The Makings Of Evil
Part Three
Liverpool, 1775
It took a while for things to settle in Liverpool. We had arrived in December of 1773 just after the death of Clara Montadon and the murder of Mr Movan. 1774 was a blur. It was made up of my mother crying a lot and my father was depressed. He went through so many jobs that year. He tried to work as a fisherman again but cheaper labour was found and he was let go. He took on a job cleaning the streets of sewage but he got very sick from that and my mother made him stop. She would fix clothes for whoever was willing to pay her to do it and I, since I had turned five, was given the job of selling lucky charms on the street corner. My father had charmed them so they did in fact bring luck in the hope of attracting more business. It didn't work. We were still very poor just managed to make the money to rent one single room where we all had to live and sleep. It was difficult but we were a close family and it was just the three of us so it was not too bad and we got used to the rats. Liverpool was filthy. Dog tore apart dead animals in the street and the docks stank of rotten fish. It was nothing like my home in Martinique and I would have given anything to have gone back there but it was impossible. I never did return there.
In 1775 I turned six years old. Over the year my parents had managed to save up just enough money to give me another bear who I named Emerald after the wonderful green eyes my father had. That day was the day that changed my life forever. I ran ahead of my parents, I was still a handful to look after but my parents loved that about me. When I was very young they called me their "bouncy baby" and my love for things around myself had increased despite the dirt. Across the street, I saw a street musician and I ran into the road. I tripped over a cobble and fell as a carriage pulled by 2 horses came towards me. I screamed and so did my mother as my father ran to me but it was obvious he would not make it in time. The man inside the carriage had heard the scream and jumped out dragging me off the road and picking me up. I looked into the face of my rescuer, not knowing at the time that this was Joshua Collins, the man who would destroy my world. He was a well built man who looked like he had never missed a meal in his life and had added several extras a day on the side. He made my father look like a stick of bamboo as he stood next to him. Joshua smiled at me, a smile I had never seen before and one I didn't understand but I knew it was wrong, it felt wrong. Joshua handed me to my mother who was hysterical, she immediately scolded me for running ahead like that. My father shoot his hand regardless of the class difference.
"Thank you, Sir. Thank you, you saved my daughter's life. Thank you so much." He continued to shake his hand vigorously as Joshua smiled and glanced at me.
"No, not at all. To lose a life of someone so young and beautiful would have been tragic." Joshua eyed my dirty face and tattered clothes with another smile. "Tell me, how old is the girl?" My father looked round at me.
"My daughter, Angelique. She is six years old today," he replied, curious as to why he had asked.
"She looks like a strong girl, looks like she could be trained to be a good maid. Caught her young enough to teach her well. How is she at working?" My father saw this as an opportunity to get the three of us employed. He didn't even need to lie, I was a hard worker.
"She's is very good, Sir. She has worked hard selling things on the corner and she helps her mother to darn clothes. She is a good child and if you were to consider her as a future maid you will not be disappointed in her, I give you my word." Joshua seemed amused by the sound in my father's voice and he gave me another smile.
"Well, it would be ashame to have a girl like her hungry on her birthday and her parents without employment. I'll give you a month's trial, all three of you how does that sound?" At this point my mother looked like she would cry from gratitude and my father looked like he would fall to his knees in appreciation.
"Thank you, Sir. You will be glad you gave us this chance, I give you my word." A look of relief spread over his face and he smiled at my mother and I, not noticing the look Joshua was giving me, but I noticed but only for a moment. I looked over at the carriage and saw a young boy with dark eyes and dark hair stick his head out to see us. Our eyes met for a few seconds and I had a strange feeling strike my chest, a feeling I had never felt before. Joshua noticed our gazes meet.
"This is my son, Barnabas Collins. He is seven years old so just one older than your Angelique. Will be good for him to have another child around our manor." With those words I gave Barnabas a small, shy smile. I knew I wanted to be his friend. My smile grew a little when he smiled back. My mother and father exchanged small smiles on seeing this.
"I am Joshua Collins, I do not believe I caught your names." He looked expectantly at my parents and they introduced themselves. I kept my eyes on the boy. He looked intelligent and well brought up, a gentleman already at the young age of seven but in his eyes I saw the hint of playfulness of a boy his age. Something drew me to him, maybe the idea of a new friend or the idea of a new beginning. I never wanted anyone to replace Clara but there was something special about Barnabas.
"Well then, " Joshua exclaimed as he clapped his large hands together. "I believe everything is in order. You will come on trial and your daughter will make a wonderful new maid and playmate for my son. Go and retrieve your things and I will send a carriage for you to bring you to the manor tonight. The servants will prepare a meal and your rooms. I look forward to greeting you then." With that and a final smile at me, Joshua Collins got back into the carriage with his son and continued down the street. At the time I thought we were given employment due to the desperation in my father's voice and the promise of many hours of hard work from us. I learned soon however that was not the case, that not long after our lives with the Collins family began my own life would tumble into a darkness that only I could carry the burden of.