As The World Became Dark: Chapter 1 (Part 2)

Maschuten was a small private village in the middle of the Leics country woods. It was a place of retreat and quiet life. A place where scandals were conceived and hidden. A place of refreshment in nature. Many of the aristocratic wealthy constructed villas around or in Maschuten and its surrounding woods. “I have heard many rumors of this place. But I have never been.” Kethane thought out loud.

“Ha, indeed the servants do chat amongst themselves of the many secrets Maschuten holds…” Edwin cynically remarked. “Tell me something you servants speak of regarding this place.”

Kethane couldn’t bring herself to tell him anything, for everything was scandalous. “Well, I don’t really know anything…” she lied.

“Come on now Kethane! I know some things too. I just want to see what you know.”

“Where should I start?” she asked shyly.

“Tell me what you heard last summer.” Edwin demanded.

That was what she dreaded. Those summer rumors are the most vicious to one’s reputation. They spread like wild fire amongst the servant winds. In particular, it was said that the late Lord Haddinger, Edwin’s father, committed a scandal in Maschuten Woods. This was set before Edwin was born. Lord Haddinger was said to have had a mistress, a Spanish countess that he was in love with. It was said that he built the Haddinger villa just for this woman, as a private retreat. It was also said that this woman returned to Spain, carrying his child. Rumors of this sort can damage an entire family’s name. Servants, who discussed such things, whether true or not, would be severely punished.

Unfortunately for her, that was all she could think of. She could not think of any rumors prior or after that she had heard. There was a long silence as she tried to think of something to say. Then Edwin turned to her. “That summer, the main rumor was that I have an older Spanish half-brother. I’m sure that’s what you were hesitant to say. It’s alright…” She was frozen. She did not know what to think. Finally she grasped the courage to say something. “I’m sorry. Know that I never partake in such gossip, even though I can’t help hearing…” Even still, she wondered if such a thing were true, although she would never ask.

“We’re getting closer to the bridge. Once we get there we will have to walk the rest of the way in. Though there are many paths into Maschuten, the woods surrounding my villa are too thick to enter with this truck.”

            The closer they came to Maschuten, the denser the area became with foliage, as if purposely thick to hide something. Looking out the widow, Kethane started to spot structures behind massive trees. Finally, the clear dirt road started to fade into an undefined plain of grass. 

Edwin pulled up to the side of a wooden bridge that appeared quite old. Underneath it was a creek with slow water flow. “Here is where our journey starts on foot. I want you to carry our food with you, while I get the rest of the supplies. You can leave the blankets in the car. We don’t need them where we’re going.”

            As Kethane exited the car she noticed a foggy brew from across the bridge. She looked up at the sky and saw a dim impression of the sun, still clouded. Edwin noticed her hesitant attitude and walked in front of her. “Just follow close behind me Kethane. Our journey is not long.” Edwin took a few steps across the bridge before they started to hear screams coming from ahead of them. “Kethane, don’t move.” Edwin set down his box, took off his coat and pulled out a pocket knife that had gone unnoticed before. He swiftly moved on ahead leaving Kethane standing at the bank of the bridge. The screams were of a woman in distress accompanied by the harsh curses of a man. Kethane kept her focus on the distance, as Edwin faded into the thick fog of the woods.

            Suddenly a pale woman in dark array came running out of the woods and across the bridge. Startled, Kethane spilled everything she had onto the muddy ground. The woman seemed to not notice Kethane as she ran past her and ducked behind Edwin’s truck. The rumblings of angry voices started to echo out the fog. A great fear passed over Kethane, for she realized Edwin’s life could be in danger. Notwithstanding the temptation of moving, Kethane started to cross the bridge. Before she reached halfway, a disheveled man stumbled out of the fog. Kethane immediately turned around and ran to the truck, not taking any chances of looking back. Right behind him, Edwin grabbed the man’s waist and lifted him up off the bridge. The man fell with a shrieking crash.

           

            Kethane turned around to see Edwin looking over the bridge and the man underneath struggling to get up. Edwin turned to Kethane and motioned her to stay still. The pale woman left her position and ran to Edwin to see what he saw.

“Who is this man?” Edwin asked in a heated tone. The woman looked over the bridge to see the man looking back at her.

“He is my husband.” The woman turned around to look at Kethane, who avoided eye contact. “Thank you sir, for ridding me of this pest.” 

“Why did he attack you?” Edwin questioned. The woman did not answer and moved on across the bridge and next to Kethane, who remained still. The man underneath the bridge stopped struggling.

            “Kethane!” Edwin shouted in an urgent tone, “Go get a blanket out of the car.” As she went off, Edwin scrambled in his medical supply box for some bandages and a bottle of antiseptic. Noticing what he planned to do the pale woman attempted to stop his action.

 “Why are you doing this sir? You just took care of the problem and now you’re trying to save it?!”

“Look miss, I don’t know who you are but I did stop him from attacking you. He has lost and he is wounded. I doubt he will fight with me again.” At that Edwin grabbed his supplies and blanket from Kethane and made his way down to the creek.

             Kethane and the woman watched the sight in anxiousness. At the bottom, Edwin placed his supplies on the ground and turned the man over. He was still breathing, but badly wounded, for Edwin defensively jabbed him in the side before tossing him over the bridge. Edwin immediately pulled the man out of the water, took off his shirt, and went to work on sterilizing and bandaging his wound. Edwin then wrapped the thick cotton blanket around the man and helped him to his feet. The man looked at Edwin but said nothing. As they climbed up Edwin called to Kethane to help the man up the bank. She was able to study his features more clearly and noticed he was fairly young. His black hair seemed long, as the wet strands fell in front of his face. His eyes were a light brown, and quite piercing. His body was built with the definition of a fighter, brawny and bold, notably unlike Edwin, whose wet shirt revealed nothing but a flat surface. It was a wonder how Edwin managed to subdue him. Kethane began to blush as she realized she was staring too long at the man and not focusing on grabbing his hand. It made her wonder how such a man could be lifted as he was and thrown off a bridge, but then again he was fairly wounded.

           

            The three of them slowly walked to the truck, propping the man on their shoulders. The pale woman drifted to the opposite side of the truck, ensuring not to make contact with the man. At the truck, Kethane grabbed another blanket to place at the rear of the truck, before Edwin propped the man to lay there. He went back on the bridge to get his supplies and placed them in the back with the man. Noticing Delthine shivering, he placed his coat around her.

“Thank you sir, but what are you going to do with my husband?” the woman asked in vexed concern. Edwin ignored her uneasiness.

“Kethane, please do me a favor and stay in the back to watch over him. Hold him if you can. Make sure he is comfortable.” As Kethane went, Edwin turned to the woman. “I am taking him to my villa, where he will have rest. As for you, you can either come with us or stay here.” Edwin made his way into the car and started to pull off before the woman motioned him to stop.

“Don’t leave me here! I’ll come with you. I won’t be any trouble, I promise!”

             With that Edwin stopped his car and allowed her in next to him. He turned the truck around and started across the bridge. As the tires slowly rolled over the old bridge, the planks creaked and snapped as if moaning in pain. As they slowly entered the foggy woods, Kethane supported the man’s head on her lap, attempting to warm him with her shoulders. His wet clump of hair made a damp impression on her dress. He started to fall unconscious. She wondered how he could sleep in such dead silence. After all, the woods she knew were full of life and energy, as silence was a bad omen. No birds chirped, no grass rustled, and no trees swayed. She could see nothing but dim impressions of trees as the foggy mist enveloped them. To ensure the man’s warmth, Kethane took off her coat and placed it on him.

            Inside the car, the pale woman kept looking back and forth out the back window. “He’s not going to kill you from this position” Edwin heckled. The woman retreated into stillness. “So will you tell me why he was trying to hurt you?”

“That’s none of your concern.” Realizing she sounded ungrateful she retorted “I do appreciate what you have done, saving me and all, but my husband is a fool. A fool not worth saving.”

Edwin looked out of his front mirror to see Kethane holding the unconscious man. “He didn’t kill you after all, so he doesn’t have to die…” Edwin kept his eyes on the path. “So what is your name miss?”

“My name is Delthine. Delthine Louisa… Drasden” she replied with a hesitation to the last name.

“You from around these parts, miss Delthine?”

“No, we were traveling…” Delthine made sure not to reveal anything more, but her expression held something different.

“What is your husband’s name?”

“Alastir.” Upon hearing that Edwin began to recollect the name from time past. A name of important familiarity. “So you are a Lady, Delthine, and you husband is a Lord.” Delthine retained her silence.

            The further they went, the harder it was to drive, for the foliage and the trees became dense, like a slow formation of a wall. They drove until it was finally impenetrable. “My villa is just up this side path. We’re going to walk there and you will help us out.” Edwin put the truck at a halt and they both got out the car. Kethane started to doze from the cold, while she was holding tight to the Alastir. She woke up to sound of Edwin pulling down the trunk and shaking Alastir to wake up. Alastir arose and Edwin helped him off the rear. “Kethane, please help me carry him the rest of the way. Delthine, you will carry our supplies.” Alastir put on Kethane’s coat that had kept him warm for the ride.