Reaver's Servants
The Red Balverine Returns
The smoke coming from the trains was suffocating, but nothing one couldn't wave away. Passenger trains were something relatively new, but all around very popular. Faster and somewhat safer than sea travel and much faster than caravans, trains seemed to be the wave of the future and the future was coming to Albion. There weren't many people using trains yet, as new ideas still scared people, but the ones who did use the trains could testify that it was a pleasant ride.
Barry stood on the landing, holding an open envelope with its contents open in his hand. He wasn't looking forward to this, but at the same time he was. Everyone at the manor seemed excited about the visitor they were expecting. Everyone except Barry, despite the fact that this visitor was coming to see him and he knew he should have been more excited. When Barry showed the letter to his boss when it arrived no more than three days before, Reaver seemed more excited than Barry.
Lakeview Manor was cleaned top to bottom (literally, as Willa, Beryl, and Rosie were climbing down a ladder from the roof when Barry left earlier). Reaver had Miss Sarah busy in the kitchen for the last few days, getting her best recipes in order and collecting ingredients for her ravioli specialty, which she was making that night.
Having enlisted Gordon for assistance, Barry still wasn't looking forward to this. He looked down at the letter in his hand and sighed again. Maybe it was his unease at the upcoming visit or the odd unease he had been feeling the last couple days, but Barry just couldn't get excited about this visitor. It certainly didn't help that had a recurring headache since getting the letter.
Barry readied himself when the train car opened. Gordon looked over at Barry. "You don't look excited." Gordon murmured. Barry only sighed. "I mean, of all people, I figured you'd be the happiest about our visitor today. How long are…"
"Two weeks…" Barry interrupted, fixing up his jacket. "Every year, it's always two of the longest weeks of my life." Barry sighed and kept tugging at his jacket sleeve, just to keep his mind busy. He looked up and saw the visitor in question step onto the platform. He swallowed hard, wished he hadn't quit smoking all those years ago, and hoped a bottle of rum would fall from the sky (considering he was living with a three-hundred year-old pirate and a house full of circus performers, it wasn't that unlikely) and got ready. "Well, let's get this over with."
Instructing Gordon to follow, Barry made his way through the thin crowd and forced a smile. "Mother!" he shouted with a fake smile.
The middle-aged woman Barry shouted at looked over with a smile and her arms open. "Barry! My little Barry-Bear!" the woman shouted, hugging Barry tightly. Mrs. Bernadette Hatch was about as tall and thin as her son with the same orange hair that was starting to grey, which she kept in a mid-high messy bun. She wore a simple dark brown (almost black) dress that covered her shoes. Her coat was unbuttoned, considering the weather for the day. Her fair skin had a few fading freckles on her cheeks and her lips had ruby-red lipstick draped on them.
"Oh, it's so good to see you!" Mrs. Hatch hugged her son tighter. "Your letters are nice, but I do love seeing you, Barry-bear. My knitting club and that old cat can only keep me so much company before I begin to miss my only child. I do wish you'd come visit me sometime so I don't have to lug my things all the way to Bowerstone. But if that's the price I have to pay to see my darling little boy, then so be it!" Mrs. Hatch exclaimed excitedly.
Barry cleared his throat as his mother let go of him. "It's good to see you too, Mother. I'm glad your trip was a safe one." Barry smiled and looked over at Gordon, wanting to direct his mother's attention elsewhere for a change. "Mother, this is Gordon. He's the gardener at Lakeview; he's come to assist us with your luggage."
"Oh, how lovely!" Mrs. Hatch shouted, giving Gordon a big hug. "I'm glad I don't have to lug all that to the manor. Does that boss of yours know I'm coming?" she asked. Gordon noted that she didn't share Barry's speech impediment. Gordon assumed Barry must have gotten it from his father.
"Yes, Master Reaver knows you're coming. He had the guest room near his room all made up." Barry tried to sound happy, but to Gordon it was obvious he was annoyed. "Come on, the carriage is waiting."
Mrs. Hatch followed her son and Gordon to the baggage claim. The only thing Mrs. Hatch carried with her was her small purse. She opened the clasp and took out her ticket for the young man at the baggage claim. He nodded and left his desk. Gordon decided to break the silence. "So, how was your trip, Mrs. Hatch?" he asked. Barry kept his sigh low.
"Oh, it was lovely! These new-fangled trains are just wonderful! A few bumps along the way, but nothing I can't handle. I mean, I survived giving birth to Barry and that nearly killed me, I knew I would survive a bumpy railroad track." Mrs. Hatch smiled at her son, who returned it with a fake smile. "He hates me telling that story, but it's the happiest story of my life. I have plenty of stories of my Barry but I'll wait until we get to the house. Your boss loves these stories."
Barry rubbed his head. His headache was getting worse by the second. The baggage claim boy came back with his arms full of suitcases. "What did you pack? You're only staying for two weeks!" Barry asked as Gordon started picking up suitcases.
"I read in your last letter that you all had some new servants so I decided to bring presents for them all! I'll distribute them when we get to the manor. Now, where is that carriage you were going on about? We need to start loading up!" Mrs. Hatch picked up one of her suitcases and followed Gordon. Barry sighed and rubbed his head. His headache had started that morning and it wasn't stopping.
His headache kept going through the carriage ride out of Bowerstone and into Millfields. Mrs. Hatch found it necessary to talk about her long trip, her aching rear, and the slow process her medication was taking in curing her foot bunions. Barry cringed through it all.
At the manor, the other servants stood outside with their boss. They weren't sure what to expect. Reaver stood at the bottom step, his walking stick forward. Miss Sarah straightened up her apron and Willa fixed her stockings, but none of the girls knew quite what to do. Beryl was the one who broke the silence. "So, what do you think Mr. Hatch's mother looks like?" she whispered. The other girls shrugged and looked amongst each other.
"I'm sure she's a nice looking woman." Miss Sarah chirped.
"She IS Mr. Hatch's mother, so do you think she talks like Mr. Hatch?" Willa shouted.
"Or have orange-colored hair like Mr. Hatch? Or his freckles?" Beryl asked. The others shrugged and murmured to themselves.
They were all thinking it, but Rosie was the one who finally said it. "Am I the only one picturing Mr. Hatch in a dress?" Rosie blurted out, loud enough for Reaver to hear. The other girls murmured and wondered to themselves, while Reaver tried to keep his laugher down. They all watched the gate and waited anxiously.
Miss Sarah was the first one to point out the carriage coming over the hill. Reaver straightened out his vest and waited eagerly. The gates were already open, letting the carriage come in without hassle. The girls lined up and awaited their boss's command. Gordon got down from the driver's seat of the carriage and opened the door. "Welcome to Lakeview Manor, Mrs. Hatch." He announced, holding the door open for the guest of honor.
Mrs. Hatch took Gordon's hand and happily let him assist her out of the carriage. "Mother Hatch!" Reaver shouted, handing his walking stick to Willa. As Barry and Gordon got busy getting Mrs. Hatch's luggage down, the girls slowly walked up to greet their guest. Reaver seemed happier to see Mrs. Hatch than Barry did.
"Well, hello there, Reaver. You haven't aged a bit." Mrs. Hatch gave Reaver a big hug while letting Gordon and Barry take her things inside. "Imagine my surprise when I got a letter from my son saying you had acquired new servants. I hadn't received a letter from him in so long, I was sure something had happened to him, like he got kidnapped by bandits again or mauled by a balverine." Mrs. Hatch let out a soft guffaw while Reaver just chuckled uncomfortably. "But I'm glad you look after him so well. I like to hear from him when I can. So, where are these new servants my Barry-Bear keeps talking about in his letters?"
Reaver snickered a bit and stood up straight. "Servants! Front and center!" Reaver shouted. When Gordon was done taking in Mrs. Hatch's bags, he joined the others on the steps of Lakeview. Each servant was already wearing their warm weather uniform, despite the soft chilly wind coming off the lake. "Mother Hatch, these are my circus rejects."
"Circus rejects?" Mrs. Hatch asked, blinking softly.
"They used to work in a circus before coming to work for me. Now, you've already met Gordon, he's the gardener and he also has butler duties when the need arises." Reaver pointed to Gordon, who waved to Mrs. Hatch. Mrs. Hatch winked at Gordon, making him blush.
Mrs. Hatch felt immediately drawn to Willa. "Oh, they're letting you employ children again?" Mrs. Hatch asked while pinching Willa's cheeks. "This one is adorable. Oh, aren't you just the cutest little thing." Mrs. Hatch grabbed Willa's cheek and pinched it hard, causing her to groan with discomfort.
Reaver laughed and took Mrs. Hatch's hand from Willa's cheek. "No, that ban is still in effect. This is Willa, one of the maids. She's just short." Reaver watched as Willa pretended to smile and rub her cheek to get the feeling back. "She's actually quite strong. The other day, she lifted up my chair in the study to get some dust she missed. With me still in it!"
Mrs. Hatch let out an impressed "Oooohhh" and followed Reaver to the other servants. Mrs. Hatch approached Rosie with caution. "Oh my, I've never met another woman as tall as me." Mrs. Hatch compared heights with Rosie, but it was obvious Rosie was just slightly taller. "You seem like a lovely girl. What's your name, dearie?"
"My name is Rosie." Rosie answered simply. The blandness of Rosie's response didn't go over Mrs. Hatch's head. To anyone, Rosie looked quite intimidating by herself. Rosie often tried to keep an air of cool collectiveness on a daily basis. "I'm Mr. Reaver's chambermaid, as well as a regular maid." Rosie continued after a short silence. Mrs. Hatch nodded and looked over Rosie again. Rosie followed Mrs. Hatch with her eyes and kept a good eye on her.
Reaver yanked Rosie toward him as Mrs. Hatch moved on. "You had better grow a personality while she is here. I won't have you being rude to our guest." Reaver growled through his teeth before letting Rosie go. Rosie rubbed her arm and looked at Willa, who shrugged.
Beryl gave Mrs. Hatch a big smile from under her glasses. "Hello, Mrs. Hatch! I'm Beryl! Mr. Reaver told me to tend to you during your visit!" Beryl shouted enthusiastically.
"That's a pretty name, Beryl. You know, that would have been Barry's name if he had been a girl." Mrs. Hatch giggled softly and shook Beryl's hand. Beryl tried to keep her own laughter down when she and the other servants looked at Barry, who was blushing deep red. "If you don't mind me saying, those are some impressive glasses, my dear. But you seem to carry yourself well in them, and if Reaver has full confidence in you, then I have full confidence in you too."
Beryl bowed as Mrs. Hatch came to the last person in line. Though she had never seen Miss Sarah before, the way Barry described her in his letters was better than a photograph. From her dull brown hair to her hazel eyes, different uniform, and sunny smile, Mrs. Hatch knew this was the legendary cook, Miss Sarah. "You must be that new cook my Barry is always going on about. You're Sarah, aren't you?" Mrs. Hatch asked, with a certain glint in her eye.
Miss Sarah blushed and curtseyed. "Yes, I'm Sarah. I oversee all the meal preparation and kitchen upkeep in the manor. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hatch." Miss Sarah shook Mrs. Hatch's hand and returned her smile. "Mr. Reaver has instructed me to make my specialty for your first night here. It's a ravioli recipe that's been in my family for generations. It should be ready in a few hours."
"Oh, all this fuss over me!" Mrs. Hatch laughed, following Reaver and Barry.
The servants followed a little ways behind their boss. Gordon had an unsure look on his face. "So, am I the only that noticed that Mr. Reaver treats Mr. Hatch's mother better than he treats Mr. Hatch?" Gordon asked, placing his hand on his hip. The others nodded and kept a good distance from their boss.
Rosie stopped mid-step and looked behind the group. She looked around, as if trying to see the distance. Rosie wasn't sure why, but something familiar was nearby and it was giving her weird vibes. Not bad ones by any means, but weird. "Rosie?" Miss Sarah chirped as everyone else went inside. "Is everything alright?"
Trying to figure out what the familiar sense was, Rosie nodded and followed Miss Sarah.
Across the lake, a familiar face was leaving a noble's home. His blonde hair caught the gentle breeze and flowed with it. The man was dressed for combat, and rightly so. His greatest foe to date had eluded him many times, but this time he vowed it would be the last. It took months of doing research, following leads (some dead ends), and going over every book available on the subject, even ones that only barely mentioned it. But Ben Finn was not a quitter.
"Are you sure you have it this time, Mr. Finn?" asked the Noblewoman, crossing her arms. She was noticeably worried, and rightfully so. All the nobles (save for Reaver, though that was no surprise) were scared of the same monster, and they wanted it gone. "We've sent wave after wave of hunter after that thing but each one comes back dead or with a limb missing; most of the time, both. I know those monsters are more intelligent than we give them credit for. But so far, they've been able to eradicate the foul things."
Ben chuckled and waved the Noblewoman's worries away. "Don't you worry about a thing, Ma'am. That beast eluded me before, but it's not going to happen again. This 'Red Balverine' is pretty unique, but at the end of the day, he's still just a balverine. He's a tricky one and right smart too. But I do believe that this will be the last time he makes a fool out of any of us. If Benjamin Finn can't catch this thing, then no one can. Intelligent as they may be, they are still animals and every animal can be taken down. It just comes down to how."
The Noblewoman nodded her thanks and closed the door. Almost everyone in Millfields was backing Ben with a lot of money. He took out his map from his rucksack and circled a certain area. "Alright, you damn monster. We've done this dance before and you made me and the good people of Millfields look like fools. But I promise you…" Ben but the map away and placed his hand on his trusty rifle. It had a few notches in the handle. "…this is the last time you make a fool out of Ben Finn. This time, I won't miss."
Ben walked from the Noblewoman's house and decided to set up camp nearby. He sniffed the air and looked to his right. Not too far away was Lakeview Manor. Ben had been there before. It was the closest house to Silverpines (an area known for Balverines) and it was also home to Rosie, the fortune teller he had a brief liaison with a long while ago. Ben wouldn't admit that he still somewhat carried a flame for Rosie, mostly because she was the only one of his former lovers that didn't come brandishing a paternity lawsuit or a frying pan (maybe, depending on her mood) at the sight of him.
"I'm sure the inhabitants of Lakeview would hate to be kept uninformed of the matter at hand, being so close to Silverpines." Ben reasoned before he took his rucksack off. "Maybe I can convince that fop, Reaver, to let me stay on the property. It would give me a better viewpoint of the region…and of Rosie. And if Miss Sarah just happens to cook some extra pancakes in the morning and wants me to eat them so I have enough energy to do my work, it would be ungentlemanly of me to refuse such generosity." Ben decided to chance it and threw his pack over his shoulder.
Inside Lakeview Manor, the smell of delicious homemade ravioli filled the house with a savory aroma that was unmatched. Miss Sarah kept the kitchen doors closed when she made ravioli. The servants were akin to flies whenever she made it. The sauce was made from the freshest ingredients down to the tiniest speck of oregano. The ravioli morsels were packed with the finest cheese Reaver afforded for the food budget, and now she was mixing the finely chopped beef into the sauce. Reaver liked his sauce a little meaty (Miss Sarah had to reframe from giggling whenever she remembered that).
The servants stood at the kitchen door, their mouths salivating to the smell of the sauce cooking. Reaver, along with Mrs. Hatch, descended down the stairs. They were following the smell as well. "Get away from that door, you vultures!" Reaver shouted, shooing the servants away. The servants scattered, though they stayed near. "Mother Hatch, while your son gets your things unpacked, I thought I'd show you where that delicious smell was coming from."
Mrs. Hatch smiled as Reaver opened then kitchen doors wide. The smell of delicious food overcame the two of them. "Miss Sarah, how is dinner coming along?" Reaver asked.
Her back to her boss and the guest, Miss Sarah turned her head slightly. "It's almost ready. I'm about to take it out and put another layer of sauce on before it finishes." Miss Sarah went back to chopping vegetables for the side salad. Mrs. Hatch made her way around the counter and watched Miss Sarah. Miss Sarah didn't like it when people got close to her when she was chopping. It made her very nervous and it made her chopping sloppy. "Is there anything I can do for you, Mrs. Hatch?" Miss Sarah asked, steadying her hand.
"Oh, no thank you, my dear. Barry sings praises about your cooking in his letters and I wanted to see the master at work." Mrs. Hatch smiled as she said that. Miss Sarah, who wasn't adverse to flattery, returned Mrs. Hatch's smile. "Want kind of sauce did you use for the ravioli?" Mrs. Hatch asked.
"It's a meat sauce recipe that's been in my family for years. I've tweaked it a bit over the years to give it a more savory flavor and to counterbalance the garlic flavor." Miss Sarah took the lid off the pot she made the sauce in, letting the steam fly up. "I wanted to use cooking wine to sweeten it a bit, but the new bottle I bought vanished."
Mrs. Hatch let out a soft chuckle. "Well, I was going to wait until later, but I guess I should go ahead and give it to you now."
"Give me what, Mrs. Hatch?" Miss Sarah asked.
"Your gift, my dear. I bought everyone a gift and since Barry told me you do all the cooking, I brought some cooking wine for you." Mrs. Hatch left the kitchen for a moment and came back in a few seconds later with a small bottle of cooking wine with a ribbon around the neck. "It's from this fancy-shmancy catalogue I get in the post sometimes. I knew the moment I saw it that a cook that gets such high regard from my Barry would appreciate it."
Miss Sarah took the bottle as if being handed a gift from the gods themselves. "Is this…it can't be!" Miss Sarah looked over the bottle and hugged it. "I can't believe it. This is Le goût du Devine! It's the same stuff the royal chefs in Bowerstone Castle use! How did you get a hold of this? I've been on a waiting list for their smallest bottle for months!"
Reaver, who decided to stand off to the side, folded his arms and smiled happily. "I have friends in high places, my dear. My cupboard is full of them back at home. I use it in everything I make, except my morning coffee. If you'd like, I'll send you a few bottles when I get back to Brightwall. Oh, before I forget, there is another part to your gift, but I'll give it to you later, when everyone else gets theirs."
Miss Sarah looked like she was about to cry. "Thank you, Mrs. Hatch." Miss Sarah put the bottle down on the counter and started looking for a corkscrew. "Mrs. Hatch, would you like to stay and help me cook dinner?" she asked softly. Mrs. Hatch agreed and the two women shooed Reaver out of the kitchen.
He couldn't believe his eyes. Reaver knew how Miss Sarah was about cooking her ravioli specialty. It was her best recipe and rarely let anyone into the kitchen when she was making it. She sometimes let the others help her make cookies or prep ingredients for pies and really big dinners, but Miss Sarah's ravioli specialty was the toast of every party Reaver had and there were rarely leftovers whenever Miss Sarah made even the biggest batch.
Reaver smiled and looked at his pocket watch. He closed the watch when a knock came at his door. "I'm not expecting anyone else." He murmured, walking toward the door. Not bothering to wait for Barry, Reaver opened the door himself and was greeted by a very familiar blonde haired man.
"Evening, Mr. Reaver." Ben smiled. "I know you told me never to come around you or your servants again after that last balverine incident, but this time it's pretty urgent and…" Ben sniffed the air and looked around. "Is that heavenly smell…ravioli?" Ben asked.
"Yes, it is. And it's mine. Now go away…" Reaver was about to slam the door when Mrs. Hatch came from the kitchen.
"Who's at the door?" she asked, making her way from the kitchen. Ben took off his hat when Mrs. Hatch approached them. "Reaver, you didn't tell me you had a gamesman on the property. I didn't think you'd have enough room around here for one." Mrs. Hatch smiled at Ben and offered her hand to them. "I'm Mrs. Bernadette Hatch, I'm here visiting my son, Barry."
Ben cleared his throat and took Mrs. Hatch's hand. "I'm Benjamin Finn, m'lady. I'm sorry to say, but I don't work for Reaver. I'm under the employ of some of his neighbors. You see, there have been a string of balverine attacks in the area and since this house was so close to the Silverpines entrance, I'm on the hunt."
Mrs. Hatch cocked an eyebrow and moved Reaver out of the way. "The hunt for balverines? I didn't know they came out this far. I'm from Brightwall and sometimes we get packs of them in the mountains but it's too cold for them to stay long."
Nodding, Ben put his hat back on. "Not just any old balverine, ma'am. This one is known as the Red Balverine. It's larger, stronger, and a different color than your run-of-the-mill balverine. He's been terrorizing Millfields and the surrounding areas for a while now and I am being paid a lot of money to eradicate it."
"How lovely. Now, if you don't mind, dinner is almost ready." Reaver took control of the situation again and pushed Ben out of the doorway. "You can go back to whatever tree you're sleeping in and leave us alone, now."
Before Reaver could close the door, Mrs. Hatch intervened. "Now, Reaver; this young man has a job to do and I would hate to see him lose money. I'm sure sleeping in some tree can't be good for the hunt. A nice young man like this needs a good meal and a good bed to sleep in." Mrs. Hatch trailed her finger along Ben's hair, making him blush and feel hot and uncomfortable. "Why not let him stay around here until he bags that monster? I know I'll feel a lot safer knowing he's here to protect us."
Ben blushed and was starting to rethink his plan. Mrs. Hatch was a lovely middle-aged woman and though Ben preferred younger women, he had been involved with older women before. That didn't mean he had a thing for Mrs. Hatch. Ben almost swallowed his Adam's apple when Mrs. Hatch winked at him.
Reaver sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine, he can stay if it puts your mind at ease, Mother Hatch." Reaver cooed. "You can stay for dinner but don't get comfortable. You can sleep in the garden shed, but don't break anything in there. I'll have Willa or Beryl bring a blanket out to you later."
Ben nodded and walked inside. He stopped before hitting the staircase when a very bad vibe came over him. Ben shook where he stood when he looked up at the top of the stairs. There stood Rosie, carrying a basket of linens. She just stood there. She didn't move. She didn't blink. She glared at him with eyes that could set damp wood on fire. A thunderclap outside caused the lights to flicker a bit, but when Ben looked up again, she was gone.
"That's odd. I heard thunder but the sun is still shining…" Reaver murmured, moving a curtain to look outside. "There isn't a cloud in the sky. Well, that certainly was odd." Reaver shrugged and walked with Mrs. Hatch to the study.
Swallowing hard, Ben followed Reaver and Mrs. Hatch into the study. "Now, as I was saying before, I wouldn't normally intrude if it wasn't urgent. The last thing I want to do is to upset you, Mr. Reaver."
"It's not my wrath I'd worry about if I were you, young man." Reaver sat down in one of his big leather chairs by the fire. "I'd offer to let you stay in the basement, but the less Rosie sees of you, the more likely it is we all wake up in the morning not inside a smoldering crater. Rosie has informed all of us of your past with her and if she is to be believed, as she is not one to lie, you can put your hands anywhere else, just not on her. I doubt my maids want to clean your melted carcass off the floor in the morning."
Mrs. Hatch took the chair across Reaver. "I'm sure whatever lover's quarrel you have with that tall, scary maid can be resolved. But you said something was urgent and it had to do with balverines."
Ben nodded, not noticing that Barry was standing in the doorway of the study. "Well, as I said, this balverine is no ordinary balverine. He is a wily one and I think he's about to get wilier. You see, the reason I'm a little more urgent this time around is because this next full moon happens to fall on a predicted mating season for balverines. Balverines are particularly active during the full moons, and if mating season and a full moon fall around the same time, then this year is going to be a doozy."
Barry, whose dirty secret was only known to him and Reaver (and their cat, Reavie), didn't want to hear what Ben had to say. But he felt compelled to listen anyway. He had been feeling odd urgings lately and he had chalked it up to the seasons changing. Barry loosened his collar and cleared his throat, bringing in the evening paper to Reaver as he always did.
"Mating season, you say?" Reaver asked, trying not to laugh.
Ben nodded again, taking off his hat as Barry handed Reaver his paper. "Yes, mating season. Those things mate only once a year, but during that time they get extremely violent. I'm talking tear each other apart, bolt the doors, end of the world violent! When the male balverines have a desired mate in their sights, there is no stopping it. There are quite a few more books than I expected written about just balverine mating habits alone. Some go into some…pretty unnecessary detail, let me tell you. You think a balverine is vicious in a regular setting, I don't want to see the poor fool that gets in between a male balverine and its desired female."
Only Reaver noticed Barry shaking nervously. "E-excuse me…" Barry hurried out of the study and toward the stairway. Reaver excused himself and left Mrs. Hatch and Ben to talk. Reaver, who didn't find this very funny anymore (okay, he did a little), stood at the bottom of the steps with Barry. Barry had his hand over his mouth, trying to keep himself calm. "I think…I need to take a few days off, Master Reaver." Barry mumbled, trying to keep his panicked expression to himself.
"Nonsense, Hatch; you have that tea to keep you calm." Reaver reassured Barry and smacked him on the back hard. "I'm sure it will keep you from doing something undesirable to a local village girl…"
Both men looked toward the kitchen doors, which stood open. Miss Sarah was at the counter, cutting more vegetables for the salad. She looked up and waved to the two before taking her big bowl of chopped vegetables to the sink to wash them. Barry blushed, knowing the same thing was on Reaver's mind.
"…or a certain cook…" Reaver made his way back to the study, leaving Barry standing there to contemplate what to do.
Dinner itself went off without a hitch. Mrs. Hatch insisted the servants eat with her, Reaver, Barry, and Ben at the grand dining table and Reaver agreed. It was pretty obvious to the servants that their boss was treating Mrs. Hatch better than he treated Barry. No one was sure why. Of course, they found Mrs. Hatch to be quite an enjoyable lady once one got passed the fact that she was indeed Barry's mother. Though everyone else was drinking wine, Barry had Miss Sarah bring him some tea.
"Here you go, Mr. Hatch." Miss Sarah said cheerfully as she sat the tea cup next to Barry's plate. "The tea pot is right next to the wine if you want some more. There is sugar there, too." Miss Sarah sat in the chair right next to Barry. Mrs. Hatch insisted the servants sit closer, as Reaver wanted them at the end of the table. Whatever meant they didn't have to eat dinner in the drafty kitchen corner on those wooden benches, the servants were happy with and didn't complain.
Reaver sat at the head of the table, being the master of the house. Mrs. Hatch sat in the chair left of Reaver (Reaver's right) and Barry sat across from her in his usual spot. Ben was next to Barry's mother. Miss Sarah was right next to Barry. Rosie sat next to Miss Sarah, and across from Willa and Beryl, who were next to Ben. Gordon sat next to Rosie. Rosie was silent all through dinner. Ben looked over at her a few times, but Rosie didn't look up. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the dinner, as they often did when Miss Sarah made ravioli.
"Mmmm, I must say, this dinner is delicious!" Mrs. Hatch moaned, dabbing her lips with her napkin. "Sarah, if I may say so, you've outdone yourself. I'm glad to see my son is well fed."
Miss Sarah nodded happily. "Thank you, Mrs. Hatch." She chirped, reaching for her wine glass. "It's a family recipe. The ingredients are pretty easy to remember, but I keep the recipe on an index card just to be safe. It always helps to have a reference when cooking. As Mr. Reaver often tells us: anyone who says they are completely sure about something is a liar."
Reaver nodded proudly and sipped his wine. "Everyone needs a reference now and then." He murmured.
"Mr. Finn, you were talking earlier about this being balverine mating season." Willa finally blurted out after she swallowed her food. Barry nearly choked on his piece.
Reaver looked over at Barry and could tell he was panicking. "Little Bit, I hardly think that is proper dinner table conversation. Of course, I'm one to talk." Reaver held back his laughter as he sipped his wine.
"No, it's alright. It's best that everyone know. Well, I won't get into the schematics of balverine mating behavior because that's not polite dinner conversation. But I have done extension research, and believe me when I say those books leave nothing to the imagination. But I have found out that balverines only mate once a year and even have an entire ritual behind it. Something of a mating dance to peak the lady's fancy, if you will. If the female is impressed, she will be his if there is no competition. That is rarely the case, of course."
"As with most courting…" Reaver mumbled. He set his sights on Barry, who was shaking in his seat, spilling his tea as she tried to drink it. Miss Sarah noticed and decided to pour him more tea.
Mrs. Hatch smiled and looked over at her son and Miss Sarah. Mrs. Hatch watched Miss Sarah's every movement around her son. "That reminds me; Barry, when are you going to marry a nice girl and give me some grandchildren? You need someone sturdy to keep you fed. Just look at you, skin and bones. Why, you need a woman like Sarah." she blurted out.
Miss Sarah's cheeks went red as Barry spit out his tea in surprise. Miss Sarah shot up immediately. "OH MY IS THAT MY TIMER GOING OFF I NEED TO CHECK ON DESSERT PLEASE EXCUSE ME!" Miss Sarah bolted from her chair and ran from the dining room.
"MOTHER!" Barry shouted, putting his tea cup down. "Balverine mating reminded you of THAT?!"
Reaver, who was laughing hysterically, put his napkin to his lips to keep him from sputtering his food. "It is the perfect time to speak of such things, I suppose. The subject of balverine mating does get one's feathers in a huff. I know I get pretty bothered by it." Reaver snickered, calm enough to sip his wine.
Ben cleared his throat, hoping to disperse the awkwardness. "Well, at any rate, if it is mating season, it's obvious the Red Balverine will be out looking for a mate as well. Balverines are running amok as it is during the full moon and being all hot and bothered it going to make them more aggressive. The Red Balverine will be on the hunt, in more ways than one. I believe he's hunting for a queen to help him reign over the other balverines. I don't think anyone should leave this manor tonight or any other night this week. Those balverines are going to be looking for some lovin' and I'd rather none of you become an after intercourse meal for some hot and bothered balverines. I suggest making sure all the doors and windows are shut tight and anyone proficient with a weapon should keep on the lookout."
Reaver nodded in agreement. "Yes, I agree with Mr. Finn. After dinner, I want this house locked up tight. Mr. Finn, the girls and Gordon will help you with whatever you need to set up camp outside. Keep those lusty monsters away from my beautiful home."
Nodding, Ben finished his plate and got up. Mrs. Hatch smiled and ate slowly. "He reminds me of the late Mr. Hatch." She mumbled softly. Barry choked on his tea a bit and stared at his mother. "Oh, my beloved husband, how I miss him so. My Bertram was a rough and tumble man, just like Mr. Finn. He was a good man. I miss him…"
"Mr. Finn looks nothing like my father." Barry said, straight.
Mrs. Hatch smiled and stood up. "Well, that was delicious. I shall go see where dessert is."
When Mrs. Hatch left the dining room, all the servants (and Reaver) stared at Barry. "So, Barry-bear, enjoying your mother's visit?" Willa teased. The servants had a good chuckle. "Your mom is a hoot, Mr. Hatch! I can't believe we've never met her before!"
Gordon, who had decided to remain silent through most of dinner, laughed quietly. "I must say, she's pretty active. The way you described her, I would have assumed she was close to being some kind of invalid in need of assistance. She looks like, if not for the heels, she could outrun any of us."
Sighing loudly, Barry picked up his plate and left the dining room. The servants looked toward their boss for guidance. "Mr. Reaver, why is Mr. Hatch not happy that his mother is here?" Beryl asked. "If my parents were still alive, I'd be thrilled to see them. I miss the days I'd spend helping them run my grandparent's vineyard. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if that giant vat of grapes hadn't fallen over and crushed them." Beryl sighed and sipped her wine. "Every time I see, smell, or drink wine, I think of them."
Willa sighed softly and picked at her food. "I miss Papa…I'd give anything to see him again. I wish I knew what happened to him after we left the circus."
Rosie said nothing and continued eating. Rosie never talked about her family and no one knew if she even had one. Gordon finished his plate and took up his wine glass again. "I wonder what my folks are up to nowadays. I should probably write them and see if they need anything."
Reaver looked among his servants and fixed his vest. "Mr. Hatch and his mother have a unique relationship. She is a fun woman and he's no fun at all. In a way, they complement each other. Why Hatch doesn't like having his mother around is a mystery. Maybe it's how diverse she is from her son. I don't know, but not to worry, my doves. It's a healthy mother/son relationship and bla, bla, bla…" Reaver waved his hand dismissively and stood up. "Well, this is boring. I'm going to my study. Mrs. Hatch brought gifts for us all, so after you all finish cleaning up, come to the study for dessert." Reaver left the dining room for the servants to clean up.
Trying to keep himself centered, Barry poured himself some more tea and tried to relax in the kitchen. "Your mother is a lovely woman. A bit straightforward, but otherwise she is very charming. I can see why Mr. Reaver likes her so much. All he talked about for the last week was 'Mother Hatch is coming' and now she's here. She certainly is everything I expected and a lot more." Miss Sarah chirped over the sink full of dirty dishes. "I wish my mother was half that pleasant. Of course, I haven't spoken to her in years."
Before he could take a sip, Barry looked up at Miss Sarah from his chair. "I thought I heard the other servants say your brother was your only living family." Barry murmured, putting his cup down on the saucer in front of him.
Miss Sarah sighed and put the plate she was cleaning down. "He might as well be. My parents aren't very pleasant people, Mr. Hatch." Miss Sarah looked like she didn't want to discuss it, but in her heart she knew she would have to eventually. "I've never told you about my family, have I?"
Barry shook his head and reached for his tea again, but Miss Sarah, in her almost hypnotized routine movements, took up the tea cup and put it in with the other dishes. Barry sighed and went to grab another tea cup from the cabinet. He poured himself some more tea and watched Miss Sarah do the dishes.
"My mother is probably the most insufferable woman you will ever meet." Miss Sarah growled, as she started scrubbing the tea cup. "My father is no better. All they ever cared about were appearances. Always at the best parties and always working, that was my mother and father. When I was born, my mother was so happy to have a daughter. Oh, all the time she spent putting me in those itchy dresses and having my hair and make-up done for those insufferable society parties, could have been better spent. My grandmother was the one that realized I had a talent for cooking. For my birthday one year, she bought me this really fancy cook book. I treasured it more than those ugly dresses my mother gave me." Miss Sarah kept scrubbing. "If not for my brother, I probably would have gone mad after my grandmother died. I'm sure they actually loved us, but they had a funny way of showing it."
Miss Sarah started piling more dishes into the sink to clean after her first sink load was done. Some dishes weren't dirty and some weren't even dishes. Before Barry could drink his tea, Miss Sarah snatched up the tea cup and the tea pot. Barry tried to protest but Miss Sarah had dropped both into the sink. "My brother Geoffrey, now there is a good man. He is the only one in our family I keep in contact with." Miss Sarah smiled and leaned against the sink. "He's the town clerk in Brightwall, your mother probably knows him. He's offered many times to let me live with him and his wife, but he knows I would rather make my own way. I do miss him, though…"
Whimpering softly, Barry tried not to show Miss Sarah had terrified he was. Miss Sarah looked down and saw her sink water turn a disgusting tea brown color. "Oh…oh, Mr. Hatch I'm so sorry!" she chirped, hastily scrubbing the tea pot and cup. "Let me make you some more." Miss Sarah walked over to the cupboard where she kept the teas and coffees. She was a little too short to reach it, so she took a stool with her. "I was a little worried when you told me to make you tea tonight when everyone else was having wine. I guess your stomach must be acting up again. Let's see…hmm, Mr. Hatch, don't be upset…"
"Why?" asked Barry.
"Well, it seems that was the last of the special tea you had me make." Miss Sarah stepped down from her stool and scooted it back to its place by the icebox. Barry didn't show Miss Sarah his wide-eyed worried expression. "I'm going into town tomorrow, I'll pick up some more."
"You can't buy it in town." Barry growled. "It was a special tea that can only be special ordered. And even then, it's expensive." Barry started to get up.
Miss Sarah tried to put on her sunniest smile. "Oh…well, you and Mr. Reaver should try more locally made teas. Do you know how much money crunching I have to do to include those fancy teas and coffees Mr. Reaver likes into the grocery budget he gives me? Why do you think I order them in bulk? I mean, what is so great about that special ordered stuff anyway? Why, I bet some of my Earl Grey tea would be just as good. I'll put some on."
Before Miss Sarah could grab the tea pot, Barry grabbed her wrist. "You honestly have no idea, do you, woman?" he semi-growled, tightening his grip.
Miss Sarah tried to yank her wrist away. "Mr. Hatch, I said I was sorry! Please let go, you're hurting me!" she whined.
Barry, realizing what he was doing, let go of Miss Sarah's wrist and looked at his hand in fright. "Oh no, Miss Sarah…I'm…" Barry staggered his words and looked at Miss Sarah again. She didn't look upset, but she had a worried look as she rubbed her wrist. Before Miss Sarah could comfort him, Barry ran from the kitchen and upstairs, bolting past the other servants. Miss Sarah left the kitchen, still rubbing her wrist and watching the stairs.
In the study, the servants gathered around the fireplace, where Mrs. Hatch sat. Reavie was on her lap and seemed to make herself right at home. "Reaver, I've never seen you as much of a pet person. I always assumed you hated animals. This little thing is so delightful. What is her name, again?"
"Reaver, Jr. is her proper name, but we've all become accustomed to calling her Reavie." Reaver answer joyfully. Reavie mewed softly and snuggled closer to Mrs. Hatch.
Mrs. Hatch giggled and sat back in the comfortable chair. "Now, as promised, I have gifts for you all. My Barry has told me all about you all, so I hope these gifts will suffice. Which reminds me, where is that son of mine?" Mrs. Hatch looked around the room at the confused faced.
Rubbing her wrist softly, Miss Sarah decided to speak up. "He wasn't feeling well, so he went to bed." Miss Sarah blushed and put her hands behind her back. "But I'll take his gift up to him if you brought one for him." Miss Sarah stepped forward as Mrs. Hatch handed her a wrapped box and then a shiny gold colored book. She assumed the book was for her. Miss Sarah put down the wrapped box and placed her hand on the book. "This looks expensive…" she murmured.
"I found that in the town's used books store. The man at the register said he found it in a trunk of old stuff he had bought at one of those property auctions. It's a pretty rare book nowadays, but he gave me a good deal on it. I knew you'd appreciate its value and the recipes inside." Mrs. Hatch turned away to hand out more gifts.
Miss Sarah left the study with the book and Barry's gift under her arm. She smiled at the old cookbook as she made her way to the kitchen. She cut a slice of the pie she made for dessert and put it on a plate with a fork. After she placed both the dessert and a cup of warm tea she had just made on a platter next to his gift, Miss Sarah put the cookbook on the counter and started for the stairs. She heard happy yelps from the study as the others got their gifts.
Though Reavie seemed happy with her new jingly mouse toy, something caught her attention. She mewed softly and ignored her toy when Willa threw it to her again. Reavie made her way to the doorway of the study and watched Miss Sarah go up the stairs. Before she could chase after her, Reaver scooped her up. "Now, now, my dear, all the fun is in here! Let's go see what else Mother Hatch has for you." Reaver cooed. Reavie mewed softly and tried to wiggle free.
The hallway was eerily silent. Miss Sarah stepped lightly toward Barry's room. She turned the handle but noticed it was locked. "Mr. Hatch?" she chirped as she knocked softly. "I'm not mad at you about earlier, so if that's why you've locked the door, it's alright. If you're sleeping, I apologize for bothering you, but your mother has a gift for you and I brought up some dessert with some tea. It's not the tea you usually drink, but I hope it makes you feel better." Miss Sara set the tray down on the table outside of Barry's room. She wanted to say more, but decided to leave it at that. She didn't know that Barry's room was empty and that his window was wide open.
Outside, Ben had finished setting up his camp in the garden and decided to do recon on the house. "Everything is quiet. I can hear the monsters in Silverpines from here. Sounds like the gettin' is good tonight for those things." Ben murmured over the sounds of howling.
Ben had set up some traps along the lakeside, hoping for an easy snag. He knew the monster wouldn't make it easy for him, but Ben was at least hoping. From his old notes, he knew the monster came for a drink by the lake and he was pretty hopeful. Miss Sarah was nice enough to give him some old meat to use as bait and Ben had sprayed it with pheromones to get the beast's attention. Alive or dead, the nobles that employed him wanted proof that Ben had caught it. Mostly to reassure themselves that they were safe from this thing.
He waited through the night, staring at the trap. Ben barely stirred at all. Despite the howling going on in Silverpines, Millfields was surprisingly silent. Ben found himself teetering in and out of sleep all night. If not for Miss Sarah coming outside with some coffee, Ben might have fallen asleep. "Compliments of Mrs. Hatch." Miss Sarah yawned as she set the mug of coffee down. "She seems quite smitten with you, Mr. Finn. We had to stop her from coming outside to join you."
Blushing, Ben nodded his thank you to Miss Sarah. Miss Sarah slowly made her way back to the front of the house. She stopped for a moment when she heard a sound behind her. "Mr. Finn, do you need something else?" she asked, turning around. No one was there. "I had better get to bed. My mind is playing tricks on me." She whispered, walking up the front steps. Before she could open the door, she heard the sound again. "Hello?" she chirped softly. Miss Sarah's heart was pounding. She looked out on the lake and saw nothing but the ripples the wind was causing. Miss Sarah swallowed hard and started for the steps again.
Before she could open the door, a loud howling sound came from behind her. Miss Sarah screamed loudly, enough to make Ben choke on his coffee. Ben tossed the mug down and grabbed his rifle. He sprinted to the front of the house and found Miss Sarah pinned against the door by none other than the Red Balverine. "Hey, Monster!" Ben shouted, taking aim. The Red Balverine looked over at Ben, giving Miss Sarah a chance to run inside. The monster noticed this and then looked back at Ben in anger.
"Sorry I made dinner get away, but your quarrel is with me. Your pelt is worth a lot of money and I aim to collect. You won't make a fool out of me again!" Ben made sure his rifle was ready and stared the beast down. "I'm ready for you this time, Monster…"
The Red Balverine roared loudly and charged at Ben. Ben aimed and tried to fire, but his rifle jammed. Ben shook his rifle and tried to get it to work, but found himself being yanked into the air by this throat by the monster. Granted, he should have made sure his rifle was in working order before he stormed after this thing, but when he heard Miss Sarah scream, the only thing that came to mind was saving her and getting that balverine. The Red Balverine threw Ben into the garden fence and roared loudly.
Ben picked himself up and ran into the garden, to fetch his backup weapons. The balverine followed behind on Ben's heels, smashing anything that got in his way. The garden looked like a warzone, with sashed pots, broken statues, and damaged plants. Ben picked up a flower pot and tossed it at the monster, slowing him down enough to reach his camp. Before he could pick up a weapon, the Red Balverine grabbed him again. It growled at him and flashed his shiny teeth. Before it could do anything, distant howling caught its attention. The monster tossed Ben down and ran off into the woods.
Ben slunk down to catch his breath and to get his heart rate down. The next thing he heard was the sound of the front door opening and the pitter-patter of feet from a group of people. He then heard Gordon shout loudly about the mess in the garden and the footsteps of the other servants running to see if Ben was okay.
The next morning, as the girls helped Gordon repair the garden, Miss Sarah served breakfast outside to Reaver and Mrs. Hatch. The spring morning was unusually warm and Reaver decided to enjoy it. Ben had decided to move his camp by the lake, as not to cause anymore property damage. Reaver, who was already losing his patience with Ben, told Ben he'd take the damages out of whatever prize Ben was to collect when he caught the Red Balverine.
Of course, Reaver didn't tell Ben that he had no intention of letting that happen. Reaver sipped his coffee and looked out on the lake. "So, any plans today, Mother Hatch?" Reaver asked, as Miss Sarah set the plates of food down. She put three plates down, one being for Barry. "I have no idea where that son of yours is, but he had better hurry up."
Mrs. Hatch smiled and thanked Miss Sarah for breakfast. "I was thinking of going into Bowerstone and doing some shopping."
"Oh, I would love to join you, but I'm needed in the factory today. I'll have Beryl accompany you." Reaver sipped his coffee again and looked up from breakfast. As Miss Sarah was going back inside, Barry was walking outside. Reaver heard Miss Sarah gleefully tell him good morning and then saw her smile become a worried frown when Barry only nodded as he walked by. Barry looked like he had a rough night, but shook it off when he approached his mother and boss.
"Barry, did you not sleep well, dearie?" asked Mrs. Hatch as her son sat down. "He was always a rough sleeper. Ever since he was a boy, could never stop tossing and turning. Why, sometimes I'd get up to check on him in the night and he'd be completely off the bed! Sprawled out on the floor and still snoring!"
Reaver snickered a bit, and so did the servants standing near enough to hear Mrs. Hatch. Before he could respond, Miss Sarah once again appeared outside. "Here is the jam you requested, Mrs. Hatch. I made it yesterday while I was waiting for the sauce to boil. Its strawberry, just like you asked." Mrs. Hatch smiled and nodded her thank you. "Mr. Reaver, I'm going into Bowerstone Market to run some errands after I clean up from breakfast, is there anything you need besides the usual groceries?"
Before Reaver could speak up, Mrs. Hatch interrupted. "Bowerstone Market? Would you like a shopping buddy, Sarah?" she asked, biting into her toast.
"That would be wonderful, Mrs. Hatch. I'll finish cleaning and come get you when I'm ready." With that, Miss Sarah scampered off toward the manor again.
Mrs. Hatch smiled and went back to her breakfast. "Such a lovely young woman, that Sarah is. And a wonderful cook too! Last night's dinner was superb. Wouldn't you agree, Barry?" Mrs. Hatch looked over at her son, who slowly munched on his toast. "Of course you agree. I'm surprised you're not more awake with such delicious meals to get your day started. I bet that Sarah could barbeque up a rat and it'd still taste like it was grilled on a gourmet stove." Mrs. Hatch finished her breakfast and shot up instantly. "Well, I'd better go get ready to go shopping."
By the lake, Ben was writing in his journal the events of the night before. He was trying to find a connection between the Red Balverine and recent events. "The last time I was here, almost a year ago, that thing had kidnapped Miss Sarah and Mr. Hatch and took them into the woods. He was obviously saving Hatch for a midnight snack just by studying his injuries, but Miss Sarah seemed unharmed. This time, he went straight for Miss Sarah. As far as everyone I've questioned is concerned, it only appears during the full moon. More evidence that it's not fully a balverine, but a person, more specifically a man."
Ben scribbled in his journal some more until he decided to put it away. "I don't see why everyone assumes killing this specific balverine will get rid of the others." murmured a voice behind Ben. Ben turned around and saw Rosie standing there. Ben sat up and invited Rosie to sit with him. She didn't move.
"Balverines work as a pack. You take down the alpha and the others will scatter. Sometimes they join other packs and make bigger packs." Ben retorted, standing up. "I was under the assumption that I wasn't to speak to you."
Rosie shrugged and walked up to Ben. As tall as Rosie was, she could easily look Ben in the eye. "There is something about that balverine that everyone wants dead. I sense something off about it. It seems familiar, but I can't put my finger on it. I get the feeling it doesn't like its predicament, but something keeps it coming back here to the manor. I don't think you should kill it, Mr. Finn. I don't think he has any control over his actions. Not anymore, at least…"
With that, Rosie left Ben to think. He didn't understand why she never called him by his name, seeing as they've shared more than tea together. Rosie was more than intuitive and Ben was pretty sure she had the ability to read minds. "Not killing it means I don't get paid and it will put the residents of Millfields in more danger. I could catch it alive, but I can't tote a balverine around with me. I heard it's possible to tame a balverine, but that Red Balverine has been too much trouble as it is."
Barry tried to drink his coffee, but found his hands shaking. Reaver calmly sipped his coffee and looked at his attendant. "You ran out of that special tea, didn't you?" he murmured, making sure no one was around to hear him. Barry nodded and sipped what little coffee was left in his cup. "I told you to buy more last full moon."
"I had…an unexpected expense come up, Sir." Barry moaned as he finished his breakfast. "I think it might be best if I take a few days off, Master."
Reaver waved the thought away. "And leave your poor mother to worry? Hatch, your 'affliction' picked a very bad time to rear its ugly head. I am a little unhappy that you have yet to learn to control it without the tea. I figured that would be the first thing you do. Well, you're just going to have to do without that tea crutch. I will not have it ruining a guest's stay, especially since that guest is your delightful mother. I could listen to that story of you and the baby pig incident all day. In fact…" Reaver wiped his mouth and stood up when he saw Mrs. Hatch and Miss Sarah leave the manor. "Mother Hatch, I don't believe Miss Sarah has heard the story about the baby pig…" Barry covered his tired eyes and slunk down in his seat.
When the evening came, Ben once again found himself outside. This time, he was showing Willa and Beryl how to properly set a trap. "Mr. Finn, why has the Red Balverine been attacking this property specifically?" Willa asked as Ben snapped the trap in place.
Ben shrugged. "I have no clue. I'm trying to find a connection. I've take some extra precautions, since the town crier was saying a storm was in tomorrow night's forecast."
The trap snapped back at Ben when Rosie walked up to them. "Mrs. Hatch and Miss Sarah are back from town and Miss Sarah needs help putting the groceries away. Beryl, Mr. Reaver wants you to take Mrs. Hatch's purchases to the guest room." Willa and Beryl nodded and ran towards the manor again. Rosie looked out at the traps Ben had set. "I don't think Mr. Reaver wants all these bear traps littering his property." Rosie mentioned, folding her arms.
"I'll have them cleaned up by morning. Hopefully, one of them will snag that monstrosity. I don't know why, but for some reason it likes this mansion. Maybe it's the proximity to Silverpines." Ben started to fix the trap that snapped at him as Rosie looked around.
"Or the proximity to its intended target…" Rosie murmured before walking off.
Ben thought about what Rosie said for a moment. "Intended target…I think she just might be on to something. Let's see how tonight goes and then I'll explain my theory to Reaver…"
When Ben told Reaver his theory and idea that night after dinner, Reaver was less enthusiastic then Ben had originally thought he'd be. "Let me get this straight, Mr. Finn: You want to use myself and my servants as bait for this…monster?" Reaver asked, as Gordon set out a pipe and some scotch for him (Barry was given permission to go to bed early, complaining of headaches). "You must have hit your head on one of my stone statues when that balverine threw you into my garden if you think I would go along with that idea."
Ben swallowed hard. "I want to test out a theory. I believe that Balverine is particularly interested in this house, but I don't know why. At first I thought it was because it was closest to the entrance to Silverpines, but now I believe that's just a lucky coincidence. I think he's after something or someone in this house."
Reaver's expression didn't change. "The answer is no, Mr. Finn. I doubt they would like the thought of being monster bait, and I dislike the idea even more now that I've said it out loud. I have invested a lot of time and money into my servants and if any of them returns to my house with a limb missing or as nothing but a pile of bloody clothes, you would have a very high debt to pay off, and I don't mean funeral costs." With that, Reaver got up and left the study.
Rubbing his face, Ben started to leave as well. He was about to leave the manor and go back to his camp when he heard the sound of laughter in the kitchen. He knew it was impolite of him to eavesdrop on the conversations of others, but he couldn't help it. The chat was between Mrs. Hatch and Miss Sarah.
"…and then the pig ran off down the road and it took three farm hands to take it down and get Barry off its back!" Mrs. Hatch laughed. Miss Sarah laughed gently and sipped her tea. "My Barry is a good man and I would like it if he lived closer to me. You say your brother is the town clerk in Brightwall? I think I've seen him. Geoffrey, correct?" Mrs. Hatch asked before putting some more sugar in her tea.
Miss Sarah nodded. "Yes, Geoffrey. He's my older brother. I write him every so often to see if he's okay. He's been bugging me to come visit him, but I can't. I just know…" Miss Sarah looked like she didn't want to say anymore. "…my parents will be there. He's been trying to get me to reconcile with them for years. Mrs. Hatch, I know it's wrong of me to think ill of my parents, but how can I forgive them after everything they did to me? Trying to marry me off not even a week after my fiancée died. It was like they were selling their prize cow at auction."
With a soft sigh, Mrs. Hatch looked up from her tea. "It takes a lot of courage to find forgiveness, Sarah dear. But it is something you must do on your own. No one can make you forgive someone if you aren't ready. You may never be ready to forgive them. What strikes me is that it's your brother making the effort and not them. Only you can decide if you're ready to let them back into your life, dear. Until then, don't think too much of it. Think of all the things you've accomplished without them. You're an accomplished cook for the wealthiest man in Albion outside the royal family and you certainly know your way around a poker hand. It seems you've cultivated a family for yourself here."
Miss Sarah, humbled by the praise, sighed happily. "Thank you, Mrs. Hatch. Maybe one day I will speak to them. But right now, I want to focus on other things. Mrs. Hatch, as one woman to another, do you often feel…lonely?"
Mrs. Hatch smiled and put her hand on Miss Sarah's. "My dear, ever since my Bertram died it's all I've felt. Which is why I want my Barry to come visit me more often; he is my only child, after all. I want only the best for him, which I assume your parents did as well. Granted, they took the wrong way round it, but a parent's intentions can become eschewed. My Barry needs a strong, sturdy woman that will stand behind him no matter what; someone to kick him out the door in the morning and greet him with open arms at night, along with a smile and a hot meal ready for him. I always made sure my Bertram had a hot dinner waiting for him when he got home. Sometimes, it's the little things like a hot meal and a cup of tea to show a man you appreciate all his hard work."
Miss Sara blushed and nodded as she finished her tea. "He needs a woman like you, Sarah dear." Mrs. Hatch added. Miss Sarah blushed deep red and hid her face behind her tea cup. "Yes, a woman like you is exactly what he needs. Loving personality with a tough outer crust that can handle anything, which you obviously can considering you work for Reaver." Mrs. Hatch fawned softly. Miss Sarah got up and took her tea cup to the sink. "And those wide hips! That's the sign of a good woman. In the old days we called them 'child-bearing hips'. Why, my grandchildren would just fly right out!"
Ben, who had been listening, tried to keep his laughter down as Miss Sarah dropped her tea cup into the empty sink in surprise. He liked a woman who was blunt and Mrs. Hatch was a very blunt woman. Ben decided to leave the manor before things got even more awkward. He left to Miss Sarah stammering her words and Mrs. Hatch chuckling softly.
Making his way outside, Ben noticed something off. All the traps he had set were snapped, as if something had triggered them. "There's nothing in the traps, not even a rabbit!" Ben whispered as he ran to the nearest trap. He didn't see anything wrong with the trap itself, but something had made it snap shut. He picked it up and examined it. It wasn't broken but it was closed tight. Ben didn't like the tension of the air that night and made his way to his camp by the lake.
"That clever…" Ben murmured as he tried to open the trap. The wind started blowing hard, almost knocking Ben over. "The crier said the storm wasn't due until tomorrow." Ben threw the trap down and looked up at the sky over the lake. The sun had already set and the overcast was there. "Someone ought to flog that man." He murmured again, gathering his traps. Rusted traps would be useless, so he gathered all of his traps and ran for his campsite.
"Mr. Finn!" shouted a voice from the manor. Ben looked up as he threw his traps into their box. Ben looked up and saw Miss Sarah running toward him wearing a shawl. "The storm is coming in early. Mr. Reaver said you can come inside as long as you don't cause any mayhem."
Before Miss Sarah could turn around, the sound of a deep guttural growl caught her attention. Ben and Miss Sarah turned their attention to the lakeside and there stood the Red Balverine. His muzzle was wet, as if he had just gotten a drink of water. His claws were caked with dried blood, most likely from his dinner. His orange fur blew with the wind. The monster let out a loud roar, indicating he was ready for seconds and dessert.
"Get behind me!" Ben shouted to Miss Sarah, who did as she was told. The Red Balverine stopped right at the end of Ben's rifle. "Get back, you monster!" he shouted. Ben actually had no intention of firing his gun while Miss Sarah was around. He decided to bluff his way toward the manor so Miss Sarah could get inside, and then he'd take on the beast. Miss Sarah tried to hold back her frightened tears. The Red Balverine didn't look impressed and smacked the rifle from Ben's hands with one swish of its massive claws. It then knocked Ben out of the way.
Ben landed by his campsite with a loud thud. He wasn't hurt but he felt sore. Ben helped himself up and saw the monster slowly come toward Miss Sarah. "Stay still!" Ben shouted, reaching for a back-up gun frantically. Miss Sarah backed up slowly, trying not to cry.
"Nice doggy…" she whimpered as the beast glared down at her. A shot rang out by the lake. Ben fired a warning shot into the air, getting the Red Balverine's attention. It growled and readied its claws to charge at Ben. It roared ferociously and ran for Ben.
"Come on you damn monster!" Ben shouted, reloading his single shot rifle. Ben readied himself as the balverine came at him full force. Ben aimed his new rifle but felt it get whipped from his hands with another powerful swipe from the balverine. Ben didn't have time to fetch his weapon as the Red Balverine lifted him up by his neck with his powerful claws. With one claw's fingers wrapped around Ben's neck, the other claws readied to do irreparable damage to Ben's chiseled face.
Then a shoe, of all things, smacked the Red Balverine on the side of the head. Ben and the Balverine looked up at Miss Sarah, as she aimed her other shoe. "Let him go!" she shouted, tossing her other shoe at the monster. Ben tried shouting for her to make a run for it, but Miss Sarah picked up a rock and chucked it at the beast. It didn't look mad, just annoyed. The Red Balverine dropped Ben and ran for Miss Sarah. Miss Sarah darted out of the way with agility she didn't even know she had, her shawl flying into the air as she jumped, distracting the beast long enough for her to run to Ben.
"Miss Sarah that is the bravest and stupidest thing I have ever seen!" Ben shouted, grabbing Miss Sarah and making a run for the manor. Ben yanked Miss Sarah into the manor and shut the big manor doors tightly as the monster roared at the night sky. Miss Sarah made her way to the stairs where the other servants were coming down to see what the commotion was. Ben looked out one of the front windows and noticed something odd.
The Red Balverine had taken to sniffing Miss Sarah's shoes and shawl. He wasn't tearing them apart or chewing on them. In fact, it looked like he was coveting them. Ben watched as the balverine licked the shoes and sniffed the shawl. This went on for a bit until it finally gathered the items in its massive claws and dashed towards Silverpines. Something clicked in Ben's head as the echoes of the beast's howl, followed by a chorus of other howls, sang outside. Ben turned around and gazed at Miss Sarah, who was hurriedly telling the others what happened.
Ben had found the connection. The connection was Miss Sarah. "Miss Sarah, may I speak with you and the others in the study for a moment?" Ben didn't wait for an answer. He strode into the study with the others walking behind him. The fire was still going from when Reaver and Mrs. Hatch had been in earlier. The wind outside was starting to get wilder, blowing hard against the windows and making the table by the window shake a little.
"Reaver forbad me from doing this, but I think we don't have any other choice. I have found the connection." Ben sighed, leaning against one of Reaver's posh chairs.
"What connection?" Beryl asked, sitting down in one of the chairs.
"Mr. Finn thinks there is a reason that balverine keeps attacking Millfields, more specifically Lakeview Manor." Rosie said, making her presence known. "Something is making the Red Balverine come after this house and Mr. Finn thinks it's Miss Sarah's presence."
Everyone looked at Miss Sarah at that moment. Miss Sarah didn't know what to think. "Me?" she asked softly, pointing to herself. "Why would that thing want me?"
Ben shrugged. "Last time I was here, it took you and Mr. Hatch off into the woods. Mr. Hatch was nearly torn to shreds but you were unharmed. Last night that thing had ample opportunity to tear you to pieces but instead it just sniffed you. And now, tonight, it took your shoes and your shawl because they had your scent. Miss Sarah, I don't know how to say this, but I think that thing might have taken a keen liking to you and that's why it's been coming around here."
Miss Sarah blinked. She couldn't think of anything to say.
"Miss Sarah, I would never make you do anything you didn't want to do. But that thing is going to keep coming after you until it tears the house apart. Miss Sarah, tomorrow night, I need you to be bait for that thing so I can finally take it down and end this madness." Ben looked like he didn't want to say that statement.
The other servants looked at each other in bewilderment. "We can't just give Miss Sarah to that thing! He'll eat her in one gulp!" Willa shouted, folding her arms.
"No, no I don't think this monster wants to eat Miss Sarah. If what Mr. Finn said is true, I think it…" Gordon blushed and then got a disgusted look on his face. "…I think, and I really hope I'm wrong, that thing wants to make Miss Sarah his 'significant other'."
Miss Sarah blushed and then got a horrified look on her face. Ben scowled. "That thing probably wants to turn her into a balverine so that can happen. Balverines mate for life and rarely stray. Miss Sarah would probably make a good wife one day, but I don't intend to let that balverine claim her or anyone else. We'll need to trick that thing and get him into the open. But Miss Sarah, I'm going to need your help and the help of the others, as well as your boss."
Getting Reaver to go along with his plan wouldn't be easy. The next day came and Ben once again told his idea to Reaver, this time with more certainty. Reaver looked like he already knew all this, but he knew how to fake surprise. But Reaver knew the dangers of revealing the secret he held. It wouldn't just put himself in danger, but he'd lose the best assistant he's ever had and poor Mother Hatch would lose her son. He liked Mrs. Hatch too much to let that happen and training a new assistant was an expensive endeavor. Or maybe Reaver was lazier than he liked to think he was.
Reavie, sitting on Reaver's lap like the pampered kitty she was, mewed softly indicating that she was reading for Reaver to continue petting her. Reaver unconsciously granted this request to his cat. Reaver wasn't really paying attention to Ben. He was formulating his own plan. He did, however, hear the part about Ben using Miss Sarah as bait. He shot up in outrage, causing Reavie to jump down and scamper away from her master.
"Mr. Finn, you're insane and I've had enough of this foolishness. You've already caused enough damage around here with your traps and such littering my yard. I want you and your camp off my property by nightfall!" Reaver shouted. "I have had just about enough of this 'Red Balverine' foolishness going around and you filling my servant's heads with this nonsense! If you couldn't catch it the first time, you obviously won't catch it now."
Ben didn't back down. Reaver towered over Ben, even without the hat. "Mr. Reaver, it's not nonsense. This thing is coming after your cook and I'm going to do everything in my power to keep it from killing everyone else to get to her. This thing is relentless and it won't stop until it has what it wants."
Miss Sarah, who seemed to be the focus of this entire argument, left the study before anyone could ask for her opinion. The arguing had settled after a while. Reaver agreed to give Ben one more shot and the servants were to help in any way possible. Miss Sarah sighed and tried to continue making lunch.
Upstairs, Mrs. Hatch stood outside her son's door. He hadn't gotten up yet, but Mrs. Hatch could hear him snoring through the door. She was worried about him, as any mother would be. "Barry?" Mrs. Hatch murmured, knowing on his door. "I know you haven't been feeling well and I'm worried about you. I don't know if it's my intuition or not, but I think you're hiding something and you know that isn't healthy. Please open the door, Barry-bear."
Mrs. Hatch took it upon herself to open the door now. It wasn't locked, much to her surprise. Mrs. Hatch walked into her son's room and saw Barry sprawled out on the bed. The way he was sleeping looked like he had just fallen on the bed. His uniform was folded neatly on a chair near his bed but his pajamas looked like they had been ripped off by an animal. Mrs. Hatch looked around the room and found a spare blanket near the closet. As she picked it up, she noticed something that made her heart swell. Taped to his closet door were two pictures of him and Miss Sarah. Mrs. Hatch smiled and put the blanket over her son with a happy sigh.
On his desk, Mrs. Hatch found a very ornate looking box. The box itself was a deep blue color she had never seen before and the lock looked like a balverine roaring. She had never seen a box like this before and was surprised that it was open. She had never gone through her sons things before, but felt something was terribly wrong with Barry and the reason why had something to do with this odd box. She quietly opened the ornate box and found newspaper clippings and wanted posters that looked like they had been torn from posts.
Articles with headlines like "The Red Balverine Strikes Again!" and "Balverine Attacks Double since Red Beast Appears! Royal Guards Urge Caution in Silverpines-Millfields Area" seemed to catch her attention more than the others. Mrs. Hatch remembered reading about this monster before her visit and it was all Ben Finn talked about since meeting him. Mrs. Hatch picked up one particular article and then looked at her son. The article read "Red Monster Sighted near Lakeview Manor in Millfields! Industrialist Reaver Refuses to Comment".
Mrs. Hatch left Barry's room after putting the articles back. She softly closed the door and walked toward the main part of the house.
The late night finally came and Miss Sarah found herself standing in the middle of Reaver's front yard. She didn't know how she had been convinced to do this, but there she was. Miss Sarah looked around, wishing she still had her shawl. The storm, which everyone thought was coming the night before, still hadn't come. The wind was blowing pretty hard, though. Miss Sarah had been standing in that same spot for about a half hour. She had never needed to use the bathroom more in her entire life.
"You're doing good Miss Sarah!" Ben shouted, from his camp with Reaver sitting close to the campfire. "She's just standing there. Maybe he likes the chase." He murmured. Reaver rolled his eyes and looked around. "The others are in position in the woods, in case he tries to run again. Everything should go according to plan. We'd have a bigger success rate if Mr. Hatch had agreed to help. I figured with Miss Sarah being the bait, he'd want to chime in."
Miss Sarah stood in place for another little while. "I don't think this is working!" she shouted. "I'm really cold now! Can we take a break?" Before Miss Sarah could move, she noticed her shawl being handed to her from her left. "Oh, thank you…" She then noticed it was the shawl from the night before. The one that was taken by the balverine, along with her shoes. Miss Sarah slowly turned her attention to her left and her eyes grew wide.
Miss Sarah's screams caught Ben's attention. He grabbed his rifle and ran to his vantage point. The Monster had Miss Sarah in its grip. Miss Sarah screamed loudly as the balverine ran off into the woods with her screaming and kicking. "Damn it!" shouted Ben, firing at the balverine. He didn't want to fire too closely to the beast as he might accidently hit Miss Sarah. "I hope the others are ready for it!"
The beast ran into the woods as fast as it could with one arm grasping a struggling Miss Sarah. "Let me go!" she shouted, hitting the monster's arm with her fists. Miss Sarah had no idea where this monster was taking her, or why he was targeting her. The deeper they went into the woods, the more scared Miss Sarah became. She didn't realize Silverpines went this deep into the woods. Maybe they were so far into the woods that they weren't even in Silverpines anymore.
After a while, Miss Sarah stopped struggling. It became obvious that this beast didn't intend to hurt her. At least not at the moment, but she knew something was to come. The Red Balverine stopped after a while and sniffed the air. Miss Sarah didn't bother to struggle anymore. The monster's grip was too strong. Just as she thought the journey was over, the Red Balverine darted into another direction, yanking Miss Sarah along with him.
More balverines became clear as the Red Balverine came closer to a thicket surrounded by trees. The balverines did nothing as the Red Balverine passed through the thicket. Beyond the thicket was a clearing and the remains of a castle. Old Kingdom ruins darted Albion's landscape, so finding a pack of balverines (of any animal) living in one wasn't unusual. The Red Balverine took Miss Sarah to what looked like the remains of a balcony. Miss Sarah believed this place was once a small palace and its ruins were sinking into the ground; otherwise the beautiful lake on the other side wouldn't have been so close.
The Red Balverine finally put Miss Sarah down, nudging her to sit on a broken stone bench. Not wanting to disappoint (and possibly be eaten) by her captor, Miss Sarah sat down. The Red Balverine howled loudly at the lake, causing hundreds of frightened fireflies to illuminate the air. Miss Sarah was amazed. The Red Balverine left for a moment and then came back, dragging Miss Sarah's shawl in his massive fangs. He presented the shawl to Miss Sarah, sat in front of her, and wagged his skinny tail.
Miss Sarah picked up the partially ripped shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Thank you…" she murmured. Miss Sarah was frightened by this monster, but something about him seemed familiar and comforting. She didn't scream, knowing it would arouse the other balverines in the area.
"Why me?" she asked, after a long silence. She wasn't sure why she asked this monster why it was relentlessly pursuing her. Miss Sarah sighed and put her hands on her lap. The Red Balverine sniffed her hands and licked them softly. Miss Sarah giggled, the monster's tongue tickling her palms. "You're not dangerous at all, are you?" she cooed, reaching her hand out. She hesitated a bit at first, but finally put her hand on the balverine's head, pretty it like a dog.
Miss Sarah finally smiled and started rubbing the Red Balverine's head. "You're actually a big sweety, do you know that?" she cooed again, rubbing the monster's head faster. The Red Balverine started kicking his back leg wildly. Miss Sarah laughed and stood up, looking out at the lake. "Mr. Finn said it was mating season for you and your kind. I guess I'm to assume you're going to make me your unholy matron of the night?"
The Red Balverine looked at Miss Sarah with confusion. "Or maybe you just want a friend. I imagine being the strongest balverine gets lonely." Miss Sarah walked to the edge of the ruined balcony and looked out among the lake the ruin was sinking into. She could make out other balverines by the lake but when she squinted her eyes a little more she noticed something else. Down the hillside and cross the lake (a little to the right) was Lakeview Manor, she could see the lights from the dock. They didn't go away from Millfields; they just went around Bower Lake. Some of Bower Lake was dammed off and Miss Sarah could see the dam not too far away.
"Why didn't you just take me across the lake?" she asked, as if actually expecting an answer. She thought for a moment and looked at the massive monster again. "Oh, balverines can't swim, can they?" she asked softly. The Red Balverine understood her, but didn't answer. "If it makes you feel better, I'm not much of a swimmer, either. I mean, I can tread water and doggy paddle and such, but only in the lake. In the ocean, well that's a different story. I…don't much like the ocean."
Miss Sarah looked at the monster again. He was listening attentively. "You're a big sweety, do you know that?" she murmured. "You didn't want to hurt me; you just wanted someone to talk to you. You're a big old puppy, aren't you?" Miss Sarah walked up to the balverine, who easily towered over her. She reached her hands up and started rubbing its neck. The Red Balverine stuck out his tongue and panted happily as Miss Sarah rubbed his neck.
With a soft giggle, Miss Sarah sat down again. "So, all that destruction you were causing all over Millfields was just to find someone to be your friend. That's…very human." She murmured, pulling her shawl close to her shoulders. "I imagine eating all those people was because you were hungry. I guess that can't be helped."
Miss Sarah looked out at the other balverines, who were eying her with their big yellow eyes. She could tell they were watching her. The only thing protecting her from those monsters being the Red Balverine, Miss Sarah knew her place here. "So, are you their leader? Do they do as you say?" she asked, as if expecting an answer.
The Red Balverine jumped onto the balcony wall and howled loudly. The other balverines howled in response. Miss Sarah smiled and patted the Red Balverine on its head when it returned to her. "You're such a sweety; I don't know why Mr. Finn wants to hunt you. Of course, you might only be a sweety to me. I bet you've got quite a score to settle with Mr. Finn, don't you?" Miss Sarah stood up again and walked to the balcony posts. "I don't know why, but I feel like I know you. I know we had that encounter last year, but it seems different. You remind me of someone…"
Fixing her apron, Miss Sarah watched as the Red Balverine lumbered over to her on all fours. The way some of its orange hair swept to the side of its face reminded Miss Sarah of Barry. "You look like someone I work with. You look like Mr. Hatch!" Miss Sarah giggled. "You're sweet, just like he is."
The Red Balverine panted softly and laid down at Miss Sarah's feet. "I wonder…if you appear every full moon, why haven't I seen you around? Do you travel a lot? I don't blame you. I like my routine, but others find it boring. Mr. Hatch has been in a slump lately. His mother came to visit and though she's a delightful woman, he doesn't seem too happy about her visit. He's been acting quite strangely lately and I don't think it has to do with his mother visiting. He's a good man and he works hard, but I know there is something else on his mind. A little while ago, he went with me to run errands in the city, and I think he had an epiphany while we were out."
Miss Sarah sighed again and looked down at the Red Balverine. "I can sense some kind of conflict going on in him. I think my friend Rosie can feel it too. She's sensitive to things like that and I think it's been on her mind as well. It worries me, you know? My grandmother once told me that when I worry about someone so much, it just means I care about them a great deal. Can I tell you something?" Miss Sarah covered her mouth and blushed. "I've never admitted this to anyone, not even my friends. But…"
Miss Sarah watched as the Red Balverine leaped onto the obviously undersized bench and laid his head in her lap. "I think I'm in love with Mr. Hatch…"
Just as she finished saying that, Miss Sarah heard the howl of the other balverines in the distance, followed by a gunshot. "That didn't sound like Mr. Reaver's gun. Mr. Reaver's gun has a pretty distinct sound to it and trust me when I say we've all heard it plenty of times." Miss Sarah warned as she got up. She walked over to the edge of the balcony. "It's Mr. Finn, I know it. He's looking for me and I can almost promise my friends will be right along with him."
In the woods, the group followed the rushed footprints the Red Balverine left behind. Rosie lagged behind and kept looking off in different directions. "Your boss is giving us until sun up to find Miss Sarah. If we don't come back with her, he's not going to be happy. And if I don't come back with that balverine's pelt around my shoulders, I don't get paid." Ben mused as the servants stopped in a clearing. "The footsteps stop here. Balverines are good climbers but even as strong as he was, that red monster is still being weighed down by Miss Sarah. I don't think he took to the trees, seeing as none of these trees have claw marks on them."
Rosie, despite everyone else being stopped, walked past Ben and toward the edge of the clearing. Gordon put his fist on his hip and watched Rosie. Rosie slowly turned her head slowly, almost turning her neck a complete 360 degrees. It was as if she was looking for something more than the physical. Rosie, like a metal detector, kept her gaze in the direction she was getting the strongest vibe from. Rosie finally stopped and pointed.
"I think Rosie's got something." Gordon shouted to the others. Rosie started walking in another direction, with the others following. She didn't say anything. Rosie didn't need to. The group followed closely, the feeling of cold air getting more prominent. "I think we're near a large body of water." Gordon said after a while.
Still saying nothing, Rosie led the group farther into the woods. After what seemed like an eternity, Rosie eventually led them to the lake front. "Bower Lake?" Be remarked, stepping ahead of the group. He knew this was Bower Lake, but couldn't tell what side. "Rosie, did you just lead us across the lake?" he asked. Rosie said nothing and looked out to the lake. "If I had known all we needed to do to find Miss Sarah and that bloody beast that took her was to cross the lake, I would have just asked one of the residents for a row boat!" Ben shouted. Rosie glowered at Ben, causing him and the others to cower away.
Beryl had good hearing. What she lacked in good eyesight, she made up for by having fantastic hearing. She could hear a cricket chirp three miles away, so hearing Miss Sarah's soft humming was child's play to Beryl. Fixing her glasses, Beryl looked around. She looked a little ways away and saw a nearly sunken ruin of an Old Kingdom castle. "Miss Sarah!" Beryl shouted, pointing to the ruin.
"She's okay!" Willa shouted.
Ben shook his head in disbelief. "We need to act fast. Have to get her out of there and lure that thing back towards the trap. Luckily, one can only happen with the other. Follow me." Ben crouched down and told the others to do the same. He kept his rifle close and instructed the group to follow. He knew the other balverines could see them, but they didn't attack. Balverines, hardly solitary creatures, almost always attacked as a group, putting their brute strength and agility to work. It seemed to Ben that this group was waiting for instructions from their boss.
Their boss, the Red Balverine, sat in his spot of leadership above them. Next to him was his prize, Miss Sarah. Ben didn't want to alert the beast, so he and the others kept low as they made their way to the ruin to get Miss Sarah. "He's pretty much established himself as their leader." Gordon commented.
"Balverines are very pack minded. The strongest lead and have first pick of mates. But most balverines mate for life, so only the strongest will do. I do not doubt Miss Sarah's strength, but I don't think she could hold a candle to some of the other females. I don't know what that monster has planned, but it won't end well for her." Ben sounded a lot more scared than he probably needed to be.
"When you trap that thing, won't it cause a leadership shift?" Willa asked as they approached the ruin.
Ben shrugged. "I think it depends on how well liked the leader is. If the other balverines don't follow his leadership closely, they'll ignore him and eventually kill each other until a new leader is established. If he's a good leader, then they will defend him if he's in trouble." Ben motioned for them to stop. He pressed everyone against the wall of the ruin, watching the Red Balverine leave. "Let's hope he's a terrible leader." Ben motioned with the others to follow and stay low.
It was obvious that the ruin was sinking into the moist ground, as the servants had no trouble reaching Miss Sarah's balcony. Miss Sarah, her hands on her lap, looked up from her thoughts and smiled at the others when they approached. "You guys made it!" she shouted happily.
The others shushed her. "Miss Sarah, are you hurt?" Beryl asked, as she and Willa ran up to her.
Miss Sarah shook her head. "Oh no, I'm quite alright. My host has been quite nice to me."
"Your 'Host' is going to be back any minute to tear you quite a few new ones, so we have to get out of here." Ben commanded, making sure the coast was clear.
Miss Sarah shook head again and resisted a little as Beryl and Willa pulled her along. "No, you don't understand! He means no harm!" Miss Sarah shouted, digging her heels into the stone floor of the ruin. "He's not at all dangerous, just give him a chance!"
"I'll be sure to relay that to the families of all the farmers he picked off in the last year or so. Now, if you don't mind, your boss has given us until sun up to find you and get rid of that beast or else. I don't know what he means by 'or else', but I'm sure you all do. I'm not very eager to find out. Now, let's move!" Ben handed Gordon his rifle and picked Miss Sarah up, tossing her over his shoulder. Miss Sarah kicked a little bit but eventually gave up.
As they left the ruin, a chilling howling sound filled the air, as if the pack was alerting their leader that something was wrong. "I think I know why those balverines didn't attack us." Rosie commented after her long silence. "I believe he instructed them to watch her."
Miss Sarah stammered her frightened scream as the others turned around. The entire Balverine pack was staring at them. "Don't worry, we can get through this. As long as we don't make any sudden…" Before Ben could finish his sentence he turned and noticed the others had run off into the night, somehow taking Miss Sarah without Ben noticing. Ben didn't have time to get mad, as Gordon still had his rifle. Ben made a mad dash toward the others, finding them on the path back to Millfields. The entire pack gave chase. "Oh, thanks for your cooperation!" Ben shouted, as Gordon fumbled with Miss Sarah over his shoulder and tossing Ben his rifle.
"If there is one thing we learned from Mr. Reaver, it's that you have to look out for your own safety in times of crisis. Of course, we look out for each other most of the time, too. To be honest, we don't really like you very much." Willa shouted breathlessly. The entire forest rumbled at the sound of the galloping balverines. The residents of the small village in Silverpines watched in confusion as the trees around them shook. When Ben and the servants ran through the village, he shouted for the residents to get inside. As he and the servants left, the massive pack of balverines followed closely behind, ignoring the village occupants.
Ben loaded his rifle and shot behind him, hitting one balverine and slowing down the others. "Well, I appreciate your honesty. I don't like you lot very much either, or that nutter you call a boss. But I'd rather not see what he'd do to me if you all didn't make it. Now, come on!" he shouted, pointing to the entrance of Millfields.
"We can't lead this pack back to Millfields!" Gordon shouted.
Ben nodded. "Split up, try to scatter the pack!" he shouted. Gordon, with Miss Sarah still on his shoulder, darted to the right. Ben and Rosie ran off to the left while Willa and Beryl ran back toward the village. Ben grabbed Rosie and yanked her behind a tree as the group of young balverines chasing them ran by. "Luckily, we got the inexperienced ones." Ben joked, penning Rosie to the tree with his arm. He heard Rosie clear her throat and snarl at him. Ben then realized he had his hand on her breast. Ben slowly took his hand away and smiled nervously. When the small balverines cornered them at the tree, Rosie's eyes began to glow bright. The balverines topped where they were. Rosie let out a horrible roaring sound, causing the balverines to run away. Ben looked at Rosie, who only shrugged.
Willa and Beryl ran back toward the village with a particularly burly balverine chasing them. Willa, who was running out of breath, watched Beryl collapse and fall behind. Beryl reached for Willa, who ran back to pick her up. "Come on, Beryl!" Willa shouted, tugging at Beryl's arm. The burly balverine was closing in on them. Willa thought fast and grabbed a log from a nearby lumber pile. As the burly balverine came close, Willa swung the log and smacked the burly balverine in the stomach. It fell on its back with a wheezing growl. Beryl got up and walked over to Willa, who smiled triumphantly. Their good feeling didn't last long when they watched the burly balverine start to recover. Willa grabbed Beryl's hand and ran back toward Millfields.
"Okay, Miss Sarah; you're getting heavy." Gordon put Miss Sarah down and rubbed his shoulder. "Don't worry I won't let anything happen to you." Gordon stopped to catch his breath. As he bent over, he heard Miss Sarah shriek softly. He looked up and saw an orange blur run off with Miss Sarah. Gordon gave chase, but was no match for the Red Balverine's speed. He ran back toward the Millfields entrance where the others had gathered again. Their plan obviously didn't work.
Miss Sarah, now being carried by the Red Balverine, could hear her friends shrieking in terror. The Red Balverine stopped and plopped Miss Sarah on the ground. "I have to go back!" Miss Sarah shouted. The Red Balverine just sat there. "Your pack has my friends cornered! I have to help them!" she pleaded. The Red Balverine growled his refusal. When he saw Miss Sarah start towards the others on her own accord, the Red Balverine stopped her, growling at her. Miss Sarah watched it gallop toward the others, a certain anger in its eyes.
The servants and Ben were now crowded around each other. Willa held onto Beryl while Rosie jumped into Gordon's arms. Ben held his rifle up and guarded the group, though he knew it was more for their comfort than for their safety. The balverines stepped aside and let their leader through. The Red Balverine growled and made his way toward Ben in particular. Ben raised his rifle and found it being smacked away by the monster. Ben kept himself against the others. The Red Balverine knocked him to the side and focused on the servants.
"STOP!" they heard a cry from the forest shout. The Red Balverine lowered his massive claw and turned his head. Miss Sarah made her way to the clearing. "PLEASE DON'T HURT THEM!" Miss Sarah ran to her friends and guarded them. The Red Balverine growled at Miss Sarah and roared a mighty roar at her. "Don't hurt them. They mean no harm. I'm sorry; I shouldn't have let them take me. But they were only concerned for my safety. I'll go back with you, just don't hurt them." Miss Sarah had tears going down her cheeks. The Red Balverine called off his pack and they dispersed into the forest and the night. Miss Sarah put her palm on the Red Balverine's cheek and smiled as he nuzzled her arm.
Before the beast could take Miss Sarah again, Ben grabbed his rifle and shot at the monster, making it writhe in pain. Miss Sarah put her hands over her mouth as the monster howled painfully into the night sky. The others grabbed Miss Sarah and pulled her toward them. The beast fell unconscious on the forest floor. "A single shot won't take this monster down. Let's get it back to the cage I have set up near the entrance. It won't harm you anymore, Miss Sarah." Ben reassured as he went to examine to beast. Gordon, blushing softly at Rosie in his arms, slowly let go of her and went to help Ben.
The predicted storm was mostly a drizzle as the muddied and worn out servants returned to Millfields to their awaiting boss and Mrs. Hatch. The servants, a muddied mess, trudged their way inside, their boss following close behind. Mrs. Hatch lingered a bit and watched the hillside. Ben was dragging the unconscious body of the Red Balverine into a cage. Mrs. Hatch didn't go to her room immediately. She took a side trip to the kitchen.
Miss Sarah couldn't sleep. While the others were worn out from their trek through the woods, Miss Sarah kept her mind on the Red Balverine. The thought of such a misunderstood creature sitting in that cage waiting for his ultimate fate made her stomach uneasy. Miss Sarah didn't know why she was so upset about this, but knew there was nothing she could do. Miss Sarah turned over in bed and tried to sleep.
On the hill, Ben sat in his chair and smiled to the waking balverine. "I finally have you, monster." He laughed, cleaning his rifle. "I had to trek an entire region and rescue a group of servants, but I finally have you and soon I will collect my reward." Ben's pomposity angered the balverine a little more. "Don't be sad, you're a worthy opponent. I won't lie, I'm going to miss tracking you down. But all good things must come to an end, you know? I think I'll miss the chase the most but I think I'll enjoy retiring and knowing that you're not killing innocent farmers a lot more."
The cage was strong and the balverine was still weak from the gunshot wound. "Don't worry, pup; soon, we'll both be as far away from here as possible. Why, with my reward, I think I'll ask Rosie to travel with me and leave that loony house behind. Why, I think-"
Before Ben could finish his sentence, an object that felt suspiciously like a frying pan strike him on the top of his head, causing him to fall to the ground. From the bushes, Mrs. Hatch stepped out, gripping the frying pan handle tightly. "Miss Sarah was right; only the best appliances will do when it comes to cooking…and bludgeoning a buffoon on the noggin." Mrs. Hatch held the frying pan high and struck the lock on the cage, causing it to break off. The door swung open and the Red Balverine lumbered out, still a bit woozy from the shot.
"Shh…" Mrs. Hatch patted the beast on his neck. "Don't worry, my dear. Mother will make this all better…" Mrs. Hatch looked at the rising sun and then at the balverine. "Yes, I know. I've had a little inkling for quite some time after your boss wrote to me about the incident. Don't fret, I won't tell a soul and I won't mention it again. Hurry back to bed and I'll stall your friends."
The mostly coherent balverine shook his dizziness off and galloped away. Mrs. Hatch sighed as the monster left her sight. She then looked down at the unconscious Ben. She nudged him with her foot and shook her head solemnly. "Rosie is too good for you, anyway." she murmured as she walked down the hill.
A Week and a Half Later…
Barry, in much better spirits than he had been in, happily took Reaver's hat when he walked in from his day at the factory. The entire house was once again running like a well-oiled machine. "My, my, what a lovely day it is, Hatch." Reaver mused as he took off his gloves. "Where are my darling servants?" he asked.
"Willa and Beryl are outside helping Rosie take in the laundry and Gordon is cutting some fresh roses for the dinner table." Barry helped Reaver toward the study, where his pipe and a glass of scotch were waiting for him on the table by the chair, with Reavie napping in the chair opposite.
"…and where is Miss Sarah? Shouldn't she be making dinner?" Reaver asked, eying Barry as he sat down. Reavie yawned and jumped from her chair to her master's lap. Reaver petted Reavie as Barry started getting everything ready for his boss.
"She's got beef stew simmering on the stove, Sir. She started it not long after you left this morning and it should be just about done by the time she and Mother get back from their shopping trip. She said something about needing to pick up something." Barry struck a match on his boot and lit Reaver's pipe. Reaver puffed his pipe as Barry shook the match out.
Reaver nodded and puffed his pipe. "Good, good. Will your mother need us to escort her to the train station tomorrow?" Reaver asked.
Barry shrugged. "I'll escort her, sir. She said not to let you worry."
Before either could relax, the front doors swung open in the foyer. The servants piled in; Rosie carried a basket of laundry with Willa and Beryl following her closely, Gordon walked in with a big bunch of freshly cut roses, and right behind them was Miss Sarah and Mrs. Hatch carrying some shopping bags. Reavie jumped from Reaver's lap and ran into the foyer. "Well, hello there, Reavie!" Mrs. Hatch gleefully shouted, putting down her bags and picking up the cat.
"Your shopping went well, Mother Hatch?" Reaver asked, making his presence known.
Mrs. Hatch nodded and showed Reaver her purchases. Miss Sarah only had one shopping bag. It contained a small box that looked really fancy. Miss Sarah saw Barry come toward her to help her with her bags. "I am glad to see you're feeling better, Mr. Hatch." Miss Sarah smiled, looking at her purchase.
Barry nodded and watched as Miss Sarah took what looked like a dog collar out of the box. Barry cocked an eyebrow. "That's a bit too big for Reavie, isn't it, Miss Sarah?" Barry asked as Miss Sarah admired her purchase. The collar was a bright red color and had small silver studs adorning it. It looked very expensive, but Miss Sarah only liked the best (when the price was reasonable). Miss Sarah giggled softly and looked at it again.
"It's not for Reavie, silly. It's for…another pet…" Miss Sarah smiled and held the collar close, with a dreamy look on her face. "This collar will keep people from harming him, especially Mr. Finn." Miss Sarah admired the collar and unfastened the clasp. She playfully put it around Barry's neck and snapped it shut. She giggled softly and started to take it off until Reaver reminded her that he was getting hungry. Miss Sarah hurried to the kitchen to check on dinner.
Reaver, having instructed Beryl to take Mrs. Hatch's purchases upstairs and to help her pack, looked over at Barry and snickered softly. Barry played with the collar for a bit, but the thought of taking it off didn't occur to him until Reaver pointed at it. "Well, this certainly seems correct, doesn't it? Miss Sarah certainly has a good reign on you, Hatch. Why, you tend to her like a dog and now…" Reaver tapped the leather collar with his finger. "…you are completely and utterly her pet. I shall have her set out a dish next to Reavie's." With that, Reaver laughed and left the foyer, leaving Barry to contemplate the collar.
The Next Morning
Barry and Miss Sarah accompanied Mrs. Hatch to the train station. Miss Sarah, dressed in a casual dress as opposed to her uniform, wanted to say good bye in person. Though she didn't want to leave, some things needed to be tended to back in Brightwall. She wanted to make sure the neighbor boy was actually feeding her cat like she was paying him to do and admittedly, she missed her knitting group. Mrs. Hatch looked like she couldn't wait to get back to the mountains.
Mrs. Hatch held a newspaper under her arm, which was amongst many books and magazines she had accumulated during her visit to read on the train ride back to Brightwall. The headline, which Mrs. Hatch seemed to take a sadistic interest in, was something about Ben Finn and his "retirement" from balverine hunting after recovering from a head injury.
"Tell that boss of yours thank you for having me." Mrs. Hatch hugged her son tightly and kissed him on the forehead. "You write me more often, Barry-bear. I will come back in the autumn. Miss Rosie told me I'll be needed around that time. Wouldn't say why. Fortune tellers…" Mrs. Hatch shrugged and picked up her carry-on bag. The train whistle alerted the passengers that the train was about to leave.
Mrs. Hatch sighed softly and put her gloves on. "Well, this is it, I suppose." She murmured. Mrs. Hatch kissed her son on the forehead again. "My son, know that I love you no matter what secrets you think you're keeping from me. I left you a gift on your dresser, some of that odd expensive tea you like so much." She hugged Barry tightly. "You had better snag Miss Sarah soon." She warned. "I want that girl to be my daughter-in-law and I want her to be the mother of my grandchildren. I won't accept anyone else."
Barry blushed deep red as Mrs. Hatch made her way to Miss Sarah. "Thank you for being my shopping buddy, Sarah dear." Mrs. Hatch hugged Miss Sarah tightly. "Look after my Barry-bear, dearie. He's a good man and I know he cares for you deeply." Mrs. Hatch whispered. Miss Sarah blushed as well.
Waving good bye as the train disembarked, Barry and Miss Sarah finally left the train station. "Your mother is a delightful woman." Miss Sarah commented, holding her purse close to her. Barry nodded, looking up at the sunny spring sky. "I can't wait to see her in the fall. I wonder why Rosie has been giving everyone else fortunes lately. Usually, she hates it when people ask her to tell their futures. Personally, I'd rather not know my future. If I knew what was going to happen, there would be no point in getting up in the morning."
Barry didn't say anything. He just walked with Miss Sarah into town. Miss Sarah didn't know his dirty secret and the less she knew, the better he felt. No one was happier than he was at this moment. Barry offered Miss Sarah his arm, which she happily took, and they made their way into Bowerstone Market. She had some errands to run, and he had to go check on a special order he made with the stonecutter.
N'cha, you guys!
This chapter took more out of me than I had anticipated. Somewhere during the middle, this chapter took on a life of its own and let me tell you: I effin' love it haha.
So, during the making of this chapter, my very first Steam Summer Sale as a PC gamer took place. It was special to say the least *blush* and I got completely swept up in that trading card thing. It's a complete scam, but let me tell you…*Shows off numerous steam badges* I'm weak lol. Damn you, Steam for knowing my weakness for shiny things! Haha
Not much of an author's note tonight, as I have yet to sleep but I will leave you with this: Next chapter, we learn a little bit about the servant's past in the circus and being literally inches from death will cause two people to finally admit their feelings. Can you guess? If you've been paying attention, it should be obvious.
So my doves, was it worth the wait? I hope so. It's pretty long and I can't get enough of it. Tell me how I did! Just send me a review in the review thingy and don't forget to watch me on deviantArt for updates on all my fics, as well as my odd ramblings and musings. I also have a Steam account so if anyone is up for a Portal Co-op session or some Castle Crashers? Haha. Just ask and I'll let you have my name. I love keeping in touch with my fans and I absolutely LOVE making new friends.
And now, for my next trick…sleep! *falls on pillow*
Reaver and Barry Hatch belong to Lionhead.
