetie," He said, turning away from the men he was talking to and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Of course, Luc," Effie said uncomfortably, still looking around distractedly for her mother, "Do you know where my Ma is?"

"Hmm," He said, also looking around the room for her, "No I don't actually."

"Oh," Effie said, a little disappointed, "I was hoping you would. Oh well, I shall go find her."

"No sweetie," Luc said, shaking his head, "I will look for her. Enjoy the party, you only just arrived."

"Thank you." Effie said quietly, watching him shake hands with each of his friends before turning and heading towards the door. After a couple of seconds thought Effie started to follow him, slipping out of door as discreetly as she could.

She was halfway up the stairs when she heard the scream. It was shocked, despairing and heartrendingly sad.

"Luc." Effie gasped, starting to run up the stairs, heart rising to her mouth, "Luc!"

She ran up the staircase as fast as her heels would allow her, terror consuming her entire body. As she approached the her mother's bedroom she started to slow, her hands shaking uncontrollably. A small trickle of dark red liquid seeped from under the door, pooling gruesomely.

"Luc?" Effie whispered, gently pushing the door open.