Professor Layton and the Living Dead
Chapter 9: "She was an angel"
"Isn't Descole joining us for dinner?", Flora was confused when they all sat down a the grand dining table. She looked a bit sad when she asked. Raymond placed the food in front of everyone in order.
"The master doesn't feel well, so he will be taking his meal in his room.", Raymond replied. Scarlett looked a bit guilty, as if she felt responsible for Descole's absence at dinner.
"Please, enjoy your meal. It was a favourite of the master's late wife.", Raymond bowed before leaving the dining room.
"You seem tense, Miss Scarlett. Is everything alright?", Layton asked, getting Scarlett out of her trance. She snapped her head up and just mumbled that she was alright. The Professor wasn't that convinced, but let it slight. Flora couldn't wait to eat and lifted up the bell that kept the food warm and looked at the meal.
"That looks amazing!", Flora said. In front of her stood a plate of mashed potatoes with carrots and peas and a nice roast with gravy. Scarlett and Layton did the same as Flora, being faced with such a lavish meal. Layton nodded, allowing Flora to start eating, but Scarlett was sitting there, staring at the plate.
Scarlett was coming home from work, walking into the apartment she shared with her boyfriend. She put down her bag and put the keys in a small bowl by the door.
"Welcome home, Scarlett.", a male voice came from the small kitchen and soon the owner of the voice peeked out of the door to the kitchen.
"That smells pretty good. What are you making?", Scarlett asked, walking to the dining table and sitting down. Her boyfriend walked out of the kitchen and placed a plate in front of her. It was a roast with gravy, carrots, peas and mashed potatoes. Scarlett looked up at the man, smiling.
"I hope you enjoy it.", the man smiled at her before going to get himself a plate. Scarlett started eating.
"This is delicious. I think, this is my new favourite food.", Scarlett said.
"I'm glad you like it.", he replied happily.
Scarlett hesitated a moment, before she started eating. As soon as she took the first bite, she started crying. Flora, who had been about half way done, was getting worried.
"Miss Scarlett, are you sure you are alright?", Flora placed a hand on Scarlett's hand. The red haired woman looked up at Flora, still crying but smiling brightly.
"I remembered something. This is my favourite food. Someone made it for me after a long day of work.", Scarlett answered between sobs. Layton took note of that and will ask Descole later that night.
"That's so sweet. They must have really loved you.", Flora seemed so happy about this revelation, totally ignoring the fact that Scarlett had just dropped another piece of evidence that would just confirm Layton's suspicions.
The trio ate there food and cleared the table before they decided to retire for the night.
Descole hadn't left his room ever since he had gotten back. He had curled up in his bed, eating his meal, and just talking to himself. As soon as the sun set, and he was certain everyone was asleep, he snuck out of his room. Descole walked through the empty halls, not a specific destination in mind.
"Descole, I was a bit concerned after we have not seen you at dinner.", Layton stated standing in the doorway of his room.
"I just needed some rest, Layton. You don't need to be concerned for me.", Descole scoffed and just kept walking.
"I have some new information regarding our mysterious guest I wish to share.", Layton said, causing the masked man to stop in his tracks. There was a brief moment of silence before Descole waved to Layton to follow him and the two men walked around the castle, just talking.
"What have you discovered?", Descole wanted to know. It sounded meaner than it was meant, but that was just how he was talking.
"The meal we had for dinner, Miss Scarlett mentioned that it was her favourite, that someone made it for her when she came home from work one day.", Layton said it as casually as possible. Descole nodded, listening intently to what Layton was saying, adjusting some of the decorations around the hallways and rooms.
"I remember that day. She had said in the morning that she was having a stressful day. Since I was home all day because of the summer break, I decided to make some dinner. I wanted to make something special and I came up with what we had this evening. Has it been to your liking, Professor?", Descole explained, looking at him expectantly.
"It was quite lovely.", Layton replied, causing Descole to smile.
"I have a question I need to ask you, Descole.", Layton said after a minute or two of silence, with just the echoes of their footsteps through the halls.
"I am listening, professor.", Descole answered. He had not expected to be asked the following: "Who is Penelope Sycamore?"
Desmond was running through the streets of London. He had just gotten great news and he coudn't wait for busses or taxis to drive him to the hospital.
"Please, don't let me be too late", was all that he could think about. Desmond just HAD to be there, he just couldn't miss it.
When he got to the hospital, he was directed to the maternity ward after he had confirmed his identity and he rushed to the unit.
"Oh, you must be Professor Sycamore. I'm sorry but we couldn't wait any longer.", a nurse told him. Desmond felt a bit defeated, he was late. He wanted to be there, but they had already proceeded. Desmond sat down in the waiting room, stressing about what was happening. He wanted to be there for his wife, wanted to hold her hand through it all, but he couldn't. Would she be mad at him? Was she going to hold it against him? No, she wasn't like that. She wouldn't hold a grudge like that.
Desmond was waiting for what felt like an eternity when the same nurse from before allowed him to see his wife and new born child. He was nervous, walking into the room, where his wife was staying in. He slowly approached the bed, sitting down on the chair next to it and looking in the exhausted face of the woman he had married.
"You're here.", she smiled softly, still exhausted from childbirth.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world.", Desmond placed a hand on her cheek, brushing away a strand of her red hair. She sat up a bit more, holding out a bundle of blankets to him.
"Is that….?", he asked hesitantly taking the small bundle in his arms, moving the blanket aside a bit.
"That's your daughter.", she replied with a smile. Desmond couldn't believe it. He held a tiny human in his arms, and it was his daughter. She was so tiny, so fragile, but in this moment, he was crying tears of joy. His child, his little girl, his daughter.
"Oh, Scarlett. She is beautiful. My little girl, my princess!", Desmond hugged the little girl. Scarlett smiled weakly again, seeing Desmond this happy made her heart melt. The three of them were alone in the room for a while before a nurse came in.
"Congratulations on your healthy baby girl. Do you have a name for her?", the nurse asked. Before Scarlett could say anything, Desmond chimed in.
"Penelope Lilian Sycamore. A name worthy of someone destined for greatness!", Desmond stated. The nurse and Scarlett chuckled slightly, but neither argued about the name. With that, the nurse left the new family alone for now. Desmond has never been happier than that day.
"Penelope was….my daughter.", Descole stated. It had been a long while until he had answered, almost to the point that Layton feared he had done something wrong.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Where is she now?", Layton immediately regretted the question when he noticed Descole having turned his face away and his shoulders shaking softly.
"She….died. She didn't deserve it. She was an angel.", Descole whispered, trying not to cry again. Layton offered to get him back to his room, he didn't mean to open those wounds again. Descole let himself be held by his brother. He had wished so much that he had that comfort from his parents, but he only ever got it from Raymond, and now, Layton. He refused to cry in front of Layton, he didn't want the professor to worry, even if that was already too late for that. Layton brought Descole back to his room and made sure he was sleeping before leaving.