B1/Ch7: HAPPILY NEVER AFTER

The blood stained bride & groom

On the day of the wedding, it seemed like the entire upper-crust of society had arrived by ferry to Welshport Island from the mainland. It was truly the who's-who of New York City, Connecticut and Boston socialites coming together to watch one of their own finally marry off. 

From Vanderbilts to Astors to Carnegies and even a member of the Windsor royal family had arrived just a day before from England. Everyone wanted to see David and Sabrina Lord's son finally tie-the-not. And of course, despite Rebecca's annoyance the manner of Sabrina's death still lingered in the gossipy whispers of the guests like a ghost floating around in the halls of the Tirymôr House. 

By the fire place in the main drawing room under dazzling twin chandleries one wealthy woman dressed in her finest lace and satin dress and topped with the most flamboyant feathered hat whispered to another "I heard she was slashed in the throat...RIGHT HERE!" 

The other woman equally as elegant gasped in horror and looked around the vicinity they were standing in as if she were looking for Sabrina’s old blood stains on the rugs. 

By the glamorous French doors that lead to the Versailles like gardens a gentleman told his female plus one in a hushed voice "I heard he took her by the hair down the stairs and strangled her." 

On a plush library sofa, Catherine--the same woman who came with Evie by boat to America from England--nibbled on a small cucumber sandwich with two other well dressed women in flowery hats and dripping with pearls, told them all she knew about the lovely bride. Most importantly, Catherine noted to the women, that Evie had no idea about David killing Sabrina; the pearl incrusted women giggled over their champagne at the absurdity of Evie’s supposed innocence.

“How can anyone not know?!?” A younger woman said in a snobbish loud voice.

It was this type of gawking and snickering in corners that Rebecca hated the most from her peers. She felt like a zoo animal being watched from behind the golden bars of her cage, prisoner to her family’s murderous secrets and lies. 

Regardless of her discomfort Rebecca mingled with the guests as best she could. She was not only awash in the failure of attempting to remove the story from Evie’s mind of the big family secret, she was also now well aware that it was impossible to fully end the long lasting effects of such a devastating and public scandal and how the town’s people and other outside guests would react to being in the very place it all happened.

Rebecca shook hands with people. Hugged the ones she knew best. Smiled politely. But inside her heart was beating with a bleak and embarrassing beat. 

“How are you dear?” Lady Annabelle Collins asked in a whispered and sympathetic tone as she hugged her old friend Rebecca.

Rebecca couldn’t help but lie, “I’m happy for my grandson, the purist happiness I have felt in a long time but…a party is the last thing I’d ever want to be in the middle of.” 

Annabelle smirked, and shrugged as Rebecca waltzed off to great begrudgingly greet more guests. 

Eventually, enough was enough and Rebecca swished her dark black dress over to a quite part of one of the over-filled parlors and pushed open and small hidden servants door that was only visible if a person really looked closely at the large French tapestry painted over it. The servants door lead to a small corridor behind the walls and into a cloak room. Rebecca flew into the cloak room, tears in her eyes overwhelmed with frustration that she had failed hypnotizing Evie and now had to pretend with all her guests that the murder of her daughter-in-law never happened. But it did.

The fake smiles and hugs and double cheek kisses were all for the sake of the wedding. Keeping up appearances. She felt out of control and the embarrassment of it all was making her unravel. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. Then, like a true blue-blood and master of the stiff upper lip, she gathered herself and prepared to face the guests once more, but she had one more thing to do.

Leaving the cloak room and passing into another brightly lit corridor on the other side of the house, Rebecca entered another small private room with one oval window in the center frames by red wallpapered walls. She had this space all to herself to gather her thoughts, think, and plot. Over a large lit fireplace in that red  room was a painting of her son and Sebastian's father, the vanished David Lord. She stepped over to a small circle table and lit incense. She spread the smoke around her body in a circle form three times with her eyes closed then turned around to face her son.

Rebecca looked up at her son's portrait and cried and fell to her knees in front of the fire that burned hot like lava. She began to pray. Over and over she repeated the same prayer. A prayer that was not in any bible the world had ever seen. It was one Rebecca made up. A prayer for God to take her all of the pain away from her and bring her happiness again and light. 

When she opened her eyes. It was all the same. Again, she thought, God had abandoned her. 

“Are you ok?” A voice said from the tiny door that opened into the small room.

Rebecca lifted her tear stained face to see Sebastian standing there handsome as ever in his tuxedo and tales.

“Yes yes! Of course! I just needed a moment to myself. What are you going in here? You should be out there enjoying your guests.” Rebecca said getting up from kneeling in prayer. 

“I needed a minute too. I thought I’d come in here and visit father.” Sebastian answered looking at his father’s painting. 

“He’d be very proud of you today, Sebastian, this was something he wanted so much for you.” Rebecca replied.

“I hope so. I hope you’re happy for me too. You seem rather distant. Every since Evie arrived I’ve felt like you and and I haven’t had a moment to speak.” Sebastian said.

“Of course! I just want what’s best for you, my love. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. You know that I would do anything for you and for Charlotte to make sure you both get the best of what life has to offer. But I also understand that a grandmother has her place. I’m doing my best to…” she paused. “know where I belong in the grand scheme of things.” She finished.

“You’re the glue that keeps this family together grandmother. We know you mean well.” Sebastian said as Rebecca smiled, hiding her guilt in what she tried to do to Evie and the hypnosis. 

“Good. I do love you. More than you know and I just want to remind you that whatever you need I will give you. I want to protect you too. The world is a dangerous and cruel place, my love, and we must always look out for the ones we love. Now…go on, go out there enjoy your day and prepare for your bride. It’s a celebration! I’ll be out soon.”

“Very well.” Sebastian said kissing his grandmother on the cheek and leaving her in the small room to continue to contemplate her next move.

Back in the large gathering room where most the guests had convened for the ceremony, Constable Christian Evans kept a close eye on everyone; careful and keen on making sure Mary did not join in the festivities as Celeste worried she would. As he made his way towards a large French doors of the entrance to the room, Christian came across the glowing groom who was now back at his post welcoming in the gusts.

"Congratulations!" Christian said slapping on a smile for his old school friend Sebastian.

"Chris! I'm so glad you could make it. I was hoping you'd make it." Sebastian said, clearly excited for his wedding day.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world. Obviously you haven't seen Evie, that would be bad luck, so I can assume she's just as excited as you are." Christian replied.

"I hope so. Everything looks so wonderful, doesn’t it? I came down stairs right as they finished the final touches of the decorations and I cannot believe how they've transformed this dreary old house with the amount of flowers. Its like they stripped the entire nation of Holland to fill these halls." Sebastian joked.

The groom wasn't wrong. Everyone room that had guests in it, and most certainly the main room where the ceremony would take place was packed with the whitest and most perfect flowers Rebecca Lord could afford --and money was no object. There were some from the local shops on the island but most had been shipped in from New York City, especially the white daffodils and lilies that adorned the alter that was at the front the room where the rings would be exchanged. Being Autumn, it was incredibly expensive to find the amount of flowers needed to place all over the house but for Evie and Sebastian, Rebecca spared no expense. 

"The beautiful scenery will fit the beautiful bride." Christian said reminding himself of how beautiful he found Sebastian's soon to be wife himself. 

"You know when we were growing up I always thought it be you getting married first. Not me. But look, here we are. My wedding day. I never in my wildest dreams really thought Evie would come here and I never thought I'd fall in love with her so quickly as I did. But, again here we are." Sebastian added.

"Me? Merry first? Well I'd have to find someone I really loved just as you have with Evie. And for now, the island is my love. I enjoy protecting her. Which is why I'm here." Christian admitted.

"What do you mean? You're on assignment?" the groom asked.

"I guess you can say that. With all the high profile here to watch the last Lord Heir get hitched I thought I would keep an eye out... just in case." Christian said, glossing over the threat of Mary that Celeste told him about.

"I guess you're right. Either way I'm glad one of my oldest friends is here to watch me marry the woman of my dreams." Sebastian replied as the sentence sent visions of the beautiful Evie in to Christian's mind again, warming his heart. 

 Over near a group of guests standing in their finest attire near a fancy decorated table with five live silver candelabras each with 5 long candles that’s stretched 8 inches tall Jacob Lord filled a champagne flute for the forth time. Filipe saw from just over the corner and walked over and patted him on the back.

They had a sorted history. Filipe was Jacob’s page as a teen. He worked long hours and never felt as though Jacob respected him. But this was just the short of their connections. The year David vanished after killing Sabrina, Filipe found Jacob completely drunk and trying to get into his automobile. He was in no condition to drive and refused to tell Filipe where he was going. Filipe, being the loyal page to the family Filipe decided to get into the car with Jacob hoping he could keep him out of trouble. But on that mysterious drunk drive down the long and winding pebbled covered drive way that lead from Tirymôr house to town, Jacob lost control of his car and it fell into a large ravine injuring Filipe’s right hand so badly it remained mangled to this day. 

Rebecca agrees to pay Filipe for life but he never returned to Tirymôr.

“Still enjoying the old sparklings, eh Mr. Lord!” Filipe said to his old boss, he too dressed in a classic tuxedo with a burgundy bow tie that accented his caramel skin tone under the lights of the candelabras.

“Filipe old boy!!! You’re here! What a wonderful … ugh” Jacob said before glancing over at Filipe’s crushed but healed hand. The memory of the night Sabrina died and the accident quickly flushing back into his mind. “…it’s wonderful you’re  here.” Jacob added now in a more subdued tone. 

“I was invited. Celeste… she’s Miss. Jordan’s maiden of honor.”

“Of course of course. How have you been son? Mother’s payments still making their way to you?” Jacob asked passive aggressively. 

Filipe smirked and changed the subject. “I’m very happy for your family sir. Celeste tells me so many good things about Miss. Jordan. She’s going to make a wonderful addition to the family.” 

“Yes! She’s a … ugh…” Jacob said lost for words that’s to his champagne. “… kind. She’s kind. And lovely. And kind.” He repeated.

“And Charlotte? How is she? I have yet to see her.” Filipe asked of the youngest member of the family who Filipe found quite adorable when he worked there.

“Running around raising hell I’m sure. She’ll be in the wedding too. Flower girl.” Jacob said with a slurred tongue. 

“Ahh. Yes of course” Filipe replied nibbling on some of the hor dourves.  

Jacob, his eyes glassy and green, snuck another peek at Filipe’s hand. He felt for once a twinge of guilt. Perhaps it was the champagne finally breaking his icy exterior and cold demeanor but there it was, guilt. The hand, the accident. Filipe. 

“Look, Filipe, I wish I could do something more for you. I know that since the accident all that time ago it’s been harder for you to find work and I know mother pays you but… I do, I really do wish I could do more. I am very sorry for … for everything Filipe.” 

Filipe felt his stomach sink. His heart too. He had waited so long for something like this to come out of Jacob’s mouth some kind of acknowledgment of how he was wronged and here it was, under the light over silver candelabras and smooth sparkling champagne. 

“I could use work. Anything.” Filipe replied. 

Jacob thought for a moment as his brain suddenly turned back to the events of the night and what he had planned as soon as Mary arrived with the revolver. Once Jacob’s murderous plot was done he’d be in charge of everything at Tirymôr. He would control the family finances and purse, not his domineering and superstitious mother Rebecca. 

Jacob looked Filipe in eye and nodded. “We’ll talk soon.”

The Glowing golden couple 

As the wedding guests finally began to be seated in the Tirymôr House chapel and the family gathered in the front seats, Sebastian and his best man made their way up the two small steps to the alter that was lit with a kaleidoscope off colors from the small oval shaped stained glass window just above it. 

Jacob, Rebecca and Gaspar sat stoically waiting for the last of the vows to finally have the deal between Evie’s family and the Lord family sealed. Rebecca was nervous, her heart pounded in her chest unsure of which of the bad omens from the sham of a tarot card reading would occur first. For his part, Jacob sat smirking like a Cheshire Cat waiting for a weak sparrow to appear to snatch it up and eat it. Christian and Filipe sat side by side watching and waiting to see the biggest social event of the year happen before their eyes like a strange ritual they were witnessing from another world. 

Moments later the chandeliers dimmed allowing the light of the thousands of surrounding candles to flicker and dance as the music began to play. 

The chapel doors opened, and little Charlotte began her slow march up the isle flicking peddles of the deepest blood red rose onto the ivory colored carpet of the chapel. She smiled once she got to the alter where her handsome cousin Sebastian came down the steps and kissed her cheek and whispered a sweet “thank you” for her part in his wedding 

In the little corridor right outside the chapel the beautiful bride and her maid of honor Celeste were about to enter.

“Here we go.” Celeste smiled, grabbing hold of Evie’s hand to guide her to her mark just behind as Evie was to enter last.

The bride who’s face was obscured but the white lace veil, tugged Celeste’s hand back. “Wait!” She said in an echoing hush. 

“What is it?” 

“I… I need a moment. I just need a moment.” Evie answered as she turned toward the opposite end of the entrance or the room. Her dress was a massive white cloud that engulfed her whole body while tiny pale blue roses adorned the hemline and swished across Tirymôr’s ancient stone floors.  

“Evie, the music has started we have to go. They’re waiting for us. What is it?” Celeste asked taking Evie’s bouquet from her lace gloved hands.

“Something doesn’t feel right, something feels wrong. It’s like a weight in my body. I just felt so strange as soon as I walked into this area. Right in front of these doors, Celeste I don’t know if I can do this.” The bride said from behind her veil. 

“It’s just nerves. There are so many people in there and it must be incredibly nerve wracking  but you do love Sebastian don’t you?” Celeste asked. 

“Well, yes of course I do.” 

“You see? Love is all that matters. Love will conquer anything. Good or bad, light of dark. Love illuminates like a like a lighthouse over the darkness and foggiest seas. Sebastian is your lighthouse, Evie.”  Celeste replied. 

Evie took a step to the side and peeked into the chapel as she could see the visitors were now getting antsy and looked back at the open door. Evie’s butterflies were strong but her conviction was stronger. She grabbed the bouquet back from Celeste’s hands and motioned for her to begin her walk down the isle all the way down to the alter. 

Then, the music made a sudden and dramatic turn— for the bride’s entrance. 

As soon as Evie stepped into the chapel doorway, the entire room got to their feet. Rebecca grabbed Charlotte’s hand and squeezed and everyone gasped as the most beautiful bride walked her way down the isle to Sebastian’s absolute delight. 

As she stepped up the small steps with Sebastian’s help the priest smiled and began the wedding sermon. 

“Dearly beloved we are gathered here to join these two souls in holy matrimony. In the sight of our lord, the virgin and the friends and family here today we come together and make the sign of the cross and bless the couple and ourselves: in the name of the father, son and Holy Spirit. Amen.” 

“Amen.” Went the vocal replay. 

“God serves us all by sending us many messages to our heart but also to our eyes. We are given these messages because he wants to subtly gives us clues to the right path to take in our lives. He never tells us what to do but gives us the natural choice to make. Love, is such a sign. We choose to grab at and hold it close an nurture it wither on the vine.” The priest said as Rebecca glanced over at Gaspar who was intently staring a the couple. 

“Everything will work out mother. I promise.” Jacob said, slurring his words from the many champagnes he drank. 

Charlotte looked up at her father and furrowed her 10 year old blond brow. 

Rebecca did not say a word. 

“Do you Sebastian Andrew Lord take this woman, Evangeline Oceana Jordan to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, to bind your souls in an immortal bond in the eyes of god?” The priest asked.

Sebastian smiled and looked at his beautiful bride “I do.”

 “Do you Evangeline Oceana Jordan take this man, Sebastian Andrew Lord to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, to bind your souls in an immortal bond in the eyes of god?” The priest asked.

Evie, still under her beautiful veil said in a faint voice “I do.” 

“Your rings. Please place each around your fingers. These rings will connect and bond you for life, forever. Wear them as a symbol of this day.” The priest said as the golden rings sparkled in the candle light. 

“With this an act of our lord in the form of s ring, please lift her veil and kiss your bride. I know pronounce you husband and wife.” 

Sebastian did as he was told. He lifted the veil to see the beautiful face of his new wife Evie. She was perfect. Like an angel. Her white dress almost glowed in the dim light and everyone watching watched as he slowly placed his own perfect lips on hers. She closed her eyes and pressed her plump pink lips up against his returning his kiss. 

The sensation felt like the two began to levitate and that everyone disappeared. Music began to play and together, in this fantasy within her kiss they began to dance, a waltz. Swimming in and floating in mid air like the two were up in the clouds together and dancing. Evie was elated. Sebastian was ecstatic. The arranged marriage had been perfect and he was in love, love like her never knew could exist.

But suddenly the floating fantasy ended when heart a shout towards the back of the chapel from Constable Christian Evans. 

“MARY!!” 

Mary’s arm was lifted up, on the end of it a gun. Women began screaming, men began pulling their wives and children down under the pews, bride and groom opened their eyes and turned toward the back of the chapel just as Christian tried to jump of his seat to block the intruder.. 

Mary screamed, the gun went off and she shot. Then again. 

Two bullets. 

Christian ducked down and everyone screamed. Gaspar held on to Rebecca who held on to Charlotte. Jacob, remained calm and stood. 

It went by in a flash and when the dust settled Sebastian looked down at his white tuxedo shirt and saw two bullet holes in his chest. The blood began to seep out and create large spots of red that grew faster and faster and faster until he fell the floor. Evie screamed and fell to her knees herself. She began to slap his face to keep him awake. His eyes rolled to the back of his head. His skin turned ice cold and white. Evie was wailing in shock of her new husband bleeding to death in front of her on their wedding day. 

Rebecca stood up and saw the omen come true. The River of blood of the tarot card was coming from Sebastian’s body and soaked at the hem of Evie’s white wedding dress turning the blue lace roses sewn there dark purple like a harsh painful bruise. 

Sabrina’s ghost appears to Mary through Charlotte 

In the chaos to keep Sebastian alive, Mary escaped. She darted through the house. She wizzed passed the caterers and florists and late guests and ran down the large grassy lawn of the mansion and through the hedge maze and passed a back private courtyard. 

She ran and she ran and never turned back. 

Suddenly, towards the end of the small courtyard Charlotte appeared blocking Mary’s exit. 

“What have you done?” Charlotte growled but in Sabrina’s voice.

Mary looked at her daughter who’s face was so pure and perfect and wondered how she could have caught up to her so quickly. 

“Do you know who I am?” Mary asked her child cautiously. 

Charlotte stepped forward slowly. One tiny foot then the next as the sun began to dip behind the forest trees behind Tirymôr. 

“What have you done?” Charlotte asked again but this time her voice was that of Sabrina Lord, the spirit inhabiting her body. 

“Charlotte why do you sound like that?” Mary asked as Charlotte only snarled at her estranged mother. “Answer me!” Mary screamed. 

“You made a huge mistake.” Sabrina’s voice said. 

Mary squinted, confused. “Do you recognize me? Do you know I am your mama?” Mary asked, her voice begging for recognition. 

Charlotte scowled and suddenly lunged at Mary like a rabid tiger knocking Mary to the grass landing on top of her. 

The girl was screaming and scratching in rage thanks to the pain of Sabrina seeing son being murdered in front of her. Mary was too afraid to fight her daughter back, she didn't want to hurt her. All she could think to do was slap the girl across the face; so hard was the slap, Charlotte’s hair flung in a wile whip across her face. 

When Charlotte turned back around and moved her hair her 10 year old  young face was gone. In its place was Sabrina’s ghostly gaze almost exactly as it was in life shocking Mary to her core. 

 “Leave this place and tell your mother what you have done. Go! Leave now, and tell Eliza! She will know what to do.” Sabrina said now in her own true face.

Mary screamed and pushed Charlotte off of her rolling over on her side in the process, her face returning to Charlotte’s and smashing into the ground.

Mary fell back too but quickly bounced up. When Mary turned around to find the possessed little girl, her bewitched young daughter was gone, vanishing into thin air. As if she wasn’t even there to begin with. 

Mary felt faint she wanted to vomit. Her heart was pounding in her ears, and her stomach was in knots. The horror of what she saw was something from a dark world, something, Mary thought, from the shadow place her mother often warned her about. 

Mary quickly took her daughter’s advice and ran the rest of the way through the forest to get to docks and load herself on a small boat to row to her mother’s house on Goode Island. Her mother HAD to know of what she had just witnessed. 

Back at the house both Rebecca and Evie where on their knees begging for Sebastian to come back to them. A ghostly Charlotte was being hugged by Celeste, seemingly normal as if nothing had happened outside with Mary.

Christian was screaming at the other guests to find Mary. And Jacob stood over his nephew's body as the River of blood slowly met t the tip of his pattern leather shoes. He reacted unfazed. 

Sebastian was dead, and now Jacob was the heir to the Lord family fortune. Just has he planned.

B1/Ch6: THE GOODE , THE BAD AND THE REVOLVER

Mary arrives to see Eliza on Goode Island

Separated by a small channel of water from the main island of Welshport, in Frenchman Bay was a second smaller satellite island that technically had no name but nicknamed Goode Island by the citizens of Welshport after it’s only two inhabitants: Mary Goode and her hermit mother Eliza.

Eliza Goode lived on her own in her older age in the same small four room cabin that she raised Mary. For her part, Mary had grown up rather normal even if she had lived in relative isolation from the rest of the world in her childhood. Her mother, however, knew that the life of solitude on "Goode Island" was never going to be the best thing for Mary in the long run and sent her to live and go to school on the main island with the rest of the people of Welshport. 

That is where Mary's life took a turn.

As she grew up she would soon find herself tangled up in the clutches of Jacob Lord who saw her as naïve young woman he could mold and control for his own ghoulish mind games. 

Her loneliness left her vulnerable to his wishes. She had a need for someone to love. She needed someone to make her feel wanted, and by her mid 20’s she became pregnant with Charlotte. 

The Lord family, quick to quench the scandal of Jacob having a child out of wed-lock, created a lie that the little girl was adopted by the kind, benevolent Jacob, thus cutting out the poor townie Mary from the baby’s life and banishing her to the shadows of the village secretly holding the truth to Charlotte’s maternal side.

Mary never forgot this cruelty and never cashed the yearly checks the family paid her for her silence. She vowed to some day get her daughter back. 

Evie's arrival in Welshport seemingly gave her the opportunity to now reach for her daughter in hope's whatever child Evie and Sebastian would have would allow Charlotte to be released from her place as an heiress to the Lord family fortune. Mary’s sudden hope for a new baby from Sebastian and Evie’s marriage felt like a ray of hope in her decade long quest to reunite with her daughter. 

Stepping off the small boat she rowed herself to Goode Island, Mary looked toward a thicket of trees in the distance towards her mother's cabin where a plume of chimney smoke filled the air like a giant feather reaching for the sky. In her long peach toned dress and large floppy straw hat tied with a thick blue satin ribbon, Mary made her way to the one person she could trust the most, her mother Eliza. 

Mary carried a small basket of goods and food that she would often bring from the main island so that her mother wouldn't starve, although her mother Eliza was often very self-reliant, Mary's bi-weekly visits with goods were usually more social. This time Mary felt a need to finally ask for help. 

Mary slowly opened the cabin's door. The familiar smells of sage and strong coffee quickly kissed her face. She peeked through the door and waited to see her mother come out of the small bedroom that they once shared. But no one came out. It was not like her mother not to greet her at the door. Mary took a breath and walked slowly through the cluttered cabin of books and papers. Various pots and pans that hung from the ceiling caught the light of the day and reflected little spots over the entire room. There was burning candles on every surface and the fireplace smoldered in the corner filling the main room with an extra stench of scorch that was also not an unfamiliar smell. 

Mary made the small walk from the front door to the bedroom leaving the basket of goods on a small table in the front area and came to the bedroom door and lifted her fist to knock but before she could tap on the door, her mother spoke.

"Come in girl." A withered voice said from the other side. Mary smirked, realizing her mother was fine and opened her door. 

"Hello mother." Mary said seeing her mother sitting at in a dark room with candles all around her. 

Her mother turned her head, her long white hair was braided and went down her back like a long vine. Eliza got up and went over to Mary and hugged her tightly but could feel a fervor of rage boiling within.

"What is it? What has happened?" her mother Eliza said.

"They're getting married." Mary said of Evie and Sabastian. 

“They?” 

“Sebastian is getting married.” Mary half clarified. 

"Hmm." Eliza huffed. "And why does this union affect you Mary? You know I've warned you that nothing good can come to you by continuing to try and pull at Charlotte the way you have. They'll never let her go now. She’s wrapped in their greedy tentacles. You've allowed too much time to pass." Eliza said rather coldly. 

"But the new one, the woman who's come for Sebastian's hand, they'll have a child soon enough and that child will be their heir. Charlotte will be free of that burden., I can have her back. Jacob will have no use for her." Mary explained. 

Eliza squeezed Mary's wrists and saw the desperation and somewhat madness in her daughters eyes. A feeling of dread slowly seeped into every blood vessel in Eliza's body realizing that her grown daughter had a mind of young teenager. She could not help Mary. Even if she tired.

"My girl, you have so much to look forward to in your own future. You are young. You can do more for yourself. All I want for you is to move passed this and try and live a better life. The Lord family and my sweet lost grandchild is something we can never get back. Move on Mary. Move on." Eliza expressed as she sat on her bed still making eye contact with Mary.

"How can you say that? She's our blood too! Together we could fight Jacob finally once and for all and get Charlotte back. She's my daughter! Please, mother." Mary said as she turned to another full bookshelf in her mother's room and pulled out a special book that she then handed to her mother: A book of spells. 

Eliza saw the pain and suffering in Mary's eyes but knew the Lords were too powerful and that nothing they could do would grant Mary any access to Charlotte. Ever again.

Eliza Goode had a spiritual connection to the land that had always been manifested itself in the way of magic and spells. But spells that she had always used forgot, and never ever for her own gains. Mary, did not have this same connection to the majesty of magic of the earth and had always known to never ask for special favors from her mother's gifts but today, finally, she did ask. 

"I cannot." Eliza said. "You know that I cannot use what I know for our own selfish needs. Even if it does involve Charlotte. Mary, I cannot." Eliza said, with an almost pleading in her voice for Mary to not ask.

"But...she's your granddaughter." Mary replied.

"Only darkness will come of this, if I should ask the universe to reverse your misfortune and Charlotte's the pay back will not be pleasant Mary. You know this. I have always told you that it will never be good." Eliza explained.

Mary frowned. Her heart sank and she tore the book out of Eliza’s hand and looked at it herself. 

"You never wanted me to have Charlotte. You hated that I gave birth to her. You can do whatever you want with your gift and instead of helping me, your only child, you choose to recuse yourself as if you have no claim to Charlotte. Well, if you have no claim to Charlotte then you have no claim to me." Mary answered angrily. 

"No, that's not it. That's not it at all, you know this Mary." The elderly Eliza said.

Mary snarled her lip and threw the book into the corner of the room. "Your basket is in the front. Enjoy it, it may be the last thing you ever get from me." She said as she stormed out of the room.

Eliza sat on her bed, elderly and sad. Tears fell from her two gray eyes and she felt that her daughter's pain would most certainly lead to a treacherous end it she was not reigned in. The older woman got up from her bed, slowly walked over to where the book had been thrown and saw that as if fell from the air it had fallen and opened to a page that made her stomach drop.

In Latin, a spell read: VITA AETERNA MALEDICTIONEM: the curse of ever lasting life. 

"No....NO!!!" Eliza screamed to herself, realizing the book, her book of spells and hexes, a book she never ever used to curse anyone alive was sending her a message. It was an omen of things to come. 

As Mary made her angry and frustrated march back her small boat and oars to get back to the main island, she could only feel an overwhelming sense of hurt and betrayal from her mother whom she saw as being difficult and impossible. There was, in Mary's eyes, something Eliza could do, but Mary saw it as only her mother being reluctant to welcome her Lord granddaughter into her arms and refused to use any sort of spell. The betrayal set Mary's heart on fire, so much so that it somewhat took over her mind so much that she didn't even notice the tall dark figure standing by a tree near her boat smoking a cigarette. 

It was Jacob Lord, her ex and Charlotte's father.

"You're in a mood." He said startling her so much she tripped on the hem of her peach colored dress knocking her to the floor.

"What, what are you doing here?" She asked stammering to her feet.

"Its been a long time Mary Goode. A very long time." Jacob replied in a cold voice as he came out of the shade of the tree he was standing under and pulled a yellowed leaf from the shoulder of her dress.

"I asked what you wanted. Why did you follow me?" Mary replied.

"A lot of things are happening over at Tirymôr House, as you know. A new bride. A new fresh outlook on all our lives. It's a very joyous occasion. And you know how much I detest interruptions in my plans." Jacob said still puffing on his cigarette dressed in a bowler hat and sharp grey suit. 

"Don't worry, Celeste already warned me to stay away from the wedding tomorrow." Mary replied as she rolled her eyes. "Now tell me why you followed me?" She added as the small waves lapped up on the shore near their two boats. 

"Well that's just it Mary, I don't agree with Celeste. In fact I think you should come to the wedding. Perhaps as my own guest. You are the mother of Sebastian's only cousin after all." Jacob replied to a confused Mary.

"What? Your guest?" 

"Yes. Don't you want to come to the wedding? Charlotte will be there. She's the flower girl. You'll have a wonderful time." Jacob said with a glimmer of wicked in his voice.

"You've kept my child from me all her life and now you want me to come to the wedding and be your guest? What are you even talking about?" Mary said, her voice clearly shocked in this sudden bizarre change of tone. 

"Mary I would be happy to involve you in our daughter's life you know that it's really my mother who's kept you away all these years. I promise. I've been wanting to tell you this all along. I want you to be in Charlotte's life, she deserves to have her mother. She always has. Rebecca is a cold woman, and...well, things will have to change. Eventually." Jacob replied.

"How will they change? If you're saying Rebecca is the reason I cannot see Charlotte, how am I to come to the wedding? Rebeca will be there." 

"That's true, but I know that there is a way that we can both meet in the middle of this strange new circumstance we find ourselves in. You see, if you come to the wedding, as my guest, you'd have to do something for me. Once that is all said and done it will have all the access you need to Charlotte. I will even introduce you to her myself. Rebecca and her medaling will be obsolete by then, that I can assure you." Jacob explained.

"I don't understand, how can we do this? What would I have to do?" Mary wondered.

Jacob smiled and reached into his vest and slowly removed a silver revolver and placed it in the palm of his other hand and extended it to his ex-lover. "This." He said softly as the waves from the small channel of water between the two islands crashed. 

Mary's eyes widened. She stepped back. She didn't understand why he was handing her a gun. So many thoughts ran though her brain; was he going to use it on her? Was it a joke? Was it a trick?

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Take it. This is your key back into Charlotte's life. Do with this what I want you to do and I will never stop you from seeing Charlotte again. Neither will my mother Rebecca. I promise you Mary." Jacob said stepping one step forward with his hand still extended to Mary with the gun. "Take it." He repeated.

Mary was weary. She knew Jacob was a monster. She knew he was a man with a heart of coal, a body of sin and a mind of pure evil. But the temptation of being able to see and be apart of her daughter's life again was too strong. Mary grabbed the gun.

"That's a good girl. A very good girl Mary." Jacob said as she slowly came up to Mary and grabbed her and hugged her close. Then he slowly pulled her body from his and stared deep into her eyes. She felt a power over her that she could not understand. It was a power that Jacob had used once before, when they first met, when they first kissed, when they first made love and conceived Charlotte. He looked deep into her eyes and kissed her passionately. She felt her body almost feel as if it were levitating. Passion running from the tips of her feet to the top of her hat covered head. The blood rushed around in her veins hot and fast. He pulled his lips off of hers and a tear had fallen from her left eyes. He wiped it away and held her face in his two large hands. 

"Now, you'll do what I ask won't you?" He whispered to her. Mary nodded yes. "For you to have access to Charlotte, I need you to use this gun....take it with you and keep it. Bring it to the wedding and, Mary, I want you to shoot both Sebastian and Evie in the head. Do you understand? In the head Mary. They cannot survive. They must both die. For you and for me and for Charlotte. The two of them must die. Will you do this for  me?" Jacob asked.

And just as Eliza warned, the darkness entered Mary's heart when she agreed. 

She agreed to kill Sebastian and kill Evie in cold blood on the day of their wedding all while Jacob dangled access to their daughter in front of her like a carrot on a stick. 

"Good girl." Jacob grinned as the fog from the sea slowly rolled in and covered them up like a white wet blanket of clouds. 

Mary holds Jacob’s revolver pensively 

****

Rebecca & Evie in the bridal suite 

The following day, a sunny autumn sky and customary gusty island wind blew over the island of Welshport welcoming guests from the mainland to Tirymôr House for the wedding of Evie Jordan to the rich and powerful Lord family heir Sebastian. The house was bustling with final touches from caterers to florists all making sure Rebecca's plans for the day were met with absolutely no mistakes.

Up in her room, the bride sat at a lovely vanity while Celeste carefully put the final touches of her wedding attire on her.

Evie's dress was a vision of white lace, with full length sleeves to her wrists, rounded puff shoulders and a neckline that covered up almost to the top of her neck. Her shoulders were encrusted with pure white pearls, the dress was a gift from her parents. Her dark hair was combed up in a curly swoop in the back and two small curls dangled elegantly over her ears. 

Celeste fluffed the bottom tussle of the dress and made sure every hair was in place. The bride was prefect and beautiful and dripped in diamonds and pearls, all given to her by her mother for the special day.

"These are so beautiful." Celeste said of the droplet pearl earrings.

"It's so bitter-sweet that they're not here." Evie said.

"Your family?" Celeste added to Evie nodding. "Well they're here in spirit and in these gifts that they sent with you. You know objects have a power within them too. Especially when they're gifts. Think of these earrings as holding the love and pride your mother and father have for you. Let them be the spirit of your parents. It sounds silly, I know, but it might help the loneliness." Celeste added.

Evie turned around from the mirror and jumped up and grabbed hold of Celeste and hugged her. 

"You've been the best friend I could ever ask for here Celeste. Thank you for everything." She said as tears slowly made their way to her eyes.

"Now, now, now, don't muss your face. It took us long enough to get it all pretty." Celeste said, tears also filling her deep brown eyes. 

"Emotions are very high in here." A voice came from the bedroom door. "The guests are arriving.”

They bride and her maid of honor both turned to see Rebecca Lord standing at the door in her long black dress, equally as confining as the bride's and her hair tightly tied back with emerald earrings that sparkled as they dangled in the autumn sunlight that peeked through the large windows of Evie's bedroom.

The two girls curtsied to the dowager matriarch and she smiled sweetly, but the visit was not a social one. 

"Celeste, darling, would you mind if I had a moment with my future granddaughter-in-law?" 

"Of course, ma'am. Evie, I'll be back as soon as Mrs. Lord sends for me alright?" Celeste said as she lifted the front of her dress enough so she didn't trip on the hem on her hurried exit from the room at Rebecca's orders. 

"You look ..." Rebecca said pausing to give Evie one last look...."divine." She said.

"Oh, thank you Mrs. Lord." 

"You're nervous?" The old woman said seeing Evie's hands trembling. 

"A little." 

"Come….sit here." Rebecca said, as she sat on the large bed and ushered Evie to sit with her. 

The pair sat by each other, a direct contact: one in virginal white, the other in sinner's black, one young and fresh, the other older and warned. Rebecca looked over at Evie like she was reading carefully the pages of a book. Every line, every crease and every stitch of lace of the dress. Evie was indeed exquisite to look at. Her perfect peach-toned skin and eyes that sparkled with youth seemed to light the entire room.

"At my wedding, my mother told me that I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. The weight of the world, she meant, was the weight of my father's name. My father was a gambler you see and he had used up our entire fortune and by the time I was to marry my husband Albert we had nothing. Well, not nothing but very little left. I had to be married to off to the wealthiest man in New England. It was the only way to keep my family from ruin. So I understand what you're going through." Rebecca said revealing to Evie that she knew of Evie's family's financial ruin.

"Oh. I..." Evie began before she was interrupted. 

"Don't worry my dear. I'm not here to warn you about doing anything I didn't do in my past. Not in the slightest. I'm here to give you my gift. My very personal gift for just you." Rebecca said as she reached into her dress pocket and removed the crystal amulet Gaspar gave her to use on Evie.

Just as she did, the large painting in the back of the room once again had a pair of eyes watching from behind the wall in the room on the other side. It was Gaspar watching intently as Jacob too waited for news that Rebecca was able to hypnotize Evie. 

"It's very pretty." Evie said reaching for the crystal just before Rebecca pulled it away and stood up in front of a sitting Evie.

"This crystal my dear is going to be the best thing that ever happened to you. Look at all the fractals of light, aren't they beautiful? See them sparkle?" Rebecca said as the lights from the cuts in the crystal sparkled on to Evie's prefect face.

"It is..." Evie said staring at the crystal as it dangled in front of her eyes.

Rebecca's obsession with making sure Evie's memory of the secret was the most important thing for Rebecca at the moment. In Rebecca's eyes Sebastian and Evie could not have a happy marriage if the awful truth of David killing Sabrina lived inside Evie's mind for all their lives. The darkness of that past family secret could and would only bring misfortune and further death if it continued to live inside Evie's consciousness, and Rebecca, knowing full well how the darkness could creep back into her family, could not let any of that come to be. 

The hypnosis had to happen. So, she dangled the crystal in Evie's face just like Gaspar, her spiritual adviser taught her. 

"Keep your eyes on the crystal, Evie, see how it moves back and forth and back and forth. This is a metaphor for your relationship with my grandson Sebastian. Let the time flow through you in your mind and feel the happiness that he can bring you, let the light from this crystal open up your mind ....let your mind open up Evie, open it up to the light." Rebecca said. 

In the other room Gaspar turned to Jacob and mouthed "She's doing it."

Evie was weary of Rebecca, the dream she had the other night of being buried alive and Rebecca being the one who did it still stung in her mind. She could still hear Rebecca's voice from the dream..."let her rest in peace"...the voice, Rebecca's voice echoed over and over as if her mind was reminding Evie to be careful.

"Evie," Rebecca said to Evie's trying to look away. "Don't you see the lights?" 

Evie wasn't comfortable, the old woman's words often felt cold and hollow. She worried about what she really wanted and why she had such a horrible nightmare that involved her. A chill ran up Evie's white buttoned up back tightened with a corset and lace bodice.  

Rebecca grabbed Evie by the chin and moved her face towards the dangling crystal, forcing her to look at the gift she brought her. 

"See? There is light dancing for you within the crystal, do you see them Evie? Look deeper, deeper into the little fractals of light. Let the light go inside of your mind, Evie, let the light be a key for me." Rebecca said. 

Evie's face began to change. She began to let the woman's words deep into her subconscious like a slithering snake in for the kill.

"I see the lights." Evie said, her eyes glazing over.

"Good, good...now let me inside your mind, let me clear you of the burden of that story of death and disaster. Let me fill you with only good visions of what our family and let me..." Rebecca said attempting to remove the memory of the secret from her soon-to-be new granddaughter's mind.

But then, in a blink of a millisecond, Evie pulled away quickly breaking the trans from Rebecca's control and got up from the bed. It was Rebecca’s voice. It was the same from her dream of being in the coffin. Cold. Cruel. Devious. 

Evie shook her head and felt a little dazed but the hypnosis did not work, her discomfort with the woman’s voice from her dream, the woman who had been there in her nightmare and laughter at her being buried alive, that same voice, that matching voice was too horrible to listen to. As she recognized it as Rebecca She pulled herself out the hypnosis fully intact and walked back over to her vanity mirror in a shallow breath.

"I should finish getting ready." Evie said, noting the time nervously.

"But your gift." Rebecca said extending her arm with the dangling crystal on a red string. 

"Thank you very much I will treasure it." Evie said snatching the crystal from Rebecca's hand and quickly putting into a purple painted jewelry box with all of her other trinkets. 

Rebecca's eyes widened, she had failed. She could now only stare at the jewelry box and feel the utter disaster that had just occurred all throughout her senses. Not only did Evie now have the crystal herself but she continued to have the evil memory of the truth of David and Sabrina's demise. It was killing Rebecca inside that she could not snuff out the dark secret and hopefully start the new couple on a journey of happiness with Evie's mind clear.

Rebecca's superstitions of dark and evil swirling around Evie and Sebastian all stemmed from the secret of Sebastian's father killing Sebastian's mother but now she had to think of someway else. 

"Well then," Rebecca said with her eyes on the jewelry box "Ill call Celeste back in to help you finish getting ready." She added with a disappointed tone in her voice.

"Thank you Mrs. Lord." Evie said, in a hurried voice hoping for Rebecca's quick exit. 

Rebecca smiled coldly still with the stain of failure all over her face then turned to leave the room while Evie looked down at the jewelry box with the hypnotic crystal in it still warm from Rebecca’s hand and felt a shiver go up her spine like she had just scene a ghost. 

In the other room, the painted eyes were returned to painting. And Gaspar threw himself onto the love seat in a lump anger that the old woman failed in the hypnosis. 

"The old bat couldn't follow directions if they were written on the insides of her eye lids. She failed!!!" Gaspar said, his French accent melting into a British one.

Jacob, dressed in his finest tuxedo with golden cuff-links and a small chained watch in the pocket of his vest was standing at the French doors that led to a third story balcony over looking the grounds of the Tirymôr House as he smoked a cigarette. He grinned and threw the cigarette, still smoldering, off the balcony. 

"Don't worry old boy, things are about to look up. I don’t pay you to worry only to keep my mother’s paranoias pumping. We won't need her to help us in our little plan anyway." Jacob said playfully slapping Gaspar's face.

"What do you mean?" Gaspar asked sitting up. 

Jacob turned and looked at his friend in the face, he smiled and winked with a wicked look in his eye. 

"Sooner or later your little trick of the eye playing on my mother's foolish little superstations was going to give way. I knew it. You knew it. You didn't actually believe my mother would always  think you were some kind of spirit chasing, ghost talking, connecting to the other side guide, did you? It had to end sometime. Your fake Frenchie accent there was a good touch, and my money on you has been very well spent...especially the crystal thing, that was good, but only if it worked on Evie. And it hasn't. My mother will sooner banish you from this house now than trust you again. So being the devil that I am, I planned ahead." Jacob said grinning.

"Your money? The only reason I’m here pretending to be this ridiculous spirit speaker is because of all the money owe me. Don’t forget that.” Gaspar said. 

Jacob quickly turned serious when his millions of dollar of debt to Gaspar and his partners was mentioned. 

“How can I forget.” He said.

“Sometimes I think you do. This whole scam to push your mother to believe or this nonsense of tarot cards and palm reading and to off your nephew seems to be slower than I had anticipated. It  hasn’t panned out and …” Gaspar said before being interrupted.

“Alright!!!! You’ve made your point. The money will come into play, my second plan is fool proof.” Jacob answered. 

“Your mother would banish me if she knew the truth. Let’s make sure she doesn’t.” Gaspar suddenly said, realizing the dangers if their scam was revealed before it could come to fruition. 

"But it doesn't matter.” Jacob retorted. “As soon as my second plan comes into play we'll be home free. See, I have a little scheme going with that little whore Mary. She's my ...well, let's just say my secret weapon." 

"Mary Goode? How is that plan fool proof?” Gaspar asked sarcastically his voice still in his native British accident. 

"Don't you worry about that. As soon as Mary completes her little task I'll be one more step closer at getting everything that I have always wanted and more, and that, my friend, means you'll get what's coming to you to. All of what's coming to you." 

Gaspar seemed relived to know there was a second plan and that even with the new plan, Jacob would still pay him out. The two con-men were about to set in motion a deadly line of events that would change the face of Tirymôr House and the Lord family for ever. 

And in the village, Mary Good, in her most beautiful of dresses got into a small black cab. She handed the driver $5 and told him to take her to the Lord family mansion in the Tirymôr forest. 

"Ahh! Off to the big wedding, are ya? Well good for you, love, you look lovely." the cab driver said with a grin.

Mary flashed a nervous smile and sat back in the car's paten leather seat and clutched her black purse that matched her satin blue dress, and inside her purse the weapon. The revolver, it felt hot like a coal. It made her feel 100 pounds heavier. Her next move, the murder of two people she didn't care for was they key, she thought, the one event that would finally reunite her with Charlotte.

Back at the mansion, Evie and Celeste finished their prepping. Evie looked in the mirror just as the vail was placed over her face. 

"This will be the best and happiest day of your life, a day you'll remember forever." Celeste said as she squeezed Evie's shoulders and the two cried together in hopes of a beautiful day. 

                                   

B1/Ch5: THE WINDOW

Evie & Sebastian walk the grounds at Tirymôr house 

The fog lifted early on the day before the wedding. The sun shined down through the high clouds and kissed the rolling hills of Welshport Island like a passionate lover seeing their paramour after a long trip home. 

Walking through the Estate's lush gardens, Evie and her soon-to-be husband Sebastian made small talk amongst the various flowers and plants. Her dress was a beautiful deep purple with tiny ruffles around the collar. He grabbed her hand that was covered with itchy lace and brought her to a stone bench where they sat, their thighs pressing against each other, a moment of innocent intimacy that had yet to come.

"Everything here is really so beautiful." Evie said, opening her parasol. 

"The gardens are over 100 years old. My great-grandfather personally curated the design, his own sort of Versailles. It was really his best attribute." Sebastian said as his black cloak with golden tassels dragged over the we grass.

"Oh?" Evie wondered.

"My grandfather Albert told us stories about his father, who he called 'the landscaper'. He was an awful drunk but had an eye for gardens. It was sort of his own way of escaping the world around him. You can imagine the island is those days. Much more remote and desolate. There was only this house, a little bit of the village and the lighthouse." Sebastian explained.

"The lighthouse?" Evie asked, her curiosity perking up.

Sebastian smiled, he could see just how excited she really was being in the place he called home. And it was a genuine excitement. Although she was in a strange new world, far away from home all she wanted to do was acclimate and be apart of this new family. No matter what --no strange bite from a child or frightening nightmare would stop her from taking on what she was told had to happen. Her love for Sebastian, albeit rushed was sincere and his to her. 

"You have a lot to see of Welshport. It's actually a wonderful place. I grew up, obviously, in a very gilded cage. I got out once in a while to see the world. But I always came back. I was like the others" Sebastian said, mentioning the other Lord family members but stopping short of saying his missing father's name, who over the years left the island never to return.

"I know that it must of been very difficult for you when your mother died of influenza. It's a terrible disease. I've seen it when it hit in a terrible fashion in London. Seeing your mother so sick must of have been so painful." She said, hoping to console him.

"Well, yes. Very painful." He said softly trying to keep up the lie of his mother’s true death. 

She reached for the lapel of his jacket and carefully flattened it, a sign of tenderness, a sign that she was there for him in anyway possible, even if the real reason of his mother's death was something much more sinister and not an illness...a secret that she knew but was going along with his and his family's lie.

It was clear to her that Sebastian didn't want to talk about his mother in any detailed way. He was short with  her on the subject, years of training from Rebecca taught him that only the most inner circle of the family should speak on the matters of Sabrina's death in true form and even if Evie was going to soon be a member of that inner circle, she had yet to say her vows. She was still...an outsider, even to Sebastian who was so quickly falling in love. 

To divert her from the topic of his mother's death that would most likely turn to his father's disappearance  he quickly changed the subject by flashing a giant smile across his face as he soddenly  stood up and looked out towards the large thick forest that surrounded the gardens of the mansion.

"Over out that way are the North Shore Cliffs. Beautiful for sunrises." He said pointing towards the eastern end horizon. 

“North Shore?” Evie giggled. “That’s the east.” 

Sebastian grabbed hold of her hand and began walking with her. He laughed too of the oddly named Cliffside. 

“I know I know. When then Welsh first settled here they tried to create confusing naming conventions for parts of the island to keep foreign invaders away.” He explained. 

“It’s not working on me.” His new bride blushed. 

“Good!” He replied lit up with grin.

They continued on their walk,  and Sebastian pointed out more of the island to the new inhabitant 

“And out that way, are the Western Woods. The real west!” He laughed. “No one really goes there except for hunters. And to the south, more of the Tirymôr forest. Our house was named after the forest that helped build it. My ancestors brought down close to a million trees and later replanted them all around the house to keep it as exclusively in the forest as they could. Let’s see… ah yes…at the very edge of the forest there's a tiny little point of land where the lighthouse is It points to the south and shines down on Goode Island."

"Goode Island?"

"Its a small sort of tree filled island just floating off Welshport. Not very interesting." He said.

"And the lighthouse?" She asked, smiling ear to ear allowing her thoughts of keeping such a tragic secret still locked away in her mind.

"Ahhh... I can see you're interested." he gleamed.  "One day I'll take you there." Sebastian said as a cool ocean breeze brushed across their wool cloaks..

Evie could see and feel his enthusiasm. "I'd LOVE it!" She exclaimed. 

"Welshport is your home now. I hope you're happy here. It's all I can do to make you happy. Our family, our business, everything is for you now too." Sebastian said as he stepped closer to his fiancée, the cool breeze from the ocean air swirling around them. 

"There is something I want to tell you about...something that happened." Evie said standing too from the garden's stone bench. "It happened last night."

"What is it?" Sebastian asked.

Evie took a breath trying to compose herself and to figure out how she'd tell Sebastian that his little cousin Charlotte visited her in the middle of the night …and that she saw a strangeness in the girl's reflection. He could she say this without sounding completely mad? She took another breath and closed her parasol and looked into his eyes, hoping that he could see in them her sincerity and honesty. 

"Charlotte was in my room last night. In the middle of the night. She was watching me sleep, and, well I woke up and she was just there. Staring." Evie asked.

"What? Oh Evie, I'm so sorry. That's is bizarre. You know she hasn't been herself lately. She really doesn't behave this way. Did she say anything to you?" He asked.

"She did." Evie replied unprepared to tell him what Charlotte said.

"What did she say?" 

"She was actually very sweet....I shouldn't make you worry about it, really. It was just a strange feeling to have her there. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything." Evie said, now feeling awkward with her news of Charlotte's late night visit, and still not telling Sebastian the strangest part of the visit. The reflection.

"No, not at all. I'll have grandmother speak to her; Jacob has a tendency to let her do as she wishes, grandmother is more stern. It won't happen again. But I hope whatever she said, didn't upset you." Sebastian asked, grabbing Evie's itchy lace gloved hand.

"No, no...no...it's silly. She was...it's fine.” Evie said rethinking telling Sebastian about her strange encounter with young Charlotte. “Maybe she's just feeling nervous about all the excitement of the wedding. Besides it was so late at night I could have imaged her there longer than she really was. Forget it, really." Evie added, feeling foolish for even bringing it up. 

Sebastian smiled, her beauty only paled in comparison to her kind heart. He could see how special she was, how wonderful she was and how eager she was to be one of the family no matter how many strange things happened to her in the very short time she was on the island. He pulled her close, so close they could feel the warmth of their breath on the exposed skin of their bodies. She looked into  his eyes, he looked into her. 

"You're beautiful." he whispered, as the waves from the could be heard crashing off in the distance. Then he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to his body, she lifted her head and he bowed his and their lips met. Connecting in a passionate kiss surrounded  by roses and lilies and plants of every variety and color of the rainbow. 

Staring out onto the garden watching from three stories up in her private mansion apartments was Rebecca Lord. The mistress of Tirymôr House. She lifted a brow at the young couple out in the lush yard cuddling each other in the cool ocean breeze. A sense of uneasy frost filled her veins as she watched her grandson put his black cloak over Evie’s shoulders to warm her. 

She was worried, worried about what Evie really knew of the family secret. What Evie really thought of her place in the family and of worse, the ugly tarot card reading just days ago that Gaspar held for her. 

****

Georgina at the window of Rebecca's room

“Pull the drapes Georgina. It must be completely dark here. No light from outside must come in. Do you understand? No light. We must let the spirits find themselves here, in the dark.” Rebecca ordered her personal maid who quickly curtsied and rushed around pulling at large dark olive green drapes that covered the floor to ceiling double windows in the room. 

While the maid hurried around the perimeter of the room pulling long cords across the windows that dragged the drapes to close, Rebecca in her dark plumb colored dress shuffled passed a large bureau with a silver try that was burning a bundle of sage to a small card table in the center of the room draped in a black velvet table cloth with a small tin cup filled with holy water. 

Rebecca dipped her fingers in the holy water and then crossed her self, mouthing "in the name of the father, son, holy spirit"

While she waited Rebecca nervously fidgeted with a golden ring with a single pearl in its center. Her eyes, blue and strained in all her 65 years focused on the man in front of her at the table: Rebecca’ mystical healer Gaspar Dubois.

He was there to read her cards again, like he did so often as he was at beck and call. He was her guide in life. He carried her suffering and torture of family secrets in his hands with the visions he had. With the stories he knew through the revelations of his ancient tarot cards. 

Earlier that morning, Rebecca insisted he come into her room and add more information about Evie and the red river of blood card Gaspar pulled just before her arrival in Welshport. It had haunted Rebecca for days. He uncertainty over who’s life was truly in danger now that Evie was in Welshport, and why was this dancer so connected to Evie.

Gaspar caressed the soft folds of the black table cloth and smiled at Rebecca who stayed completely silent until Georgina finished closing the drapes. He leaned over and lit a match. The flame flickered and kissed the wicks of two thick white candles on the table that illuminated Rebecca’s heart shaped face and white hair like spotlight finding it’s star on stage.

“I need to know more. My family’s whole existence depends on it.” She said dramatically in soft voice to Gaspar just as Georgina pulled the last drape. 

“Madame I know how you have not slept. This is truly concerning to me, I can assure you, but forcing the spirits to come up with answers on so many occasions can exhaust them. The messages they send can then become …” he paused allowing the flicking candle to splash orange light on his beautiful French and Basque skin. “…trompeurs.” He said in his native French.

Rebecca, fluent in the language rolled her eyes. 

“Mais non.” She replied defiantly in French to his suggestion that the spiritual messages would become trompeurs—misleading. “I insist on this. Whatever you can tell me, what ever I can know.” She added. 

Gaspar took a deep breath and reached in his vest without ever breaking eye contact with his Madame. He removed a stack of golden colored tarot cards and split the deck in half reluctantly, forced. Then he motioned for Rebecca to break each half stack in half again, Georgina the dark haired maid watched intently with her crystal blue eyes never leaving the cards in front of her. 

“Voi-lá” Rebecca said as she finished the cutting.

Gaspar flipped one card over from each of the four halves.  

The first card: THE 7 SWORDS 

The second card: THE CROWNED MAIDEN

The third cards: THE LOST KNIGHT

And the final card, shockingly again: THE RED RIVER. 

“The seven swords, tells us the world has changed. Observe, Madame, how each sword points inward and to the ground. The spirits are telling us thought this image that something from inside of us is, all of us, is what we must keep watch over. There is danger that lurks in us all. We are our own enemy. The crowned maiden symbolizes the spirits way to tell us that a special woman, childlike and fare, is the catalyst of this change in the world.” Gaspar explained as the light from the candles continued to glow.

“Evie.” Rebecca whispered in a matter of fact tone. 

“Perhaps.” Gaspar continued. “The lost Knight is truly a painful way to get to the Red River. This has not changed since I first pulled these for you Madame. Before it was the card of the Drowned Prince, today the Lost Knight. Each followed by the Red River. There is no doubt in my mind that the spirits who surround me know and are telling us so clearly that Evie will be Sebastian’s down fall.” 

Georgina gasped in shock. “HUSH!” Rebecca scolded. “But why? Why is she such a thorn in our family. We chose her. She was to be the woman white bore my grandson’s children, the future of the Lord family.” 

“She knows too much Madame. As I said. You must take matters into your own hands and finally remove her knowledge of what she learned on the ship before she arrived. If she is allowed to know this information any further no matter how many ways anyone try’s to avert her thoughts on the matter of David and Sabrina … it will spell disaster. The secret will fester. It will rot in her mind and infect her whole being like a tooth dying in the mouth. In the end Madame, the secret left open in her mind like a sore will eat away at the marriage with Sebastian.” 

Rebecca exhaled deeply. Her whole heart was invested in making sure her only grandson, the heir to his father’s part of the Lord family fortune was happy. She could not see his life employee, not like this. The secret of David murdering Sabrina has to be kept.

“What must I do?” Rebecca asked as Georgina looked on again in shock the the older woman would even entertain the idea of involving herself in anything illicit. 

Gaspar lifted a brow and said “You must take this crystal and do as I said… remove this memory from her brain before it’s too late.” 

The dark room felt swollen with warm stale air from the windows being closed off and the floating heat from the heavy candles on the table in front of Gaspar and Rebecca. The air was chocking in its thickness Georgina, felt almost faint and her hands became clammy and sweaty, 

Rebecca  grabbed hold of the crystal and looked it as it dangler its red cord. The light from the candles broke through the crystal allowing fragments of light in the shape of tiny squares to reflect onto Rebecca’s soft face. Her eyes were staring deep into the cut of the crystal, the feeling of dread for Sebastian swimming in her mind and Gaspar’s warning still ringing in her ear. 

“You’ll show me how?” She asked.

Gaspar smiled, his crooked teeth sending shivers up Rebecca’s tightly  corseted spine. He snatched the crystal from Rebecca’s and and stood up in the dark room.

“You! Maid… lay here.” He told Georgina who looked over at Rebecca to move from her standing spot by the door to the soft velvet and silk cushioned sofa in the room. 

Rebecca gestured in a way affirming to Georgina that it was ok, and she quickly went over to the sofa and laid down. Gaspar then stood over her and dangled the crystal over Georgina’s eyes.

“I want you to look deep into the crystal, Georgina. Let the fragments of light fill your mind and take you into a deep sleep. Just follow my voice into a soft place in your mind. Can you do that?” Gaspar asked.

Georgina said yes as Rebecca looked on in her lesson. 

“Good girl. Now, keep your eye on the crystal...watch as the light breaks inside and turns into tiny little flashes in your mind...keep your eye on this crystal, watch it, feel it, turn your mind inside out and go where I tell you to go." Gaspar added to Georgina's affirmation.

"She looks dazed." Rebecca said to Gaspar who turned quickly to her and hushed her.

"Georgina, I am now in control of your mind and body. Get up, and walk." He said.

Georgina, the maid, did as he said, her eyes glazed over and in a frozen like state. She rested her arms, tucking them at her waist where a white flowing blouse was tucked into a dark brown skirt that went all the way to the floor. 

"Walk with me and follow my voice." Gaspar ordered, Georgina complied.

Together Gaspar and Georgina, in her hypnotic trans, walked over to the large blacked out window, covered in the olive green drapes. Gaspar pulled the long cord and the drapes opened half way revealing a large window and a peek of bright day light.

Still at the table, Rebecca stood up, her eyes glued to what was happening in front of her with her personal maid.

"Open the window Georgina." Gaspar ordered. Georgina frozen in a hypnotic daze, complied and pulled a small iron lock on the window and slowly opened the window. A flow of cold air rushed in and touched her face. She winched but remained her in daze.

"Gaspar." Rebecca whispered, unsure of what was to come next.

"Step on the ledge Georgina." He ordered. 

Georgina, lifted her left leg and stepped on the ledge of the window that was 3 stores up. It was a 250 foot drop to the grounds below. The wind blew her at her skirt. The wind blew in her hair. 

"Step off the ledge Georgina." Gaspar ordered again, show his full control of the maid's mind.

With her right foot, Georgina dangled it over the window ledge and just as a fast a cool breeze could flow in Rebecca came from  behind her and yanked her back into the room in a quick lunge tossing the young maid to the floor and breaking her hypnosis. 

"What... what happened?" Georgina said, feeling flush and cold and hot all the at same time. Then she remembered. She was not under hypnosis long enough for the full memory of what had occurred to disappear. 

"You've made your point." Rebecca said, grabbing the powerful crystal from Gaspar's hand as he smirked over at the terrified Georgina.

"It's that simple Madame. Once you control Evie's mind you can make her do whatever you want. From jumping out of a window to forgetting what she knows." He said sinisterly. 

"I.... I don't feel well. I feel very unwell ma'am." The pale and sweaty Georgina said.

Rebecca turned to her maid and saw what the hypnosis did. It was strong. It was powerful and she was not only terrified of it but in absolute love with it. The matriarch of the Lord family looked in her hand and saw the crystal then looked at the panic stricken Georgina. 

"Lay down Georgina, let's fix your mind." Rebecca said.

Georgina looked at her mistress and was unsure of what to do. But Rebecca knew...she was about to test the crystal once again and erase poor Georgina's memory of her close encounter with death at the window. She would be her Guinea Pig, her prototype for what she would do next to Evie Jordan. 

****

The downstairs level of Tirymôr House was  bustling with  butlers and maids and florists all preparing for the coming wedding that would soon take place on the grounds of the mansion. Through the noise and business, a tall and slender butler ushered in a guest to meet with Jacob Lord in the much more quiet study near the rear of the house.

The guest, Welshport Island's local Constable Christian Evans, was in awe of what he saw of the interior of the mansion, a place he had never stepped foot in.

On his way to the study, Christian saw the lengthy marble floors that were imported from Lisbon. The stone walls that were carefully molded and crafted in a cathedral like style by the Italian architect who had been brought in by Jacob's great-great grandfather who built the mansion that, to Christian's surprise, was filled with light. 

Their echoing footsteps, then lead to a more private area of the house that was dramatically different than the marble and stoned front. It was much more quieter, carpeted with the finest Persian rugs and fitted with electrical outlets and fixtures that were relatively new to the locals of the island. 

Christian looked at the several paintings of family members hung in golden frames along the tightly decorated corridor that finally lead to the back-area study. The tall butler gestured to a thinly framed chair with a red plush seat, "Wait here please Constable." 

Christian sat there for what was only a few seconds, then the study doors, heavy and oak opened again. 

"Mr. Lord will see you now." The butler said.

Christian got up and entered the room where there were shelves upon shelves of books and a sitting area next to a fireplace filled with plumes of Jacob's cigar smoke. 

"Mr. Lord, Constable Christian Evans." The butler announced. 

"Mr. Lord." Christian said, quickly, and awkwardly bowing his head, a gesture he strangely felt appropriate in the pomp and circumstance of the whole meeting.

"Thank you Marcus." Jacob said, excusing the butler and welcoming Christian into the room. "Constable, please sit down. What do I owe this very personal visit?" 

Christian sat across from Jacob who sat back down on the dark green sofa's in the center of the room that squeaked and scratched as their bodies came down on the perfectly toned leather. 

"I wanted to confirm with the family that I'll be personally attending the wedding tomorrow for everyone's safety. An event this size in a place like this I think it would be better for someone to be here and make sure there is a sense of security for all involved." The constable said.

Jacob's face turned stone cold. 

Christian meets with Jacob about the wedding, Jacob assures him everything will be fine. Christian insists that he will be there regardless. Jacob seems unhappy about that. The idea that the authorities from the village would be involved in any kind of family event was nothing but intrusive in the Lord family way of life.

"That's absolutely out of the question." Jacob retorted.

"Why's that sir?" Christian asked. 

"This is a private event, there's no need for any kind of security of presence such as yours. It would make our guests uncomfortable." Jacob said. 

"I have full authority if I feel that the event as large needs my supervision. I assure you Mr. Lord, I won't be a bother. It's for your family's safety." Christian said.

"Safety." Jacob said with a lifted brow.

"That's correct."

"Is there a reason you feel we are unsafe in our own home? Around our own friends? Around our own family?" Jacob wondered as he got up from the sitting area and walked over to a large desk near the windows.

Christian did not want to place fear in Jacob's mind about his worry that Mary Goode might do something outrageous, it was also not very clear that she would do anything. But Celeste's encounter with Mary in town showed that there was still very heavy animosity from Mary towards the family everyone knew she believed had wronged her over her daughter's removal.  

"I just think that it would be in the best interest of everyone that I was here. I will be absolutely discreet and look as a guest. Nothing more." Christian said without giving away his true intention. 

Jacob turned towards the sunny window's and watched as the horses on their land roamed around the secure enclosure. He lifted up his smoldering cigar and put it to his mouth and inhaled. The burning end scolded and swirled with red burning Tobacco. When he exhaled it was like a huge puff of engine smoke from a train that swirled like clouds when Jacob turned back to Christian who was now standing on the other side of the desk. 

"Very well. But be discreet." Jacob said, his voice sounding unhappy with the idea but allowing. 

"Thank you sir. I will be." Christian said with a smile. "I won't bother you any longer, and I'll see myself out." 

Jacob smiled snobbishly but did  not say goodbye. Christian quickly left the private study in the back of the mansion and made his way back into the busy front of the house just as Sebastian and Evie were coming in. 

This was a surprise to the couple.

"Constable Evans!" Sebastian said happily. 

The two men had been school-chums as they grew up. Friends, but not close friends as their social classes did not align. Christian was always more of a quiet and polite young man while Sebastian, who never attempted to push his family's wealth on his schoolmates as something to use against their more humble lifestyle, was much more outgoing and boisterous. 

Today, in seeing Christian after a very long time, his boisterous behavior was very evident. And how could he not be, the most beautiful young fiancée was on his arm. 

"Good to see you Bash, how are you? And congratulations are in order!" Christian said, motioning to Evie who smiled shyly. 

"Thank you! Constable Evans, Evangeline Jordan, Evie, Christian." Sebastian said introducing the two who exchanged how do you do's. "What are you doing here?" Sebastian then asked.

"I think I'll be more comfortable if you call me Christian. You never had a problem with that before." Christian said, reminding Sebastian of their passed friendship. 

"Of course! Of course! So again, Christian, why the visit from town?" Sebastian added

"I was here to see your uncle, a bit of business nothing to worry about." Christian said.

"You're coming to the wedding I assume." Sebastian asked.

"I.....well, yes actually that was the crux of my conversation with Jacob. I'll be here.:" Christian answered.

"Christian and I went to school together, Evie. We've been friends since we were just 6 or 7 years old." Sebastian said.

"Well, then it'll be wonderful for you to be here. Old friends always make wedding even that much more lovely." Evie said squeezing Sebastian's arm.

"Indeed!" Sebastian smiled.

"I should get back in the village now, Miss Jordan it was a pleasure to meet you." Christian said, kissing the back of Evie's gloved hand. 

"Likewise Constable." She replied with sparkling eyes that locked with Christian's.

In that final gaze on each other, Christian finally saw how beautiful she really was. A stunning peach completion with beautiful dark hair and eyes so blue that felt almost like two pools of perfectly clear water from the shallows just below The North Shore cliffs. He felt butterflies in his stomach and then noticed he was still holding her hand. She smiled awkwardly and he quickly let go and rushed out towards the foyer. 

"You have a way!" Sebastian said laughing to Evie noticing his old friend's flustered look at the sight of the beautiful Evie Jordan.

Back in the study, Jacob remained at his desk smoldering like the cigar in his mouth. With Christian in attendance a certain plan of his might not go on without a snag. But nothing was ever off the table. Jacob knew the wedding would take place no matter what. 

Then, a sliding secret door of the study slid open. A figure stepped in and silently pushed the double wall closed concealing again the secret passageway. The person slowly made their way over to the brightly lit desk and cleared their throat. 

Jacob already knew who it was without even looking.

"What did he want?" The person said, who had clearly been listening from behind the secret door while Christian was visiting.

"You know what he wanted." Jacob replied, turning to see Gaspar across from him. 

"Is the plan in danger?" Gaspar said, his voice lacking the French accent he had always had and now in a clear British voice referencing a plan that he and Jacob secretly had been plotting. 

Jacob smiled sinisterly. Nothing would stop him from what he was planning. Nothing. Not Christian. Not Evie's knowledge of David and Sabrina's misfortune, and not even Rebecca who had her own plan in place. 

"Don't worry about Constable Evans. He won't stop us." Jacob said puffing away at is cigar and opening a drawer from the desk, and pulling out a silver and gold revolver. 

The Lord family was like a den of snakes each one trying to bite the other for leverage and power. Jacob and Gaspar the two most venomous snakes of the pit were on track to bite and kill anyone on their path to full power, and the wedding was just the first step on their way to victory.