The Curse of Time

by Andreea Pryde

  A gentle knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, and Emma came in the room with a sombre look on her face.

  “I apologise for bothering you, My Lord. It's about Lady Jube–”

  “Make the necessary preparations,” he cut her short, without looking back from the window. He didn't need to hear the rest as he knew exactly what it was all about.

  “Yes, My Lord.” Emma left the room, but not before she glanced at the broken window and the shards at the Earl’s feet.

  He was going to get his hands on that Watch, but first, he had a funeral to attend.

  Chapter 9

  The path I walked on bent through the trees, leading deeper and deeper, as if towards the heart of the forest. It was wide enough for a small carriage but didn’t seem used too often. I kept walking, not knowing which way I was going. Maybe if Leah were here with me, she would’ve known where we headed, but I couldn’t reach her no matter what I said. I started to feel a bit lonely, but I made my decision to stay by her side for as long as I could.

  I went on, but the day wasn't going to last endlessly. I should find shelter for the night, but where? We were in the middle of the forest. After a few more hours, in a meadow, I discovered a little wooden hut. I couldn’t believe it was anything else but blind luck, but what did I know? I knocked on the door, yet it looked like no one was home. I pushed it a bit, but without any resistance, the door opened, revealing its dusty interior.

  “Hello? Anyone home?” I shouted, opening the door completely.

  I didn't take any steps inward. What if someone actually lived there? Maybe they were just gone for a walk or something similar.

  “It’s fine, Scarlett, you can go in. no one lives here.”

  Leah’s voice startled me. I’d gotten so comfortable in her body that it almost slipped my mind that it wasn’t truly mine.

  “The place belongs to the Conwells,” Leah went on with her explanation. “This is where Lady Jubilee came, when she wanted to get away from home, have some quiet, or write. This place was her refuge, and since it’s still on the family’s land, it didn’t raise a problem.”

  “But why would it be a problem?” I asked, refraining myself from asking how she felt.

  “Her health being rather poor, and getting worse from day to day, made it difficult for her to travel long distances. As a solution, the Earl built this place, close to the main house, yet far enough.”

  “What do you mean close to the house? We’ve constantly been going for a few hours!”

  “If you take the path, then yes, it would take a few hours, but there is a shortcut known by few which will cut the time in half.”

  “And you left me to walk all that time without saying a word,” I sighed, tired and crushed on a chair. I couldn’t really get mad at her. “It’s quite small, and simple,” I added.

  “It was built after the lady’s precise indications. The Earl wanted to make it bigger, with separate bedrooms, a living room, and kitchen, but My Lady was against it.”

  I looked around in amazement. There was a single, big room, with two beds in one corner, a shelf with a few books, a table with two chairs and a hob where food could be prepared. Simple, without any decorations, with nothing to reveal when it was built or to whom it belonged to. Just a hut in the woods.

  Fascinated by the place I was in; I couldn’t tell what was happening in Leah’s heart until I felt tears streaming down my cheeks. That place, to the smallest detail, reminded her of Jubilee. We couldn’t stay there.

  “Leah,” I said, “there’s no need for us to stay here. If you want, we can keep moving. I’m sure we’ll be able to find shelter someplace else.”

  “Thank you, but it’s alright. I’ll be fine; besides, you need rest.”

  “If you say so . . . but I’ll need your help with something.”

  “With what?” she asked, curious.

  “Do you think you can light up the fire and the lamp? I haven’t got a clue how to do it,” I told her, a bit embarrassed.

  “You don’t know how to light up an oil lamp?” she responded stunned. “Then how do you illuminate your house?”

  “We have electricity.”

  “Electricity? What is that?” She became interested.

  “Lightning, for example.”

  “You mean there are bolts of lightning in your houses?” she asked, puzzled.

  “No, no, no; it’s a bit more complicated than that. It all started from a bolt of lightning, and in time, humans learned, or I should probably say they will learn, to create electric power out of different sources: like from the sun’s power, wind, and even from the speed with which the water flows. There will be devices which will take all that and turn it into electricity which will then be sent to homes around the world through cables.”

  “I’d wish to see your world. Tell me more about this electricity, please.”

  I tried my best to define electricity and electric systems while she effortlessly lit the fire. I'm not sure how much she understood since I couldn't say I knew too much, either. As a permanent part of my daily life, I never really thought what it is and where it comes from, but I think I made clear enough that oil lamps no longer belonged in a modern house, their place being only in museums.

  After she fixed the light and heat, Leah hid again, letting me lead. I pulled out the food, and placing it on the table, I ate slowly when I heard Leah again.

  “On this table, Lady Jubilee taught me how to read and write. She had so much patience with me.” I listened in silence, not knowing what to say. “She even made a special book for me, so I could learn easier. It should be on the shelf behind you, next to the other books.”

  I stood up from the table and turned towards the small bookshelf. I found, indeed, something that looked like a spelling book, but it looked a bit more complex. Besides letters and general spelling and writing rules, there were also some mathematical equations of reduced difficulty. Perhaps something similar to what I’d learned in the first two or three years of school.

  “I’d wish if I ever have children, to teach them how to read and write after this book.” I felt a bittersweet smile coming from her, but then quiet.

  Once I finished eating, I packed the rest and put them back in the bag, after all, tomorrow was another day. I moved the lamp on the small table by the beds, and though didn’t find it very tempting to turn it off and be left in the dark, I just turned it down a bit. I laid on one of the beds, listening. I was afraid to fall asleep, risking waking up in my own bed. I couldn’t leave Leah alone, so I decided the best course would be to remain awake for as long as I could.

  I had no means to tell how much time had passed or how long until morning, which turned out to be somewhat maddening. The noises of the night were fascinating, and at the same time, sinister. I’d spent nights in nature before, this wasn’t the first time. Both in college, and university I used to go camping quite often with friends, family . . . with Jared. Strange how only now I recalled him. Crossing my arms under my head, I watched the small flame’s light dancing on the hut’s wooden ceiling, while in a tree nearby an owl called her sisters.

  My brain was so bored it started fluttering through memories, some pleasant, while others were utterly useless. I was time to put it to work; if I left it in this state of uncensored freedom, who knew what dark corners would stir next. It was enough Leah was depressed, there was no point for me to slip down the same slope.

  The first thing I had to do was to figure out where we were, as then to figure out where we were heading, but how could I do that without Leah? How nice would’ve been a GPS now, or at least a map, though a map without a satellite localisation option wasn’t too useful.

  Hold it! GPS? Satellite? Seriously, Scarlett? You are two hundred years in the past. Focus.

  There was no point. I gave up fretting, it was best to wait for the morning and hope Leah would be in a bit more of a sociable state. Getting out of bed, I stopped by the window through which the light of the full
moon cascaded. From my time, from the bustling city, I could rarely see such a pure moon, and the stars around it were an even rarer occurrence. I stayed there, leaning against the hard, wooden wall, watching outside as the light that flowed from the sky caressed every strand of grass and played with the insects' wings and the birds' feathers, making them glow, as if from within.

  With this image in front of my eyes, as if from a fairy-tale, intertwined with the night’s vivid song, I was no longer afraid. Somehow, I had the feeling that everything would turn out alright; somehow, I felt at peace.

  The wind made the leaves rustle, and sometimes a twig to crack. The bird’s cries through the night seemed a melody meant to attract prey straight in their sharp claws, and from time to time a wings’ flutter distracted me, flying over the hut, disappearing between the trees, leaving behind only the steps which grew steadily closer to the cabin.

  Steps?

  With a bang, the door flew open, hitting the wall, and two men entered the once spacious room. Tall, unkempt for some time, and smelling of alcohol and sweat, they moved forward toward me. The dim light in the room made them seem creepier than they might’ve genuinely been, the shadows emphasising their carved by life features. Perhaps, if I were in my body, I wouldn’t have felt intimidated, but Leah seemed to be shorter than me, and by comparison, the two men looked like mountains. Their vicious smiles told me they meant anything but good news, and without saying a word, one of them dashed at me, while the other remained propped up near the door which now hung only by one hinge.

  With an arm outstretched to grab me, he did not expect at any moment of resistance. I caught him with both hands by the wrist and twisting around, I threw him over my shoulder. A stifled sound was heard when he hit the floor and lost consciousness. Leah might’ve been small-sized, but all the work at the manor made her rather strong. The second man looked at his friend in disbelief, and with his face writhing in anger, he spat between his clenched teeth.

  “You little whore!”

  He rushed to me with the apparent intention of hitting, but, unlucky for him, he seemed more affected by the alcohol’s haze than his friend. Being slightly unsteady on his feet, it only took a step to the side and a forceful shove in the back to send him with his head straight into the wall, then dropping to the floor, still.

  Even with my breath strained from the effort, I felt grateful for the long-ago martial arts’ classes my mom made me take as a child, for years in a row. Even so, I didn’t want to repeat the experience too soon.

  There wasn’t enough time to catch my breath. We had to leave, once again on the run. I hurriedly grabbed the bag and put out the lamp, but before I could get out the door in the chilly night air, a third man appeared on the threshold.

  This one seemed different from the other two, with a thin body, contoured by the moonlight and an elegant posture. He didn't seem to be a danger, but I wasn't going to try my luck. Hastily, I attempted to hit him, but he grabbed my arm effortlessly.

  Beginner’s luck, I said to myself.

  I tried again, with my free hand, yet not for long. Like reading my thoughts, he caught my other arm and pushing me gently against a wall, he detained both my arms over my head. He shouldn’t have been a challenge comparing to the other two, but appearances can be deceiving. The place where his hand held mine began to burn, and my palms to sweat. The few rays of light, entering the hut through the windows and the broken door, were far from enough to see the stranger in front of me, but I didn’t need any light to feel his body’s warmth, barely a few inches away. I wanted so badly to hit with my knee between his legs that it was almost painful, but the never-ending fabric layers from my dress hindered such free moves.

  Expertly, he wrapped, almost imperceptibly, something around my wrists and then turning his eyes towards the two unconscious men on the floor, he sighed deeply.

  “A real waste of money. I wasn't expecting them to be so easily defeated, at least not by a young woman such as yourself, Leah, or perhaps I should call you Scarlett?”

  His warm voice took me by surprise, but at the hearing of my name I wanted to take a step back, to move away from the man in front of me, but I was stuck between the wall and his unmoving body.

  “Who are you?” I asked between my gritted teeth, swallowing dryly. “What do you want?”

  “I’m here to take Leah home.”

  “How do you know about me?” I asked, trying to overcome my frustration that I couldn’t get away from his grasp, although he only used one hand.

  “How?” he answered, amused. “From Lady Jubilee, of course. After all, she was the only one who knew, but it seems she didn’t tell you about me.”

  “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but during our short meetings, we had better subjects to discuss than boys. And if you truly know from Jubilee, then you should be aware that she asked me to take Leah as far away as possible from here. To leave without looking back and never return no matter what.”

  “And she told me, as clearly as possible, to do all in my power to protect her, but I can’t do this from a distance.”

  Neither of us realised we’d raised our voices until one of the men on the floor began to wail. He stepped away from me, leaving me to crave his warmth when the cold air took his place, and with a single blow, he brought the man back to unconsciousness. This was my chance to run away, or it would’ve been if he wouldn’t have tied my hands by a ridiculously resilient hook. I pulled with all my strength, but it didn’t even move. Biting my inner cheek, I clenched my fists. I’m not violent by nature, but I really wanted to hit something right about now.

  “Scarlett . . . please, I want to go home,” her voice was empty, without strength.

  “But what about what Jubilee said? She told you to run far away, or else you’ll be in great danger.” I tried to persuade her.

  “Please, take me home. I trust him.”

  “Well, I don’t.”

  “You will.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

  “I’m begging you, Scarlett, just take me home. Tell Chance I’m ready to return to the manor.”

  My eyes ran to the shadow, which moved agilely in the dark. I opened my mouth to call him, but a realisation hit me. Leah begged me to take her home when she could’ve just taken her body back and gone by herself. It was a simple answer to that. She wanted to stay hidden for a little while longer, which is why she needed me.

  Oh, Leah . . .

  “Ready to go, My Lady?” his voice came from somewhere nearby.

  “Yes, I’m ready,” I sighed.

  “Hmm . . . I didn’t expect you to give up so fast. What are you scheming?” he strode lightly, getting closer.

  “Don't be delusional, I haven't given up.” I frowned at him uselessly since he couldn't see me. “But Leah did, and she wants to go home. This is her body and her life, so in the end, the decision is hers entirely.”

  “I see.”

  He sounded disappointed as he reached and undid the binding on my wrists. My arms fell, slightly numb on the sides of my body because of the position in which they’ve been tied, and flexing my fists a few times, I tried to get rid of the tingling feeling from under my skin. Chance waited for me uncomplainingly, and when I was ready, he led me to the hut’s door.

  As soon as we stepped out, the moon lit us both, and the face of the man, hitherto hidden in the darkness, was revealed to me. The light wasn't strong enough to distinguish the colour of his hair or outfit, but it was enough to see his fine features and elegant clothes, possibly custom made. As far as I could tell, Chance probably belonged to a family with a pretty good status, but in that case, why would he bother to such extent for a servant girl? Sure, Jubilee might’ve asked him, but that didn’t change the rank difference among the two of them.

  Who are you, Chance? Who are you that Leah trusts you so much?

  We walked a little on the dark path, until, not too far from the hut, tied to a branch was a black horse. If he didn’t fret
at the sight of his owner, maybe I wouldn’t have noticed him.

  Stopping in my way, I looked confused at the big animal in front of me.

  “Please tell me you don’t want to go back horseback riding,” I said, seriously concerned.

  “You haven't ridden a horse before?” he snorted amused, caressing the horse’s thick mane. “Then how do you go around?”

  “We have other ways; faster and safer ways.”

  “There’s nothing to be afraid of. Come.”

  He reached his arm for me, but I wasn’t convinced it was a good idea to get closer. Taking my hand, he pulled me closer, and pressing his chest against my back, he resumed stroking the horse as earlier, with his hand over mine.

  “See, he won’t hurt you.”

  The mane felt soft and glossy under my palm, and the short snorts made it clear that he loved the attention he received. I liked it, too. It was the first time in my life I got to be so close to a horse, not to mention patting him, but what I enjoyed the most was the warmth felt on my back and the gentle way he guided my hand.

  “Moonlight, tonight we have a complete novice with us, so you’ll need to be on your best behaviour.”

  As if understanding, he neighed wiggling his head.

  “You named your horse Moonlight?”

  Without answering, Chance placed his hands on my waist, and with ease, lifted me onto the saddle.

  “I'm going to fall!” I screamed, grabbing the edge of the saddle tightly. “Get me down, I'll fall.”

  “You won’t fall,” he said, smiling. Climbing behind me and grabbing the reins, he framed me between his arms, supporting me. “If you are so tense it won't be too pleasant for you. Try to relax a little.”

  “I don’t think I can,” I replied, terrified.

  He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer, once again placing my back to his broad chest, and with his smooth, smoky voice, he whispered in my ear. “I’m here, beside you. I won’t let you fall.”

  I only said, “Thank you.” What else was there to say? I was literally in his hands. If he hadn't liked something, it wouldn't have been hard for him to push me off of the horse, but my instinct told me he'd never do something like that. He was a perfect gentleman. Apart from the moment when he sent two brutes after me and tied me to a hook, he acted relatively nicely. I shook my head, dismissing the thought. But I still wanted to hit him; only once, hard.