Chapter 7

Lockwood wouldn't let me go home, now with my arm injured. Instead, he let me stay in a room upstairs on the loft. The smell of lavender filled the room. Lucy had told me Lockwood's sister had died in here. I could tell they had removed the bed. It was a crisp new bed in the center of the room. Most of the time I was laying in it. I couldn't write without my arm throbbing. Zachary came to visit me everyday as well. He would talk to me, or in our case, sign to me. I sign poorly with my left hand but he still could understand me. Holly came in every morning and evening to redo my bandages.Today the group went back to the Mansion, just to make sure he was gone. Zachary stayed behind.

"I fired Drake." He signed. I stared at him, surprised.

"Why?" I signed poorly.

"Drake dug up that whip, putting it with my father's collection. It was buried with my father, for some reason. Drake was faithful to my father and was there for every beck and call." He looked at me. There was a sad but playful look in his hazel eyes. "His last wish was for you to disappear."

So that was why he hated me. He didn't like how close I got to his son. I remembered the anger in the air back at the mansion. It got worse the closer I stood next to Zachary. I looked down. Zachary lifted my face, so I would look at him.

"Well, all odds failed. Here you are, living and breathing." He signed with a chuckle. I smiled. He caressed my cheek. I grabbed his hand, leaving it on my cheek. Then the door opened.

"Well what did you two lovebirds do while we were gone." Lockwood said with a wolf like grin. I pull away from Zachary, blushing like mad. Zachary turned wide eyed as he saw Lockwood. He blushed as well. Lockwood chuckled. Lucy elbowed Lockwood in the gut. She was grinning as wels. I looked down, my long dark hair fell in my face. Zachary looked at me. I could tell he was resisting the urge to move it out of the way. Lucy noticed and chuckled.

"We'll leave you guys alone." She said, pulling Lockwood by the collar of his coat.

Zachary sighed with relief. I giggled. He brushed my hair out of the way, chuckling as well.

"Your hair was really bugging me." He signed, with a smile. He looked into my eyes. "Your green eyes really stick out with your dark chocolate hair."

I blushed. Then there was a knock on the door. The door opened and holly peeked her head in.

"Hey Dottie, it's time for your bandages." She said, walking inside. She was holding fresh bandages and disinfectant. Zachary stood up and backed away. Holly sat beside me. I held out my arm. She unwrapped my bandages. My arm was a little better today than it was a couple days ago. Holly poured the disinfectant on my arm. It stung. I gritted my teeth, looking away. Holly washed it away. My face softened with relief, but I knew it wasn't over. She poured it once more. I nearly pulled my arm away. She wrapped up my arm with the new bandages. She stood up.

"There, all done." She said with a smile. I gave her a weak smile, still wincing. She turned around and walked out. Zachary walked over to me.

"I better get going." He signed with a smile. He stood over me and gave me a peck on my head. My face turned blood red. "See you later Dots."

He walked out the doorway. I waved at him.

"Oh your leaving Zachary? Well then goodbye." I heard Lucy call. Then she walked passed the doorway. I glanced at the item under her arm. The skull. I rushed out of bed, racing after Lucy. Lucy looked at me, surprised.

" what is it Dottie?" She asked. I pointed at the skull. She just stared at the skull, then me.

"What?" She asked, confused. I rolled my eyes then ran back into the room, grabbing my notebook.

"Can I test the skull again?" I wrote, poorly with my left hand. She stared at my messy writing, then looked back at me.

"Alright," she said, slowly and unsure. "Please tell me if you feel something."

I gave her a reassuring nod. Then turned toward the room and shut the door.