Chapter 7:
Carefully we ran through the trap infested part of the forest. Still gripping onto his hand Robin lead the way. Running I yelled to Robin, "It came from Merryweather Manor!" He nodded and adjusted his direction. We were flying through the forest and I prayed to myself for no one to be hurt. Suddenly we heard thumping getting louder and closer. Coeur De Noir appeared with two other men on beautiful black horses.
"Robin?" He asked him and Robin seemed a little nervous and looked to be choking on his words. "Father, you heard as well?" Robin asked quickly trying hard to act right and change the subject as to why we were so deep in the forest. "Why yes we immediately came to see who it was!" Coeur asked and looked back at his men who nodded. "Us too." I added in. "Well come on! Maria ride with me and Robin hop on with André, quickly now."
We parted ways and I hopped on Coeur's horse and Robin got on with the man to Coeur's right. Once settled in we rode off, making a much easier trip on horseback then on foot. We were halfway to Merryweather Manor now and my nerves were getting the best of me as I griped on to Coeur tighter. I looked back at Robin and who I suppose was André. Robin and I locked eyes. His eyes were so dark and mysterious that I never truly knew how he was feeling. He gave me a reassuring nod and I nodded back at him. I turned back to see that we were entering the manor. Once inside the gates, to which were oddly open already, I quickly hopped off the horse and started running toward the doors.
"Maria, wait!" Robin said running after me and grabbing my arm. Coeur and his two men walked in front of us and told me to stay behind them, becoming last in line. They forcefully opened the doors and charged in I followed frantically. Losing patience I ran past all of them yelling, "Uncle Benjamin? Loveday? Ms. Heliotrope? Marmaduke Scarlet? Digweed? Anyone?" I ran into the corridor to see if anyone was there, but no one was in sight. "Shh Maria!" Robin whispered running after me.
I stopped running completely panicked and not sure of what to do next. I walked slowly and defeated back to Coeur De Noir and the men. Suddenly the door to Uncle's library creaked open and Digweed poked his head out. I gasped in relief, "Digweed…" I started but I noticed something off about him. He looked almost sickly and depressed. "You better come in here, Ms. Maria." He said softly and opened up the door for me. I exchanged a look with Robin and he nodded for me to go on. I stepped towards Digweed and I heard sobs coming from inside.
"W-what…?" I started as I walked past him and into the room. He just looked at me with painful, sad eyes and shook his head. I walked inside and found Loveday on the floor sobbing. Ms. Heliotrope was crying as well and trying to comfort Loveday. "Loveday…" I whispered tearing up just seeing her sob like this. "W-what h-happened?" I bent down to the floor and noticed Loveday was clutching a letter. Loveday shook with her sobs and held out the paper for me to take. The letter was addressed to me and seemed to be written in dark red ink with splatters of small splattered red dots every once in a while. I read the note:
Dear Maria,
If you thought this war was over because you returned the pearls back to the sea, you are ever so wrong. This war has now only just begun. Your precious uncle is now my prisoner and this ink is his blood. I am the rightful owner of Moonacre Valley and NO Merryweather can say this land was ever theirs. Not even your father. And until ALL of my land is returned to me, your uncle will have to pay. I will not apologize for this Maria; you did this to yourself and your family. You will get another private letter from me at anytime tomorrow. Au revoir
-Sincerely, yours truly
I looked up at Loveday in complete shock. I trembled in fear and tears started flowing out of my eyes. Loveday embraced me in a hug and we sobbed together. Robin came over to me and bent down on one knee, obviously concerned. "What did it say Maria?" I could hardly breathe and through gasps and sobs I said, "Someone has my uncle." His mouth slowly opened and I could tell he didn't know what to say. "Maria…" He said too softly for anyone else to hear. His eyes wandered for a second then he got up and hurried back to his father.
I, still grief stricken and sobbing couldn't hear what they were saying. Robin came back a couple minutes later. "Maria?" He asked and I looked over to him still crying. "May I please see the letter?" I sniffled and nodded while handing it to him. He smiled slightly and said "Thank you." He was being very sweet about everything which I thought was nice of him.
He went back to his father and after a couple more minutes came back and asked me kindly, "Maria, my father has agreed to help find your uncle, and to do that he needs the letter," He looked at Loveday and me. "Would you mind if he took it to study the penmanship and compare it with others?" I looked at Loveday and she nodded. "Get that horrid note out of this house!" She yelled and started crying again and stood up and stormed out of the library. After awhile Ms. Heliotrope said, "Well I-I'll just go check on her."
She walked out of the room with Digweed following her. In silence I wrapped my arms around my stomach and held my elbows. Robin had walked away, gave the letter to his father and they were now leaving. He walked back to me but stood. I stared at the floor not looking up at him. I felt sick. The rest of the world was spinning around me except for Robin. "I'll be right outside the door, Maria." I shook my head and whimpered, "No,"
He stopped walking and turned to face me. I slowly got up and walked to him still shaking. We were now face to face and I just stared into his eyes. Every emotion was rushing through my head in a blur and I couldn't control them. "Please don't leave me." I whimpered and broke down crying as he hugged me and held me tight.