Savages and Purists

Chapter 17

The wind blows accompanied by a howling sound. Amelia’s long, pale, silver-gold mane dances along to the rhythm.

“It’s over Amelia, go toy with someone else. I’m done.”

Jacob turns his back to her and walks away.

“Don’t you dare walk away from me!”

He pauses in front of the boarding house and looks across as if taking it in.

“Let me remind you, I make the rules in this arrangement not you. Take one more step, and you will regret it.”

That’s exactly what he does.

“Fine then if that’s how you want to play it…”

Amelia produces a wave that sends him flying. With brute force, he hits the walls of the boarding house and comes down with an even harder thud.

The distance between suspicion and knowing closes up instantly.

I get off the ground where I had been kneeling in my room facing the clock on my bed, manipulating it to the moment Jacob lost his life. To watch it all play out in front of me through this gust of light that looks like a projector is enough to make me shudder.

Amelia did it. I want to say, finally, because I had always expected her to do something of this magnitude but guilt trips me. It was at the highest cost.

For the life of me, I don’t know what to do with this information.
I replay the clock a few more times and I still can’t make out what was her motive… well except vengeance from being disobeyed or rejected.

The whole thing sounds messed up but once again expected.

At the same time, there is a knock on the door.
I open it to see Sister Evelyn.

“Have you eaten?”

*****

She hands me a plate with a cinnamon bun, chicken breast, and asparagus. Driest shit I’ve ever seen, but all the same a welcome distraction.

“Come on, eat up.” She encourages thereby raising brand new suspicion within me.

Her chair is placed next to me, something she prefers. I would like to think it makes her feel connected to whoever she is talking to rather than when she’s sitting across the table.

After barely one bite she starts.

“I’m afraid the tension between Sister Ombre and Madame Brooke is at an all-time high.”

“When has it never not been? They’re yin and yang.” I take another bite a little relieved it’s one of her moments when she is overreacting. “It always comes together.” Relief instantly spins to a shiver at the thought of so-called opposites. Maybe it never comes together. Maybe people are a lost cause.

“Sister Ombre is looking to move our diocese to a new location. Somewhere remote like Katana.”

The glare I give her… This is wishful thinking.

I sigh, rubbing my face. I don’t need this right now. I have got a whole school to run, a freaking m*rder case plus in a few days nightfall begins. In the past, they have found ways to perch things up even though I’ve had to jump through hoops at times, what’s changed? Now is not the time for these women to be doing this.

I apply patience, it’s in my lowest and most careful tone, “Do you want to go out there with the 88 merchants roaming about? What about food? Your students, do you plan on abandoning them?”

My plate is abandoned. I’m now watching her, arms folded.

“Frankie you know better than to think us impulsive. Sister Ombre is tired of the politics, I think it is time we stand up for ourselves.”