*On Hiatus* A Midnight Dance

Return

I returned home as soon as I read the letter. Vivian's handwriting was messy, and most words were illegible.

However, it was clear the inspection team had returned. I wanted to think they had brought good news, but I knew that wasn't the case. Despite my wishes for their early and safe return, the inspection should have taken longer. If they had returned, something had gone wrong.

As the carriage stopped in front of my home, I leapt out, throwing a word of thanks to Donovan. Rushing inside, I called out to Vivian. Emily quickly appeared with the twins in tow. My siblings' faces were red. Tears stained their cheeks.

"What's happened?" I asked.

"The young master returned," Emily explained. "Lady Vivian and Lady Elaine have gone to the clinic."

The twins must have seen my panic because they started crying again. I quickly knelt beside them and pulled them into my chest.

"No one said Charles was injured." I tried to sound convincing, but I doubt I fooled them.

I looked up at Emily. "How long ago did they leave?"

"Almost an hour," she replied.

"I'm taking the twins with me," I told her.

Grabbing their hands, I stood. "Let's go to the clinic. I'm sure Charles is fine, and we can all see them."

Thankfully, Donovan waited outside. My siblings and I took the Nightingale carriage into town. The twins sobbed into my arms throughout the journey. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Though my eyes stung, I knew I couldn't cry in front of them. They needed someone to be strong for them. Besides, if Charles wasn't hurt, there was no need to shed tears over what could have happened.

Donovan stopped in front of the carriage. The twins practically ran out.

"Please head back to Nightingale Mansion," I told Donovan. "I've taken too much of your time."

The dark-skinned man tipped his hat. "I'll stay around here for now," he said smoothly. "Call if you need me."

Grateful, I smiled at him. Inside the building, the twins stood in front of a receptionist's desk. Their heads barely reached the top of the desk. Benches were aligned at the entrance where patients waited to be seen. A loud baby's cry shrilled into the fair. Her face was red and sweaty. The mother desperately rocked her to no avail.

I walked up to the counter. "My name is Avaline Stark. I was told Charles Stark was in attendance."

The woman at the counter turned her attention to me. "The maximum number of visitors for the patient has already been in. You'll need to wait."

The wispy hair protruding from underneath her cap gave me pause. More so, the bulgy, red, puffy eyes. Biting back a retort, I led the twins to one of the chairs. Their soft cries mixed in with the rest of the crying and coughing.

I sat them on my lap, pulling them close. They nuzzled against my chest. I kept my lips pressed together, lest my own cries slip out.

My leg bounced up and down impatiently. I focused on the passing nurses and doctors. Soon, Brian and Anna's cries stopped. Looking at them, they'd fallen asleep. Trapped, I stayed seated, praying that Vivian or Elaine would show up.

By the time my bum started to grow numb, I saw Vivian walking down the hallway.

She immediately spotted me. I went to stand, but the twins' weight pushed me back down. Vivian couldn't walk up fast enough.

"What happened? Is Charles okay?" I immediately asked.

Vivian dabbed at her nose.

"Well?"

Her silence squeezed my heart. Was it something she couldn't tell me?

"He's fine," she finally said.

I was glad to be seated. The relief made my body sag.

"Why did the caravan return? Were they attacked?"

Vivian scooped Brian into her arms. "It's better if we talked outside."

That didn't make me feel better at all. What was it that she couldn't say inside? Had Charles been gravely injured? 

Nevertheless, I carried Anna and followed her outside. It was a lot later than I realized. The afternoon sun glared angrily from above.

"Lord Ross and Charles made it back along with the rest of the expedition."

If I weren't holding my sister in my arms, I would have grabbed Vivian with relief. She should have started with this first. Unless, they weren't in good health.

"And? How are they? Were they hurt?"

She shook her head. "Rattled, bruised, but they remain unhurt."

My knees threatened to buckle. I sighed. My prayers had been answered. I knew Lord Nightingale would keep them say.

"I'm glad they're okay. Did they say why they returned so soon? Charles said it would take more than a few months."

Vivian's lips pulled, but she never managed a smile. 

"What? Is there something I don't know?"

"The Hellios returned," she whispered.

Fear grabbed my heart and squeezed it. "Were they seen?"

The Hellios were relentless hunters, everyone knew that. Even if Charles made it back safely, the Hellios could follow them back. Everyone would be in danger.

"No. Lord Nightingale, he, uh, sent everyone back. The soldiers escorted the expedition team back to town. They couldn't risk going any further."

The tightness in my heart eased.

"I'm glad they're safe. It's a shame Charles couldn't access the mine but their lives are more important."

Vivian nodded. "Yes."

 Sebastian had kept his promise. I had to thank him. How could I ever repay him? 

"Where is he? Lord Nightingale, I mean." I glanced at the clinic. "Is he inside, by chance?"

The way she refused to meet my eyes stirred anxiety in my chest. She must know something else. She had to.

"Vivi, talk."

"Charles, said, he said Lord Nightingale, he, uh, drew them away. That's how they escaped."

Escape? My head spun. The light blinded me, and my ears started to ring.

"Wait. Wait. Where is Lord Nightingale?"

"Oh, Ava. He stayed behind. He stayed to deal with the Hellios."

My throat burned. My legs lost all strength. I tried holding on to Anna, but she slipped out of my arms. Scrambling, I grabbed her and fell with her. As my bottom hit the ground, Anna stirred.

"Ava, what happened?" Annie asked. "Why are you crying?"

I shook my head, unable to speak. Sebastian . . . Sebastian. Goddess, protect him.