Gifted

Chapter Eighteen - Sage

The hour's drive to my grandfather's home was painfully slow. I pulled up to the huge gated entrance, and through the thick railings, I saw the dark grey structure in the distance from my rain-washed windows.

It was a large old dwelling and although I had happy memories from my childhood here, it never quite felt like home, something was missing, I remembered the old saying 'home is where the heart is' but that never rang true with me.

The gates opened, allowing me to drive up to the main house. It was, in its own way a beautiful building albeit intimidating. Its unforgiving grey stone offered no warmth of a family home. Its windows never appeared quite right; they weren't the large ones which seemed strange on such an imposing building but more in size to a country cottage style.

And no matter what the weather grandfather had always insisted they stay resolutely shut even on the hottest days.

Applying pressure to the brakes, all the reasons I shouldn't do this came flooding in as if my body chemistry just sent them a blank invitation.

Even my wolf quietened down, slinking away to the dark corners of my mind. Coward.

Stepping from my car, I closed the door, taking a deep breath. Closing my eyes for a moment, I rested against the cool surface of my vehicle. The soft panic swirled and grew. Everything depended on what I did next.

I had options. I couldn't let my doubts grow into a vortex of silliness, eating their own tail. I had to be the boss of me. In control of my life from now on.

Tell him how I feel. Tell him what I want.

I nodded to myself as I pushed away from my car and walked down the well-maintained path towards the old double oak front door.

As I reached the entrance to press the bell, it slowly creaked open. Margaret, my grandfather's faithful housekeeper greeted me. She was ninety years old if she was a day and looked every one of her years. I was amazed my grandfather still kept her around. Her hearing for one had long since diminished.

She studied me, squinting her eyes, slightly confused for a moment before she greeted me, loudly. "Ah, Miss, yes, yes. Come, come."

"Hello Margaret, glad to see you looking... well."

"What dearie?" She lifted her hand to her ear, turning sideward.

I shook my head and spoke louder. "Looking well, Margaret." She stared at me blankly. It was just easier to smile back.

"Yes, yes. He's in his study Miss," she shouted before slowly closing the door behind me.

Surprisingly, she reached for my hand and squeezed it. It startled me as she had never done that before. Her grip loosened, as she put her head down and shuffled away as quietly as her feet would allow.

Still standing in the darkened entrance, my eyes scanned my surroundings. It remained as always dim and uninviting. Memories of running barefoot in the middle of the night to climb into Pearl's bed. Draughty corridors, cold air that swept under the doors like the tide on a frigid desolate beach. The inside of the house replicated the outside. It too lacked any warmth of a family home.

More memories burst like bubbles as the huge staircase before me took me back to Pearl and I sliding down the thick bannister. Swiftly followed by Mrs Tanner, our strict governess yelling at us to return to complete our studies.

The chime of the antique Vienna wall clock refocused my mind. I walked further into the house, heading towards his study. As I passed each portrait hanging on the darkened walls, each one eerily watched me pass.