Authors: Kelly Varesio
Insperatus (35 page)
The area was
still
beautiful, but the hospital had enlarged itself, as had the bank, the grocer, and the wine house. Old Mr. Henry’s baker’s shop was gone, and the auction barn had been changed into a teahouse…all in a few months. It was obvious that the fright of two people in their village having disappeared had stirred something.
still
beautiful, but the hospital had enlarged itself, as had the bank, the grocer, and the wine house. Old Mr. Henry’s baker’s shop was gone, and the auction barn had been changed into a teahouse…all in a few months. It was obvious that the fright of two people in their village having disappeared had stirred something.
On the main corner, across the railroad tracks, on Sherwood Street, there was a large, beautiful, dark green house with a black-shingled roof. The shutters were old and rustic, and there was much acreage behind it. Grass covered the whole lawn, with small white flowers growing in different, little patches around the sidewalk.
It was her old home.
Back about a mile was a boarding school. Barnard Institution—the boarding school in which her father had left her.
She was walking slowly to the porch of the old, regal house.
“
You have beautifully even teeth, Rein,” he said with a stifled voice, staring straight ahead of him at the door.
You have beautifully even teeth, Rein,” he said with a stifled voice, staring straight ahead of him at the door.
Rein wiped hair out of her eyes and attempted to put the stray strands back into her chignon, staring at Traith with a low feeling. She had vehemently been working with her powers the past two weeks. It wasn’t as hard as she’d thought it would be; but in particular use that day was her ability to transform things with her mind, transform herself. Whatever she willed, she could become. She could even will what others looked like.
It was odd…Rein thought Traith, at realizing her shape-shifting ability, would’ve been excited to be able to see what
he
looked
like. She could become him, if she wanted, but he was entirely against it. He had said that it was something he didn’t want to see again…the way he knew he looked. That, and he hated the idea of seeing her as a man.
he
looked
like. She could become him, if she wanted, but he was entirely against it. He had said that it was something he didn’t want to see again…the way he knew he looked. That, and he hated the idea of seeing her as a man.
Anyway, with that mastery, Rein was able to appear as she did when she was human: no red eyes, no pale skin, no
fangs
. She knew for a fact that Traith didn’t like her resembling her old self. He was trying to forget her old image. She knew it haunted him.
fangs
. She knew for a fact that Traith didn’t like her resembling her old self. He was trying to forget her old image. She knew it haunted him.
“
Traith,” she finally said. “I can make you—”
Traith,” she finally said. “I can make you—”
“
Please, Rein. You’ve never seen me when I was human, and I’d prefer you didn’t get used to a more normal form of me.”
Please, Rein. You’ve never seen me when I was human, and I’d prefer you didn’t get used to a more normal form of me.”
“Do you not trust me?” She cocked her head and smiled.
“It’s got nothing to do with trust, Rein, believe me.”
She gave a rough sigh and said nothing more, knowing she could not win over his opinion. She approached the door, tapping the knocker.
“
Do you even know anything of this man?” asked Traith.
Do you even know anything of this man?” asked Traith.
She shrugged. “I don’t.”
She heard him sigh just as the door was opening, and a portly man with a head of combed over hair and thick eyebrows stood there with a blank smile on his face. She figured it was Hall.
“Good day,” he paused a moment, scanning Rein. “You must be Rein Pierson. Stunning.”
She chuckled with embarrassment, but a sudden caution took her over when she smelled whiskey on his breath. Traith stood still, his expression unwavering but intimidating nonetheless.
She recalled the brief mentioning of his alcoholism in Mistress’s letter written to her. To go to Taverin promptly. There was danger brewing in her old home, and suddenly, Rein could feel it.
“
Taverin’s kin, right? I’m Bruce Hall,” he said as he shook Traith’s hand, and made a slight face.
Taverin’s kin, right? I’m Bruce Hall,” he said as he shook Traith’s hand, and made a slight face.
Traith eased up a bit as he noted Hall’s expression and realized the firmness of his own handshake. He smiled with apology.
“And you’re her fiancé, are you not?” Hall gazed at Traith for a long spell. “Your eyes are quite strange in color. Mr. Harker’s the name? Are you blind, sir?”
She was shocked at the curt frankness of the man.
Traith laughed quietly. “No, I can see.” He glanced for a moment at Rein and then back at Hall. “It was a laboratory accident.”
“A laboratory accident? My God, what a disfigurement! It must be awful for you to have to live with eyes like that.” Hall stopped when Traith did not answer. “Forgive my bluntness and insolence; come on in! You made remarkable timing getting here.”
Traith was acting peculiarly formal, but Rein knew he was fuming inside
over the man’s words. She sighed at him after Hall had gone in.
“
Quite a disfigurement, Rein?” he muttered, lowering his head. “That isn’t how you explained it to me.”
Quite a disfigurement, Rein?” he muttered, lowering his head. “That isn’t how you explained it to me.”
She looked away from him and said nothing, shaking her head slightly. Although he was trying to annoy
her
, part of him joked in annoyance at
himself
, as always.
her
, part of him joked in annoyance at
himself
, as always.
“
And did you smell—?”
And did you smell—?”
“
Yes,” she murmured. “Alcohol.”
Yes,” she murmured. “Alcohol.”
With an eerie feeling, she walked ahead of him, following Hall.
Mistress’ words:
She would be working in a poor house or selling flowers on the streets, but, to her fortune, the man who has gotten claims of your home, Bruce Hall, is going to adopt her, giving her the chance to remain in your house. However, he is a heavy alcoholic; when you get back to England, I advise you to meet her promptly.
She would be working in a poor house or selling flowers on the streets, but, to her fortune, the man who has gotten claims of your home, Bruce Hall, is going to adopt her, giving her the chance to remain in your house. However, he is a heavy alcoholic; when you get back to England, I advise you to meet her promptly.
Rein suddenly feared something terrible, but couldn’t place what. When Hall even looked at her, she became instantly alarmed. It was as if someone was screaming directions at her within her head, yet it was her own voice, her own feelings. She just knew things, without reason. She knew that Hall was dangerous—had been dangerous—had done things—was not as innocent as he appeared—had Taverin scared. And after the incident with Traith’s sister and their encounter with death, Rein knew better than to ignore any such feeling.
“
Thank you, Mr. Hall,” she said when she neared him. “Thank you for all of this. I know I didn’t explain much in my letter.”
Thank you, Mr. Hall,” she said when she neared him. “Thank you for all of this. I know I didn’t explain much in my letter.”
“
You’re very welcome. She’s upstairs, if you want to talk to her now. She’s ready for you. I told her you were going to get here probably today or tomorrow, just so she would be prepared.” He got quiet and leaned in. “Between you and me, I wasn’t actually expecting you for another few days.” He stood back and laughed. “Ah, do you want something to drink?”
You’re very welcome. She’s upstairs, if you want to talk to her now. She’s ready for you. I told her you were going to get here probably today or tomorrow, just so she would be prepared.” He got quiet and leaned in. “Between you and me, I wasn’t actually expecting you for another few days.” He stood back and laughed. “Ah, do you want something to drink?”
Rein glanced at Traith, hoping he’d get the hint in her gaze that told him to acquiesce. He returned her stare once and immediately seemed to understand.
“
I’ll take some,” he murmured hesitantly.
I’ll take some,” he murmured hesitantly.
“
All right then, one moment,” Hall said, smiling and leaving for the kitchen.
All right then, one moment,” Hall said, smiling and leaving for the kitchen.
She waited for Hall to leave before explaining her thoughts. “Traith,” she whispered. “Something is wrong. We need to take Taverin from here.”
“
What?” he asked, checking to make sure Hall wasn’t coming back yet. Why, now? We just got here.”
What?” he asked, checking to make sure Hall wasn’t coming back yet. Why, now? We just got here.”
She fingered her forehead. “I feel it. He’s done bad things, and I want the girl out of here. My entire house reeks of whiskey. This man’s turned it into a—”
“
Here you are!” Hall announced, walking back into the foyer then handing Traith a small glass of a yellow-brown drink.
Here you are!” Hall announced, walking back into the foyer then handing Traith a small glass of a yellow-brown drink.
Traith’s awkward smile told her easily that he was discomfited by the man’s character, but he had to take the glass. “Thank you.”
In his letter Hall had seemed like a man of intellect, but by his tone and cracking of voice, and by the smell on his breath, Rein’s anxiety continued to develop.
“
We can see her now?” Rein asked the stout and upsetting man.
We can see her now?” Rein asked the stout and upsetting man.
“
Oh yes. She just might be doing lessons in her room. Alone, of course.”
Oh yes. She just might be doing lessons in her room. Alone, of course.”
Rein looked at Hall with a smile, but it left her face almost instantly when she began to feel ill again. Her anxiety worsened and became extremely foreboding. She realized that it wasn’t only Hall that was making her head become so jumbled and disturbed. There was something more. Something more was going to happen. Something in connection with the evil she had yet to confront.
Without a second thought, Rein walked up to Hall and put her hands over his head. He grunted, but then he gradually looked baffled, then dazed, then expressionless. She dropped her hands to her sides and caught his suddenly limp body in her arms, slowly letting him fall to the ground.
She had played with his head. Erased part of his memory.
“
Oh my God!” Traith exclaimed. “What the hell did you just do, Rein?”
Oh my God!” Traith exclaimed. “What the hell did you just do, Rein?”
She took a breath to turn the horror of what she’d just done into calm. “They’re coming,” she uttered, blinking hard in continuous attempt to remove fear from her mind. “Someone from that other council. I erased his immediate memory. I erased it up to his buying this house. I erased Taverin from his life.”
Traith was staring at her in astonishment. “Are you serious?”
“
Yes,” she said, beginning to smile with contentment at the idea of avoiding such danger as she felt was coming. “Yes. He’ll recover consciousness soon. Let’s go talk to Taverin. We must bring her back with us, Traith.” Her smile turned. “They’ll kill her.”
Yes,” she said, beginning to smile with contentment at the idea of avoiding such danger as she felt was coming. “Yes. He’ll recover consciousness soon. Let’s go talk to Taverin. We must bring her back with us, Traith.” Her smile turned. “They’ll kill her.”
“
Kill her?” he asked wildly. “You can feel them? The Mardinial Council?” When she didn’t reply, he nodded slowly in agreement. “After you, then.”
Kill her?” he asked wildly. “You can feel them? The Mardinial Council?” When she didn’t reply, he nodded slowly in agreement. “After you, then.”
Chapter 49
Her head was swimming with warm memories of her old home—memories that made her ill with emotion when she stopped to look around in silence. She turned into the hallway and walked up the old, creaky stairs, Traith just behind.
As she climbed the stairwell, she saw an old, dusty, faded portrait hanging on the wall. A portrait she was intimately familiar with. She felt suddenly burdened with sadness, and stopped walking, staring at the frame.
“
What is that?” Traith asked.
What is that?” Traith asked.
Her eyes blurred. “It is a painting of my father when he was young,” she murmured, “Standing in front of a portrait of my mother. She died just after I was born. I’m the baby he’s holding. All of us together, if only for once.”
Traith was silent, looking down after her words. He didn’t know what to say. Just as she began walking again, trying immensely hard to stifle any sign of emotion, Traith spoke. “Look.” She did, and saw that he was holding the picture frame, only to make it vanish before them. “It’s at
home
, now.”
home
, now.”
She smiled with full gratitude, but felt as though she didn’t have the time to reminisce anymore than she’d already done
or
express her deep feeling of thanks to her love—at least, not just
yet
.
or
express her deep feeling of thanks to her love—at least, not just
yet
.
“
Thank you,” was all she said before turning to finish the stairs.
Thank you,” was all she said before turning to finish the stairs.
It was so odd that that picture was even still there. She wondered if that was how Hall believed her so willingly. That picture was of the French girl’s father, too, and he would still be recognizable to her. But they would know that the baby in that picture wasn’t Taverin; it was Rein.
She saw an open door at the top of the stairwell. Her stomach began fluttering, and she slowly approached the door, making sure Traith was not more than a few feet behind her.
She peeked into the room that was once her own, knocking lightly.
The young lady was sitting on her bed, and she looked up and stared when she saw her, her eyes large and blue.
“
May I come in?” Rein asked. “Taverin…right?”
May I come in?” Rein asked. “Taverin…right?”
The girl lit up and smiled. She jumped off of the bed and walked quickly over to Rein. “Oh my! You must be…Are you my sister?” she asked with excitement. “Rein, yes?”
Rein could immediately detect her French accent, and she smiled. “Yes.”
The girl threw her arms around Rein tightly. Rein noticed a certain familiarity in the girl’s manner and enthusiasm. Something about her dark hair and dramatic expressions. She reminded her of Saria.
“
I can tell that you are! And
you
?” The vibrant girl asked, directed to Traith.
I can tell that you are! And
you
?” The vibrant girl asked, directed to Traith.
“
I’m Traith Harker,” he replied, smiling timidly.
I’m Traith Harker,” he replied, smiling timidly.
She ran up to him and stared at him, her blue eyes wide. Rein could see him flinch a little at her approach. He clenched his teeth uneasily within his smile.
“
My Lord, you must be ten feet taller than me!” She whirled around and hugged him, laughing. “But you’re terribly handsome…
and
strapping.”
My Lord, you must be ten feet taller than me!” She whirled around and hugged him, laughing. “But you’re terribly handsome…
and
strapping.”
She seemed a bit younger than fifteen because of her childish eagerness. Traith’s arms hung limply in discomfort from her embrace.
He smiled oddly in gratitude. “T-Thank you.”
“
My! You two are not married are you?”
My! You two are not married are you?”
“
Not yet,” Rein replied, smiling and staring down at her ring.
Not yet,” Rein replied, smiling and staring down at her ring.
“
I knew not that my father had another daughter until Mr. Hall received your letter,” the girl said, standing back. “But then again, I hardly knew about my father’s life here in England.”
I knew not that my father had another daughter until Mr. Hall received your letter,” the girl said, standing back. “But then again, I hardly knew about my father’s life here in England.”
Rein nodded, feeling the ice already breaking when the girl laughed with greeting. “I can tell you’re from France,” Rein said to make steady conversation. “How were you able to learn English so quickly?”
“
I studied hard,” Taverin returned with a merry giggle as she turned and plopped on her bed. “Father used to correct me on every little thing I said wrong, so I learned the language quickly.”
I studied hard,” Taverin returned with a merry giggle as she turned and plopped on her bed. “Father used to correct me on every little thing I said wrong, so I learned the language quickly.”
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