Chapter Six
"Cursing the Gulch"
She stood by the window, the black veil hanging like a curtain around her soft features. Several people passed behind her, whispering words of "sorry" or that it was a terrible thing to have happened. She didn't hear any of them though. She simply didn't care for sympathy. She hated pity.
"Cecily?" an unfamiliar voice cut through the din and darkness. "Cecily Adams?" Cecily closed her eyes and composed herself before turning to face the newcomer. She had no patience for anyone these last few days...
She blinked away the tears that threatened to come as she nodded toward the tall man calling her name.
"Yes?" she asked quietly, refusing to look directly at him. Still, even without facing him, she felt him smile.
"Well, hello. My name is D'Hoffryn." he said cheerily. Cecily sniffled slightly and thought hard, trying to remember if she knew anyone by that name. She couldn't think of anyone at the moment.
"How...how can I be of service Mr. D'Hoffryn?" she asked with a forced smile, folding her hands in front of her and glancing around at the quietly milling guests.
"Well," he replied, following Cecily's gaze and sighing. "There is this horrible matter of the murder of your husband." he said matter-of-factly.
Cecily's face shot up and her eyes locked with the deep black pools of D'Hoffryn's. She could only gasp slightly and press a hand to her lips. D'Hoffryn smiled warmly and took a step closer. She had never seen anyone like this! What was this creature!
"I was wondering if there was something we could do about it." he said, nodding and holding his hands out in a welcoming gesture.
"What do you want?" she breathed, backing slightly away.
"What do I want? No, no, no, Miss Adams. What do you want is the question," he took another measured step forward. "What do you seek?"
"Please...I..." she muttered, backing against the window panes. D'Hoffryn shook his head.
"Tell me. It's alright." he whispered, reaching out and lifting the dark veil over her head. Cecily did not move for fear of the anger she might create in the creature before her. "What do you want? And the truth, if you don't mind, dear." he said, adding the last part as if he were asking her to simple tidy a room.
"I..." she stuttered. But, suddenly, a thought ran across her mind. A flash, barely visable, but it was there. One word. Two little syllables. She smiled slightly through her tears and looked up at D'Hoffryn through clouded eyes.
"Vengeance." she replied, malice dripping like rain from her lips.