Chapter five

Luckily Emanuel somehow wasn't a suspect of the involvement with what had happened to Mr Tweents instead Mortmain let it pass unnoticed, the man hadn't even told Emanuel why he had yelled that morning Mr Tweents left. Now was the time to carry on with Mortmain's life long work - the automatons. Despite having saved a life Emanuel still was unsettled of the coming years because he would spend the rest of the days alone since there would be no more tutors. For the majority of his life that was spent was in solitude it yet became more and more difficult for Emanuel to endure. There was also nights spent thinking about what was to happen after the plan had worked, after all the life long work. If all the early years evolved around the plan what would happen of the rest of his years, would he still be serving Mortmain? That was how it felt, he thought, that the sole reason he took care of him was to use him but whenever Emanuel found himself onto that thinking path a sense of shame crept upon him. How could he think so low of his foster-father? The only reason Mortmain spent little time with him was for work in order to support them both and the man wouldn't have been able to provide for Emanuel without working. The story of why Mortmain had adopted him was told by himself to Emanuel from an early age. It is a memory that is remembered by Emanuel very well. The day was raining and it was New Years Eve so most of servants had only worked briefly for the day and left during the afternoon, strange enough when little Emanuel had left his room to drink he found Mortmain sitting on an armchair in the parlour. His foster-father had heard his footsteps and quickly turned his head, he seemed relived to see it wasn't an intruder.

"Come in", Mortmain said. "You've asked a lot about your parents so it is time for you learn about their story."

Without hesitating Emanuel seated himself on the floor next to Mortmain.

"I've always wanted to know more, sir."

"It's a difficult story, you're certainly...a special boy and that is probably why I need you. Your father was a good friend of mine from university and he helped throughout challenging times and your mother was kind, warm-hearted. But I must admit that it was their kind hearts that led them to their deaths. When you had just been born, you were only a month, your father received a letter stating he was invited to a ball. These people inviting him and your mother were Shadowhunters and I knew of them so I warned your father not to go but he would not believe me, he said that I was being foolish. On the night they departed I offered to take care of in case they were looking for you too. Your parents said that they would have come home at midnight but when the clock was one in the morning I was afraid something had happened so I took you to my home. I also managed to alert the constabulary but when they had arrived at the scenery it was unfortunately to late. Your parentes had been murdered by the Shadowhunters."

"Why did they do it? Why did they kill them?" Emanuel asked dishearten, almost screaming. He remembered how sad he was, how everything seemed to fade away and all he saw was his parents lying on the ground in a puddle of blood. Everything felt heavy and he almost wanted to hurt Mortmain for telling him this, the little boy still wanted to believe his parents were alive.

"They killed your parents because they are vicious, they killed my parents as well for trying to help others. Your father and mother had to die because Shadowhunters did not want your father to finish his work."

"But my mother, why her?" Emanuel was now screaming, tears running down his face.

"I told you, they are horrible and only care about themselves and that is why we must destroy them. That is why I take care of you, we need each other for our revenge and to complete my father's work."

That became his first impression of Shadowhunters, that they were evil and his enemies yet he somehow still managed to doubt Mortmain's words and he had hoped that Mortmain was not speaking the truth but why the little boy was not sure of.

Early 1878

"Are you finished with your letters?" Emanuel asked the irritating Nathaniel. It felt unbelievable that his foster-father would hire such an imbecile to work for them, the boy acted without wit and irrational and Emanuel trusted that Nathaniel would not be working here for long.

"Yes, yes, dammit. I just need signature it." The blonde-haired boy answered rudely. The fact that he was related to the girl Emanuel had admired when he was younger seemed impossible - certainly did the girl not resemble her relative, Emanuel thought.

All the years had passed by quickly as a flash and even though Emanuel was old enough Mortmain had not informed his foster-son of the entire plan, the few things Emanuel knew of were the things he was obligated to do and apparently taking letters written to the girl, Tessa, from Nathaniel to the post office was one of them. How could Mortmain allow his best asset perform such commissions that was beneath him? Surely it would change, he tried to convince himself. Nonetheless it seemed that if Emanuel's foster-father desired to remind Emanuel that he did not differ from the others who worked for him although he was "a part of the family" to quote the man himself.

"I'm finished", Nathaniel handed Emanuel the letter and Emanuel departed as quick as possible to the post office and returned just as quickly as he had left to work on his machines.

The majoritet of the automatons were in good shape and he had finished just two completely which meant that the metal-shapes that formed a human body was covered in skin, he had made gaps in the middle of the faces to put in false eyeballs and a servant had purchased cloths and wigs for the creatures. These were not the first ones that were ready for use, another automaton had operated within the house but after a few days its functions began to weaken and it did not perform its task so it had to be destroyed. The rest of the day was spent in the work-room since two automatons were required by Mortmain and within a week they were shipped off for another part of Mortmain's cunning plan. Emanuel was informed by Nathaniel that Tessa had arrived to London. Emanuel wondered if it was imaginable that he would meet her since he was not sure why Mortmain needed her but one fact was certain - Mortmain needed her alive.

Any thoughts on this chapter?