Chapter Nineteen ~ A Failure In Communication

It was a couple days after the argument with Robin that I agreed to let Loveday plan my birthday. It seemed that Robin's words had affected me so much that I was using them myself.

I didn't care anymore.

I didn't care what I did to celebrate my birthday, so I might aswell let Loveday have her fun. She seemed to need it at the moment with her irritation towards her Uncle and Cousin increasing rapidly.

Whilst Loveday worked viciously to prepare everything for my party, I would isolate myself from everyone, telling them I had a headache coming on. Though I was actually busy remembering what Robin had said to me and replaying it in my head.

I hadn't seen either Robin or Henry since that day. Infact I hadn't seen anyone from the De Noir clan. I felt a strange feeling of loneliness in their absence.

"Which of your London friends would you like to invite?" Loveday asked, looking up from the list she was writing. It had everything she needed to do for my birthday party. I shrugged. "Come on, Maria, help me out!"

"Fine! Let me think." I thought back to all that time ago when I lived in London. I remembered the friends I had promised to stay in touch with. The truth was I had failed to keep that promise to all my friends. I only kept it to my two best friends, Claire and Georgina, and even then I only wrote to them every one or two months.

Maybe they had forgotten about me? They may not even want to come. Seeing them though could help and I could ask them about the confusion I was feeling at the moment towards Robin and Henry.

Well, I could ask Georgina. She was probably the better listener out of my two friends. She was defiantly the nicest. Claire was more self-absorbed, though she was a lot of fun. I didn't think asking Claire would be a good idea as she would probably laugh and that would be no help at all.

"Claire and Georgina." I answered finally. I saw Loveday scribble it down onto the piece of paper before her.

"Now what about any distant relatives you want to invite?"

I could tell this would take a while. I was regretting it already.

Mrs Heliotrope saved me from Loveday and her questions as she told me it was time we carried on with some lessons. Loveday left reluctantly and said we could continue planning later.

I dreaded when later would come.

The snow outside was something that was normal now. It had snowed every day now and we were all growing use to it. Even Mrs Heliotrope was beginning to love it. To Wrolfe, every moment spent in the snow was the best day of his life. He couldn't get enough of the stuff. He would spend all day out in it and come inside only when it was time for dinner. A snow routine was soon established for the large black lion.

Once lessons were finished for the day I headed up to my room so I wouldn't run into Loveday again. I was in no mood to hear anymore about parties or guest invites.

"I'm so tired, Serena." I moaned, collapsing onto the bed. The large hare scooted over to me and nudged me with her nose. I stared up at the ceiling and saw night time was nearly coming. I sighed. "What have I done to him, Serena?" I was talking about Robin. I must have hurt him so much as he had reacted so angrily towards me. He hadn't even come down to visit me. Though that may be due to his father and the whole creature issue. He was probably too busy tracking to care. But I wanted to see him again.

I needed to see him again.

I needed to ask him what I had done wrong and not drop it until the bird-boy would tell me. I was going to have to go up to the De Noir castle again.

At dinner I asked Loveday about visiting her family again. She seemed hesitant.

"I'm not sure that would be a good idea, Maria." She began. "Especially with current situation. They're no way near catching the creature since we left."

"I need to talk to Robin." I blurted out. She stopped mid-chew.

"May I ask what about?" She pressed, the familiar glint in her eye she always got whenever the conversation of her brother and I together came up.

"I had an argument with him and I want to sort it all out." The glint left her. That wasn't what she was expecting obviously.

"Oh." She nodded slowly. "Was it a bad argument?"

"Yes."

"I see." She stared down at her food. "I suppose a day trip to De Noir castle will be fine. Would that be alright with you Benjamin?" She turned to Uncle who was watching our exchange silently. He nodded.

"Of course. I'll tell Digweed to prepare a carriage for the both of you tomorrow."

So it was settled. I was going to see Robin again and confront him. I didn't know what I was going to say. I would probably just make it up as I went along.

I lay in bed thinking about it the whole night. I barely got any sleep at all as I was too busy trying to work out what I would say to him. Though I was failing. I wasn't sure whether I should be angry or apologetic. Sympathetic or upset. Heartless or caring. I just couldn't think.

Mrs Heliotrope had to wake me the next morning as I had slept in over breakfast. I didn't mind too much that I had missed breakfast as I didn't have the appetite that morning.

True to his word, Uncle had gotten Digweed to prepare a carriage for Loveday and I. When we went outside, Digweed was attempting to sweep the ground of snow by the gates of the manor. I wasn't sure how affective it would be, but I decided against asking him.

We bided goodbye to Uncle and Mrs Heliotrope and set off on the long journey to De Noir castle where Robin was and where I was going to confront him, face to face. Which wasn't something I was particularly looking forward to.

"What was the argument about?" Loveday asked suddenly. I turned to her. She was staring out the window at the passing trees. Her eyes darting about effortlessly. I knew she was looking out for the creature that lurked within the forest. She turned to face me when I didn't answer and gave me a small smile. I finally shrugged at her.

"To be honest, I'm not quite sure." I admitted. I frowned slightly. "One minute Henry was playing a song to me the next Robin was shouting at me." Loveday nodded.

"My brother's probably just over-reacted." She sighed. "He's prone to that." I agreed and we both laughed a little.

De Noir castle came into sight and soon enough we had pulled up into the grounds. We climbed out and Digweed took the carriage to the stable area to get the horses settled. We were about to head inside when both Mr De Noir and Mr Cunningham came out through the main doors. They paused when they saw us.

"Maria? Loveday?" Mr De Noir asked astonished of our appearance.

"Is something the matter, Father?" Loveday asked, studying her father's face. He sent a glare towards his brother-in-law before answering.

"I'm afraid so." He sighed. "Henry took the tracking party into the forest without warning." He grumbled. "We don't know where they are or when they're back. Robin's left his lessons with Mr Gomez to go looking for them." He turned to Mr Cunningham. "Henry has been told to report to me before going into the forest. He knows that." Mr De Noir practically growled at him.

"If I knew what my son was doing, I would have stopped him." Mr Cunningham cried. "I thought he had already spoken to you when I saw him leaving."

"Well you thought wrong." Mr De Noir spat. With that he marched past us and I saw him walking down the hill towards the edge of the forest. Mr Cunningham scurried after him and after a moment's glance at each other, Loveday and I followed too.

Mr De Noir stopped a bit away from the edge of the forest, staring into it. Mr Cunningham stood by him, also staring into the forest, though his face was more worried. I heard the sound of crunching snow behind us and I turned to see Mr Gomez and Mrs Harper running towards us.

"Do you want me to go in and find Robin, William?" Mr Gomez asked. I was slightly confused why he would only go and find Robin, though I didn't voice my wonder.

The current situation hit me then. The danger of tracking the creature had increased now and Robin and Henry were both vulnerable. I came to confront Robin and now I was waiting anxiously for his safe return. My past fears for Robin's safety were all coming back to me now.

"Leave it for a bit, Mr Gomez." Mr De Noir sighed. "I trust my son to look after himself." Mrs Harper came and stood by me. She was holding a small bag in her hands. I was about to ask her what was in it when I saw it was full of bandages and little bottles of oddly coloured liquid. She was here incase someone got hurt. Her eyes met mine and she gave me a sad look.

I couldn't understand why we were just stood here.

It felt like forever of silence when a deafening sound echoed through the skies, alerting us all that something was wrong.

A gun shot.

I jolted at the sound and I saw Mr Gomez's head whip to Mr De Noir's direction and he made a move towards the forest. Mr De Noir grabbed his arm before he got too far and I saw both the men share a look before Mr Gomez retreated back a few steps.

More gun shots. Then a shout. It sounded close.

Suddenly I saw movement between the trees and I saw three figures emerging. Two of the figures were supporting, practically carrying, the third. Someone was hurt. The three figures came closer and I recognised the injured one to be one of Robin's friends, his whole right side was ripped and he was covered in blood. I froze at the sight of him. Mrs Harper rushed forward instantly and I saw her get to work on the injured boy. I then realised Henry was one of the people supporting him, the other was another of Robin's friends, both of which seemed completely fine. Though their clothes were soaked in blood, which I guessed to be the injured man.

Mr De Noir grabbed Henry's shirt and pulled him over to him.

"What the heck were you thinking, you stupid fool!" He snarled into his nephew's ear.

"I don't… I didn't… I'm so sorry." Henry could only stutter. Mr De Noir growled at him then pushed him back, causing Henry to fall onto his back. His father rushed to his side.

"Where's Robin?" Loveday's voice rang out. I looked around frantically for him but he didn't emerge between the trees.

Where was he?

"Where is my son?" Mr De Noir asked Henry, who was still on the floor.

"He ran after the creature." The other boy, who wasn't injured, answered for Henry. I saw a hand shoot up to Loveday's mouth as she stared in shock. "We were ambushed by the creature. It attacked Danny." He nodded to where Mrs Harper was kneeling next to a very injured boy. "Robin shot at it but it ran away. He chased after it, trying to shoot it." That explained all the gun shots. "Luke's gone after him. Luke told us to bring Danny back here, otherwise I would have gone after him, sir, I would have!" Mr De Noir nodded slowly.

"You are not to blame, Michael." He said quietly. He then turned to Henry and glared darkly at him. "I will hold you responsible for anything that happens to my son."

"Mr De Noir!" Mrs Harper's voice cried. "I need to take this boy inside now!" Michael rushed to her side and the pair of them pulled Danny to his feet.

"I'll go with them." Mr Cunningham offered, hurrying after where Mrs Harper and Robin's friends were heading inside. Leaving Henry to stand alone. I watched Mr De Noir's face as his eyes burned into his nephew. I had never seen him so angry.

Now all the havoc had died down slightly, my head began to spin. I wouldn't forgive myself if Robin got killed now. I had upset him, I didn't know why, but I had. I hated myself all too much right then.

I felt Loveday put an arm around me and hold me close to her. This action seemed to trigger the tears.

There was another gun shot. It was much further away this time though. Then there was another and another.

I saw Mr De Noir nod once at Mr Gomez, who then broke out into a run into the forest. I watched him go, completely baffled. What was he doing?

"Father?" Loveday's voice asked. He didn't answer her. More shouts. Only closer now.

Then there was a long moment of silence.

The four of us stood waiting. Waiting to see what would happen. When I looked up at Henry, he was watching me. He smiled at me, but I ignored him. I held him equally as responsible as myself for what was going on.

My worst nightmare came true when I saw the figures emerging. It was a scene much the same as the last. Three figures, two supporting the third. The third injured and covered in blood.

Though this time the injured third was Robin.

(A/N) Dun dun dunnnn...!

That's kind of all I have to say. Shortest Author Note so far! Woo!

-jemlou-