🥀Love Is A Dagger 🗡

~Chapter 7~

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~France, 1899~
~November 2~
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"Olivia!" Sprite raised a hand out from among the crowd, trying to direct her friend in her direction. Olivia saw it, and immediately pushed past the scores of people towards her. "Good morning, my dear," she greeted. "Are you all right? You look as if you've seen a ghost." 'I might just have,' she thought to herself morbidly. Now, Olivia put on a face of concern and placed both hands on her shoulders. "Sprite, talk to me. Tell me what's the matter with you." Sprite pulled her into the nearby valley, ignoring the yelp of protest her companion gave out. "What's gotten into you? You make an appearance so suddenly, and you look a fright! Whatever happened to you?" Sprite grabbed her hands, and stroked them both tenderly. "My love, I've had the most fearsome dream in my life." Olivia pulled her into her arms, not bothering to see if anyone had seen them. "Tell me." Sprite went into great detail of the chase and her own theories and opinions, and described the creature or person in a frightening length. Once she was finished, her chest rose up and down rapidly as if she was told to run two miles without stopping. "Goodness..." Olivia's hand went to the necklace around her neck, rubbing the charm between two gloved fingers. "I know. It was horrifying." "One can only imagine how that ordeal must leave you!" Sprite let out a puff of air, which formed a small cloud. "You poor thing. Would you like to walk with me? Clear your mind a bit?" Sprite nodded. "Yes, thank you, Olive. I cannot bring myself to be alone right now." "What about your fathers?" Olivia's brow furrowed. "Your mother and Madam Adams are meeting with Father, and Papa is away at work with yours." A small 'oh' formed on her lips. "Well, then. Come away with me to the marketplace. I must shop for this evening's supper, and purchase some tinsel for this year's Christmas breakfast with my cousins." Olivia planted both hands on her hips, sighing in disgust. "Those beastly boys of my aunt's have not the slightest idea of how to communicate with a female." She turned to Sprite, only to find her gaze fixed on the wall of the house next to them. "What?" No response. Olivia turned to what she was looking at, and paled immediately. "By the stars..." "Do you see it?" "I see it," she said quietly. The two girls could do nothing but stare silently at the stone with crimson oozing from it's cracks.
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                     ~1 month later...~
          ~December 25, Christmas Eve~
                     ~France, 1899~
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That year's Christmas was different from the ones before; there was to be no caroling on the streets. No walking late in the evening; using a carriage was necessary. Carry no unwrapped items with you. The number of attacks and murders had doubled in the weeks since that rainy night in November. Everyone shuttered their homes, weapons near them for a sense of protection. No one trusted each other anymore. Even families delayed visits. Sprite felt the lack of holiday spirit within the people, and it all depressed her that some days she remained home with her fathers, spending her days with them. Now, she sat near the fireplace with Olivia and Elizabeth, the three knitting their own creations while the adults chatted in the kitchen, clutching cups of eggnog. The girls laughed along as if it were any ordinary Christmas supper, but they too, sensed the fear hanging in the air like an unwelcome draft. Once they ran out of jokes to tell, the topic on the change in behavior and yearly traditions began. "You know," Elizabeth began in a low voice. "I heard that even Mrs. Percy, who loves to boast on her ginormous tree drew her curtains so no one could see inside." She shook her head. "Ma and Pa did the same. Now poor Uncle Olly couldn't see our tree because of the curtains and these bandits. He even planned to bring his special turkey dinner!" Olivia sighed. "My Aunt Percilla said she and her sons were unable to come because she feared that this mysterious group would rob her of her diamonds. Honestly, she should be worried about her sister!" Sprite patted her shoulder. "I'd be concerned as well. With those diamonds?" She tossed her head back dramatically as the girls snickered. Outside, it grew darker and the snow came down harder. "If this keeps up, my fathers will invite the both of you to remain here for the night." "That would be wonderful." Sprite caught the glint in Olivia's eyes and shook her head. Elizabeth noticed this and did the same. "Naughty, both of you." As they returned to the dining room for desert, Elizabeth pulled her aside once they received their helpings. "Have you told your fathers yet?" Sprite looked over to them, and replied, "No." Elizabeth groaned. "What are you going to tell them? And most importantly, when? The truth has to come out eventually." Sprite exhaled. "I'll figure it out. Don't fuss." Elizabeth swatted her shoulder, earning her a glare. "Eliza!" "This is serious, Sprite!" She whisper-shouted. "Don't you understand how furious your parents will be when they find out you've been hiding this information from them? You're their little girl! They can't bear the thought of losing you. And what about Olivia's parents?" Sprite felt remorse lodge itself in her stomach. She hadn't given thought to how Olivia's parents would react. "Eliza..." "I care for the both of you. I do. Please, don't punish yourselves like this." Sprite could only watch her friend's back retreat into the living area, and say nothing back.