He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter Twenty Eight - Dance til Death

The Lancaster's visited Matthew Westcott's townhouse a few weeks later, oblivious to the danger their lives had not long ago been in.  Cornelius shyly shared his latest music box, a carved flower arrangement with carnations and dahlias and daisies, with Katrina, who gushed over it and convinced him to let her gift it to a prominent politicians wife, who happened to be a close friend of hers.  And then Cornelius gushed over the small swell of her stomach, looking forward to this little niece or nephew.  The young nanny nearly squealed in shock when she met Matthew's apprentice; it turned out that the pair were childhood friends and the boy had come to the city to seek his fortune that he might court the girl.  They were encouraged by Cornelius and Katrina to take a walk in the lovely city gardens.

Lord Thomas and Matthew spoke of business and politics and of his brother, Master Keith George Lancaster, who had decided to seek his fortunes abroad, until the cook (who they had brought with them) announced that dinner was served.  Although it had not the flair of Matthew's fair, the three bachelors welcomed the meal, as they hadn't needed to prepare it and ate whole-heartedly, although the apprentice ate in the kitchen with his sweetheart, the maid and the cook.

Lady Katrina was a sharp woman, it did not take her long to notice the signs that the two men before her did not behave as simple friends, but she could say nothing against it for she had never seen such light in her brother's eyes and gestures before.  To renounce them would surely dim that sparkle and her heart could not justify it, even if her head told her their love was wrong.  Instead, she offered her brother a subtle warning; "Mother has ceased her hunt for you this season, but there will be fresh flowers blooming next spring, no doubt this will raise hopes in her heart.  She is also fond of Cornelius, I suspect her eye will range beyond your future wife."

Matthew was quick enough to understand what she was saying and what she was not.  The following Season, the two bachelors made themselves scarce visiting potential investment properties in the very north of the country, thwarting the Westcott mother at least for that year.

They did, however, make sure to show their faces at the wedding of the the apprentice, Samuel and his sweetheart, Elizabeth.

With much cunning and slippery movements, the pair danced about the wealthy and elite until the settled into old age.  Matthew loved Cornelius's aged and wrinkled body as much as his youthful one and the pair were never apart.  Their relationship became a known as the most unsecret, secret romance, but they were so widely respected that very few bothered to challenge them. However it wasn't until the shadow of death looked over them, that Matthew let go of the secrets of Cornelius's past that had haunted him and slept peacefully by his silenced lover's side.

****

Aidan, for he felt more that he should recognise this name in the white world he fell into after death took him, sighed deeply. When could he truly live peacefully beside Warren, with no barriers and no secrets between them? The pocket watch, still upon his waist, dissolved and reformed into a floating white sphere with a black eye. Yang hovered in front of him for a moment, before swiftly moving to that other being, who was loafing about on a white couch formed of the linear shapes that ascended from the floor.

"Welcome back," the man said, before allowing Yang to land in his palm.

Aidan frowned and recalled that though he now remembered this being's existence, he had not thought about him once in his last life, though he knew Yang from the moment it awakened him. "Do I need to wait long until Warren is found again? I assume I still need to protect him." I hope so, I want to return to his side soon.

"Mmmm," the man hummed in agreement. "Yang placed a trace upon the young one, it will take far less time to locate him this time." He nodded to the sphere, which floated to the odd screen, which remained in place from Aidan's last time here. It settled on top and the screen began to glow, script flowing over it.

"Can I ask..." Aidan wondered how to phrase his question.

"You wish to know about the other personality inside the one called Cornelius?" The man asked. Aidan nodded. "It is simple. That was the one you knew as Warren."

"Wait, does that mean Cornelius was not my lover?" But that was impossible, so many of his small actions, his mannerisms, they were the same, even if the man named Cornelius was different overall.

"Cornelius and Warren are the same person," the man advised. "But much like you were awakened to perform missions for me, he was awakened to do so for some... one else. It was sloppily done though," he added in a disapproving tone. "It split the man's soul a little, so when Warren would wake, Cornelius would sleep. The latter knew nothing of the former, but the former was aware, but not was strong enough to remain in possession of their body." Warren's missions, was he responsible then for the poisonings? For the entrapments? He had been caught attempting to start the fire... was that a mission also?

All this swam about in Aidan's mind as he asked; "Wait, Yang woke me, did he wake up Cornelius?" Almost as if it were summoned by his name, it floated over to Aidan.

"Did you not hear me?" The being demanded. "I said it was sloppy, as if Yang, who I created could be so flawed!"

"Then..." but before he could finish the question, Yang announced happily;

"Master's! I have located the boy in World 77692, rough location point 97.2. He is about to be born."

"That world might prove challenging if I need to create a suitable vessel in that location," the being mused.

"It's okay, Master," Yang reported. "I have also located a suitable vessel, male, aged 8, recently hospitalised and will face death if there is no intervention."

"So there will be some amnesia... so be it." And with that, he waved his hand at Aidan as if in dismissal. Aidan became swallowed up by darkness before he had the chance to complain.

Author's note;  And just like that, the second world is complete!  I hope you enjoyed this venture into 18th Century Life, although I found out herbal teas may not have been developed then, though I'm sure they used herbs in tinctures and tonics, but ah well.  Seeing as these worlds are 'interpretations' of alien culture rather than actually parts of Earth History, I figure I have leeway!

And quick note regarding edits, I accidentally named the second Lancaster as Keith and Kevin over chapters.  I've changed them all to Keith, which was my original choice.