The Hour Of Darkness

Chapter 4

The other day aunt Rose went out to the nearby town to run some errands . Islay was at home overlooking the kitchen. Guests were to arrive in the evening for supper and she was responsible for the desserts . Dusting her hands covered from the flour with apron she went in backyard to take the dried laundery she did in the morning before cooping herself in the kitchen, baking chocolate cupcakes and blueberry pies.

She passed the rest of afternoon reading her book and painting. She was sitting on wooden stool painting on the large canvas on easel, the surreal scenery from her little shenigian that she told no one about . She couldn't beleive she traveled into another place. "It must be my mind playing games , good job! Islay read more of those fantasy books " she coaxed herself. She probably assumed in her imagination , she did hallucinated then . Or was it real . She did travel to Lord knows where.

Nonethless, she painted the scenery as vivid as she can remember it to be . She dipped the brush in the ultramarine blue paint and stroked the canvas ; her brush left mid air in between second stroke as aunt Rose barged into the room. " They are here, come meet them and arrange the table with me " aunt Rose said in a hurry and left the room .

Islay swiftly trailed behind her aunt to the living room . Before she entered she heard the voices , the laughters and the murmurs . She entered and saw her dear cousin Amalia sitting on the couch sipping from her teacup. Dressed in pastel pink cashmere tunic and beige pants , her cousin stood up and walked towards her direction staning at the threshold. "Oh my , dear cousin I missed you " Amalia smiled at her cousin engulfing in a bone crushing hug which was indeed bone crushing . "Amalia , I can't breath " Islay said gasping for air in hug . " You looking pretty , cousin " Amalia chuckled as she left the hug . Islay subtly shrugged and smiled . Pretty is a far fetched word , a word made for Amalia . With all that golden brown hair her cousin had , hazel green eyes which reminds her of the fresh green grass of summer and rosy cheeks with pale skin . Amalia was really pretty . No , Beautiful.

Time for supper arrived and Islay and Amalia helped Aunt rose to arrange the table and once sat they ate in silence until Amalia break the silence . "Aunt Rose , the blackburry pie is to die for " Amaila said as she devored the third piece of pie . "Islay made it , she is good at baking " Aunt Rose replied looking at Islay who sat silently chewing the roasted potatoeos. "Well, I'll be a good student then , madamessoile baker " saluted Aamlia in the direction of Islay . Islay smirked at her cousin response knowing very well baking and painting is not her only forte.

Later at night after the supper Islay and Amailia went out to stroll in the garden nearby her home . "It was so mundane , I literally exhausted myself dreaming about the day to meet you again " Amalia  said as they were walking in the garden . Cool night breeze swaying their hair and caressing their neck and cheeks. "The days there in dorm they flew so quickly , the college algebra is not my cup of tea . The history is most i look forward too. These days im too invested in Pride and Prejudice " Amalia said looking now looking at the stars in the black tar sky.

"What are you upto these days"? Amalia inquired her cousin

"You know , the same thing , painting and reading mostly" Islay replied incredously . She almost decided on telling her cousin about the black box but caught her tounge before it slipped . She couldnt risk it anymore . If AMALIA knew she crossed the fence and went to where she was forbidden the repurcussions won't be good.

"Tommorow Ill be going to the market , i want you to tag along with me "

'I - I have to —" Islay hesitation evident in the back of her mind she needed to visit to the mansion again and practice her secret skill.

"Please, Islay " showing her puppy eyes, Amalia pleaded her cousin .

"Alright , but no loitering around for too long in the market"Islay said sighing .

The girls later walked back home under the big white moon and star studded sky .

A/N=  I will edit the chapter later it's  a little unedited. I hope you enjoyed and comment down any furthur theories of what coming next .

xoxo