The return of the Dark

12

When the party was over, Robin left with his pals after being watched by my Uncle and his sister. She had a troubled look on her face and Robin managed to smile at her, which made my Uncle fume of rage.
    Like a horse gone loose, he grabbed my stern by the arm when everyone left the 'welcome home' party.
    "You're hurting me!" I squeaked when he pulled me inside, dragged me up the stairs to my room. I almost tripped, but it looked like Uncle Benjamin did not care.
    "Benjamin!" Loveday came after us, hurrying up the stairs to stop her husband.
    "Don't!" he yelled back, pointing with an angry finger in her direction.
    "Uncle! Stop! He meant no harm!" I tried to plead Robin free from his fuming mind, but my Uncle would not hear any of it. Instead, he pushed me inside my room, shut the door behind him with a loud WHAM.
    "I'm not buying this from you, young lady!" he snapped. His face was read of anger and I worried for him.
    "If you just listen..."
    "Robin is not welcome here! Nor his friends!"
    "Uncle!"
    Shaking his head, he walked up and down my room, that suddenly seemed so childish. I felt like that, too. I shook my head, mirroring his movements.
    "I suppose he told you. Then you know why you can't see him, or any De Noir no longer!" Uncle Benjamin leaned against the fire place.
    "Robin would never hurt me," I said, my voice thin. "He's my friend."
    "You can't be anymore. I don't want my family to get harmed by those savages, hidden in their maze of trees," he threatened. I remembered his words - rapists and thieves wondered in the forest, deep inside. I felt a bit unsure if it was a good idea to meet at the old Tree. If I knew how to find it once more.
    But I could trust Robin. I would meet him there.
    "Uncle... I'm sorry for what happened," I then started when he seemed to calmed down a bit. "I didn't know what was going on. I wanted to see my friend."
    After he took a few deep breaths, he looked at me with compassion in his eyes. "I know," he said. "Robin is your friend, but please understand that I cannot allow you to see him any longer. It is for your own safety."
    "But why blame everything on them? A De Noir was murdered, too."
    Wrong words.
    My Uncle took another deep breath, the fire from the fire place seemed to reflect in his eyes as burning anger.
    "Listen carefully, Maria," he started slowly, warning me, "If I find out that you disobey me in any way, if you go on your own adventure that'll get you killed, I will lock you up here or sent you away once more. This time to never return."
    Shocked I stepped back. The blood drained from my face.
    "But... But this is my home!" It was all I could say.
    "You had a home in London."
    "London sucked!" As soon the words flew out of my mouth, I regretted them. Uncle Benjamin looked at me as if had eaten a rat in front of him.
    "What?" he said, not sure what to say else. "I don't understand."
    "I was sick!" I now yelled. "Almost all the time! I am better now, there is nothing wrong with me. But... I missed everyone. I barely had friends. It was dirty. It was..." A living hell.
    "You were sick? Why didn't you tell us?" Now full of concern, he took me under his wings once more. I embraced myself and pinched in my arm to stop myself from crying.
    "Oh, sweet girl. I didn't know, I'm sorry to hear that. But you're back in the family now. Everything will be fine, if you follow my rules."
    He thought to cheer me up, in his own way, but he actually made it all worse. I just nodded, done with the day, the evening.
    "You will stay on my lands and won't go to town. I will get you a guard."
    My head shot up to face him. "A... a guard?" What was he thinking? Like I couldn't take care of myself? "I don't think that's a good idea."
    "Why not?" He genuinely looked confused.
    "Well..." I don't like it when I get stalked. "It's a bit much."
    "Nonsense."
    Uncle Benjamin let go of me and walked towards the door, opened it and stood in the doorway.
    "Get some rest now, we talk along later. Good night, Maria."