THE HEIRESS (Sample)

CHAPTER FIVE

They both approached a weak dilapidated cottage. Its surroundings were overgrown with weed and most of it was partially covered with crawling plants due to neglect.

The door creaked as Robert pushed it open and ushered Aidan in who stopped at the doorway to observe the small unkempt living room with wornout chairs.

The fire place was dark still nestling some ashes and few leftover chopped logs of wood. Beside a window, stood a creaking rocking chair which rocked a bit stirred by the little breeze sipping into the room through the window where one of its shutters hung loosely from its hinge.

The drapes were dirty and had holes in them. Robert crouched before the fire place and lit a fire. He kindled the little flame until they licked at the wood and grew bigger.

He threw in some more woods and turned to face Aidan, wiping his charcoal-stained hands on the back of his pants and caught Aidan still examining the room from the doorway.

“You aren’t going to stand there all day, are you?” Aidan tilted his head upward and stared at him. “Welcome to my abode.” He announced with less pride.

Aidan carefully stepped in, scared the house might give way and collapse on him. “You own this place?”

Robert hesitated. “It was my father’s, he’s passed on.”

Aidan nodded, walking slowly further into the room. “I will just warm up the left over porridge soup, you must be hungry, I also have some bread left somewhere in the house... though...”He shrugged.
“It’s hard already, but I’m sure you’ll manage.”

“Can I?” Aidan gestured towards one of the old cushions.

“If you have no problem with the bugs, you can!”

“Meaning?”

“The chairs are already infested with bed bugs.”

Aidan frowned. “I haven’t enough blood to share with them...” He scanned the room for another option.
“The wooden chair will do.”

“Termites!” Rob stated.

Aidan hesitated as he approached a stool. “As long as they don’t get in my pants, I prefer them.” He sat down on the stool and it creaked beneath his weight.

“Very well then…” Robert said. ”Make yourself at home...i...” a wheezing cough interrupted him, making him alert and startled.

“I thought you lived alone.” Aidan questioned.
Before Robert could reply, a stronger and longer series of cough got him fleeing through the living room, down the short hall way and disappearing out of sight.

Aidan stood up and followed, worried about the boy’s weird reaction. He went to the short dark hall way and reached a dim light shining through an ajar room.

He approached the room and stopped by the door. Rob was on a knee beside a frail woman sleeping on an old bed, an oil lamp stood in a corner.

The woman coughed again and Aidan’s senses just absorbing the stench in the room, wrinkled his nose in disgust. The stench in the room was strong enough to drive a cat wild, it smelled of urine and vomit and perhaps decaying matter.

“Robert?” A croaky weak voice called softly. “Robert?...is…is..that..yo..u? She coughed again.

“Yes Mama, I’m back!” Robert answered.

“You came back late!” she wheezed as another cough shook her body. “I was worried.”

Robert turned to find Aidan at the door. “...She is my mother.”

The sick woman strained to look at Aidan through sunken eyes just realizing that they were not alone. She coughed hard again. “Robert, you brought home a stranger.”

“He is a friend Mama, he means no harm.” He lifted her head gently and made her sip from a cup he took beside the bed. “...You need to get some rest Mama, please sleep.” He soothed as he gently placed her head gently back on the damp pillow and slowly, the woman drifted to sleep.

When Robert was certain she was soundly asleep due to her ragged uneven breathing, he rose from her side. “She has the Aspergillosis disease.” He said.

“Why didn’t you call a doctor?” Aidan asked.

“We have no money for such treatment!”  He replied in a choky voice with tears in his eyes as he glanced back at the deteriorated sleeping form of his mother.

“You can’t go to a relative?”

“None that I know of. She dies within each day. That’s why I do anything I can do to take care of us both.”

Aidan watched the sick woman for a moment or two and walked away without a word.