THE UNLIKELY HEIR: LETTER
I hung my coat on the peg just behind the door and headed on to the small living room where I had spent most of my recent nights talking with Edward. I quickly lit the lantern on the lamp stand in the center of the cold room and headed over to the hearth to start a fire. The flames licked on and raged like the burning desire within me to turn and scream. I fought back treacherous instincts, willed in all my control and rose slowly, turning towards the adjoining kitchen. I eyed the still full jar of tea leaves I kept on the top shelf for such incidents and filled the kettle with water from the pitcher. Setting it over the still cold stove, I turned a cautiously guarded gaze to the solemn Mr. William Crest.
"Would you like some tea?" Say No! I don't think I can keep that charade going long enough.
He shook his head vigorously much to my pleasure and mumbled a barely audible decline. Suddenly, he heaved out of the seat he had been occupying in the now warm living room and walked a few paces to bend a little by the fire. His scent rose while he warmed his bare hands and I watched mesmerized by awe, irritation and some impatience at Mr. Crest's ease. Had this man no sense of self preservation at all? This was totally annoying. I was under no obligation to entertain a stranger and he had no right to walk temptation into my home! I should have made up a polite excuse and sent him on his way.
He slowly straightened and walked back to reclaim his previous place in the sofa close to the door then, took plenty time removing his hat and gloves before he turned back to look me over. "Kindly Doctor, please sit with me?" he requested, waving to the settee next to him. Unbelievable! How perfect my human pretense must be to encourage such ease.
I walked quickly to take the space next to his. William Crest was an aged man. He looked like he must have seen at least sixty years and some already. Reddish streaked brown hair thinned above his head with his hands heavily veined and weak looking. Deeply entrenched wrinkles encased the languid eyes partially hidden behind the simple copper rimmed glasses which perched on the bridge of his nose.
He reached into the oddly flat pouch that he had laid on the table at the side and pulled out a fairly large package. Thrusting it my way, he mumbled a faint "For you" and firmly handed it to me.
"The missus, Mrs. Elizabeth, wanted you to have this Doctor," he said.
"Who?" I asked, thrown off momentarily. All thoughts were trained on the cream colored paper in my hands. What could this be? Which Mrs. Elizabeth wanted me to have this? Elizabeth Masen?
"The missus instructed so" he whispered as he calmly tapped the envelope in my hands and looked up at me hopefully. A wide grin broke over his creased face when I shook my head in puzzlement. Whatever is he talking about? I was confused. I turned the package over and over as though it held the answers to all the mystery that this man seemed to exude. The elegant words daintily penned across the front spelled my name boldly but hardly any other parts of the paper seemed tarnished or marked except for the fingerprints of its previous bearers.
"She said it was of the utmost importance that it be given you and in with no other's knowledge," he continued. "She made me swear by all that was holy to make sure you received this even if in my hour of death. You see, it contains such important epistles that even the good master Masen never saw."
I looked up and enquired, "What is it?"
He looked a little flustered and quickly hid his aged face. He shrugged lightly at first and fidgeted with his gloves. "I am not privy good sir; I am unlearned in written words."
Oh! A letter was of no use to a person who could not read. But… he looked so well-read. Hah! I was not the only one putting up appearances then. I smiled slightly in mock humor at the similarity and quickly shook my head to clear away the triviality. It was of no consequence who was hiding what and who was better at his game. My thoughts directly latched on to the bronze haired beauty who had died just a few days before and whose son was somewhere either too far to witness this exchange – which would have ended long ago had he been here and which admittedly was still a possibility – or was very good with controlling his most insistent impulses and had another talent for invisibility.
Her vivacious green eyes marked my memories indelibly. They had looked so piercing, so accusing even when she had begged for what had seemed like the immortality of her son. What more did she require now? Will she never seize to astonish me? She seemed so set on a course; her wishes still adhered to in her pursuits. Exactly what these pursuits were eluded me. I was never one for mystery. These situations never happened before and I was at a loss as to how to deal with this. Why had this come now?
Old – but many decades too young - Mr. Crest stared intently at the fiery embers burning wildly now in the fireplace seeming to recall memories of 'my' son's mother.
"Elizabeth was a very delightful child. She is such a loss to all who knew her. Her vibrancy… lost to the dust of the earth. Is there any way for us to live forever?" he smiled at me and I returned one very shaky twist of my mouth at him. "She would do anything for her family. Selfless and ever so courageous, Elizabeth insisted on love. When she met the dashing Edward Masen, she had made up her mind long before he first called on her that he was who she was meant to marry. Ever so sure, she was never browbeaten into the quiet roles most women assumed. She was such a force to reckon. What she wanted, she got."
I raised one eyebrow at him. Tell me about it. He paused a while and continued. "It's no wonder she found who to entrust her treasures to before she passed on."
"Why me" I asked, ever so slightly perturbed now.
"I am not entirely sure. I do suppose it may be because you are a noble and wise man. I saw many times before, how she spoke of your devotion to God and to the healing of the sick. I suppose she thought you would have better use for it eventually," he signaled at the piece clutched carefully in my hands and turned back to gaze into the fire. "… seeing, as it were, that the terrible disease done wiped out all of her bloodlines."
I shook my head again and fingered the dainty package. Her bloodlines were wiped out? True. In place of blood, venom flowed and was strengthened by the life-force of her son. Edward Masen no longer existed; who he was now was Edward Cullen.
I had taken Edward to their graves just the other night after the modest service Reverend Billy Boderick held. Pain crossed his otherwise serene features as he looked down into the dirt that held his parent's remains then, a few minutes later, only a ghost of what had been held in his bright ruby red eyes. His smile had been purposeful, confident and peaceful when he strode to join me at the edge of the quaint cemetery. It had to be my confirmation – a sign that he accepted who he had become.
"Forgive me Doctor, but I cannot stay further," the old man next to me stated unexpectedly. "I have been away too long from my family and they must be anxious by now."
I hurriedly spoke an understanding and made to lead the way to the door, eager to be rid of him. He turned to stare into the furious flames once again. His ancient eyes seemed unfocused for a long moment and his hands shook somewhat. His head snapped up abruptly and his blue eyes held my brown gold eyes in a long, searching gaze. He nodded once and begun to gather his belongings.
I watched as he pulled on his gloves, his hat and quickly stood up to pull off his fur cloak from the peg where it hung near mine. I bid him farewell at the door and carefully explained my expected absence at the hospital blaming the speed of my decision on the urgent need to visit my own family and help with a difficult situation. Well, it was no lie. The difficult situation was expected disclosure if we stayed any longer and my family was Edward.
The little cottage was flooded in plenty light though I needed none at all to satisfy my curiosity with what was enclosed in the envelope. I sat before the paper monster several minutes while I pondered my limited options. Open it. Do not open it. I carefully lifted the mystery packet, shook lightly and listened closely. Paper slid across paper. I shook again to make sure I had heard right. Then, I lifted the delicate sachet up against the light of the lantern and peered through. I squinted at it intently, trying unsuccessfully to make meaning of the blobs of ink words. I pursed my lips hard and peered through once more. The overlapping words of the folded paper left the letter unreadable. What is super vision if it cannot see through a few sheets of paper?
I tossed the paper case back unto the table and slumped back into the stuffed settee. How much had Elizabeth Masen known? What had she taken to her grave? A wave of dread filled me. How much had anybody else seen at all? I had been so careful – or so I thought. Had I said something at the hospital? Was that when I slipped, had she seen the vampire in me then? Denial held no solutions. Yet, was it better to know now what she kept secret and cause Edward unnecessary torture all through tomorrow's journey or wait until we had settled?
Finding no proper answers, I strode into the room where we kept our luggage. I lifted the lid of my trunk and placed the envelope carefully beneath a stack of my clothes. I looked over at Edward's baggage. Last night when we stole into his room, I realized just how much of his humanity he was leaving behind… his music, friends, dreams, education and now, his home. Edward selected to travel light and packed a case of his clothes and the most basic necessities to avoid prying eyes. How thoughtful and considerate. I resolved to give him back all that he had given up. A doctor's wages could provide for a young man, could it not? Yes, I was sure it would be no trouble at all. After all, I had quite a large sum of money saved up. I would do what I could to give back a measure of happiness to this good friend I found.
Velvet darkness engulfed the room, cloaking all mystery and myth. How much further was the dawn now I thought? Gold Coast, Chicago had been my haven… it was fast becoming a trap. I secured my luggage and launched out the back door running fast and hard through the flaming fall trees in search of my son.
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Please don't kill me, I really don't know what the letter says too. Really!
Inspiration:
Jars of Clay, Delirious
Review, review, review!
Just learning to use the document manager. Still need a beta!
