It was a chilly Christmas Eve: a little too cold for my liking; it only added to the worry of the dark that had been unusually stable and calm. The winter winds rattled harshly against the windows, its whistles scraping against the roof. Shadows of tall sycamore and ash trees shaking vigorously in the freezing hostile air outside formed on the cold flagstones in the kitchen, creeping up the walls inside. The fire didn't help that illusion, either.
Even Kratch, the pet hairy boggart who took the shape of a large ginger tom cat when he appeared, was curled up by the fire with his ginger fur appearing softer and longer than usual. His snoring rattled the crockery, pots and pans, but none of us could be less concerned.
Alice was sitting on her usual stool beside me, looking glum, the Spook in his chair with the usual thoughtful look on his grim face that looked like it had been chiseled from stone. As for me, I was also sitting on a stool and, unlike Alice who kept her eyes downcast towards the flagstones by her feet, continued to stare at my old master, hoping he'd come to a conclusion on his thoughts and just tell us.
Even though I was now eighteen, the Spook still treated me like a boy despite the fact my apprenticeship had ended almost a year ago.
"Well, what do you think, lad?" Mr Gregory finally asked, snapping me out of my thoughts, his green eyes boring into mine.
"The dark seems a little quiet ever since we dealt with the Fiend," I replied.
It was true that we'd bound the Fiend for eternity so no one could raise him again; ever since our return, things had seemingly changed – not just the bond between Alice and me.
"You already said that five minutes ago, lad," the Spook jibbed in a grumble.
I suddenly realised this and fell silent, not knowing what else to say.
"What's going on with you?"
"Hmm?"
The Spook slumped in his chair, burying his face in his hand in frustration.
"Why is it you're lacking so much concentration?" he demanded irritably.
I just shrugged, not knowing what I could say to save me from yet another lecture.
The Spook then stretched out his arms and gave a yawn.
"I think that just about settles it…"
Here, the Spook got to his feet and started for the stairs.
"Where are you going?" I asked curiously.
"Off to bed, lad, it's been a…long night." The Spook then looked at me as though he blamed me for this. "Soon, you should be too," he continued.
I waited until he'd descended the stairs before I, too, climbed to my feet and made my way over to Alice. She hadn't said a word since supper, which wasn't like her at all.
I crouched down so my head was level with hers, slid my arm around her petite shoulders and kissed her cheek.
"What's wrong, Alice – you haven't said a word since supper. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, Tom," she answered quickly as she looked up at me, her smile appearing a little too forced.
I smiled warmly, determined to find out.
"I did not think that my own wife would try and hide something from me."
It was true; Alice and I married in secret not long ago, wanting a future together. Naturally, we never told the Spook for fear of his reaction – we'd only had a few people as witnesses whom we could trust with our secret.
"Have you told him, Tom?" asked Alice suddenly, changing the subject.
"Told who what?" I asked teasingly to try and cheer her up.
"You know...Old Gregory about...you know...us…together…like…this?" she whispered like he wasn't far from us as her head bowed slightly.
"I don't think this is the best time, Alice, he's just really got his mind set on the dark for the time being," I replied.
Alice sighed and looked away from me.
"Alice?"
"It's just…I don't feel comfortable with having to sneak into your room every night, then sneak back to my old room in the morning, act like we're just friends," Alice told me after a long pause.
"Is that what this is all about?" I asked her gently.
Alice stared down at the cold flagstones again before nodding, a tear cascading down her rosy cheek.
I cupped her chin and lifted it so I could look into those beautiful big brown eyes of hers, my thumb caressing her cheek.
"Let's just go to bed, it's getting late," I suggested to her. "Mr Gregory's already gone up to bed so you don't have to sneak into mine tonight," I winked.
Alice nodded and finally smiled, playfully tapping my shoulder. Hand in hand, we got to our feet and headed for the stairs, Alice's head resting on my shoulder…
Only to meet Mr Gregory at the top!
He looked infuriated, tapping his foot at a furious pace with his arms folded firmly as he gave us both a stern look that seemed more like a frown. His thick dark eyebrow raised, he seemed to be waiting for an explanation.
"Did you..."
"I heard every word, lad, and you won't be sleeping together tonight, nor ever again! You, girl, will be sold as a maid to a family by tomorrow afternoon and that's final," he scowled coldly like the snow falling a blizzard outside.
"But you can't!" I cried, "It's immoral and you can't separate us, you just can't!"
"Can't I, lad? As long as I live and breathe no woman is going to distract you, especially not a witch like her."
"You can't do that, it's Christmas," Alice retorted angrily.
I gripped her hand tighter.
"Just go to your rooms!" he bellowed.
Both Alice and I knew better than to argue when the Spook was in a mood like this, so we obeyed.
I walked up to Alice's room with her and held her close, kissing her goodnight. When we separated our lips, we hugged tightly.
I whispered softly into her ear, "You won't be sold Alice, not if I can help it."
I'd spoken with more confidence than I felt, but I knew that I would take any measure necessary to ensure that Alice stayed with me. I should've told the Spook earlier and now, Alice was going to pay the price if nothing was to be done.
She cried softly and so I took both her hands in mine, putting some distance between us so I could look at her.
"Don't worry, Alice."
"Don't you remember what happened the last time?" she asked.
I nodded.
"And that won't happen again," I promised.
Alice kissed my cheek before disappearing into her room, closing the door after one last sorrowful glance over her shoulder my way.
Even though she wasn't that far from me, now we were married, it just didn't feel right.
I slammed the door to my room and tried to get some rest, hoping to get up early enough to stop the Spook before he took my wife to some family far from here.
Nonetheless, it was hard to even close my eyes for a moment whilst I tried to come up with something that might have the tiniest hope of saving Alice and I yet another unbearable separation like the one that took place four years ago.
Then, before I even had time to think of something, the Spook strode in.
"I know this will be hard for you, lad, but the girl is bad for you. She's only ever brought you trouble, trouble follows her because of who she is, and that won't change. Besides, spooks are not meant to have families – and for good reason too – you know that, lad."
I continued to stare up at the ceiling, unable to so much as look at him and care where he was standing.
"How can you understand and say that? Alice is more than capable of taking care of herself. You just want to stop me from having something you never had," I told him far more bitterly than I meant.
After I'd said it, I regretted it and it certainly didn't make me feel like the better person here.
"You'll feel like that now, lad, but in time, you will thank me some day."
That's all the Spook said before he closed the door and walked away like it was a normal night for him. Of course he wouldn't have the tiniest bit of remorse for what he was doing, his past with women had made him a cold-hearted, now overbearing man.
I started to sob like the boy I once was. Alice was everything to me and if I lost her again, I knew I just wouldn't be able to take it. There was just no guarantee this family would treat her fairly.
The winds blustered with more force and an angrier, wilder blizzard started. It was like the endless storm inside my heart. After all, I loved Alice far too much to just let her go. I was a fool for doing that once – and I'd vowed I wouldn't make that mistake again. I still stood by that even now, I wouldn't give up without a fight for her.