"But I havena changed your linens, mistress. ‘Twill only take a few moments,” Melody countered.
"Aye, but I am quite capable of changing my own linens. Shan't hurt me this once,” Moira said. “Now go. Oh, and Melody—"
"Aye, mistress?"
"Henceforth I think you should refrain from bringing anyone with you into my chambers,” Moira suggested.
"Aye, mistress. I will remember that,” she said. “Good night to you."
"Good night,” Moira said. She watched Melody take her cousin by the hand and lead her toward the door, then picked up a heavy tome off the table and slammed it to the floor with a loud bang, watched in vain for Callie's response to the noise. “The poor girl is completely deaf?” she asked when Melody started at the noise.
"Aye, mistress, utterly deaf since birth,” Melody said.
Moira bent over, picked up the book, watched through narrowed eyes as Melody and her cousin left the room, closing the door behind them. Outside Moira's room, Melody and Kim shot each other a relieved glance before hurrying down the hall to the stairs without speaking. Once they were downstairs, Melody looked around to make sure Sean was nowhere around and opened the secret passageway that would lead them back to Tarrh's quarters.
"You certainly did that well, cousin!” Melody commented as she began her ascent up the narrow stairs.
Kim sighed heavily, shook her head. “Thank you, but I was holding my breath the entire time. You saved my life with your fast thinking. It was good that I was supposed to be unable to speak, because if I had been able to talk I wouldn't have been able to say a coherent word. She totally took me by surprise, coming in and demanding to know who I was. You can surely handle her like a pro,” she said.
"Aye, I have had to learn to manage her through flattery and servility for fear she would make me leave like she did the others. I think she really believes I am her friend. I canna decide why she came back so soon this evening. She must have suspected something and returned to try to catch me at it,” Melody mused.
"Speaking of which, where did you disappear to?” Kim asked.
"'Tis a strange thing, but when I stuck that vial down my dress, I felt ill. I went to hide it so I could continue to do my work. I never expected her to be there when I returned,” Melody said.
"Lucky you thought to bring those linens with you!"
"Aye, Danu was with me for a surety,” Melody said.
"I thought Danu was an Irish goddess,” Kim observed.
"Aye, she is, but me mither was Irish, so I do call on Irish deities from time to time. Tarrh and I are practitioners of Celtic magic, and the Celts contributed much to the Irish as well as the Welsh, British and Scottish—or Gaelic—practices,” Melody explained. “Basically the deities are the same for each of the cultures, only the names are different. I prefer the Irish names."
"I see,” Kim said. “I'm truly glad Danu was with you. She seems to have been with me as well. My knees are still shaking and I have no idea how I was able to pull off that farce. I would never be able to do it again."
"Interesting what ye can do when ye have to, is it not?"
"Yes, but I really hope I don't have to do anything like that again any time soon!” Kim confessed.
"In truth, I hope I do not have to either,” Melody said. “The woman makes me feel as though there are worms crawling me spine."
"Tell me something, Melody,” Kim began, “How will it help for Ben to have the potion? Can he tell just by looking at it what the ingredients are?"
"If he is as good a wizard as he claims to be, he will be able to tell what is in it from the look, smell and consistency of it, at least within a reasonable estimate. There are tests he could perform as well. No one could tell for absolute certain all of the ingredients in any potion without seeing the formula for that potion. Of course, there are many standard potions used over the centuries and if we are lucky, this one will be one of those,” Melody said.
"And if we aren't lucky?"
Melody looked at the floor, sighed. “If we are not lucky, this potion will be some evil concoction Moira invented on her own, one only she can make an antidote for,” Melody answered.
"Is she that good a sorceress?"
"She is very good. She has waxed even stronger as Tarrh's power has waned, almost as though she were draining the potency from him and drinking it into herself,” Melody said.
"Could that be a part of the power of the potion?” Kim asked.
"Aye, it could very well be part of the mixture's strength. It is clear something has given him the illusion of being powerless to combat the effects of her magic. ‘Tis not like himself at all,” she said.
"I hope we can do something to change that,” Kim said, touching Melody's shoulder.
"Aye, so do I, Kim. So do I,” Melody agreed.
"How old is your son, Melody?"
"Just turned seven,” she answered. “Why?"
"Is he here? I mean, he is young to be left to his own devises, so I wondered where he is,” Kim explained.
"Aye, he is young. Moira fancies horses, so we still have a stable master. William spends much time with Arian at the stables. Arian is teaching him to be a grand horseman,” Melody said. “'Tis a far finer place for a boy to be than following his mither's skirts around the manor."
"And Arian is a trustworthy caretaker of the boy?"
"Aye, he takes care of little William as though he actually were his father. ‘Tis good for a male child to have a fine man to look up to, and Arian is such a man,” Melody said.
"And what is he like?” Kim asked.
"Arian? Oh, strong, loyal, good with animals—not too bright, but he has a good heart and he loves William dearly and would protect him with his own life, if need be."
"Well, I guess you couldn't ask for more in a companion for William, then,” Kim observed.
"Nay, I could not; William and I get to spend time together often enough during the quiet periods of the day and in the evenings before I put him to bed. It hasn't been the ideal life for him, but ‘tis all right for both of us. I think it suits Arian as well, for he lost his wife and son in a fire the year before William was born. Having William around gives him something to occupy that empty place in his heart,” she said.
"Are you and Arian the only servants?"
"Aye, we are now that the mistress dismissed the others. Before, we were part of a staff of five house servants, two gardeners and two stable keepers,” Melody answered.
"That must be hard on you, taking care of this huge house all by yourself. How long has it been since she dismissed the others?"
"Nigh onto three years now and yes, it has been very hard for all of us. The servants she dismissed nearly starved the first winter, for no one would take them on. They had been here since Tarrh was a fiery youth building this manor. They were like family to him. Tarrh won't say it, but he still grieves over not having them with him anymore,” she elaborated.
"Why did Tarrh permit Moira to dismiss them? I mean, isn't he still the master of his own house?” Kim asked.
"They have been working their evil charms against him almost five years and he has gradually become more and more weak, keeping to himself, brooding and wasting away. He just didna seem to care for a time about anything,” she answered sadly.
"Well, how long has Moira been here?"
"They were married three months before William was born, so seven years it has been now,” she said.
"That's a long time to be working magic against a person. She must really have a deep sense of vengeance to have tortured him so slowly all this time—and you must love him very much to stay here. I can't believe they have been poisoning him that long and he's still with us,” Kim said.
"I have no place else to go. As for himself, he would have died long ago had he not been such a strong man."
"And had you not been trying to keep him alive,” Kim speculated.
Melody sighed, shook her head. “I have tried me best, to be
sure. Sometimes I think I have done him a great injustice prolonging his suffering thus. Something in me wouldna let him go. I am that selfish, because what will happen to little William and me after he is gone?” she asked, her eyes giving away her anguish as the tears welled in them.
"You and William will be fine, Melody. I have it on good authority that Tarrh made arrangements to take care of you after his death,” Kim comforted.
She shook her head. “What life would there be for me without him?” she asked, sobs bursting from her as the tears spilled onto her face and ran down her cheeks.
Kim put her arms around Melody, patted her on the back. “There, there. I know you are near the end of your rope, but you must stay strong. If there is anything at all that can be done to save Tarrh, we're going to do it. Don't give up yet,” she encouraged.
"Oh, Miss Kimberly, I am sorry,” she wailed. “Sometimes I just think I canna go on, but I know I must, if only for William's sake. If I canna be with himself, I have no designs on this house or his fortune."
"I understand. And I honestly believe we can help. You just need to dare to believe it yourself. You've already shown so much faith by keeping him going this long; you must have believed somewhere in your heart that someone would come along who could help—and here we are!” Kim said.
"Aye, and I bless Danu and Merlin to have ye here! I didna mean what I said about not needing seers,” she said.
Kim smiled, shook her head. “That's all right. I have heard that from lots of people in my life. Guess psychics never did have very good reputations, huh?"
"I do not know about that, but ye are all right in my book. Anyone who could fool Moira as you just did has to be top notch,” Melody said.
"Do you really think I fooled her, or is she just biding her time and planning on attacking me later?” Kim asked.
"Nay, she would have had the dogs feast on both of us if she had not believed ye,” Melody said with a sigh.
Kim grimaced, rolled her eyes. “Now there is a pleasant thought. Have you seen the dogs feast on human flesh often?” Kim inquired.
Melody laughed heartily. “Now you mention it, I have never seen them eat anyone, but I am sure they could,” she speculated.
"I'm sure of it, too; let's hope we never see it, especially close-up! Where is the potion? We should be getting it to Benjamin,” Kim concluded.
"Aye, we should. I will fetch it. You go on in to the others and I will join you presently. Tarrh is just through this panel here,” Melody assured her as she touched the wall and a panel slid soundlessly open.
Kim peered past the heavy curtain that hung in front of the open panel, found only Tarrh lying in the bed with his back to her. She wondered where Liz and Benjamin were as she stepped quietly into the room, sat in a large chair near the fire. Something wasn't quite right, but there was nothing she could put her finger on. Perhaps it was merely the near disaster in Moira's room moments before, she thought. If Moira hadn't believed Melody, she'd have never let them leave her chambers. Or would she?
Kim found the high-backed chair to be unusually comfortable as she sank deep into it, took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes. She was still shaken from her ordeal with Moira and the dogs, but she forced herself to relax and to think pleasant thoughts. Soon she was floating on a soft cloud of respite, feeling far from the tumult of moments before. She allowed herself to relax completely and just drift with no thoughts of Moira to disturb her, no doubts to plague her serenity. She was at peace.
* * * *
Somewhere in the distance, as though very far away, she heard a voice calling to her. She listened a moment, but decided it was her imagination. Then she heard it again. It was Tarrh.
"I said, were you successful in your quest?” Tarrh was asking,
She tried to shake herself back to consciousness, opened her eyes and looked at Tarrh, who was still lying in his bed with his back to her. How long had she been resting? Where was Melody? Where were Benjamin and Liz? “Yes,” she said softly. “Yes, we were."
"Ah, very good. You surely are a miracle worker,” he said.
"Not really,” she said. “I only did what Melody told me to do. She's the one who is miraculous."
"Is that right?” another voice said. It was Moira's voice, coming from behind Kim's chair.
Kim caught her breath, turned to face the woman behind her, but found herself inches from the head of the larger of Moira's two dogs, his great fangs bared in a rabid display, inches from her face. She froze and stared into the eyes which seemed to glow red as they glared back at her.
Moira shoved Melody from behind the chair into the floor in front of Kim. Melody was crying as she looked apologetically up at Kim. “I am sorry, Kim. I didna think they would know we tried to deceive them,” she said. “I was wrong."
"So, the innocent, deaf and dumb cousin is an impostor, is she?” Tarrh said. Kim watched as the man lying with his back to her slowly turned and rose from the bed. It wasn't Tarrh after all, but Sean, Kim surmised. They had laid a trap for her and she had easily fallen into it. She looked at Melody in utter despair. “Don't apologize, Melody. I'm the one who blew it. I should have been more aware,” Kim said. Then she turned her eyes to Sean. “Where's Tarrh? What have you done with him?"
The man towered in front of her, his laugh echoing in her ears. “It is none of your concern what we have done with him. I should think your own fate would be much more disturbing to you, my dear. We know who you are and what you are doing here. We have your two friends locked away where they can do no damage and you will soon join them. What have you to say for yourself?"
Kim stared at him defiantly, said nothing.
Sean leaned down to face her, his hands resting on the arms of the chair in which she now found herself imprisoned. “What? No plea for mercy? Aren't you the brave one, though?"
"Any pleas I might have would fall on deaf ears here, so why bother?” she spat at him.
A slow smile curled his lips as he pushed his face closer yet to hers. “Very well,” he said in a low, menacing tone, “you prefer to meet your fate at once, do you? I can grant you that much, little one!"
Having said those words, he grabbed Kim by the wrist with one big hand and Melody with the other, dragged them to their feet and out the door of Tarrh's bed chamber. He swiftly crossed the length of the corridor that led to the center of the house and the void that was the library in McCann's manor at the Actor's Guild, but which loomed as only a seemingly bottomless pit here in the house Tarrh had built.
Kim and Melody struggled in vain to pull from his grasp, not really knowing which fate they preferred—falling to their deaths into the blackness of Tarrh's pit, or succumbing to the fangs of the two snarling beasts that had followed Sean and Moira down the corridor. Sean stopped just inches from the edge of the precipice, his hold on them ever tightening as he inched them closer to the brink of the pit and their certain demise.
He seemed to be taking a fiendish delight in watching them squirm helplessly before him. “Any last words?” he asked.
"Don't do this,” Kim breathed in a whisper.
He laughed long and hard before replying. “Give me one reason not to kill you both right now,” he demanded.
Kim struggled to think of something she could say that would stop him from tossing them like small bags of trash over the edge and into the void. “It really isn't your style of murder, is it? I mean, just to kill us outright, without magic or poison? Won't it mar your record?” she asked sarcastically.
"You think you would be the first I have thrown into the pit?” he asked.
"Do you really enjoy the act of killing that much?” Kim asked.
"I shall enjoy killing you that much,” he retorted, pushing them closer still to the edge.
"No! No, please,” Melody pleaded. “What about my William? Who will see to him if ye kill me?"
"Don't worry about William, Melody,” Moira said with a cruel chuckle. “I shall see to him personally. It is t
he least I can do for all the years of loyal service you have given me. Finish them, Sean. I grow weary of their pathetic whining."
Sean inched still nearer the edge, but he held them firmly. He looked down into the blackness, then at each of them, his eyes searching theirs. What is he waiting for, Kim wondered. There was no doubt he could easily be done with the task at hand, but still he paused.
"What are you waiting for?” Moira demanded, parroting Kim's unspoken question. “Finish it!"
Sean nodded in agreement, shoved them out in front of him and simply released them. Melody fell screaming into the darkness, but Kim grabbed with her free hand for his arm as she felt her feet dangling beneath her. Sean gave her an evil glare and used his other hand to wrench her hold loose, then dropped her into the void. She felt herself falling and groping for something, anything to grab hold of that would stop her descent into blackness. She found nothing.
Chapter 35
Kim awoke with a start and a hand full of Tarrh's nightshirt. “Are you all right, Lass?” Tarrh asked as he struggled to keep his balance.
Kim drew in a sharp breath as she realized the scenario she had just participated in was only a dream. “Tarrh! You are here! I thought they had finished you off and they were throwing Melody and me into the pit,” she exclaimed.
Tarrh sank onto the foot of his wide bed, more than a little exhausted by the effort it had taken him to climb out of the bed and cross to Kim's side. “'Twas a dream, then? I thought you were dying for real,” he said breathlessly.
"So did I,” she said, “it all seemed so real. One minute I was just relaxing here and the next, Sean and Moira were here and knew Melody and I had stolen the potion. It was horrible. I was totally helpless."
"Aye, that is the way they work, all right,” he agreed. “Perhaps it was a spell to test you."
"Well, if it was, I failed, big time!” Kim said. “Speaking of which, Melody was going back to get the potion from wherever she hid it. She said it would only take a minute and she still isn't back. And where are Liz and Benjamin?"
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