One Cold Winter's Night

chapter 5

Chapter Five

It’s been three days since the bloody wall incident, and nothing strange has really come. Xavier would only be around for lunch these days, it felt like he was hiding from me. I spent these days in the library, enjoying all the books that it had to offer. Today like all the other days I was perusing the many isles of the library when I found a book that didn’t look like the rest. I picked it up wiping the dust from its cover, when I opened it up I realized it was a diary. The first entry was dated back in 1988 by a miriam Knight, is Knight Xavier's last name?

 “My dearest Edward  today you were appointed ceo of Knight industries, your father would be proud. As we bring our first born into the world, I know you will be able to provide for him and I.” Does Xavier have siblings? Is he the oldest, why does it feel like I shouldn’t be reading this?

But I wanted answers about Xavier and deep down I felt like he would never be willing to share any of this with me. I decided to take the book to my room and read it in my off time when I could be sure I was alone. I speed walked to my room hiding the book in the back of the bedside table for later. There was a knock at my door, taking one last glance I made sure the book is properly hidden away before going to open. There stood Xavior, a serious look plastered on his face, did he already know I had that Dairy?

 “It’s been a while since I had some free time, I was wondering if you would like to go take a walk with me. The snow has been cleaned up on the estate grounds.” my muscles relaxed, good he didn’t know I was being nosy.

 “Can we stay inside today? Not really feeling like going out at the moment, plus I can’t put my coat on with my wrist.” He nodded telling me to follow him to his study, why there? Nonetheless I followed him walking side by side till we got to his office.

He took a seat at his desk while I stood awkwardly in front of it, he pointed at the seat in front of his desk and I sank into it. “I’m sure you have questions for me, and yes I’m aware you found my mother's study so there is no reason to hide it. If I didn’t want you to see it I would’ve removed it.” I looked down sheepish, he really does know everything. 

“Sorry I just didn’t know if you wanted  me to read something so personal, I didn’t mean to be nosy. I don’t have any questions for you at the moment. I just remembered to say thank you for letting me stay here and for rescuing me.”

 He nodded, “it’s fine don’t worry about that anymore.” After this all my worries were long gone and we just chatted about random things, me mainly carrying the conversation. I learned that he was 26, so he couldn’t be the son referenced on the first page of the diary. He also mentioned how he had recently acquired the family company back after it was taken from the family long ago, he wouldn’t specify why or how and I respected his privacy.

He was only two years older than me, when his mannerisms and way of speaking I thought the gap would have been much larger. I told him about where my family and I originally moved from and how I was 24. Also explained why I worked at the diner even though I was well off, I just wanted to feel like I earned my money and wasn’t living off of anyone. The maids brought lunch to us in the office where he had a television on the wall.  We decided to watch law and order while eating our rosemary herb chicken club sandwiches, it’s official I was never going back home.

 Things were good then the local news had to ruin my mood. 

“The bodies of James Mathis and three other unidentifiable bodies were recovered from the woods. Police say the wildlife got to them before they could as these were criminals at large. Alleged to be the ones behind the recent spike in assaults and robberies. If you have any information about these individuals contact local police.”

 Everything felt so surreal even if these people had tried to attack me, I didn't want them dead, they deserved prison not a funeral. I guess this means that they can’t hurt anyone else. It’s not my fault that they are dead, I looked over to Xavier and he didn’t even look the slightest bit fazed. Why would he and why was I? I didn’t even know these people outside of attaching me, this had nothing to do with me, right? 

I think Xavier picked up on my distress because he changed the channel without saying a word, his silent way of telling me not to worry about it. So I didn’t, letting my distress fade away and focus on sports center. Letting go worked because for the rest of the day it never crossed my mind, that night I decided to read the diary. I skimmed around in it looking for any more information that Xavier didn’t tell me himself. I found out that he also has an older sister only a year his senior. So he was the third child from what I could gather from all of this. In 2001 a month before Xavier would turn 7 was the last entry in the book, she was going to have a daughter.

 Where are all of his siblings? He doesn’t even talk about them, maybe they aren’t close? I’d definitely ask him about this after dinner. Luckily unlike last time I had questions for him, he was at dinner, now I was nervous having to actually confront him. I decided to just suck it up and get some answers. “The diary said that you have at least three siblings, where are they? Why don’t you talk about them.” His fork stopped mid air, the bite of lasagna falling off the silverware, maybe I shouldn’t have asked? 

He composed himself quickly, setting the fork on the plate and clearing his throat. “Only my oldest brother is around, the other half of the mansion you aren’t allowed to go in belongs to him. We may be family but he is… unpredictable for lack of a better word.” 

I nodded not pressing him to elaborate, feeling guilty for making him speak about his dead family members. The rest of dinner was quiet until the end where he told me not to feel guilty, that he was okay talking about them. That night I layed in bed wondering what his brother was like, I shouldn’t have wondered. This was the last mistake I made, purposely crossing paths with the mysterious older Knight brother.