.:HARMONY and BLOODSHED:.
CHAPTER SIX
TRANSITION
"Lady Sara!" Giry shouted.
Sara was shaking in her sleep. The maid raised her up and supported her.
Sara groped her way to touch Giry's hand. "Madame Giry," she said between gasps "I… I need… I need you to…" she swallowed hard, "I need you to get me… Jacques Lightfellow. I must… I must talk to him. I must. It is important, please…" she begged Giry as she held the latter's arms tightly.
Giry could only nod in confusion.
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Chris touched her lips as she closed her eyes, remembering the kiss she and Percival had shared. Not only did they share one, but two in the same day. She wondered how Jacques would react if he knew it was real. She continued to daydream about Percival nonetheless. She was lying on her bed, layers of blanket covering her body. She laid stiffly, her eyelids heavy and hot. She shivered and put her hand to her forehead. She was still warm.
The performance had been successful; garnering great reviews from the critics. It was hard for her to be dragged around by her hair though she supported herself so she wouldn't be hurt. Even so, she had to make it as real as possible. The critics could only imagine how much trouble the actors had to go through during rehearsals.
A few days before the fatigue took its toll on Chris' body, she had been busy making the necessary preparations for the Prince of Swordsmanship Tournament. She was a high-positioned class representative, everyone expected her to take care of everything. She did as they expected. She spent late nights out in the stadium setting up the fighting arena, in addition to her sparring practices for her own competition. In truth, she hadn't been able to sleep well ever since she started the play rehearsals until the performance night itself. Weekends were spent sparring and arching. Sleep was only a few hours each night. It seemed this weekend she was signing off sick.
Jacques knocked softly three times on the door and entered. Chris breathed deeply and loudly. Jacques stuck in a thermometer in Chris' mouth and watched as the mercury flew up. He removed it and to his dismay, the temperature was higher than it had been the previous night. He put his hand on her forehead and walked out of the room. Chris heard him send Shabon away to her room, telling her that Chris was sick.
Chris gritted her teeth as she struggled to breathe. Little by little, she drifted off from consciousness as her breathing became slowed and labored. But she lost it completely; she caught a glimpse of someone bursting into the room. It was Percival. She smiled as she closed her eyes.
Chris was walking with Jacques in the park, their little bodies walking side by side. She was a little child exploring with her brother. She remembered they always strode in the park on finer days, when a big tree caught her attention and she approached it. She noticed something on the trunk and she reached out to touch it. Jacques pulled her away all of a sudden. Then everything went dark.
Chris found herself standing by the lake, she was no longer a little child but herself. A little boy popped his head from the water, his grayish hair wet and sticking to his forehead, his face was filled with joy. "Hey, Chris!" he said, "Come on! The water's great!"
"Watari?" Chris whispered, surprised.
Watari scratched his head. "Come on!" he laughed, "It's nice and warm!"
"Watari? Is it really…?" Chris couldn't believe her eyes, "Is it really you?"
"Yeah! Do I look like anyone else?" he winked mischievously and ducked under the water. He didn't pop out his head for a long period of time.
"Watari!" Chris became worried, "Watari! Come back out!" she screamed.
She jumped into the water after him. In a blur, she saw Watari's body. It wasn't moving but instead of floating up, it sank down. She swam as hard and as fast as she could, when she finally reached the little body, she held it in her arms. She was suddenly sucked into a whirlpool. She was spinning and spinning and spinning. Then she dropped, gravity took over and she was falling endlessly until she landed on a soft cushion in a dark room. She heard footsteps coming towards her; sharp, crisp footsteps going nearer and nearer until it stopped. A wisp of gold caught her eye.
A hand reached out holding a black hat. Then she saw what the gold had been, it was hair. The golden hair covered the face of a man. A man she had seen before. He laughed coldly and whispered, like a knife piercing through the body, the voice was venomous but clear and deep. It sent shivers down Chris' spine. She was so afraid she could not move. The voice spoke louder, "Chris… I have been waiting for you."
Chris sat up from her bed. Her fever had subsided a whole lot. She felt better but she could not help the fact that the man she had seen at the performance nights ago; the same man in black with the golden hair, was now haunting her dreams. She looked around, a feeling of unease creeping over her, she felt like someone was watching her. She was still in her room. Percival was snoozing on an armchair by the fireplace, covered in a blanket. She stepped down from her bed, waving away her discomfort. She looked around once more. The curtains were shut, 'There is no one.' she comforted herself with the thought.
She was in her nightgown. She grabbed a jacket nearby and slipped it on and slowly sneaked out of the room. She didn't shut the door for fear of waking Percival up. She walked down the stairs.
As she walked into the kitchen, she saw Eike pouring a cup of tea for Jacques who was talking with a man with a thick, gray moustache. When they saw her enter, the man stood up and put his hand to her forehead. He twirled his moustache and said, "Very good. The medicine worked just fine. The fever has gone but not completely. I would advise less physical activity. Here," he handed Chris a small plastic bottle. "Take one pill three times a day with tea. When you find the fever completely gone, take it for another day to make sure the fever doesn't come back. Don't worry, this is herbal medication." He went to the table to drink the rest of his tea and grabbed his hat from the counter. "I'd better go now."
Eike escorted the doctor out of the kitchen and Jacques looked at Chris. "He injected a couple of stuff. They seem to have made you better. Let's just hope there are no side effects."
"I'm sorry for the trouble." Chris said, looking down at her bare feet.
Percival came into the kitchen rubbing the back of his neck.
Jacques stared at both Chris and Percival and back at his tea cup. He sipped it loudly, making the other two in the room uncomfortable. Chris blushed lightly, remembering what they had done.
Percival decided to speak but couldn't think of any proper words. He felt uneasy for not telling Jacques about the kiss but he knew Jacques wouldn't take it the way he would've wished him to.
Eike hurried into the room and Percival sighed in relief. "A Sasarai Somel is here." He raised a brow towards Chris, "Shall I let him in?"
Jacques stood up. "I wish to speak with him about the letter. Chris get changed." He said and walked out with Eike.
"Who is that?" Percival asked.
Chris shrugged and walked out, remembering the letter. She had forgotten all about it since she had been so busy. She ran up to her room and fished in her vanity table drawer until she found the letter. She tore of the envelope and read the letter:
'My dearest jewel,
I have sent one to tell you of our family. Sasarai Somel. You must trust him as I have. Do not fear what he says, and do not be startled. It is important of you to know the truth for you have now grown up. I trust it will bring to light some of your deepest questions. I await the moment when I can show my face to you, but for now I live here in shame.
With deep regrets,
Father '
Chris put the letter back into the drawer. She glanced around and saw the picture of her and another by the slides. She took it and held it up. It was her and Watari. She missed him so, he was a great friend but he left without a word and never did she see him again.
"Oh, Watari… I wonder how you are right now…" she whispered, remembering her dream. She set the photo down and heaved a sad sigh. Quickly, she changed clothes.
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"Have a seat." Jacques told Sasarai.
Sasarai smiled and took it. "Where is Chris? I've heard she is sick."
Eike looked surprised.
"She is better now," Jacques answered, "And will join us shortly. Percival," he said looking at him, "Whatever we talk about now, don't tell anyone. I trust you."
Percival nodded.
"Mister Somel, where is my father?" he asked right away.
"I cannot tell you that. My master specifically told me to never reveal this to anyone. He wishes that he be the one to tell you that when he comes here."
"He will come here?" Jacques questioned.
"Yes. I trust you have read the letter? The one addressed to you all?" Sasarai asked, never wiping off the smile on his face. It was sincere.
Jacques shook his head and it took it out from his breast pocket. He tore it open and read it and passed it on to Eike who read it loudly, "The truth shall set you free. Fear it not and listen."
Chris walked in at that moment in her winter clothes.
Sasarai smiled warmly at her as she sat by Jacques side on the sofa. "I see you are better. Now I can start."
Eike handed the letter to Chris and she read it silently. "What does this mean?" she asked loudly.
"Master Wyatt wishes me to tell you of the truth. The real story based on what I have read on his journal."
"You read his journal?" Percival asked wildly.
"He told me to do so, that I can deliver you the truth and only the truth. The truth about your mother." As Sasarai said it, the room suddenly quieted. "There was more than her death and the lavish funeral you threw for her."
"I remember she used to lock herself in her room. And whenever she didn't, she lied on her bed in the dark. I used to sit by her side for hours." Chris recalled sadly. "Father told me she was sick."
Sasarai cleared his throat and said in a sorrowful tone, "Yes, she was… But not physically."
"I knew it," Jacques whispered. Percival heard it and looked at him.
"You see, after Chris was born, guilt took over her mind." Sasarai continued. "She was guilty because she had a child, a child with another man." Chris gasped and Jacques looked over at her. Percival looked at Chris, then at Jacques. It was getting a bit complex. Sasarai laughed. "No, Chris. It's not you, and it's not Jacques either. The illegitimate child came before Jacques was born. You see, your father left for a business trip one morning, and when he came back, your mother was already three months pregnant. He was away only for three weeks or so."
"That means, before he left, mother was already pregnant," Chris told herself loudly.
"That's right." Sasarai answered. "Wyatt knew it wasn't his son. But he waited for her to bear it. And when she did, he even raised the boy."
"Boy?" Chris asked.
"A half elder brother for the both of you." Sasarai said.
Jacques clenched his fists.
"Well, where is he?" Chris asked.
Sasarai shook his head. "No one knows."
"Oh," Chris looked away sadly.
"You don't want to know the guy, Chris." Jacques said all of a sudden. "I was unlucky to know him. I was three when he left. You were only two. You don't remember because you spent most of the time with mother in her room, and father never speaks about him to you. He was a man who kept mostly to himself. He was always quiet. He was three years older than me, I really didn't know what he was doing but he kept himself busy in the yard. I was afraid of approaching."
"Ah yes, that," Sasarai said with a hearty smile. "Sir Wyatt also wrote that the boy loved spending time in the park. He seemed to love being around nature. He had this little collection of carving knives as well."
"But I don't understand? What is the reason for mother's death?" Jacques asked.
"Her mind started playing tricks on her, she was on the verge of insanity. Then she… She jumped off from the balcony in you parents' room and..."
"And landed on the acacia tree…" Chris continued, in a trance. "It does make sense. I remember one time when I climbed up the tree after mother's death. It was covered with… some strange dark ink. So it was blood… It smelt like blood. I…" Chris' jaw shuddered and Percival reached out to hold her hand. She seemed calmed by the gesture.
"Why would she jump?" Jacques pressed on. "I knew she was having a breakdown but I didn't think it was this bad."
"Your father gave her a beautiful diamond ring with the initials CL, Claudia Lightfellow; God bless her soul, embedded on it. And he built the library in honor of her but he never finished it."
"What do you mean he never finished it?" Eike asked. Everything about the library concerned him, but as far as he could see, it was a job well done.
"You know how Master Wyatt loves sculpting? Well, he sculpted a special statue in the likeness of your mother, but as an angel to show his love for her. It was lovely but he never finished it. He threw it away after your mother died, thinking it was his fault that she did. But now, master has realized that it was probably the guilt.
"He never asked her who the other man was. He still loved her despite all of that happened, and I believe he still does even after her death. You see, he is ashamed. Ashamed that he would leave you for his own intentions and later realize how stupid he had been."
"Then why not just come back?" Percival suggested. Chris remained in a trance, staring at the wall, thinking deeply.
"If it were that easy, yes. But lately, he has been troubled." Sasarai supplied.
"Troubled?" Jacques asked.
"Yes. He has been receiving threats. That is why he decided for me to do this. He wanted to warn you as well that you should be careful from this point forward."
Chris suddenly stood up. "May I please be excused for a moment?"
Jacques nodded.
When she left, Percival turned to Sasarai. "What is his name? The boy?"
Everyone stayed quiet. Percival glanced at Jacques then at Eike.
Jacques clenched his fists tighter and whispered a name.
Sasarai diverted his gaze elsewhere as Percival looked at him. The name gave him goosebumps, strangely enough. An uncomfortable silence followed.
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Chris slid the door to the side as she went out into the backyard, oblivious of the cold winter breeze. The large acacia tree stood there in silence. The tree's leaves have already fallen off. She walked slowly towards it and walked around it, staring directly at the trunk. She reached to feel the carving when she saw it.
"His name… is…" she said, reading the words carved on the trunk of the tree, "Yuber."
