Echoes of the Past

Chapter 10

A week had passed since the fire, but the weight of everything that had transpired lingered heavily in the air. Edith sat by the window in her room, staring out at the rolling fields beyond Downton Abbey. She had time to reflect, to process all that had been revealed—everything she thought she knew had been turned upside down in the aftermath of the fire.

Sam had given her the space she needed, understanding that she needed time to come to terms with what she had learned. He hadn't tried to reach out, not since that night. The awkwardness between them was palpable whenever they were in the same room, but he respected her silence. For that, she was grateful.

At least all of the attendants had survived the fire, and it had been put out before it consumed the entire estate. But the scars—emotional and otherwise—remained.

A knock on the door interrupted Edith's train of thought. She let out a soft sigh, her voice tired as she called out, "Come in."

The door opened slowly, revealing Cora. Her mother had been kind, patient even, but Edith could tell that Cora sensed something was deeply troubling her. In the days since the fire, Cora had observed Edith's solemn demeanor and the noticeable tension between her and Samuel. While she didn't know the full story, she knew something was amiss.

"Edith, darling," Cora said gently as she stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. "I've been worried about you. You haven't seemed like yourself since the fire. Is something troubling you?"

Edith's chest tightened. She wanted to tell her mother everything—about the supernatural, about Samuel's past, about Sybil's spirit. But she couldn't. The weight of that knowledge was too much, and she remembered how devastated Cora had been when Sybil died. Telling her the truth would only reopen those wounds.

Still, Cora deserved some honesty. She sat on the edge of Edith's bed, watching her daughter closely.

Edith turned away from the window, finally meeting her mother's gaze. "It's... complicated, Mother," she said softly. "I've discovered that Samuel isn't who I thought he was."

Cora's brow furrowed in concern. "What do you mean, Edith?"

Edith's mind raced, trying to find a way to explain without revealing the supernatural truth. She couldn't bear to tell Cora about demons, hunters, and vengeful spirits. Not after what had happened to Sybil. But she owed her mother some form of explanation.

"The night of the fire," Edith began slowly, "I learned that Samuel has... secrets. Secrets he's kept hidden from all of us. I thought I knew him, but... it turns out I didn't."

Cora's expression softened, and she reached for Edith's hand. "Everyone has secrets, darling. Some are darker than others, but what matters is how those secrets define who we are now. Are you afraid of him?"

Edith shook her head quickly. "No, it's not that. I'm not afraid of him. It's just... everything I thought I knew has changed. It's difficult to reconcile the Samuel I've come to care for with the man I discovered he was."

Cora took a deep breath, her eyes filled with understanding. "Sometimes people keep secrets to protect those they care about. And sometimes they hide because they're afraid of being judged or misunderstood. But Edith, if Samuel cares for you—and I believe he does—then he was probably trying to shield you from whatever pain he's endured."

Edith looked down at her hands, thinking about all that Samuel had gone through—his mother's death, Jessica's murder, the burden of being Lucifer's intended vessel, the endless weight of responsibility. Cora was right. He had been trying to protect her. But it still hurt that he hadn't trusted her enough to share the truth before everything fell apart.