Star Gazey

Chapter One

A/N: The beautiful lighthouse artwork on my cover was done by a most gifted artist, Sofie Skapski, or @Santora!

Mousehole, 1595.

She didn't have much time.

They would be coming soon. She had seen them, ships of destruction with sails floating like ghosts in the wind, bearing them swiftly across the sea and towards the village. As they landed, dark figures had poured like shadows into the harbour and up the hills, cutting and scorching all in their path. If they reached her before she was finished, all would be lost.

Swiftly, she grabbed the box and ran out the kitchen door. She moved quickly with her head down through the garden, as she knew exactly where to go. Edward would be keeping a sharp lookout and his call would warn her if danger approached, so she stayed alert as she reached the secret marker and quickly began to dig. Her swollen stomach made this task difficult and, as if he knew, the child inside squirmed uncomfortably.

The call came from Edward just as she finished patting down the earth. She could hear the clatter of moving armour from the bottom of the path and harsh shouts in a foreign tongue. It was time to go.

Pulling up the hood of her dark cloak, she melted like a wraith into the garden wall and through the door. She heard a shout of dismay from the house and, as the voices spilled out into the garden, she began to run once more.

Down the hill her feet flew as fast as possible, and she almost tumbled over. The little boat waited quietly in the tiny cove, bobbing as if in nervous anticipation. The white linen of Edward's shirt billowed as he readied it for her arrival, and this reassured her greatly. As she reached the shore, he raced to meet her and sweep her into his arms. Quickly, but gently, he lifted her into the boat and they cast off. They moved unnoticed through the water, and only once they moved into swifter waters did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Although Edward had warned her not to, she couldn't resist a look back at their village on the hillside. The tears began to flow freely down her cheeks as she watched the sky above glowing, and tendrils of smoke curl into the stars above the roaring, crumbling chaos. She looked forward once more as they sailed off, not knowing when, if ever, they would return.

Everything was burning, burning down.

************

London, 1946.

My ears were ringing as I looked once more at the letter in my hands. I felt as though they had been ringing for years, and not only because of the whistle and crash of the bombs that had dropped from the sky like hellfire and torn giant waves of destruction and sorrow in their wake, disrupting and rending the very fabric of our carefree, selfish lives. The discontent, I realised, had been brewing even before the war had washed it over me along with the fire and smoke.

The words on the parchment floated back up to me.

The Hon Rose Grantham,

-etc., London,

Dear Miss Grantham,

We are pleased to inform you that we were able to secure the property you had inquired about. The house and its grounds will be at your disposal as of the first of the month. Upon your arrival, you may direct any inquiries or concerns to the local agent in Mousehole. His contact information shall be provided to you in our next communication, along with the property keys.

Thank you once again for choosing our services,

Messrs. Chatham and Caledonia, Estate Agents.