Chapter Four

- Part 1 -


Carmen heard muffled voices. Unsettling clack of boots rapping against the wood, first but a couple but soon turning to a great number of feet pacing about the premises furtively, changing to running footsteps as the girl rose from the bed groggily. At first deeming the hushed whispers in her ears as nothing but remnants of her dream, until soon found them everything but natural. Her heart rate increasing for wonder as she glanced towards the window, but darkness filling the room, informing her of the yet late hour that made the noises even more alarming. Instant recollection of last night's burglar turning her restless, even their current intruders couldn't have been Sister Rachel's killer. Unless he'd returned with help.

Carmen then detected louder voices of men barking imperatively, approaching the sleeping quarters, soon followed by several slams and silent screams, the screech of something getting dragged across the floors and furniture crashing into walls rising above all noise that then turned clearly audible. Carmen noticing a gleam of light to pass her door before she nervously shot out of her cot once Sister Eleanor's shrill scream sounded from the adjacent room, urging Carmen to lit her candle and take it to the door in haste. Fear taking hold of her as she heard the arisen clamour coming from outside, the increasing pleads for mercy and help of her fellow Sisters frightening Carmen so that all she could do was to jump back in dread as someone suddenly attempted to force the door of her room open violently. Her thanking God to have barred it along with her window, her jumpy gaze shifting to the shutters that shook as intensely, authoritative voice demanding her to open the door in the name of His Majesty the King. Carmen retreating in ultimate dismay upon realizing marines to have invaded the convent, but was then startled again by the horrified cries of Sister Mary and Melissa. The screams apparently also claiming the attention of the soldiers attempting to break in as Carmen saw the streak of light to move away from her room, Carmen heartening herself to go to the now unguarded door to open the lock and stormed outside. Only to be frozen on her spot by the sight that awaited her, for a moment her contemplating upon barricading herself back inside.

Like she'd earlier deduced a whole company of marines had taken over the convent, but instead of behaving honourably for her outrage the men were tearing the place apart. Like the previous night's thief turning it upside down in search of something, trashing the rooms and breaking the walls where the other half of the soldiers were dragging the Sisters and the rest of the people sheltered by the abbey from their beds to the yard. Neither acting civilized, Carmen placing a horrified hand over her lips as she rammed against the wall in shock upon witnessing the men and women to be brutally hauled outside in their sleeping ware and thrown into a single group. Those who resisted the rough and crude treatment getting beaten and even killed by the marines in middle of an attempt to flee, their bodies left abandoned to were the poor people collapsed, tears starting to form behind Carmen's eyes as she followed a few of the nuns to be mercilessly shot in front of her eyes. Her taking the terror in but a second, it overwhelming her as she couldn't understand what she saw, this atrocity performed by the officers of the law. What in God's name was happening?

"Halt!"

Carmen's head whipped towards the marine on her left who she'd presumed to have accompanied his comrade, instead of leaving her room unguarded apparently to have succeeded in breaking the window shutters with his bayonet. Him next pointing it at her as commanded her to stop, Carmen doing no such thing as with a fearful breath she ran. Crying out as the shot fired from his rifle consequently whizzed past her temple, fortuitously sinking to a pillar when she'd jumped down from the corridor to the yard. Carmen stumbling forth blindly for a few seconds as avoided the soldiers that swarmed about the premises, defying her odds by dashing straight through a cluster of redcoats, and after barely escaping the seizing arms turning a corner and heading towards the kitchen. Her then sprinting along another corridor only to be met with a marine who instantly lifted his rifle to force her to stop, holding Sister Eleanor by the arm. The girl looking to Carmen in panic as equally frantic groan left Carmen's lips when she was indeed petrified by the threat of sharp steel, the bayonet pointing at her neck, her own breaths coming out as gasps as she exchanged an incredulous stare with the man in front of him. Him returning it but apathetically as motioned her to move.

"Turn around."

"Please, why... why are you doing this?" Carmen asked fearfully, trembling as did as he told her. Flinching as the bayonet dug to her back, the soldier walking her forward at gunpoint without responding.

"What's... what's happening, Carmen?" Sister Eleanor asked, in tears as gazed at the older girl in confusion, Carmen turning her head towards her in dismay as had no words to account for. The soldier ordering them to move along quickly as they then were nearing the yard, vision of more blood and mercilessly executed prisoners unfolding for the already frit girls. The garden vacated from the soldiers who presumably had spread around to join the search of the nunnery, snivel escaping Carmen's lips in turn due to the sight of the deceased Sisters and as innocent townsfolk, but she was then startled by a clang that came right behind her. Anguished moan of the marine cleaving the air as Carmen felt the bayonet to slip from her back, her twirling around with wide eyes only to see Mother Superior who'd knocked the rifle from their captor. The man holding his hand until his body shifted so that he was face to face with the elderly woman who wasted no time in delivering a heavy blow to his head. Sister Eleanor leaping to Carmen's embrace as the girls turned their flabbergasted eyes back to the Abbess, the woman heaving out a strained sigh until beckoned them to go towards the chapel.

"Hurry now, run away from here before the marines get to you! Go now!"

Carmen obeyed, turning Sister Eleanor around for them to head to the gates of the abbey, but she was stopped by the younger girl's scream. Carmen stopping in middle of a run to see her hand to have been clasped by the marine who hadn't been taken out by Mother Superior's attack, the man standing with a hateful grimace, reaching for his sword before Carmen or the Prioress could step in to save the young novice. Carmen frowning in terror as she watched Sister Eleanor to be jerked back by the man, the blade piercing her in an instant, Carmen watching the girl to fall to her feet until the soldier was finally stunned by a broom the Abbess had recovered from the nearest room. Awful realization occurring to Carmen then as her gaze moved from the girl's body to Mother Superior in shock.

"Are they here for me?"

The woman took Carmen's arm with an unreadable expression, as in the following second for the girl's even greater horror she saw Commander Basset to round the corner, devilish smile spreading on his lips upon finding the two women at the corridor. The senior officer calling out to his men to surround them, several marines instantly re-emerging from all sides of the convent as Carmen stared at the Commander. His appearance offering a sufficient answer to her question when she behold his content grin, everything blending together for a minute as Carmen was then hastily led back to her room by the Prioress. Mother Superior taking the key from her and locking the door, placing a hand above her chest before told Carmen to get back from the door. Carmen jolting in fear and hurrying to block the window with a trunk she kept under her cot when the door was bombarded by several soldiers at a time, her efforts however proving useless once the door then couldn't hold against their brute force. The lock giving in first as Commander Basset kicked the door in, Mother Superior sheltering Carmen as stood in the man's way. Holding out the broom protectively, facing the man with brave mien as he and a couple of his cadets entered. Commander Basset measuring the women until shifted his full attention to Carmen, the girl cringing and squeezing the Abbess' arms, her clear fear of him causing him to laugh.

"Worry not, I'm not here for you this time. My feud with you is not that important...Though I find it more than satisfactory to have both of you here to deal with, as in two birds with one shot. I'll sure eat well tonight..."

"How dare you barge into my convent and grant orders for your soldiers to slay innocent people living under its roof? This is the house of God and you know well not to exceed your rights as the Commander of this town so outrageously. This is unacceptable, and I will not let such presumptuous action slide without consequences that will lead to the discharge of your whole regiment!" Mother Superior chided in utmost contempt, furious as looked at the smug man standing at the door. Commander Basset appearing indifferent to her threats as simply inclined his head at her defiance.

"Then you'll be disappointed to find me to act on behalf of nothing but my rights as the Commander. Like your abbey there's been several thefts and killings happening around town for the past few weeks, and my throughout investigation has led me to believe the perpetrator to be hiding within these walls along with the rest of the filth you had sheltered here. As well as his accomplishes who have granted him not only protection but a place to store the stolen goods. Perfect ruse to deceive the authorities with your innocuous facade I'd say. My men are searching for the items in question as we speak so I dare to believe none to disagree with the entitlement of this raid."

Mother Superior squinted at the Commander's response that was correct in a sense that because of his status it would certainly gain benefit of the doubt from the townspeople, after thinking about Pedro shortly Carmen following the woman's cue by looking dumbfounded as she answered. Both of them obviously not only seeing through the Commander's scheme but knowing it to be false. "That is a flagrant lie. You think anyone will come to believe such nonsense as the truth? This convent is a respected establishment in favour of many, and they will not see it any way equitable that you have invaded here in means of tort for accusations that a plain fairytale."

"You're free to go ahead and try to convince those people of your virtue", Commander answered, his smile however then disappearing and getting replaced by a sinister expression as he came closer. "But after we've dealt with the business you once again so foolishly saw fit to leave unfinished upon my previous visit, I'm afraid there's no one left in this town to take you word for it. I control people's beliefs, as I control you with a single aggravating word and falsified document bearing my signature. And anyone who would dare to question the extent of that control would be sure to understand that placing any faith upon murderers is blasphemy of the worst kind."

"Let the girl go, Basset. She's not part of this game you're playing", Mother Superior pleaded, dropping the broom willingly upon understanding there was no escape from the situation, however neither her voice or her face faltering from earnest as she locked gazes with the Commander.

"Game?" he repeated, amused as eyed at stiffened Carmen. "No, Mother Superior, it's only you who's making this pointlessly convoluted with your hellbent willingness to keep on opposing me, where I'm here just to claim something that should've been mine years ago. And you've just made your next false move by insisting in pretending that fear of god will protect you from me."

Carmen released a frightened cry as one of Basset's men suddenly captured her, the Commander pointing towards her briefly as the marine placed a knife above the girl's heart. Carmen locking gazes with the elderly woman who seemed but serene, the officer pulling a pistol from his belt.

"Where is it?" Commander asked, tilting his head at the woman. "Where's the artefact? Spare your convent and this girl's life further hazard by giving me what I've come to collect."

Carmen was confused as followed the pair to stare one another, neither of them saying anything. The Abbess simply returning the Commander's gaze without getting fazed by his leverage, the man's nodding to the man holding Carmen who dug the blade into her skin, panicked breath leaving her lips. The girl seeking the Prioress' irises for an explanation as the Commander started to load the pistol, the second subordinate taking hold of the woman once he hold the barrel at the her jaw. Carmen's eyes darting about the room in dread before she watched the Commander to inch closer to the Abbess after glancing at Carmen grimly, finding that neither of them would submit to talk this way. After repeating his question once more without a preferable result him deciding upon another plan of action. His smile surly.

"Yes. From all the times you've stood in my way I should've known you to be too proud of a woman to concede without personal gain in the matter", he stated, baffling Carmen more until her breath was stuck in her lungs when she then witnessed the man to ruthlessly shoot Mother Superior to her side. Gazing at the injured woman but coldly without an ounce of compassion, taking greater care of his shirt by frowning at the splurged droplets of blood in frustration that had ruined the fabric.

"No!" Carmen screamed, fighting back the arm of the soldier that kept her still and prevented her from going to the woman's aid. Mother Superior collapsing on her knees, taking support from the chair until Commander Basset shoved it away. Causing the woman to flop prone on the floor, Carmen stopping her struggle upon seeing the blood that started to spill through her fingers, filling her with but horror as Commander Basset placed one of his feet on top of the gunshot wound to slow the bleeding. The Abbess' pained wail smothering under his scornful voice.

"You always were one stubborn crone, Mother. Not only the death of your successor was enough, but you just had to risk the lives of your whole flock in this endeavour to stop me from getting my way. Which you should've known not to be hindered by your nugatory title much longer."

"You...You killed Sister Rachel?" Carmen asked in disbelief, piecing together the man's insinuating remarks, the man meeting her distraught stare what else than indifferent.

"No. It was entirely the fault of your Abbess that that nosy woman died. Protecting her secrets proved much more dangerous than an encounter with a prowler..."

"You commanded...one of your scoundrels to break in here and kill Sister Rachel in cold blood", the Prioress cut in, looking up to the Commander with hateful eyes. "Travesty of law such as you belongs to the end of the rope in place of all those you send off to the gallows groundlessly."

"One way or another we're all sinners deserving to burn in hell's fire, Mother. But for once your information seems to be amiss, as your killer was a mere thief I hired to do my bidding in exchange for a relief in his sentence. Obviously failing by creating an unnecessary fuss for me to clean up by killing the woman and returning empty handed. But I might as well thank him to have given me an opportunity to take care of this within the legal limits by getting himself back in death row with a murder charge. And as much as yours..." Commander remarked, pressing the Abbess' wound lightly. "...it was that nun's own doing that got her head smashed in by him. Like her Mother Superior her should've learned not to interfere, and what it is that you say? Oh yes, "thou shall not covet thy neighbour's possessions."

Carmen couldn't believe anyone to be this cruel, her staring at the floor in fact stupefied until gained a contemptuous tint in her eyes too once they drilled into the Commander. Her leering at the man in hatred, the Commander leveling but impassive look back while faced her upon hearing her reprehending words. "As well as "thou shall not kill"."

"Unfortunately I don't consider myself a god fearing man, nor shall you to expect your prayers to turn me one."

"How could you do this? Such enormity...You're a monster!"

"Downright godless... I'm as impious as they come, and you've seen nothing yet. Because once I've succeeded in taking away your peace, you shall see the true face of mine and the devil I truly am", the officer replied, his features expressing nothing but spite when he unexpectedly strode over to Carmen and yanked her from his cadet's hold while instructed the other soldier to separate the desk from the wall. Carmen's heart stopping for another surge of fear when she was then forced onto the table, her resistance availing her not when the man threw her down on her stomach with ease, tears of terror welling up to her eyes as unaware of what he was planning her body was then hold still by the man's knee that pressed onto her back. The Commander taking hold of her arms and restraining them of all squirming, but instead of hamstringing her completely the man took her right palm and placed it right beside her face, his cadet's tight grip keeping her head down and forced her to look how her fingers were spread apart. After handing his pistol to his marine Commander Basset taking out a knife himself, Carmen whimpering quietly as the senior officer looked down at the Abbess, tapping Carmen's cheek with the blade remarkably before pointed it at the elderly woman. Returning his full attention to Carmen by leaning down to her, scaring her by studying her features with the tip of the dagger a downright vehement expression on his own face, the girl cringing away from his touch as lapsed into helpless sobbing. The Commander's evil breath making her skin crawl as somehow she sensed this man to know exactly how to use that knife to make her say anything he wanted to hear, was it true or not. Due to this daunting revelation her anguish but increasing as the Commander started to talk.

"Not so courageous now, are you...One of you will eventually tell me where the artefact is. But till then you will watch your dear Mother Superior bleed to death, and she will get to see me cut your fingers off one by one until either of you gives me an answer that pleases me. And if even after that I'm not holding the item in my hand, in addition to disabling you, I'll be more than happy to carve up your pretty mug so that even God will turn his face away from you. Not to mention those two pests that have come to take a liking to you for it... "

Carmen's startled breath was cut short as she listened to the Commander's ominous words, exchanging a teary gaze with the Prioress until her head was shoved back down. Her closing her eyes as tried to hold back the snivels that were making their way up her throat constantly, it however proving impossible once she watched the Commander's knife to be placed on top of her forefinger. But a new scared wail escaping her lips next instead of the answer the man was accosting.

"So, let's start...Where is the sword of the sea god?"

Carmen was but utterly puzzled by his question, not understanding anything what he was talking about or what it had to do with all that had happened starting from Sister Rachel's murder, her therefore not responding as just laid still in desperation. Shaking her head in ignorance and let out another cry as the hovering blade was placed back onto her finger, Commander's voice turning impatient.

"Talk! Where is the artefact?!"

"No. No, no, please, please, no... I know nothing!" Carmen finally stuttered, in shock as her eyes remained fixated onto the knife in the officer's hand. Her not fathoming how could his men allow this to go on, as a response Commander Basset's knee weighing down on her back painfully, as one of his men took the charge of inflicting pain to the Abbess to pressure the girl to speak. The elderly woman staring at Carmen in pity as heaved herself higher after getting released under the marine's boot, Carmen shaking her head now fervently as did her best to fight the man off.

"Please don't! I don't know...Commander please, I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Oh, you do. You're just as great of a fool as Your Abbess to lie to me."

Breath of despair left Carmen's lips, her pressing her head against the table until she happened to notice the apples that had scattered all over the floor. Her eyeing at them a miserable look in her eyes, her instantly thinking of Henry and was filled with longing, wishing him to be here as tears finally broke through and she wept in fear. Fear of the man who towered above her, enraged, and who then abruptly jerked her head upward. Carmen not being able to hold back a wail of pain and dread as more tears streamed down her cheeks, Commander demanding her to reveal the hiding place of this "sword of the sea god" once more. Carmen's mind however occupied with but one thing as it was in that moment of utmost horror when she prayed. Someone to protect her, to save her from this terrible man who was sure to take her life after not gaining the answers he sought from her. But for her dismay it was not God whose name erupted from her lips then, her not even noticing it as squeezed her eyes closed.

"Henry..."

Commander Basset halted, releasing Carmen's hair and eyed at the quivering girl who slumped back down, the man lifting an inquisitive eyebrow as his tone turned curious.

"Henry? Henry who?" he queried, inclining his head at Carmen, but as she didn't answer he leant against the table. Lifting Carmen's jaw to lock gazes with her. "Does he possess the artefact, Carmen, this Henry? Does he have it? Speak and you'll be speared..."

In horror of what she'd let slip her lips Carmen remained quiet, her heart fluttering for new kind of dread when she feared to have involved Henry into this mess unintentionally. Her silence naturally not making the Commander happy but after scowling at her Basset slammed her head against the table for the second time, his fingers this time digging into her neck as Carmen's snivels turned back to terrified crying, her teary eyes widening for panic as the infuriated Commander placed the knife onto her finger again. But this time his action was far from mere bluff.

"One last time your gypsy harlot, Henry who!? Who is Henry? Give me his full name!" he roared, Carmen opening her mouth for an opposing scream when she followed the man to attempt to dig the knife into her flesh. But for the girl's bafflement he was stopped by a grunt of one of his cadets, Carmen hearing a loud thud just on her left that shook the table before another moan echoed in the room, furniture rattling when something heavy fell to the floor. Commander Basset releasing Carmen from his steel hard grip as spun on his heels upon hearing his soldiers' groans, only to be knocked out by an unknown assailant he nor his marines had heard to enter the room. Carmen gasping as she saw Commander Basset to keel over from the corner of her eye, her hearing someone to stop behind her with a strained sigh as she levered herself up, her heart this time lurching but for joy when her prayers were proven to have been answered after all.

"Me as a manner of fact, sir. And it seems I don't have the foggiest about what you seek, yet alone have it", Henry remarked, directing a victorious and utmost content smirk at the unconscious Commander, dropping the broom he'd snatched from the floor, as the girl twirled around in awe. Her fear swiftly replaced with immense relief upon seeing him, Henry's serious expression turning into worry as their eyes met.

"Henry?" Carmen called, not believing the lad to be actually standing there but without much thought had already dashed to the boy. None of what she'd decided about him earlier springing to her mind then, as she was just so glad to see him. All of her fright washing away by his arms that encircled her, squeezing her as Henry let her vent the repressed anxiety of the perilous incident with few snivels. Carmen pressing her face against his safe shoulder as Henry took in the knocked out marines and injured Mother Superior in dismay, not any more than Carmen understanding what was going on.

"Are you alright? he asked, looking down at the girl who simply nodded in response. Clinging to him thankfully as Henry's eyes next shifted back to the Abbess who was barely conscious, him frowning at Basset's cruelty. Only highlighted when all of a sudden Henry heard more marines to be heading their way, smoke starting to linger into the room, Carmen separating from the lad as she next heard the Abbess to call out to her. Distress gnawing at the girl again as she was reminded of the woman's injury, her now hastening to kneel beside the dying Prioress as Henry instead rushed to the door. To see how flames had engulfed the roof of the storage without a warning, spreading fast to the surrounding buildings as the perpetrators who'd started the fire were evacuating from the convent, for Henry's terror one of the marines throwing a torch into the pile of bodies. The wind instantly picking up the fire and blew it towards the corridor, it not taking but a few seconds before the wood started to smoulder.

"Carmen, we have to leave!" he exclaimed, striding back inside to bring the girl to her feet but she didn't budge. Refusing to move as just grasped Mother Superior's hand, placing her down to a more comfortable position. Holding the woman's wandering eyes as well as was able to keep her awake where Henry let out a sigh, taking the bedspread and crumpled it, about to use it to staunch the bleeding as looked at Carmen. "We need to go. The marines set the abbey on fire, we'll burn alive if we stay here."

"We can't leave her here!" Carmen objected, exchanging a curt stare with him until took the spread from him, pressing it onto the Abbess' wound.

"We cannot move her. She's losing too much blood to get out of here alive."

"No, we can do this. It's alright...We'll get you out of here and take you to doctor Avery", Carmen said, refusing to abandon the woman like Henry suggested. Her irises remaining fixated at the Abbess, who then shook her head in turn, smiling.

"No child", she stated, confusing both of the youth as they looked to the elderly woman questionably, the Prioress in turn taking hold of Carmen's hand that pressed the blanket against her midriff. "Henry is right to say so. It's too late for me, Carmen. You must leave me to God's care. I've... done my duty and am ready to go to Him."

"No", Carmen breathed, her vision blurring with tears again as the truth dawned to her once she took another look at all the blood that covered the floor, staining her nightgown, her still just shaking her head in denial as felt Mother Superior's fingers to stroke her cheek. Claiming her attention as Henry's hand entwined with hers.

"You need to be brave, Carmen. You are now the last of us left to guard the secret", the woman said urgently, Carmen lifting her quizzical eyes to see the Abbess to close her own for a fleeting sensation of pain.

"What?" she queried through her snivels, not comprehending what the Prioress was referring to, until Commander Basset's remarks returned into her nonplussed mind. Carmen and Henry now following how in her death throes Mother Superior pushed a hand under her habit, hardly breathing when her serious eyes met with Carmen's, the woman pulling out a small chest of dark oak and a letter. Henry realizing it to be the object he'd spied the Abbess to hide into her study the day before, him examining the rectangular box as Mother Superior handed the items to dumbfounded Carmen. Her taking them with unsure hands, her gaze returning to the woman who nodded towards the box faintly, in clear pain as had to catch her breath before was able to deliver the important words the girl needed to hear before death would claim her, as she would leave the young woman to carry the burden of the box all on her own.

"Basset must not get his hands on that case. Nor any other man like him with heart of evil and mind set on wrongdoing... Now that I die and there is no successor to my position, It's now your duty to preserve it", she explained, coughing harshly, Carmen rushing to lift her head so that she wouldn't choke. But she knew as well as Henry that it was too late, her looking down at Mother Superior in grief as the woman instead smiled at her reassuringly after directing a binding look to Henry. "You go now... All that...there's no time to account for about your new purpose is explained in that letter... Keep... the artefact safe, as Henry will keep you... May God be with you, and let the... blessings of Virgin Mary's to... guide you... As long as you have your faith you'll...be alright."

Even though the Abbess' words only befuddled her more than soothed her about the task she'd bestowed her, bypassing these thoughts Carmen placed a wavering hand on Mother Superior's cheek. Silently watching the woman to take last of her laborious breaths, holding onto life for a minute more until her eyes finally closed and the girl felt the woman's grip of her palm to loosen. Carmen shutting her own eyes as she clasped to the Prioress' robe in sadness, breaking into hopeless tears as after casting a compassionate glance at the deceased nun Henry jumped to his feet. Hoisting the crying girl up with him and without wasting any more time took her to the doorway, thick cloud of smoke greeting them as they started to make their way through the flames that had swiftly swallowed the majority of the nunnery.

The fire had blocked almost all of the exits, it proving challenging for them to find a safe enough route, as rafters and pieces of rooftops kept falling down in threat to crush them. The thick, bitter smoke causing them to cough and eventually almost collapse when all oxygen was sucked out of the formed pyre that was the abbey, it weakening them with each step made towards salvation, them both finding themselves turn dizzier by the minute in the surrounding heat. The crushing sensation of weakness forcing them to take support from the walls whenever they had to jump for cover from a collapsing part of a building, even through the roar of the ravaging fire Henry abruptly detecting the panicky moo of Rosy and calf Henry. Them returning shortly to the corrals, somehow managing to thread the bucking, terrified animals and themselves past the fiery inferno all the way to the chapel that had also been saved from the fire, the cries of the townspeople reaching their ears as Henry dashed out of the chapel to the front yard the calf in his arms. Carmen following with Rosy, neither of them stopping until they were outside the gates, dropping to their knees all sooty and lightheaded, coughing furiously as fresh night air streamed into their lungs freely again. Several people hurrying by their side to help them, the trembling calf pressing against the lad as Henry was the first to clear his head. Stiffening immediately when he spotted the marines that stood guard a little farther away on the street, coming up with a quick plan him then stepping forth to inform a certain man there to be more people within the abbey, until took hold of Carmen who was staring at the burning convent with a blank expression. Them sneaking away from the crowd on the sly and slipping to an alley that stood behind them, the man Henry had spoken with alerting the marines of the civilians who were yet trapped inside. The calf's mooing echoing in the air as the animal watched the pair to vanish into the night.


Elizabeth was scared to death when the front door of their house slammed open, the woman turning around in her chair in bafflement only to see her son storm inside. The fleeting sense of relief getting bypassed when her smile was faltered upon taking in Henry's smutty exterior, him appearing out of breath as he faced his mother once she stood to examine him with perplexed eyes. Her confusion however getting replaced by a quizzical expression, the woman folding her arms with a frown, demanding an explanation.

"Where have you been?" she inquired, dead serious as walked closer to Henry. The young man staring back at her rather surprised, glancing outside.

"I thought you to be sleeping...What are you doing up? Where's Mrs. Livingston?"

"She went home, I insisted her to. I rose to make some honey water for my sore throat, but woke only to find you missing! Do you have any inkling how worried I was? I already thought me to find you from the Fort the following...morning..."

Elizabeth's reprimanding rant was paused when with a slight headshake Henry opened the door to reveal Carmen, Elizabeth gazing at the gypsy girl stupefied as Henry walked her inside. Equally filthy Carmen simply staring in front of her silently, not reacting to anything nor acknowledging Elizabeth as she walked inside tears in her eyes, wearing Henry's jacket he'd given for her for warmth on their way to his house. Elizabeth cringing for dismay once she saw the blood that had soiled the girl's nightgown as Henry next sat her to a chair before knelt in front of her, smiling slightly.

"It's alright now. We're safe here", he reassured her, only to frown when Carmen didn't answer to him. Her eyes simply falling to stare at the items in her hands, Elizabeth measuring the two of them questionably.

"Henry, what is the meaning of this? Why is the girl all covered in blood and walking around with you at this hour in her nightwear?" she accosted, arriving by her son's side and followed his example by kneeling. Eyeing at absent-minded Carmen before looked at Henry.

"The convent was attacked. By Basset", Henry explained, Elizabeth's eyes widening to the size of plates as she couldn't believe what her son had just said. Henry's loathsome expression bordering anger however advocating him enough for Elizabeth to turn shocked herself when he continued, the woman soon comprehending the girl's odd behavior. "His marines destroyed everything and set the convent on fire. Commander Basset murdered the Abbess and everyone inside at the time were also...killed. I happened to be there in time to save Carmen from being hurt."

"But...why? Why on earth would he do such a thing?" Elizabeth queried, her still having her doubts as glanced at Carmen, lowering her voice to a whisper as took Henry a little farther away from the young woman. "Was it because of this girl? Did he come to arrest her?"

"I don't know why he did it, but the fact is that he killed innocent people and burnt down an abbey for mere spite. He said something about an artefact he was seeking from the convent, but I cannot imagine why he wants it so badly to kill for it."

"He'd planned to blame the recent thefts and murders in town upon the convent", Carmen cut in suddenly, Elizabeth and Henry turning to her in surprise, Henry leaving his mother's side and sat down to a nearby chair. Eyeing at the girl in pity as eventually took her hand again, his other smoothing her hair as Carmen shook her head in disbelief, recollecting Mother Superior and all who'd been murdered that night. Looking at the wooden box and the letter the woman had given her at her dying breath. "He used this false accusation as a cover to investigate the nunnery...He...killed everyone. Just for this...Just for this box everyone are dead. Sister Rachel and Eleanor, Mother Superior. Everyone is dead because of that hateful man."

Carmen couldn't hold it in anymore but broke down, burying her face into her hands as the items fell to the floor, her being able to do nothing but cry out her pain and confusion. Henry exchanging a sad look with his mother after Elizabeth had listened to Carmen's tale contemplatively, her eventually sighing and shooing Henry up from his seat as went to Carmen instead of the lad. In turn lifting the girl up before leading her towards the bedroom.

"Make something light for us to eat while I pour Carmen a bath. Tidy yourself up a bit as well. Both of you are all covered in soot", she instructed, returning Henry's faint smile as he then collected the box and the sealed note from the floor. Watching his mother to take upset Carmen into her room, him putting the casket on the table with a sigh, his eyes lingering upon the odd symbol on its lid that looked somewhat familiar to him for a few seconds before he headed outside to the well, the lad not at first making the connection between the box and that what was bothering him about it. The distant reddish shimmer gleaming at the town causing him to halt for a moment, making him think.

How long would it take the Commander to realize Carmen to be at his home with the artefact he'd apparently been searching for at the convent? Not long enough he feared. Because it had been proven by everything the lad had witnessed that night that nothing would stop the man from hunting down the girl and the possession left to her by the late Prioress. Only driving the man to hound Carmen even more viciously from before, Henry's previous promises made upon his confession now facing their first trial; he had to protect her from the Commander, like Mother Superior had urged him with that last gaze she'd given him before dying. As well as tasking Carmen with the secret also charging him to look after her, and with equal resilience to Commander's Henry was sure to keep Carmen out of harm's way. No matter what would come to pass after that night.


Carmen soaked in the tub without a single thought crossing her mind, her gladly remaining ignorant to the horrid events of that night for some well needed time as drew directionless images to the surface of the water. She'd been completely out of it upon arriving here with Henry, having no recollection of the journey through town as her head had been constantly filled with the terrifying images of the fire and the murder of her fellow Sisters. The fear she'd still felt even after narrowly being saved by Henry and taken away from the convent however turning her utterly oblivious to everything, including the kind woman who'd been so gracious as to take Carmen into her home without much questioning the admittedly suspicious circumstances both she and Henry had informed her about. Carmen now closing her eyes as leant her head against the tub's edge, the boiling hot water prickling her skin, but eventually brought her pumped up body to ease.

But it was then when Commander Basset's face popped into her mind again, Carmen gasping for fright so strongly that some water splashed to the floor in great arch when she was filled with adrenaline and every instinct of hers told her to run even she was in a safe place. Carmen letting out agitated breaths as she turned to stare at her right hand that had squeezed around the tub's rim. The rosary she'd clutched to ever since leaving the abbey entangled into her fingers, her coming to remember the sickening dread that had possessed her when she'd laid on that table at the mercy of the Commander, his knife placed on her finger, ready to chop it off...

"Is everything alright?"

Carmen whipped around after another flinch due to the sound of Elizabeth's voice, the abrupt creak of the door setting the girl's heart to an immediate race when all sudden noises now seemed to put her on immediate edge, Carmen smiling weakly at the woman who stepped inside with an apologetic gaze.

"I'm sorry if I scared you."

"No...I'm...just fine, thank you", Carmen responded, obviously lying as looked back at her shaking hands until wrapped her arms around herself. Submerging completely into the water aside her head that stayed afloat, Elizabeth eyeing at her for a moment, until came to the tub. Leaning onto it while tilted her head at the girl.

"Well, I hope you're hungry. Come out to eat once the bath has cooled. I lay out some clothes for you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Turner. You're most kind."

Elizabeth sighed as stared at the quiet girl who hand't much as looked at her again after she'd entered. Upon taking notice of Carmen's yet fidgety bearing her deciding not to push the girl with useless words of comfort, not to mention ones given by a complete stranger, and simply closed the bedroom door. Henry instantly looking up to her from the carrots he was peeling, the same question in his eyes that his mother was contemplating on, to which she replied with a headshake, signaling him that Carmen would come out when she would feel ready to talk. Naturally dissenting lad looking down in compassion, until next almost cut his own finger when he proceeded to peel the vegetable in his hand rather angrily, wearing a distasteful scowl.

"That man should hang."

"We'll see. First we need to figure out the best plan of action."

Knowing his mother to be right Henry peered back to the door behind Carmen had remained for an hour till now, hesitant. "She shouldn't be alone. She'll only brood the things over on her own."

"The least she needs now is you harassing her with your presence. She has to think about tonight's events on her own if she wishes to calm down. Just hold your manly drive to protect for a moment and be patient", Elizabeth replied collectedly, joining Henry in cooking who directed one more unsure glance towards the bedroom, until Elizabeth claimed his attention by handing him a chicken she'd previously plucked….Originally meant for the following day's dinner.

The meal had already been prepared when the bedroom door opened and Carmen stepped to the small kitchen, her gaze drifting to the other side of the dining table by which Elizabeth had fallen asleep during the wait, Henry's sitting form coming to sight behind the door. The lad lifting his eyes from the case he'd been examining for the past minutes, finding it locked, him however ignoring this object that seemed to be the cause of incredible amount of trouble in relation to its value. Henry trying not to seem ruthful upon seeing Carmen's sentiments not to have improved much from grief-struck, the fact that at least she'd stopped crying still making him smile as he walked to her.

"Are you hungry?"

"Not really", Carmen answered silently, looking at the set table all but hungrily, but sat down nevertheless when Henry pulled her a chair. Her eyes then staring outside the window to see the horizon to have gained a lighter tint, Carmen realizing the night to have gone past in a blur, coming to think that the fire at the convent must've been gotten under control by now. Her closing her eyes momentarily as Henry woke his mother, Elizabeth however only rising with a big yawn. Telling them to go ahead and eat without her as she was too tired to stay up, indeed heading to the bedroom after prompting her son to prepare the guestroom for Carmen's use. Leaving them to eat in silence, both of their minds circulating around the same topic, and about halfway to their meal Henry found the pressing matters too important to leave further unattended, looking at Carmen who'd noticed the letter on the table. Now staring at it deep in thought when Henry started to speak, his tone but serious.

"What exactly happened before I got to the convent, Carmen?" he inquired, dropping his cutlery until lifted his elbows to the table, leaning on his knuckles as made a slow, thoughtful frown. "I know that's the last thing you want to think about right now, but... we need to figure out what's going on before..."

"He comes after me. Basset", Carmen finished his sentence, Henry blinking in surprise until nodded. Slouching back in his chair as gazed down even a bit worried look on his face, his arms folding.

"Yeah."

Carmen was quiet for awhile, taking the letter in her hand, her brows knitting together in turn for anxiety due to the sight of blood that had splashed across the old stationary. Carmen closing her eyes to remain collected. "I woke up to the sound of footsteps creeping past the abbey. And when I went to the door to see who the intruders were, this noise suddenly erupted. People screaming, in fear and pain, Basset's soldiers dragging everyone out of their rooms to the yard and killing them... I tried to run but was caught by a marine who brought me back to the garden, to be killed, I don't know, I was so..." Carmen kept a break, Henry taking a peek at her. "First I thought they were there for me, that all of it was caused by me... But after Eleanor was killed and I was saved by Mother Superior, Commander Basset appeared and followed us to my room, starting to question us about something he called "the sword of a sea god"..."

"Sword of the sea god?" Henry mused, his irises glancing towards the box in realization as Carmen shook her head tardily, sharing his confusion.

"I don't know what that is, neither I did then...I didn't understand anything they were saying to each other, not what that sword or whatever had to do with all that had occurred... Commander said the artefact to belong to him, that he'd come to claim it back... And admitted to have hired the man who killed Sister Rachel to search for it in his place."

Henry's eyes shot up in even further understanding, when he thought about this mysterious artefact Commander Basset was apparently after him not helping but admitting to himself the coincidence to be too big...There being no doubt that the artefact had something to do with the object he'd been after half of his life…The Poseidon's trident. Henry having not the faintest clue hadn't it occurred to him earlier, the moment he'd seen the symbol on the case…Because he'd seen it before. Long ago when he'd first come upon the legend of the trident, but despite of this discovery left the fact unaddressed for now, as he couldn't be certain the girl to dismiss his words as mere insanity should he suddenly start to talk about curses and all that was commonly considered superstition. "The Abbess knew about it? This artefact, the sword?"

"Yes. Before you came Commander tried to oppress her to reveal the location of the artefact by threatening me...But when she didn't speak, he...shot her and did the same to me. But I've never heard of this artefact. I don't know where it is, or what it is! That was the first time that I ever heard of it, but he didn't believe me."

"Well it certainly cannot be this..." Henry answered, taking the small casket again to gaze upon it, twirling it in his hands with risen eyebrows. "This case is way too small to hold a sword in it. And whatever that item has to do with a sea god is beyond me...As is the fact why Basset wants it so desperately to undergo such carnage. It's pretty useless too as long as it remains locked without the key." Henry directed an apologetic glance towards Carmen whose eyes fell due to his latest remark, him soon nodding towards the letter. "You have any idea what that says?"

"Only that it will explain what that case is and how it's connected to this secret she trusted me with..." Carmen responded, however simply staring at the letter without a single attempt to break the seal that separated them from some new answers to their puzzling questions. Her then recalling something and she looked to Henry in wonder. Truthfully confused about how the young man had known to come to her aid just at the right time.

"Why did you come back to the convent? How did you know what was happening?"

"I didn't. I just couldn't sleep as I kept thinking about how I could turn your head around to agree to be with me...and eventually I just needed to see you again, talk to you once more", Henry explained, both of them however almost instantly gazing away in embarrassment due to yet another unintended confession of Henry's, Carmen soon measuring him stealthily while slight sensation of affection eased her misery.

"Thank God you did."

Henry cleared his throat, blinking away his abashment as his mind then reeled back to the topic at hand. Him pointing at the letter again in ever growing suspicions about this mystery, as Carmen met his gaze briefly in hesitation.

"Aren't you going to open it? She left it for you to read."

"I'm afraid to. I'm scared enough of that little I know now. I don't wish to learn anything else that will turn the situation even further terrifying. I don't know if I'm ready to know more...Besides this letter wasn't originally meant for me but to Sister Rachel. She was supposed to become the next Abbess."

Carmen was surprised as her disorderly train of thought was cut by Henry's hand that touched her elbow gently, the light stroking squeeze of his fingers encouraging her to look up to see his coaxing smile. Before she even noticed her taking her knife from the table and she opened the letter, nonetheless her folding it open but gingerly. Both of them then getting taken aback by a key that was revealed under the folds of the stationery, exchanging a significant stare as Henry took the key and found it to fit into the lock of the wooden box perfectly. Carmen swallowing her nervousness as her eyes found the first line of the note, her starting to read the words that by the date had been written long before she'd joined the convent, a few years after the late Prioress had been inducted as the head of the nunnery.

For my successor in the position of the Prioress of St. Virgin Mary's convent, 10th of May in 1767;

My beloved Sister,

The time has come for you to receive the obligations of a spiritual beacon of those who like you have come to this nunnery to find guidance and purpose from Blessed Virgin Mary, our Sacred Saint we can rely upon and whom you are from this day onward to serve most readily and respectfully without an ounce of hesitation. As much as any man, woman and child who shall come to you in need of something only you with the help of almighty God can deliver. That, my child, is your mission and shall be till the day the Lord takes you to his kingdom for eternal rest. But there is much to this task besides carrying the title of a Superior Mother, and I have taken time to write these words to you should I have left his earth before given the chance to prepare you for the trials that without a doubt shall arise to challenge your devotion to this convent.

The purpose of this letter is to urge you, that should I have been forced to renounce my position as the head of this convent for any reason viable, to take a great care to whom you place you trust. There are demons among men who attempt to tempt you, to demur you and your most arcane duty, which you must withstand with guile that matches your opponent's...

Carmen stopped reading, waking Henry's interest, who saw her to frown in even further bafflement after shifting her attention away from the note. Him soon claiming the letter once the girl didn't satisfy his thirst for answers by offering him an explanation, him confirming the truth by himself, the written words of warning indeed but adding to the existing conundrum surrounding last night's events as Carmen took the case in turn. Turning the key after her fingers swet over the bizarre symbol.

As you are already aware, there is a secret that has been shielded by our convent for several years. A case entrusted to us to keep safe from evil that seeks its power for deeds which nature would be horrendous to transpire. This artefact must not fall into the hands of people who will come to claim it. You must guard the artefact and the secret it holds with all cost, and at the face of our Lord and Savior vow to keep its existence hidden from all besides those who will come to ward it like me before you. This letter stands as my final requirement for your inaugural, and I trust you to understand that keeping this letter for your eyes only is of most importance by the confidential way it has found itself to you.

And remember, the secret is safe as long as you stand your ground against those who come to face you with the threat of challenging your position as the Mother Superior with their own power. But out of all wicked characters surrounding you, you must beware most of Commander Ebenezer Basset. He seeks the truth behind the sea god's sword and is the most treacherous man and equally dangerous. He's not who he has conducted himself to be during the years I've known him, and you have to stay strong against his even at times vulgar advances. He is a vile man who's been after the artefact for years, and only recently have I come aware of his true agenda once he came to seek an audience with me and confronted me with his direct desire to obtain the artefact he somehow learnt to be retained at our convent. As he wasn't always a renowned marine called Ebenezer Basset under the shelter of whose name and false identity he's lived completely different life, on the run from his past, where lies the true danger of his capricious nature. His true name is Fernán Calabar, and he was once known as...

...I leave ... convent in ... more than able hands, Sister. God ... with you and shall He with ... Holy Mother, most honourable of all Saints ... watch over you.

Mother Superior Sis... Clementia, Abbess o... St. Virgin Mary Convent

PS:

The truth lies at the edge of a sword, to be adduced once bathed in glory of that which triumphs over darkness, when one's heart is set ablaze by enlightenment in the hands of power.

A complete section of the letter had become unreadable due to the blood that had stained it, after glaring at that strange riddle under the Abbess' signature Henry sighing in frustration when he discovered only the most important part to be missing, the part which would confirm exactly how dangerous man Commander Basset truly was after explicitly stating him to be a villain of the worst kind. Not that neither of them would need verbal account of the Abbess to shed a vouching light upon the man's character that had been more than clarified to them during the last night's ruthless attack to the nunnery, his uncovered usage of a fake name however bothering the lad tremendously as he stared at the red stain on the paper. Trying to see through the smudges of ink and blood to separate the blurry letters to piece together an understandable sentence... His attention nevertheless getting claimed by Carmen's amazed breath when the lad noticed her to open the lid of the casket, causing him to frown for bafflement when she took out a simple quill. Well perhaps not the most common one, as it was decorated with intricate golden details and a gemstone that sat just below the tip, but otherwise Henry couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed. This time lifting his eyebrows extremely incredulous.

"I'm starting to doubt the credibility of this whole letter...Because if that is the artefact Mother Superior gave her life for, I find myself utterly at loss why Basset wants it. You can get these kinds of quills anywhere with enough money, which he undoubtedly has..."

"This is the sword of the sea god? But it's just a quill..." Carmen questioned, agreeing with him but still bypassing his remarks as turned the item around to measure it rather stupefied. "What's so special about a plain pen?"

Henry took another moment to think, Carmen handing the quill to him once he extended his hand forth to take it. The girl watching the lad's expression to shift from serious to contemplative until he was but amused, making a half smirk, before his features resumed their puzzled outlook.

"Pen's mightier than a sword, they say... And that actually fits the gibberish written into the post script. "The truth lies at the edge of a sword"...but that's all I understand about it. The rest is as big of an enigma as is this... artefact that supposedly could be used for evil deeds...Well in the hands of Basset at least for the creation of bad poetry, certainly."

Henry was relieved when he managed to create an actual laugh in Carmen, them exchanging a fleeting gaze until Carmen took the note once more to read it a few more times before she sighed, also leaning back with folded arms. In the end placing a helpless hand over her eyes.

"Mother Superior said this letter to make me understand what was happening...But there's nothing here that would make any sense to me. We're still where we started, not any closer to the truth."

Henry agreed but said nothing. Deciding not to voice out his assumptions about this artefact's possible connection to the trident to Carmen, as he couldn't be sure this letter to be referring to the same legend he'd been after for years. Therefore them then just sitting in silence as he flipped the quill in his fingers a few times, not indeed finding anything out of the ordinary or unique about it that would've stricken as worth to safekeep by possibly several generations of nuns. His fingers fiddling with the feather of the pen shortly until he returned it back to the box, lastly touching the etched symbol as well once he shut its lid.

"This symbol also confuses me. It's not a religious one, that much I know... Do you recognize it?" he asked, pointing at the icon, and partly he wasn't lying. Yes, it looked exactly like the symbol he'd seen written down to those books he'd waded through while searching for information about the trident, and yet it was greatly different. Because of this the lad wishing to hear Carmen's opinion and learn whether she knew something he didn't to make this peculiarity clearer, her now leaning forth to inspect it, but soon only shook her head. Studying the symbol that in fact appeared to consist of two separate ones, the bigger looking like a fork with three spikes, merged with a smaller symbol that deciphered a cross like shape. And she definitely realized this case not to have been prepared for the conservation of cutlery as she raked her brain for an answer, not finding one that would be of help in identifying the design.

"No. I've never seen it before. The lower part reminds of an upside down cross, but I cannot imagine that quill to be a relic of any kind."

Henry nodded, pouting in ponders, slightly disappointed. "Me neither. Which makes this whole thing but further insane."

They then retired from contemplating upon the Abbess' letter and the quill case, as instructed Henry preparing their guestroom for Carmen to sleep in, after wishing her a good night or morning as the sun had already started to rise him then hiding the casket with the note into the chimney just for good measure. As like the late Mother Superior had insinuated, Commander Basset wasn't a stupid man, and they couldn't take any risks of him finding the artefact should he indeed arrive to his house sooner than he'd anticipated. But for now both the case and Carmen would have a moment of peace here, Henry's own system next also reminding him of the dire need of rest with a yawn that almost sprained his jaws out of place. Henry sweeping a hand through his tangled hair as sluggishly ambled into his room, with a fatigued moan crashing into the bed fully dressed, but a few deep breaths later going out like a candle. Just as Elizabeth's bedroom door clacked open and the woman came to the kitchen, ready to start the day after catching a few hours of sleep. Waking Henry who soon groaned as she knocked on his door, looking amused once the young man's head popped up from the covers lazily and the lad squinted at her when she asked whether he would rise for breakfast. Henry only turning on his side with a tired mumble that Elizabeth took as a no, her letting out a low laughter once she heard the light snore that drifted from the room, her having no choice but to leave him to sleep after she'd stolen a peak of the guestroom. Finding Carmen in equally deep slumber, deducing them to have stayed up quite late, but doing what she didn't want to know... or rather amused herself imagining it as with a decisive nod she then went to the door, to fetch some more water for a bath of her own before starting to prepare breakfast.


Disclaimer = I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean, I claim ownership only over my original characters and made additions to the plot.