"My loyalty lies with you."
"And a great loyalty it has been. You brought a great alchemist to our midst to save our lives. Commendable."
"Thank you, sire."
"But now she must return home."
Seeing Cedric again, Emma yearned to talk with him about what had happened, but she needed to return. Maman needed her.
"Will I be able to come back?" she asked.
"I think not. Nor would it be good for you to. It is not your time to be here," the King said. "Many years lie open for you."
Her hand crept into Cedric's who squeezed it.
"You have to go, Emmaline."
"But Cedric."
"You have to go. It is for your best." He refused to look into her eyes as she sought his face. Finally, she let him go and stepped up to the mirror. With the jar under her arm, she handed the medallion back.
"Send me through," she said with her head lowered.
"Emmaline."
"Just send me back."
With the King beside him, Cedric stepped up to the mirror and pressed his hands to it. His low voice chanted words Emma found comfortingly familiar now. The metal glowed and her room reappeared. She dashed through. Landing on the carpet in her bedroom, she looked back to see the mirror full of his face. To him, she waved goodbye before leaving the room and shutting the door.
The house looked as if someone had turned a tornado loose on the first floor. Books knocked from shelves. Tables overturned. The dishes from their last meal scattered across the floor. Holes she could only imagine being from bullets dotted several of the walls. Yet nowhere did she find Maman's body. The bloodstain where she had lain had gone a dirty brown. The drag marks where she moved had turned the same noxious color. Emma moved through the kitchen to the back porch and yard. There she saw her. The old woman bumped against the back fence repeatedly as if she would walk right through it.
Her dress once cheerful now seemed more macabre. One of her shoes had gone missing.
Emma drew close with the jar held out before her like a shield. The creature hadn't noticed her yet. Each footstep brought her closer and tightened the string around her heart until Emma thought she would choke. Then it noticed her, turning and putting its claw-like hands out.
With one swift motion, Emma splashed the water into Maman's face soaking her dress and hair.
First the hands came down. Then sputtering.
"What, what?" Maman asked. "And what is the meaning of this, Emmaline, you've wet me all up."
Dropping the bottle, Emma leapt forward and wrapped her arms around her grandmother.
"Maman!"
One handed, Maman dabbed at her face and brushed water out of her eyes. Her other arm curled protectively around her young charge. After the moment of exultation, Emma frantically patted Maman down looking for the bullet hole. Despite the rip in the dress, the skin beneath appeared perfect. With a sigh of relief, Emma let Maman go.
"Let's go inside, Maman, it's getting too cold to be out here in only one shoe."
"Now how did that happen?" the old woman asked, then shrugged. They went inside.
Seeing the state of her kitchen, Maman eyed Emma.
"And what can you tell me about all of this?"
Emma swallowed. "Well."
"You're going to stick around to help me clean it up, aren't you?"
"Of course, Maman."
The old woman brightened and bustled through to her bedroom up the stairs. Emma watched her go and wondered if she had enough time to call Mr. Amon and make sure he was alright? That man in the shop had meant to do her harm. She could only hope he hadn't done anything to Mr. Amon.
The phone on the first floor survived the fight though pulled off the hook. Emma rang the shop and Mr. Amon picked up on the first ring.
"Amon's."
"Mr. Amon, it's Emmaline."
"Emmaline. So good to hear from you."
"How are you, sir?"
"Quite fine."
"Nothing bad happened?"
"I don't know what you are referring to, Emma, but I expect you to be in the shop at 8 am sharp tomorrow morning. There are orders to fill and after that mess with Mrs. Snow last week, I want them handled double quick."
His manner left her little opening to question, but he sounded fine. Maybe she would find out more when she got into the shop the next day. Maman came down the stairs and Emma said goodbye to Mr. Amon.
They spent the afternoon cleaning the house.
Night fell early as it did in fall and found Emma outside once again. Having seen the well, she wondered why she had never noticed its flower-like shape before, but this time she intended to see it in all its glory. Maman went inside as the wind grew higher and the temperature dropped into the misery range, yet Emma waited. The well meant more to her now than it ever had.
11:59
In the northern sky, it first appeared as a ripple, then it was there, a great blossom pouring forth shooting stars. Each of the stars seemed faintly a different color, but they were nearly see through. Emma watched it all through her binoculars.
"Cedric."
It was time for bed. 8 am would come early.
Dear Reader
Thank you so much for reading my book. I hope you will take the time to review it on Amazon or Goodreads. Then drop me a line on Twitter or Email about how you liked it. Feel free to use any of the connections listed down below. I would love to hear from you.
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~Alledria Hurt
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October Sky Page 6