Eveline-

From the bedroom I heard Connell and Jakob leave the house. The family decided on this plan of the girls going to bed, and the boys leaving so the we could have a very serious talk with Arawn. What was not in the plan is my inability to sleep and overhearing their discussion. As Arawn told his story I felt a pain in my heart. For some reason I felt it to my core that he is not only afraid of recalling his tale but a fear for his safety. I have no idea why I am responding this way to a relative newcomer into my life. My emotions and heart are now involved. I'm keenly aware there is something he wasn't sharing with my parents. I made up my mind then and there to find out what this mysterious and handsome man is hiding. He isn't the only one with secrets.

I quietly crept back to my bed and reached underneath the mattress and retrieved Maribeth's journal. We're entirely too mature to call it a diary. The last entries before she left are the ones that I am drawn to. She writes about the man that came into her life and how drawn she is to him, Not only his looks, but his mind and soul. What intrigues me about these entries is no one in the family knew of this man, but from what I read of Maribeth's account she is fully and completely in love with him. She goes on to write how this mystery man visits her almost every evening and they talk and plan their future together. Her last two entries are the ones I should have shared with the family, but I cannot bring myself to tell them. It would destroy my family and the hope they still hold into of her safety

This is what it says;

"My love is coming for me tomorrow eve. Everything is planned out already and has been for quite some time. We have finally found the right time for us to leave. I know it will be hard on my family, leaving without explanation, but it has to be done. I will follow him anywhere. His promise for a better life with me and a life with him is all I could ever want. I count the hours till he comes for me."

" My heart aches, the time has come and gone for my love to come get me. He did not arrive, so I assumed that there was an unforeseeable delay. Then out of nowhere a terrible ache overcame my heart. I am truly convinced that it had broken in two. This pain inside is all the knowledge I need to know that something awful happened to him. I can literally feel his life slip away and it is breaking me. I will leave this place and I will find the ones that have killed my love and I will avenge him. I care not for myself or my safety anymore. I only care about avenging him and his beautiful soul. Once the monsters that have taken my reason for living are found, they will know a pure hell like no other, whoever is connected to my devastation in any way will suffer greatly. I just hope that if I ever return or it is discovered by any of my family, that they can forgive me. When I avenge the injustices bestowed upon my love who is no more."

This is what I cannot tell my family for I know it will break their hearts to know their oldest child has gone out on a mission of revenge against an unknown assailant. For a love none of us knew about. They have set in their minds that she is out there somewhere living a better life and not suffering as so many are, but knowing what I do makes me think she is not safe at all. Soon I must talk to Arawn about what he is hiding from my family and possibly tell him my fears about Maribeth.

Chapter 4

Eveline-

In the morning I arise to an early quiet home, even in the winter this is very unusual for this house, there is always some kind of commotion. Be it the men getting ready for their day, or the women prepping for a meal or some cleaning task. This morning there was no sound just a silence. A kind of silence with a weight to it that literally presses against you in the most ominous way. One you know in your heart that something truly dreadful has happened.

As I make it toward the kitchen the feeling of dread sinks deeper. I do my best to push it away as I hear Patricia entering the kitchen from the bedroom. I start the coffee knowing my parents drink it sparingly, but they will need it after last nights' talk with Arawn. As I turn to talk to Patricia, I see a look on her face that I can't quite describe. Then I heard her say the most horrific words my 18-year-old ears had heard.

"They are gone."

At first, I didn't process what she had said. So, I responded with "they probably woke before us and started chores."

Patricia took my hand and basically drug me to Connell and Jakob's' room it was there I saw the still made beds. This worried me right away because Patricia and I were usually the ones to make their beds. Before I could utter even one word, I was shown my mom and dad's room where the bed had also not been slept in. As the questions sprinted through my head never quite making it to my lips, the kitchen door opened, and we heard footsteps. A look passed between us, as we ran to the kitchen only to see Arawn.

His beautiful green eyes had taken on a stormy grey hue and were red rimmed. He looked like he had not slept in weeks, even though I had just seen him the night before. He looked so different this morning. I could hardly believe he was the same person. Arawn went to the coffee pot and poured a cup then sat down at the table. After sipping some coffee and the chill left his body, he looked at Patricia and I with a sad expression in his eyes and said, "I am sorry I did my best, but I could not save them."

Arawn began to tear up. I sat next to him and placed my hand over his hoping he would not pull away. I fully expected him to explain himself, but as our hands touched I felt not a tingle of excitement, but a full on electrical current shoot through my body straight to my heart. As my heartbeat sped up to a gallop I was sure everyone could hear, I felt my face flush and a heat spread through me to my very core. I gasped at the feelings that seemed to take forever to pass but, was only a second as my eyes fluttered at Arawn. I saw a look pass his eyes which could only be described as pure desire. I'm not experienced with men, but I had seen the same look pass between Patricia and Alexander many times. My face flushed even more. I tried to glance away but his eyes seemed to pierce deep into my very soul. It was the exact moment Patricia sat down and asked Arawn to explain himself.

Arawn-

The moment I finally realized I could not save my friend and his wife, I began the trek back to the farm to inform the girls of the most dreadful news I'd delivered in a long time. This is going to destroy the girls and their was nothing I could do to stop it. The heart break is inevitable, and I can only do my best to recount the details correctly and be supportive to the remaining family until my welcome is worn out.

As I approach the farm. my feelings begin to surface again, and the tears fell freely down my face. I let myself in the house assuming I have a little time to gather my thoughts and warm up before I must face them. One of them being Eveline. She is someone I felt I could truly care for and yet, I must break her beautiful heart. I heard them running from the other room. As soon as I saw Eveline and hear beautiful face, my heart truly ached. There is a worry in her lovely, expressive eyes, and I knew she had discovered the empty beds. I'd lost all courage and could not face her, so I took the cowards way out and stalled. I poured myself some coffee and sat at the table. I wondered if what I was going to tell the girls would change who they are?

When I couldn't bare the questioning eyes no more I lost all tact and just said the first thing that came to my mind. Eveline and her kind heart sat down next to me with so many questions on her face. She gently placed her small hand in mine. I knew in that moment I never wanted to lose contact with her. My pulse quickened with just this brief touch. I saw her blush and sensed her heart race to a near unbelievable pace. Knowing I had the same effect on her that she was having on me, brought joy to my hardened heart. I had a vague concept of time, but mere seconds passed since she'd placed her hand in mine. I know she saw the desire and longing in my eyes. By the looks of her scarlet cheeks, I knew my desire was obvious to her, thankfully before it became very obvious to everyone we were distracted.

Patricia sat down and drew our eyes to her with the questions I really did not want to answer

"What do you mean you couldn't save them? Couldn't save who? What are you talking about? Where Is the rest of the family?"

The questions flowed with no pause. Poor Patricia didn't even take a breath. After the rapid-fire questions, she fell into a chair while she and Eveline patiently awaited my answers. I knew once I began explaining, more questions would arise. I knew the girls were not going to react well, so I took a deep breath and began.

"Last night after you both retired to the bedroom your brothers left the house, I can only assume to let your parents and I talk. I answered their many questions about what was going on in the city and we talked for several hours. When your mother realized the boys had yet to return, she suggested we go look for them. As I walked the property, your mom and dad went in the direction of the pond. The boys gone to fetch wood, so your parents assumed they headed towards the woods to get extra, even though there is plenty against the house. I saw no sign of the boys, so I followed your mom and dad. When I got close enough is when I heard your father shout to Hazel don't cross the pond. That the ice won't hold we need to go around. Hazel responded with, but they are just on the other side I know i saw my boys and they are being drug away we must save them Robert, we don't have time to go around we need to get to the woods to save them. I heard the fear and dread in her voice. When I arrived at the pond, I witnessed Hazel look up with fear in her eyes. That look will haunt me as much as the following events. Hazel spied Robert just as the ice broke and she fell in. Robert instantly went to save her but with the weakened state of the ice he fell in too."

I looked at the girls for the first time since beginning the story. Patricia sat still with tear filled eyes. As I turned towards my beautiful Eveline she trembled ever so slightly as she shook her head no. Unable to bear the devastation I'd brought upon these sisters, I became silent

As I raced toward the pond I kept a watch just in case your mother or father surfaced. It was as I tentatively stepped on the ice and rushed as fast as I dared towards the place they fell in I saw your dad surface he gasped for air and flailed his arms trying to find purchase on the broken ice, I arrived at the hole and Patrick grabbed my arm I tried to pull him up but he was fighting me. I think he was hypothermic already because he would not allow me to assist in saving him. Patrick looked at me with a shake in his voice and his body he told me he could not find Hazel he had seen her stuggling to find the way she fell in but was not going the correct direction to het to the hole in the surface with a sadness in his eyes Patrick told me he would not give up until he found his love. He let go of my arm and pushed away, he resubmerged in a desperate effort to find her. I cautiously sat at the edge of the hole waiting for their return unfortunatly after an hour I came to terms with the fact they were not coming back. I searched the surface of the icy pond for any evidence of them but found none. I hope in my heart he found her before he perished in the icy water. I truly did all I could for them but I couldn't save them and I am so sorry."

Patricia raised from her chair and silently left the room, as she headed for the door I heard her sobbing ever so quietly. She paused before leaving the house and with a catch in her voice and the slightest of sniffles she stated she was going to get Alexander to see if they could find and retrieve the bodies.

I let her go just for the simple fact that this was her way of dealing with the news I had just given them. This family had just been utterly destroyed and it would take a great deal of effort and time for them to heal. I focused my attention on Eveline, intent to comfort her in some way . Her composure and strong facade was crumbling under my gaze and I felt her heartbreak.