The Ashen Keeper

Chapter 147

"A hunter? An outsider? No, no, I wonder what you are. But what a mess you've been caught up in. And tonight, of all nights.", the plague doctor - lookalike said it out loud. She then nodded towards her.

"Eileen the Crow at your service, and who might you be?", she nodded at her.

What's her name again? All this time, she just refers to herself as keeper but this obviously wasn't going to work here. She's a 'different' person after all. But whatever, it's just a name anyway. She didn't see any problem in referring to herself as just keeper.

"Thou mayst refer to me as keeper.", she replied, her eyes still focused on the costume. It attracted her in the way that she wanted to try it on herself. It looked pretty cool would not be a wrong statement if she said it out loud.

"Keeper?", she voiced it like she was raising an eyebrow.

"Clearly not someone I have heard of. Neither a beast nor a hunter, very curious indeed. Oh, that does not matter. You kept Father Gascoigne in line and that is what matters most. I would advise for you to stay inside. Even the likes of Gascoigne had gone mad. What a shame...

But no matter, those are your children, are they not? Go inside, before they deems you a threat. The Black Church Hunters can be quite annoying", Eileen shooed them away waving her hands and walking away as if she could not be bothered to learn more about her.

And she was right. Around the corners of her eyes she could already see black-garbed men and women prowling about watching her every move like hyenas, ready to jump at any moment should she become a threat.

"Doth thou hath anything more to do for this night?", she asked Eileen before she walked away.

"The night is never over, my dear girl but I understand what you are trying to say. I do not have anything to do for this night. Can't say the same about the rest of the nights. You look like you have questions. My apologies but do carry it onto another hunter. I have no desire to stay."

"Doth thou truly not have no interest in this?", she held out her scythe.

Despite her face being unseen behind a mask, she noticed the Crow's eyes on her primary weapon. Maybe the the origin of the weapon shall be revealed in this dream.

"I will admit I'm a bit curious but it no longer has anything to do with me.", she paused for a bit but continued to walk away.

This was not good. She need to know her purpose in this dream. What exactly was she supposed to do here. So far, the only clue available was the woman walking away from her. Instead of speaking, she chose to let her actions do the talking.

She raised her hands as tiny wisps of flames flew around her. In a depressing and dark environment like this, it was simply beautiful. Moreover, they weren't just for show, these flames flew over to the Crow and softly sunk into her body healing her of her old injuries.

She could feel the astonishment of the children behind her as they saw their mother released a small wisps of fire. The black-garbed hunters watching her also stumbled for a moment clearly not knowing what to do. She could feel a hint of bloodlust coming through but it was only a hint.

"I could aid thee in thy journey, my dear Crow. All I ask is for thee to fulfill this desire of mine. That thou shall come over for just one night."

The Crow stopped walking away as she looked like she was pondering for a bit. She turned around and walked right up to her as she observed her. She raised one hand in a motion that was obvious to all.

"Go ahead, milady to the place you call home and I shall follow."

She did not make a fuss further and bent down to pick up her daughter and motioned for the boys to follow her. They kept close as their hands clasped the edge of her dress. It warmed her heart as she let out a small smile at this.