Scarlet stormed into a part of the mansion which Espen hadn't yet laid eyes on, which looked to be designed as a sitting room. There were a few chairs and a couch sitting in the vast space, each with a layer of dust settled on top. Massive windows sat opposite of the room, letting in beams of sunlight through the glass. Scarlet stormed right on past, mumbling under her breath. She hadn't taken off her Plague mask yet, which made Espen somewhat uneasy.
"Scarlet?" He called again, hurrying to keep up with her. "What happened? Who was that little boy? What did he want?"
Scarlet didn't answer, but her walk slowed. "He...he was sent by my father." She answered, her voice hardly a whisper. She stopped suddenly, her mask angled down at the floor. Her stop was so sudden, Espen nearly rammed into her. He rightened himself, and looked down at Scarlet, his eyes narrowed.
"Your...father?"
Scarlet nodded slowly, the movement seeming painful. "My father. He wants me to return home." She sucked in a breath, grimacing as she said this. "He wants me to go back to Galex."
Espen frowned, starting to fidget with the need of his cloak. "So...you have to go? To Galex?" He stammered nervously.
"Eventually. He sends a different blasted boy each month to come and fetch me." A growl bubbled up her throat. "I send them away, every blasted month. But guess what? They still come." She reached up to the back of her head, fumbling with the straps of her mask. She pulled off the garment, and set it down on a small table that sat at the back of the couch with a heavy thud.
"I probably have to go, at some point. Those boys always come at the wrong time. It's always when I'm busy." She shook her head angrily, whips of black hair coming free from her bun and floating around her head.
"He knows I'm busy, so why does he even call?" She growled softly again, turning her head to stare out the large windows across the room. Espen watched her silently, worriedly. "They'll be here next month, standing on my doorstep with the same blasted message from my father, begging me to come home. He doesn't know that next month, we'll be halfway across the country. I'd like to see him and try to get me home then." Scarlet scoffed, turning on her heel.
Espen scrambled out of the way as Scarlet snatched her Plague mask off the table, and strode out of the sitting room towards the kitchen. His head spun as he scrambled after her, nearly tripping on the stray books that were strung about the floor.
"Scarlet...I understand if you need to go now. To visit your father." He stammered, rightening himself and hurrying to follow.
"Are you kidding? I'm relishing the idea of leaving, if only for a few weeks." Scarlet called over her shoulder, not breaking her stride as she crossed the threshold into the kitchen.
Astral leapt off the table upon spotting her. She winded her way around Astral's ankles as she walked, purring the whole time. "Not now, Astral." Scarlet shoved Astral away, and stopped at the sink.
"We're still leaving tomorrow, don't worry." She glanced up at Espen as he joined her in the kitchen, plopping down in a chair. "We're going to find your sister-no one can get in the way of that. Not even my father."
The next morning was a scramble to gather any last minute supplies. Scarlet shook Espen awake at the crack of dawn, her vigorous shakings waking him up in mer moments. Breakfast was flat- neither Scarlet nor Espen felt like eating anything more than a slice of bread.
"We'll head north first, up to Keldra." Scarlet said, spreading her map on the kitchen table once they were done eating. She leaned over the paper, tracing her finger over the faintly dotted line, leading from Lentor up to Keldra. "It can't be more than a 75 mile ride."
Espen stood beside her, and leaned over, eyes narrowed. "That shouldn't take too long on horseback, right?" He asked, looking up from the map and over at Scarlet.
"It shouldn't take too long at all." She nodded. "From there, we'll switch horses, and head up to Rayvan, if we don't find Lilith in Keldra." She sighed. "From there, we'll head down to Narou. Galex will be our last stop, if it comes to that."
Scarlet trailed her finger along the trading routes, connecting the five cities. "If we have to head from Narou to Galex, we'll cut through Flockwood Forest, into Hartley Fields, then to Iona woods. We might have to cut through Einar Hills though." She bit her lower lip. "I hope it doesn't come to that...but I guess we'll see." She inhaled a shaky breath, and rolled the map back up.
"We're, ah, taking that with us...right?" Espen asked, trying at the chuckle. It really just sounded like a pathetic wheeze.
"Of course. I wouldn't dream of not taking it." Scarlet answered, slipping the map into the pile of supplies that sat on the kitchen floor.
Half an hour later, they were ready.
"Ready?" Scarlet asked, sounding eager.
Espen, standing in the threshold of the open doors, nodded. He had a knapsack slung over his shoulder, a few small, wrapped brown packages in his hands. Scarlet was the same, but she was also carrying Astral in her leather knapsack. The feline's furry black head was poking out the back, and was currently sleeping peacefully, her head rested on Scarlet's shoulder.
"Ready as I'll ever be." He agreed, a faint smile coming to his face.
Scarlet turned back to the doors as Espen stepped outside, and inhaled a deep breath of fresh air. The mansion doors closed with a soft thunk behind him, and the jingle of keys followed as Scarlet locked the doors.
"Well then, it looks like we're off on our grand adventure." She stepped to his side, slipping her keys into her bag. She glanced over at him, a look of excitement in her usually dull expression.
She started off down the street, a spring in her step as she walked down the cobblestones. Espen hesitated, casting a weary glance back towards the mansion. He had only lived there for a few days, but the thought of leaving made him sad. It had almost become...home.
We'll be back, with Lilith in tow.
The thought brought a wide, childish smile to his face. He was going to find Lilith. And he wasn't planning on returning until he found her.
Espen turned away from the mansion, took in another deep breath, before he strode after Scarlet. He didn't look back.
YOU ARE READING
A Kindling Flame
Teen Fiction20 year old Espen has a lot on his shoulders. With his little sister under his care, and working two part time jobs, he and Lilith can hardly get by. When he lands a job as the Plague Doctor's assistant, that's when things go horribly wrong. With t...
