The Valley of Mysteries | Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 6 - THE RETURN OF THE HEIR

*FLASHBACK*

Edward was standing in front of an old building, people filing in and out of it. He had just reached the Valley and was waiting to be called inside the court.
"Mr Edward! This way, please." a woman called out. He nodded and followed her. The building looked better inside. The ceilings were high supported by giant pillars on both sides. At the end of the hall, the woman gestured for him to walk through a door. As he walked through... his jaw dropped. It was a hallway with, what seemed like, hundreds of rooms on either side.
"Woah!" he gasped.
"Don't get lost, sir." the woman said. "Just follow me!"
"Don't wanna get lost. It's like a frickin Labyrinth!!" his voice echoed.

After a few minutes, the woman opened a door to reveal a courtroom. It was big and nearly empty.
"Huh?" Edward looked around.
"Sit in the front row." the woman said.
"Uh, thank you, miss...?"
"Bertha... sir." she curtsied before leaving.
"Ah, you must be Edward Harrington!" a voice echoed and Edward turned to look at a man stepping up to the council table.
"Codswallop! Taking false names... huh. You ought to know he's Lee's son. Not rightfully..." another man hissed but he was cut off as the former raised his hand in front of his face.
"Stop it there, Baldwin. I don't have time for your baseless and senseless words. When will you learn to respect people?"
"I know how to respect people, thanks. Above all, I know who is worthy of it. Unlike you, Christopher." Baldwin said bitterly.
"Enough! Leave the courtroom at once!" Christopher said angrily. Balwin marched out, enraged. "Sorry about him. He's not the friendliest person you'll meet here." he sighed.
"It's... okay, sir." Edward smiled, warmly.
"No, it's not. Anyways, we'll begin the session when the rest of the council is here. Oh, dear! I think my age is catching up to me. I... am Christopher Star - the head of the council. And that is my daughter, Alyssia - who is not supposed to be here." he looked at a girl standing behind Edward. Edward turned to look and gaped at her in surprise. Her long hair and bright eyes were captivating. His eyes fell on her long elven ears. She was standing at an arm's distance from him but didn't look at him.
"I'm sorry, father. I was told the session had not begun yet!" she said.
"Well, it hasn't. What is it?" he asked.
"Umm..." she looked at Edward and shook her head. "Nothing, I'll ask later." she turned around and left. Christopher sighed loudly.
"Sorry, again!" he laughed.

A few minutes passed and the room was filled with other council members.
"We're here to officially announce the return of the Harringtons to the Valley!" Christopher said loudly so that everyone could hear. Murmurs followed his words. Edward shifted in his place uncomfortably. Christopher smiled at him, reassuringly.
"Where are they? How is it possible? Audrey was the last Harrington! And she died a few years back." a man said, scratching his head.
"Her son, Edward Harrington is here!" Christopher said. Christopher gestured for him to stand up. He stood up, took a deep breath and turned to face them.
"Good evening..." he choked.
"Son? How can he take the name?" another man said, angrily.
"Yeah... Duke Harrington lost his duchy and failed to name his heir. Audrey didn't get anything, why should he?" a woman said, scanning Edward.
"Silence!!" Christopher said.
"Why? You know this is the last thing we want, right?" a man stood up and crossed his arms.
"In times like this, we should close the valley. And you've opened it for a stranger?" someone said.
"These are dark times and no one is denying it. But Edward here... is an octave. He's a werewolf, like dear Audrey. He has been working for the council for years, even though he's underage. Audrey made sure that the legacy of the Harringtons doesn't die out after the Duke. Edward is a capable boy, I'm sure of it. This session is an announcement, not a discussion! The decision was made a month ago in the presence of a Hale." Christopher stopped as murmurs grew louder. "Yes, in the presence of a Hale. I have it in writing! Now, the council will return to him what's rightfully his! Mr Edward Harrington, step up and read the documents carefully and quietly. The council is returning you the Harrington mansion and a couple more things. Unfortunately, you shall not have the Duchy as your grandfather... er... lost it. But, your return to the Valley is a big deal. So I, Christopher Star - the head of the council, shall offer you a title. Lord Edward Harrington, welcome to the Valley." he smiled.
"Thank you, sir." Edward bowed.
"THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! YOU CAN'T GIVE AWAY TITLES LIKE THAT!!" Baldwin screeched at the top of his voice.
"SILENCE!!!" Christopher's voice roared. "The decision has been made. The session ends here." he stood up and walked out from the back entrance. Edward stared at his back and followed him.
"Mr Star... er... Mr Christopher... I mean... oh God... SIR!!" Edward jogged after him.
"Oh, dear boy. Slow down." Christopher said.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know what to..."
"Don't worry, it's Earl Christopher Star. I'd prefer Chris, though!" he winked at the word Chris. Edward laughed quietly and nodded.
"I didn't expect someone like you to be so..."
"...Jovial?"
"Precisely!"
"Haha, I get that a lot." he laughed. Then he bent closer to Edward and whispered. "Some people, in there, hate me for that!"
"Oh? Then they have bad taste!" Edward smiled.
"Exactly! I believe you wanted to talk?" Chris asked.
"Oh, yes! I wanted to ask you about the mansion. I have no idea what I am supposed to do now!"
"That's understandable. Follow me, please." Chris smiled.

They walked into a room full of books and odd objects. Edward read Chris' name on the door before they entered.
"Have a seat." he gestured at a chair in front of his desk.
"Thank you, Chris." he smiled. Chris' eyes lit up at the sound of his name.
"It makes me feel younger." he winked again. Edward tried not to laugh.
"Father, I've been waiting..." Alyssia stopped as she saw Edward sitting in the room. She had just walked out of a room inside.
"Al, dear. What is it? Don't mind him. He's not a stranger. This is Lord Edward Harrington!" he said. Al's eyes widened at the sound of his surname but she recomposed herself quickly and curtsied. Edward, on the other hand, extended his right hand. After an awkward second, she shook his hand.
"Hello!" he said.
"Hi, I'm Alyssia." she smiled back.
"You were saying...?" Chris asked.
"When are we getting the hell out of here?" a woman stormed inside. She wasn't like Chris and Alyssia. She wasn't an elf. Chris sighed.
"Mildred, we have company!" he sighed loudly. She scanned the room and spotted Edward.
"Oh, my God! You're Audrey's son, aren't you?" she smiled broadly and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Yes! How do you..."
"She was like a sister to me!" she cried. After a few seconds, she let go of him. "Oh, you're so beautiful! Christopher, look at him. Just look at him. Oh, my God! You remind me of her so much!!" she hugged him again but let go soon.
"You're Mildred Abbott? She used to talk about you whenever I asked about her school time or time in the valley." Edward smiled.
"Yes! It's Countess Mildred Star now. I'm Al's mother!" she pointed at her.
"But you're..."
"Human! Not elf." she smiled.
"I didn't mean to..."
"Oh, it's okay dear! Tell me how was your trip here?"
"It was good."
"That Baldwin couldn't control himself though. I'm sorry once again." Chris sighed.
"It's okay, really!" Edward smiled. "Um, I don't want to stand in way of your family meeting!" he said, looking at Alyssia, who was drawing circles on a paper.
"Oh, don't you worry dear! It's nothing."
"Ah! Albert!" Chris clapped his hands as an old man entered his office.
"You summoned me, Earl." Albert bowed.
"This is Lord Edward Harrington. Edward, this is Albert - the caretaker of the mansion. He will be by your side." Chris introduced and explained. Albert bowed again. "Drop the address of your grandmother's whereabouts. He will take her to the mansion."
"What about me?" Edward asked, shocked.
"Countess will kill me if I don't invite you over for dinner." Chris smiled.
"Oh?" Edward was happy and confused.
"Come with me, dear" Mil dragged him outside before he could react. Alyssia and Edward sat on either side of her and Chris sat in the front passenger's seat.

"Thank you so much for the dinner, Countess." Edward smiled.
"I'm pleased you liked it!" Mil said.
"Especially this Turkey! It reminded me of..."
"...Audrey's? It's her recipe. She taught me a short while before she left the valley." she sighed.
"I... Can I get the recipe?" he asked.
"You? You cook?" Alyssia asked in surprise.
"Yes! I love to cook. Mom and I used to spend most of our time in the kitchen!" Edward said.
"Why am I not surprised? She was a kitchen queen!" Mil smiled.
"What about your father?" Alyssia asked. Edward's smile faded away. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"It's fine. My father did nothing worthwhile! Drunkard... divorced my mother when I was 15 and then died." Edward said plainly. An awkward silence followed.

"Thanks for the lift, Chris!" Edward shook his hand.
"Oh, it's nothing! You thank people a lot!! And Edward! There's something I'd like to discuss with you. I'll drop by tomorrow evening if that's okay!" he said.
"Yeah, sure. And you can call me Ed! I refer to you as Chris so it only seems fair." Edward grinned.
"Oh, you're my new best friend." he hugged Edward. "Uh, I heard myself... so stupid and childish." he laughed.
"No, not at all. I could use all the friends I can get."
"True. Especially when..." Chris stopped and shook his head as if clearing fog out of his head. "... never mind. Take some rest. I'll meet you tomorrow. Your school doesn't start until September, but there's lots of work to be done. Good night...Ed!" he smiled.
"Good night."

*PRESENT*

Edward was staring at his phone for the last 20 minutes. It was as useless as it was a month ago. No signals!
"I hope you're okay!" he sighed and looked at the screen again. It was a wallpaper of him with Natalie. "I miss you so much!"
"What is he expecting to hear?" Sean hissed.
"He's worried about her... like you are worried about Aaron." Alyssia frowned.