The remainder of the evening passed in an uneventful blur. Robin had vanished into thin air the moment I had agreed to meet him, much to my disappointment. But that, as with the obvious disregard of propriety, was just in Robin's nature. He had the remarkable ability to disappear when he did not wish to be seen. Robin had perfected the art of a thief, I supposed.
And I would be disappointed any other way.
Many young men asked for my dance card, and joined me in innumerable waltzes. I gave compliments as well as received them. All were meaningless in the wait I endured, the anticipation to see Robin.
It would have to be in secret, of course. Ms. Heliotrope would hardly allow me to go off with a young man alone, completely unchaperoned. And with Robin, of all people! She still associated him with the rest of the "riff-raff" from Moonacre. The trouble I would get into if Ms. Heliotrope found out boggled my brain, but I still decided it was worth the risk. It had to be. Robin seemed so pleased to see me today...
But I knew something was wrong. I could feel it in the way he held me and the gaze that met mine. His green eyes had held a most peculiar haunted quality to them, and nothing I knew could spook Robin. He was strong. Throughout his life, he had been forced to struggle and fight to merely survive; he had toughened against the wrath of his father. And I had to admit, his strength comforted me, made me feel safe. Never once had his fear come from anything other than losing me. Either this problem was horrifying to no end, or Robin was afraid of truly losing me… perhaps for forever. Maybe it was a combination of both. Regardless, my curious nature forbade me to be ignorant.
Night fell slowly, agonizingly slow, over the city of London. I had stripped off my heavy formal dress and replaced it with an ordinary gown, one suitable for my midnight rendezvous. I had quickly scurried into my bed before Ms. Heliotrope could see that I was not properly dressed for sleeping. Everyone had been asleep for approximately two hours now. It was time for me to move.
I crept out of my bed, lightly padding to the door. On it I had hung a cloak of ebony velvet, as I had judged it perfect for disappearing into the night. You know, I always did have a flare for the dramatic.
And so I swept gracefully out of the house and into the streets. They were far from deserted, which I regarded as a stroke of luck. No one would notice a small girl in an ordinary cloak amongst all of the hustle and bustle. I strode confidently, but with caution down the cobblestone road, until I reached the overhang that stood just prior to the bridge's entrance. I did not enjoy being out in the open, waiting for Robin to find me. The reason for this apprehension was not that I feared him, quite the opposite! I simply did not enjoy the way he had with the night, using it as a velvet disguise to muffle his sound and veil his appearance… allowing him to sneak up on me. A small smile quirked up my lips as I remembered the countless times he had done so in Moonacre. I sighed; he did have a habit of stopping my heart, whether it be in surprise or attraction.
I squinted my eyes as I peered into the darkness, vainly attempting to pick out any movement among the black. I knew Robin would come, though. He gave his word that he would meet me and I accepted it wholeheartedly. However, it was getting quite late. I scrambled through my cloak to reach my dress, fumbling through a pocket in attempt to find the pocket watch I had brought. I grunted in a very unladylike manner as my gloves made it difficult to find the watch, and pawed through my pocket more intently, staring at the pocket in the hope of seeing the tell-tale glint of metal.
"Why, hello Princess."
I gasped and shot straight up in surprise as I heard the voice that had been whispered directly into my ear. I knew the identity of the stranger through the way that he addressed me, but I was not expecting him to appear in such a manner.
"Robin!" I exclaimed. "Don't do that! You could have caused my heart to fail." I pretended to scold him, but I still was elated that he was here.
His face twisted into an expression of mock horror as he contemplated my exaggeration. "Your heart? Failing? Why I would never wish such harm on the Princess of Moonacre! They might have my head!" He paused a moment before continuing, looking at me slyly. "Your heart fluttered just from looking at me. I know that I am devilishly handsome and quite the gentleman, but I had thought you would resist me for a bit longer. I am truly disappointed." His voice was thick with sarcasm, but there was something else buried underneath the surface, that same unknown emotion, but it had vanished before I could identify.
"Because it is quite gentlemanly to meet with a lady at such an ungodly hour, with no chaperone," I quipped back. "Robin, please understand me when I say that you do not have the capacity to conform to rules the way the title of 'gentleman' commands."
He pondered that for a moment. "Perhaps I prefer to be a scoundrel." He winked at me.
"It is unfortunate, then, that you are far to caring for that." Robin's face broke into a smile that matched the one on my own face. I had missed our arguments, our witty banter, our small battles, more than I realized. "I am glad you are here," I told him sincerely.
The brilliant smile slowly fell from his face. I could see that something was troubling him, and I could only assume it was the very thing that had brought him to me again. He was hesitant to tell me the information that burdened his mind, but I wanted him to trust me as he used to. I smiled gently up at him as he ran a hand through his wild hair.
"Robin," I whispered softly to him. "You can confide in me. I won't betray you, you know that."
"It isn't like that," He groaned in frustration, briefly losing his famously short patience. He stared out at the night, turning away from me slightly. He seemed to be struggling in a way that concerned me. Robin had never been one to bother about small issues, and I did not believe he had become preoccupied with such matters in my time away. It had to be important, whatever he knew, impactful. This new conclusion only piqued my curiosity further. With a moment and a breath to calm himself, Robin continued.
"It is difficult to tell you this," he admitted to me sadly. "I never thought that… Well, things have taken an unexpected turn. We have tried to find a solution, but so far we have come up empty, and the hour is growing late. Maria, you are in grave danger."
I stared at him as his eyes bore into mine, slightly in shock. I was unable to fully understand the gravity of his statement. Danger? How? Why? From who?
I didn't realize I had voiced the question aloud until I heard Robin begin with the reply.
"There was something, a long time ago, that cast a shadow over Moonacre, even before the curse on the moon pearls. The Valley had always been looked upon favorably by Nature, as you know. But Nature is not the only force in this world…" he trailed off, and turned to look at me with a sad smile on his face.
"Hey, Princess, you might want to sit down. It's a long story; you might as well get comfortable."
He led me to the side of the bridge that was far from in use. There, he motioned for me to sit. I arranged my skirts about my legs as he joined me. The moonlight, it was beautiful, though I had not noticed where I stood before. It swirled down and caressed me, giving me the comfort and strength I needed to listen to the dark tale Robin had in store for me.
I noticed how the light illuminated Robin as well. His hair gained a slightly silver tone that complimented his pale skin that seemed to glow. His green eyes glimmered in the dark, fixed on some distant point in space. Its unearthly luminescence pervaded my thoughts and everything seemed to take on a dreamlike quality as I heard Robins voice again.
XXX
In the days before the Moon Princess, Nature herself danced in the valley. Her light and happiness touched every tree and flower that sprouted from the earthen ground. She did not have any physical form, but her presence was tangible in the spirit of the people and animals who occupied the area. The valley was happy, perfect.
But then, everything changed.
A man, dressed in black, came to Moonacre to deal in his trade. He was solitary, astute and cold in his dealings, never showing any sympathy or remorse. No one dared speak to this mysterious stranger, for fear of his sheer being. And yet, he never lacked in business.
One day a woman came up to him, clever and unafraid.
"What is your name," the man asked.
"Kylessa. How are you called?" she inquired.
"I am Death," he replied, cold and detached. This exclamation startled Kylessa, but she stared unflinchingly at him. His face twisted into a cruel sneer as he regarded her.
"Why do you not run?" he asked sharply. "Why do you not cower or beg like so many of your kind?"
"Because it is I who have come for you" was her simple response. Now this was one answer Death had not heard. He cocked his head to the side and waited for her to continue. "My lover is dying," she explained. "I have seen you linger near his bed many a day now. I know you will claim him soon."
"Yes, I will. As I take everything eventually."
"That is not true," Kylessa asserted. She received a puzzled look from Death. "My family is descended from Nature herself. We have a gift that has been passed down from generation to generation, and now it belongs to me." She reached in the small satchel she carried and pulled out a book. It was bound in cracked, weather-worn leather. Its pages were yellowed from age, but a faint glow emanated from the little book.
"No," Death whispered, his eyes wide as he stared at the object in front of him. "It cannot be. The Booke was lost in the First Days. It was destroyed!"
"It was saved. The Booke, as you know, contains the knowledge of all of time, since even before you walked the earth. And It knows what will happen in the future as well." The Booke was the most powerful object to ever be put in the hands of a mortal or immortal.
"Why do you show me this?" He asked.
"I offer you a proposition, a trade of sorts. Spare my lover, let him live a full life with me, and I will give you the Booke."
Death looked at Kylessa while he considered her offer. Though she stood straight and proud, he could tell from the worry, grief and desperation in her eyes that she understood the magnitude of what she was doing. Giving up the Booke was to give up everything her family and Nature had entrusted to her, but she was willing to make the sacrifice if he would only save her beloved. Death chuckled. Love made humans do foolish things, stupid things. He smiled cunningly.
"Yes, dear Kylessa. I will accept your offer."
The exchange was made and many years came and went. Kylessa and her lover married and spent many years together, eventually having two sons. They had both been told the tale of their mother's meeting with Death, but only the second son believed it.
One day, he stole the Booke from Death himself, though no one knew how he managed it. For the next day, Death claimed him as his own. But it didn't matter, for the Booke was lost.
Death found, even before that, that he could not read the Booke. Spells had been placed on it so that only Nature's chosen could read its contents and fulfill the prophecy.
And the Booke faded out of memory…
Xxx
Robin had finished his tale, and was currently searching my face for my reaction. If I had not had my previous adventure in Moonacre Valley, I could have scarcely believed such a grand, curious story. As it was, however, I had learned that the mind must be open to the improbable. What one believes to be impossible may be considered completely plausible by another; such was the way of the world.
I took the story warily and regarded it as possible, wanting to keep an open mind. Still, one question weighed on my mind.
"But what does this have to do with me?" I inquired. "How am I in danger?"
Robin frowned. "I don't know all the details, only what my father told me. He and Benjamin know the specifics." He paused. "It is true, however, that I know my task. I was sent by Coeur de Noir and your uncle to take you back home, where they can keep you safe. Where I can keep you safe."
I glowered at him, throwing my hands up in the air in a fit of exasperation. Why did he continue in such a vague manner? Why would he not answer the question I wanted?
"But safe from what?" I repeated, praying he would no longer hedge the inquiry. And he didn't. Robin simply looked straight into my eyes, willing me to understand the gravity of the situation at hand.
"Maria, the legacy of Lord Death has returned. He has come to finish what he started."
A/N: So here is another chapter. PLEASE give me some feedback on this one, and if you have any questions PLEASE feel free to ask. I will answer all of them as best I can. I am not sure if this is confusing… or stupid. Let me know your opinion!
Reviews appreciated, Love ya!
