ALMIRA THORN- Knowledge of Another Kind. [Editing]

Chapter 14 - A burden shared among a precious few- Part 1

                 The room was bigger than I expected. The dark colour the rest of the house had, came through and became strikingly beautiful. Two fireplaces occupied both sides of the room; the walls became slightly bare, showing off the red of the walls like a rose among dead grass. What caught my attention however, was the extent of the dining room table. Its size could fit fifteen at least, it’s dark wood becoming gothic in the room and reminding me of Tom’s own dining room. Not now. The voice inside my head froze the thought and focused everything to the room again. The table was only set for dinner at the far end, four of the seats now occupied, Lucian on the end in deep discussion with Michael who sat on the left and Raymond who sat on the left of him. Lucy’s place was opposite Michael and the empty seat next to hers, I guess was mine. As I walked into the room they faded out of their conversation and looked up, their faces smoothing out and giving the briefest smiles. It was only Ray who kept his face serious and in thought, his eyes striking enough that keeping the gaze was starting to be impossible. Moving my line of sight away, I began walking over to the chair, gently sitting down and feeling the firmness of the wood.

I tucked my chair in slightly, “Evening.” I kept my words soft and for the first time, I realized how little I actually knew about them, I knew most of their stories but not about who they were, did they have any hobbies? Did that have any favorite foods? Before anything else could be said, the door opened again and a cart was being pulled by a woman, her maids uniform looking neat as she ushered herself inside, moving over to Lucian first and setting down a plate steaming with a smell that can only be described as mouthwatering. We all waited in silence as the plates were set in front of us, only nodding our thanks briefly, our attention all for the beauty of the meal. The smells so strong that it filled the room with its spices. It was only when the maid brushed down her skirts and left us to the meal that we all released a breath and dug in, all manners lost to the furious effort to get the content within the plate into our empty stomachs. Looking up as I finally finished my meal, still chewing it’s beauty, I could see Ray also looking at her, his mouth full also as his eyes softened and held the barest of smiles.

He swallowed, “How long do you plan to stay with us?” His voice loud against the silence and all for me. Of course. I began to feel a pang of disappointment for being cared so little. He’s probably fed up with me already, should have known. Where would I go? To Hope? No, she would only lock me away and keep me caged for leaving her like this. To Tom? How could I? After the way I left him, with so many things left un-said between us, so much distance from a friend who had been with me for so many years, like a stranger that night. Where are you Papa? Panic was starting to hit me as I started realizing that I had no one to turn to, so alone.

“Ray, you know she must stay with us now, right Lucian?” Lucy’s voice sounded angry and harsh, turning I could see her eyes drilling into Lucian’s as he stared back and nodded, “Of course, it’s not safe for you out there, despite your skills.” His lips curved into a smile and I let go of a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding until now. I smiled back and showed the relief in my eyes, a part of me cursing at showing this man how much I relied on him now.

“Thank you, once this is done…” I turned to face Ray and gave him the emotion he deserved; one saved for a stranger, who is exactly what he was, “I shall never bother you again.” I saw him flinch and felt good about it, felt no mercy for this person now. As his gaze dropped I saw the shake of Michael’s chest and realized he was laughing. Determined not to let this bother me, I turned to Lucian and decided it was time to get to the point of things. “Tell me about the Order.” Michael’s laughs turned louder and I pointed a glare at him, parted my mouth to shout a low insult but Lucian’s hand raised, it telling me he would have none of it so long as he was present.