I hesitated at the front door of a small cottage home. It wasn't that big to fit all ten people just enough to fit in two diminutive rooms, a small lounge and kitchen at the very end of the cottage. It wasn't as big as the castle that I was used to. Inside, I could hear footsteps, one heavier than the other. They were going around the cottage maybe looking for something. Their conversation was clearly heard as if they were in front of me. Behind all the raucous, there was a faint heart beat and someone breathing but not in the normal rhythm. That must be the man. The man that can or cannot be Tristyn.
The door suddenly opened, a man was inside, surprised, beside him was an old woman. Even though the woman was old she had a strikingly strong resemblance to the man. Light blond hair, soft features of the face, red full lips and a small nose. I would say that he was rather handsome. The most striking feature he had was his eyes. They were light, happy and had a little twinkle in the corner of his eyes. They resembled Tristyn's eyes so much. My hand quickly went over to the pendant.
"May I help you, Ma'am?" he asked.
My mind was blank for a few seconds before I could take in what he said.
He looked worried maybe thinking that I was some crazy lady. I should have changed my clothes before I came here.
"I am one of Tristyn Borouke's third cousin's niece. My father wanted me to deliver a message from him." I lied. How could I explain that I was his childhood friend? He was old and dying inside while here I am, skin tight and soft and still looking young.
"Oh, you're a relative of father's? I have never seen you in any of the family reunions." he was kind of suspicious; I could see it in his face.
"My family and I live in a far away place." I explained "Sometimes we could not afford to travel around. They have sent me here because I was younger and stronger." that could explain the ragged dress.
He thought about it hard for a while before nodding and moving to the side so I could pass through. The old woman, possibly his mother, was inside one of the rooms. The man pointed to which room I could find Tristyn. It was easy to navigate around the cottage because there weren't much rooms to get lost in. On the right side of the entrance was the lounge room, one sofa chair and a love seat filled the area; on the left side was one of the rooms, empty; further down the narrow hallway was another room. At the very end of the cottage was the tiniest kitchen that I have ever seen. This was really far different from the one that I am used to. The room at the end of the hall had a double bed taking up most of the space. The room wasn't empty, the woman from before was sitting on the bed; her back to the door. She was hunched over, talking.
"Mother," the man said.
The old woman faced us "Yes John?"
"This young woman, ummm..." he looked over at me.
I forgot to tell him my name! "Skye," I heard a heart skip a beat "I am uncle Tristyn's third cousin's niece. I am here to pay our deepest sympathy for uncle Tristyn and his family."
The woman's expression became sadder and distant. She ushered us to the lounge room. She sighed heavily when she was sure her husband wouldn't hear. "Oh my, dear." her eyes dropped to the floor. "He doesn't have much time." she sighed again as if she was trying to hold onto tears.
All this time, I never took my hand away from the pendant. It was like a knife through my heart. "I am so sorry to hear this."I wasn't even sure if he really was Tristyn but I had a feeling, and I hated that feeling, that it was him.
John looked out the window. I swear I saw a tear in his cheek. Everybody was sad in the family. I felt like I was invading some private conversation.
"Sorry if I'm keeping your time. Please go and visit him. He sure would be happy to see someone."
I slowly went back to the room, my energy drained out of me. My whole body felt like it was going to collapse. If my heart was still beating it would have been drumming like crazy. I dreaded what I saw nest. It was nothing I had expected.