Chapter 2
"So how have you been, dad?" Art asked casually as they picked at the last few crumbs of dinner. "The same as when you left Arty, no worse but not really any better either." He said matter-of-factly. She just nodded absent mindedly. Before any one could say anything more the nanny came flying into the room almost crashing into one of the maids. Art and Felix exchanged a concerned glance. "They're gone." The nanny gasped. "Gone?" Felix asked. Breathlessly the nanny handed Art a note. Art read over it wordlessly then with a quick glance at Felix and Ebad took off down the hall at lightning speed followed closely by Ebad and Felix.
Art crashed into one of the maids as she skidded into the nursery. "They're gone." She whispered as Felix and Ebad came into the room. Felix looked around with despair and fell into the rocking chair in the corner with his head in his hands. Ebad was aimlessly wandering around the room, and Art's mind was visibly going a million miles an hour. She was staring unseeing into the cradle when a very small grey spot caught her eye. Ebad and Felix glanced up to find her rubbing her fingers together. She took a whiff. Soot.
"Of course, no one ever thinks of the chimney." She murmured aloud. Art made her way over to the chimney and with a quick look at Felix and Ebad she ducked in and made her way to the roof on the rungs for the chimney sweep.
Art glanced around the dirty rooftop. No sign of her children's captor. She looked out at the surrounding country side. With no moon the surrounding land was nothing but a dark blanket with even darker shadows. Art sighed and made her way back down the chimney. Felix glanced hopefully at her and knew their children were gone. A depressed silence fell over the room. Ebad was the first to break it,
"This note says to be at the coffee house tomorrow morning."
"Then I suppose that's all we can do" Art replied. Felix still had his head in his hands,
"Why does anyone want our children? Who would want our children?"
"Why don't we go to bed and then we'll be able to think more clearly in the morning." Ebad suggested. Felix and Art just nodded. What else could they do? Felix slid his hand into Art's and they all trudged reluctantly off to bed. No one was able to sleep.
"I'll kill them. Those dirty little rats; I'll kill 'em. Her pretty boy husband with his pretty boy hair will be the first to die." Little Goldie Girl spat though she was hardly recognizable. Her clothes were tattered and torn her hair was in knots and she was covered in dirt.
"Shut up and row you filthy brat!" Golden Goliath snapped. He was in even worse condition than his daughter. Mr. Beast, the only surviving crew member, silently rowed on. For miles around in all directions there was nothing but water. It was hell. No, they had been through hell and back and found there are things far worse than death. This was just daunting, not hell. Little Goldie Girl rowed on in silence taking satisfaction in the thought everyone's reaction to the Golden Goliath's return from the dead.
"A clean get away; the little angels slept the whole time." The blonde woman said as she rode up in front of the tavern. The man with black hair and green eyes just smiled backed and motioned at the carriage. The pair climbed in careful not to wake the two babies. The carriage was well out of London before dawn.