The return of the Dark

16

"I should leave you now," Robin said and with a wary look on his face, he looked at something behind me.

At the edge of the woods. The Merryweather Mansion.

"I don't want Odin to bite my ankles." Robin smiled at me, but it didn't reach his eyes. Those were trying to hide his fear of the big dog, knowing he would bite more than just his ankles.

"When will I see you again?" I asked and already felt sick, knowing it could be days. Maybe even weeks. I had missed him for years and now I finally knew what was going on in Moonacre, I didn't want him to go.

"Soon, I promise," he said and rubbed my upper arms with his hands. It was a lovely day, but after being in the Old Tree and now in the humid shadows of the forest, it was cold. "I'll try my best to contact you."

"But how? My Uncle will check my letters, I'm sure. I can't leave the grounds without supervision after that horrible party. He won't trust me."

I felt my heart clench, air leaving my lungs. It felt horrible, sickening. It was the true core of knowing the hard truth. Uncle Benjamin wanted to protect me, but at what cost? What measurement would he take?

"I already thought about it," Robin said smirking and it loosened up the tension in my chest a little bit. "I'll write you under a false name."

I snorted, smiling already. "And what should I call you, Robin de Noir?"

He stepped back, made a knicks and with his fingertips he tapped his head, like a dramatic actor introducing himself. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Maria Merryweather. You can call me Penelope Shaw."

A laugh crawled up in my chest and I couldn't stop it from leaving my lips. He was ridiculous. He was like a breath of fresh air in this choking situation.

"And where you from, Miss Shaw?" I played along, making a knicks as well.

"I'm your dear pen pal from London, we had two classes together and I miss you dearly. I'll write about the latest gossip, news and if our professor Hadrian finally got caught shagging his maid."

I had to cover up my mouth, laughing so loud that I was afraid someone would hear me. Robin's smile was so broad he got dimples in his cheeks.

"Alright, Penelope, I'm looking forward to my first letter." I shook my head and looked at the Mansion. It felt like going back to a prison. "But how do I respond? They still have to go to you, not actually to London."

"Me and Loveday write in secret," Robin told me and his goofy mood switched to a cold, distant one. I could see it truly hurt him.

He had to miss Loveday for years, thinking she ran away, left him alone with their father. But when there was peace, when Loveday and Benjamin were happy, I had never seen Robin smile so broad, so radiant.

Knowing his older sister was living with the man that attacked him, wouldn't let her contact Robin, must hurt.

"Whenever she goes to the postal office, she mentions it's for her friend in Bristol. She doesn't know anyone there, but she wishes to visit it once. Henry used to live with the De Noirs."

"And he'll send it to you," I concluded and Robin nodded. "Can I tell her this?"

He immediately shook his head, furiously and with scared eyes. "No, no you can't. If Benjamin finds out I don't want to know what he'll..." He shut his mouth and looked away. He knew I loved my Uncle, and I doubted if he was capabele of such violence.

But then I remembered what he did to Robin, to me, to Loveday when she told him she was a De Noir.

How much I loved him, I couldn't deny that he could be abusive. I had to be careful.

"I'll write Loveday, and you at the same time," he promised me, grabbed my hand. "I'll tell her that we want to write, meet in secret. She'll understand, she always has. But don't talk about it, please. I can't risk her safety," he pleaded.

I nodded, squeezed his hand. "I should go inside," I said and pulled him closer to a hug. "Be safe, please. And the boys."

Robin was big, warm and strong. It didn't feel like a cage when he wrapped his big arms around me, pulled me even closer and let his cheek rest on my head. It felt safe, protected.

"I will," he promised. "Look out for my letter. Try to find secrets, Maria."