Truth In The Heart OF Madness
Chapter 4
A futile Whish
A/N YaY! I got this up in time for my birthday. Again I want to thank my readers for reading this.
Alexander was confused, normally when in the presence of others silence made him nervous. He would then attempt fill the silence stammering out random and disjointed thoughts. But here working with these two Alexander felt more peaceful than he had for a long time, eventually though the new planting plot was finished. Once the tools were put away and Alexander washed his hands at a water pump they all went inside the hut made of stone, it was actually smaller than Alexander's room a bed and small table with 5 stools tucked underneath it were all by the way of furniture with a small trap door leading to a basement of sorts. Faithe (Alexander assumed that was her name) pulled out a stool and took a seat before speaking with the warrior.
"Hey Dokuro why don't you go find Gunman, See if he's interested in a round or two of cards?" the soldier bowed and left. Once he was gone Faithe turned to Alexander. "So Neko gave you the key, I am sure you have quite a few questions?"
"Uh yeah how about what happened to me? Have I gone crazy? Am I dead?" he asked these all on one breathe and had to pause.
"To answer in reverse: maybe, possibly, and how should I know? The real question is what are you going to do about it?" Her expression took on a rather no-nonsense cast and Alexander paled.
"Well to make a informed decision one should have all the"
"You're stalling because?" she asked coldly
"I am not stalling and if I were how would you know? You and I have only just met" came the defensive answer.
"No I don't know you, per se. But do tell m if I'm wrong. You hate conflict, all your life you've lived to make the people you care about happy even when it's cost you dearly and now unless you feel like your in danger you are going wait for it all to work out like it always seemed to before" At that moment Alex wasn't sure but Faithe's eyes seemed to grow distant and out of focus "But it wont, and no one will save you" she got up leaned against the frame of the open door, her gaze cast out over the garden. "And then it won't matter if you go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong or how you could have misunderstood." She whispered her voice now as sad as her face. All of the sudden they heard the sound of the inner gate and it snapped Faithe back to the here and now. "Ok Alex here is what you need to know. Everything here means something to you beyond the first impression. Once you understand you will have the power to make your decision"
"What is the meaning? If you know you have to tell me!" Alex was shocked Faithe had actually been quite close with her first opinions, and if she was that close she may hold the answers.
"No I can't, and I can't tell you why I can't" Faithe shook her head. Before she could say anything else Dokuro returned with a male cactus wearing a sombrero. The warrior carried a covered basket and in the cactus' hands was a sealed pitcher of a pale honey colored liquid.
"My lady I have brought whom you requested" the samurai announced as he and the cactus set down their cargo. It was then that the cactus seemed to notice Alexander's presence.
"Senorita? Is this one playing as well?" he eyed Alexander with a suspicious eye.
"Yes Gunman this is the new guest Alexander" she opened the trap door and started down "I'm going to get the cards also some cups and plates, Dokuro care to lend a hand?"
"Yes my lady" the warrior also began to descend into the hatch. After they were both out of sight Cactus Gunman turned to Alexander with an appraising stare.
"Senor, I would advise you to be careful around senorita Faithe. As of right now I have no quarrel with you. But if she were hurt I would avenge her and so would Dokuro"
Alexander swallowed as the cactus patted his sidearm.
"She's always so sad it seems how would I know if I did"
"She has a reason to be sad, senor." The cactus settled on stool and began a story.
"A long time ago, she lived on a farm. She had almost everything she could want including an engagement to one of the most sought after men in the nearest town. The only thing Faithe didn't have, though she didn't know it, was his love. She would go out of her way to make him happy and though he seemed loyal, When ever he traveled on business he would take company of ladies of the night. Then one day he left unexpectedly and never returned home. Faithe waited for 3 years but there was no sign of him, then he appeared to her in spirit. He brought her spirit here, this place…"
"I have heard a lot guests have trouble leaving" Alexander supplied.
"Si, the man ended up stuck here but he made a deal you see. He told Faithe he was trapped and if she would stay in his place he would find a way to break the hold. For a long time she used to sit in the lobby, everyday awaiting his return" Alexander look about to interrupt with a question and Cactus gunman shook his head "No Senor I don't remember how long it was, but after she began to wander the mansion. One day on her walk she noticed this section of the garden and in it was Gregory's mother. The mother told Faithe that long before her arrival there had been a resident who had cared for the long overgrown garden. In those days not only could the roses show people their deepest desires, but the caretaker could also use them divine in scenes in the outside world on the still water of the Birdbath."
"Birdbath? But I walked through the garden to get here there isn't a birdbath" Alexander looked confused.
"No senor, there isn't. Not now" Cactus Gunman took the conversation back a little annoyed at the interruption "but there was one it was black with silver letters in the bowl 'if you know what you want then make a whish. Ask, and you shall see your whish'. Anyhow so Faithe began to tend the garden and over the years it changed, and changer her. She became one of us and gained the power she whished to have over the garden" Cactus Gunman looked up at Alexander who's eyes were wide. "You see where this goes one day a cut rose showed her the image of his return. So the next day she took another scattered its petals on the water, and beseeched the magic to show him to her."
He paused and shook his head "Gregory, Catherine, and I were in the courtyard when we heard the most awful shriek. We ran back here to find Faith weeping and rose vines which had grown on the birdbath tightening until it splintered into pieces. She keeps the pieces down there" he gestured to the trap door just as Dokuro and Faithe returned carrying cups, plates, a couple jars of fruit preserves, some utensils, and a deck of playing cards.
"So what should it be today?" Faithe said with a positive quality to her voice as she set up the table "about 5 rounds of the usual?" she looked up at Alexander "ever play Cheat?" Alexander shook his head "well the object is to discard all the cards from your hand. This is done by placing one or more cards, rank must be one above the rank played by the previous player, and you then select the cards to play, announce how many are being played and their rank. If you don't have it bluff, but if the other players think you're bluffing they can call it. Get caught bluffing and you have to take the whole pile but if the challenger is wrong they take it." With the rules explained all settled down and began to play.
A/N : you know how some authors say " I wont update until I get (insert number here) reviews"? yeah I don't want to be that author. So if you could please leave some feedback. Did you like it? Hate it? Am I doing something wrong? Drop a review, ty.