Chapter 1 - Life at Wintermoor

 

The July sun streamed through my open window in bursting sunbeams. A gentle breeze wafted in, teasing my hair and sending tiny dust particles dancing in the light. In a rare moment of down time, I disappeared into another realm. The words on the off-white page painted a new reality in my mind. Fantastical beasts trotted across luscious green landscapes. Magic flowed down the creeks and rivers. Magic must be nice.

The front door across the road slammed loudly. Incomprehensible chatter drifted up on the air currents. Mr. Conrad and Anahera. Hushed urgency pricked along my neck, and I strained to hear. Anahera’s distinct voice crawled like an army of ants across my skin. 

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Peeking through the curtain, I held my breath when they started my direction. Short blonde hair framed a narrow face always covered in makeup. Bright red lipstick clung to her lips, and silver hoops dangled from her ears. She had a charm that got her most of what she wanted. From my window, I saw her use her talents on many, and they all fell for it, except Mr. Conrad. My stomach dropped when their clear words stopped directly underneath my room. His anger didn’t pause her challenge.

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“-down to days before the binding wears off, and no one has a plan.” 

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“Unless you know a seer, we can’t foresee what will happen. Plans are useless.” 

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“We don’t know what we are dealing with. She could become unstable.” Who are they talking about? 

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“Don’t forget your place when you speak to me or what I’m capable of doing. I will minimize any damages.” 

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A sharp slap rang out followed by a soft whimper. A thud echoed through the wood beams into the seat under me. Blind to their confrontation, I strained my ears, craning out the window. Another smack, and a cry followed Anahera as she tumbled face first into the road. Quickly pulling myself back into the safety of the shadows, she brushed herself off. Flames of rage pulsed in her eyes as she wiped blood from the corner of her mouth. She stormed back to the house, and I narrowly made it out of the window before her gaze swept across. 

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The front door opened and shut, sending prickles down my spine. I bolted across the room to the couch. Be calm. Reopening my book, the words swam on the page, making no sense. It was my only respite from the farmhouse. Wintermoor was the only home I knew. Having full reign of the two story structure, I dared not step one toe beyond the threshold and disobey the rules.

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His boots echoed through the silent house. My heart pounded in my chest. His footsteps grew closer. The stairs creaked under his weight, and my hands turned clammy waiting for his presence to suck the oxygen from the room. My mouth dried up like a desert when his polished shoes stopped in front of me. 

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His black pinstripe suit and crimson tie rose to meet a stern, lean face with eyes so brown that there was no distinction between his iris and pupil. His warm chestnut curls bounced untamed and wild in stark contrast to the rest of his demeanor.

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“Good morning, Millie.” 

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“Good morning, sir.” 

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Closing my book, I lifted my face to his. He loomed over me. Most of his features rested in the shadows, adding more weight to his presence. Bits of remnant anger flitted in his eyes. The prickles of fear sprouted into ivies of terror, creeping its way up my spine and down my bones. The book trembled in my grip. Don’t fidget! He judged the state of the den. He faced the open window and took a few steps.

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“Ladislav will be leaving for a few days. Anahera will care for you in his place. You’ll be expected to keep your schedule.” 

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“Y-y-yes, sir.”

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My cheeks heated, and my eyes diverted to the floor while I waited for his scorn. Stupid! Speak proper! His passing judgment left a heavy blanket in his wake. A few mutterings by the bookshelf, and his disappointment flooded the suddenly small room. He glanced back at me a final time with an unreadable expression. Oh, I’m in trouble now. I tensed waiting for his reprimand. Instead, he silently left without another word. 

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My lungs slowly expanded with each faded footstep. The tension in my muscles released with the click of the front door. Rushing to the window and peeking through the bottom, Anahera stood by the door of the main house, arms crossed and face contorted. The fury sat a flicks distance from her mouth. The dry dirt road sent clouds with each of his steps towards her. He grabbed her by the arm, and they disappeared inside.

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The book fell from my hands, and I sank to the floor in front of the window. Anahera’s cruel smile flashed in my mind. Bringing my fist down hard on the floor, a scream rose inside, but exploded before it reached my mouth. The sparks rained down my back. Scrambling to my feet, I surveyed the living room. What did he dislike? Running my fingertips along the bookshelf, no dust clung to them. Checking every surface under his gaze, it escaped me. Staring out the window, I couldn’t figure out what displeased him.

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“Was that Conrad?” My body took flight before I registered Ladislav’s voice. I sucked in a deep breath.

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“He said you were leaving for a few days.” 

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“Hm, I wonder where he’s sending me this time. A week, tops.” 

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“I don’t want you to leave. Why can’t you take me with you?” 

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“It’s not always pleasant business. You deserve to be here, where you’re safe.” 

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Safe. Ha! My eyes pleaded for understanding, knowing I would find none. Rolling them instead, I scoffed and gathered the cleaning supplies. Even though he stood well over a foot taller than Mr. Conrad, he lacked the intimidation. Ladislav was the only comfort I had ever known. Life in the farmhouse changed when he went away. Anahera stayed clear when he was around. Otherwise, she found any reason to scold me, and pressure breathed down my neck. 

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Rags over my shoulder and spray bottle in hand, he stood against the doorframe. Moving everything off the bookshelves, I sprayed, wiped, and checked for missed spots. Moving to the next shelf, I repeated the process. Fury and panic teamed up as I swept through the room, polishing every surface. Tears stung my eyes, but I willed them back behind the dam. 

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“Don’t be angry with me.” 

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“It’s not your fault. He’s the one sending you.” 

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Angrily motioning across the road, bubbles of rage popped all over my body. Ladislav’s head fell to his chest with a disappointing sigh. Silence filled the gap my words left behind. Uncomfortable, I finished shining the living room until it sparkled. If Anahera would be in his place, there couldn’t be a single particle of dust or dirt. I refused to give her a reason to delight in my punishment.

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“It’s my job.” 

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“I thought your job was teaching me.”

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“That’s only a part of it.”

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 Ladislav waited for a response, but I didn’t have one. The frequency of his away jobs frustrated me. The weeks torturously inched by while I walked on eggshells and avoided all possible interactions. Cleaning calmed my frayed nerves. After verifying that the room fit the strict standards, I sat at the piano. The cold and lifeless keys under my fingers calmed my panic. I readied to play the notes I knew by heart, letting my fingers drift from key to key. The music pulled a thread within me; a thread that had never been plucked. 

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My fingers pounded the keys, drowning out his presence. The piano whisked me away in an escape pod from my feelings. Lost in the melody, I failed to notice when he joined me on the bench. His arm brushed mine, and I jumped away from the keys. My foot stayed firmly on the pedal as the music grinded to a halt. The vibrations echoed between us. Tears threatened to fall, but I wouldn’t let him see. I ran to my room and locked the door.