The Secrets of The Soul Wanderer (In

Chapter 14

The room was quiet, my heart was racing and I was dare to admit it, a bit scared. The Knight licked his lips, and said what was internally dreading. "Hello Claire, don't worry I won't hurt you. I know your secret, its nice to have a sister don't you think?" I carefully replied, "I lost my real brother years ago, and I'm sorry about Gabs death, Marvin." He looked at me with sympathy and said, "Gab was the one who made me like this, he was my lover I saw the controlling side of him so I left him. It was hard at first but he made you, however I'm glad he didn't make you a Knight like me."

Before I could say anything, one of the Beagles nudged my hand, so I stroked the dogs head which took my tension off slightly.
I took a deep breath and revealed my secret, "the truth is Marvin, I kinda wish I was a Knight. I'm aware that Gab made us but he made me a Soul Wanderer. I can let my soul go on command, fly around and go inside peoples heads. A few days ago I almost died, Gab gave me some of his blood. I'm thankful to live but I wish it wasn't him who did it. Yet he was very defiant, I'm sorry for bothering you  Marvin, I must go."

I got up but was stopped by Marvin, his eyes were swollen with tears. His voice was trembling, "I'm sorry but now you have Knight blood in you, I'm afraid you're gonna look like me soon. Us Knights live for many years normally hundreds, occasionally a thousand. Please stay with me sister, I will care for you now."
I cried with Marvin on that couch, I was glad Gab was dead but he ruined my life and Marvins life. I wanted to be angry but the fucker was dead. Only sorrow and sadness could quell my anger.
Tine seemed to race against me, the pain I felt though was worse than losing Corvus, Clarisse and my biological brother combined.

When it came to night, I did my best to freshen up. One of the many housekeeping staff showed me to my room, it was a rustic but pretty room with its own en suite bathroom. Next to my bed was my suitcase, a bit damp but at least my clothes inside were dry. I opened the suitcase and the water works in my eyes triggered again, my head wouldn't accept that I would outlive my human family and friends.
I heard a note slip in under the doorframe, it said 'dinner is served in an hours time, I'm sorry to hear the news, from Reggie."

I folded the note and placed it on my bedside table, it felt nice to know Reggie was caring.
Reggies note had calmed me down, to distract myself I looked around my room. The bed was sort of firm and was soft to the touch, my window was actually a door that led to a little walk out balcony overlooking the meadow.
My en suite bathroom had a waterfall shower over a bath with jets around it, whatver Marvin worked in paid him a very good salary.
The solitude of the room got my head wondering if I really was turning out like Marvin. I took my top off and felt my shoulder-blades, my fears were correct, Marvin was right I was slowly but surely growing wings. I felt the tiny bones forming and touched the tiny feathers sticking out of me. So far I didn't feel pain but I was now a bigger outcast than before.

Maybe this is how Marvin felt before he met Gab, I wanted to cry but the tears wouldn't form, crying felt like a release for my problems. It was that or pure anger, and I didn't feel like destroying this beautiful place.
A knock on the door startled me, I recognised Reggie's voice "Dad says to eat dinner downstairs, also my Mum wants to speak to you." I put my top back on and opened the door to Reggie that showed me downstairs. There was two dining rooms, a large kitchen, the lounge and a basement that was the staff bedroom. The basement was warm with plenty of comfortable looking single beds, wardrobes and another room that was the staff bathroom. Reggie assured me that the staff were all paid well, but weren't allowed to have phones.
"Why aren't they allowed phones?" I asked Reggie, as we climbed up the basement steps. "If they have phones then the government can track them, if they wanna talk to their families they use the payphone a mile away. But we generally say less family the better. You don't have a phone do you?" Reggie asked, I do have a phone but it was dead.

When we arrived at the ground floor, a staff member wearing a chef outfit said "Mr Reginald and Miss Claire, your dinner is ready." We were escorted to one of the dining rooms, at first they looked the same but the tablecloth was black compared to the white one in the other room. I was rather hungry and dinner was on the table, sitting down on the wooden chair. I was suprised by the food, it was a slab of steak with herbed butter on top, broccoli next to it and square chips that were stacked like Jenga blocks.
It had been a long time since I ate, a typical student meal most times was pasta or instant noodles, which I do admit was not healthy at all. This dinner seemed to be the healthiest meal I'd eaten in a long ass time.

The door opened behind us, I saw a woman sat next to me, she had a few wrinkles on her face so I guessed she was in her late fifthties. Her hair was black like Marvins but was very long like a black haired Rapunzel. I noticed that she was short too easily five foot, but her voice was the typical bossy Scottish accent, I guessed that voice could clear a rowdy drunken pub in seconds.
"And what have we have 'ere, Marv lettin in school girls now?" The womans voice was loud, but despite me literally right here, she ignored me.
Reggie replied, "Ma she is like Dad, a lass from that Tosswank. That I killed by the way." Reggie's mother praised her son, not only was I extremely uncomfortable but Marvin entered the room sitting next to Reggie.
The room fell silent, it was clear that Marvin was the man of the house. I made myself small, but Marvin reassured me, "it's ok sister this is my family. My wife can be blunt, never mind her comments ok." I nodded, with everyone sat down I thought now was ok to eat. Until I saw the family do a pray, they chanted, "tiger white as snow, eagle made of gold and dragon made of sapphire. Holy One please keep us safe and protect our land."
After that we were allowed to eat, the food was delicious I let the steak juices coat my mouth. Everyone ate in silence and we all finished our meal at the same time. The chef came in and took our plates away, then left shutting the door.

It was Marvin that broke the silence, "so sister have you heard of the Holy One?" I shook my head, saying "no but I have seen the eagle made of gold," all three of them gasped with Reggie saying "How? He rarely shows himself to mortals." I told them about my clone, Clarisse and how I was dying but met the golden eagle. I even expressed my irritation to how Gab disguised himself as my biolological brother, then killed Clarisse with his donated blood.

I talked for what must've been till one o'clock in the morning and we ate at eight thirty at night. Meanwhile Reggie left the room at eleven, I guess he was tired so he took Pixi and Ozzy to his room. My voice was getting hoarse, but at the end of my story in which I told them my entire time at St Caesers, I felt much better in a fatigued sort of way.
Marvin and his wife, both took me to my room we were all tired. Both of them hugged me and both agreed to let me stay. I wished them goodnight and the moment I touched the bed, I was embraced in the land of sleep.