Eshu (Up to date)

Prologue

The room was black.

I wasn't sure how I had gotten here, in this room. For some reason however, I felt that it wasn't important. I spun around in a circle. The room itself was large and spacious. The guest bedroom in a mansion perhaps. Whatever room it was, I could tell that whoever lived here had to be very well off.

Distractedly I made out that a bed was in the center of the room. And what a bed it was! It dominated a bit of space taking up over one third of the room. But as I stared I realized in the dark room that something was off about it. Glancing above me I saw why. A sheer canopy hung from the ceiling and floated down around the bed.

To keep the bugs out.

You'd think a place this big would have better pest control.

Still staring I saw that a darker, and much thicker looking curtain was resting by the wall beside the bed. I knew that this one could wrap around the whole bed if need be.

Bored by the Victorian style bedding I turned and saw that in the corner of the room was a vanity with brushes and unopened jars of makeup littering the surface in astute silence. Equally as uninterested I moved away.

Lightning illuminated the room suddenly, and I saw with a start that a woman was sleeping soundly on the bed. Curiously wandering towards the bed once more, I pulled the soft fabric aside and walked up to the bed. It crossed my mind briefly that this was an unusual if not disturbing.

The woman faced away from me and I moved around the large frame and realized that I had crossed from disturbing to horrific as I stared down at her.

The woman, was me.

I stumbled backwards from the bed and fell through the canopy. I ran back to the vanity and saw my own reflection a twin to the woman sleeping soundly.

The woman was me I thought. But, I'm me.

Thunder cracked and the woman, I, turned contentedly in my, her sleep.

I straightened from the mirror and walked away from it and the bed. Anything to keep the distance from me and this impostor.

Lightening flashed again, and I saw rain spattering on a window in sizable drops.

This was a dream I realized as I stared at the falling water. But how could a dream be so real?

Moving around the room once more I realized that if I was indeed dreaming, than I had dreamt with amazing detail. A vase stood filled with fresh cut flowers that sat next to a love seat that looked like it came right from the eighteenth century.

Even the designs etched onto the posts of the bed frame were flawless. I could see the room in perfect clarity and nothing was off. No unique feature that would clue me in on the fact that I could be asleep, save for the woman still asleep, in front of me.

I looked to the window and saw that it was in fact a large door that led out to a balcony. I came to a decision then.

There was only one real way to see if this was real, or something I had made up in my dreams. I walked to the doors and threw them open. Stepping out, I was drenched from head to toe in water that felt like daggers of steel. A cold wind swept me, and I convulsed into shivers.

Teeth chattering, I stepped back closing the door. After fighting the wind, the latch set into place. Walking back into the room dripping wet, I sat down on the sofa in confusion.

Okay, lets figure this out. I'm awake, but I'm asleep right there. Obviously, she's an impostor, but the real question is, why? And what's more, what am I doing here?

I heard a howl and looked up to see that the door that I only just closed had swung open. Rain was quickly pooling onto the thick carpet.

Thinking the latch was faulty I stood and walked forward to re-close them. Lightning flashed once more, and a man was illuminated in the doorway.

A scream jammed in my throat as I froze, but the man did not acknowledge me.

Lighting streaked the world behind him and I started to back away from the doorway in horror.

The man was handsome, he had long black hair that was held back at the nape of his neck. Strands had fallen loose framing a sculpted face that was pale. His eyes were a very clear icy blue. His nose was slightly pointed and below them rested full lips.

He was tall, easily taller than my average frame and he seemed muscular though from working out I couldn't be sure, and I wasn't about to get any closer to find out.

But his clothes, they were what distracted me the most. He was dressed as a man from the 18th century. Black riding boots that stopped at his knees, dark linen pants and a loose-fitting shirt, or was it a tunic I wondered. But the most unusual, was the cape. It reached the floor and blew away from him and out into the wild windy night. If not for the situation, this man would be a dream to draw.

The effect he had, left me in awe.

And then I realized what I was doing.

Standing here noticing how exceptionally gorgeous this man was, when it seemed obvious he was about to enter my, or this woman's room and commit a Ted Bundy, or worse.

No sooner did the thought cross my mind when his lips moved, and I heard him speak in a deep musical voice that was instantly calming to my ears. Despite my best intentions to save his woman's life, or my life even, I was relaxed. I barely registered what he said.

"Can I come in?"

There was a slight accent in his voice but that was driven right from my mind when I heard my own voice dreamily reply.

"Come in, come in."

I turned to the sleeping stranger shocked.

I hadn't said a word, and yet my voice was the one that spoke.

"Come in." I or she said again.

Still shocked I turned to see the man flash a grin that could only be called triumphant. Softly he walked in and the doors drifted to a close behind him. I waited for him to see me, especially since I was not exactly in his line of sight. But, he only had eyes for the me sleeping before him.

He pushed the sheer canopy aside. I heard the soft flutter of the fabric before it closed behind him as if to block me from him and the sleeping me. Walking to the other side of the bed with mounting panic, I watched him cautiously.

Fearfully I ran and grabbed the vase, but to my utter disbelief my hands slipped right through it. Without stopping to think about what this meant, I ran back to the bed and watched as he gently lifted my body from the bed and bend my head so that my neck was presented to him.

I started to scream when I saw two sharp canines protrude from his mouth.

"Wake up! Dammit Rheya, wake up!"

But nothing happened. Undeterred I ripped through the canopy.

The man paused briefly, and his eyes connected with mine as a smile of exuberance graced his face.

My own eyes widened in terror as I realized I was about to watch myself die...

Chapter

My eyes snapped open so fast I was surprised my eyelids didn't break. I sat up in the darkness searching my bedroom in fear. Breathing somewhat heavily I felt something slide to my legs. Turning on the light I looked at the weight and saw my battered copy of Dracula. Realizing what had caused my nightmare I laughed softly. I felt another weight on my neck and straightened the necklace I always wore.

"Bad dream?" A voice murmured next to me.

Turning I saw Decklen a person I had known for quite a while now. He was resting on my bed. But we both knew it was an appearance, Decklen never rested.

"What's wrong Rheya? You looked scared." He asked me concerned.

As I looked at Decklen I realized who the Vampire in my dream was modeled after. Black hair that fell into his eyes messily. The same nose, the same accent I couldn't place. The same frame and build. The only difference and I should have caught onto it instantly, was that Decklen's eyes were gray not blue. And he didn't wear a cape.

"Just a bad dream." I said, "don't worry yourself."

"You were talking in yourself for quite a while. " Decklen frowned at me, " I gave up and came in to check on you, but you woke up."

"It was just a dream." I said to him smiling.

"Are you sure?" He asked me softly. He reached out and pulled a lock of my equally black hair.

"Yeah." I said shaking head out of his reach, "What time is it?"

"Five thirty, you should sleep some more." He said glancing at the clock next to him.

But I shook my head once more and got up from the bed. "Nah, I'm too amped to sleep. I think I wanna go for a run." I answered as I stretched my arms to get the kinks out.

I had fallen asleep in such an awkward position. Half sitting. I turned to face Decklen and I saw that he wasn't buying my words. It was true though, I was too freaked to sleep.

Not that I'd admit it.

"It's raining." He frowned at me.

Clearly, he was worried about my catching pneumonia and dying.

"So, I'll get wet." I answered not meeting his eyes.

I knew he was worried, if something happened to me, Decklen would be alone. I grabbed some socks and left the room. After lacing on my shoes, I was heading out the door.

Once outside I saw that Decklen had been right, it was raining, not enough to stop me though. I walked back inside and pulled a long sleeve shirt over my sports bra before heading back out and silently jogging into the misty dawn.

Unused to the action, my legs started to burn almost immediately, but I set myself a steady pace and soon enough I had put in two miles.

I was starting my third when Decklen appeared beside me.

I smiled at his appearance. Decklen always made me smile. Being around him always did that to me. I couldn't help but be relaxed around him. As we started my fourth mile, people started to come outside.

I nodded to some and they smiled and waved their good mornings to me in return. As we rounded the corner that led back to my little town house, a young girl came outside and she waved at me excitedly. I waved back smiling softly at her. She didn't wave to Decklen.

No one ever did.

Chapter

Decklen technically doesn't exist. At least not in the sense of you and I.

I'd like to say he's a ghost, but I don't think that he is.

I've seen him pick up objects like my backpack. He's gotten under a blanket when he gets cold. He's even eaten food, though he doesn't seem to need to eat as constantly or as much as I can. Or even mention the fact that he's hungry.

And he's as solid as you and I.

But on the other hand.

I've seen him go through walls, he's materialized right beside me anytime I've felt anxious or scared. And obviously the most important part, no one can see him.

Except for me.

I don't know why I can, and honestly not long after I met him, I stopped asking.

Because he doesn't know either.

I stopped at my door and bent to catch my breath. Despite it raining lightly my shirt was drenched with a mixture of rain and sweat. I shivered slightly as I opened the door. I sat down to untie my shoes as Decklen brushed past me. Hearing the sound of the faucet, I smiled to myself. It turned off and looking up, I saw Decklen returning with a glass of water. He offered it and taking the cup, I drained it. Walking into the kitchen, I set it down and made my way to the bathroom.

When I came back from my shower, I saw that Decklen was waiting for me in the kitchen still. The glass had been cleaned and put away.

He hated clutter.

Not saying anything I grabbed the kettle and after filling it, turned the burner on. While eggs cooked, Decklen got two mugs out and placed bags into them, when the kettle whistled, he wordlessly filled them up. As bacon fat sizzled, Decklen scooped one teaspoon of sugar into my mug and two into his.

I slid the food onto a plate and setting it on the kitchen table, I sat down. Decklen walked over and set both mugs down.

He didn't speak as I ate slowly. When I was finally done, I poured cream into my tea and sipped it quietly, intent on letting the silence last.

"Are you alright?" Decklen finally asked me.

I laughed a little. "It was a dream, a silly one."

"You were talking in your sleep Rheya. You kept saying wake up," He frowned, "and something about permission to enter."

"It was just a dream, my book probably caused it."

"So...a vampire dream." He smirked.

I felt a flush creep up on my face. Looking away I didn't speak.

"So." He prompted wanting to know more.

"Nothing really. I dreamed I was in this big house, and I was sleeping but." I stopped as I started to remember.

Decklen frowned, "Go on."

"I was watching myself sleep. And then, a guy came in like a horror movie." I finished shrugging.

Decklen didn't answer right away, instead he started at me thoughtfully.

"And then?" He prompted again knowing there was clearly more.

More that I didn't want to tell him anyway. I sighed.

"He started to go after me, the sleeping me, and I, the awake me, started screaming. But it was like I wasn't there, the sleeping me didn't wake up and then man didn't acknowledge me. But right before he started to drink the sleeping me's blood, he started right at me. I screamed some more, and I woke up for real. It was morbid as hell." I said.

Decklen didn't speak.

"I mean, who wants to watch themselves die?" I asked.

A shadow seemed to pass over Decklen's face before he smiled suddenly.

"Well it does seem as if it was just a nightmare."

I smiled not bothering to ask him about the look that had passed over him. Decklen made those faces sometimes when he was lost in thought, he never elaborated, and I had like with almost everything including Decklen, given up on asking him.

After a few moments of comfortable silence passed between us, I sipped my tea and spoke.

"It was weird though, the house I dreamt of. It was strange."

"How so?" He asked me.

"It was so perfect." I said staring at the brown liquid.

"How is that strange? There are beautiful houses all over the world."

I shook my head, "I misspoke. I meant that it was as if I'd been there before, there’s no way I could have dreamt it, not in such detail." I said.

"It is odd, but I wouldn't worry about it. Remember what you read the other day? That it’s impossible to create faces in your dreams, maybe the same thing applies to places."

"Who would remember something like that? But even if it was true, that means I'd have to have been there in that room before. But I don't remember that."

"No, but maybe you saw it in a movie or poster and recreated it into your dream." He said smiling.

"Maybe." I agreed.

Silence fell between us again before I could stop myself, I was saying more.

"The vampire, he looked like you. Actually.” I stopped and then spoke before reason could stop me, “ it was you."

He looked at me thoughtfully before a smile began at the corners of his mouth.

"You think I'm a vampire?"

"I don't know. Maybe." I said.

"Except that for as long as I have existed, I've never wanted to drink blood. Nor have I ever had an aversion to sunlight, crosses or garlic. I believe those are the two key features to being a member of the undead isn't it? You are the expert on the subject, aren't you? You've read that book more times this year alone than I have seen copies in existence." He said to me.

I didn't speak.

"Not to mention.” He said lost in thought, “I clearly remember my dying day."

Chapter

I looked at him shocked at his words. Decklen never talked about his past. He said he didn't remember it. He simply woke up one day not too long ago and no one could see him. He even refused to tell me where he had been born, or when.

He seemed to realize his mistake as he looked at me.

"So, you do know how you got like this." I said accusingly.

He grimaced, "I do not. I remember how it happened that is all. I remember dying and then waking up. It's a gruesome story Rheya, I don't want to relive it."

I stared at him and he me. We always did this.

It was a game of sorts, try to figure out Decklen, the enigma.

We never got far. He would become depressed. As if reading my mind, he stood suddenly.

"You need to get going, you're going to be late for school."

I glanced at the clock.

I wasn’t.

Decklen just wanted to get me out of the house, because we couldn’t talk out there.

Normally we always wanted to be in the house. It was our sanctuary, Decklen could talk and more importantly, I could answer without looking insane.

But sometimes, the questions.

The...unnaturalness of it all. It got to him.

And when that happened, he would rather be anywhere but the house.

Sighing softly, I stood and went into my room. I looked in the mirror and tied my curly mass of hair into a ponytail as I stared at my face. I smiled somewhat grimly. Decklen had been right. I did not look good.

Knowing makeup would fix it and that I was too lazy, I accepted that I would look tired for the whole day and turned away. I grabbed my bag and my eyes caught on the cause of my dream.

Dracula.

It was without a doubt my favorite book. Decklen had been right. I had read it about a million times this past year alone. Somehow, I knew today would definitely be a day when I would need it. I placed the book in my bag. I also glanced at another book.

The Catcher in the Rye.

I grimaced. I usually liked all books, but this one.

God awful.

But, it was a school assignment, so I put it into my bag as well.

Silently I left my room.

Decklen was waiting for me. We didn't speak much as we left my house. Locking the door, I made my way down the walk towards the gate.

I always walked to school. It was better than driving and it was only about a five-minute walk.

"Off to class honey?"

I turned at the voice and saw my neighbor Bea, an older widowed woman who had taken it upon herself to make sure I ate. Her efforts had been doubled when my social worker had told me last year when I turned eighteen, that I would no longer be hers, or the counties problem.

"Yeah."

"Are you working tonight? I'm going to put on a stew. I'll leave a bowl for you." She said from her chair.

"That'll be fine. Thank you." I said.

She waved at me and I continued down the sidewalk.

By the time we arrived, it was just beginning to get noisy from all the other students. Knowing I had awhile before the bell rang, I settled underneath a large tree and pulled out Dracula.

Decklen sat next to me, saw the book and laughed.

"Didn't that cause your nightmare?"

"Nope." I said as I opened the pages to the scene were Jonathan Harper crept into Dracula's lair.

Within minutes, I was submersed and when the bell rang, I looked up from Lucy's death and glanced around dazedly.

"It's time. Come on, don't be late." Decklen said standing.

I followed suit and headed inside the building.

As always, class was boring. I was never someone who cared for math. It was pointless to me, but I still had an A.

I cheated.

Decklen was a math genius, he always gave me the answers. Or at least he would tell me how to work the problems, and by the sounds he would make at my mistakes I usually ended up getting good grades, at least in class. With Decklen next to me, I never had to pay attention.

"You always daydream in math class." Decklen commented as we walked home.

"Yeah." I shrugged nonchalantly expecting him to lecture me.

Today however he surprised me.

"What about?"

"Nothing really, just stuff." I replied.

"Like?" He pressed.

"I don't know, I just start thinking about something simple like how Susan looks good in blue and the next thing I know, I'm a million miles away. Why, it's not like you don't do it." I replied.

He didn't respond.

Once home, I opened my mail box and pulled a stack of envelopes. Walking up to the door I saw a cooler and smiled. Bea had made me dinner after all.

Grabbing the box, I opened my door and deciding to look through the mail later tossed it onto the side table and made my way to the kitchen. After heating up a bowl, I carried it to the table.

Decklen stalked off to the living room as I ate. When I was done, I glanced at the clock and saw with a groan that I had one hour before work. Grumbling slightly, I yawned.

I was exhausted.

A short while later, I came out from my bathroom dressed for work. I had gotten lucky scoring the job. I sat down at my desk that doubled as a vanity. I hated bartending, but the money was great.

I had never been the social type and being behind any bar, well that was almost half of your job. It made things awkward when I ran into someone that had spent almost three hours talking to me the night before and I said next to nothing to them.

I looked once more in my mirror and saw that I still looked tired. Knowing my rent was going to be at stake, I picked up a brush and started to blend. After a few minutes, I leaned away. As I straightened my necklace, I looked at myself in the mirror and saw for once what everyone else did when they looked at me.

A girl with long black curly hair and big tawny eyes.

A pretty girl I had been told by drunk men at the bar. And Decklen.

But those men didn't count or matter. And Decklen, well he didn't count simply because I was the only person he could talk to and upsetting me was never on his agenda.

Almost at the thought of him, he appeared in my doorway. I glanced at him from my mirror and saw he was looking at my reflection with a frown on his face.

He hated where I worked, the people were rude and that was about it.

Decklen hated messiness and rude people.

My job was both and that was reason enough to hate it.

"Your face is going to get stuck like that." I told him.

"Why so dressed up?" He asked me.

"Why not?" I asked.

He smiled, "Touché."

"I have to go." I said yawning.

He frowned once more. "Maybe you should call out? You seem tired."

"Yeah right, rents due."

He didn't answer at first before a defeated, "I'll walk you." Came from him.

"You don't have too." I laughed.

But the glare he gave me told me not to argue. Sometimes Decklen seemed like he came right out from another world. To him chivalry was alive and breathing.

Something to be respected. And sadly to him, something that was disappearing.

Chapter

A few weeks later, I was coming in from a run to see Decklen approaching me with an envelope in his hand and a frown on his face.

"I found this behind the table by the door." He held it out to me.

Vaguely recalling tossing mail on the table some time ago I took it from him curiously.

The cream-colored paper was heavy and formal. The handwriting too was in a script I didn't recognize, though seemed oddly familiar to me. There was no return address I noted.

Quietly I opened the envelope and pulled out a thick amount of paper. Deciding to read the letter first, I put the rest of the paper down and examined the stationary. It was the same color as the envelope I noted.

Silently I began to read.

A few minutes later, I looked up to see Decklen holding up the rest of the paper.

"A plane ticket. And a check for a thousand dollars." He murmured. Having read the information in the letter, I didn’t speak.

He looked at me, "What's going on?" He asked as I walked over to the couch and sat down.

"So, I have an aunt Cherise." I replied leaning my head back. I felt a very powerful headache coming on.

"An aunt? I thought you were an orphan." He said to me.

"So did I. She's sick and apparently has left me a house as stated in her will."

"A house?" Decklen said bewildered.

"Yeah." I closed me eyes. "A house."

Seeing that he would be unable to get a complete sentence from me, Decklen took the letter from my hand and read it. When he finished he looked at me.

"There is no address, this could be one of those, what do you call them, scams?" He said.

I nodded as a knock came from the door. Startled I opened my eyes and went to answer. Looking through the eyelet, I saw a man in a suit standing there. I opened the door leaving the bolt in place.

"Yes." I said.

"Are you Rheya?" He asked me.

"Depends, whose asking?" I replied.

The man smiled and went into his pocket. He pulled out a badge that had his picture and a name.

"My name is Roger Lark. I'm a P.I hired by your Aunt Cherise to come and find you." He said.

Knowing it was too much of a coincidence that he was suddenly here as I was reading the letter, I stared at the badge quietly while Decklen went through the door. He reached into the man’s pockets and pulled out a phone and to my alarm a gun. Pocketing them, he came back inside to my side.

"One moment, I have to use the bathroom." I said to him.

"You’re not going to run are you? I mean it wasn't that hard to find you. It won't be hard to find you again." He said as I shut the door in his face.

I walked away and Decklen followed me. He set the gun down on the kitchen table as he handed me the phone.

"What is he a drug dealer?" I muttered as I flipped the old school LG open. I scrolled through his call logs until I came to a number labeled Cherise. It was a number I didn't recognize, and I dialed out.

The sounds of dialing hit my ears and just when I was about to give up, it connected.

"Have you found her Mr. Lark? My niece, you must remember, she doesn't know she has any-

Her voice cut off as I slapped the phone closed.

"I take it, that all of this is real then." Decklen stated to my pale face.

"As real as it could be, I guess." I said.

The door knocked again.

"Please open the door, Miss. Rheya. I know you must have a lot of questions."

"You do have his gun, you could shoot him if he tries anything." Decklen said to me.

I nodded in agreement as I went to answer.

The sun was shining brightly as the P.I Roger Lark walked into my home.

Chapter

"This is a new flight and the check is still good obviously. The original flight I'm afraid left a few days ago. When you didn't check into it, and then when you didn't arrive at the gates your aunt hired me to come and find you." Roger Lark said to me.

I sat silently absorbing his words.

I had an aunt.

She had left me her home.

"If she knew you were alive, this entire time. Why now?" Decklen asked from beside me.

I repeated his question out loud.

He shrugged, "I don't know. Don't really care to be honest. Not what I was paid for. She did say to tell you that she would explain everything when you arrived. A woman named Jackie will be picking you up as apparently your aunt is a bit of a recluse and doesn't leave her home."

"And if I choose not to go anywhere?" I asked him.

He shrugged once more, “I found you, my job is done. I'm getting paid regardless. And listen, here’s her number if you decide not to go, call her.”

I didn't say anything to his cavalier words. If anything, they helped convince me that this was in fact real. As if proving my point, he stood suddenly.

"Well my job is done. My advice, take the trip. Even if nothing comes from it, you can still say you got to take a vacation in France." He said.

"France." Decklen said suddenly.

I turned to face him and quickly realized my mistake. Lark turned his head where mine had turned to as well.

"Someone else here?" He asked curiously.

"No, just a twitch. Well, thank you for everything. Please tell my aunt you've seen me. Whatever you have to say so you get paid. But as to whether I'm going. I haven't decided." I said standing as well.

He nodded and what I may have been able to call sympathy crossed his face.

"Must have been tough, growing up alone. But if it means anything, she hasn't stopped calling since she hired me."

"Yeah well, she's been trying for days, I've had years." I said more stiffly than I had intended.

He nodded and let himself out.

I sat in silence as Decklen walked through the door to make sure he left. When he came back inside the house, it was to see me sitting on the living room floor with my knees drawn to my chest.

He sat down on the floor next to me.

"You've been to France." I said somewhat accusingly.

He sighed, "I was born there."

"When?" I asked.

"Rheya." He said.

"Why won't you tell me anything!" I said to him.

"You." He stopped, "Are redirecting."

"So what." I snapped.

He didn't answer me, instead he stood and walked towards the kitchen. I knew he was putting on tea.

Sure, enough he came back with a mug and placed it beside me on the floor. I gripped it and the warmth helped to steady me, but not by much.

"Who says this is even real." I said sometime later.

"Who else could it be?" He asked.

"It could be a trafficker." I replied automatically.

Decklen laughed at that. "A trafficker would not go through all this trouble for one girl. No matter how beautiful they may be."

I flushed. I was pretty maybe, but certainly not beautiful. Decklen just knew how to tease me.

"France is a long way away." I said.

"And the flight is in one week." He said biting his thumbnail thoughtfully, "perhaps we should spend the day looking up this Cherise Alacourt. I wonder if that means your sir name is Alacourt as well?"

"Rheya Alacourt." I said softly.

"It has a nice ring to it." Decklen said.

"No. It doesn't." I said defiantly.

An hour later we leaned back annoyed. We had found next to nothing except for a brief mention of her being an affluent recluse. After calling my old orphanage, I learned that I had been found in the woods of France wrapped up in a blanket with my first name and no last name. After more investigation, I learned that my Aunt Cherise had apparently spent years trying to find me, but had no idea that a sponsor had sent me here in Maine. After getting sick, she had decided it was time to conduct her will. Knowing it would spur a new investigation to find my whereabouts, she left her house and everything in it, to me. She had sent the ticket and enough money for me to expedite a passport so that I would be able to quite literally hop onto a plane and go see her.

"Which works out in your favor doesn't it kid? Considering the allowance your benefactor had given you is about to be up. You wouldn't have been able to afford your place anyway." My social worker had said before hanging up.

"That woman, is quite awful." Decklen had said as I laid the phone down.

"We should deposit this check, to see if it bounces." I said in answer.

"That would be best. It should take a few days, plenty of time for you to make your decision.”

Three days later, the check cleared.

It was too much. When I had first met Decklen, I'd been angry at everyone and everything. It was startling to realize that the anger I had thought I'd forgotten and left behind had come bubbling to the surface.

"Just think of it like that man said. Think of it as a vacation." Decklen soothed.

I didn't reply as I buttoned up my work shirt over my tank top. Tonight, I would somehow have to ask for leave without getting fired. Pulling my hair back, I walked away from Decklen and laced my shoes. My phone vibrated, and I knew it was the cab telling me they had arrived.

Walking out we climbed into the back and made the drive to the club in silence. Twenty minutes later we arrived and after paying made our way to the doors.

"Looking good." One of the bouncers said to me as I walked past.

I smiled and continued on. The door opened into a haze of smoke. Decklen grimaced and I smiled wider. I honestly don't know why he insisted on coming here with me.

I walked into the back and greeted a few workers as I put my things away and got my bank. When I was ready I made my out back out and into my shift.

Four hours later I walked back into the break room. I'd made my goal and more in tips. I sat down and kicked my feet up as a girl named Bridgett walked in.

"Good night huh." She asked throwing herself down next to me.

"Yeah definitely better than the other night." She said to me.

"Still some of those guys are being exceptionally creepy tonight. I thought that one guy was going to grab you for sure." Bridgett said suddenly.

I cringed mentally, sure enough from the corner of my eye I saw Decklen stand up in outrage.

"I had him handled." I said not looking at him.

Stop talking. Of course, she didn't.

"But he was huge." She replied.

I tried not to roll my eyes. Bridgette was tiny, everyone to her was big. But we had bouncers for a reason.

"But still, for the money we make." She continued.

"It definitely pays rent." I said in answer staring at Decklen.

He didn't say anything as he sat back down.

"Oh well whatever you have to do right?" She stood and left me still sitting on the couch.

"This place,” Decklen declared, “is for the dogs."

"Well it’s over, why don't you wait for me at home?" I suggested.

"And worry? What good would that do me. Besides it's nice to be out of the house sometimes." He said.

I sighed. I would rather never leave the house. The door opened, and my boss Nick walked in.

Nick was an alright guy. In his forties he had the air of someone who had one point had made a lot of money and out of boredom decided to open a business. I took a breath.

"Hey, Nick. Can I have a minute?" I asked.

He looked at me, "What’s up?"

"I'm having an emergency. I'm not going to be able to come in for a while."

"How long is awhile?" He asked me frowning.

"I don't know." I admitted.

"What do you mean you don't know? Am I replacing you? One week is alright but three, four, a few months. What am I looking at here?" He asked me.

"Honestly, it's probably going to be two weeks to a month if I had to guess." I replied.

He stared at me frowning. "Well, you can’t expect me not to replace you. But whenever you come back, we'll talk and if I need the help you can have some shifts."

I nodded knowing that this was as good as it could be. "Thanks."

"No problem." He said.

Silently I grabbed my things and left.

"Did he just fire you?" Decklen asked as we walked down the street.

"More or less." I replied.

"Well you did dislike it there."

"That job paid my rent, bought my food. How am I going to live and go to school?”

"There are other ways to make money."

"Like what? Prostitution?" I snapped at him.

"That would not damage your reputation as a respectable young woman." He continued as if I hadn't spoken.

I didn't answer as we made our way home. When I came back, it would be to no job that much was certain.

A week later I stood in front of the airport my bag beside me as I contemplated what I was even doing here. As I stood uncertain, Decklen wandered around curiosity on his face. It was his first time in an airport.

"This is amazing. And these things fly in the air?" He said to me as we joined the line for check in.

I nodded as handed over my paperwork to the woman at the desk. He frowned as I started to walk.

"This isn't going to be as bad as you think." He said to me.

"Isn't it though?" I muttered as we headed for the gate. We took a seat faraway from everyone. And I leaned my head back.

"You need a distraction." Decklen said.

"What could possibly distract me from all of this?" I asked.

"How about this, as a distraction." he said, "Planes didn't exist when I was...living."

I looked at him. I must really be worrying him for him to randomly drop information about his past.

"What do you mean they didn't exist?" I asked despite myself.

"Exactly what I said." He said. "They weren’t a thing."

"So you were around when they were invented?" I asked.

"No." He said.

"What does that mean?" I asked him.

"I was born before they were around, but I have no memory of being around when they were invented. I just woke up one day in the park by your house." He said to me.

"What was the last thing you remember?" I asked him despite myself.

He frowned, “I told you its to gruesome.”

“So edit it.” I said, “Please?”

He sighed in defeat, “I remember going to sleep, and waking up to darkness. I remember blurred lights and pain. And then nothing. Then, I woke up in the park."

"Where I found you." I said.

"Yes."

They started to board, and we stood. When my turn came, I handed my ticket in and was ushered into first class. I took my seat and Decklen sat next to me in the overly large chair. I pulled my book from my bag and after drawing the curtains around me leaned back in my seat.

"How many times are you going to read that?" Decklen asked me almost exasperatedly.

I shrugged in answer.

"Well if you won't talk to me then, I suppose I'll go to sleep." He said.

In silence he put a pillow behind his head and reclined our seat. In moments I could hear his breathing become steady and deep. Decklen didn't need to sleep, but sometimes he went through the motions especially when I was being unsociable.

I sighed, it wasn't Decklen's fault that this was happening. I took a breath and started to read but in moments, I too was asleep...

The next thing I knew, someone was tapping my shoulder. I opened my eyes looking for the source of my disturbance. A cheery looking air hostess was the cause.

"I'm sorry to bother you. Would you like some dinner?"

I nodded and reached over to pull the curtain open enough for her to offer me a menu. After glancing through it and picking the vegetarian dish, she disappeared and in moments was back with my choice.

I murmured my thanks as she walked away. I peeked out from my seat and saw that everyone either had headphones on or was asleep. Grateful for this I closed the curtain shielding me and my still sound asleep companion from view.

At the thought of Decklen, I looked down and saw that he had fallen over and was resting his head on my shoulder. One arm had snaked behind my back and the other was resting on my legs his fingers splayed over my knee. His breathing was still deep and even.

Once more grateful for the curtains, I shook him slightly. In response he shook off my hands, pulled me tighter into his arms and turned his head further into my neck. His breath tickled my collarbone and I ignored the butterflies that passed through me.

I shook him again and I felt him smile into my neck as he started to wake. He brushed his fingers against my cheek as he leaned away.

"I'm awake." He murmured.

He pulled his arm out from behind me as he slowly sat up. Staring at me, he reached over and placed the food in front of me. As the smell hit me, I realized I was starving. I started to eat as Decklen got up and left me behind the curtains, most likely to explore the cockpit.

I ate only half before nerves hit me and I lost my appetite. I pushed the tray away just as Decklen reappeared. He frowned down at my uneaten food.

"You should eat more, you probably need the energy." He said to me.

I groaned inwardly, his words meant I looked like hell. I made myself finish and when I was done, I stood and opened the curtain. The air hostess appeared and took my empty tray as I stretched.

Making my way to the bathroom, I splashed my face a few times and looked in the mirror. My eyes were heavy, and I had a slight bags under them. Usually bouncy curls were limp and lifeless looking. I pulled the limp locks into a high bun, splashed my face once more, decided I didn't travel well, and left the room.

Opening the curtain, I saw that in the time I was gone, Decklen had sat up and was staring out of the window. I sat down in the seat.

"What are you looking at? It's night." I asked.

"The stars are gone." He said simply.

"Probably can't see them because the lights on the plane. Or we may be to high up." I replied.

He looked at me thoughtfully then grinned wickedly. "I could turn them off."

"I'm sure that’s a terrible idea." I said as he moved so I could see out the small oval.

I looked out at the sky, it was dark, but he was right, there were no stars. I leaned back in the seat and Decklen watched me thoughtfully.

"Are you feeling better about this?" He asked.

"Not really."

"Why not?"

"I don't know, I keep going through it all in my head, and it just seems too good to be true. Like its some joke."

"Seems like an expensive one. We did as much searching as we could, I don't think it is."

I shrugged in response.

We spent most of the long flight in companionable silence, neither of us talked much, not that we really could, most of the people were asleep and talking might have woken them up and gotten me stared at for sure.

But as I stared out the window I couldn't help a small gasp come out.

"What?" Decklen asked instantly alerted.

"It's the Eiffel tower." I replied softly.

He looked out and a small smile formed, "So it is. I never thought I would see that again." He murmured.

I frowned. "You've seen the Eiffel tower."

"Something like that." he replied looking away from it.

The tone he said it in told me to drop it. But something else came to mind, something that had been in the back of my mind since the letter arrived.

"Isn't this place in southern France?" I suddenly asked.

"Yes according to your letter." Decklen answered.

I frowned. "Then why are we landing in Paris? There's an airport that’s much closer to Provence. I remember seeing it when we were looking this place up."

"That, is odd."

I felt my stomach knot at the information and Decklen seeing my fear immediately wrapped his arms around me.

"Don't panic, everything will be fine." He soothed, "Just breathe."

I didn't move as I tried to listen to his assurances. But too soon, the overhead came on and we were landing. The plane coasted, and I was eventually standing and grabbing my things.

Taking my hand, Decklen led me off the plane and to customs, a torture that took forever.

I was agitated, I wanted to get there and get this over with. A part of me, a rather large part of me wanted to be home.

But instead, I was here grabbing my bags from baggage claim and heading towards a busy door that would lead me outside.

"Rheya." Decklen said.

I looked at him and see that he was pointing at a woman who held a sign with my name on it. Decklen led me towards her and she smiled at me warmly. She stuck out her hand.

"Hello, Rheya? My name is Jackie, and I will be your driver to your aunts estate, please follow me." She said pertly.

Remembering the P.I mentioning this, I nodded and followed her towards the doors.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I walked outside, but the air wide smell of cigarettes was not it. I grimaced, and Jackie smiled.

"You get used to it, and I promise it goes away."

I didn't answer as I followed her to parking.

After storing my suitcase into the trunk, I opened the door and climbed into the backseat with Decklen following me. As the door shut, Jackie climbed behind the wheel and after starting the engine, was driving out of the lot and onto the highway.

"I do have to make a pit stop in Caen. Is that alright?" She asked me after a shirt while.

"That's by Omaha Beach isn't it?" I replied.

"Yes, it is. Would you like to see it?" she asked.

"Yes." I answered feeling myself get excited at the thought of the famous beach.

Jackie smiled warmly, and I felt myself start to relax for the first time. I liked her I decided. And she hadn't given off a crazy vibe so for the moment I decided to enjoy the ride.

I still however turned the GPS on my phone on.

Two hours later, Jackie pulled off of the road and down a paved one. I was on the edge of my seat, true to her word my GPS showed us minutes away from the famed beach.

And then it was there, the silver statues came to view and when Jackie parked I leaped out of the car and walked down towards the site. The waved crashed onto the shore as I looked at the monument. We walked the shore while Jackie went off to run her errand.

"What is this place?" Decklen wondered out loud.

"It's a memorial site. Soldiers landed here to free the French from German soldiers in world war two." I knelt down and touched the sand.

"A world war?" Decklen asked me. "Two?"

I looked at him, he stared at me in loss. "I'm missing so much time." He murmured.

I didn't speak, "There's a cemetery off over there. There's graves for all the lives lost. The ones with the stars are for the Jewish people." I said pointing away in the distance.

Decklen didn't speak.

"Do you want to go see it?" I asked him.

"No." He said, and his voice was biting.

At once I realized my mistake. A place like this was torture for Decklen who didn't even know if he was alive or dead.

Who didn't even know if he had a grave.

"Let’s go." I said dusting the sand off me.

In the quiet we walked towards the car and saw Jackie was sitting at a table under an umbrella enjoying a drink. Seeing me she smiled.

"Are you ready?" She asked smiling.

I nodded and Decklen and I climbed into the care.

"Make yourself comfortable dear, it's a very long drive until we arrive."

"Which is where exactly?" I asked.

"Provence dear." She replied.

I heard a breath from Decklen and I turned to him.

"It's nothing, I thought I saw something." He said to my curious gaze.

And it was there, my fears were confirmed.

Decklen was hiding something from me.

Chapter

France was beautiful. As Jackie drove us through the countryside I took all I could in. Old cobbled houses, stood surrounded by tree's, that gave way to grassy hills, that rolled for miles before giving way to fields of flowers.

To a city girl like me, it was captivating. We drove by houses near the beach and when we turned south, the beach gave way to vineyards and farm land.

The whole scene gave me a sense of peace I didn't even know I was lacking. I was smiling without even realizing it and slowly the fear I had of meeting my aunt was evaporating into a simmering boil instead of threatening to choke me.

I turned to whisper that to Decklen but stopped. He too was staring out the window but with a different look on his face. Where mine had been of curiosity and wonder, his was filled with hunger and longing.

Deciding to confront him later, I continued gazing at the passing scenes. I relaxed into my seat and after checking that my GPS was still showing that we were headed for Provence, I closed my eyes knowing that Decklen would wake me if anything was wrong.

I took a breath. The windows were open, and the breeze sprang a few strands of hair loose from its bun as I smiled to myself. I could smell salt in the air which was odd because we had left the ocean behind. And there was a sweeter smell as well though what I wasn't sure, but it was calming in the most familiar way.

Hours later, one that went very quickly Jackie was turning onto an unevenly paved road. We drove along bumpily before she turned onto a dirt road. Slowly she drove, and I felt Decklen shift in his seat as I looked around.

We crept slowly and trees that formed a canopy above us cast shadows along the road. Glancing up I saw that the branches above us were thick and may I thought, might hold my weight. I looked ahead and saw that we had come up to an iron gate. On each end was a post that had an animal I didn't recognize topping it. It was tall and majestic looking as well as terrifying.

The body of a lion and the head of an eagle.

Jackie punched a code into a number pad that I hadn't noticed before. I wasn't sure anyone could unless you knew it was there as it blended into the iron and ivy so well it was almost too easy to miss. The gate opened, and Jackie withdrew into the car. Jeweled eyes stared at me judgmentally as we drove past.

I turned around in my seat and watched as the gate closed sealing me from the real world. Turning back round I saw the trees started to thin and the road started to curve.

We came around the bend and a house appeared in front of us.

At that point, I noticed a number of things at once.

The first.

Decklen swore. Not badly but he never does at least not in front of me.

The second.

The flowers. From the car to the house were nothing but beautiful petals. Butterfly's flew everywhere, and I could hear the bee's buzzing from inside the car.

It's a good thing I’m not allergic I thought glancing at Decklen.

The third.

Decklen again. To say he looked shocked was an understatement. Thunderstruck, bewildered, dumbfounded. Those were all good.

The fourth.

The house, or at least we, were at an incline. This house was settled on a small hill and from the open windows of the car, I could make out the sounds of the ocean.

But the fifth thing, and what really held my attention, was the house. Two stories tall it was magnificent. The same animal that was on the gate was carved onto the sides of the house. Flowered ivy crept along the sides of the house and i could make out wild roses brimming along. I could see a balcony on the second floor facing the gate, and the doors were open curtains billowing softly in the wind.

Jackie drove us up along the road and parked. We got out of the car and I was hit by the smells of flowers. Glad for my neighbor’s herb garden I recognized the smell and sight of lavender, it was growing everywhere.

Jackie went around the car and when she brought out my suitcase she smiled at my shocked face.

"It takes getting used to, but you will I promise." She said.

We started forward and I noticed at once that Decklen had vanished. Wishing he wasn't I was suddenly nervous. We started forward towards the carved doors, when they were suddenly thrown open abruptly and a young vibrant woman came running out.

Before I knew what was happening, she swept me into a hug.

"Finally, Rheya. How I've waited for this day to come." She cried.

She released me and began pulling me into the house.

Where the hell is Decklen I thought looking around as I was dragged into the stone building.

The house was just as beautiful on the inside. As I was swept in, I looked around and saw pieces of furniture from another time laid out artistically. I pulled away from the woman and looked around.

"I'm sorry but who are you?" I asked her.

"Why, I'm your Aunt Cherise." she said astonished.

"I thought my 'aunt' was sick." I said slowly.

But she waved it away.

"I needed to say something drastic for the insurance company to find you. Not that it worked. Ended up having to take matters into my own hands either way, didn't I?" She said.

I didn't speak.

"Was the drive alright?" She asked.

"It was fine." Jackie said. "Do you need anything? I've got little ones to see too."

"No, your fine. Thank you so much dear." Cherise said to her.

They hugged warmly before Jackie turned to me. "I'll be seeing you, Miss. Rheya. It was a pleasure. I'll visit soon." She beamed.

I nodded as she turned and left.

I looked on silently and desperately for Decklen, but he was still nowhere to be found. Instead I turned to her.

"So, the will was a lie then?" I asked picking up a small lion statue.

"Well no. The will is true, but I am nowhere near dying, so your inheritance is but a while off."

"Isn't that fraud?" Decklen asked.

I smiled relieved at the sound of his voice.

My aunt however did something neither Decklen or I were prepared for.

She screamed.

Chapter

Decklen and I both jumped. My aunt was breathing heavily and staring at Decklen with wide terrified eyes.

“How. How did you get in here?”

“You can see me?” Decklen whispered.

But instead of answering. She reached out and with surprising strength dragged me away from Decklen. She pulled a chain from her neck that a pointed dagger on the end. She held it out to Decklen threateningly.

I pulled free from her and walked back over to Decklen.

“Rheya, please for your own safety. Come back here.” She said.

“How can you see Decklen. Is this an Alacourt thing?” I asked.

“Our family has always been able to see his kind. Step away from him Rheya he is dangerous!”

“His kind? So there’s more?” I asked surprised.

I looked at Decklen and saw that he had become silent. His eyes however held shock and disbelief. A bead of sweat covered his neck and I saw that his hands were shaking.

“That dagger.” He murmured. “It’s the same one I saw the night I died.”

“It can make you, and it can end you.” She said.

“You made Decklen?” I asked.

“Others did, not I.” She said staring at him still. “How did you get in here? My house is protected from your kind. The Griffin on the gate should have sent you away.”

She came forward and latched onto my I pulled back. Automatically I reached for Decklen and he placed his arm around my side and pulled me to him.

“Decklen isn’t a monster.” I stated.

“He is dangerous.”

“You’re the one with the weapon.” I said.

“That’s not true. I still have this.” Decklen said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out Lark’s gun.

I stared, “You kept it.”

“Yes. I wasn’t sure what this whole thing was about. I felt it was better to be safe than sorry.” Decklen said. He placed the gun down on a table separating us from my aunt.

My aunt stared at it quietly. She looked up at me and I saw that she had genuine fear in her eyes.

She truly thought Decklen was going to hurt me. And her.

“Look, Decklen isn’t a monster. He’s lived with me for a year now. He’d never hurt me. I said firmly. Decklen’s grip tightened and I squeezed his arm reassuringly.

“This is impossible. Our kind befriending his.” Her hand rubbed the chain around her throat.

“What do you mean, our kind.” I asked.

“No, it can’t be. If he was one of them, he wouldn’t have been able to get past the gates.” She shook her head and slowly lowered the dagger. “Please excuse me, I haven’t slept in days. Come to the kitchen. I have soup cooking for you. If you would have some.”

And with that she turned from us and headed towards what I assumed was the kitchen. I looked at Decklen shocked to my core. He stared at me to before looking at the doorway my aunt had disappeared into.

We followed intent on getting some answers.

She was bustling around filling a bowl with soup and setting it in front of a chair at a table. Instead of sitting, I looked at her.

“No one else can see him besides me and you.” I said deciding to get straight to the point.

She froze. A second bowl was in her hands and her fingers turned white from the force she was squeezing it with.

“But it’s impossible. He should have never been able to make it past the gates, let alone the house.” She said frantically.

“I don’t understand. What are you so scared of? Decklen is harmless.” I said.

My aunt laughed. “You are quite wrong. Your friend Decklen is the furthest thing from harmless. In fact, he is the most dangerous creature you could possibly imagine.” She replied.

“I have never hurt anyone.” Decklen said. “While I have been like this anyway.” He added.

“Because they could not see you. But your kind has always destroyed those who could see you. Don’t you have any idea what you are?” She asked.

“No.” we both answered.

“Decklen has no idea what he is.” I said, but my aunt was shaking her head.

“Not what he is my dear, what you are. You are an Eshu.”

“An Eshu?” I asked.

“The ones with the ability to talk to them, are Eshu.” She said.

“And what is them exactly?” I asked her exasperatedly.

“Halfway between the world of the living and the dead, he has been touched by the spirits. He has many names, but in Europe they are called changelings.”

I stared at her before a smile began to form and I started to laugh. It took me awhile to realize that I was the only one and I stopped. I looked at Decklen and saw that he had a look of horror on his face.

“This is no laughing matter!” My aunt said.

“No,” Decklen said slowly. “it’s not. To say that I’ve been touched.”

“Come on. That’s one of the first things I looked up when I met him. I mean yeah, he’s got a dickish sense of humor.” I looked at Decklen and shook my head grinning, “ but he’s not a fairy.

“The meaning of Changeling has been misconstrued through the years, but it is true.”

“Why can I see him then. Because I have the sight?” I asked sarcastically still laughing.

“Because our family has always hunted and destroyed his kind.” She declared.

I stopped laughing at once.

Chapter

I sat down at the table dazedly. I looked to Cherise but found the way she was starting at Decklen to be too overwhelming. He in turn was staring at the table we were sitting at and running his hand along the edge. Instead while my mind pieced together what was going on, I took the silent time to examine the room I was in.

We were in a kitchen. The table took up a good amount of space. Simple wooden chairs lined up around the table. A vase full of flowers from the garden stood in the center. I glanced around and saw a few pictures hanging. To my left, was a large glass wall that was currently open and pushed to the side. It left us with a nice breeze and the smell of flowers and herbs. Above, on this wall I could hanging herbs that were drying. Against the wall just below a second mirror was a sink that was filled with potatoes. A gas stove was just a way away from it, with a large pot sitting on top.

I glanced back down at the table and saw a bowl that was covered with fabric was sitting in front of me. Not knowing what else to do, I lifted it and saw warm loaves of bread resting. No being able to stop myself, I broke off a piece and ate it.

The warmness steadied me, and I looked up at my Aunt. I took a breath.

“Okay, say what your saying is real. Why?”

She looked at me, “why what?”

“Why have our kind always hunted his kind.”

But instead of answering me, she looked at Decklen. “How long have you been in this world.”

He didn’t answer immediately, instead he glanced at me. I nodded at him encouragingly. Odd I thought, it took coming to France to learn this bit of information. Decklen turned back to Cherise and spoke so softly, I almost missed it.

“I was born in the year 1750.”

“I correct myself. When did you die?”

“1773.”

He refused to look at me. And I did the math silently.

Decklen had died at twenty-three years old.

Suddenly it was too much for me. My aunt staring at Decklen in mingled fear and disgust, the house that looked like it was pulled right from a Rococo painting, Decklen who wouldn’t look at me, and finding out what he was.

I felt the past week and the twelve-hour flight of jet lag hit me all at once.

“I need to sleep.” I said standing.

“Of course. Let me show you to the room I have prepared for you.” Cherise said standing.

Numbly I rolled my suitcase, and followed her back through the hall and into her foyer. She climbed a spiraling set of stairs and I followed with Decklen trailing behind me. Cherise led me to a set of large oak double doors. She opened it.

A room I was much to tired to appreciate opened up to me. I walked forward but before Decklen could follow, my aunt shut the door in his face.

“He shall not be allowed in here.” She said firmly.

Undeterred Decklen walked through the door and into the room anyway.

“I do not trust you. I will watch over Rheya.” He declared.

My aunt pursed her lips unhappily.

“He lives with me already.” I said collapsing on the bed. “He has for about a year now.”

Annoyed, Cherise left the room. I got under the covers and through eyes heavy with sleep, I watched Decklen make his way over to a love seat in the corner. It was as he leaned back against the cushions, with a balcony right next to him that I realized it.

I was in the same room form my dream not a month before.

Chapter

I slept.

To this day I don’t know how, or why I slept so peacefully. With everything that had happened, you would have thought I would have been too nervous, or even to worried to sleep. But sleep I did, for fourteen hours.

I woke to bright light coming into the room. At first, I almost didn’t remember where I was. As I stared up at the sheer canopy the memories of the previous night came back with a force. Sighing softly, I felt the warmness of the blankets on me and I stretched quietly before turning over.

Decklen sat on the loveseat, his right leg crossed over his left. He had his right hand propped on the arm rest and he rested his chin on it. He was gazing out at the balcony, at what I wasn’t sure. My copy of Dracula was resting in his left hand forgotten. I silently I sat up and wrapping the blanket around myself I made my way over to his side.

I sat next to my dearest friend in silence.

He broke out of his revelry as I leaned my head onto his shoulder. He smiled and wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to his side. Something he only did when he was trying to secure himself. As a rule, Decklen didn’t go out of his way to provide body contact. Something he would never fully explain to me.

We didn’t speak as I looked out at what he had been staring at. Through the balcony doors, I saw what had captivated Decklen’s existence. There was a large courtyard out in the garden and just beyond that was the sea.

The Mediterranean I realized.

It was shining brightly with the suns ray’s casting diamonds on it. I stared quietly until Decklen turned to me.

“You slept a long time.” He said lifting my hand and tracing the lines he saw on there. “Are you feeling better?”

I nodded yawning slightly. “I’ve been so tired lately.”

Decklen nodded, “You haven’t been sleeping much lately.” He said.

“I’m okay. I feel loads better now. But you? You’ve been weird too, since before my Aunt.” I said.

“It’s been a weird time.” He said. “We both can agree on that.”

I straightened, “You’re reading Dracula.”

“It’s not bad, it’s actually quite good.” He said smiling softly. It didn’t reach the pain I could see in his eyes.

“Decklen.” I said rising onto my knees. I grasped his face in my hands. He smiled at me softly.

“You look lovely in the morning.” He murmured.

I felt myself start to blush and I let him go. He smiled at me.

“I suppose I can’t keep this from you much longer can I?” He asked me he picked up the corner of blanket that had fallen unknowingly off of my shoulder. He gently placed it back.

“What’s going on? Why didn’t you tell me you’ve been to France?” I asked.

“I lived in France, until 1770.” He said. “Provence France to be exact.”

I straightened.

“But that’s here, where we are. Was your home far from here? Maybe we can go see it. We can go get some answers.”

“Rheya.” He interrupted.

But I had already realized what he hadn’t said aloud.

“At the gate, you looked shocked. And the table, you were running your hands over it like you carved it. The way you looked out the kitchen doors, and now out the window.”

“I helped my father carve that table, it was something we did for fun.” He murmured.

“This was your home.”

“It was so long ago.” He said softly.

“But how did you end up in America?” I asked.

He didn’t answer immediately, “I never thought I would see this place again.” He murmured looking back out the window.

“You used to live here. But, what does this mean?” I asked, “Are we related?”

Decklen smiled.

“No. My family was killed, and I was the only survivor. I fled from this place, and I never had any children that I am aware of. I made it to America only to live my life on the run for three years before they found me, and killed me. If what I have been thinking is true, then your ancestors where the ones who killed them and later, I.”

I sat stunned. “If that’s true, then I don’t know what to say. Decklen I’m so sorry.”

He smiled at me softly and moved a few strands off of my face. “It was a long time ago. I’ve had apparently over a two hundred and fifty years to come to peace with it, though I don’t remember any of that time. Regardless, I don’t blame you for anything your family may have done to mine. I’m at ease with my death. Besides, my family. They did things that I am not proud of. The death of my sisters was cruel, but my parents I can’t say that they didn’t do anything to make it unjustified.” He said to me.

“Murder, is murder.” I said.

He smiled the only way someone who had grown up in a different world from you could. “It was a much different time.” He said to me.

I didn’t answer as I laid my head back down on his shoulder. I reached out and picked up Dracula. Decklen didn’t resist as it slid from his hand. I laced my hand through his gently.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Your guess, is as good as mine.” He said.

“Decklen.”

“Yes.”

“Your twenty-three.”

“When I died yes.”

“Your old.” I said wrinkling my nose.

He laughed at that. For the first time since we’d arrived I thought.

“Being twenty three or two hundred and sixty seven?” He said.

“Both.” I answered.

He laughed again, and I smiled. I felt it shake my head slightly. Glad we could both still smile, I looked around the room and remembered. I sat up frowning.

“What is it?” He asked me.

“This room. This was the one from my dream. Everything is the same. The balcony, the couch, even the painting, the carvings on the wood. Everything I dreamt it all.” I said.

“Odd, of all the rooms.” He said.

“What do you mean?”

“This was my room.” He said, “back when my family was here.”

I stared at him before sitting up. “I think we need some answers. And she’s going to have to give them to us.”

An hour later I pushed the large double doors open. After being led through a door I hadn’t noticed before by Decklen, I had found my own private bathroom. Praising the world for hot showers, id had the longest one I could manage. After changing into a pair of comfortable jeans, and an old t-shirt I was ready. I went into the hall and walked down the bright corridor.

I came to the stairs and the smell of bacon hit me at once. My stomach growled as I remembered I hadn’t eaten the night before. Cautiously I walked down, with Decklen in tow. I followed my nose and came out to the kitchen where my aunt was busy bustling about.

She was dressed in tan slacks and soft peach sweater that looked like it may be cashmere. Almost as if sensing me, she turned to me suddenly.

“I hoped you would wake soon. Are you hungry?”

“Yes. But I think we should talk first. Decklen and I have questions, a lot of them.” I said.

She frowned at Decklen’s name but nodded. “I too have some questions for you. But you must be hungry. Let’s eat first. Does brunch in the garden sound nice?”

I agreed, and she grabbed a bowl that was covered with cloth. We followed her through the glass doorway. The courtyard was a large expanse of stone tile. Pillars stood at the edge of the tilework while ivy and other vine like plants climbed and stretched around the pillars. A table was set out with various dishes. Together we sat down, and she began uncovering various plates and bowls. Before I could do anything, she had filled both of our plates with food. Seeing a teapot, I filled my mug with a hot black tea. I added milk and sugar and took a tentative sip. My aunt had already began eating daintily. Well I thought, if she wanted to kill me, she could have done it last night. I began to eat.

I leaned back in my seat with my mug in my hands. Decklen reappeared at my finishing. He hated being around when I did mundane things he didn’t really have to. Together we glanced at my aunt who was watching Decklen with guarded eyes.

“Well, we’ve eaten.” I said after a few minutes of quiet.

“Yes, I suppose you should start. You have questions.”

“A lot. We both do.”

“I will do my best to answer.”

I looked at Decklen. “You said last night that Decklen was, a changeling. But it wasn’t what I thought it was, if not. Then what is a changeling.”

“A changeling, is cursed creature. At least to my people. A long time before it was the known as the dark ages, there were a group of people that considered themselves to be messengers of god. They strived to spread God’s word. And they did. But one day, they realized they were aging. How then could they spread god’s word? So they began to seek the source of life. Immortality.” Cherise said.

I listened on in disbelief.

“For years they searched, and across the world they travelled. They sought the darkest people, they became obsessed, long forgotten was their reason for searching for the cause of their quest. They became enraptured with their purpose, they did the dirtiest of deeds and tainted their souls. God became a second until they found it. Eventually they got what they wanted. They got their immortality, but it came at a price.” She stopped.

I looked at Decklen already knowing what the ‘price’ was.

“There immortality cost them their ‘life’. No one could see them, no one could hear them, how then could they pass on God’s teachings? They found their answer not long after. If they made the world immortal, they could become supreme. And so, they started a new journey. Those they deemed worthy would become god’s chosen.”

She stopped once more.

I absorbed what she said in quietness. Decklen didn’t say anything to her words as he stared off in the distance quietly.

“So where do we come in?” I asked.

“It is said that God seeing the blackness that had captured his messengers heart chose a new set of envoys that he gifted with the ultimate site. The Eshu. They saw what had happened with God’s chosen, that they had lost their way, and had become too obsessed with their idea of utopia. So the Eshu set out to stop them. By then, the changeling had become black with greed at their own power. It was a long and bloody battle. We are descended from that envoys. It was our job to hunt the changelings and prevent them from changing others.

She leaned back finally finished with her story. I stared at her quietly before turning to Decklen. He was silent, but I could tell that he believed her.

“There’s just one problem.” I said.

“What?” Cherise said.

Decklen looked at me.

“I don’t believe in god.”

“Rheya.” Decklen said. “That is blasphemous.”

I ignored him and instead stared at my aunt.

“I don’t care, I call bullshit.” I said.

My aunt sighed. “Whether you believe in god or not. It is the only story we know. It could be a legend, or it could be true. We have no way of knowing now for sure.”

“That’s sort of too convenient don’t you think?” I replied.

My aunt looked at me, “I must say Rheya, I was not expecting you to be so.”

“Rude.” Decklen murmured.

I looked at him annoyed. I turned to my aunt. “Well I’m sorry, having to grow up in an orphanage when it turns out you’ve had family alive and well will sort of make you blunt.”

She sighed, “your right. Forgive me.”

“To be honest, I’m more interested in learning about Decklen. No matter how ludicrous it might sound. So please, tell me more if you have it.”

“Very well. We lived our lives chasing them across Europe, until at last only two families were left with ties to the old ways. The Rousseaus and The Gwenaels. In a final front we staged an attack. On this land in fact. Half of us targeted the Rousseaus and the other half targeted the Gwenaels. There were no survivors. We took this land as a symbol to all who wanted to practice the old ways. It wasn’t until later we learned that the Gwenaels had survived and that our half had been slaughtered. We had no choice but to ward ourselves from them. But now it appears they sent a Rousseaus to brainwash you into learning their secrete. This is why I do not trust your friend, he is clearly a spy.”

“I am not a spy.” Decklen declared.

“So you say.” She replied.

He stood angrily. “My name is Decklen Gwenael and your family slaughtered mine and chased me from my home.” He said.

She paled. “That is impossible, we killed all of you.”

“You missed one.” He said acidly.

“Impossible.”

“What is impossible to believe, is that you killed my sisters, my mother, and my father due to what as Rheya said is a bunch of bullshit.”

“I’m not lying.” She said standing as well. “I have proof. Open your shirt. You should have a scar over your heart. As well as one your wrists and ankles, and inner thighs.”

Decklen stopped and stared at her. Quietly he opened his shirt and sure enough there was a jagged scar over his chest. I stared at the vicious looking wound. Starting on the left shoulder and going downwards over his heart and stretching to his abdomen it was deep and rough looking. My aunt pulled her chain and the dagger appeared. She held it in her hand.

“If what I am saying isn’t true, you should have no reaction to this.” She said and walked forward.

But I stepped in the way. “How do I know you won’t hurt him.”

“You have my word. I will simply prove what I am saying that is all.” She swore solemnly.

“It is fine Rheya.” Decklen said.

I stared at him and moved out of the way slowly. My aunt stepped forward and brought the dagger close to Decklen’s chest. At first nothing happened. Then suddenly despite reason, the dagger glowed and Decklen cried out in agony. I stepped forward and Cherise moved backwards.

Decklen fell down to his knees. I stared. His chest had a burn mark from the dagger. I felt coolness on my arm and turned to see Cherise pressing the blade to my own skin. She then lifted it and touched Decklen’s arm who grimaced in pain. A new burn appeared.

“Okay, I get it.” I snapped.

I pulled Decklen up and away from Cherise who watched quietly.

“I’m fine.” Decklen said.

“If he were one of us, the dagger wouldn’t hurt him. There is of course the fact that no one except us can see him.” She said.

“Maybe we should take a walk.” I said.

“You believe her. This is nonsense. My family were aristocrats that were esteemed in society.”

“You were blinded by power.” Cherise replied.

“Decklen is two hundred years old. What’s done has been done. And what you showed me is proof yes, but it also showed me that you in fact killed a family believing they were involved in some immortal cult.”

“So then how do you explain his existence?”

“I don’t know!” I snapped.” Maybe…he’s a poltergeist and that dagger has been laced in holy water.”

Chapter

Cherise and Decklen stared at me silently. Defiantly I stared back.

“A what?”

“A poltergeist.”

“You say you don’t believe in god and, yet you believe I am a poltergeist. That seems plausible to you?” Cherise said.

“What is a poltergeist?”

“A vengeful spirit. Or a ghost, they go around causing havoc and torture.”

Decklen sighed, “That is what a Changeling is Rheya. Or what we called Kith. But really, have I gone around creating havoc and torture?”

“So, you reformed.”

“Then I would have moved on. I do not think I am a poltergeist. This theory that I am a changeling makes more sense. Though I very much doubt this stories authenticity.” He replied staring at my aunt.

“There is a chest in the attic. It has all the proof you need. The wards are too strong even for you.”

“He got through the wards just fine.” I said.

“Yes, which I spent the night reinforcing.”

“Wont that hurt him.”

“If I do not, we could very well be murdered in our sleep.” She replied.

“Basing your fears on the premise that someone is even after you.” I replied.

“They are always after us. They wait until we are at our most vulnerable. That was how they got your parents.” she said.

I stilled. “My parents.”

She nodded. “They thought the threat was gone, there had been no attacks, no threats. They thought that finally, we would have peace. I told them not to go, but they would not listen. They were murdered in a night, and you. I feared the worst for you. And when the investigators took so long, I thought the worst. That they got you and turned you, a child into one of them. That was why I sent Mr. Lark after you. Luckily you were safe and unharmed. Albeit alone, or so I thought.”

I sat back down at the table dizzily. I stared blankly at Decklen’s bare chest, still red from the print of the dagger.

“So my parents didn’t abandon me. They,”

“Were killed, by his kind.”

“But how do you know it was his kind?” I asked her hopelessly.

“Because of how they were killed.” She said.

“Enough.” Decklen suddenly said.

We both turned to him. He was straightening his shirt.

“She doesn’t need to hear something so horrible.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“He doesn’t want you to hear about how your parents died, because it was the same way he died.” Cherise said.

Decklen’s face became stony. I laid a hand on his gently. He looked at me.

“I’m going to find out one way or the other.” I said.

He stared at me before nodding. I turned back to Cherise.

“Okay then, how do you go about making someone into what Decklen is.”

“His kind will kill by cutting out the vital spots on the body for blood flow. The wrists, the ankles, the thighs and lastly the neck. You let them bleed out slowly to keep them alive and say a prayer. While they pray, they cut out the vitals and chant over them and when done, if the person is still alive though barely, they put everything back chanting repeatedly, until the chosen one ‘dies’. They continue the prayer until they reawaken. But without the prayer, you are to die painfully and slowly.”

I sat horrified. “That was done to my parents, and to you?” I asked Decklen. He nodded slowly. “That’s sick.”

“It is why I didn’t tell you.” He said to me.

I shook my head at the gruesome images.

“What happened when you woke up?” I asked him finally.

“I was surrounded by a small group of people, I recognized them from the attack.”

“The attack here?” I asked.

He nodded.

“And then?”

But Decklen seemed to finally lose patience, “What do you bloody think Rheya it was 1773. I killed them all.” Decklen snapped.

I leaned away shocked and he looked embarrassed at his outburst.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you mon coeur. This is not something I want to think about let alone discuss as if it is up for debate.” He said to me.

“But we only have your word that this story is true. For all we know you are a spy sent to kill the last of those in your way.”

“How exactly are you preventing anything when your hiding out here?” I asked her.

But Cherise had finally it seemed come to a close.

“I cannot discuss anything else to you, while he is in same vicinity.” She said.

“Decklen isn’t saying anything to anyone.” I said.

She sighed. “I will tell you a little bit. There is a relic. His kind know of it and want it. They need it to perform the changing ceremony. It is hidden and only I know where it is.”

“What is this relic?” I asked.

But she shook her head. “I cannot say, not even to you Rheya.”

I sighed disappointed. I looked at my aunt. The basis of her story. I still thought it was a bunch of crap. But the rest, it made sense however slight. I leaned away from the table and looked over at Decklen. He looked at me quietly and I frowned.

“There’s still the question of why he could get through the gates in this place if it was supposedly so protected. Why are they useless against him?” I asked.

She frowned. “I do not know, I don’t understand why you got through. It could be because Rheya wants you to be here. The schematics of the wards is beyond me.” She replied.

“Or that they don’t exist.”

“I do not think she is lying.” Decklen said.

“Well how are you here?” I asked.

“I have a theory on that.” Decklen said.

“Which is?” I asked.

“This house, it was once known as the Gwenael estate. Technically, I am the true owner of this land.” He declared, “I’m allowed here because I have the right to be.”

“That’s a little arrogant.” Cherise said.

“Is it?” I asked. “For arguments sake, let’s say this ward this is like a spell. That’s basically a ward right. If it is, then it would most likely recognize true ownership.”

“We paid for this property through the government the moment we took up residence.”

“On the assumptions that the owners were dead.” I said.

“It’s true owners are dead.” She said in reply.

“But he isn’t.” I stopped, “So.”

“You would now legally have to buy this land from my person, and since I in no way signed any piece of paper stating so, your wards are acknowledging my right to be here.” Decklen finished.

“This is based on your theory.” I said slowly. “But.”

“It makes sense.” Decklen said.

I leaned back in silence. To say this was overwhelming was an understatement. As my brain tried to process everything I felt like it was all too much.

A week ago, I was an orphan with an invisible best friend. And now I was in a garden that belonged in a storybook. I stared out and saw that the gate was just a little while away.

“How do you know their after you?” I asked wondering exactly what the who was.

“Because I see them.” She answered.

“What?” I asked.

“They stand sometimes, just a way away from the gate watching, and waiting. They never stay long; the wards exhaust them. But they stay long enough for me to see them. And then they leave.”

“That.” I said. “Is creepy.”

“Very.” Decklen said softly. He looked up. “but the sea. Surely the wards don’t go around.”

“We continued the gate to the water for some distance. Eventually they do end.”

“Can’t they go around it?” I asked.

“That.” Cherise said. “Is not how wards work.”

“No, the gate is just the focus point. It pushes away anything that comes near like an invisible wall.” Decklen said.

“Oh.” I replied. I looked away from where the water was and stared at my Aunt. I stood. “Well I’ve had enough information for now. I take it now that I’m in, I’m not allowed out am I?”

“Of course not. Not without wards to protect yourself.”

“Wards that would banish Decklen from me.” I said.

“Yes.”

“Well there goes sightseeing.” I said.

Cherise frowned. “I am sorry Rheya, I did not wish to endanger you.”

“Well then, you probably should have just left me the hell alone.” I said standing.

“Rheya.” Decklen said softly. He placed a hand on mine, but I shook it off.

“I’m going for a walk. I need to think.” I said.

I aimed for some tree’s in the distance and left the two of them at the table behind me.

Chapter

I sat by the gate staring out at the land beyond my aunts property. One she was now insisting I couldn’t step foot off of. Even in my small life back in Maine, never had I felt more trapped. Surrounded by this beautiful landscape, I felt like more of a prisoner here than I had anywhere else.

I wish I was home. I thought mindlessly pulling at the grass by my feet.

It was then I heard it, a slight rustling. Not loud but soft as if made by a squirrel. Maybe it’s a rabbit I thought crawling forward towards the ornate fence my eyes on the grass..

Scanning the shrubbery, I sighed in disappointment as I looked up.

Into clear eyes.

With only the thin wires of the gate between us, I threw myself backwards as a scream choked deeply into the base of my throat causing me to gasp in fear.

“We see you.”

I didn’t see his lips move, but the words hit my ears the way glass breaks, making one whole sound while fragments made separate clamors. I cringed knowing my fatal mistake.

I had acknowledged him.

He knew, that I knew he was there.

As I sat there my arms thrown backwards as if to catch myself, I couldn’t look away.

And he too stared at me. Probably committing me to memory I thought. His face, neck and even his hands were translucent, the veins underneath his skin so prominent I felt I would be able to feel them if I tried.

Eyes that protruded bulging, from a dominating face were clear and colorless to the point that I felt I was looking through them not at them.

“We see you.” He said again.

Again, I didn’t see his lips move and I realized it was because I couldn’t see them, thin and bloodless it was if his nose ended and there was nothing but skin continuing to his chin and further on.

As I stared horrified, he stood and walked if possible even closer to the gate. His face was centimeters from the gate and I heard the sound of burning flesh hit me. He raised his hands and to my horror curled his fingers around the wire.

Instantly his fingers turned black as the sounds of burning flesh got louder.

“These won’t last forever. We see you, and we will have you all.”

He shook the gate as terrified, I slammed upwards and ran for the house to the only safety I could think of.

“I believe you.” I said as I careened into the kitchen. My aunt Cherise was carrying a tray filled with bread and jars of butter and jam. I crashed into her and the tray fell to the floor shattering glassware all over the stone tile.

“Rheya, what is it?”

I heard the voice of Decklen but made no notion of answering him as I shook. I looked at him wide eyed as I saw his concern. He frowned as he knelt to my level. Placing both hands to my face he looked at me worriedly.

“What is it?” He asked me.

“By the gate.” I finally said.

“You saw one.” Cherise said to me.

I nodded unable to look at her. Decklen stood and within moments vanished. A minute later he was back.

“There is no one there.” He said.

“They do not stay long. The wards are to strong.”

“He touched the gate.” I murmured.

“All the faster he would have left.” She said.

I looked at my aunt’s face filled with worry and Decklen’s filled with something else. It was skepticism I thought. I shook my head as I sat on the warm kitchen floor.

“This is insane. I shouldn’t have been so scared, he was just a person.”

“Who made you feel as helpless as a child, incapable of doing anything ever again. I know, they have made us all feel that way.”

“Decklen doesn’t.” I said.

He smiled softly if not reluctantly.

Cherise frowned. “I have noticed that as well. He does not make me feel that way either. But I still recognize the look of one that was touched. The pale skin, with veins prominent, grey eyes almost clear. They all have the same look. But he looks as if he stopped halfway. It has been very vexing.” Cherise said.

“Rheya what did this man look like?” Decklen said.

I stood and went to the table and sat down. “He was crouched down, so I couldn’t tell how tall. All I really remember was his face. His head was covered, and he had eyes that were big, almost bulging from his head. They were colorless, the irises it was like they were clear.

“In color.” Decklen asked.

“No as if, I could see through them.”

“Like a metaphor?” Decklen asked me gently.

“No. Like I could see into his head, literally.” I said frustrated by the ridiculousness of it all.

“Alright, what else?”

“His skin was like wax paper. It was clear too. I could see his veins, they were all over his face and mouth. He spoke but his lips, were as colorless as his face. His nose was on the smaller side and pointed. That’s it.” I said.

“Not much to go on.” Decklen said.

“And his voice was like an echo.”

“He spoke to you?” Decklen said sharply.

I nodded. “He scared me. I jumped, he saw me acknowledge him, he knows I can see him. I know I shouldn’t have moved, but I just didn’t believe her.”

“What did he say?” Cherise asked.

“We see you, the wards won’t hold and we will have you.” I recited. “He shook the gate, hard.”

Cherise sank down.

“The wards are weakening.” She sighed defeated.

“How can you be sure?” I asked.

“I think, it’s time you went to the attic.” Cherise said firmly.

Chapter

The attic was surprisingly clean. To say I had expected dust was an understatement. But I realized that if what my aunt was saying was in fact true; than for the past nineteen years, she had lived a very lonely life with nothing to keep her company except for an enchanting house and a garden that was free of weeds and pristine.

She must have been so lonely.

I pushed down the sympathy I felt rising in me. Lonely though she seemed, my aunt struck me as a seemingly strong if not odd character and something told me she did not want or need my pity.

As I looked around the room, I saw the boxes filled with photo albums, mementos from her life here. As I stood there, curiosity for a look into my parents lives rushed into me and I moved forward.

But the box I needed was against the wall locked by a key I now held tightly in my hand. I turned and decided if I was trapped here after all, then there would be more than enough time to look through it all.

Continuing forward I moved to the box. It was more like a chest. I knelt to it and with only a second’s moments of apprehension, I slid the key and heard the sounds of gears setting into place as I turned.

Fear making me want to run and curiosity keeping me locked in place, I heard the lock slide and I lifted the lid of the chest and looked down.

“Nothing, there’s nothing in the bloody box except a letter and a god damn dagger like the one you’ve got.”

“Nothing. You must be mistaken.” My aunt said from the kitchen table.

She was shelling peas, a simply mundane thing to be doing considering the circumstances.

“I doubt that, I have a letter to me, and one to you.” I said handing her a thick envelope.

With trembling fingers she opened the wax seal of the flap and pulled out a thick wad of paper. She read it, and then when she was done quietly handed me the pile. I took it dubiously and began to read.

My dearest Rissie,

Please, please forgive my leaving by night. I swear I did not do it to hurt you. I only did it to ensure the safety of Rheya. I know that it is dangerous to leave the grounds, but I cannot bear the thought of Rheya growing up trapped in a life like ours. No matter how beautiful it may appear. A prison will always be what it is no? A trapped life?

Please do not worry, there is a reason I stopped going onto the grounds during my pregnancy. I claimed to be sick, but the truth is I did not want them to know I was with child.

The moment I knew, I planned for Rheya to live a free life. Cleo’s has agreed. She couldn’t live as we have lived, waiting for them to find a way. I do not want that fear for our daughter.

So Cleo’s made arrangements with Clare. Whose daughter Jackie would one day take over. She helped plan our escape.

I cannot say how, but do not worry. You see we will be coming back, because we plan on giving Rheya up. We have gotten in touch with an Orphanage and have supplied them with enough money to ensure a good life until her twentieth birthday. Once the deed is done, we will return.

However, if that is not the case. Then I must assume the worst has happened to Cleo’s and I. You see, Cleo’s and I plan on putting our wards onto Rheya, so we shall be unprotected. But our hope is that the wards as well as distance from them, will be enough to protect her, at least until she turns twenty. If we do not return and twenty years passes, then I know that you will find her. And when that time comes, I must ask you to pass the letter addressed to her.

And as for the contents of the chest.

I’m sorry but Cleo’s and I have hidden them.

Because they are pressing closer.

I know it.

And so do you.

When the time comes, they will not find what it is they seek.

My love for you always,

Your sister Assandra

I looked up from her letter and felt the weight of the one addressed to me. I opened it quietly and read.

Rheya,

I wish I could explain to you the choices for your life. Had I stayed were you undoubtedly are now, we could have had a wonderful life however short. But the hiding was not one I could bear, and so we planned our and ultimately your escape.

I stayed indoors for my pregnancy so as not to let them know but I do not think it worked. To be honest I’m not sure our plan would have ever worked, but we had to try.

I only wanted you to be happy.

We left as most would in the cover of darkness with the help of a trusted friend on the outside. From there we planned to give you away. A decision I fought with from the moment I knew I was carrying you, because it’s not in a mother’s instinct to give away her sole reason for being.

I know if you are reading this letter, then I never returned, and my sister Cherise has done everything she could have to find you. And I’m sure she has succeeded, and that you are now in the very place I never wanted you to be in in the first place.

If that is the case, then understand this Rheya. The wards are failing. If you are reading this, then you are at the age of nineteen or twenty. I had arrangements that you were not to be found until you were at least nineteen years of age. And there is reason for that.

By the start of your twentieth year, the wards for a brief period will fail completely. This will happen more often until finally, they fail and stop working forever.

You and my sister are in danger. My sister does not believe the wards will fail, but they will and when they do, your lives will be in danger. When they fail, they will storm the property seeking one thing. But they will not find it. For I have moved it and not even my sister knows where I’ve hidden the texts. But that won’t mean that they will not kill you both. You must be ready. I know you must realize the futility of what I am saying.

Especially if you have seen them.

But you have more protection than even this house has. The necklace that I left the orphanage to leave you as a gift from us has all the protection you need. It is the most powerful ward in the house and will protect you as long as it is in your possession.

It will protect you.

But only you.

So even though I know how wrong it is to ask this of you. I must ask you for one thing. To find the things I have hidden.

And take them.

Take them far from this place to a location only you know of and hide them there. I know how wrong it is to ask so much of you when you do not even know me. But for the sake of my sister, I must ask.

And now, I must say the hardest part.

I cannot tell you where I have hidden them. I can only say this. Your life, will be a hard one my dear. Protecting amulets and tokens from a forgotten world of nightmares and terrors.

A hard and lonely life.

But you do have another option.

There is a rumor told to me in riddles and puzzles, it is why we have done what we have done for so long.

You see, they are not the only ones who have lost their way. We weren’t created to hunt them, but to protect them. A way to turn them back.

My sister and I never learned of the ability and my sister thinks this is just wishful thinking. It may be. You will have to be the one to decide. Find the texts, read them and decide.

To kill them or to save them.

And then when you know, you’ll have to face your biggest decision yet. To live in fear and hiding, or to leave and find your own way.

I know it seems like too much. But life will give you many choices and only you can decide what route to take.

Because that is the beauty of life my dear Rheya. The choices we make.

There are many options, even though at times it doesn’t seem so, but if given the chance you must choose to make something beautiful.

That is something Cleo’s mother who you were christened after used to say.

I know at this point you may have doubts and so I will say one more thing before I leave you forever.

The seal on the envelope, press it to your amulet. That is why you should believe me. And the clue to where it is hidden, I have already said it in this letter. You just have to figure out where I mean. And I have every faith that you will find it.

And lastly,

Do not show this letter to anyone. Not even my sister. The less anyone knows the better. It will keep you that much safer.

With all my love and your fathers as well.

Please forgive us,

Cleos’ & Assandra

I looked up from the letter to see my aunt and Decklen watching me quietly. I fingered the amulet that protected me all these years.

Because I believed it.

Even though it seemed like my aunt and parents had grown up in a world where they didn’t, it seemed to understand the concept of forgeries and tricks,

I believed it.

Chapter

The clock on the hearth ticked softly as the morning light faded into midday shine. And I didn’t move. Instead I sat with Decklen and my aunt at that table Decklen and his father had carved so long ago, as I read and reread both mine and my aunt’s letters.

I touched them both softly, the letters were blurred and streaked in places and I realized that while my mother wrote this, she must have been crying. She must have known what it meant for me to have to read this.

She must have known that in order for me to live, away from this and a trapped life, she would most likely be making the ultimate sacrifice.

And she was only asking for one thing in return.

To protect her sister.

It was the least I could do.

I looked up at Decklen who stood leaning against the stove the sun shining on his ebony hair in a way that turned it slightly blue. And I looked at my aunt, my mother’s little sister. How I knew she was her little sister, I wasn’t sure, but from the tone in her letter, it was from an older sister trying to protect her younger sibling.

I looked at her and realized that I believed her. I folded the letter and put it away into the envelope.

“Well?” My aunt said tentively.

“I believe you.” I said.

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Then you understand why he can’t-

But I cut her off. “I believe you about them. But not Decklen. I don’t know why or how, but this is all too much of a coincidence that he’s involved so intimately with me. We’ve lived together for over a year. He’s family. The only one I’ve had for a while now. I trust him.” I turned to him, “I trust you.”

Decklen smiled. “Thank you mon coeur.”

“But Rheya, he could.”

“No, he wont.”

“Actually, mon Coeur. I’m afraid I must agree with your aunt.” Decklen said.

“What.” We both said.

He smiled.

“With everything that has happened so far, one important thing has stood out the most to me. We still have no idea what I am.”

“I thought we discussed that already. That you’re a changeling or a kith you called it.”

“But I’m not am I? I’m one of them, the methods to turn me into this was as your aunt described. But I do not look like them not as you have described now do I? We only have a theory as to why I am allowed on the property. I believe that I am dangerous. Especially to you Rheya. And I believe that whatever clue is in that letter. You shouldn’t show it to me. I’m only guessing because you put it away too quickly.

I nodded somewhat guilty.

“Good. The less I know the better.” He said.

“But you’ve wanted to know what you are since I’ve known you.” I murmured.

He looked at me softly. “Not if ever meant harming you. Or anyone you may eventually care for.” He said looking at my aunt.

She looked at him and recognized what he was saying. A truce.

For now.

Until he proved to be dangerous.

She stared at him and as I watched, an understanding seemed to come between them. It was one I understood and didn’t like.

The moment he became dangerous. He would leave.

I vowed to never let that happen.

It was a few days later that I remembered the time limit. At the start of my twentieth year. I would be turning twenty in eight months. Which meant I had eight months to find the things my mother was talking about and get them off the property so my aunt never the wiser, could live her life in solitude.

I was petrified. One month ago, Decklen was handing me a letter. Now It seemed I would spend my life guarding, I didn’t even know what.

But, I was alright with that.

Even in school I had never taken to what everyone had wanted in life. And I already knew where I would hide the things when I found them.

Where Decklen and I had first met. We both state that we met in the park. But the truth was, I had seen him wandering around the park earlier that day, shouting for someone to hear him. At first, I had thought he was just crazy. A mad man running around in turn of the century clothes looking haggard and petrified. It was when he tried to touch the dog that I ran away.

But I couldn’t forget his face. Broken and scared. So utterly hopeless that I went back that night.

I would hide it there.

And if they got close, I would simply move it. So I would live a life of wandering, and I was okay with that.

But to be honest, I didn’t know where to begin to look. And I had eight months to figure that out. But no one knew this place better than my aunt and Decklen. I would have to ask them, but Decklen had already decided to distance himself from this I thought.

So that only left my aunt who though at first had shown irritation at my secrecy decided to accept it.

“It just hurts. I have been guarding them without complaint for years. I think I have earned the right to be trusted.”

“I agree with you.” I said.

Decklen watched from the kitchen as we tossed things about in his ancestral home.

“And I thank you, but it still hurts.”

I didn’t say anything. Growing up in an orphanage I had known what it meant to not be trusted. I sat up suddenly.

“What is it?” Decklen asked despite himself.

“Something my mom said in the letter. That a benefactor would make sure I was very well off.”

“Yes, when she left, she took a good number of valuables with her. More than enough to secure housing for at least thirty years.”

“Or nice enough housing for twenty.” I said.

Cherise nodded, “Yes.”

“Well.” I said slowly, “I haven’t seen a dime.”

“No, what did you call your home Rheya? A step further from a halfway house?” Decklen said.

“The audacity. I will be in contact with that orphanage as soon as.” My aunt said.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m here now.” I said.

“But you should have been living comfortably not struggling.” My aunt said.

I shrugged in answer and started to flip through some papers in silence while my aunt sat in quiet fury.

Chapter

Night fell, and we still had nothing to go on. I didn’t know what I was looking for, some texts or a weapon maybe. I moved from my bed to the couch in the room Decklen had once resided in. As I was sitting, he appeared by my side as he always did when I thought of him. He grabbed the throw from my bed and wrapped it around my shoulders.

“What is it coeur.” He asked me.

“I thought you didn’t want to be involved?” I asked him.

“This is something else.” He said almost to wisely.

“The woman Jackie.” I said.

“The one who picked you up?”

“Yes. How well do you think she really knows my aunt?” I asked him.

“You think she might have taken the money?”

I shrugged. Now that he said it out loud, I didn’t believe it for a minute. She had been too kind. Too warm to have any ugly intentions. But Decklen surprised me.

“It’s likely. If her family has been taking care of yours for years, then the daughter of their ancestor would probably be less inclined to show loyalty to yours. Maybe when she returns, I will look into it.” He said.

“So, you’ll leave?” I asked.

I felt my self-start to panic as I always did when Decklen talked of leaving.

“For a little while. I think it may be best to have some time apart. Things have been… odd lately for lack of a better word.” He said to me.

“I told you before, I’m fine.” I said frowning.

I knew he was skirting the subject of something we left unspoken. Because if I voiced it out loud he would leave.

For the better part of a year, my feelings for Decklen had become more than whatever we had before. Something I had spoken of only once, to be rejected gently if not firmly.

I suppose my constant defense of him had made him nervous.

I put myself in his shoes and thought about what I was doing. Blindly defending him without knowing what he was. After only knowing him for a year. I only knew the little he had told me in the first couple days of knowing him. Once he’d recovered his bearings, he’d clammed up and told me little to nothing about who he was. That had been more than a year ago.

For all I knew, Decklen knew exactly what he was and who I was and had in fact wormed his way in and bided his time. And like a fool I had been taken in. I shook my head at that angrily.

“Your right. Maybe some time apart would be smart.” I said standing.

I was angry. Angry at the way he tried to make me see things without saying anything. Giving me lessons and guidance like I was a child. He was twenty-three not forty three. I thought.

“I’m going to go to bed.” I said not looking at him.

“Rheya.” He said softly, almost pleadingly.

“Please go.” I said.

He sighed and touched my hand softly. “If it were any other way.”

“That makes it worse.” I snapped bitingly. I pulled away and walked towards the bed knowing he had already left me with my thoughts…

I woke the next day and after getting out of the bed and not seeing him anywhere I went through my morning routine in a rush. He wouldn’t leave like that I thought. Not without saying a real goodbye.

We’d agreed to that much.

When I had confessed. He’d told me if he left, he would make sure it was with a proper goodbye. Whatever that meant.

I rushed down the stairs to see my aunt in the kitchen. She smiled at me.

“Jackie was just here to drop off some supplies. I must say I almost said something about this orphanage business, but I choose to let it go, that’s what you wanted right? Come one then, let’s have some breakfast, it’s a dreadful day.” She said.

I nodded as I looked at my aunt. I had been there a few days and already I could see a change in this woman. She had a sense of vigor that had not really been their when I had first arrived. It’s amazing what someone’s, anyone’s presence can do when your lonely.

And I realized that this vibrancy would essentially vanish when I left. The thought left the bread in my mouth to dust. I looked away from my aunt guilty. I looked down at my breakfast of scrambled eggs, cut bread, bacon and fresh fruit. She must have woken up early to make this I thought.

“So, I thought perhaps we could search the upstairs for clues.” Cherise said.

I nodded turning back to my food trying to ignore the fact that Decklen was still nowhere to be found. As if able to read my mind she spoke.

“I say, where is this Decklen of yours. He hasn’t left your side since arriving.”

“We decided some time apart would be best.” I said somewhat numbly.

She didn’t say anything at first.

“You know, I have been meaning to say this, but I felt it wasn’t my place.” She took a breath, “But your life with Decklen.”

I already knew what was coming. He’d said the same thing. It wasn’t right, or normal. It was indecent and inappropriate.

“Well, I’m glad you weren’t alone.” She said.

I looked at her slightly jarred. Suddenly the tiredness crept upon me and I placed my head in my hands.

“Rheya, what is wrong dear?”

“I’m just tired.” I said. “Of pretending that things aren’t important. That I don’t care about him.” I said.

“You love Decklen.” Cherise said slowly.

I nodded into my hands. “Not that anything has ever come of it. He said no. That it wasn’t right, or natural.”

“As he should have. He cannot give you a life Rheya. Even with a life like ours. He knows this, accepts this it seems like. It makes me think I have misjudged him completely.”

“So what?” I asked her. This woman I had only known for a few days. “I stop?”

Cherise hands gripped mine and I looked at her.

“Never stop loving Rheya. Love him fiercely and passionately. But when the time comes let him go, as you must. For both of your sakes. He will have to let you go as well.” She said.

I laughed bitterly. “Have you ever been in love?”

It was her turn to laugh. “Once, in a life I’ve all but forgotten. I had a love that shown like the sea just beyond us.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“What always happens. He loved someone else.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. It was a pure love and sweet. And all the more cherished because it ended. All wonderful things come to an end Rheya, such is life.” She said rubbing my hands softly.

I felt the corners of my mouth tugging upwards slowly.

“And besides, his love to another gave me the most wonderful gift.” She said.

“What was it?” I asked.

She smiled, “You.”

Chapter

“You loved my father?” I asked.

“I did. Very much so. But he loved your mother. And she loved him just as much.”

“That must have been hard.” I said.

“It was at first. But it was something I had to move on from, and I did in time.”

“But how did my father know about all of this. Was he part of the family.” I asked.

Cherise shook her head.

“Cleos’s family has been part of the story for generations. A select few are told of the stories though they cannot see the changed. He was one of them. Eventually they are brought here, to be given the sight. That was where we met.”

“And he stayed.”

“Eventually, you see once changed they spend quite a bit of time practicing seeing without seeing. To act as if they don’t exist is quite hard once you’ve seen one. He stayed with us for over a year. And in that time.”

“He fell in love with my mother. And you him. That must have been hard.” I said.

“It was a long time ago dear. But once he married your mother. He started talking of leaving this place. The world he told us was large and beautiful and we needed to see it. We had never left the manor in all our lives. His stories made your mother excited, and it made me afraid.” She said.

“There are two types of people.” I said.

“Yes. And I was the type who wanted to stay here. And your mother.”

“Wanted to see the world.”

“Something I’ve been telling Rheya to do for quite a while now.”

We turned at the sound of Decklen’s voice. He stood in the doorway staring at us quietly. I stood and walked into his arms.

“I’m sorry coeur.” He said softly running his hand down the length of my hair and pulling me close.

“Me too. Don’t break your promise.” I said. “Don’t leave without saying anything.”

“I swear I won’t.” He said solemnly.

I pulled away embarrassed and I walked back over to the chair. Decklen sat down next to me.

“I took a walk on the property, you have kept it very well maintained.” He said to my aunt.

“Thank you. I truly don’t have much else to do, so the least I could do was keep it beautiful.” She said.

He smiled at that.

“So, our plans for today. We’ll search the upstairs and look for clues as to where my sister hid the contents of that chest.” My aunt said.

I nodded for the moment content.