The heavy rain continued to fall in the dark night, lightning flashing across the sky.
Theodore's footsteps padded softly down the hallway, drowned out by crackling thunder. His short, chubby hands rubbed at his sleepy eyes as he walked drowsily but with purpose to a room.
Upon arriving, the room filled with potted plants and flowers. He groggily counted them off, yawning, and realized with a stop that one was missing.
Theodore gently closed the door behind him and continued down the dark hallways in search of the last plant, the path already memorized by heart.
A lone window at the end of the hallway cast looming streaks of moonlight. The curtain whipped wildly around it from the storm.
Suddenly, an expanse of shadow invaded the light and loomed on the floor. Theodore paused. He raised his gaze from his feet trailing the soft, rugged floor.
He slowly blinked, his blurry, sleep-filled vision clearing to reveal a dark, looming figure at the high window. The figure reached out large hands to bring the window panes together and closed it with a bolt. The last gust of wind blew back the hood from its cape, revealing long, silvery-white hair. The locks whipped back by the wind, the lightning illuminating each strand like silver sparkles in the night.
Sensing Theodore's presence, the figure didn't turn to the boy but instead calmly reached out a large hand and shifted the small potted plant from the edge of the sill, where it was threatening to fall, to a safe corner.
Instead of fear gripping the young boy at the stranger's intrusion, still veiled in the night, his small, petal-like lips parted to whisper with all the curiosity of a child.
"Who are you?.." The heavy curiosity, spoken in the lightest tone, caused the man to finally glance at the boy.
A streak of lightning shone, illuminating for the first time the stranger's eyes. A surreal mix of otherworldly colors, flecks of something breathtaking, with a devastating beauty and danger like the ocean and aurora lights from one of the most fantastical regions.
The man steeled his gaze, prepared for the scream of horror at his unusual appearance. Instead, a voice reached him, soft, bright, and with a spark of admiration coating his tone as the boy gasped in blissful shock.
"An Angel…" In all his years of living, only twice had he ever been recognized as something less than an abomination, an unworthy sight. This child before him was truly remarkable. Perhaps his master had made a good choice.
With the veil of the night, the man slipped back into the shadows once more, disappearing to the whispered calling of the young, curious one with the purest heart.
•••
The glowing embers of what remained of the wood in the fireplace cast a low glow in the dark room.
The double doors to the drawing room pushed open, and Frederick walked in.
He came to a stop behind Lord Silas, who sat in a large, imposing chair, his large hand clenched around a glass of alcohol. He raised it to his lips but paused as Frederick shifted on his feet. With a sigh, he dropped the glass back down.
"Found anything?"
Frederick's gaze slipped from Silas to the extinguished flames and back to him.
"Nothing amiss, my lord," Frederick replied.
Silas spun the glass on the armrest, his gaze boring into the light honey-colored liquid.
The silence was straining before Silas spoke again.
"Contact Morena," he tapped the glass. "You know what to do. Arrange for the others too."
Before Frederick could open the door, Silas spoke again. "If anything goes wrong…" Silas let the threat hang in the air, and Frederick gave an affirmative nod before closing the door behind him.
At Frederick's departure, the room was once again plunged into silence. Silas let his gaze linger on the fireplace before closing his eyes, draining the liquid in a single gulp, then breathing a deep sigh, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest.
Something wasn't right. He could feel it through the pores of his skin.
•••
In a large office space, three men sat around the table in the middle of the room.
"… it will bring profit if we bide our time in the right season."
Three rapid knocks sounded before the door opened. The men turned their attention to the door just as Lady Valerie strolled in.
Valerie entered the room in haste. With a subtle bow, she turned her head in the direction of her husband.
"I request your presence, Magnus," she said. The room fell silent as they patiently waited for Duke Magnus's reply. With a small gesture, he chuckled.
"Ah, my dear, I'll be with you in a short while. As you know, I have important—"
"I require your presence with immediate haste," her words were swift. The other two men in the room subtly glanced at each other before turning to the Duke.
Magnus cleared his throat, heat burning his neck and creeping up to taint his defined cheekbones. "Gentlemen, I believe we can conclude this meeting at a more... convenient time." He apologized with a strained, charming smile.
With a nod of acknowledgment, they packed up their documents and were seen out by the butler.
Magnus silently rolled up the map on the table and put it aside with the other stacks of papers.
"Valerie," he began calmly. "You know fully well that meeting was of utmost import—"
"Do you imply that meeting held more importance than I?"
"Don't put words in my mouth, Valerie," he turned to her, his chest rising.
With a deep, unwinding breath, Valerie slipped into character like a true actress. Her expression softened, and her delicate brows pulled together as if she were in deep thought.
Seeing her change in mood, it tugged at his heartstrings, and he calmed down to really face her.
"My precious one... I'm sorry for my outburst. You know no one or thing in this continent is more important than you."
He gently cupped her face. Her gaze remained downcast. "Speak to me. What troubles you?"
Valerie's petal lips parted, and after a moment she spoke, "I'm troubled. Sis..." She trailed off as though she couldn't bear to continue.
"Sister is definitely acting strange," Valerie gazed up at Magnus, concern all over her features. "Her actions back at the court were so brazen. She trampled on your name in front of so many nobles. It troubles me that they might see you as less."
Rage burned through Magnus's body as he remembered the utter shame he was put through in court. His teeth clenched tight.
"Lucinda…" he growled through gritted teeth.
Valerie reached out and held his clenched fist. She looked at him from under her lashes. "You know... I know just the thing to help them."