CANNOT BE SEEN

XxX

Chapter 10

"Who knows what true loneliness is - not the conventional word but the naked terror? To the lonely themselves it wears a mask. The most miserable outcast hugs some memory or some illusion." Joseph Conrad

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The night was calm and still. The grey clouds had not yet cleared yet from the morning's rain and they obscured the moon and stars from view with inky blackness. The village was still sheeted in dampness and the wind had started to pick up. It pushed the clouds across the sky in dark billowing gusts. The metal lanterns swung on the wooden posts and their yellow-orange flames flicked helplessly in the onslaught of the wind. Golden-yellow banners whipped violently along the edges of the forbidden line, standing out fiercely against the black shadows of the forest. The temperature had dropped significantly in the last few hours. Ice had formed where water once lay and it hung in tiny, fine icicles off the roofs of the houses. The lantern light illuminated the icicles and reflected off the small glass-like puddles of ice. Most of it had turned to slush and gathered in crevices and around buildings, waiting for the morning to come, when the temperature would rise and melt it into its former state. The frigid chill seemed inescapable, as if it extended across unfathomable distance until it wrapped the earth completely in its iron arctic grip.

Mr. And Mrs. Walker, Ivy, and Lucius were untouched by the elements outside of their warm cabin walls as they sat, gathered, in the Walkers' front room. Ivy and Lucius were sitting together, in front of the roaring fire, talking in hushed tones about what they were to do about their new-found lack of evidence. Lucius kept his eyes trained on Mr. and Mrs. Walker, who both sat on the settee, sipping tea and talking and laughing about Christop and Kitty's good news. He was keeping his eye on them to make certain that they did not hear anything of what he and Ivy were saying, for there was nowhere else for them to talk, unless they went through the horrid weather to the meeting house, which would be quite hard to explain or justify.

They had all spent the evening celebrating. At the village's dinner, it was announced before everyone, the fantastic news of the Cranes- Christop and Kitty. There was not one person that was not entirely thrilled at the thought of the elder Walker daughter having a child. Ivy was probably the most excited. She had been bouncing about all night with happiness at the prospect of being an aunt. And the night had been a long one, filled with festivities and merrymaking. The Cranes, the Walkers, and Lucius prolonged the gaiety and had a more private celebration at the Walkers' house. Alice had been invited, but declined politely, trying her best to come up with an excuse, but Lucius knew the real reason. And so did Edward. He made no move to persuade her, and she went home alone.

Christop and Kitty went home as well, just a short while ago and left Edward, Tabitha, Ivy, and Lucius to their own devices.

"Perhaps my father has kept…some of the books? Even one would be enough." Ivy whispered to Lucius.

He sighed, his eyes flickering over to Ivy before moving back to the Walkers. "Yes, it would be enough. But…I think the chance of him having any books where we might find them is…very small."

Ivy leaned in a little closer. "I will search Papa's room."

Lucius sighed. "Ivy, that may not be a good idea. What if you are caught?"

"I will be careful, I promise. It is our only chance Lucius." Ivy pleaded quietly.

He thought about it for a moment, not speaking for some time. "I suppose so. Just, please, be wary."

"Oh, I will." A smile spread across Ivy's face at the thought of finding something the drag the truth out of the elders and she leaned even closer to Lucius.

Edward smiled kindly as he watched the inaudible transpire between Lucius and Ivy. Their love made him feel warmed inside and he tightened his loose arm around his wife's shoulders.

"Is it not inspirational, their love?" He said to his wife with affection in his voice.

It may have just been Mr. Walker, but he could have sworn he felt Tabitha tense slightly at these words. Before Edward could say anything his wife spoke in a slightly raised voice.

"Lucius, do you not think it is time for you to get home?"

His eyes, momentarily on Ivy, moved back to Mrs. Walker in mild surprise. He took a small breath to speak but Ivy's voice interrupted him before he could get any words out.

"Mother, we are in conversation."

"You can talk tomorrow. It is late." Mrs. Walker's voice was firm and slightly louder than the first time she spoke.

"The weather is so cold to walk all the way to his house." Ivy argued.

"It will be cold all night, Ivy. Lucius should go home to his mother."

Ivy opened her mouth in anger, but Lucius cut her off before she could get Mrs. Walker any angrier.

"Yes, Mrs. Walker" He nodded, standing up and moving his eyes shyly to the floorboards. He moved to go towards the door and Ivy reached out and took hold of his sleeve, following his short steps to the door. She avoided looking anywhere near where her mother was as she went with Lucius to the door.

"I will show you out," Ivy offered politely, with an undertone of spite marked towards her mother.

"Thank you for having me over at you home." Lucius thanked the Walkers mannerly.

"Oh, you are always welcome, Lucius." Edward hastened to reply with a sympathetic smile, despite how ironic his statement was.

Lucius inclined his head to acknowledge Mr. Walker and opened the door, becoming violently aware of the cold weather. Ivy followed him outside and shut the door behind them, leaving Mr. And Mrs. Walker alone inside.

"I don't think that was quite necessary." Edward spoke quietly into the silence of the room.

"It is late. The boy should not be lurking about with Ivy every minute of the day." Her voice was clipped and terse.

"They are in love." Edward chuckled at the absurdity. "And I hardly consider him to be 'lurking'…"

Tabitha huffed and stood. "They are not married yet. Lucius should be spending more time with his mother and Ivy more time here."

It was then that Edward understood that Tabitha merely feared Ivy's departure from their family. Then Mrs. Walker left the room quickly to retire to their bedroom and closed the door with a snap.

XxX

The front door was blown shut by the wind and Lucius and Ivy stepped onto the grass as it crunched beneath their feet.

"Ivy it is freezing out here. Why do you not go back inside?" He suggested, placing his hand on her arm.

"I do not want to." She answered simply.

He exhaled, watching his breath come out in visible puffs and mingle with Ivy's as she stood before him. "Here," he whispered, removing his coat and wrapping it around Ivy.

"My mother makes me so angry, Lucius." She shook her head and leaned back against the damp wall of the house, pulling the coat tighter around herself.

"Do not let her bother you so, Ivy. She does not bid you harm."

"She does, Lucius. She has never liked me as much as Kitty." Ivy admitted this reluctantly.

"That is not true." Lucius said it as more of a question than a command.

"It is."She whispered into the night.

Lucius shivered involuntarily at the cold of the temperature as well as the coldness of Ivy's answer. He did not know how else to comfort her but with silence.

Ivy turned her head and focused on Lucius's color. The light in the darkness. She reached out and put her hands on his chest, moving closer to him. She turned her face up to Lucius's and let her breath out slowly. It moved like smoke and dissipated into the air. Lucius looked down at Ivy, her unfocused eyes on only him, her nose red, cheeks rosy with the biting cold, his coat hanging much too large on her body. He placed his hands on her waist and leaned forward slowly. His hot breath fanned Ivy's face and she leaned in much closer towards Lucius's body heat. "I cannot wait to be married," she murmured just before their lips met in a loving kiss.

XxX

The next day dawned bright and clear. Every trace of clouds had disappeared from the sky, leaving it a pale, lazy blue and the sun shown brilliantly down on the village. It was damp and crisp, the breeze ruffling the trees and grass. The chill still hung in the air as the puddles went on drying slowly in the sun.

Lucius woke a little later than usual, the sun streaming through the shudder slats, slicing the room with rays of light. He had promised to go to Ivy in the morning, but he was not sure it was a very good idea. Mrs. Walker's curtness with him last night had him feeling slightly uncomfortable. He had never become close with Ivy's mother, but he did not understand why she would dislike him so. She may think he was not good enough for his daughter. And maybe he wasn't. He had thought on it sometimes. He was a simple blacksmith and Ivy was daughter of the chief elders in the village. The tradition of social status was not practiced by those in the village-everyone was equal-but he could not help thinking on it. Mr. Walker had always seemed to like him, and he never admitted it to anyone, but Edward Walker had been his father figure, especially when he was a child. It really meant a lot to Lucius that Mr. Walker was accepting him into his family as Ivy's husband. Which reminded him that he should stop lazing and get up, but before he could act on it, a voice broke through his thoughts.

"Lucius," was followed by a knock on his bedroom door and then the person attached to the voice pushed the door open.

"You have been in bed for a long time, are you all right?" His mother asked with slight concern, peeking her head around the door.

"I am fine" He insisted, sitting up.

"Ivy was here earlier." Alice informed him, opening the door wider and standing in the door frame.

"She was? Why did you not wake me up?" Lucius had become more alert at his mother's mention of Ivy.

Mrs. Hunt smiled softly at her son. "She asked me not to. I told her I would tell you she stopped by though."

He nodded and she stood there for a second, before turning finally to leave. However, before she could get very far, Lucius impulsively called his mother back.

"Yes?" She inquired with slightly raised eyebrows.

Lucius looked at her for a moment without speaking and Alice stood there patiently until he found his voice.

"…Do you love Mr. Walker?"

Alice stood still, now in shock, for some time before she responded. It consisted of smiling tightly and letting out a sigh of disbelief. Lucius gazed at her, waiting for her to say something.

"I…I…love him. As I do everyone in this village. As our family." She said this quietly and dropped her gaze to the floor.

Lucius let out the breath he was holding and pressed further. "Do you not love him…any more than that? Any differently?"

A very long pause ensued as Alice stared at the floor, and then regarded Lucius carefully.

"He is married." She said this deliberately.

"You did not answer my question." Lucius ventured.

Alice smiled again uncomfortably. "Lucius, you know not what you ask. You are asking me to profess love to a man who is spoken for." Her tone was slightly patronizing in distress.

"So you do love him." Lucius stated.

Alice moved her eyes to the window and did not answer right away. "I love your father still." She finally confessed.

"You still do not answer my question." Lucius whispered, casting his eyes to the floor, now wary of his mother's potential anger.

Alice looked at her son incredulously and then away again with a quiet laugh. "Why does it matter? He is married."

"Because I wish to know. I think you do. I think he loves you as well." Lucius ventured even further and even more warily.

"Lucius, even if I did…it would..." She struggled to find words and Lucius broke in.

"So you do?"

Mrs. Hunt sighed, straightening her back with annoyance. "Lucius! Fine. I do. But nothing will come of it. Nothing. And you are to tell no one."

Lucius nodded, struck with what his mother had confessed, though he knew it all along.

Alice sighed deeply, shaking her head.

"It is sad. That you love someone and cannot be with them." Lucius said quietly in sympathy. Not even wanting to imagine if Ivy had married someone else.

Alice said nothing, only turned and left her son alone in his room. It had never really occurred to her that she had really loved Edward and would never be with him. She had never, of course, entertained the idea that Edward would divorce, or whatever the case may be, to be with her. Never. She had never really thought about it more than what she felt, and what she thought Edward felt. And while she felt this love for him, and thought of his feelings, there was that shimmer of something. Some hope…or something that rippled on the surface only when the right glints of light hit it. But, once she looked deeper into this pond of thought and feelings, escaping the surface and looking past the pangs of unreality…it disappeared entirely. The further she delved into the reality, the greater it became painfully aware that she was quite alone. And would remain so.

XxX

TBC

Until next time…