The Masquerade Of Black Death (UNDER RE-WRITING AND HEAVY EDITING)

Chapter Four

Ophelia woke up to loud coughing. She flung herself out of bed and down the small hallway, holding into the banister as she flung herself into Theodore's room. He was hunched over his bed, his white handkerchief covered in crimson blood. "Papa" she stroked his back. Sir Theodore had rosey skin gained with age, his blonde hair turned grey. It was long and braided bu Ophelia the night before. "Iris may we have some water?!" Ophelia jumped out shouting down the banister.
A moment later a well dress woman walked up the stairs. Her skin was sun kissed, her face small, her dark navy hair pulled into a low heat bun.
"Here you go, Lady Ophelia." The woman delicately placed the water in Ophelia's palms. "I told him last night not to let Aurelian's children run him to sickness." Iris somewhat scolded Theodore. He chuckled dismissively.
"I can't help it. They're too cute" Theodore smile remembering the night with Poppy and Flynn. Aurelian's adopted children. They're two years old. Theodore was told he was too old to adopt them, so Aurelian put his name down. They were reluctant but he threatened them. "When will I get my grandchildren?" Theodore looked at Ophelia. She blankly turned away.
"Is Lee shouting? Coming!" Ophelia ran down the stairs, her nightgown dancing with the sudden bursts of wind. Iris cleaned up Theodore and helped him up from the bed. She slowly took him downstairs and sat him at the small table in the tiny kitchen, there was a two person gap between the small round table and the corner and the counters. Aurelian plopped the plates in front of them. Aurelian sat against the counter. Ophelia looked over at him as she ate. "Why do you look so... nice? You look less scary" Ophelia coughed.
"We're going to see Eden" Aurelian couldn't finish his sentence without smiling. Eden Evan as a teacher at the church, when Aurelian was first bought by the Thompson's he didn't talk to anyone. He just sat on the bench and watched the children play next to the church. Until Eden started to sit with him for months until Aurelian finally spoke to him.
"Can you tell him he needs to come over for dinner? You both have been in a courtship for two years." Theodore extended his spoon at Aurelian. Ophelia snorted but then returned to a somewhat ladylike
Pose. "Dépêchez-vous! Huh!" Aurelian cried out. Ophelia shoved the food in her mouth and ran up stairs shouting
"I'm going! I'm going! We don't need to go for four hours!" Ophelia's stomps were so loud, Aurelian heard them downstairs
"You did as I asked?" Theodore glanced at Aurelian.
"Of course. I went the extra mile and ripped out his tongue. I still have it. Might scare the kids with it. Round two is tonight." Aurelian nodded. Theodore smiled at the thought.
"I never expected I'd be sitting here with food made by my old best friends son who I bought at a slave auction, while talking about killing people." Theodore leant back in his chair. He had been best friends with Hugo Bellbridge. Esme was best friends with Marionette Rose. Unfortunately after Marionette finished her studying in England she went home, she stayed in contact with Esme until she was taken as a slave. She was raped by Hugo and she carried his baby. Aurelian. For the first four years of Aurelian's life, he was a loving son. Until his father decided to sell both him and Marionette as slaves. House after house Marionette grew weak, and died. That's when Aurelian was abused by Hugo. Aurelian inhaled.
"Ah well, who'd expect I'd have a tongue in my room?" Aurelian smashed his lips together, a woman with tanned skin, faded scars and long white hair walked in.
"Anyone. Anyone would expect that, it's you. The wingless crow" she smirked. Aurelian grabbed her hair and she clawed at his face. "Ahh let go! I stated the facts! Paps help me!" Del'Luna looked over at Theodore with sympathetic eyes. But he didn't help her. Del'Luna was one of the many people Theodore adopted.
"Apologise right now." Aurelian leant into her arched back. "I'll show you my eyes" his words had a shocking tone to them. Del'Luna slapped his arm immediately apologising. "Are my eyes that bad?" He furrowed his brows. Del'Luna jumped up next to him, eating the scraps of food.
"Jokes. Did I do a good job last night? Those twats went down way too easy." She beamed up at Aurelian like a puppy. He nodded patting her head.
"You didn't stand no shit—"
"Enough of the swearing I'm eating here!" Theodore slammed his fork against the table. The two lowered their heads. "Thank you!" He huffed
"You don't stand no shit from no one" Aurelian jumped down, he couldn't see Theodore's glare but he felt it. "Old man frowning gives you wrinkles. You no longer pass as Ophelia's father, you're her great grandad" Aurelian ducked. "I know your moves" he gloated. Theodore picked up his spoon and hit it off Aurelian's head.
"Oh really?" Aurelian stood for a moment then bowed his head. "These kids think they can outsmart me? Huh I showed them Esme" Theodore often spoke to Esme, his late wife. He claimed he could see her. It was his way of not forgetting her. "Aurelian. If you do a good job, I'll give you a present." Theodore raised a brow and shovelled down his food.
"I don't need anything... you just got me new clothing last year" Aurelian felt disbelief, he hated when Theodore or Esme bought him new things, even as a reward.
"Shut your trap and let this old man do something nice for you." Theodore's voice had no evil in it. Aurelian smiled, shading his happiness with his hand. "Gosh this is delicious, do you have more?" Theodore held out his plate and Aurelian filled it up more.
"Oskar taught me how to cook. That's why it's so good" Aurelian placed the plate on the table. He did some odd jobs while he was waiting for the four hours to go. He cleaned Ophelia's instruments. Brushed her hair for her. Tried to style it but miserably failed and gave up in a huff. He then resorted to sitting on Ophelia's bed with her.