The Valley of Mysteries | Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 16 - THE DANGERS YOU POSE

"Al...!!" Mildred hugged Alyssia and cried loudly.
"Mother!" she said.
"Why is this happening to us?" she cried.
"Countess!" Edward said.
"Your Regency! You heard..." she cried again and hugged Edward. He wrapped his arms around her.
"I did. I'm so sorry!" he said. Albert twitched and mouthed "DON'T DO THAT! PULL AWAY!!" Edward ignored him.
"I know you're just a child but..."
"I apologize Countess... but you're talking to your Regent King. Don't forget that!" Albert finally spoke.
"Albert!" Edward flashed his hand in front of his face.
"No, dear. He's right. I... mean your regency..." she continued crying. "I hope you know what this means.
"Means?"
"It means the valley is under threat!" Mildred said.
"What?" Edward said.
"Yes, it began just like this, you know - killings of heads of different estates. And it makes sense as Lady Caitlyn has returned."
"As a matter of fact, I have!" Caitlyn said in a strong voice.
"Your Grace!" Albert bowed.
"How does my return get the Earl affected?" Caitlyn furrowed her brows. "What are you suggesting?"
"Countess, according to the healers... Earl has been dead for months. So choose your words wisely." Albert said curtly. Mildred didn't respond but sunk into the nearest chair.
"Mildred... I... I can understand. We'll find the people responsible for it. Justice will be served." Caitlyn said.
"How? If Malum is behind all this, what will you do? Run away again?" Mildred said angrily.
"I didn't run away because of Malum. I know you're not a fool to believe that. As a matter of fact, he can't return unless a Hale opens the doorway. Since Stuart... King Stuart died months ago... I don't think that's likely. We need to find people who may be holding grudges against you and your family." Caitlyn said. Natalie, Edward, Alyssia, Sean and Aaron looked at one another. "Can I have a word with you, Edward?" Caitlyn narrowed her eyes at him. Edward followed her into a nearby room.

Caitlyn shut the door behind her and turned towards Edward. He had gone pale and his heart was pounding out of his chest.
"So..." Caitlyn said.
"So?" Edward said promptly.
"I hear you know you're not just a Harrington!" Caitlyn's sharp eyes turned soft and she opened her arms. Edward let out a breath he didn't realise he was holding. He hugged her.
"You... you're my aunt?" he said, a tear falling out of his eye.
"Yes!" she patted his back.
"Nat's my sister?"
"Yes!"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You know why!"
"Nat doesn't know yet, does she?"
"No, and I don't think it's wise to tell her right now. She's got lots riding on her mind."
"Yeah, she said that herself. I heard you killed Scott!"
"Oh, you did?"
"Aaron told me!"
"I swear, I'll kill whoever tried to...
"Earl!"
"What?" Caitlyn took a step back in horror. "Earl?"
"Yes. Sean, Alyssia and I went down there for the Lake Challenge."
"YOU WHAT?" she said angrily.
"Please, hear me out first!!"
"Okay!" she said. Edward told her everything word for word. She gasped in horror and sat down on the couch, nearby. "I can't believe it. Poor Alyssia!" she rubbed her temples.
"She's been holding up... barely."
"And Nat knows?"
"Yes. But we didn't tell her about Scott and Aaron."
"Do you realise what's going to happen now?" Caitlyn buried her face in her hands.
"What?"
"You opened the doors for the evil! The blood sacrifice you made... it has broken the seal!! It's only a matter of time before he realises." she said.
"What?"
"Yes."
"There must be a way to stop him!" Edward said.
"Only if I knew." she stood up. "Let's go out now. Don't mention this to anyone! Keep Nat close. She doesn't trust me anymore. I have Aaron on the lookout but..."
"I know."
"Let's go now."

They joined the others in the hall. Mildred and Alyssia were sitting near the table. Natalie was standing away from Aaron and Sean, who were talking in low voices. Aaron was filling him in on the events of last week.
"Nat, let's go." Edward took her arm and pulled her upstairs.
"Where to?" she asked, but followed him. Once they were out of earshot, Caitlyn turned to the others.
"Natalie doesn't know the truth about herself yet. The only thing she knows is that she's an octave and holds some value in the valley. She doesn't have to know about her relations with the Hales yet. Edward shall remain the Regent as my brother wanted. I'll work with him to study the case, Mildred. We'll make this right. If what you say is true... we must stick together!" Caitlyn said strongly. Mildred nodded.
"I'm sorry about earlier!" Mildred said.
"It's okay. You were... distraught." Caitlyn smiled. Alyssia nudged her mother to get up. They left the palace. Caitlyn turned to Albert.
"I need you to make arrangements for Natalie and Aaron to stay at Harrington Mansion!" she said.
"What an honour, Your Grace!!" Albert smiled to himself and hurried out of the palace.
"You two, follow me!" she said. Sean and Aaron followed her inside the room.

"Caitlyn, I'm guessing you know the truth!" Aaron said.
"Caitlyn? Are you..." Sean was cut by Caitlyn.
"It's fine. I'm not a noble anymore. I married outside the octaveship, remember?" she said. "Now, let's not waste time." she nodded at Sean who composed himself and looked back attentively. "I need you to keep an eye on Natalie while you're at the mansion, Aaron. She shouldn't know, that you're watching her."
"I can do that!" Aaron said.
"And you... Edward told me how you put yourself in danger for others. He trusts you, so I'm placing my trust in you as well. Here's the thing not many people know: Edward is the rightful heir, not Natalie." she waited for them to react but they were taken aback. "Edward is my nephew, Stuart's only child!"
"But King Stuart wasn't..." Sean opened his mouth.
"...married. I know. He was going to marry Audrey but couldn't. Edward might be Stuart's son out of wedlock, but he's the only child he ever had. Natalie would be the first target... but it's a matter of time before the truth comes out."
"Tell me, what can I do?" Sean asked.
"Keep Edward safe. You and Alyssia have been looking after him ever since he came here. I know you can do it!"
"With my life!" Sean bowed.
"I want you to be safe too, Sean!" she said. Sean's eyes glimmered. He nodded. "You people have opened the gates for Malum! We have to be careful."
"We... what?" Sean was shocked.
"Edward has Hale blood... it opened the gates that were sealed."
"But Earl could come and go too."
"He was an Elf. Elves can cross any seal!"
"What about Alyssia?"
"Let her grieve with her mother, for now."
"No... I mean what about that thing she did down there!"
"Elves can be really dangerous if they have a reason to be. But the kind of power Edward described, it only comes with... let's say it happens... once in a couple of centuries! Suffice it to say, she's one of her kind."
"Wow. But is it safe... for us!" Aaron asked.
"It depends on what she wants it to be. One of her ancestors had the same power. The forest cover you see now... is all because of him. He used his powers to raise thousands of trees from one seed and formed an entire forest!" she said.
"I think we should talk to her!" Aaron suggested.
"Maybe, but now is not the right time!" Caitlyn said.
"What about school? I can't be around her in school!" Aaron asked.
"I think the school has its own protections... so she'll be safe."
"But what if she finds out the truth?"
"It's inevitable... but I think she's most likely to be isolated." she turned towards the door.
"And you're not worried about her?" Aaron turned. Caitlyn laughed.
"I'm worried about the other kids. Mine is... a lot to handle. She's my daughter after all!" she walked out. Sean mouthed 'WOW' at him. Aaron shook his head.