Boys Yet to have Books

(Lockwood & Co.) Something Special P2 (Anthony Lockwood)

Anthony trudged along the familiar path that led him back to 35 Portland Row, the chill of the evening air nipping at his cheeks. As he entered the cosy confines of his home, he shrugged off his jacket, letting it slide from his shoulders and land on the hook by the door with a soft thud. His rapier followed a moment later, gracefully resting in its designated spot as a silent guardian in the dimly lit room.

He made his way into the kitchen. After pulling out a chair, he sank down at the table, clutching the teddy bear tightly against his chest. Its soft fabric was a soothing company,

A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he weighed the decision that loomed before him. The thought of sealing Illa away in an ordinary silver box situated in the gloomy store room stirred a tight knot in his stomach. That chamber was a graveyard for spirits, an echo of the irate, resentful, and miserable souls he had locked away before. He could envision Illa, trapped in that oppressive cold and darkness, unable to roam freely or delight in the vibrant symphony of flowers that danced under the sun.

He didn't want to condemn her to such a fate.

"How was that call out, Lockwood?" George asked as he came into the kitchen likely looking for biscuits,

"Fine, good." Anthony nodded,

"He pay?"

"Yes. In full."

"Get in! Pizza for tea then," he said grabbing a can from the fridge,

"Yeah, I'll leave it to you to call in."

"What's with the bear?"

"Hummm?"

"The bear?"

"The bear that you're hugging onto like a five-year-old?"

"It's... uhh nothing," he said, setting the bear on the table, even if he felt a little guilty putting it down.

"Right... okay..." George narrowed his eyes a little suspiciously, "where's the vessel then I'll take it down for you,"

"No!" Anthony snapped,

"No?"

"No, I uhhh I'll take it down in a second,"

"Well, where is it? You did get it right?"

"Yeah, I got it."

"So... where is it?"

Anthony sighed and glanced at the teddy,

George's eyes met the bear and he grimaced a little, "Damn, okay... yeah we should have a box big enough for that, I think." He nodded, "I'll go take it down," he reached for the teddy,

"No!" Anthony snapped and grabbed the teddy pulling it close to his chest,

There was a brief moment of silence between the two, only the sound of the kitchen clock ticking between them,

"Okay, do I get to know what the fuck is going on or not, Lockwood?" George crossed his arms,

"Fine." Anthony sighed, "So, the case I went to today."

"Yeah?"

"And it's hard to explain but, this wasn't normal, not typical. different."

"How?" George took a seat across from Anthony,

"Something... something special." he nodded, "Okay... so," He grabbed a pen and began to write and doodle on the thinking cloth to help explain himself, "The house was this old creepy Victorian place,"

"Most things in London are,"

"Shut up." He snapped, "and the place looked abandoned, This man was the only one there I thought he'd lost it at first but..."