The Price of Love

Chapter Two:

Miss Peregrine led Charles into the kitchen and quickly turned the stove down to a low simmer so all of the water wouldn't evaporate.

She took out two mugs from the cupboard on the wall and placed to two teabags in them. "Please, sit down," she smiled, gesturing to the table in the middle of the kitchen. Charles thanked her and took a seat on one of the chairs.

A minute later, Miss Peregrine had made the cups of teas, after asking Charles how he liked his, and had sat down with the man. She handed him his tea and smiled whilst slowly sipping her own.

She placed her drink down and turned to Charles, "I don't mean to be intrusive, but... what's your peculiarity. I mean, only peculiars can enter a loop, so..."

"Oh, it isn't a rare one. My peculiarity is fire. I learned how to control it over time so I'm able to go about my daily life without worry, though sometimes I'm still a little hot to the touch," he chuckled. Miss Peregrine smiled in return and drank some of her drink, "I have a ward whose peculiarity is also fire. She has to wear protective gloves so she doesn't burn the house down. Maybe you two could get acquainted?" She suggested.

"I'd like that. It's nice to talk to someone who knows what you go through, you know. Especially as a peculiar," he gave her a knowing look. "Indeed. Being the only Ymbryne is sort of hard when you have eleven children, but I wouldn't change it for the world."

Charles smiled warmly, "yes, the other Ymbrynes said the same thing about their own children. Though they didn't all have eleven," he drank some of his drink.

Miss Peregrine's reply was cut short when the clanking of glass jars caught their attention. They turned to the right to see Enoch grabbing jars of animal hearts and organs from his cupboard. "Ah, Enoch. Have you finished your chores?" Miss Peregrine asked.

Enoch turned to her, jar in hand, "yes. I didn't say anything though, don't want to interrupt... whatever this is," he said sarcastically. Miss Peregrine had to refrain from rolling her eyes at his behaviour. "Well, I'm glad you've done your chores. Where's Olive?" She then questioned.

"Upstairs with Bronwyn and Claire. Why?" He asked, briefly eyeing Charles. "I want her to meet Charles, here. He has the same peculiarity as her and I thought they could get to know each other," she suggested. Enoch rolled his eyes but didn't question her, instead grabbing more jars and walking off, informing her that he'd get Olive for them.

Miss Peregrine turned back to her guest, with an apologetic smile. "That was Enoch. He can sometimes be a bit difficult but he's lovely, really," she reassured him.

"Don't worry, I like him. There's nothing better than a lad unafraid to speak his mind," Charles laughed.

"Oh, I'm so glad you like him. Most people in the town dislike him because of his attitude. They don't know him like myself and the others do, though," she trailed off at the end before smiling warmly at Charles.

They were once again interrupted by the arrival of another person. This time it was Olive who had been sent by Enoch. She curiously eyed Charles as she entered the kitchen but turned her attention to her headmistress to ask what she wanted.

"What do you need, Miss P?" She asked, going to stand next to her. "Olive, this is Charles Ray. I found him wandering the garden not long ago. His peculiarity is the same as yours," Miss Peregrine informed her.

"That's wonderful! I've never met anyone with the same peculiarity as me," Olive smiled.

"I was thinking maybe you two could get to know each other. Charles has learned how to control it over time, maybe he could help you control yours better?" She suggested, looking at Olive. Olive herself nodded, thinking that if she could control her fire, maybe one day, she could touch Enoch with her bare hands rather than wearing her gloves. "I'd love that, Miss P! Would you mind terribly, Charles?" Olive turned to the man who had been watching them converse. "Of course not, it would be my pleasure," he agreed.

"Let's go then! Oh, and I can introduce you to the others on the way," Olive said immediately. Charles agreed and turned to Miss Peregrine, "do you mind?" He asked. Miss Peregrine was a little wary as she'd only just met him, but he'd been to other loops and met other ymbrynes and peculiars. He seemed a very nice and trustworthy man, so she nodded with a smile.

Charles stood up and wandered off with Olive to go and meet the others, and give her some tips controlling her peculiarity.

--

Miss Peregrine was cleaning up in the kitchen half an hour later when footsteps approached. She turned around to see Enoch approaching. He seemed annoyed yet curious.

"Who's that man upstairs with the others?" He asked and took a seat at the table, placing an empty jar in front of him. "That's Charles Ray. He's a peculiar, like us," Miss Peregrine said. Enoch scoffed and was going to say something in response when something snapped within him and his breathing deepened.

Miss Peregrine stopped cleaning and sat down across from him. "What's wrong?" She asked. Enoch controlled his breathing and shook his head, "nothing." Miss Peregrine frowned, "are you sure?" She pressed with concern. Enoch nodded and grabbed his jar. He stood up and walked over to the cupboard nearby.

He opened the cupboard and returned the empty jar, swapping it for a couple more with hearts in them. When he had his new organs, he stalked out of the kitchen without a word, leaving Miss Peregrine alone again.

--

Upstairs, in the room the younger children mainly used for playing, they had all gathered around and watched as Charles tried to teach Olive how to control her spark. Unsuccessfully.

They giggled when Olive accidentally burned paper when holding it experimentally. Charles merely encouraged her and told her she could do it.

Enoch walked in, searching for Olive. He saw her stood in front of a group of children with Charles by her side, telling her how to control her flames.

"Olive," he said. Everyone turned to see him in the doorway with heart jears in his arms. "Yes?" She answered in her kind voice.

"I was gonna experiment with my homunculi, wanna help?" Enoch asked.

"I'm sorry, Enoch, but I want to stay and speak to Charles," Olive frowned apologetically. Enoch clenched his jaw and nodded, leaving the room immediatley.

Olive felt a bit bad, but if Charles could help her control her fire, she could spend more time with Enoch and the others without the constant worry of hurting them.

She turned back to Charles and the others, but when she did she noticed a slight smirk on the former's lips. It was gone as soon as it appeared, but she was sure she'd seen it.

Suspicion grew within her, but she quickly resumed her lesson with the man and forgot about it.