Anah was quietly cursing herself while Moffitt discussed seeing Wintercress the day before. She braced herself for everyone to get angry and frustrated, but instead, a more proper discussion was had about what everyone knew about the Black Shuck and the last time it was sighted around Cambridge. She relaxed, but still felt guilty about having nearly made the same mistake she did back when she learned about Jules's prophecy two years ago.

The house became quiet after Moffitt told everyone to just go about their evening and relax. Anah distracted herself by making a big batch of chocolate chip cookies. She had been just as disturbed as Jules was when they received that phone call from Dietrich, but with Jules panicking, Anah tried to be strong for him. That wasn't easy, especially as she remembered her frantic panic each time Moffitt was injured back during the war. She couldn't help agreeing with Jules, about how it seemed far past time for the supernatural to leave Moffitt alone, but she knew better than anyone that there was always a reason for things like this, regardless of how big or small that reason was.

She listened to Moffitt and Jules talk while she continued working on her cookies. When the first batch was done, she decided to break up the sadness of the situation by scooping a few of the cooler cookies from the tray and setting them on plates. She carried them telekinetically above her head while climbing down from the counter and slithering over to the parlor door. "Dears? Would you like some?"

Normally, Jules's eyes would have lit up, but he took one of the plates with the tiniest of smiles. "Thanks, Anah."

"Yes. Thank you, Anah." Moffitt took the other plate. "Would you like to join us?"

"I need to finish baking the cookies first, dear," Anah said.

"Alright. Then will you join us?"

"If you want me to."

"Of course I do."

"Then I will make this quick." Anah slithered back into the kitchen. She was quick, but meticulous about her baking. The finished cookies were set on a cooling rack, and when everyone was ready to go to bed, Anah took the cooled cookies and placed them in the large jar on the counter. She made sure the counter itself was clear of crumbs, then headed into the bedroom with Moffitt and Vanora.

"Well, today has been… a day," Moffitt said, climbing into bed.

"Yes," Vanora replied with a sigh. "Here we were hoping that the Black Shuck sighting was just going to be that—a sighting."

"It still could very well be, but everything is pointing to it meaning something more." Moffitt turned off his bedside lamp, grinning while cuddling up to Vanora. "I don't think it's something to be overly worried about."

"It's funny because you're usually the worst worrier out of us all, love."

"I know, but… something's telling me not to be. I can't quite explain it. Come here, darling. Come snuggle."

Anah pulled Moffitt's blue scarf over her, content with his familiar scent. It wasn't nearly as comforting as actually being with him, but Anah wasn't about to go bothering Moffitt while he enjoyed a good cuddle with Vanora. She did have to be mindful of the fact that the cuddle could escalate to something a bit more passionate, but Moffitt was generally good about letting Anah know beforehand. That night, the cuddle didn't escalate, and concluded with Vanora laying against Moffitt's shoulder, lazily stroking his chest and stomach until she drifted off. Even in sleep, they both looked happy and blissful. Anah preferred this to all the worry she had seen earlier.

Her own sleep was peaceful, which came as a bit of a surprise to her. She awoke with a jolt and a startled hiss when the alarm clock began ringing.

"Aw, Anah." Moffitt reached over to pet her.

"Everything alright?" Vanora asked, sleepily.

"Yes. She must've been in a deep sleep. The clock spooked her." Moffitt kissed the back of Anah's head, then turned back to Vanora. "Good morning, darling."

"We have to get up, Jack, as much as I'd like to stay here. It's very cold."

"I could warm you up."

"Later, alright?"

"Oh, bother." Moffitt still gave his wife a kiss, then got out of bed. "Blimey, it is cold. I'd much rather stay home with a few cups of tea. And you."

"That would be nice."

Anah was far more sensitive to the cold than either of them. She was slow to go out to the kitchen and begin making breakfast, but gradually gained more energy while working around the hot stove, making a big pot of homemade oatmeal, sweetened with a bit of maple syrup and plenty of brown sugar. It was the perfect breakfast for a chilly day like this.

A chill of a different sort suddenly shot down the length of her body. She slithered over to the kitchen window. Icepatch, the oldest of the horses, was out in the pasture in her blanket. She was usually grazing at this time, but instead, she was looking toward the stable with her ears pricked.

Anah turned when she heard someone walking briskly into the room. Moffitt was leaving Jules's bedroom, holding the silver sword. "What is it, dear?" Anah asked.

"That blasted Black Shuck is out in the stable," Moffitt said. "I can't sense anything outside."

"Icepatch is acting a little off as well." Anah took the oatmeal off the stove burner before Moffitt picked her up and put his coat on to go outside. He was joined by an anxious, excitable Livna, who squeezed her way out as soon as Moffitt opened the door. She sprinted to the stable, with Moffitt close behind.

They all arrived at the stable just in time to see Nightrunner facing off against the Black Shuck. He was usually such a calm and tranquil horse that it was nerve-wracking to see him acting aggressively, with his ears pinned back and his teeth showing.

Jules had managed to climb up one of the stall posts and was bracing himself against one of the rafters. He looked down at his father, staring with wide, blue eyes. "Hey, Dad," he said.

The stable was full of the sounds of snorting, barking, and hissing. The Black Shuck itself was now cornered between an angry horse, an angry Moffitt, an angry husky, and an angry cobra. It didn't look sure which to turn to, until it saw the silver sword in Moffitt's hands. It froze, looking frightened. Instead of attacking, it escaped the stable by crashing through a window on the east side, facing the garage.

Moffitt jogged over to the broken window, seeing the dog running as fast as it could into the woods beyond his property. "And stay out!" he growled.

"Are you alright, Jules?" Anah asked.

"Yeah, I'm good." Jules slowly climbed back down from the rafter. "Bloody hell. Scared the blazes out of me."

"What happened?" Moffitt asked.

"I was cleaning out Nightrunner's stall, heard him start neighing, and then the Black Shuck charged past him. It tried getting my left hand. Didn't you say that happened to you a couple of days ago?"

"Yes." Moffitt's expression became confused. "Strange. Very strange."

Jules held up his hand. "What's the one thing we've got in common with our hands right now?"

"We were both already injured there." Moffitt gestured to his healing rattlesnake bite. "It still doesn't make much sense. Why does it want to bite our hands?"

Jules shrugged, then glanced in the direction of the house. "Mum's not going to be happy when she hears about this."

"No, but we have to keep getting ready for work. There's not much time to discuss this." Moffitt thought for a moment. "Given that the Black Shuck was frightened off by the sight of the sword, I suggest you start carrying it around."

"Good idea."

"And please, please stay observant of your surroundings."

"You won't have to worry about me, Dad, I beat the magpies, remember?"

"Yes, I know, but… still."

"It'll be alright, Dad. I'm… more worried about you."

Moffitt handed the sword to his son. "We'll get to the bottom of this. That much I can say." When he turned to head back into the house, Moffitt glanced at Anah. "I will get to the bottom of this. That bloody creature tried going after my son… I'll make it regret doing so. I'm going to try and find information at the university about the manor fire. There must be some clues as to what's connecting us with the Black Shuck and that fire."

"Would you like help, dear?"

"No. I know where to go to find information. Actually… what you could do is call my father. He might remember that fire. He might even know the Fairisles."

"I can do that."

"That would be appreciated. Good luck."

As everyone expected, Vanora wasn't happy about learning Jules was nearly attacked, and Anah hated to see Vanora go off to work in such a stressed state. None of this makes sense. There should not be a connection, Anah thought while cleaning up the dishes from breakfast.

Jules eventually came back inside, looking cold and smelling of fresh hay. Livna was following him, getting underfoot, no matter how many times Jules told her that she was being a tripping hazard.

"She certainly knows something is not right," Anah said. "This is not like her at all."

"Yeah. She likes being around us, but this is a bit ridiculous." Jules hung up his coat and began untying his boots. "What's the lesson plan for today, Anah?"

"I have to make a call to your grandfather," Anah replied. "Your father thinks he might know something about that fire and the family involved."

"Any answers would be nice. This is getting more and more bizarre rather quickly."

"It really is. I am unsure how long it will take, but until then, try to do some studying for Friday. If not… I cannot blame you."

"I'll try." Jules fixed himself a cup of tea before sitting at the table with his notes and anatomy and physiology textbook.

After Anah finished the dishes, she slithered across the kitchen to get to the telephone, taking it off its hook and dialing the number for Nicholas and Adeline, Moffitt's parents. There was a bit of happy small talk at first, but Anah gradually got the conversation over to the situation at hand. She explained everything as best she could, then heard silence on the other line.

"Magic just loves Jack, doesn't it?" Nicholas said.

"Yes, apparently, it does," Anah replied.

"I did meet Fergus Fairisles a few times. Hard to believe that was over sixty years ago, the first time I met him. Every rail enthusiast in Cambridge yearned for a chance to speak with him. He had a club that met twice a month. The hall for this club was destroyed back during the war…" Nicholas trailed off, sounding unsure of what to say next.

"Everything alright?" Anah asked.

"Yes, yes, just… thinking. That's all." Nicholas sighed. "I understand why he decided to step back from the public eye for a while. I can't think of anything worse than losing a child like that. There is nothing worse, truly." He went quiet again. "It may be worth talking to him. I'm not sure what information he could offer you, but perhaps there is something he knows."

"We are willing to try each avenue we can," Anah said. "Do you know his address?"

"I do, in fact. I was one of a few people that he trusted with it."

"I nearly forgot to ask—what do you remember about the aftermath of the fire?"

"Nothing that nobody else knows. Many of my colleagues said they saw or heard the Black Shuck roaming the forests. Two of them mentioned hearing the laugh or voice of a little girl along with it."

"I would say a trip to the manor site itself is warranted. What do you think?"

Nicholas didn't sound too sure about that. "If you do, be careful. There's no telling what resides there now. Rumors of the property being haunted or cursed are the only reason that no one has ever tried to fix it up."

"I think we will be alright, but we will exercise caution. We do still have that sword from the magpie incident."

"Don't forget yourself, Anah. Perhaps getting Dietrich or Troy involved would be wise."

"We will consider it, but… something is telling me that this is something we need to solve on our own. I am not sure why."

"Alright. Do let us know if you need anything. Good luck."

"Thanks." After exchanging goodbyes, Anah hung up the telephone. Nicholas's tone had changed when discussing the railway club. Anah wondered if that was merely because of Dietrich's vision involving Moffitt and the train, but she couldn't help feeling that there was more—a lot more—that was going to be revealed as time went on.

Anah was pulled from her thoughts by Jules asking, "Everything okay?"

"Yes, dear," Anah replied. "I will… have to talk about all this with your father when he comes home."

Jules nodded. He looked back down at his textbook, then returned his gaze to Anah. "Do you need a distraction?"

Anah didn't respond at first, then sighed and said, "I suppose."

"Can you teach me how to make jam?"

"Do you really want to learn how to make jam, or are you looking for an excuse to eat all my raspberries?"

"Come on, Anah, that's not fair. Well…" Jules thought for a moment. "I am a bit peckish."

Anah worked her lower jaw as she thought, then sighed. "Oh, alright. I will make a lunch. We can save the jam lesson for another day."

Freezing rain pattered against the windows as Moffitt looked over some old newspapers at his desk in the parlor. Anah was loosely wrapped around his shoulders, reading along with him, and fighting the sleepiness that came with his comforting, familiar scent and excess warmth from having recently showered.

"The manor was referenced only a handful of times since the fire in 1908," Moffitt said. "The Fairisles never put the land up for sale. No one offered to buy it. It was largely condemned because of the event, and because of rumors that Ruth's ghost was haunting it. One magazine mentioned that it was also likely the Black Shuck was guarding the area… Ah-ha! Article from 1910… grouse hunter says he swore he saw 'a Grim-like creature' in the overgrown remains of the manor gardens." Moffitt tapped the desk a few times with a pen as he read. "Nothing that answers any questions, though."

"Have you thought about what I mentioned earlier, about visiting the Fairisles?" Anah asked.

"I have. I'm a bit surprised my father has never mentioned them before. Unless… I don't remember."

"It is possible. I know you are not interested in railway history and engineering, but perhaps you will be able to connect with Mr. Fairisles by talking about India. After all, Millington lived there for a time and visits every few years."

"I could. I do worry that Mr. Fairisles will tell me he hacked off the head of every Indian cobra and Russell's viper that threatened the railway workers."

"Let us hope not, then."

Moffitt organized the newspapers and put them away before standing and turning the lights off. "We can start this new path in this mystery in the morning," he said. He entered the bedroom to find Vanora reading, and set Anah on his nightstand before getting in bed. "Hello, darling." Moffitt gave Vanora a kiss.

"Hello, love." Vanora slid a bookmark between the pages she was on before closing the book and setting it on her nightstand. She put her arms around Moffitt to give him a longer kiss on his lips.

Anah left them to their romance while she got comfortable under Moffitt's scarf. She poked her head out to face the window, hoping that they were all close to getting answers. It was quiet for a little while, then she heard Moffitt and Vanora whispering to each other, with Vanora asking if Moffitt ever felt that she took him for granted.

"No, of course not," Moffitt replied. "Why would you think that?"

"It's… been bothering me all day," Vanora replied.

"No, I don't think you've ever taken me for granted. Is this because of Dietrich's vision?"

"Yes."

"Oh, darling." Moffitt gave her another kiss. "No, don't worry about that." He let out a sigh, his tone becoming a bit more serious. "You would be the last thought on my mind if I were facing the possibility of crossing the river. I don't think that's going to happen for a very long time."

Vanora was quiet for a moment. "I have a feeling we'll find out, but I'm still going to ask… why is all this happening? There was Dietrich's prophecy, and then Jules's prophecy, and then what happened with Troy last year when you and Anah went with him to Greece… it never seems to end."

"I know, but like I said before, we'll figure it out. We won't give up." Moffitt kissed Vanora again. "Come here. Let me snuggle you, help you feel better."

Vanora's sigh was muffled by Moffitt's shirt as she cuddled up to him. She whispered, "I love you, Jack," before finally drifting off to sleep. Moffitt was humming something the whole time, occasionally pausing to kiss the top of Vanora's head. His humming lulled off Anah as well. She curled up as tightly as possible, fitting as much of herself under the scarf as possible, and hoped for happy dreams.

Moffitt had decided to wait until the weekend to visit the Fairisles. It continued to rain for the rest of the week, meaning that no one was going out for walks. Jules still had his duties with the horses, and didn't go out to the stable without his silver sword. Livna was let out in the yard to run around. Normally, she had a blast rolling in the mud and giving her family no choice but to bathe her, but over the next few days, she seemed to be on-guard. She was going around the fence, keeping watch, presumably for the Black Shuck. Huskies weren't exactly a breed that specialized in guarding, but Anah had a feeling that didn't matter; Livna just knew her family was facing a danger and wanted to do something about it.

On Saturday morning, Anah was up before anyone else in order to make a good, unrushed breakfast. She took her time preparing everything, but then realized it might take some effort to convince Moffitt to eat, as Anah wondered if he was going to want to get started with his mission right after his tea. No matter. She was always prepared for that battle.

Anah turned when she heard a door open, and saw Jules emerging from his bedroom, making an attempt to fix his hair. "Good morning, Anah," he said.

"Good morning, dear. Are you ready for breakfast?" Anah asked.

"Horses first. Sorry. I'll make it quick. Weather's rotten anyway."

"Oh, alright. I will have your tea ready when you come back."

"Thanks." Jules put on his coat and boots, made sure the silver sword was secured in a belt around his waist, and headed outside in the rain toward the stable.

A soft thump was heard, followed by Livna trotting out into the kitchen, her nails clicking on the wood floor. She went right past the counter that Anah was perched on, and stood on her hindlegs to look out the window at Jules.

"He is alright, dear," Anah said. "He has the sword. Come here, Livna, I have your breakfast just about ready."

The husky didn't turn until Anah had wrapped her tail around a drawer handle and lowered herself close to the floor to put kibble into her bowl, along with a bit of plain cooked grouse breast and rabbit meat. "There you are, dear. Enjoy." Anah then pulled herself back onto the counter to fill a second bowl with water, and placed that by Livna as well.

With the dog taken care of, Anah continued preparing breakfast for her people, and turned again when the main bedroom door opened. Moffitt stepped out, already dressed in trousers and a navy-blue knit sweater. "Oh, good, you're getting tea ready," he said.

Anah glanced at him. "Yes. And—"

"Where did I leave the address Father gave us?"

"Dear—"

"Oh, it's on my desk." Moffitt disappeared into the parlor, and came back out with a slip of paper. He set it by his cup, then opened the fridge to take out the milk.

"Is there something else you are forgetting?" Anah said.

"No. I've got everything—oh, I'll need an umbrella."

"Anything else?" Anah tapped the spatula against the pan full of eggs and mushrooms for emphasis.

"No, I'm pretty sure—" Moffitt was interrupted by his stomach rumbling. "Perhaps I'll grab a crumpet on our way out."

Anah's tapping of the spatula gradually became a little angrier. The pace was slow, but it was eventually hard enough to make the mushrooms bounce in the pan. She glared at him and spread her hood in the process. "Sometimes I want to strangle you until you remember basic necessities like this. Goodness, you are going to waste away to nothing before a train even has an opportunity to run you over."

"You know I'd like to get this done, Anah, so we're not worrying about a bloody train anymore."

"And you know I am not going to tolerate your malarkey on this. If you do not eat breakfast, you are going to pass out while we are visiting the Fairisles, and then that is going to delay everything longer!"

"Alright, alright, if it makes you happy."

"Yes, you taking care of yourself would make me very happy."

"I take care of myself."

"I will believe that when I do not have to remind you to eat breakfast."

Vanora left the bedroom, tying the band of her robe. She sighed when she saw Moffitt and Anah. "Two things. One, it is much too early for you two to be arguing. Second, Jack, you were going on and on this week about just enjoying a chance to cuddle in the morning and here you are."

Moffitt flushed red with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, darling."

"It's alright. Just don't do it again. It's not like you arranged something with the Fairisles anyway. You're just showing up at their door, unannounced and uninvited."

"I know. I'm not worried about how they'll respond, but it won't surprise me if it takes a little while to persuade them to talk about this."

"What they went through was awful," Vanora said. "Don't be pushy."

"I'm not going to be pushy, darling."

Jules came in a short while later, rainwater dripping from his coat. He gave a shiver before taking his coat off and hanging it up by the door. "I don't care what anyone says—I'm staying inside with a big cup of cocoa today."

"That sounds like a good idea," Vanora said.

Anah was satisfied to have the whole family there, and got around to serving breakfast. Livna finished her own and took her place by Moffitt once he sat down, rubbing against his legs and resting her head on his left thigh.

"Seriously, lint-ball?" Moffitt sighed. "These are freshly cleaned trousers, and they do not need your hair on them."

"Jack, you're the one who picked her," Vanora said.

"And?"

"And you picked her knowing that she is a husky and will shed everywhere."

"Yes, yes, I know. Could you pass me the gooseberry jam, please?"

Vanora handed him the jar. "So, is it just you and Anah going to the Fairisles?"

"Yes," Moffitt replied. "Would you like to come?"

"If you don't mind, I think I'll stay home. The weather is miserable and I'm not sure what more any of us need to do in regards to unravelling the mysteries behind… everything that's happened."

"That's perfectly alright, darling. I'm hoping this won't take long, and I will be home to keep you warm for the rest of the day."

"That would be wonderful."

"Yes, it would." Moffitt reached over to tap Vanora's nose, and she responded by standing to kiss him.

Anah noticed a look on Jules's face, and said, "You have nothing to say, dear, everyone saw you kissing Antheia under the mistletoe last Christmas."

"I wasn't going to say anything," Jules said. "I was just thinking it would be nice to have someone to cuddle, too."

"Aww, honey, you will have me and Livna. I promise."

"Thanks."

The roads leading west from Cambridge were quite desolate, especially with how dreary the weather was. In a way, it was still a very pretty drive. The autumn colors were slightly muted and drooping in the rain, but reflected beautifully in the puddles that formed on the roads that weren't well-paved. Eventually, Anah and Moffitt began seeing fewer homes altogether. There were a handful of farms, as well as manors that went back a few centuries. The farms and orchards in particular were especially lovely with their crops looking ready for harvest, with row after row of vegetables and apple trees.

They were soon driving through a stretch of land with no farms, homes, or manors. Just untamed forests and roads that were probably meant for horses and cattle or sheep droving. Moffitt glanced at Anah after they had gone some time without conversation. "I don't have a good feeling right now, and I can't explain why."

"Physical or mental, dear?" Anah asked.

"I'll go with mental. I—" Moffitt paused as they came out of the forest, vast, open land spreading out before them. An old railroad track cut through the land, and Moffitt applied the brakes of his Land Rover. Once he came to a stop, he rolled down his window, despite the rain.

"What are you doing?" Anah asked.

"Listening." Moffitt was still for a moment, then looked left and right a few times. He was quick to drive over the track, then put his window back up. "Just wanted to make sure."

Anah couldn't fault Moffitt for his caution. She tried to resume looking at the autumn colors, but couldn't help starting to feel a bit nervous herself.

The only house they next saw was the one they were looking for. The Fairisles home was small and quaint. It was nestled within a sparse forest, and surrounded by the hills, a perfect location for anyone who wanted to be isolated. There was smoke coming from the chimney, which suggested to Anah and Moffitt that someone was home. Moffitt kept glancing at the front door while turning into the driveway, going slowly and coming to a stop not too far in. He put the Land Rover into park, and looked at the door again. When no one came out, he turned the vehicle off and pulled his keys out, before taking a deep breath. "Ready?"

"As ready as I will ever be, dear," Anah said. She braced herself for the cold as Moffitt got out of his vehicle and walked from the gravelly driveway to the short, cobblestone path that led to the house. "Should I hide first?"

"No. It'll be alright. I won't let anything happen to you," Moffitt said. He hesitated a moment before knocking on the door, then stepped back and waited.

About a minute passed before the door slowly opened, and a very short, elderly lady appeared. She had to look up to meet Moffitt's eyes, then looked over her shoulder to call out, "Fergus! We're not expecting company today, are we?"

"We're not," an older man's voice replied. "Who's at the door?"

"This very, very tall young man with a black snake around his shoulders." The woman turned back to Moffitt. "What are you? A circus performer?"

"No. My apologies, I'm Jack Moffitt. This is Anah."

Fergus appeared behind his wife. He stood slightly taller than her, and was balding and portly, with a thick, gray mustache. A little pair of wireframe glasses sat on the bridge of his nose. "I beg your pardon, but you said your name is Moffitt, correct?"

"Yes. I'm Nicholas's son. He said he knows you."

"I haven't spoken to Nicholas in quite a while. Is he well?"

"He's very well. He's retired now, been so for nearly six years."

"That's good to hear. Please, come inside."

Moffitt went to step in the house, but Fergus's wife held out her hand. "No. Put that animal outside. I don't want snakes in the house."

"Anah is no ordinary snake, ma'am," Moffitt said.

"Yes," Anah added. "I am legally a British citizen, I have a passport, a driving license, and for all those purposes, I had Moffitt's name added to mine, so that makes me family."

"Cor blast me, it talks." The woman's face paled sharply.

"Frankly, I would have loved to see the look on the faces of everyone in the court, having to witness a snake receiving a name change," Fergus said. "Very well. Let her in, Isadora."

"Alright, but she's not roaming free around the house. It was bad enough dealing with the wretched creatures in India."

Anah sensed Moffitt becoming a little annoyed, but he followed Fergus and Isadora inside anyway. He was shown a rack to hang up his coat and hat, and both he and Anah noticed that Fergus was studying him the whole time.

"Don't mind Isadora," Fergus said. "She loved living in India for a few years, but wasn't fond of the wildlife. Would you care for a cup of tea?"

"I would love one, thank you," Moffitt replied. "I know someone who lived in India for the first few years of his life. He's now the head of the ophiology department at Cambridge."

"Fascinating. I'm afraid if you've come to talk about snakes, you won't get much from me. I just know which ones are dangerous based on what we ran into managing the railways."

"I haven't come to talk about snakes. I, um…"

Anah touched the back of Moffitt's neck with her tail in an attempt to reassure him.

"I've… come to ask what you remember about the fire that destroyed your manor fifty years ago. Now, before you get upset, please, here me out. My family has had a couple of run-ins with the Black Shuck. We know that the last time it was sighted, it was after that horrible fire. The Black Shuck has tried attacking me and my son. Both times, it tried attacking our left hands. Strangely enough, we both injured our left hands" Moffitt showed Fergus the little puncture wounds left by Pepper. "This is a rattlesnake bite. My son pricked his hand with a sewing needle by accident. The cherry on top of all this is earlier this week, a friend of mine had a vision involving me getting struck by a train. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for that vision. You were involved with railway work. There must be some sort of connection."

Anah noticed Fergus's expression change multiple times over the course of Moffitt explaining himself. First there was old grief sparking in his eyes, mixed with anger over Moffitt bringing up the fire. He seemed to calm himself, then spent the rest of the time listening. When Moffitt finished his story, Fergus was quiet for a very long while. The two men eventually sat in chairs near the fireplace. Isadora was looking on with a heavy sadness that Anah sensed could only be that of a mother who had lost her child. At her age, Isadora should have been a grandmother, happily sharing stories and cherishing her grandchildren. Instead, she was alone apart from her husband. Anah found herself curious what they did now, and had been doing since the fire. Did they do anything to make themselves happy? Was it just little things here and there? She hoped they had something.

Fergus broke the silence shortly after being given his tea. "If I didn't know you were Nicholas's son, I wouldn't want to continue speaking to you. But… I know you lost your brother back during the war. I extended my sympathies to Nicholas back then. I think… I think it's safe to say that you do understand our feelings."

"I do," Moffitt said.

"You do resemble Michael quite a bit. I wondered if we were being visited by a spirit or even… even the slim possibility that Michael had survived and was paying a visit. He was a very bright young man. I knew him a bit better than I knew your father. Michael was a member of the railway club in Cambridge. He would attend meetings even while he was a part of the Home Guard. He was… on his way to one when the air raid happened."

Anah noticed Moffitt's face changing. There was something dark, something angry. No different from the day he had found out about Michael's death. He looked to be trying to suppress it. "What?"

"Michael died while on his way to the railway club." Fergus raised an eyebrow. "Did you not know this?"

This was it. The vision. It was not literal at all. Anah adjusted herself around Moffitt's shoulders, bracing herself for whatever storm would come from this.

"No." Moffitt's voice dropped to a growl. "I didn't."