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For the next week and a half, Michael’s guards worked endlessly to find Elizabeth.
Finally, frustrated and desperate, he turned to Ryan, his best tracker.
“She’s not stupid,” Michael said to him. “Ariel’s told the children about her past, so she won’t be using her powers. Are you sure you’ll be able to find her?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll find her,” he said, putting on a black top hat. Michael looked at him quizzically.
“My disguise. She’s going to be anticipating me. So, I’m dressing as a rich traveler. I’ll be checking all the bars and pubs, as well as hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, shelters, and alleys. She’ll be found by next week the latest.”
Un fortunately, she wasn’t found by the time Ryan expected. It was almost the end of fall when she was found in a soup kitchen in Finela. Mateo had found her, on his second sweep of the city that day. She didn’t put up much of a fight, and welcomed the interior of the carriage warmly, instantly cuddling against the cushion, and falling asleep. She was so tired; she hadn’t noticed Aaron sitting across from her.
When Mateo stepped into the carriage, and closed the door behind him, he gave Aaron a warning look.
“You’d better not give her any trouble, or I’ll tan your backside.”
”No trouble. I promise, father.”
“Good.” Mateo gave a light tap on the ceiling, and they were off.
The ride home wasn’t pleasant. Mateo kept watching Elizabeth, as her blouse was torn in so many places he was surprised it held for so long. Her skin was stretched over her ribs, and her cheeks were sunken in. Whatever baby fat she still had was gone. On her hands, she wore a pair of gloves with the fingertips cut off, and her hair was matted with grime. Her pants had somehow become shorts, but she didn’t seem to mind as she was curled up in the warmth of the seat, sleeping. He could clearly see bruises on her legs, arms, and neck. Her shoes, which use to be light beige, were black.
Elizabeth slept through the whole twelve-hour ride back to Koura, and when they arrived, it was sunrise. Mateo nudged Elizabeth awake while they were pulling into the estate’s stables. Elizabeth stretched weakly, and yawned. She squinted her eyes from the sun, and it took her a few minutes to realize where she was. When she did, she glanced at the windows nervously.
“Don’t worry. They don’t know I’ve found you.”
“I’d like to keep it that way for a few days,” she answered.
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that. Maybe For a few hours, but you need to see a doctor.”
“I’m fine. Just hungry and need a bath. I promise, uncle Mateo, I will be fine.”
”I’ll agree to not tell your parents your back if you see a doctor,” he said firmly.
After a minute of thinking, she agreed, and hopped out of the carriage.
But standing in front of her was Hannah.
She stared at her, with wide eyes and tried to scurry back into the carriage, but Hannah has grabbed her in a fierce hug, and was crying on her shoulder.
Elizabeth tried to get away, but Hannah’s grip was too tight. She looked around for uncle Mateo, but couldn’t find him. Sighing with defeat, she let Hannah cry herself dry.
When Hannah was finished and composed herself, she brought Elizabeth in through the servant’s quarters and up the stairs in the back of the estate to Elizabeth’s room, being careful to be silent.
When they were in Elizabeth’s room, Hannah ran the water for a bath while Elizabeth peeled off her clothes. She wrapped herself in her bathrobe to find It was a few sizes too big.
She wasn’t able to view a mirror in the months she was gone, so she placed one foot in front of the other very slowly until the top of her head appeared in the reflecting glass. She took a deep breath, and stepped into the view of the mirror.
She had to squeeze her hand into a fist, nails digging into her skin to keep from gasping. She was thin. She was deathly thin. She was literally flesh and bone. Her hair, oh her precious hair was tangled beyond belief, and pressed against her head from mud, and her body’s own oils. Her normally blue eyes, which would normally be brighter then the stars were as dim as a dust-covered vase. She ran her hands over her cheeks, feeling the bone, and along her torso.
She was relieved that Hannah called her for her bath.
That night was the night she would reveal herself to her parents. Hannah had pushed the cooks to their limits, and had a feat ready. Although Elizabeth had stuffed herself before, she was hungry again, and needed to fill out. Her clothes, just like her robe, were a few sizes too small, so Hannah had to bring out the clothing she wore when she was eleven. The only problem was the sleeves of the dress she was wearing was too small. But Hannah fixed that. She simply cut them off, and then fixed the stitching with a needle and thread.
When everyone was seated in the dining hall, Hannah went up to fetch Elizabeth, who was in front of the mirror again. They walked down the main hall quickly to get their just as they were serving the food. When they reached the final corridor, Elizabeth held back as Hannah pressed on. She knew the reaction: tears of joy, hugs, kisses, and maybe even a handshake from her brother.
Hannah was beckoning her, so she stepped forward, and then Hannah cried out loud
“Elizabeth!”
Her mother’s head flew up from her empty plate and scanned the room anxiously. When her eyes fell on Elizabeth, they swelled with tears and a smile spread across her face. She jumped up from her chair and ran down from the table, and embraced Elizabeth tightly. Her father followed suit, as did Donovan. The entire population of the dining hall were standing up and clapping because Elizabeth was finally home.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea?” Elizabeth asked her father, after she had been informed that all her cousins, aunts and uncles were staying for the holidays.
“Elizabeth, it’s Christmas. It would be nice to spend it with family. Besides, you haven’t seen your cousins for quite a few years now.”
“I wonder why,” she mumbled.
“What was that?” Michael asked quickly.
“Nothing. When will they be coming?”
”They should be here by tonight.”
”Tonight! That’s hardly enough time to baby proof the estate!”
”No need,” he said, shaking his head. They are all over the age of 6 now. Quite safe to leave the place as it is. Why don’t you go help set up the cots?”
”Cots? Where?”
“Your room, of course. With the whole family coming, we don’t have enough rooms. So, some of your younger cousins will be sleeping in your room. Don’t look to angry, Elizabeth. Donovan will be having uncle Robert’s son’s.”
As yes. Uncle Robert. He was always a delight at family occasions. He’d always pas gas at an alarming rate, and make jokes about the breeze. His son’s are no better. They are pranksters to the core. They live to make someone jump up and scream bloody murder. She’d have to get another lock on her doors, just in case.
“Which cousins will I be having?” She asked, almost hopeful it wasn’t Aunt Lilly’s daughters. They were stuck up pre-teens who spent all their free time putting on nice clothes, make-up, and talking about the newest heartthrob.
“Uncle David’s little girls.”
Oh no! His were worse then uncle Robert, and aunt Lilly’s children! They were dark people. Barely leaving the house, and rarely ever saw the sun. They were all pale with black hair, wore black clothes, and used candles instead of oil lamps.
Michael saw the face Elizabeth was pulling, and sent her off to aid in the cot furnishing process with a chuckle.
Just as his father predicted, the whole family pulled up to the estate that night. He and his sister were garbed in their finest clothing, and were threatened to be on their best behavior.
First to pull in was aunt Lilly her husband Max, and the children Priscilla, Mary, Jack, Mark, and Celeste. Aunt Lilly and uncle Max greeted Donovan and Elizabeth with warm hugs and kisses as their parents did the same with their children.
When they were being showed their rooms, Uncle Leonard showed up with his children Sarah and Tamara, the twins, and littleAnnalie.
Next to come was uncle David. Elizabeth cringed as they were announced. Uncle David came in, head held high, nose in the air. His wife, Rebecca, came in with the girls, Anne and Elli and their three sons, Derek, Gary, and Thomas, trailing behind them. Elizabeth forced a smile, and accepted the embraces.
Last but not least, Uncle Simon, his wife Delilah, and their children (the oldest cousins) Peter, Grace, and Toby. Because he was the first married, and has children the earliest, Uncle Simon felt as if he were God himself. Next to her father, uncle Simon was the apple of grandmother’s eye.
Elizabeth was dancing around on the spot, anxious to get to her room before they did, and received a nudge and a fierce look from Donovan.
“Simon!” Grandmother cried from the top of the stairs, quickly began to descend as fast as her small legs could take her.
“Mother,” he responded, gazing around to see if his siblings remembered how much Greta loved him. She grabbed him a hug, and made a few comments on the children.
“My, how lovely you look! All grown up, and mature. Unlike a certain child I know,” she said, sending Elizabeth a cold look. Toby glanced at Elizabeth, then turned to her sister and told her something. They both laughed and stared at Elizabeth.
In the meantime, the rest of the family were being shown to their rooms, and Elizabeth was about to follow the last servant carrying their luggage when her mother put a hand on her shoulder, and shook her head.
“Donovan, you’re looking well,” Simon said to her brother, shaking his hand with a smile. Donovan forced a small smile, and nodded his head.
Uncle Simon then stood in front of her.
“You’re looking very nice tonight. Lost a bit of weight, eh?”
She looked past Uncle Simon to see Grace mouth the word ‘Anorexic’ to grace and they both giggled.
“Why yes I have, uncle Simon. Nothing can escape your eye, can it?” She said sweetly, giving him a light hug, and flipping an inappropriate finger at her cousins.
There’re mouths opened in shock, and went to complain to their mother when Hannah announced supper. Elizabeth waited until the adults left, and was beginning to leave when Grace pulled her back.
“You think a half-breed like you can get away with this?” she said in a threatening manor.
“Whatcha going to do about it, half-breed?” Toby said, giving Elizabeth a little push.
Half-breed was the most common insult amongst children who had a Talented mother or father.
Elizabeth’s eyes flickered. “I’m sorry, but was I being threatened? Well, you just wait. You think a small gester is all I’m capable of? Just don’t get me really angry, and you’ll be spared.” Of course, it was a dare. She wanted a reason to send someone to the doctor, and a reason to be punished. She’d be away from the family.
And they fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
The next few days were somewhat of a blur for Elizabeth. She’s awaken to find her clothing frozen in the cooks freezers, her shampoo’s changed with fowl smelling liquids, her drinks constantly spiked with an alcohol, and her food always undercooked. Whenever she could escape her family, she was usually in the kitchens eating crackers, or drinking jus by the liters. Whenever she’d pass them in the halls, they’d always laugh, and give her dirty looks.
But it was ok. She was biding her time. She had until the end of February before they left. She’d get them.
It was a few days before Christmas when the Christmas tree arrived. It was automatically set in the common room. While the young children decorated the tree, the adults hung wreaths on every door, and the older children began to look through songbooks. But Donovan was staring out the window. It hadn’t started to snow yet, so Elizabeth was naturally curious to who or what he was staring at. When she stood up behind him, she could see a young lady with red hair in braids and freckles, in a green jacket go running by the window. Donovan’s eyes followed her, and then excused himself. While he was leaving, he grabbed the mistletoe.
Her mind couldn’t wander to the meaning because the girls were screaming. She turned to see what was happening, and was struck with something rather hard on her temple. She felt a tremendous pain shoot through her head, and then began to fall.
Peter, who was the closest to her, managed to grab her as she was falling, so she fell backwards into him. He slowly lowered her to the floor, and knelt down by her head.
The rest of the cousins began to crowd, and some of the girls were crying.
“Elizabeth,” Peter said strongly, giving her face a light slap.
“Here, let me-“ Grace offered, giving Elizabeth’s face a hard slap, and then dissolved in a fit of giggles. Peter then shook her, and she began to wake. With a moan, she opened her eyes, blinked a few times, and then feeling Peter’s hands on her, she jumped away. She staggered a bit, and collided with a coffee table, sending her cousins laughing.
Peter gave them all a stern look, and then got up to assist Elizabeth.
“Want to go lie down? He asked
“Elizabeth Elizabeth!” Little Mary cried grabbing a hold of Elizabeth’s leg. “Don’t go into your room.”
”Why not?” Peter asked.
“Because Grace and Toby put ice in your bed.”
Both Peter and Elizabeth looked up to see Grace and Toby leaving the room. They glanced back, and Elizabeth saw jelousy in their eyes. She was getting attention. The time was now. Part 1 was about to begin.
“Oh-“ Elizabeth moaned, knee’s going weak.
“Whoa there. Hold onto my arm,” Peter said, wrapping an arm around her.
Was it a sin to seduce your cousin in front of his sisters? Elizabeth thought it was, so she was only going to keep it mild.
“Let’s go to your room. I’ll change your sheets.”
Elizabeth walked a step, and then fell, pretending she couldn’t walk straight.
“Can you carry me?” She asked, helplessly.
Peter just responded by lifting her into his arms and leaving the room. He slowly began to climb the stairs when the adults were returning from their wreath hanging.
“Good lord, Elizabeth! What happened?” Ariel gasped, seeing Elizabeth in Peter’s arms.
“She got hit in the head. I’m just bringing her to her room.”
”Where’s Donovan? Shouldn’t he be taking you?” Michael asked.
”Donovan-“
“I’m right here, father. One of the delivery people forgot something, and I went to return it.”
His face was flushed, and his eyes were glazed over in a dreamy sort of way. Grace stepped out from behind him, carrying a new set of sheets with Toby bringing up the rear with a glass of warm milk.
“We thought we’d help too,” they said in merry voices.
“We raised them good,” Simon boasted.
Ariel rolled her eyes, and bid Elizabeth goodnight, and the adults continued their way to the common room where the girls were fighting over the angel for the top of the tree.
When Elizabeth was all settled in an armchair by the glass doors to her balcony, Toby pushed Peter out saying they’d help her dress for bed. When he was down the hall, she locked the door, putting the key on top of the doorframe.
“Your such a liar,” she hissed. Elizabeth fixed herself in the chair, instantly sinking in the huge cushion.
“So what if I am?”
Grace finished making Elizabeth’s bed.
“Look, let’s just forget the whole thing. Friends?” Toby said, extending the glass of milk towards Elizabeth.
“Fine,” she said, taking the milk and taking a sip.
“Well, good night,” they said and left the room, hardly able to keep a straight face.
Elizabeth took a few more sips, then yawned. Tiredness swept over her faster then she’s ever remembered. She stood to stretch as her eyes began to close from sleep. Before she could suspect the milk being drugged, she had fallen asleep, sending the cup falling, shattering, and sending milk and glass everywhere.
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