As The World Became Dark: Chapter 1 (Part 3)

The four walked up the eastern path until they reached a brick barrier that spanned as far as the eye could see to the east and north. They kept going until Edwin stopped at a particular point. “Delthine, do you see that black brick at the top there?” Edwin pointed to an oddly placed black brick in the barrier. “Push that in.” At once the barrier began to shift and a gateway formed. “Welcome to Haddinger Villa” Edwin said with relief.

            Delthine took the first steps into the gateway, the rest following. The gateway led to a hedged path, where tall freshly cut bushes were aligned as if greeting the lord to his abode. Kethane looked around in great anticipation, for she had heard of this place a great many times, but was never afforded its sight. As they were entering the front courtyard, Alastir started to give out. Edwin pulled him up to see his wound bleeding through the bandages. “Quickly, we must get him inside.” Kethane held tight to his waist as Edwin held up his shoulders. They began to pick up their pace, hauling Alastir across the yard. As they rushed, the water fountains began to sprout and the court garden came to life. Reaching the porch of the mansion, Edwin let go of Alastir to bang at the door. “Charles! Are you there? Let me in.” Edwin kept banging but received no answer. “Where could they be? Charles! Antonia! This is Edwin! We have a wounded man. Open up!” Still no answer came. Frustrated, he kicked at the door and to his amazement it opened with little effort, apparently left unlocked. “What strange thing this is” Delthine remarked.

            “Stay here all of you.” Edwin went ahead and walked into the villa. Unlike the arid cold outside, the house was warm and sweet scented, as if housing some guests. Edwin took more steps in and looked around the corridors to see signs of desertion. “Alright! Come in. There is no one in here…” Edwin went back to the door the help Kethane carry Alastir inside the house. Delthine took her boxes and continued with them. The two carried Alastir up the main stairs and through the left hallway. Kethane noticed the villa was rounded, and the hallways met in a circle. As they walked, she noticed the hallway windows were open. She quickly glanced out one of them to see the back of the villa. All she spotted was a wooden deck that was surrounded by a defined formation of hedges. Edwin stopped at the first door in the corridor and opened it. The room inside was rather plain, but it had a twin bed to the side of the window, a side table with a chair, and a closet. A picture of a frail woman in white holding a cat was hanging next to the closet door. Edwin quickly pulled back the bed sheets and lifted Alastir onto the bed. As Edwin withdrew, Alastir grabbed his arm.

            “I don’t understand why you did this. You should have left me to die. For whatever reason or comfort my salvation gives you I hope it was worth it…” Alastir let him go and turned to Kethane, extending his hand to her. “You’re a good girl, aren’t you? I have no cause to resist you. Come to me girl.” Kethane was hesitant.

“Keep him company, as I go fetch some fresh bandages.” Edwin left the room closing the door behind him. Alastir’s hand remained stretched to Kethane. “It’s my duty to help you sir, so I will do what I must.” Kethane went to Alastir and pulled her coat off him, placing it in the chair next to the bed. He grabbed her arm before she could go further.

“Your duty is to help this hurt soul? Why? Why do anything for anybody? Are you that man’s slave girl?”

“Let me go please.” Kethane pulled at his arm but he would not release. He began to smile.

“Tell me. What is stopping you from leaving? I am surely not, and I know my wife would love to get you out of the way… You must be his lover.”

            Noticing the prick of his words, he released her. She withdrew, stepping closer to the door. “I am no such thing to my lord. He is a savior to me and I will assistant him until he finds his wife and child.” Alastir lifted his head as to question that statement.

“So this man is in search of his wife eh? Why did he let her go in the first place?” Kethane could not answer. Alastir’s prying was developing into a source of invigoration for him. “Never mind girl. I don’t need you to find out what I can know on my own. What is your name, girl?”

Kethane moved slightly closer. “My name is Kethane Rosemont, and I am in grateful service to his lordship Edwin Haddinger. I do believe you have asked enough questions for a dying man. You need to get rest.” Edwin came in and saw Kethane repositioned from the bed.

“You haven’t been causing trouble now, have you Lord Alastir?” Upon hearing that name his face lit.

“How do you know me, Edwin?”

            Edwin formed a smile on his face. “It seems the women exchange names as freely as birds flutter their wings…” Both men burst into a titter as Kethane remained silent. “Seeing we are both acquainted now sir, you being my attacker and I your defender, you being wounded and I your healer, we should make decent company.”

“Agreed. I am sorry for losing to you, I truly am...” Edwin lifted his brow at the pickup of Alastir’s sarcasm.

“I’m going to bandage your wound, as it seems to be bleeding out. It amazes me how much vigor you held on to, for moments ago I thought you were dying… ” Edwin reached for Alastir’s chest and peeled off the bloody cloth. Alastir lifted his arms to grant him easy access for a quick replacement.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a bit of morphine for my pain, would you?” Alastir eyed Edwin’s pocket, which revealed the syringe he placed there.

“Indeed I do, but it didn’t appear that you needed any. After all you weren’t hollering for relief. But, I will oblige your discomfort for now.” Edwin pulled out the already full syringe and Alastir quickly let out his arm like a child expecting candy. As soon as the cool needle pierced Alastir’s flesh, he let out a sigh of relief. Edwin then lit the table lamp next to the bed. It burned a scent of fresh vanilla across the room.

“I will leave him to enjoy his comfort.” Edwin wiped his sweaty brow with an air of accomplishment. He turned to Kethane, whose own person seemed in need of refreshment. “How good are you at cooking a meal my dear?” Edwin and Alastir’s eyes both fell on her.

“I think of myself as mediocre. I have not been assigned to much cooking du…” Edwin stopped her there.

“I will cook my dear” he said with a jesting grin. “We have no servants here and you have no obligation. Tonight I will make a stew from the leftover meats and muddied vegetables we have. Sugared fruits for dessert.”

“That sounds mighty fine Edwin. I will be here in high anticipation for your delicacies. I do ask one favor though, that you allow Kethane to attend me for the night, lest my wife should come to take my life in thy sleep…”

“I will ensure that won’t happen, but Kethane is no longer a servant, my assistant rather. Staying with you is strictly up to her.”

            Alastir looked up at Kethane who was smiling. “I will check on you, sure.” Kethane turned a started out the room. “I will leave you to rest now. With your permission sir…Edwin, I wish to scope your villa. Coming in I noticed some beautiful ornaments in the court garden…”

“Yes, you may go wherever you please. Just don’t venture too far out in the back. I cannot have you getting lost today.” Edwin and Kethane left Alastir with the room closed behind them. When they reached downstairs, she made her way outside the front and he to the kitchen, where Delthine was waiting.

            Delthine was sitting in front of the fireplace, which she recently lit. The pot was boiling over it. “You started on something miss?” Edwin went over to see some vegetables and salted meat in the mix.

“I just started cooking. I figured you all would be hungry but were attending to that man upstairs.” Delthine’s face formed a visible disgust.

“Very well, I’ll let you finish what you started. While we are waiting for supper perhaps we can go over a few things. You will see that I am not an unfair man. I will let you stay here until your husband gets on his feet, then I must continue my journey. ” Edwin pulled out a chair from the table and sat next to the warm fire. The flames reflected their warm light on Delthine’s pale skin, revealing her reddish brown eyes. Her once pinned up black hair was let down to her arms in curled strands. Her dress reflected a dark blue.

“You said you were traveling, seemingly before he attacked you. I won’t ask why he did so, but I do want to know where you were headed.” Delthine turned to face him.

“We don’t live far from here. The Drasden Estate is about eight miles west of here. There was an occurrence yesterday morning. Alastir was inside his study, and I was strolling in my garden. Suddenly the sky became a bright white and then I saw something cover the sun.” Edwin began to recollect yesterday’s events with slight blur.

“Something covered the sun? Like an object?”

“Yes, that’s what I saw. An object in the sky passed over the sun and then I heard a loud rumbling. The object passed over, but then smoke took its place and concealed all light…” Delthine became visibly distressed. “After that the servants and my husband ran outside to see what was happening. The ground started to shake as a strange noise filled the sky, like a droned beeping. The servant became fearful and started to scurry away, taking everything they had and leaving the estate. We tried to keep them around but no one stayed. Our most trusted servants stole our cars out the garage and abandoned us there. I decided we should make our way to Wars County by foot, since it is bordered by a train station that connects to the rest of the Leician cities. That’s where I always meet Yirsen my…” Delthine’s abrupt stop inadvertently gave up the case to Edwin.

            “Yes, Yirsen is your lover. Which your husband no doubt discovered as you were walking…” Delthine’s eyes flickered. “It’s no issue with me what you have done, so don’t feel touched by my knowledge of it.”

“I did not want you to believe I am anything less than a lady. I have had my time in the Drasden family and I grew weary of it. I was married in for my wealth and his status, but was denied all comforts of a loving marriage. Alastir is a cruel master, unfeeling and ignorant. He never loved me but his pride was hurt upon my revealing the affair. He attacked me to redeem his honor. Yirsen was a humble station boy, who slaved for passengers in hopes of getting a small tip. Yet, he holds more honor than Alastir can ever possess. Yirsen has nothing, no title or property in his name, but he has my heart. He is a valiant soul. I love him dearly and I will search for him once I leave this place.”

“I understand your plight. I have a wife who is with child. I saw her off yesterday morning and haven’t seen her since. Antonia was supposed to be here along with her servant. I’m hoping they drove beyond here and went ahead to Wars County. Hope is a possession worth dying for…”