Prologue

The day had been hot from dawn to dusk. As the sun descended in the clear blue sky illuminating the pyramids of long ago. They towered over the city of Cairo in absolute rule, beckoning to the all of their legends. Great Pharaohs and just as equally not so great men who were revered, coveted and kept hidden away from the world within their tombs, dark and desolate. Alone forever with only their riches to comfort and soothe the long days.

Charles Dupont looked up at the largest pyramid in the distance shading his eyes from the glare of the setting sun. He felt like those Pharaohs of long ago and for a moment perhaps more he envisioned their death tomb, cold, lifeless, filled with emeralds, rubies, sapphires and golden idols. He had never felt so alone on one of his business trips before. He was often so busy with the business of making money that time spent alone was a relief, but on this day the loneliness for the first time crept into his soul and he yearned to be back in England. He didn’t long for the home he had lived in for the past ten years or the endless business associates he worked with. He didn’t long for the social parties announcing every moment of every wealthy person’s useless existence. He longed for one person, just one person who had touched his otherwise hidden heart and woke up his peaceful slumber for the first time since his father had abandoned his family when he was 12. His father’s desertion and his subsequent responsibilities forced upon him at that tender age didn’t come close either to his aching heart that longed to be back with her.

Emily Moore was a beautiful raven-haired, soft blue eyes, gentle voiced young woman he had met two years earlier at one of those annoying, useless social functions. The exact reason he attended was lost to Charles, even now as he tried hard to recall what had lead him to the Moore’s house on that particular night. A smile escaped his lips, something he had done more and more in the past few years. Even his close associates remarked on the apparent change in his attitude. Charles had always remained a sober man to most with an excellent skill in business and an even more excellent eye on business acquisitions. He built his small lumber company, started at the age of twenty, into an empire sought after by the wealthiest and most affluent citizens in the United Kingdom and abroad. He designed and oversaw the construction of hundreds of houses from England to Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland and just recently, here in Cairo, Egypt.

This business trip was a final check of the home of Sir Raleigh Reginald Rollings the IV. Sir Raleigh was related through various lines to a great Lord of King Richard the Lionhearted, as so Sir Raleigh’s story went. Charles had never taken too much on any word of a English gentlemen, regardless of his own word being known as solid stone if given to anyone on a business matter. He was revered, respected and sought throughout the past decade as a great mind, a successful businessman and a force to be reckoned with on negotiations. These factors should have warranted Charles with a sense of accomplishment in his young life, but they never consoled the secrets of his past. A past he forever buried when he stepped into his business and vowed would forever until his death. Promises were made and promises must be kept at all costs, he had always believed. This was when he did allow himself to think about that part of his life at all.

The sun was beginning its descent as the brilliant reds and oranges filled the sky behind those monuments of awesome height. Charles turned away from his thoughts of Emily and her long hair, her soft laugh, her beautiful face. He turned away from thoughts of his final day of this trip, where he spent half of it negotiating rather loudly with one of the foreman on the need to add a second window to the parlor room of Sir Raleigh’s summer retreat. He turned away from the sun and began walking back to the hotel in the center of the bustling city of Cairo.

He had only walked several steps when a glint of something got his eye. A blue light seemed to glow off to his right. He turned towards the color and it swirled in the air until landed on the front cover of a leather bound book, on a homemade rug in front of an old gypsy woman’s humble market wares. Wares that included pots, beads and other small items to catch the casual visitor to the city and most likely, allow her to feed herself and perhaps the den of children she had in a hut a few miles away from the city. Charles didn’t take the time to look at any of the wares, but his eyes did rest on the blue stones on the cover of that book. If asked to describe the next moment, Charles never could, not from that day to this. Before he knew what was happening he was speaking with the old woman, covered in a traditional gypsy dress with beads and necklaces all around her neck. She looked older than perhaps she was. The desert sun aged many beautiful women here; Charles had taken notice as he walked through the city two days earlier.

"Have you a woman?" The gypsy asked as Charles moved his stare of the entrancing blue stones to her eyes, which seemed to possess the same color blue and invited him to speak with her in another moment he couldn’t explain. He was not a casual buyer of wares sold by old gypsies on the streets of a foreign country. As of a matter of fact, this was the first time he had bothered to even look at them. Some had been none to call him stingy with his wealth. He believed himself to a practical man, never needing more than was necessary.

"What book is that?" Charles said, his brown hair blowing in his face a bit. He moved the piece back. A small tie was holding the rest of the hair falling past his shoulders. Many women told him since he was a young man how handsome he was. His features included dark black eyes, brown hair that was started to show some gray even at his age of thirty-five. This feature seemed to just make him more distinguished and he was often grateful for the premature gray. In his business dealings, many men thought him older than he was. He stood over 6 feet tall with an air of confidence and a stride of pure gracefulness with pointed resolute, often remarked on by many affluent people of upper London society. He was told on many occasions, he had the perfect English look that they assumed must be born of royalty blood somewhere in his families line. He never denied their thoughts of his wealthy lineage, though never confirmed them either. It was simpler to let them think what they wanted. He had learned too often they would anyway. The assumptions upper society men and women made helped to keep Charles in their good grace and constant invitations to meet new clients.

"Have you a woman?" The gypsy asked him again, ignoring his own question of the book.

"Yes," he answered something he was surprised himself by. He would never allow such intimate questions asked or answered in his presence before. It was absurd to be discussing his relations with Emily on the streets of Cairo, yet here he was and his brain though still functioning was not cooperating with his feet to leave this peddler woman’s words or wares. However, his mind was still operating and while it was he thought he would ask his question again.

"What is this book, woman?" This time his voice was gentler, less demanding.

"A special book," she replied with an air of mystery that settled in her voice. Then she quickly added, "Not for you. Perhaps you would like this necklace made from a great King’s crown." She held up a string of a homemade necklace with different colored beads, Charles assumed were wares she had for years and had tried for that long to pawn them off for a price to wealthy travelers.

"Tell me about the book," he answered back, picking up the blue-stoned book off the ground and showing it to her. "I would like to know more."

The gypsy woman quickly grabbed the book away from his hands, causing Charles to lose some of his usually calm demeanor. He looked at the woman with determination.

"Tell me about the book," he said again. The gypsy woman heard the harsh tone in his voice and the book’s blue stones were illuminated under her hands. She looked down and spoke a few words in a language Charles did not understand. It sounded like a gentle soothing of a mother to a child. The blue stones brilliant shine disappeared and she placed the book back in his hands.

"Yes, you shall know about the book," she said, as if she had been told herself to do so. Charles ignored the apparent conversation she had engaged with the book and told himself she was probably a bit touched being out in the sun for a lifetime and telling tall tales of mysterious objects she sold. He looked up from the book back to her and decided a negotiation was in order.

"I would like to buy your book," he replied and pulled out some coins from the pocket of his tailored dark blue vest. He was carrying his jacket over one shoulder from the hours of hot sun he had been exposed to during the day. His shirt was soaked in sweat underneath the vest, but it didn’t seem to show on the outside. It was inside that Charles could feel it and he was ready to end this negotiation and go back to the hotel to take a much-deserved bathe and rest before heading back to the London the next morning. His own curiosity towards this woman’s unique-looking book was wearing thin.

"Do you have a lover of stories to give it to?" She asked, throwing him a bit off guard. He had expected a high price of coins or at the least more information on the book to bring her negotiations up even higher. "For this book will only be content with a lover of stories."

"My bride-to-be is one of those. Reads all the time," he replied. "So what is your price to be, woman?"

"When are you to be married?" She asked, again stopping the exchange of money and ending these endless questions to obtain a simple book.

"In the spring following this summer," Charles was growing impatient now. His skills as a negotiator were great, but she wasn’t giving him anything to negotiate with, or so he thought. "This is inconsequential, woman to the value of the book."

"You will give it on your wedding day, but she shall not open it until the first Spring has passed," she stated, simply as one would with a prophecy of long ago. Charles thought for a moment and then nodded his head.

"Yes, that is fine, if the price suits me," he replied.

"The price you shall pay today in coins and then pay tomorrow," she said, talking in riddles, Charles wasn’t in the mood for. "Ten coins today."

"And what is the price to be tomorrow?" He questioned and realized that perhaps this woman was smarter than he believed. A double payment before he could receive the book. Her selling skills impressed him. Not unlike his own, he thought. He would have payment up front and payment at the completion of the job.

"Ten coins," she said again and smiled at him, showing her loss of several teeth. Charles shook his head at her.

"I am leaving in the morning, I must take the book with me today," he thought this statement would at least let him know where he stood. He wasn’t quite certain he would actually receive the book at all with this woman’s endless stipulations.

"Ten coins," she said again. The book shone brilliant blue as the sun completely set in the sky. Charles thought it was reflecting off the sun’s final rays, but it was a beautiful sight and before he could say another word, he handed the woman ten coins.

"Take care of your payment tomorrow," she said and placed the coins in a small coin purse, also handmade.

Charles looked down at the book whose brilliant shine had ceased and opened it for the first time. He saw writings in it of a different language he couldn’t make out, but as he flipped page by page the words become familiar and before he knew it there were English words written on the pages. He stood for a moment in the last of the sun rays on the streets of Cairo and pondered on these pages that would go from an unknown language to his known one and suddenly realized he had forgotten about the gypsy woman’s words.

"What payment tomorrow?" He asked and looked up from the pages of the book. To his surprise the woman was gone, the wares spread out in front of him were gone also. The desert sand swirled a bit in front of him before settling down. He shook his head, closed the book and headed back to the hotel, content that was end of his payment for the item.

A few hours later he was asleep. No more thoughts rested on the gypsy woman or the book that sat on his table next to his bed. No more thoughts about the blue stone that shined and glittered in the Cairo sun. No more thought was given as to the strange nature of the woman’s ominous words, words that were nonsense to him now. His thoughts rested upon Emily’s soft face and the touch of her delicate hand inside his. Soon, less than one full year from this day, she would be his wife. That made Charles smile inside his dream sleep.

It made the book on the bedside table spill out a brilliant blue light that encompassed the bed in which he slept.

An unseen, unheard promise of a payment he was still to make.

Juniper could not get to sleep no matter what she tried. Counting sheep was not working, reading the book her beloved teacher, Miss Rivermore gave her for enjoyment, was not working. She was restless and this bothered the fourteen-year-old blond-haired, blue-eyed young girl. She prided herself on her ability to follow the Manor’s endless rules and take responsibility for her younger sister, Rose a precocious eight-year old who would be turning nine in a few days. Juniper, or June, as she had been referred to for almost all her life, was not happy about losing sleep. Tomorrow would come upon her quick enough and her with two tests, one in literature and the other in math, looming over her, a good night of sleep was required to do well. She slipped out of her bed, she never really liked it when she was moved away from Rose’s dormitory room last fall. Mr. Dupont, the owner of Twilight Blue, felt it necessary for her to move into the older girls’ dormitory room on the second floor. It was colder here, it always seemed and June was not comfortable with the older girls, she never had been.

For the first five years of her life, she couldn’t recall where she had slept. Until the night she and her sister, just a small infant, were left at the Manor’s steps by an unknown mother, June couldn’t recall the face of. From that night until last fall, she had been placed with her sister in the younger girls’ first floor dormitory. A placement she had been content with for the next nine years. She loved her sister and watched out for her with both the younger and the older girls at the Manor house. Rose was very trusting and often made friends with girl who were far crueler than kind and who often made fun of her lack of parents.

June would not stand for this behavior from young girls at the Manor. Since Emily Moore Dupont, Mr. Dupont’s beautiful young wife had taken her and her sister in that cold night, she had vowed to be the perfect young girl, obeying rules of the manor and hoping the Dupont’s wouldn’t leave her at some other person’s doorstep some night. This dreaded thought stopped haunting the poor girl’s dreams after a few years, as she grew up and happy within the Dupont’s world of Twilight Blue. She adored Emily and Emily treated both her and her sister like her own special children. They were among some of the first children at the manor and most likely, June believed, the first orphans there. Emily had told June on that first night that she would be like her own daughter and that suited June just fine. She loved Emily and she loved the Twilight Blue.

The Twilight Blue Manor always possessed to June a spirit of happiness. Hard work, rules, and studies did have their place within the manor’s many schoolrooms, but it was a happy place to be. June knew all about the Twilight Blue. She was a curious, if not

invasive, young girl and learned much from her endless questions to both Mr. and Mrs. Dupont. Mr. Dupont seemed pleased to answer her questions, as long as they were not of his own life before the manor. He never seemed pleased to talk about that, so June learned what was appropriate and not appropriate to speak about. She had learned it well. During those afternoons after school was dismissed and before supper was served in the Manor’s large banquet hall, June would often go to the library where Mr. Dupont could be found working on papers or reading a book. He would sit with her for almost an hour at times and patiently answer her questions.

Through those afternoons, she had learned that Victor Lanbowe, a very fanciful architect, built the Manor in 1806. Fanciful was the name June called him, Mr. Dupont called him a genius. Mr. Dupont had very much admired the man who died one year later and now, the Manor was the last of his unique designs. The manor had been built or a wealthy English gentleman to be given to his son who was to be married later that year. Unfortunately, his son contradicted some disease that Mr. Dupont did not mention by name and subsequently died before he wed.

The manor simply went unused for almost forty years until Mr. Dupont had bought it. The exact way he had found out about it was still unknown to June, but she did know that the price was high and Mr. Dupont negotiated it down due to the manor’s abandoned state of disrepair. June also knew that Mr. Dupont was very proud of that fact. June knew Mr. Dupont was wealthy, but she was never certain of how much he wealth he actually possessed. He never discussed it; it wouldn’t be proper, he had often said to young boys in the manor who had the mind of asking it of him. June never asked, fearing he would think she was impudent and be rid of her meddling ways.

‘Meddling Ways’ was a phrase June had heard Mr. Dupont say once of women when he returned from one of many exciting parties he and Emily often attended often. June didn’t consider herself as a person who listens to others’ private conversation, but she so adored to see the Dupont’s all dressed up for parties and was fascinated by their light-hearted conversations about the people they saw. She thought of them as the Manor’s King and Queen. She would often imagine herself as their daughter, a royal Princess, meant to marry a handsome Prince one day and to live happily ever after as in the stories Emily so often told. To June, it was a wonderful dream she kept hidden away in her secret heart that was only known to her.

The manor itself provided a caring environment for the children who both lived and attended school there. Mr. Dupont told her that the school was one of the finest in England, according to many newspapers of the day. This caused many parents to be left on a long waiting list to admit their child into the Twilight Blue Boarding School. The other aspect of the Twilight Blue was the generosity of the Dupont’s to take in orphans whenever they could. Emily was a great lover of children and when one came to her doorstep she could never turn the child away. Thus, how she and Rose become Emily’s special children. She even had named both of them, since they were left without a note or reference to their names. June nor Rose minded the naming of them. Although as June grew up she realized although Juniper is a pretty name, it also lends itself to cruel children making fun of the strangeness of it. June always resigned herself to the fact that she was named by Mrs. Emily Moore Dupont and they should take the matter up with her husband if they had a problem with it. No one, of course, ever did.

The Twilight Blue Manor Boarding House and Orphanage was utilized by many wealthy ladies and gentlemen for their children’s education and living arrangements. June had often heard Mr. Dupont speak of this lack of responsibility to his wife with harsh tones. He stated that the children were brought here for two reasons only, for the lack of parents or the lack of attention from their parents. Both reasons seemed to disturb Mr. Dupont, even though he made quite a living off those same parents’ money that was given to the Manor on a monthly basis for their children’s continued education and care. June never believed he disliked the children, not at all, he treated them with respect as long as their followed the rules, but he did seem displeased with the lack of visits the children’s’ parents seemed to make to the manor to see their child, especially during the holiday seasons. Presents were often dropped off at the manor by servants or sent through the post for the children to open on birthdays and Christmas. However, it was Mr. Dupont who was often heard by June to state, ‘a golden idol does not make up for a child’s need for their parents.’ June thought Mr. Dupont was the most intelligent man that ever lived and she wasn’t shy about telling others of her discovery. She would often worship his words and repeat them as if in deep reflection as to their meaning that had eluded her until she would reach the height of his intelligence he possessed, if ever.

One of the best memories of the manor in June’s nine years under its roof was Emily’s laughter. It rang through the hallways where she would often come up with the most fanciful tales and stories to tell, not to mention games for everyone to play outside if the day was pleasant, or inside when the rains and terrible thunderstorms frightened the children. Of course, June thought to herself as she still grappled on this long night with her inability to fell asleep, that was before the horrible rainstorm seven years ago, the likes of which no game could ever provide an escape from.

June could recall it the day just as clearly this night as if it had just happened yesterday. The pain of that discovery and what it meant would take years to seep into the manor’s walls, but June knew. She knew when she saw Mr. Dupont holding Emily in his arms as the rain poured down over the couple. June also knew there was not a single person who lived in the manor or most of England who did not know of and feel for the tragedy at the Twilight Blue.

‘May 14, 1843: Emily Moore Dupont, wife of two years to the affluent builder and Twilight Blue Manor founder, Mr. Charles Malcolm Zandovul Dupont the IV, was pronounced dead after falling from a third story balcony of her dressing room at the manor during the terrible rainstorm of Monday evening.’

The London Times had read the following day about Emily’s death. June had memorized it and kept a copy in an old worn out journal Emily had given her just a few years before her death. Emily had always told her that she should write stories, that she would be a good writer, June wasn’t so certain about that. She believed she would teach someday, she thought perhaps at the manor school. That seemed like a practical, sensible thing to do and since Emily’s death June was all about sensibility, more so than even she believed she could be.

June held in her heart Emily’s laughter and her beautiful, exciting stories of worlds far away, but what affected her most was Mr. Dupont’s change in demeanor and attitude since his wife’s death. June’s afternoon conversations were a thing of the past. Her questions were often met with statements about working and not having time to spend on frivolous questions that do not matter. Although the statements in the beginning cut into June’s fragile heart, losing Emily, the only mother she knew, and then losing, Mr. Dupont’s cherished friendship and great knowledge of the world she could never see. Those statements were not as painful or heart aching as the emptiness of the manor itself. Long hallways, cold and lifeless that seemed to stretch on for miles seemed to echo her own lost heart, mourning never ceased inside the manor’s gate. They all lived in a funeral possession that was led by Mr. Dupont since that first day without Emily.

Mr. Dupont had shut off Emily’s room on the third floor and kept it like a tomb to her. No one was even allowed on the third room, even though some of the braver children would often venture up there, and receive strong punishments for their actions when caught by Mr. Dupont. A punishment June often agreed with. If truth be told, she felt it sacred as well. It was Emily’s place, a place she had spent more time in than not. Before her death, Mrs. Dupont had taken to staying in her room day in and day out. To say that Emily left the night she died would have been wrong in June’s eyes. Emily was gone a year before that from the children’s’ and her lives. Mr. Dupont kept up his nature during that time and not much changed in the manor until her death. Whatever June believed kept Mr. Dupont silent about Emily’s condition and why she couldn’t come out of her room was a secret to everyone, including June, but that secret became a guarded tomb now that resides somewhere in Mr. Dupont’s memories and the room of the third floor.

"Juniper!" June turned suddenly to the voice that had entered the room. It was a loud whispered voice that she knew well.

"I could not sleep, Miss Smythe," June answered quickly.

"You will go to sleep right now and no more nonsense," Miss Smythe replied and turned on her heel out the door.

June quickly slid back into her bed and waited for sleep to come. She thought a bit more about the manor and Miss Smythe’s mannerisms. She had always been a harsh teacher, not mean, just harsh. June did very well in her classes, math and science, was what she taught. Miss Smythe could often be heard to say she was the first teacher hired by the school. This knowledge made her very proud, June could tell. Miss Smythe wasn’t different from the other teachers at the manor and June had seen many come and go. Circumstances to their dismissals were unspoken, but rumors flew around the manor about almost everything from Emily’s death to the teachers. Rumors that continued now in the manor when June would give them any attention, which she often would not. It was dis-respectable to spread rumors, she would often say to those telling her of a new discovery at the manor. However there was one time where she listened and listened closely.

One year earlier when a new teacher came to the manor by the name of Miss Sarah Rivermore, June paid attention to anything about her. Miss Rivermore was young and June overheard one day after Miss Rivermore’s arrival Miss Smythe commenting to other teacher outside her room, stating that Miss Rivermore was too young to be a school teacher of any real merit and she was certain Mr. Dupont had made a mistake. June found out after her first class with Miss Rivermore, who taught English Literature, that Miss Smythe’s comment was entirely untrue. Miss Rivermore was a good teacher, well educated, spoken, and knew all about literature. A subject June was not very fond of in the past. She did not like reading stories of fiction. She thought them to be frivolous and entirely too much like Emily. She disliked anything that reminded her of Emily.

However, Miss Rivermore spoke of stories like there were treasures of ancient days. She spoke of a time when reading was forbidden. She was known to say many times in class:

‘How much everyone would miss if your imagination did not soar a bit, provided, of course, you can bring it down again.’

June was intrigued and overwhelmed with all this knowledge of a time before hers and a history of a people she never knew and Miss Rivermore had history, lots of history. She knew everything about the writers of the stories, where they lived, how they grew up, why they wrote their stories. It was completely fascinating to young June and she held onto every word. She had told Mr. Dupont the very next day after Miss Rivermore began her lessons that she was pleased with his decision to hire Miss Rivermore. On that occasion, for the first time since Emily died, reserved, quiet and commanding Charles Dupont of the past seven years let out a laugh, before retreating to the library. A place he always seemed to remain alone and uninterested in her or their surroundings. Running the school with manners, discipline and exact rules were of the utmost importance. June secretly believed Mr. Dupont was trying to make it impossible for another accident such as his wife’s to ever occur again. He had been doing an extremely good job of it in June’s mind. The school had not had another accident from that day to this.

It was somewhere between remembering Miss Rivermore’s first day and Mr. Dupont’s first laugh that June fell asleep. Contented for a moment with the knowledge that Miss Rivermore brought hope back to the manor and perhaps, a promise that life would be much improved if she learned patience and her lessons well.

That thought was Juniper’s last as she drifted away from those budding mature feelings of a young woman and back to her dreams of childhood days past.

Two very frightened and out-of-place children approached the manor gate and looked up at the faces of a pair of statues carved out of stone. Each was a figure of a child, the girl on the left side of the gate held a book in one hand and a basket in the other. The basket had been painted a brilliant shade of twilight blue. The other was a statue of a boy also holding a book in one hand, but a fishing pole in the other. His feet were bare and the fish at the end of his pole possessed the same blue shade to it. These unique statues with the blue paint illuminated under the moonlit sky.

The children underneath the statues had stopped and were both staring at those statues as if waiting for an invitation through the large Iron Gate that separated the Manor from the rest of the world. A few moments later, with one exchange of looks, they both walked forward, placing their carpetbags that served as suitcases down on the ground next to them. They reached out and gave a good push with their hands and the gate slowly opened. To the children’s surprise, there was no creaking as the gate swung the rest of the way open. They picked up their carpetbags and continued onto the grounds. The hour was late almost past midnight and the moon shone brightly on the fountains located to the right and left of the enormous circular driveway leading to the manor house.

As the two children walked closer to that house, the moonlight shone down on their small frames. One, a boy, wore an oversized blue vest and knickers that he was growing out of quickly. He stood no more than four feet. His striking red hair was partially covered by a brown derby cap that was old and worn. The girl, walking a step ahead of him and holding his hand as they continued, was almost a foot taller. She wore a simple dress that fell to her knees and was one size if not more too big for her petite frame. A ladies hat covered her head and held striking colors of teal, purple and black. Under the hat was long brown hair that caught in the moonlit and shone beautiful as it cascaded in straight lines down her back, reaching almost the middle of it. On both the children’s feet were worn out shoes, much too overused by now to be considered suitable or comfortable to wear.

The gardens past by without notice from the children, although they did stop for a moment when they saw another set of child statues again with that striking blue paint on them. This time the statues were sitting on either side of a large fountain. The fountain wasn’t running, but the children could make out a few fairy figures around the top as the moonlight cooperated and shone on it for a moment. The small boy turned to the taller girl and smiled pointing to the fairies flitting about the top of the fountain. The girl nodded at him and walked forward.

They approached the main stone steps that led to a large, looming door double in size. The door handle was elegant with a large S-curve to it, again painted with the same blue that adorned the statues. Small Florentine designs covered the four corners of the door’s massive entrance. A small window was at the top, far too high for the children to reach even if they did think about going up those steps, but that thought was much too brave for them at the moment.

"We should knock," the girl finally said, a resignation in her small voice.

"Go ahead," the boy answered back. "What if it is inhabited by snakes and toads?"

"It’s a house, just a big house," she snapped back at the boy’s ridiculous statement.

The door opened, again making no indication of creaking, but the motion was fluid and quick, causing both children to scream. A very tall man stood in the doorway, a light from behind him created a hue of white around his frame. The children stared up at him in mortal terror. The man took one step inside the doorframe, the light shifted behind him and he stood there, towering over like a great God of ancient days past. His intense stare with dark eyes and gray/white hair pulled back at the neck, further led to the children’s’ fear, several steps below him. He wore a perfect tailored suit pants, vest and jacket, a hint of silver cufflinks caught the light under his jacket. He stood so straight and upright that it seemed for a moment to be made that way, like the statues in the garden. He barely moved expect to fix his gaze downward on the small children.

"You must be my brother’s children," he said, his voice cutting through the still night with a perfect tone of annoyance and proper English breeding and culture. "I am your Uncle, it would seem. My name is Charles Dupont." Throughout this entire speech, the children did not move or hardly breathe. "I have no time for idle talk, it is late," Charles last statement was meant to indicate the children should come inside, but the tone was harsh and without an invitation in it, causing the children to remain where they were. He breathed a heavy sigh.

"Oh, you must be Alicia and Allen Dupont," a pleasant woman’s voice was heard from behind Charles. The children’s heads focused on the voice. A woman, slender and tall, though not reaching Charles’s height by a many inches, appeared next to him in the doorway. She smiled a beautiful, perfectly happy smile towards the children. The boy, Allen smiled back. "It is a pleasure to meet you, your arrival was much anticipated," she said, continuing in her pleasantries. Throughout these words, Charles glanced towards her only once. Not in disappointment, but in relief at this awkward moment for all of them.

"We were lost at the train station," the girl, Alicia, said, looking back to Charles. He did not indicate anything on his face, other than an expression of complete annoyance.

"I like the statues," Allen blurted out. "How did you get the blue paint on them?" The woman laughed quietly, Charles did not. He shifted on his foot for a moment. It was a slight movement, but the woman saw it and held back a smile.

"Are you to come inside or will you give the whole house a draft?" Charles said, louder with a demanding tone in his voice. The children remained in their place. Another heavy sigh escaped Charles’s lips. "Do you know how much money it takes to heat a house of this size?" The question was not meant to be answered. The children did not.

"We would very much like to come inside, Uncle, but my feet are not cooperating," little Allen said from the side of Alicia.

"Oh, I do see," the woman answered, "feet are like that sometimes."

She smiled at Allen he smiled back. Alicia watched the exchange but she was not taken in by anyone at this moment, it seemed.

"Why did you not come for us, Uncle?" She said.

It caused Charles’s gaze to fall upon her completely. She held her position against the stare.

"Perhaps, if you knew how warm it was in the manor," the woman said quickly, "you would want to come inside. We must tell them, Mr. Dupont. There is a rather large fireplace in the library that can heat much of the first floor when it burns. I think you may find it more pleasant than out in the cold night air."

She finished and looked towards Charles. He glanced at her and then moved aside from them to come inside. The woman smiled another one of those pleasant smiles Allen was beginning to like.

"Come inside then," Charles said, stepping to one side to allow them passage. "But do not get comfortable, I have no decided to keep you yet." The last phrase caused Allen to move faster through the doorway. Alicia held her head up and walked past him with no fear apparent in her eyes. Charles was impressed for a moment. The grand door closed shut behind them as the children followed Mr. Dupont to another large door that opened into a library.

"Where did the lady go?" Allen asked as they passed through the door to the library. He woman had disappeared from their sight as soon as they entered the manor.

Charles looked at him for a moment, Allen’s eyes followed away from him and onto the enormous room they had walked into. It was much more than just a library. Books covered three of the four walls, towering high up to the ceiling. Both children placed their carpetbags on the floor and looked up. It was so high it caused them to be a bit dizzy.

"You have a lot of books, Uncle," Alicia said, almost in fascination for a moment, but her next tone was very harsh and it surprised for just a moment her Uncle Charles. "Why did you not come and retrieve us after mother and father’s deaths last winter?" Charles looked at her and re-focused on the cigar in front of him. Puffing on it as he light it up and walked a step towards an ashtray on top of a tall pillar next to a large mahogany desk to the far right of the room. Alicia shook her head and looked towards the room for the first time.

The library consisted on a large fireplace in its center on the one wall not contained with books. To its immediate left was a large comfortable looking reading chair and a small table that matched the desk’s mahogany look and held a small drawer in it. Long brick colored curtains covered a large window that held books on either side of it. A sofa was on the far left of the room, the pattern had the same Florentine design as the manor door and contained accents of that same shade of blue throughout the manor’s entrance. On the tops of the table and the desk, even the fireplace mantel were items of particular interest to young Allen, who walked about trying not to reach out of touch them all. There were painted vases of ancient designs. A large elephant was holding up a table next to the sofa. The tusk had real ivory that contained some of the blue on either side of it, making it look very distinguished for an elephant. The rug across the library floor even contained flecks of the blue with gold outlines swirling into a center that seemed to lose which way the circle went as you continued to look at it.

"It is a terrible tragedy you have both suffered, however," Charles started, taking the cigar out of his mouth and addresses the children, "you must learn to accept death as a part of life. I will not coddle to your every whim nor give you presents to make up for your loss of your parents." Charles walked past Allen taking an expensive looking vase out of his hands and placing it back on the elephant table. He motioned for the children to have a seat on the sofa and stood in front of them.

"We do not ask anything of you, Uncle," Alicia said as she sat down.

"Good." He puffed once more on the cigar and then placed it in the ashtray to his left and took a breath. Why must they come here? He thought to himself and then looked at their little faces, scared, alone and completely without anyone to care for them. A twinge of something from long ago crept into his heart for a moment and then vanished. He quickly turned away from them and began pacing across the room. "My brother..."he stopped and looked at them, "your father never took to responsibility..."

"My father was a," Alicia started, standing up.

"You will speak when I address you, Alicia Dupont," Charles advanced towards her. "You will sit and listen until that moment comes upon you." Alicia stood for a moment and then reluctantly sat back down.

"Your father never took to responsibility, however, he was my brother and you are his children. I shall take you both in as wards of the manor. You shall live here and attend the manor school." Allen looked quickly at Alicia she nodded silently to him. "Remember the manor has rules and you must follow them if you are to remain here. There are no expectations in this matter. I will not give special treatment to either of you due to your lineage, is that understood?" Charles looked at the children for a moment. They both nodded their heads in obedience.

"Yes, Uncle," Allen said with a voice that seemed to be older than his nine years.

"Also, you will not address me in a familiar manner," Charles said, going back to his cigar left burning in the ashtray.

"What shall we call you then?" Allen asked.

"As you would address any other benefactor of your state."

"Sir, would be correct, Allen," Alicia said, looking at her brother.

"Oh," Allen answered, looking back at Charles. He had put out the cigar and was uncomfortably pacing back and forth.

"Yes, that will be fine," he answered.

Alicia stood up and walked to Charles, causing him to stop pacing and look directly at her.

"Sir, I have a question," she started. He nodded his head for her to continue. "Why did you take so long to retrieve us? You are father’s only living relative. Mother had no relatives left. Did you know that we were moved from orphanage to orphanage in the past year and they were cold at night and we worked...."

"What is your question, Miss Dupont?" Charles said, ignoring her recount of the past year of their life.

"You just left us and I want to know why," she said a demanding tone in her voice.

Charles felt that familiar pain in his stomach again. It fluttered around his heart and up to his throat. He knew he should have retrieved them, he thought. But you don’t understand what truly happened, Alicia. Or maybe you do...he thought quickly as he saw something past by in her eyes. Yes, she did possess some truth, however it was hard at best to determine exactly what she knew. It was best to wait, he concluded.

"Arrangements had to be made," Charles said, as a matter of fact. Alicia shook her head and walked back to her seat.

It may not have seemed like much to young Alicia Dupont, but Charles did not answer questions asked of children, even if those children were of his own blood. The fact that he answered at all surprised Charles, who quickly hid his emotions as he saw the two children he had never met before, but longed to. He could see so much of his own family in them. He hadn’t thought about that before now. Alicia possessed his own eyes, black and dark. Allen had his brother’s stout chin and inherited his own father’s red hair. Even their personalities could be seen as they grew into young adults. Alicia was fourteen this past April 24^th he knew that. He knew when she was born all the way across the seas in America. He had sent his brother a crib made of the finest softwood he could find. He had made it himself, something he hadn’t done in many years. He never told his brother he had fashioned it or put the wood together, he never would have. Regret slipped into his mind as he looked at Alicia and imagined for a moment her as a sleeping infant, cradled in that crib made of his hands. He wanted to reach out to her, but held against his feelings. It was too late now. He knew that, also.

Allen’s curiosity as he looked from item to item around the room, reminded him of his brother. Curiosity was something always possessed by his younger sibling. Henry was never without a new discovery to tell or show in his youth. He often pushed him aside to tend to work even as they were growing up. But there was a time before the darkness fell over his own family, when they were both very young and life still had great mystery to hold. Hours of fishing by the lake, the water hole they swam in during the hot afternoons of July and August. Memories flooded him too quickly and he paced behind the couch trying to block them out. This was no time for such childhood thoughts.

He was the adult, they were the children and as he looked at them now, he thought how much he had missed. Birthdays, outings, their first steps in the world, their first discoveries. So much had he missed, so much his brother took away when he went to America, a land of freedom, a place where Henry claimed he would have a new life away from England, away from the pain of a father’s untimely and untruthful death. Charles knew the truth of why Henry went to America he always had, to get away from him. After he had left, the only correspondence he would receive was in the form of asking for money, usually to fund some new scheme of Henry’s that he had claimed this time would make real money. They never did of course, Charles knew they wouldn’t, but he still gave him the money. If not for Henry scheme’s, then for the children, he had reasoned. He had done what he could, he thought, didn’t he? Every summer as the leaves turned to green and the warm breezes came upon the manor, he sent for Henry and his family. He offered them a retreat for the children, a vacation and perhaps, he had often thought, he could persuade them to stay there and maybe they could be a family. Charles had not even met Henry’s wife. He knew her name was Elizabeth, but only a faded wedding picture did he have to give any indication the children had a mother at all.

Charles held back the memories again and regained his composure as a knock was heard at the door.

"Enter," he said, his voice back to the usual tones the entire manor was accustomed to.

The woman from the doorway earlier stepped inside. Allen immediately smiled she smiled back at him.

"Yes," Charles said, turning to her completely.

"Excuse my interruption, Mr. Dupont. I have asked the cook to prepare a light supper for the children. They must be hungry from their travels," Allen licked his lips, he was starving. Alicia smiled for the first time towards the woman. She smiled back. Charles felt a sense of almost jealousy run through him. Why did she feel so comfortable with these children, she hadn’t met them until tonight, just as himself. It was so frustrating.

"And who authorized you to speak with the cook?" He said, harshly. She immediately placed her head slightly down.

"I am sorry, Mr. Dupont. I was simply thinking of the children’s best interests." She looked back up at him. He was staring at her for a long moment. "They cannot go without food, Mr. Dupont. You must agree to that." The long stare ended and he turned away.

"Yes. I suppose that would be in their best interest." He turned back to the children.

"I am starving," Allen blurted out and was given a harsh look from his sister.

"That is not polite," Alicia said. Charles and the woman exchanged a quick look.

"Sorry, but I am hungry, Alicia," he said, quieter to her.

"Thank you, Ma’am, we are both very hungry from our travels," Alicia said, politely to the woman. She nodded and smiled at her.

Charles took over the center of the room as the woman started to turn to leave. "This is Miss Sarah Rivermore, one of the newest teachers at the school and the most outspoken of her kind," he said, almost a hint of admiration in his voice about her outspoken qualities. Sarah held back a smile and looked over at the children.

"Thank you, Mr. Dupont. I teach Literature," Sarah said. Charles looked over at her as the children smiled once more at her. She amazed him at times, a well placed smile and word would undoubtedly make any one from child to adult bend to her will. Didn’t he?

"Forgive me, sir, again for my intrusion. I shall return to my room," she said and turned back to the door.

"Would you be disrespectful again, Miss Rivermore?" Charles said, quickly. A little too quickly as she turned immediately to him. He slowed his next speech down considerably. "Come inside then, you may be of assistance in this matter."

"Me, sir," she said, innocently. Her green eyes flashed toward him.

Charles loved to look at her sometimes. Just one year ago, he had met this fascinating teacher who claimed she had done nothing but be a nursemaid and teacher to five children of a wealthy family in London for the past ten years. He knew she was only thirty-one this past summer and that she had only one living brother. Her parents and siblings died in one way or other over the past twenty years of her life. She possessed an excellent knowledge of literature and school teaching. However, even more striking to Charles were her features. Soft and inviting with beauty that was held not only on her face, with rosy cheeks, emerald eyes and soft red hair pinned up in a bun on the top of her head, but inside her as well. She didn’t wear her hair as the other teachers did. It was loose and seemed to blow around in the winds from the gardens when she would often take her walks after supper.

Charles would even admit, to himself, he knew far too much about this red-haired beautiful teacher and yet, if asked, he felt like he didn’t know her at all. There was so much he didn’t understand about her ways and her undying patience with the children. She never seemed to find anything tragic about her life, even her parent’s death and subsequent siblings’ deaths did not affect her in the manner he thought they should. She delighted in the warmth of the sun and even more so in her students learning. She was firm in her classes and expected far more of her students than other teachers had, but she always held a smile in her. And never was there a moment that she was too busy for a student who had a question. She was amazing, he thought, completely amazing. Charles never liked to admit any feelings, feelings led to pain, and he knew that too well in his forty-three years on this earth. It was always best to remain at a distance. He lived day by day with the complete knowledge he was helping everyone, including himself in the process. Of course, he never bothered to ask others of his thoughts. And certainly not Miss Sarah Rivermore, for she most definitely would have a very different opinion on feelings.

"Sir?" She questioned, after a moment of long, uncomfortable silence. The children shifted in their seats a bit.

"Come in and sit down, Miss Rivermore..." he paused, she did not move, "please," he added. She smiled and sat in-between the children who had pushed aside to make her a seat.

"Thank you," she replied as she sat down. He moved back to the center of the room and looked at the three of them on the couch.

"Tell me about yourselves, children. Your lives until now," he said, his tone turned to more conversational and it didn’t hold the harshness of his earlier words. "What teachings have you accomplished in the Americas?"

"We can both read and write, sir," Alicia said, politely.

"I know the times table up to ten," Allen chimed in looking towards Sarah. She smiled at him.

"That is very good, young Mr. Dupont," she said, formality was in her words, but a kindness with in her tone. Allen smiled back with pride.

"Allen has always been good with numbers, sir. Father often said he took after you." Alicia replied, making Charles look at her. So, Henry had mentioned him before, which made him feel more comfortable for the moment. At least he wasn’t a complete stranger. He fought back an urge to ask about his brother and what else he had told his children about their uncle.

"What about your knowledge..." Sarah started, breaking the silence again.

"Yes, thank you, Miss Rivermore," Charles said, cutting her words off, she smiled politely towards him. "What of your knowledge of Great Britain history or do they not teach that in the Americas?" There was a sarcastic tone to his voice that only Sarah picked up on in that moment. She threw him a quick glance he focused on the children and did not look in her direction.

"I know all about Richard the Lionhearted, Uncle, I mean sir." Allen said, quickly correcting himself and shifting in his seat. "He was a great warrior," he stood up now and started imaginary sword fighting. Charles looked at him with disapproving eyes and he sat back down, quickly.

"Yes, well. That is a comfort," Charles replied.

"Have you been to America?" Alicia asked, quickly. Charles was taken off guard. Did she know?

"Briefly. On business," he answered just as quickly back.

"Where?" She said. This time Charles did not answer as quickly. He paused for a moment.

"I am not in the matter of discussing business matters with children." Charles walked a step away from the group back to his desk on the far right. He stood with his back to them.

"It must have been exciting in the Americas," Sarah said, causing Charles to turn back around and look at her. She did not look back. He was trying to end the conversation about America and here she was starting it all back up again. How dare she?

"Oh, yes," Allen said. "America is very exciting."

His eyes lit up to show his excitement at seeing it.

"Sir, why did you not come to Mother and Father’s funeral?" Alicia said, breaking Charles stare on Sarah for a moment. He turned his eyes toward hers.

Charles moved two steps towards the group.

"Miss Rivermore, would you be so kind as to show the children their rooms." Sarah stood up, the children followed. Charles went behind the desk looking at some papers. "I have much work to do."

"Of course, Mr. Dupont," Sarah said and passed by his desk with the children in tow.

"Do give them their list of chores in the morning and their classes. You can pair them up with other children to help them find their way about the school." He said and turned back to his papers.

"Yes, good evening, Mr. Dupont," Sarah said, pleasantly and turned to the door.

"Miss Rivermore," he said, standing up and causing all of them to stop where they were. He walked to Sarah, keeping a safe distance, but quietly said to her, "I wish to speak with you in the morning before classes."

"Of course, Mr. Dupont. Good evening." She ushered the children out of the library as he watched after them and sat back down at his desk, trying not to think about the children, his brother, or Miss Rivermore. None of his willpower worked and he spent another restless night, as they all seemed to be.

"Are you in trouble, Miss Rivermore?" Allen asked with trepidation.

"Of course not. What a foolish notion," Sarah said, laughing a bit.

"Our Uncle is very cross," Allen commented. Sarah smiled at him.

"He is just like that character I read in a book once," Alicia replied looking at Allen. He shook his head at her.

"You will find, Miss Rivermore, that Alicia loves reading books. My father always said she should get her nose out of books and pay attention to life," Allen chimed in with as they were walking down a hallway with pictures of children playing in a field, children outside on a rolling hill and many more. There were oil paintings and Alicia paused for a moment on one of them.

"That looks just like me," she said out loud, not meaning to.

Sarah and Allen came back to where she was and looked up at the painting of a small girl sitting on a grassy hill reading a book as the sun streamed down behind her. Her hair was the same shade as Alicia’s and her eyes were black just like Alicia’s. Even her face did have the same complexion and structure as her.

"Your Uncle is quite good at commissioning beautiful paintings for the manor," Sarah said, as she ushered the children to continue walking. "He once told me that these were paintings of past children who lived at the manor." Sarah stopped at the kitchen door. "Mr. Dupont hasn’t commissioned a painting to be made in seven years. Perhaps, you should show him that picture of the young girl, Miss Dupont, he may like your comment."

"He is entirely too anger to like anything," Alicia said, dismissing the thought of talking to him at all.

"I do love to read as well. I know you will find buried treasure here, Miss Dupont," Sarah said, with a hint of mischief in her eyes and a smile across her lovely face. Alicia couldn’t help but smile back at her.

"Buried treasure?" Allen questioned. "Like on pirate ships?"

"You will find that Allen only takes to reading adventure novels, Miss Rivermore." Alicia said as she sat down and Sarah placed two plates next to each of them. Allen sat down quickly and dove into his food with such vigor, Sarah felt he might choke.

"Slow down, young Mr. Dupont, you could get a stomach ache if you eat that fast," Sarah said, looking at him. He immediately obeyed and slowed down his progress on the delicious food.

"I should explain," Sarah said as she sat down at the head of the small wooden table in the kitchen. "Buried treasure is what my father used to call a good book. The harder the path to find it, the more enjoyable it will be." The children looked at her as if she had bestowed a treasure upon them. There was a serene moment where no one spoke. Then Sarah laughed a bit. "He was always saying things like that."

"I like your father," Allen said, quickly and went back to his process of eating everything off the plate.

"I did, too," Sarah added.

"Do you miss him?" Alicia asked. Sarah looked over at her for a moment and carefully thought about her answer.

"Yes, I do, but he is in Heaven with the Father now and I am content to be here with you," she said, smiling. Alicia smiled back.

"That’s where our father and mother went to," Allen said. Alicia looked over at him, quickly and Sarah thought she saw something pass by her eyes, but she wasn’t certain as to what.

"Yes, they are, Allen," Sarah said.

"I wish I was on a pirate ship traveling the open seas just like Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island," Allen said, quickly, picking up his piece of bread and using it as a sword. Sarah smiled and gently placed the bread back on his plate.

"That would be nice, but even Jim Hawkins knew that a piece of bread was food to eat, not to play with," Sarah replied.

"You read Treasure Island?" Allen asked in amazement.

"Yes, I did. You sound surprised, young Mr. Dupont."

"Well, you’re a girl," Allen said, shoving a piece of bread too large for his mouth.

"Girls can read pirate stories," Sarah replied. "I enjoy pirate stories."

"You are strange, Miss Rivermore," Alicia said. Sarah turned to her. "But I like you."

"Me, too, you’re nice." Allen added as he was trying to eat the piece of bread and making quite a job out of it.

"Thank you both, however, we must learn to eat with our mouths closed, young Mr. Dupont," Sarah said, looking towards Allen with a look of disappointment. Shyly he took the piece of bread from his mouth and broke it before placing it back in his mouth. Sarah nodded and smiled at him. He smiled back with his mouth closed.

"I am certain that you will find buried treasure here," Sarah said. "Your uncle has a vast library and before you know it you will be lost in one of the stories."

"He didn’t even want to know how old we were?" Alicia replied as she pushed her plate away from her. She had barely eaten the meat and hadn’t touched the potatoes or the bread. Sarah leaned over and gently placed the plate in front of her.

"You have much to do tomorrow and you will need your strength, Miss Dupont. Please do try to eat something. It isn’t American food, but we can make quite a good meal as well." Sarah looked at her for a moment. Alicia started eating again. Sarah smiled. "And do not fret about your Uncle, children. He will discover his own buried treasure one day, believe me." She turned to Allen. "All good adventurers find it with the right treasure map." She smiled.

"Uncle would never be on an adventure. He is too cross to be a hero," Allen stated, defeated.

"Oh, you can never tell anything about a person by just looking at him, young Mr. Dupont. I assure you there is no person who cannot receive the state of a hero if the need arose," Sarah concluded and picked up the completely empty plate of Allen’s and the partially clear plate of Alicia’s. She placed them on the countertop and waited for the children to stand up. "Come, it is getting late."

"Why does Uncle have this Manor filled with children when he doesn’t like them?" Alicia asked with intelligence beyond her fourteen years. Sarah began walking, the children followed.

"What rumors have you been listening to, already, Miss Dupont?" Sarah said, an indignant tone indicating she did not like rumors.

"My father always said Uncle was too busy to have any children of his own, so he bought others," Alicia stated simply. Sarah stopped walking and turned to both of them.

"I am certain I do not know why your father would say such a thing. I can only comment on what I know from being here in the manor. Mr. Dupont most certainly did not buy any of these children. They are some that have been orphaned and Mr. Dupont took them into the manor as a matter of generosity to their state. Most children who board here and attend school have parents of their own whom eventually will be returned to their parents as they see fit. That is all. As to not having children of his own, you must go to your Uncle with that question. It is not my affair." Sarah finished and turned walking back down the hallway.

"Good job, Alicia, now you’ve made her angry," Allen said, hitting Alicia on the arm. Alicia walked ahead, ignoring his comment.

Charles walked out of the manor in the early morning hours. The sun was still rising over the hills, the dew was still fresh, tiny droplets covered grass and bushes all around the manor’s expansive grounds. This was Charles’s favorite time of the day, what he used to call the Morning Dew. Since the first day at the manor, nine years ago, he would often walk the grounds in the early morning hours. He had ceased with this ritual when Emily died, too much time for thinking was not good after she passed. Until a few months ago, it had forgotten how much he enjoyed it. The calmness of the world, quiet and powerful surrounded him, enveloped his senses with the sweetness of plants and flowers that sprung up from the earth. Now, when he took this serene walk to the gardens he thought about only his destination and not his journey in the past eight years. He felt out here in the stillness of the morning, the promise of a new day arriving, he could be unbridled from his grief and mourning. For a moment, perhaps a little longer, he could imagine life as something to cherish, to hold onto and when he took a moment more he could imagine what it was like to dream again. In the morning dew, he could hold the world in the palm of his hand and to truly dream of something that was yet to be.

"Good morning, Mr. Dupont," Sarah’s soft voice greeted him at the garden gate as the sun made its long ascend into the blue sky.

Charles looked over at her, dressed in her school attire. A long gray skirt that fit her figure snugly, still showing her curves underneath. A white blouse was underneath a gray bodice jacket that cut at the waist and pleated around her meeting the skirt. She covered her jacket with a unique homemade shawl, that if his memories served she made this past winter in the library next to the hearth. He remembered commented on the garment’s colors then. A soft purple with a green outline on the bottom. It wasn’t often he made a comment about ladies’ garments at all, but the colors had a vivid tone to them and it caused him to take notice. This morning, looking at her and that shawl he took notice again.

Sarah seemed to always belong here, in the garden, in the early morning dew, he thought. Sarah knew how important the garden was to him. He had told her once that he had made the garden for his wife, but she never enjoyed in its splendor, so he took to walking in it instead. He was very pleased that she had asked permission to walk in the gardens after supper in the manor. He gave her the permission and for several months almost half a year, he watched her take walks in the twilight evenings. It gave him a sense of calm to the day. All the thoughts, the painful memories, the manor’s endless crusade of education, manners and children slowed down for those moments to Charles. Without her knowledge, she provided a retreat he never thought he would feel again. It took him several more months until this past Spring to ask her to accompany him in his morning walk. Charles hadn’t believed she could be more beautiful than in those twilight moments here, but the first morning he had met her at this gate, he was so taken with her. He recalled at the time that she had to brush past the awkward moment for both of them and take the lead for the first time since Charles could remember.

"Good morning, Miss Rivermore," he said, politely, upholding the standards of English pleasantries toward females whom were not his wife.

"The Popular has spouted last night," Sarah said and opened the gate for him to walk through. She pointed in the direction of the small flowering plant towards the circular stone bench nestled around a large Mulberry tree to her right.

"So it has," Charles commented. He smiled quickly and offered his arm to her. She took it and placed her other hand on top of his arm as they walked onto the garden path. This was their own ritual for the past few months now and they both seemed contented with it.

"The air is warmer already and it is just the beginnings of June," Sarah commented as they walked past the glorious array of pinks, purples and yellows of various flowers from all over England. Some had been familiar to Sarah, he recalled, while others she questioned the name of. Some flowers, like the blue leaf plants located in the center of the Popular he did not have a name for and more surprising did not know where they had come from. Other plants were even more guarded secrets he wasn’t ready to tell Sarah about. The time may come, he often thought, but it was pleased with their walks more than the plants. They seemed to dull in comparison to her light-hearted conversations on these morning.

"That reminds me, Miss Rivermore," he said, his tone indicating business matters. She had become accustomed rather quickly to his business and social voice, if there was a difference, sometimes Sarah even had to guess. "Juniper was up early this morning, studying for several tests. I passed her on the first floor dormitory’s study room earlier."

"Yes, I fear she cannot sleep these days," Sarah said, softly. Juniper was a beautiful, loving, intelligent young girl in Sarah’s eyes, but she hid more secrets than Charles did. That fact alone made Sarah uncomfortable as to June’s state of heart.

"June is a good student, I know, but she must follow the rules as all do. Perhaps you should speak with her about using the study room on her floor," Charles said and then quickly added, "if you wish. I realize it is not your responsibility to adhere to the girl’s needs, Miss Rivermore, outside of classes."

"Nonsense, I will speak with June, however she will not be pleased that she has broken a rule," Sarah said. "I trust you know her resolution of rules."

"Yes," he replied, indicating he had been informed of length by June on her feelings about rules. "She has changed much over these years." The statement was a bit quieter, but it caught Sarah’s attention.

"She is becoming a young woman, Mr. Dupont, girls often change at these times," Sarah said, smiling.

"Yes," Charles said, distantly. He was thinking about the June he used to spend afternoons with in the library.

She was always a spirited, young girl with the intelligence of a far older, far mature person than her true age ever was. He was thinking of the June who would recount fairytales of days past and who would read books for hours. He was thinking of a small little girl who gave hugs and warmth as one would give food. She was such a sweet, sensitive loving child, he remembered. The days she would enter into the library with a new bouquet of colorful flowers she had found in the garden earlier that day. Those moments, especially during the year where Emily was kept in her room were the only thing that made him move to the next day. He relied on June to brighten up a day, an hour, a moment with her energy and life. Now, she studies all day and night, he can’t remember the last time he has seen her outside, much less with flowers. He thought by moving her to the upstairs dormitory it would provide a much-needed change for her to explore new things and find a new way to look at life. That change didn’t provide anything but a further regression into her studies. Even Sarah’s arrival, although met with a glimmer of hope that June would embrace something new, it was in study and study only that she did so. It saddened Charles when he thought about her.

He knew also that June had knowledge of Emily’s situation more than he liked to admit even in these calmer moments. She was the one who spent the most time with Emily and she was one, Charles feared, had been affected by the circumstances he did not speak of. There were moments, more so now, that he would pass June in the hallway or see at supper and want to reach out and hug his little girl. Hug her so tight that the pain would melt away for one moment, just one moment, not matter how ridiculous and absurd it all sounded, would change their world and bring the sun back to her eyes.

"I will speak with her after class today," Miss Rivermore stated, bringing Charles back to the garden and Sarah.

"Thank you," he replied, gently. There was a long, comfortable silence that washed over them as the sun peeked through the trees in the garden and landed on a beautiful patch of Lavender in front of them. Sarah reached down and picked a few pieces, smiling up at Charles as he took the hand he offered to help her up.

"Lavender is the daintiest flower I have ever seen," she commented. "It seems to live quietly among the others for months and then just when you forget it is there, it reaches up to the sun with a soft purple that encompasses your very senses." She smiled and smelled some of the lovely scent the flower possessed.

Charles looked down a bit at her as she closed her eyes and in his mind he completely agreed with her assessment of the flower.

"I left the chores for your niece and nephew this morning as ordered," she said, changing the subject from flowers to business again. He straightened up and they continued walking.

"Good," he answered. They reached the center of the garden and he placed his jacket he had slipped off onto the stone bench still covered a bit with dew that hadn’t melted away under the sun’s rays as of yet. She smiled and sat down. He put his leg up on the bench and looked down at her. It was a common move for them to make since their retreats out here to the garden.

"I believe Miss Dupont will have an excellent study in literature. I was informed yesterday that reading is something she does all the time," Sarah started. Charles nodded. "Young Mr. Dupont seems to have a wonderful imagination and most likely will use it instead of studying, however if he can understand how much more knowledge he will gain from his studies to better use in his imagination, it may work out just fine. His real talent is in numbers as Miss Dupont offered. He may be a good student in math, providing he can learn to accept Miss Smythe’s method of teaching."

"Yes, provided he can," Charles agreed. "It is a difficult path those children has been lead on." The statement came out without thought and Charles put down his foot quickly, walking a few steps away. He didn’t want to let her see how much he felt for those children.

Sarah looked over at him and smiled to herself.

"The sun is in the sky, Mr. Dupont," she said, standing up and handing him his jacket that she brushed off. He turned to her and took the jacket, nodding at her.

"I have much to do today, as do you, Miss Rivermore," he said, politely and they walked silently back to the garden’s gate. He opened it for her to walk through, she did, he followed.

"Would you like to know about their progress today? I could stop by the library after I speak with June this afternoon, if you will permit." She said the statement with an air of confidence that he would permit, but with respect that it was to be his decision.

"Whose progress, Miss Rivermore?" Charles asked as they walked back to the manor door. Sarah stopped and looked at him.

"Your niece and nephew’s, Mr. Dupont," Sarah was not at all pleased, he could tell. It was not that he did not want to know about their progress, it was just that for a moment he was lost in Sarah’s gentle voice and sweet perfume he could always smell on her. He hadn’t been aware of whom she was speaking. He looked away briefly as not to let her know that was the reason for his confusion. He then decided it would be best if he let her speak with him later that afternoon. After all, he thought, it served many purposes. One to hear of Alicia and Allen’s progress in school, a fact he should be aware of and to see Sarah again before supper. A familiar, yet unfamiliar feeling ran through him as he thought about wanting to see her again. It made him feel good, good enough that when Sarah smiled and said good day to him at the manor door, still clutching those Lavender flowers in her hand, he was inclined to smile back, which he did. However, as he stepped into the manor door and closed it behind him, the feeling sank into a darkness that almost choked him. He looked straight ahead at a portrait on the far wall. A portrait he had commissioned the first week they arrived at the manor, Emily’s eyes bore into him as he stood there. No longer were they soft and inviting to him, maybe they never were, he thought. Another thought passed him, but he ignored it and quickly retreated to the library and away from those ever-watchful blue eyes. One thing he did resign himself to completely as he stepped inside the confines of the library. He despised the color of twilight blue. Despised it with more fire than hell and he would never change his mind on that. Never...

"Now, class, for your assignment to be completed over the upcoming summer holiday," Miss Rivermore said as her class of twenty-three pupils looked up at her. Some like the blond-haired June in the front row with anticipation of a long project to kept herself busy during those annoying summer months, others with fear it would do just that and no time would be left for water-holes, fishing, playing and the like.

"Miss Rivermore," a voice said near the back of the room. Sarah knew that voice, it belonged to a very tall, very confident young boy who auspiciously went by Robert Raymond the Second. He was a boarder at the school since the beginning or so his story went. He had brown tousled hair on top a maturing young man’s handsome face with big brown eyes that seemed to get anything he wanted. Perhaps, almost anything, but Sarah knew Robert Raymond, she had met a dozen of them before and worked for a man who had grown into an adult version of one back in London. She was not taken in by the charms and wily of this fourteen-year-old who would be fifteen, as he said, in two weeks.

"Yes, Mr. Raymond," Sarah replied, acknowledging his hand and his voice.

Robert stood up for the entire class to see him. It wasn’t a required move in Miss Rivermore’s classes although she suspected Robert just wanted a chance for a moment where it was all about him. It took those chances as often as he could. The classroom of twelve girls ranging from ten to fifteen and ten boys the same age turned to Robert. He smiled, one of his cocky, arrogant smiles, Miss Rivermore despised.

"My parents will be arriving for my birthday in two weeks and I will be returning with them for an African Safari over the summer," he started. Sarah knew this would be one of his stories, she leaned back on her heel and relaxed. "Since I will learning about African animals and culture, I feel I do not need the extra assignment and I do not believe my parents will want me to be studied when I can see the world by stepping outside our tent in the African backwoods." He finished threw another one of those smiles towards the girl in front of him, who just happened to be Alicia Dupont. She did not smile back, but turned around in her chair. Robert shrugged his shoulder and caught the eye of another girl in front of Alicia, her name was Janie Williamson, she was thirteen. He smiled and she blushed, letting out a little laugh. His eyes went back to Sarah for a moment. His look told Sarah a silent war had been won and he sat down contented.

"Well, that is fascinating, Mr. Raymond," Sarah walked a few steps towards him. "However, I believe your parents will be very pleased to see you keeping up on your studies, since you will be unable to attend the summer session of my class and make up for your low test scores this year."

He stood up again and coyly lowered his eyes, "Miss Rivermore," he started his protest, but Sarah would hear nothing of it.

"Low scores which unfortunately resulted in a failed grade and therefore when you return in the fall I will expect to see you again with the new students who have moved ahead. Thank you, Mr. Raymond," she said, leaving her statement as a conclusion to the conversation. Slick and cunning as Robert was, he knew when he had lost. He sat down.

"Now, for the rest of you, who will not have the pleasure of going on an African Safari," Sarah said. There was a soft laughter heard in the class that infuriated Robert. "You will all have the pleasure instead of finding a buried treasure." She stopped as the class started to murmur quietly, but the level rose. Even Robert was looking around.

"Listen, class," Sarah said, quieting them down in a simple, but direct manner. They turned back to her, this time their faces did hold anticipation, all of them expect blonde-haired June. Her hopes seemed completely dimmed. Sarah glanced over at her and smiled. She didn’t look up from her desk at Sarah. "It is quite simple," Sarah began again. "Buried treasure can be found in only one place...on a pirate ship." She said, softly building the anticipation. "And what is it you need to find buried treasure?" She asked the class. Many hands went up including June’s. Her hand rose before Sarah had finished the question. A motion she made often in many of her classes. Sarah looked about the room and called on a ten year old girl named Ellie Partridge. A girl who had thick rimmed glasses and walked with a slight limp from a bout of small pox when she was younger.

"Go ahead, Miss Partridge," Sarah said. Ellie smiled. She wasn’t what anyone would consider a pretty girl, but she did have a youthful excitement that Sarah felt would blossom one day into a very fine teacher or even Head Mistress, if she worked hard.

"A treasure map, Miss Rivermore," she answered, proud and clear. Sarah smiled.

"That is correct. So, we need to find the treasure map," Sarah went to her chalkboard at the back of the room and began making markings with columns on it.

"Is it Math class, now," Robert laughed from the back of the room. Sarah turned to him.

"Thank you for volunteering, Mr. Raymond, do come up, please," she said and heard Robert sigh and walk to the front of the class as a few snickers were heard from the boys.

"Mr. Raymond will be given the first clue on the treasure map," Sarah announced. The children sat up in their seats even June was intrigued. "If Mr. Raymond solves the clue, the treasure map will begin. Everyone ready." The class nodded their heads and stared at Robert. Suddenly, he felt uncomfortable and wished his teacher, pretty as she may be, dead at that very moment.

The class listened intently for the next hour as they scrambled one by one to answer questions about books, authors and everything else they could remember from Miss Rivermore’s class the entire school year. Unknown to the children this was Miss Rivermore’s final test and the children did very well. Only four did not pass the class and surprisingly one of them wasn’t Robert Raymond. Sarah was impressed with his knowledge and silently noted to herself, verbal tests would be much better for him. She would test that knowledge out in the next school year. June soared above and beyond in the test and for a moment in the classroom, she was being cheered on to keep answering the questions. June smiled and felt extremely proud of herself as she found two clues for the treasure map. Every student was thinking so hard that when the class ended and the treasure map was completed, even when they found it only lead them to the Manor library at the end, the twenty-three children didn’t seem to care. They were very proud of their accomplishments and felt they had worked so hard on finding a map to the buried treasure they didn’t even consider they had to read a book. The books in the library were now something more than just school learning they were something to seek out and grab a piece of before everyone else found the best buried treasure of all.

When classes dismissed for the day, they was an air of excitement in the manor. Alicia and Allen had only been in the manor walls for two weeks, but they felt it as they ran towards the library, ahead of the other children. It was the last day of classes at the school, but the children did not seem interested in their summer holiday as much as they were in getting to the library. The excitement bounded through the hallways and charged down the stairs from the manor’s second floor entrance to the school. Children could be heard all around discussing who had discovered the last clue in the game, who knew the most questions and how much Robert Raymond would be missing in not finding a buried treasure of his own.

The excitement was building as they landed at the bottom of the stairs, ran past the pictures of past manor children on the walls, rounded a corner to where a large door was the only thing that stood between them and a very special treasure of their own. However when they reached that door with Alicia and Allen leading them, all the children started dead in their tracks. They remembered something else that was behind that door and that something, or rather someone, was a bigger obstacle now that a band of pirates making them all walk the plank. Charles Dupont was not something the children had considered before this moment, not even Alicia or Allen had thought about it. They all froze like the blue-highlighted statues that adorned the manor’s grounds.

"You go inside, Alicia," Ellie Partridge said, pushing her glasses up onto her face that was entirely too small for them. "He won’t yell at you." This statement seemed to agree with the other children as well. They all nodded at her.

"Why? He doesn’t like me at all." Alicia said, taking a step back. "You go, Ellie, you’ve been here longer."

"I am not an adventurer, Alicia, you are. I was not meant to fight Kings," she said, very seriously considering her use of fairytale metaphors.

"Allen, you and I will go," Alicia finally said, resigning herself to get all of this over with. It was ridiculous, they had to go into the library, Miss Rivermore said so. She took Allen’s hand and straightened herself, building her own resolve. Ellie and the others seemed impressed with her bravery and stood looking at her now.

"Let us know when he’s gone," Ellie said, quietly.

"If we are to go in first, then we should find our buried treasure first, agreed?" Alicia asked looking at the children. They all nodded.

"We will come back later," Ellie replied. Alicia nodded and opened the door.

"What is it?!" Charles loud voice was heard, the children screamed and ran away from the door. It was only Robert Raymond who remained quietly hidden in the shadows of the manor’s walls. He smiled.

"We have come to retrieve our buried treasure as told by Miss Rivermore," Alicia said in a very business manner. Charles looked up from his own book he had been reading. He closed it, placed it on the table next to the chair and put some papers over it, to cover it as he stood up.

"Buried treasure?" He questioned, walking a step towards the children.

"Yes, we are to find our own buried treasure and report our findings back to Miss Rivermore after summer holiday," Allen said, with a touch more confidence, standing behind his sister.

"What is that woman up to now?" Charles stated more to himself than the children.

"We made a treasure map in class and had to discover clues by answering a lot of questions about books. The treasure map lead to the library, where each of us could pick out a book of our own, read it and report back on our treasure to Miss Rivermore," Alicia explained. "It is a simple exercise, sir." She completed than ignored him and moved towards the first shelf of books in front of her.

"By the way," Alicia added, "buried treasure is the name that Miss Rivermore calls books."

"The harder the path to find it, she said," Allen started, "the more enjoyable it will be." He finished and turned away from his Uncle quickly. Charles let a smile escaped his lips unknown to him.

"Buried treasure," he said, quieter, but the children were listening intently. "Emily used to love books, she would have loved to hear that." Alicia and Allen were staring at him as he looked back to them. He turned away and walked towards the door, a bit unsure of what they saw or heard.

"I will leave you both to your search," he said, in his usual tone.

"Sir," Alicia asked as Charles turned to face her, "who is Emily?"

"You will not mention her name again, do you understand, girl?!" Charles advanced upon Alicia quickly. "I will not hear of it, not in this house!" He turned on his heel and stormed out the door, slamming it behind him.

Allen sighed and sat down on the sofa. "Wonderful, he is angry again," he said and then laughed. "Uncle Charles is so angry that...." Alicia cut him off.

"Do not say such things, it is not polite," Alicia went back to looking through the endless maze of books and titles. "Are you going to look, Allen?" She asked after a moment.

"I am relaxing," he said leaning back on the sofa, closing his eyes.

"How ya doing, matie?" A creepy pirate’s voice was heard over Allen’s closed eyes. He jumped up and stumbled back, falling on the floor. Robert Raymond laughed at Allen. "I would say, good boy, I surprised you."

"That wasn’t funny," Alicia said, chastising him as she helped up Allen off the floor.

"That was a good pirate voice," Allen said. He was over the initial fear of Robert’s entrance and focused on what most nine-year old boys did...pirates.

"Why thank you, Allen Dupont," he said. "Mi grandfather was a pirate king, you know," He used the pirate voice again and completed a grand flourish for both of them.

"He was not," Alicia said, walking back to the books.

"Are you calling me a liar, Alicia Dupont," Robert said, moving swiftly past Allen and walking up to Alicia. "Now, you weren’t want to be doing that, little girl. I just might make ya walk the plank," he accented the pirate’s tone and looked straight at Alicia as he leaned his back against the bookshelf. His eyebrows went up twice in a rapid motion, and then he smiled at her. Alicia felt herself almost blush under his gaze, but she picked up a book and pushed it into his stomach.

"Here, why don’t you read something about being a pirate. It might help that accent," she walked past him quickly. He laughed and looked at the book in his hand.

"Ali-Baba and his band of Forty Thieves," he read out loud. He laughed again and placed the book back on the shelf. "I do not think I would want to read a book about a pirate called Ali-Baba, that’s a stupid name." He walked to where Alicia stood looking at a new bookshelf. "Hey, Alicia, did you find that buried treasure yet?" He asked a reasonable question, but his eyes were flashing something in them, Alicia wanted to get away from. It made her feel uncomfortable suddenly around him, she moved a few books down from him, and he smiled.

"So, Allen what to hear about the night a woman was killed here in the manor," he said, cheerfully and strode towards Allen. Allen’s eyes and ears followed where Robert walked. With one fluid motion, Robert flipped himself over the back of the sofa and put up his feet on it and his hands behind his head. "It’s a great story."

"Robert Raymond, you do not know about any such thing," June said, entering the library door with her sister, little Rose in tow. Robert looked towards her and quickly stood up, smiling at her.

"Sure I do, Junie, know all about it," he walked to her, still smiling. "So do you," he said, leaning down to her ear, softly speaking. June shook her head and walked a step away.

"He is full of stories, Alicia, do not listen to him at all. None of them are true," June walked to a shelf of books and indicated that Rose should look at the ones on the bottom while she started a search where she stood.

Rose carried long longs of blond hair that bounced all over her, unlike her older sister’s wavy hair. She had the same blue eyes as June and a small round face that was just like a china doll standing in a window. Rose nodded and began her search, even though many of the books had writing on them she could only read some of. Ever since, June could remember Rose was not very good at reading. Many of her teachers would just give her bad grades, but June knew the truth and she tried to help her sister many times. Even Mr. Dupont before the tragedy of Emily had begun to teach her reading right here in this very library, but that all ended a few years ago and now, poor Rose was worse than before. It was Miss Rivermore who was enlisted to come to her little sister’s aid. She agreed to tutor Rose on her reading every day following classes. That made Rose very happy, she loved Miss Rivermore and June was pleased with her progress so far.

"Fine, if you do not want to know about Emily, I will just leave," Robert said from behind the girls. All of them turned their heads to look at him. June stepped forward first.

"Robert Raymond, you know that is forbidden," June chastised him. Robert smiled and hit her lightly with his finger on her nose.

"Only in your rulebook, Junie," he said, passing her. June looked at him, disgusted.

"If Mr. Dupont heard you," June started. Robert moved to Alicia at the bookshelf and leaned against it looking at her as he spoke.

"Then I guess we should make certain he does not hear," Robert smiled, mischievously toward Alicia. She looked at her for a moment, then felt her cheeks become hot again and turned away from his stare.

"Robert you stop this now. You know it is all lies," June said, her voice almost in a panic. She did not want to talk about Emily. Not now, not ever, she was screaming in her head.

"I have not said anything yet, Junie, calm down," he said and caused June to cross her arms in anger. She hated how he knew what she was feeling.

"I want to hear about Emily," Alicia said, quietly. Robert smiled and moved in closer to her.

"Well, there we go, I thought you might be interested, Alicia," he said, softly. Alicia thought he would see her red cheeks if she did not move away, but she was frozen in place. To her relief, Robert smiled and crossed back to the sofa jumping up on the back on it, placing his feet, shoes and all on the seat.

"Oh, honestly, Robert, I will not listen to you tell it," June said and sat on the sofa to the side of him, below, properly on the seat. "Emily Moore Dupont was your Uncle’s wife," June started, but stopped for a moment to pull Robert’s feet down, so he too was seated properly. She thought there was no reason for him to muddy the sofa with his shoes. It just was not the correct behavior. He smiled at her, but he remained where she had placed him.

"Uncle’s wife?" Allen said, moving towards June. A circle had formed around the sofa. Allen standing behind it, Alicia and Rose in front.

"Yes, wife, she was beautiful," Robert said, indicating it wasn’t the first time he had thought of it. June looked over at him, disapprovingly. "What, Junie? You thought so."

"That is different. I was..." she seemed flustered for a moment, but quickly found her composure and sat up straight. "She was very beautiful. Her portrait hangs in the first floor hallway out there."

"The woman with the parasol?" Alicia questioned. A small tug of Alicia shirt caused her to look down at little Rose.

"I liked Emily," she said, smiling. "She liked blue. I like blue." Alicia smiled at her.

"Yes, Rose," June acknowledged and continued. "She and Mr. Dupont were married for two years and then she fell off the balcony of the third floor dressing room and died." June finished the story.

"That’s it?" Robert said, looking at her. "You are a terrible storyteller, Junie." He shook his head and looked at Alicia. "What Junie here did not tell you was that she was pushed off the balcony."

"She fell, Robert," June answered back.

"She was pushed."

"She fell."

"Pushed."

"Oh, I will not stand and listen to this anymore," June said, completely disgusted with Robert now. Robert held her from standing by placing his hand on her shoulder and gently pushing her back into her seat.

"That is good, because now you are seated," he threw her a smile, but she just shook her head at him. If truth be told, Robert affected June more than she liked to admit. For many years, she had a bit of a crush on him, but that had since turned to disgust for his terrible mannerisms and awful behavior. Although, she had to admit he still had too much on an effect at times. And this was one of those times.

"What happened, Robert?" Allen asked from behind him.

"Your Uncle and Emily had a terrible fight about some other man and he just become so angry and jealous that he took to killing her right then and there. He pushed her off the balcony in the middle of a thunderstorm. Her neck snapped as she hit the ground." The children all looked at him, horrified, but completely intrigued.

"Suddenly as he looked at her lifeless body on the ground underneath that balcony, he ran down the stairs and dragged it inside and back up to the third floor where he knew he would be discovered as the murderer. So he very cleverly, take an axe out of the barn in back of the manor, went back upstairs and chopped her body into little pieces so no one would ever find it." He paused for a moment as the thought seeped into their minds. "Then he put all those bloody pieces in a secret place in that dressing room on the third floor. After he had done the deed, he washed his hands, changed his bloodstained clothes and sent for the police. And that is why no one can ever go to the third floor. That is where he left all the evidence that he killed and cut up his wife leaving her to rot forever." He shifted in his seat a bit and leaned forward for the next part. The eyes of the children were very wide now, looking at him in total terror. "Once, a few months after, I went to the stairs at the bottom of the third floor. I smelt the most hideous smell of rotting flesh coming from the top of the stairs." He paused for a long moment. "That is the true story of what happened to Emily Moore Dupont and now because she was murdered and betrayed by her husband, she haunts the manor’s third floor, wailing all night long sometimes, punishing him forever for his terrible deed. Sometimes when it is very quiet, she finds her way down the stairs and enters the second floor dormitory rooms and tries to find him to finish his final punishment in this world."

"Children," Sarah voice caused all the children to jump. Alicia, June and Rose screamed. "My goodness, what are all of you doing in here?" Sarah asked stepping into the room.

"Robert was telling a story about...." Rose started as she looked at Sarah.

"She is so adorable, isn’t she, Miss Rivermore?" Robert stood up and looked at Sarah. "I wasn’t telling a story, Rose," he said looking down at the confused little girl. "No, it was Alicia who was telling us a story about the Americas. You just startled us we were all so very interested in what she was saying. That is all." Robert finished and everyone seemed contented with his explanation, except June. She stood up, but Robert’s unseen hand by Miss Rivermore, pulled on hers, he shot her a warning look. She sat back down.

"Very well, however, the children want to use the library and are asking about it. Also, I need to speak with June when you are finished," Sarah said.

"Me, Miss Rivermore," June said, cautiously. She was worried about this, was she in trouble? Why would she be? These thoughts ran through her head, quickly.

"It is just for a talk, June," Sarah reassured. "I shall see you in the garden when you are through with learning about the Americas." June nodded. "You should all take some time outside, it is a beautiful day." Sarah finished and left, closing the door behind her.

"Is it true that the ghost of Emily Dupont haunts the manor?" Allen asked as soon as the door closed.

"No, Allen, it is not," June replied. "Robert made all of that up."

"That is what you want to think, Junie, but I would be careful. She could anywhere, just waiting to be revenged." Robert stood up and walked to the door. "I think, personally, Miss Rivermore’s next."

"Next for what?" Alicia asked.

"The next victim of Charles Dupont," he laughed a ghost laugh, opening the door dramatically and walking out, closing it behind him.

Alicia, Allen and Rose did not speak for a moment.

"Why did Mr. Dupont chop up his wife?" Rose asked, innocently. "I thought he liked her."

"He did, Rose. Robert is just making up stories. Mr. Dupont did not chop up his wife," June said, taking her hand and walking to the door.

"Well, I do not believe it either. Our Uncle may not be very nice, but he did not kill his wife and she is certainly not in the room of the third floor," Alicia said with resignation in her words.

A loud noise of a book dropping came from Alicia’s left and she looked to see Allen looking down at a mess including papers and a very strange looking book. She shook her head at him.

"I’m sorry I was thinking about Emily’s ghost walking through the manor and I didn’t see the table," Allen said, bending down and picking up the papers, replacing them on the table.

"What is that?" Alicia asked, pointing to the book. She walked over, followed by June and Rose. She picked it up and the blue stones lit up on its cover. She dropped it on the ground and all of them backed away a step.

"What was that?" Allen asked in a hushed tone. Alicia and June looked at each other. A few moments later the stones went back to their normal dull look. Alicia bent down again and picked it up, cautiously sitting down on the sofa with it. Allen sat next to her. June and Rose stood in front as she looked down again at the book. The stones become brilliant again.

"Maybe it is a trick book," Alicia said, shrugging her shoulders.

"It is pretty," Rose replied pointing to the stones. "They are blue."

Alicia looked at Allen for a moment, who shrugged his own shoulders at her. With another cautious move, Alicia moved the book closer to her and looked down at it.

"Storybook," she read. "That is a boring title." For a moment everyone just looked at the book, until Alicia finally decided to open it. A loud trumpet call was heard from the book and she immediately closed it and put it on the sofa in-between her and Allen . At the sound, all of them had jumped.

"What was that?" Allen asked. Alicia looked at him, but didn’t answer. "Open it again, so we can hear it." Allen suggested. Alicia picked up the book and opened it. Glitter spouted forth from the book in rainbow colors.

"Maybe it is very old and that was dust," June said.

"Look at the colors," Rose exclaimed, smiling. June and Alicia exchanged another look.

"Well, you might as well open it again, Alicia," June said. "Find out what it is."

"You won’t tell anyone?" Alicia questioned June. She had only been in the manor a few weeks but that was enough time to know that June would tell on anyone if she thought they were disobeying the rules.

"Of course not. Besides I think she should be friends," she stated quickly. Alicia looked at her.

"We should?"

"Well, we are about the same age and we both like strange storybooks." June smiled a bit at the foolish statement. Alicia smiled back.

"Let me open it," Allen said, taking the book from her. He quickly opened it to the middle before anyone could do anything. A loud clashing of swords emitted from the pages. He closed it and handed it back to Alicia.

"Maybe you should open it, it likes you," Allen said, timidly. Alicia would have made a comment about his statement if she could think of one at the moment, but unfortunately, she was far too curious about this strange sounding book to think about anything else.

"Here I go," Alicia announced. The children all leaned in, even June’s eyes were wide in amazement. Another trumpet sound was heard, but this time it was followed by music. Light, lively music that seemed to call the children, they stared at the book’s first page.

"The sun was high in the sky," Alicia began reading, but something was happening inside the manor’s library. The walls were melting like there were burning from an invisible fire. It was Rose who noticed the change first.

"Look," she cried. The children all turned to her where her finger was pointing and to their amazement, they were not in the library at all. The sofa, the table, even the book was gone. Alicia and Allen were standing up, a motion neither one of them remembered doing. The walls that once held all those buried treasures of Miss Rivermore’s were gone not a trace had remained. The elephant table and its blue tusk were gone, the great desk was gone, the fireplace was gone and what stood in its place was something magical. Something miraculous. Something that seemed straight out of a Storybook.

"Hey Ho!" The girl looked like a girl, she had short black hair and a black pirate cap on her head. She wore oversized puffy light purple pants with a yellow oversized, puffy shirt and a purple vest pulled together with leather cord. Her feet were bare and she carried weapons, one fighting lance on her right side and a dagger on her left. They looked real, very real and very sharp.

June, Alicia, Allen and Rose couldn’t understand why she was there, though. It was not the correct way the manor children should be dressed. Black pants or skirts and white shirts or blouses were correct. That was what everyone wore. Why was dressed like that? Did they all miss an announcement that by some miracle the manor was going to have some show of some kind, like the one Alicia and Allen had seen in New York? The one they could never talk about, because their father was not supposed to have brought them there while their mother was working cleaning rich people’s houses. The show with the dancing girls who were so pretty and had colorful outfits to wear. Hard as they tried, even Alicia and Allen could not understand why this girl would be wearing that outfit or why they were suddenly outside under the burning sun in the middle of a day that they all knew was far past this hour. School was dismissed and soon supper would be served. That thought hit hard, what if we can’t find the manor’s banquet hall, Mr. Dupont would get very upset with us, June thought as she stared at this strangely dressed girl.

"Come out, you thieves," the strange girl called, pulling her dagger out of her belt. It shone as the sun caught a glint of the blade. It was certainly very real, Allen thought to himself from their hiding place beneath a long pier that jutted up into nothing it seemed when they had taken a quick look at it.

The strange girl was now searching around the grassy hill they had walked over following her voice a few moments earlier. The bounding of four children’s footsteps had crushed the grass and the strange girl looked at it curiously.

"Ah-h, you’ve been caught, you scalawags," she knelt down, using the motions of a boy much more than one of an obvious girl.

However, the four children huddled under the pier knew she was a girl. Her voice was higher than a boy’s for one and she just in their young assessment looked to be a girl of maybe ten or eleven years old. The age portion was June’s assessment, she had whispered quietly to them under the pier. The shallow water where they now knelt down was only a stone’s throw from the large ocean waves. The stranger part of all of this was not the girl herself, but the surroundings. It was Rose who first noticed the water, it wasn’t blue, it was a purplish yellow that was more like a painting than actual water. Allen confirmed it to be water when he reached down and felt it. He was advised by June and Alicia not to drink it, he obeyed. The sun was strange to it had a rainbow glow, with sunrays hitting down in different shades instead of just yellow.

Alicia had been the first one to see the girl in the distance and jumped underneath the pier that was the color of yellow also, bright buttercup yellow. The others thought it was a good hiding place and immediately followed her. Now, here they all were, tightly next to one other and with June having a fit about her skirt that was now a bit wet from the tide that were rising to where they were.

"Come out, I see ya," the strange girl replied banging the dagger’s hilt on top of the pier. They all climbed out slowly and looked at her. "Well, you ain’t thieves at all, nor or ya mi crew," she spouted loudly and with more colorful words than Miss Rivermore would ever have allowed.

"Yes, you are correct, we are not thieves," June started. The girl immediately pointed her dagger at June and took a stance of complete stillness, like a frightened animal waiting to pounce. June took one step back, but kept her voice steady. "If you would be so kind as to tell us where we are and in what direction the Twilight Blue Manor would be. We will thank you and be on our way, Miss."

Alicia looked at June and wondered if she had never read a book before. It was very odd to be talking to a strange looking short-haired girl holding a dagger, but even Alicia could tell proper English breeding wasn’t going to get them out of this one. So she thought she try to throw some American into it.

"Look, we’re sorry about scaring you, but we have to leave this land and go home," Alicia started, the girl immediately turned her blade on Alicia, keeping one eye on June still.

"Now, I know you ain’t thieves. You ain’t crafty enough to be thieves," she said, jumping back and forth between June and Alicia. "Are ya merchants then? Cause I don’t need none of your wares. I’ve got mi sword, mi dagger and mi ship, ain’t nothing more I need. No away with ya, I’ve got mi a Pirate King to kill." She finished and motioned for all of them to move away.

"Excuse me, Miss..." June started in again. Alicia shot her a look.

"Name’s Captain Tory Tal, miss, and if you be wanting to keep that head of yours, you’ll be speaking with me only by referring to mi title, Captain of mi ship, The Morning Dew." Tory nodded her head as if that ended that confusion and pulled on a long rope, none of the children had seen there before. Allen moved closer to her as she replaced her dagger in her belt. "What do ya think you’re doing?" Tory said, now pulling full force on the rope and it gave a bit.

"Are you pulling in your ship?" Allen asked, surprised.

"Exactly right," Tory said, laughing a bit. "Ain’t no other way to get a ship without pulling on it. Ships don’t like pulling, believe me. They take to coming in better though with some good tugging." The rope gave a bit more and then pulled out again. "Whoa, the Morning Dew’s in a mood today." She looked back over at the three girls standing looking at her. She leaned towards Allen, "it’s probably on account of them. The morning dew don’t like many girls, just me."

"Are you a real Pirate Captain?" Allen asked her, feeling comfortable for the moment.

"Of course I am. Do you know of another kind?" Tory said, pulling once more on the rope.

"You’re a girl. Pirate Captains can’t be girls," Allen said, already Alicia and June noticed his lack of well-spoken speech. The world they were in was strange enough without worrying about Allen becoming a pirate.

"Where ain’t they where you come from?" Tory asked and paused with the rope, looking at Allen for an answer.

"Never." Allen asked, honestly.

"Ain’t that a strange place?" This time it pulled in and she moved her hands to give another tug. "There she comes!" Tory announced. Everyone looked towards the rainbow colored horizon and purple colored water where she pointed. Off in the distance so far away that Rose had to be lifted up by June to see, was a large pirate ship.

"It’s so pretty, just like the picture in the book, June," Rose said looking at her sister.

"Yes, Rose, you are correct. It is rather beautiful," June smiled at her sister and looked back to the ship.

"That’s mi ship, The Morning Dew." Tory said, pride and confidence rang through her voice. "First one of its kind made you know," she said to Allen. Allen nodded. "Made by mi own father’s shipmates. It was the ship that was built when I was born on the Morning Dew. That’s what my mother said, but my father always thought it was the Twilight Blue evening when I was born. There were always arguing about that, mi parents." She looked once more off in the distance. "But she’s all mine now."

"It’s really far away, Captain Tory Tal of the Morning Dew," Allen said, careful to use her entire title and name. She turned to him surprised.

"You didn’t expect it to walk right up on shore did ya? With just one little tug," Tory laughed and pulled some more on the ropes.

June stepped forward and Alicia could tell she had another idea. She tried to stop June, but the words were already started.

"Captain Tory Tal of the Morning Dew, perhaps we could speak with your parents," June said, politely and with all the manners she could muster and Alicia notes she could muster a lot. It stopped Tory from hauling in her ship and she turned toward them, letting go of the large rope.

"Good idea, lady with the long locks of hair, but that ain’t going happen today," she said. "Ya see they was taken by the East Whipperwinds, nasty little things those Whipperwinds. Can’t harness ‘um at all."

"They were taken," June started, corrected Tory’s apparent lack of proper English speech. Alicia looked over at her briefly. June got the message. "Sorry, go on."

"Right, anyway, Whipperwinds can eat thousands of good, hard working folk right out from under ya. Of course, it can be said and has been by the Pirate King, that scoundrel, that mi parents were in a fight with the West Whipperwinds and tried to bargain with the East Whipperwinds. Well, as ya just heard, the bargaining didn’t go as planned. The East ones swallowed mi parents whole and ‘poof’ up and away they were. Bye, Ma, Bye Pa. Wasn’t a pretty sight none, either, believe me." She turned away, shrugging off her parents’ horrible death and looked for her rope. "Damn!" She said and caused all the children to look at her in horror.

"Oh, honestly," June said, covering Rose’s ears.

"What is with her?" Tory asked looking at Allen. "I’m the one that’s gotta catch mi ship." She ran ahead, followed by Allen.

"Allen!" Alicia yelled, but he was spiriting after Tory Tal before the words came out of her mouth. "Come on," she turned to June and Rose and started running after Allen.

"Now we are running with a pirate captain who has the most atrocious language skills," June said, somewhat disgusted. She took Rose’s hand and followed after Alicia and Allen.

When Alicia, June and Rose caught up with Allen he was pulling on the rope with Tory. She was laughing as the ship gave a mighty pull back. They both went dragged into the water. June screamed and Alicia ran forward.

"Ya alright there, boy," Tory said, pulling Allen out of the water with more strength than anyone thought she had.

"Yes," Allen said through his coughing. Alicia went up beside him.

"Allen, what were you doing?"

"Helping the Captain, mate," Allen said, smiling and still coughing a bit from being dragged under the water. Alicia looked at him to make certain he would be all right. When she was satisfied she turned to Tory and was about to make a statement about small children, when to her surprise, Tory was on top of a large rock.

"Need me some help," she said and turned toward the ocean. "Hey, Ho!!!!" She yelled out with a sound that caused all of them to close their ears.

"She can yell," Allen said, excited.

"Yes, I know, she can use very bad words, also," June said, disgusted now.

"Hey, Ho!!!!" Tory said again.

"She needs to stop that," Alicia replied to June.

"Hey, Ho!!!!" Allen shouted. Tory laughed her same hearty laugh.

"Go ahead, boy," Tory said from up top the rock.

"Hey, Ho!!!" Tory and Allen did it at the same time and the sound echoed into the ocean past the reef where the ship was. Tory jumped down from the rocks and nodded toward Allen.

"You ain’t a bad pirate," she said.

"So what is this strange world you came from, ain’t seen one the likes of you here," Tory said, sitting down on the beach and looking up at them. She pulled out an apple and started peeling it with her dagger.

"That is perhaps the most dangerous thing I have ever seen," June said as Allen and Rose both sat down next to Tory. She looked over at them and then cut off a piece of the apple and gave them each one.

"Don’t eat that," both June and Alicia said in unison. The three on the ground looked up at them.

"Ya want a piece of the apple, ya just reach out your hand, don’t take to yelling," Tory said, shaking her head.

"Is it safe?" June asked.

"The apple?" Tory questioned. June nodded. "Yea, I ain’t lost no one by eating an apple."

"We are from England," Allen said as he chomped on the apple, forgetting all of his eating manners Miss Rivermore had shown him not long before. Tory nodded her head and passed him another piece.

"England Land," Tory pondered, "ain’t bad. Do you have mermaids and sprites that spit poison on ya?" She asked, causing all the children to look at her again.

"Mermaids...sprites," Rose said, beside Tory and finishing her small piece. Tory flipped her another one and she smiled. "Are they pretty?"

"Oh, sure, they are if you like that sort of thing. But they’ll kill ya." She laughed

"They’ll spit on you for sure. First your eyes go dark and you can’t see, then you can’t walk cause your legs are like jelly and they ain’t got no bone no more, then..."

June walked a step towards Tory, interrupting her.

"Excuse me, I do not wish to be rude or unkind, Captain Tory Tal of the Morning Dew, however, I would like to ask that you refrain from scaring my little sister." June finished and took Rose’s hand pulling her up. Tory stood up, throwing down the apple and reaching for her dagger. Alicia quickly stepped in-between the two.

"Don’t mind her, Captain Tory Tal of the Morning Dew, she is Juniper, June for short. I know she seems a bit strange but she has never been here before and she is confused, just like the rest of us. Please don’t kill us," Alicia said, looking at Tory.

"I don’t kill no one but the Pirate King," Tory said and turned away from them.

"Can I go on your ship, Captain Tory Tal of the Morning Dew, I could be your first mate," Allen said, excited.

"Nah, I got mi a first mate," she answered. A boy no older than Allen ran past them all, causing June to jump a bit at his sudden arrival. He lined up in front of Tory.

"Foster Grimm, first mate of the Morning Dew, reporting for duty, Captain," he spoke in a similar accent to Tory’s, while his right hand flew to his head in a salute towards her. She nodded at him.

"How about a second mate?" Allen said to her side. The excitement was building in his voice as he looked at the possibility of becoming an actual pirate with this strange crew.

"Nope, got me one of those two," Tory said, cheerfully as another boy jumped out from behind Alicia. She jumped and June let out a small scream.

"Nathan Nim, second mate of the Morning Dew, reporting for duty, Captain," he said, in an exact same manner as the first mate. He lined up next to Foster Grimm and made the motion of saluting again to the captain. Tory nodded at him.

"They have to stop doing that," Alicia said after Nathan Nim had settled.

Just as the words escaped her lips another boy ran out from behind June and Rose, they both jumped a bit. They were almost getting used to these sudden movements. The boy ran to the side of Nathan Nim and repeated the ritual all over again.

"Buster Jim, third mate of the Morning Dew, reporting for duty, Captain," Tory nodded.

A few moments past and Alicia was about to ask another useless question about how to get back to the manor library when Tory suddenly turned to her shipmates.

"Well, where is she?" She demanded. All at once, the three mates began speaking about someone who was on the deck earlier, who had taken a walk and who was seen below deck all at the same time. Alicia, Allen, June and Rose listened intently to this sudden outburst among Tory Tal’s efficient crew made up of three boys, all equal in height and in clothing. Light green, blue and a hint of purple covered their shirts while white puffy pants completed their outfits. Somehow these costumes seemed to suit each of them perfectly. Their feet all were bare and they wore brightly colored sashes around their waists. Daggers completed the outfit, each hanging in a belt to their right sides. The only distinguishing feature they seemed to possess was their hair. Foster was black-haired like Tory. Nathan had chestnut brown hair, while Buster carried bright red wavy hair that what every which way.

"Silence!" Tory yelled, causing all of them to go back to their places quickly, standing at complete attention. "You measly excuses for a crew."

A tall girl towering over Tory walked up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. Tory jumped, the girl smiled. She was pretty with short brown hair cropped at her neck. Her outfit although similar to the others in the crew, was duller somehow. The colors not as vibrant and she didn’t wear one of those colorful sashes around her waist or a weapon of any kind.

"Do not do that again," Tory said as the girl passed her and lined up next to Buster.

"Natalie Cando, fourth mate of the Morning Dew, reporting for duty, captain," Natalie said. Her smile had faded and she looked suddenly bored at Tory and the events surrounding her. She glanced once towards Alicia, looked confused for a moment and then looked away, shrugging her shoulders.

"Do you know what day it is, maties," Tory asked as the three first mates looked confused at each other. Natalie stepped forward.

"Tuesday, Captain," she offered and stepped back. Alicia saw her smile quickly. There was much more to this Natalie Cando than met the eye, Alicia thought.

"No, you horrible excuse for a fourth mate," Tory said with an insult that didn’t seem to affect anyone but June at that moment.

"That was extremely rude," June announced, quietly. Luckily, Alicia thought, Tory didn’t hear it.

"It’s the second Tuesday of the fourth month in the twelfth year of the half moon. How could you forget that?"

"You get to kill your brother today," Natalie said as a matter of fact.

"What?" June and Alicia asked in disbelief.

"The Pirate King is your brother," Alicia chimed in.

"And you have chosen a date to kill him?" June added.

"No," Tory said back to her. June relaxed a bit.

"Well, good," she said.

"I didn’t chose the time, he did," Tory offered.

"Why would you want to kill your brother?" Allen asked.

"I’ve always wanted to kill him and I’ve waited a long time to do it," Tory turned back to her crew while Allen shrugged his shoulders, accepting her excuse for murder.

"Captain Tory Tal of the Morning Dew, can I go with you?" Allen asked.

"You are not going on a ship to kill a Pirate King you don’t even know," Alicia said, completely taken back that she discussing this situation at all.

"We’re off, maties." Tory announced. Alicia and June exchanged a quick glance, suddenly even they didn’t agree with this Tory Tal and her murdering ways, they realized there only potential help in this world was about to leave them.

"Captain Tory Tal of the Morning Dew," Alicia started, June fell in behind her, "is there anything you can tell us that might help us on our journey back to England and the manor library?" Tory stopped walking and turned back to her. Her crew did the same.

"Are they captives, captain?" Foster asked.

"No....not yet." Tory said back over her shoulder.

"Captives?" June said, in complete amazement.

"I suppose we could use some strong hands to wash down decks and maybe you’d," he said pointing with her dagger towards June, "could make a decent meal. My crew ain’t too good at cooking anything."

"Well, I would be very happy to assist," June replied, pleasantly. "If you could direct us to a place that may of service to us."

"And no tricks," Alicia said, quickly. She wasn’t certain why she blurted it out, but judging from Tory Tal’s face at that moment, which was scrunched up in confusion or playing at innocence, Alicia wasn’t certain about that either. She did know that Tory did not take well to being accused of anything, other than murdering her brother, it would seem.

"I don’t play tricks," Tory Tal defended. "The Pirate King on the other hand plays them all the time." There was a slight tone in her voice that caused Alicia to step forward and ask her next question.

"What will you do after you kill the Pirate King?" She asked, causing Tory and the entire crew to look at Alicia.

"That’s the Angry King’s question," Tory said in disbelief. "How did you know that?"

"It was just a simple question," Alicia replied a little unsure of how upset Tory was becoming. "You never know if he is lurking," she added, then turned and started walking up the ramp to her ship.

"Come if you’d like, but I’ll be putting you all to work," Tory yelled from the top deck. The children looked at one another and silently decided to board Tory’s ship, even if they had no more idea of what to do about their problem than before.

"I am still uncertain as to the intelligence of this decision," June said behind Rose and Allen.

"What do you think the punishment will be when my Uncle finds out we entered into a storybook and rode the high seas with a Pirate Captain?" Alicia asked, very seriously. She may not like her uncle’s harsh ways and strict rules, but she knew he would not be pleased at all.

"Providing he believes us, Alicia," June said and stepped onto the ship with the others.

"Hey Ho!!!" Tory yelled and the four shipmates pulled on the large anchor. As the rope started to move, Allen shouted towards Alicia at the other end of the deck.

"Look," Alicia and June turned to where Allen was pointing at the anchor coming up on the deck now. It glistened like gold but it couldn’t have been real gold, Tory and her shipmates were no older than her. They never could have pulled a solid gold anchor out of the water.

"She a beaut, ain’t she?" Tory yelled next to Allen. "The Great Enchantress gave it to me for saving her life once," she explained and then went about setting the ship to sail.

"The Great Enchantress?" June questioned. "She sounds pleasant."

"Maybe," Alicia replied.

There was a sudden gust of wind that picked up around the ship and the sails caught it, blowing the ship onto the purple colored waters of an ocean. Alicia braced herself for the sickness she always felt on ships. She was ill for almost the entire trip to England a few weeks back. She never told her Uncle or her new friends, it was just something she figured she would have to live with, but as the ship swayed and the breezes blew around her, she didn’t feel sick. She didn’t have the usual flutter in her stomach she was used to throughout the England voyage. She breathed in the smell of the ocean, it was baked apples and cinnamon that floated back to her senses and she smiled against the spray of the warm water that shout up into her face. Without the sickness of her stomach, she was able to enjoy the pleasant ride and even looked over the side to see strange looking dolphins swimming alongside the boat. They were that same shade of blue from the manor. Alicia thought that was strange and when she looked towards the top of the ridges and mountains that past the ship, they all possessed a glint of that same blue, just like the statues from the manor. No, she said to herself, not just like them. The color and accents were exactly like that. Her attention turned to the purple horizon upwards and noticed something she hadn’t before, the purple sun was swirling around a center in a design she had seen before, but couldn’t recall. Alicia’s mind started to think. It thought very hard.

"What ya doing, girl," Tory said, meeting up with Alicia on deck.

"Just thinking," Alicia replied. "Did you know that..."

"No time for thinking," Tory threw down a large mop and a bucket in front of Alicia, "time for washing the deck. Get to it." She looked at Alicia, "and don’t take to thinking, it won’t do no good. You gotta learn to just take what’s offered ya, Alicia of England Land. Anything else might get ya in trouble." She nodded her head towards Alicia with a knowing smile and then took off back down the deck.

Alicia picked up the mop and began the long process of cleaning the deck of the ship that never seemed to end. Every time Alicia looked up from her mopping and saw the end of the deck. In an instant she would miles away from the railing again. It was well past the daylight when she finally hit the railing. Alicia looked up towards the sky and saw it change to a dark blue color, she tried to think about that and remembered something from earlier, but her hands were callused from the mop and her arms were screaming in pain.

"Time for grub, Alicia of England Land," Tory’s voice yelled from below deck. Alicia dragged the mop and bucket with her as she descended down the stairs, smelling the most wonderful smell she had ever experienced. It was food, glorious food. She was starving and she didn’t care anymore about that sky or the strange things in this world. She completely forgot about anything, but getting a taste of that wonderful smelling food.

The Morning Dew docked near a grassy beach that led to a large forest of silver and gold trees they reached higher than the sky as so it looked to the four children who disembarked from the ship. There were awake and moving forward, but for Alicia, Allen, June and Rose, they were not completely awake in their minds. The rigorous activities Tory and her crew had put them through all day yesterday wore on them. The nicely pressed clothes of the manor were ragged and starting to show stains. This fact alone was something June had not stopped complained about since earlier this morning and she spent an hour trying to fix her blouse that contained a stain from supper last night. The crew engaged in a food fight that not only destroyed their clothes, but it seemed, June’s last nerve as well. She stood up took away their plates and dumped them overboard with all the food still on them, stating the fish of the sea have more sense than they did and since they had such bad table manners they were all to go straight to bed. Grumbling and unheard comments past by her, however she was dead in her resolve and marched each of them out of the galley and to their bunks for the night. To Alicia’s surprise, they obeyed.

"Here you are," Tory announced as the huge ship hit the beach and landed with a thud.

"Where are we?" June asked. Her hair that had been pinned nicely behind her with a long braid yesterday, was not flowing freely about her, catching the blond strands and glittering off the light. The first mate of the ship, Foster Grimm, walked alongside June, a move he had done since yesterday. Even when he was sent with the others to their berths for the night, he had winked at June before he left. She shook her head at his impudence, but he only smiled.

"This is A-Knoll Glyn, Princess," Foster said to June, smiling at her. June turned towards him.

"If I have told you once, Mr. Grimm, I have told you a hundred times. I am not a Princess. I am from the Twilight Blue Manor and I am an orphan, therefore I have no parents. That makes me far from a Princess." June concluded and sighed.

"It doesn’t matter what you were, here you are always a Princess," Foster replied. June looked at him for a moment, something in his blue eyes reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t recall whom. "You’ll see," he added and winked again at her.

"You are a measly excuse for a first mate, stop your talking and get back to the ship," Tory yelled towards Foster. He glanced in her direction and then bowed his head towards June.

"I’ve gotta go, Princess," Foster said, politely. June was almost impressed. "I’ll tell you one thing, you’re a lot pretty than the Pirate King said." He leaned in towards June, "you know what I think," June nodded her head no. "I think he ain’t never really seen you and he’s just making up stories. Now, I got me a story of my own to tell. Thanks, Princess." With that, he ran back up the ship. June turned towards him for a moment, thinking about his words. Foster stood on the ship and waved.

"Be careful, Princess," he yelled.

"Why does he call you a Princess?" Rose asked coming up next to June.

"I do not know, Rose. I believe this world is very strange," she replied and took Rose’s hand.

"I would like to go back to the manor, June. I miss Miss Rivermore," she said in her small voice.

"Yes," June answered, distantly, but she quietly started to think Rose was very correct. It would be best to get back to the manor as soon as possible.

"I can see them," a voice called out from far away towards the forest.

"Hush!" Another voice said. The children forgot about their aching bones and their dirty clothes. They even forgot about the Morning Dew and Tory Tal as they moved forward following the strange voices.

They walked past the first set of silver trees covered with dew that glittered on them. The sun in the sky was starting to shine through the trees in a brilliant rainbow. It made the forest seem very open and inviting. The children kept walking further towards where the voices were heard. As they entered through another set of gold, glittering trees, they saw the most wondrous place they had ever been to.

‘This must be A-Knoll Glyn," June whispered beside Alicia. "Foster Grimm said that was the name." Alicia looked over at a for a moment and was about to ask when he had told her this information, when the sun shone down at that moment, illuminating colors of light that hit on every tree branch and glistened along the water in the distance. Cascading waterfalls poured down blue and gold water into a pond of some kind below. All the children stopped and looked towards that waterfall and the glittering colors on top and below it.

"They are moving," Allen said, referring to the colored lights.

"Fairies," Rose said in a hushed, excited tone. "Fairies, June," she looked up at her sister and smiled. June nodded her head and smiled back at her.

"It is beautiful," June added. "Completely beautiful."

"Why thank you, Princess, it is a great compliment from you," a voice said behind June. She jumped a bit and turned to face whatever was speaking to her.

The children turned to see, but only saw a large rock. They looked about for a moment.

"Oh, I forgot," the voice said and suddenly in a burst of light. A figure appeared on top the rock. It was small, only a few feet on top the rock and its face was covered with a glittering shine of purple and gold. It wore a little outfit of orange short pants and a brown strap that went across its chest and buckled in the back attached to a small backpack that it carried nestled between two very small glittering yellow wings.

"A fairy," Rose exclaimed as she pointed to the small figure’s pointed ears. "Look at its funny ears.

"Nope, I’m a sprite, an air sprite, actually. Name is Wisp. What’s yours, one with insulting comments?" Wisp flitted about Rose two times and then landed back on the rock, standing with its hands on its hips.

"This is Rose," June started, "she is my sister."

"Yes, of course, the smallest princess will be born of light and sun," Wisp said, looking at Rose. June and Alicia exchanged a look. "I remember that part," Wisp added. "So are you here to find the secret."

"Secret? What secret?" Alicia asked quickly.

"Don’t know, thought you did," Wisp said and flitted about Alicia’s head for a moment, before landed back on the rock.

"We are lost," Alicia said and walked a step towards Wisp. "We are looking for a way out of this world and back to the Twilight Blue Manor."

"Oh," Wisp said and quickly flitted off.

"Well, he doesn’t know," Allen said.

Suddenly Wisp flitted about their heads again, while Rose laughed. Another moving piece of light was in front of them. It landed on the rock. It was the same size as Wisp but had blue little pants up to his knees and didn’t carry a backpack between its glittering blue wings. It stared at the children, looking from one to the other.

"You are the ones who will save Novella," it said and laughed a small high-pitched laugh.

"They are the ones, Whip, they have traveled far." Wisp said, landing on the rock next to Whip.

"I am not certain about what you are speaking of, however," June started, but the two on the rock suddenly ignored her and flitted about as if speaking to each other, but the words were so high and small, the children couldn’t hear them. After a moment, where June was about to tell them, how rude it was to ignore someone speaking to them, they both landed back on the rock and looked at June.

"You have come, Princess," Whip said and bowed in a grand flourish, even for its little frame. "Kel and Knok said you would, but no one ever believes them."

"Are you going to spit on us?" Allen blurted out, quickly. The two little sprites turned and looked at him.

"No, unless you are pirates," Whip said, laughing. "I am Whip, Earth Sprite and we only spit on pirates and those who would harm Novella."

"That’s good," Allen said.

"Whip, could you tell us are we in A-Knoll Glyn?" June asked, politely. Whip turned to her and nodded his head once, bowing it to her. She wasn’t certain what to make of this display. "Thank you," she finally said.

"It is my pleasure to be of service to the Princess," Whip said.

Alicia looked over at June, who shook her head in confusion about all of the Princess references.

"What else is in this world," Alicia asked, hoping to receive some useful information to get them all out.

"The Evening Star Palace is right down there near the Kingdom of the Sea," Wisp said, flitting about in front of them and pointing past the forest and to an ocean below."

"And beyond that lies the Enchantresses’ home," another voice was heard from behind them. They turned and Wisp laughed a bit.

"Whims and Fancy," another voice said. But the children could not see anyone. They heard Wisp laugh again.

"They can’t make themselves bigger like us," Wisp said, referring to the voices they heard. "They are only wood fairies," he added. "Kel and Knok are their names."

"I’m Kel," said one of the unseen voices.

"I’m Knok," said the other.

The children bent down and looked for a splash of color like the sprites or something to indicate they were there at all.

"Put down your hand, Princess," the one, who said he was Kel, replied. June cautiously put her hand on the ground and instantly she felt something jump into it. "Can you see me now?" June and the other children looked, but all they saw was a very small piece of brown on June’s hand.

"I think you are too small to see," June said.

"I know, but I am here," Kel said.

"Me, too," Knok added. "Right next to Kel." Again the children looked but they saw nothing.

"I believe you," June said and placed her hand back on the ground. "There you go." The two fairies jumped off her hand. A tickling feeling was the only thing that made it real at all to June.

"She’s nice," Kel said.

"We knew that," Knok added.

"Pass the Enchantresses’ Home," Whip started, "is the Forbidden Bog where danger lurks everywhere."

"That sounds exciting," Allen said. Alicia turned to him. "I think it does," he added, softer.

"Beyond the Bog lies the Angry King’s Castle and the borders of Novella," Wisp replied. "That’s it."

"I think we should speak to the Great Enchantresses she sounds knowledgeable," June said.

"The Princess can never speak to the Great Enchantress," Wisp said as Whip hit him and he flitted about before landing down again.

"Wisp is a bit confused sometimes. What he means is the Enchantress has left her home now and no one can find her," Whip said.

"So, are you truly the keeper of the secret?" Wisp asked, moving a step away from Whip.

"What secret?" Alicia asked, completely confused by all of this nonsense.

"The secret that will free Novella from the Angry King," Kel said from behind them.

"Novella will live again in peace and harmony," Knok added.

"Is that the name of your world, Novella?" Alicia asked. All the small creatures answered yes together. "Well, we know the world now, at least."

"That sounds so familiar," June said, partly to herself. Alicia looked at her and questioned what she meant.

"Do you know the secret?" Allen asked.

"No, why would we?" Whip said.

"Never told us any secrets," Wisp added.

"Secrets are only held within a human," Knok said, quickly.

"Are you travelling to the Castle?" Whip asked, looking towards Alicia.

"Maybe we should travel to the Castle of the Angry King and ask him for help to get home," Alicia said, looking over at June.

"He can’t," Kel said.

"Why?" Alicia asked, still looking around to catch a glimpse of the small voice.

"Only the darkest of castles holds the darkest of mysteries," Wisp said, causing Whip to hit him again. He flitted about and the color of light that the children had come to know slowly fell to the ground.

"You’ve killed him," Rose exclaimed, running to where Wisp lie on the ground.

"It’s alright, little princess, I shall be reborn on the morning dew," Wisp replied and smiled up at Rose. After a long silence, the sprite took a long breath and looked up at Rose. "You will like this part, little princess," he said softly. Suddenly a burst of brilliant blue was all around Rose, she laughed as it tickled her nose. It moved upwards into the sky. She watched it as it spread across the top of trees, through branches and fell finally landing on the rock again. "All better," Wisp said standing back on the rock. Whip was shaking its head at Wisp.

"He always does that," Whip said. Rose was laughing with Wisp for a moment. June, Alicia and Allen laughed also. It was the first time since they arrived in the world. They didn’t think about getting back to the library or about travelling through the world to the Castle or even what dangers were ahead or punishments yet to receive back at the manor. They delighted in Wisp’s little display and in the beautiful patch of land called A-Knoll Glyn.

As they played with the other fairies and sprites in the Glyn, the children lost track of time and confines of rules and manners. The stream was warm and Allen dove in, swimming about with all of his clothes still on. Alicia and Rose joined him. Even June didn’t complain as she took off her shoes and placed her feet in the warm water and felt it calm her mind. She didn’t think about assignments, tests, grades, or books. She only thought about how wonderful the sun was to feel on her face, how the fairies were so beautiful in their array of colors. A memory slipped out that she hadn’t thought about in years, a memory of a happy time when she was very young and the world was full of colors and dreams she had forgotten about. She smiled at the memory and closed her eyes to take in the scent of lavender that was all around them. June thought back on another memory. Lavender was her favorite flower. How could she have forgotten that? She thought as a small water sprite, hit her with a warm spray of water and laughed. June opened her eyes and laughed, placing her hand in the water and throwing some back on the little sprite. It flitted about shaking off its wings and landing on her knee, looking up at her, smiling, she smiled back and jumped into the water with the other children, regardless of the fact that all her clothes would be wet. June never thought twice about it. She just enjoyed in the playfulness of the day, somehow knowing she had since this place before, if only in a dream.

Robert Raymond stood uncomfortably in the middle of the manor library. He had been standing like that for the past few minutes, while Charles Dupont paced in front of him. Sarah Rivermore sat on the couch to his left.

"Mr. Raymond, it is with concern that you have been called here today," Charles said in his usual harsh tone. "I have been informed," he glanced towards Sarah for a moment, "that you had been seen with the children yesterday here in the library."

"Yes, we were looking for our buried treasures as Miss Rivermore asked us to do," Robert said, his voice held confidence and didn’t waver as Charles moved a step closer to him.

"I was also informed that you will not be here for summer holiday and therefore will not be completing Miss Rivermore’s assignment," Charles stood looking at him. Robert was almost reaching Charles’s height. He met eyes with Charles for a moment and a silent war was engaged. Miss Rivermore could feel from where she sat. She shifted in her seat and stood up.

"Miss Rivermore," Charles said, breaking the stare and turning to her slightly. "Please leave us, I have a matter to discuss with Robert." Sarah nodded and walked out the door.

Charles walked towards his desk and light up a cigar, while he turned back to Robert.

"Take a seat, Mr. Raymond," Charles said. Robert sat down on the couch that Sarah had just left.

"Yes, Mr. Dupont," he said, with obedience in his voice. However, Charles knew better.

"We are both aware of your parents and their lack of responsibility to you as well as your sister, Theresa, when she lived here," Charles started, but walked a step away turning his back to him. Robert was looking intently at Charles.

"My parents are very busy with business, Mr. Dupont," Robert said. "However, they were be arriving for my birthday soon."

Charles heard the tone in his voice change to uncomfortable and lacking the confidence he had earlier. For a moment, Charles remembered the young boy who would run outside after Christmas mornings leaving the many toys he had been sent behind and go to the barn outside the manor house, staying there for hours. It would take a very clever scheme to often get Robert back inside the manor even in the midst of the snow falls and freezing temperatures outside for a five year old boy to withstand. Charles always knew he would grow into a hardened young man. Hearing his voice in speaking of his parents told him also that the little boy was still inside and Robert wasn’t ready to face the world he would have to, sooner than he thought. Charles disliked Robert’s parents, more than Robert, at times. Robert Raymond the First and Edwina Hall Raymond were the most selfish, unloving parents he believed he had ever come across. Even the numerous women who left the children at his steps in the middle of the night to be cared for and orphaned had more compassion than they possessed, Charles thought. From the moment, he had taken in Robert and his six-year-older sister, Theresa, he saw two very troubled children. Theresa buried herself into a fanciful romantic world that caused her to marry against both her parents and Charles will. The only thing agreed upon by them all.

Frederick Dunlay was a handsome boy born into too much money and too much time on his hands. He was seventeen and Theresa only fifteen when they married, but Charles knew it would never last. Frederick was far too free-spirited for marriage and he could never settle down with a family. The last he had heard of it, Theresa was living in Yorkshire alone with two children in rather bad conditions, and it was said by one of the other boarders’ fathers who had traveled there and came upon her. While her husband, Frederick traveled the globe with various other women. Charles harsh words at Theresa’s wedding plans caused him to be untrusting in her eyes and she refused to accept even a letter from him. Charles had often thought about enlisting the help of Robert, surely she would not refuse letters from him, but Robert had grown into a selfish young man as well and had no thoughts, it seemed, about his only sister.

"Did your parents write you of their plans, Mr. Raymond?" Charles said, going back to the boy seated on the sofa, nearing his fifteen birthday and knowing full well his parents were not planning on coming to see him this summer or the next. Unknown to Robert Raymond the Second, Charles had been told by his father when the children were first dropped off at the manor many years ago, that the boy would be of no real use to him until he reached eighteen. That statement alone made Charles up the price on Robert’s room and board. The extra amount given each month to the manor had been placed into an account for Robert that he would receive on his eighteen birthday. Charles had felt at the time that the boy just might need the funds to be given a choice when that time came upon him to follow in his father’s footsteps. Everyone, Charles always believed, should be at least once given a choice he never was.

"What of Alicia, Allen, June and Rose, Mr. Dupont?" Robert said, with more confidence now. Charles turned to him.

"And what business of that is yours, Mr. Raymond?" Charles walked a step towards him, causing the boy to falter a bit, but not enough to take notice. He held his head high in the air and took Charles’s advance as a part of this war.

"I only heard that they are missing," Robert said.

"Do you know where they may have gone?" Charles asked with a harsh, demanding tone.

"No, not at all, Mr. Dupont. I was speaking with them here in the library and then I went back to the second floor dormitory and did not see them again," Robert was careful not to falter his voice during the entire speech and stood up in respect.

"Yes," Charles said, looking at the boy for a long moment, trying to determine if he knew more. "Miss Rivermore," he said quickly turning away from Robert and towards the door. He opened it to find Sarah standing looking at him. "Please come back inside," he said, his tone slightly less harsh. Sarah nodded and walked back inside the library seeing Robert standing.

"Miss Rivermore had a curious incident happen in her class earlier today, it would seem," Charles began as Miss Rivermore walked behind him to the large desk. He stood across from Robert. "The wood stove in her classroom, suddenly caught on fire and crackling sounds caused a small explosion, ruining the stove as well as damage to one of the walls and several desks in the room."

"Was anyone injured?" Robert asked with a false sense of concern.

"No, fortunately, we were outside for class this morning," Sarah said.

"Well, that is good," Robert replied, indicating nothing else on his face.

"Several students claim they had seen you in my classroom prior to summer classes this morning, Mr. Raymond," Sarah explained. Robert looked at her for a moment.

"I was in the study room all morning, Miss Rivermore, I was no one near your classroom. I am certain I do not why any students would say I was," Robert concluded. Charles and Sarah exchanged a quick look.

"You would do well to inform us of any information pertaining to that incident or the children’s disappearance now." Charles stepped in. "For if it is found out that you told a falsehood about this, you will be severely punished." Charles’s words were harsh and deep with meaning as he stood closer to Robert, so only he could hear him. "I assure you Mr. Raymond, you will fear your parent’s wrath much less than mine. They are many boarding schools that you can be sent to and I trust your stories will not be taken as lightly. Is that understood?" Robert nodded his head slowly and for a moment, the confidence of Robert Raymond the Second melted underneath Charles’s look. Fear was apparent in his eyes. It flashed by quickly, but Charles saw it.

"Yes, Mr. Dupont." He answered, his voice a bit smaller than usual, but he straightened his back and stood tall.

"You are excused...for the moment," Charles indicated he should leave. Robert nodded at him and then towards Miss Rivermore. He paused at the door and turned back to them.

"Yes, Mr. Raymond, you have something to say," Charles said, turning to him.

Robert looked from Sarah to Charles and then back to Sarah again.

"Will they be found?" Robert asked, concern was in his voice this time. Sarah and Charles noticed it.

"Yes, Mr. Raymond, they will be," Charles answered. Robert nodded and walked out the door.

"He is concerned," Charles said, softly.

"Of course, Robert Raymond may be a bit selfish and completely self-important however I do not believe he causes the children ill will," Sarah said. She looked at Charles for a long moment. He was deep in thought. "We will find them. You must trust in that," she reached out and touched his arm. He looked at her for a moment, concern was overwhelming in his eyes. She felt sympathy for him and moved a step in. Instantly, he moved away and behind his desk.

"Thank you, Miss Rivermore," he said, in his usual business tone. Sarah stood in front of him for a moment. "Inform me when the police arrive," he added and sat down at the desk, moving some papers around.

"Of course," she said and then added, "if you will permit, I would like to do a through search of the grounds. The children can help as well as the other teachers."

"I looked everyone early this morning, I do not see how..." Charles trailed off and stood up, pacing to the other side of the room.

"Mr. Dupont, it would not hurt anyone to look again, perhaps there is a child who has forgotten something that may be of use," Sarah said, walking closer to him. He turned to her.

"Yes, you are correct, Miss Rivermore. Gather the children and I shall meet you all in the foyer," Charles brushed past her, touching her arm, comfortingly as he passed. "Please make certain Robert Raymond is there as well," he added. Sarah nodded and walked out the library door.

Charles sat down at the desk and looked out the large windows behind him. A thought started to form in his mind, he hadn’t thought about before today. He stood up, quickly and walked to the small table next to the chair. He removed the papers from the top and searched for it. Where could it have gone? He thought, he knew he had left it on this table. Hadn’t he? His mind started to race inside his head. Where was it? Where had he placed it? It had to be here somewhere, he thought and removed the papers completely from the table, moving to the floor and behind the chair. Panic was building inside him as he continued searching. I have to find it. I have to, was his final thoughts as he heard the children outside the library door and resigned to come back to his search. He took a final look about the library, grabbed his jacket off the chair and walked outside the library and towards a glimmer of hope that the children would still be on the manor’s grounds somewhere. That hope carried him to where Miss Rivermore stood with Miss Smythe and thirty-three children, all-looking to him now. He took a deep breath and let it out, putting on his jacket and standing next to Sarah, she smiled quickly at him. He nodded.

"As you may know from your teachers, four children have not been seen since yesterday following classes, I would ask for your aid in finding them," Charles continued as he split the group up into three separate smaller groups headed up by himself, Miss Smythe and Miss Rivermore.

Sarah was looking at him as he continued to explain where each of them would search and what to do if the children were found. The usual demanding tone was gone from his voice, even his demeanor changed. He was speaking with the children, helping them understand and answering their questions without thought or annoyance at them. Despite, Sarah’s constant feelings of concern for those small children lost somewhere. She saw a miraculous occurrence happen right in front of her eyes. For a few minutes, the children of the manor and Charles Dupont were having a conversation. Concern had been over the manor like a dark cloud all day since the disappearances, but he wasn’t yelling or talking harshly to them, he was helping them. He was doing the very thing, Sarah knew he was always meant to do, he was leading them. Truly leading them step by step away from the confines of a cold manor and into a warm June day and a dim hope that they would all find what they were looking for.

Alicia, June, Allen and Rose stood on the Morning Dew deck as the warm breezes came over the ship. The scent was lavender this time, overwhelming and completely intoxicating the children’s senses. It was Tory Tal that came and retrieved the children from their play in A-Knoll Glyn. She had informed them they were there for many days. Tory and her shipmates had made a trip to the Magic Mountain and back, she had said. The children had no idea of time anymore as they stared into the purple colored horizon that never seemed to dim or even change, just a constant pinwheel of rainbow colors from the purple sun. As they had traveled from A-Knoll Glyn onward to the Evening Star Palace, which was their destination, the days and nights seemed to go by very quickly. June continued cooking for the crew, who were much better at table manners and never started a food fight unless June had left the galley. She was not trying to stop them from calling her Princess either, it wouldn’t have changed anything anyway. June and Foster seemed to strike up quite a friendship and they would often talk quietly on the top deck in the early morning hour.

Allen loved being a pirate even with all the work Tory Tal descended upon them all. He learned how to fight with a lance and even began pulling the sails to help the ship from losing its wind. Another fact that never died, the wind never ceased on the waters, it seemed. There was always enough wind to keep the ship sailing, however the breezes that blew across the water were always warm and inviting. Little Rose was content playing games on deck and helping her sister cook. She laid out the plates and cups and served everyone, while June made them all eat with the utensils. It only seemed to be Alicia that was not enjoying herself. Tory found the hardest jobs on the ship for Alicia. First it was wash the decks again, a task that Alicia could swear lasted close to four days and then it was painting the railings on the ship. She was given some brown paint to put on each rung of the many railings both on the top deck and below. She had been working on that task until Tory called her to stop and go top deck to see the sun set. Alicia did not complain, her arms were so tired and she felt they would fall off soon.

Alicia did not share in her companion’s feelings about Novella. She hated it, hated it more than the orphanage Allen and her had lived in while still in New York. Hated it more than her Uncle’s mysterious manor, or his harsh and cruel words. She hated it more than she hated anything and she just wanted to get back to that manor, follow the rules and never, ever read another book again. She would stick to her studies and do well in school, she would make her Uncle proud of her and she would never wish for something more than what she had, she thought as the breeze changed back to the smell of cinnamon and baked apples. She took the scent in and it reminded her of her mother. A memory of a summer day in New York, her mother cooking some special treat, neither her nor Allen could see yet. She smiled at the memory and then she thought about her Uncle living in that horrible manor all those years. She suddenly and for the first time, felt sorry for him. All those wonderful times she had shared with her mother, helping her cook, making long walks into wondrous adventures, learning about the world. A small tear escaped her and trickled down her cheek, but it wasn’t for a mother now gone. It was for an uncle, who seemed to never know what those moments felt like. Seemed to never have a true moment of happiness. Alicia thought she had been harsh with him, hadn’t she? Not given him a chance at all. Maybe he had a reason for not retrieving them at the funeral. Maybe he knew what she did. Sometimes when she looked at him, she could see right through him and all his harsh ways. She knew so much about him. Robert Raymond had said the first day at the manor, she was just like him. Maybe he was correct, she was. Alicia thought more about this revelation. She didn’t want to be just like him. She would vow here and now to change that. She would learn to be happy, learn to enjoy life at the manor. She would show him it could all be different, like Miss Rivermore said to her. He just has to discover his own buried treasure.

"Up ahead, the Evening Star Palace," Tory called from up on the crow’s nest, high above the sails.

"Mermaids!" Rose exclaimed and caused all the children to came out of their thoughts. June smiled.

"We need to get home," Alicia said, suddenly.

"I like it here," Rose said. Allen nodded.

"I agree, let’s stay, Alicia," Allen added.

"No, we cannot stay. It’s not meant to be a place to stay," she moved a step forward and away from the group. June smiled at Allen and Rose and told them to look for the mermaids off the back of the ship. They cheerfully ran to the other side of the deck. June chastised their running and they quickly obeyed. They only walked with a brisk pace. After they had disappeared around the other side of the ship, June walked up to Alicia.

"What is wrong, Alicia?" June asked, standing next to her, looking out over the ocean.

"It’s not correct, June, none of it," Alicia pointed out to the purple water. "Why is the water purple and not blue, everything else here has blue to it? Have you noticed? The mountain tops, the reefs, even the coral under the ocean has a blue tint to it."

"Yes, I did think about that in the beginning, maybe, it’s...."June stopped suddenly and her eyes darted back and forth.

"What is it, June?" Alicia asked as June leaned on the railing for support. Her face went white for a moment and the red cheeks she had received being out in the sun everyday simply vanished. "June?"

"I am fine. Thank you." June said, after she stood up and composed herself. "I just remembered something I hadn’t in a long time."

"What, June? Maybe it’s important," Alicia questioned. She wanted to know something anything that would make sense.

"It is nothing, just a childhood dream," June said, brushing it away and moving to follow where Allen and Rose went.

"June," Alicia followed after her. "Please, June, tell me."

"It was foolish, Alicia. Truly. I agree with you about leaving, I do believe we have to find a way out. It is not safe," June said the last part almost in a panic.

"You are scared," Alicia questioned, taking June’s hands. "Your hands are cold. What is it? Please tell me."

"We must find a way home, that is all. I had not realized it until now, but I have not even thought about going home since we were in A-Knoll Glyn. Is that not strange?" June said, looking at Alicia.

"I think that was the point," Alicia said. "We are aren’t supposed to think at all."

"Hey Ho!!!" Tory yelled from high above them. "All ashore who’s going ashore."

"That would be us, it seems," June announced. "I will retrieve Allen and Rose." She walked away from Alicia and her questions. Alicia knew now more than ever, they needed to follow the path to the Angry King’s Castle. Alicia also knew that path would take them through what the sprites called the Forbidden Bog and she had to agree it with June’s initial assessment of that place, it wasn’t something that sounded pleasant.

A few minutes later, the children had gone ashore and waved goodbye once again to Tory Tal and her crew. They walked down a small path that led towards the ocean. When they saw the pier Tory had spoke of, they went across it. Even though it didn’t seem to have an end and it was that same shade of blue with yellow swirls on it that moved as they walked. Allen and Rose ran ahead trying to catch the small swirling circles. Alicia and June stayed behind trying to make sense of everything. Alicia had questioned June again as to their earlier conversation, but she was not budging on what she may or may not have known. She decided another approach would be in order perhaps to get June to open up to her.

"How old were you when you came to the Manor, June?" Alicia started her new tactic. June turned to her in surprise, as if no one had asked that question before.

"I was five, Rose was just a baby," she answered.

"And you have both been there ever since?" Alicia questioned. This time, June did not look surprised at all.

"Yes. Nine years," she said her answer with a touch of sadness behind it and Alicia jumped in with her next question.

"You told us that my Uncle’s wife died seven years ago, so you must have known her."

"Yes, but I was very young," June said, trying to end the conversation. She did not want to talk about Emily.

"Did my Uncle ever talk about me or Allen?" Alicia said, changing the subject. She didn’t want to June to close her off.

"I heard him saying once," June chimed in with quickly, happy to be talking about something else, "that he had invited his brother and his family to the manor for summer holiday. I asked him about you and your brother and he told me that you were my age, six and Allen was just two. I was very excited and I thought it would be splendid to meet you," she concluded.

"Mermaids!" Alicia and June heard from Rose ahead. They walked faster and caught up with them, just as Rose went running forward onto a beach and large rocky area.

"Rose, be careful," June called. "Wait right there," she instructed. Rose stopped and obeyed her sister, urging her to hurry along. Allen ran past Rose against Alicia’s warnings.

"Look, June, look," Rose said as June and Alicia approached them. She was pointing to a large rock a few feet in the water, where a beautiful red-haired mermaid was sunning herself. Her glittering red and gold fin bobbed slightly in the water below. Her hair covered the rest of her body. It fell almost to her knees. The children couldn’t see her face very clearly but she wore a glittering blue crown up top her head made of seaweed it looked like to June and Alicia. They had discussed it for a moment before moving forward cautiously on the rocks. It took several minutes for the three of them to reach Allen who was standing on top of a rock very close to the mermaids. As June, Alicia and Rose drew closer, they saw three more mermaids on rocks all around the large rock with the red-haired mermaid on it. Each of the mermaids had a different shade of hair ranging from brown with a brown and silver fin, black with a golden fin and blond with a yellow and green fin. They were all carrying parasols and the three around the red- haired one looked bored and completely uninterested in what the red-haired one was saying. Although she had been speaking since the children approached them.

"Hey Ho!" Allen called out and instantly all four mermaids stopped they’re sunning and looked over at him. Their eyes did not look friendly at all. The red-haired one spoke first.

"Are you a pirate?" She asked, moving her parasol to the other side and looking at them all. "You have boring clothes. You will never be allowed inside the evening star palace celebration with those clothes."

"I beg your pardon," June said, a bit insulted by the mermaid.

"Of course, you need an invitation from the Princess Rainbow, daughter to the King of the Sea, ruler of creatures of the sea, in order to attend the celebration at all," the red-haired one said.

"I want to go," Rose said to June. "Can I go? I think you are most beautiful mermaid I have ever seen."

The red-haired mermaid turned towards her and smiled, while the other three sighed heavily.

"Oh, wonderful, now Rainbow will never stop talking about that," the brown-haired mermaid said. "By the way, are you the keepers of the secret?" She asked.

"No, we are trying to get out of this world and back to her home," Alicia said.

"You can’t go anywhere that she doesn’t want you to go," the blonde-haired one said.

"And you can’t get anywhere from here," said the black-haired.

"Can I ask you whom we would be speaking with?" June said, politely. "My name is June. This is my sister, Rose and our friends, Alicia and Allen." The three mermaids on the lower rocks all took down their parasols and sat up looking interested.

"My name is...." The brown hair one started, but the red-haired mermaid, who threw a starfish, hit her on the head and she turned toward her.

"That was very rude," June said and made no attempt to have the comment not heard by the redhead.

"Who are you to insult Princess Rainbow, daughter to the King of the Sea, ruler of the Creatures of the sea?" The red-haired said and flipped her fin, causing water to spray all over Rose instead of June, her apparent target. June looked over at Rose and stood next to her as she started to cry.

"The mermaid hates me," Rose said, as she sat down on the rock and cried into her hands.

June walked one step forward, Alicia tried to stop her, but it was too late for anything to be done.

"That is it," June announced. "Apparently, I am a Princess as well in this world and I will not stand for kind of behavior. You are spoiled and you have no regard to others. You have no manners, you are completely selfish and I do not care who your father is, expect for the fact that I wish to speak with him about giving you firm punishment for your childish and cruel ways." June finished, placing her hands on her hips.

The other three mermaids cheered and shouted.

"Praise the Princess June," said the brown haired one. "I am Leaf, this is Moon," she pointed to the black-haired one, "and this is Evening Mist, but we all call her Eve," she said pointing to the blonde one.

"We are very pleased to meet you, Princess June," Eve said, smiling. "We never thought anyone would insult Rainbow and get away with it."

"We have waited for years," said Moon, laughing. "Good job."

"Thank you, but it should not be rewarded the behavior she exhibits," June said and walked back to Rose who was done crying and was standing up. Rose hugged June tightly.

"I do not care, none of you will be invited to my celebration," Rainbow said, tossing her tail back and forth in the water.

"That is fine with me," Leaf said.

"I do not like that party," Moon added.

"It is so boring," said Eve.

"What was that?" Rainbow said.

"Yes, Princess Rainbow," they all said together. June, Alicia, Allen and Rose all looked at each other.

"What?" Rainbow said again.

"Yes, sweet Princess Rainbow," they all said. Rainbow smiled and placed her parasol back over her head.

"Hey Ho!" Tory called as the ship rode over the ocean. All of the mermaids jumped into the waters, leaving their parasols on the rocks. Their colorful fins went up in the air as they swam away a few feet. A few moments later, they reappeared in-between the rocks not too far from the children.

"You are friends with pirates," Leaf said, excited.

"Come on, we have to reach the Lonely Bay by nightfall if we’re to catch the Pirate King, Calvin Deckerdoo." Tory said, bringing the ship around the rocks.

Rainbow jumped up on a rock and spit towards the crew. They all jumped back.

"Don’t do that no more Rainbow, you could kill us," Tory said.

"Pirates should be destroyed. They care for no one but themselves," Rainbow yelled across the waves and then jumped in the water and started swimming.

"There she goes," Eve said. "Come on, we’ll carry you to the ship," she added.

"Yes, that would be fun, hold onto our fins." Leaf said.

The four children got onto the mermaids. Alicia and Allen dove in catching a fin from Leaf and Moon. Rose looked unsure for a moment.

"Come now, Rose, we should get to the ship," June said, urging her forward. "I can swim there."

"Don’t worry little one," Eve said, "it will be a fun ride, I promise." She smiled up at Rose, as her fin flapped in the water.

Rose very cautiously went into the water and held onto the fin. In a moment, they were off riding through the waters. Rose was smiling and June was pleased for her sister. At least the whole experience with the mermaids hadn’t ruined Rose’s excitement, she thought. June jumped in and swam to the ship. As they all approached, Rainbow was hanging onto the side of the ship, spitting at the crew, they were running back and forth trying to avoid it. The crew was quite skilled in this maneuvering, a few of them did somersaults in the air to avoid the spit, while others hid behind the sails and such. Tory was on top the crow’s nest where Rainbow couldn’t reach her.

"Stop it, right now, Rainbow," Tory yelled.

"Pirates are the worst part of Novella. The great enchantress didn’t even like you," Rainbow said, spitting once more towards Foster Grimm. This time, he didn’t move fast enough and as Rose and June were joining Alicia and Allen on deck, they saw Foster fall.

"Great, now I’ve got to get me another First Mate," Tory said as Foster lie motionless on the deck.

"No," June screamed and ran to where he was. He was still breathing, but he was shallow and raspy. "Oh my goodness, Mr. Grimm, can you hear me?" Foster nodded slowly.

"It ain’t no use, he’s a goner," Nathan Nim said next to her.

"Mr. Grimm, you must keep breathing, perhaps if we found the Enchantress, she could help," June said, trying to be positive and keep him breathing. He closed his eyes and June held his hand, willing him to breathe. He looked up at her and smiled for a moment.

"Thank you," he said and breathed his final breath, letting the poison Rainbow shot at him end his life. June didn’t move for a long moment as tears streamed down her sun-soaked face. Dripping from her wet hair from swimming to the ship fell on Foster’s face and clothes, but June keep her vigil for a few more moments, holding his lifeless hand in hers.

"He died," she finally said, looking up at Alicia, who came to her side, placing a hand on her arm.

"I’m sorry, June," Alicia said. "He was very nice."

"He was my friend," June replied and placed his hand on top of him. "He was my friend," she said again. Alicia slowly rose June up and walked with her to below deck as the mermaids, the crew, Allen and Rose looked on.

"You’re my new first mate, Allen of England Land," Tory announced coming down off the crow’s nest. "How do you like that?" She smiled at him.

"No thanks," Allen said, all the excitement and thrill of becoming a pirate slowly drained out of him as he watched Foster die. "I don’t want to be a pirate." Allen put his head down and took Rose’s hand walking with her to the other side of the ship.

"I don’t like Rainbow," Rose said as they walked away. "She was mean."

"The Morning Dew shall not longer have smooth sailing in the sea," Rainbow said, bobbing in the waves below the ship. "You will be tossed and turned on the waves for the rest of your journey." Tory looked at Rainbow and started to protest. "I don’t care if a human hates me," She bobbed a few more times, "I don’t care," she said again, softer and placed her head under the water. In the distance a few feet from the ship, Rainbow jumped up in a perfect jump diving into the water again with her fin shining up top. It slowly descended below.

"Great, now she’ll be upset all night," Leaf said.

"And we’ll have to cheer her up," Moon added.

"I hate cheering her up," Eve agreed. They all pushed off the ship and dove into the water, showing their glittering fins above the waves in perfect unison as they disappeared from sight.

"This will be one interesting trip to the Lonely Bay," Tory said to Natalie standing next to her.

"I hate mermaids," Natalie said, walking away to follow Allen and Rose.

"Yep, never had any use for them," Tory agreed and went below deck as the ship started to toss on some waves rolling inward to the shore. It picked up wind in the sails and started on its journey out to sea again.

The night was a long one for the passengers and crew of the Morning Dew. June was very upset over Foster’s death. Alicia cooked supper that night for the crew and although she knew she wasn’t as good as June, they didn’t complain. June stayed in her cabin, not going up deck to see the sun set or to eat anything. She was quiet and completely alone it seemed, Alicia tried to help her, but she asked to be alone. Alicia didn’t bother her again. Rose and Allen were quiet as well for the first night since they arrived. Rose finally went to bed, creeping into her sister’s room. June didn’t say anything when she climbed into the berth and fell asleep.

June thought about Foster Grimm’s death and remembered something from a long time ago. A memory she had blocked out when she was a little younger than Rose. She tried to brush past the memory again, but this time, she knew what it was and the endless memories of a time, years ago flooded her the entire night.

June remained there in the tiny berth of the Morning Dew on a pirate ship headed into a purple horizon towards an unknown destination called the Lonely Bay and she felt it was appropriate to be going to that place. The Lonely Bay was exactly how she felt right then. Alone, even with little Rose sleeping soundly next to her, even with the noise of some of Tory’s crew still up above her. She was as alone as she had ever felt and completely unable to sleep, but it was much more difficult on this night than in the manor.

June even knew why, she remembered too much that she wanted to just forget. Even though, she knew she never would again. She longed for the first time in years to go and see Mr. Dupont. She knew he would be waiting in the library and he would hug her and tell her it was all right. She knew he would make sense of it all, if only she could go home, but June was starting to wonder if that was to be a possibility at all in this world.

It had been five days since anyone had seen the children. Five days since Charles had received any sleep. Five days with endless searching from top to bottom of the manor. Nothing. No sign, no indication that the children were anywhere. They simply disappeared without a trace. Charles had conducted a search himself of the third floor and checked the locks on Emily’s room, just in case, he had thought at the time. But the lock was secure as the day he had placed it there. That dreaded day he would always remember. The day she would never let him forget. The day he made the promise.

Charles stood staring out the library windows as the rain came down washing away another painful memory and reminding him he survived. He hated himself at that moment, hated and despised himself for living. Why should he have survived? He thought. He had survived a drunken father who abandoned his family. He survived a half-crazed mother who spent their only means of money on opium to keep her from remembering anything. He had survived a wife. And now, he saw another tragedy looming in front of him. He did not want to survive the children. He wanted to end all of this. He could not stand another day of regret, remorse or to continue with this dreaded feeling of knowing where the children were. Knowing he couldn’t get to them. Suddenly a thought passed by him, unless...

A knock was heard outside the library door.

"Enter," he said in his somber tone, but he didn’t look towards the doorway to see the visitor. He stared silently at those foreboding raindrops that endlessly tapped against the window pane, a constant urging forward to continue another day, another hour, another minute of this useless survival he endured.

"Mr. Dupont," Sarah’s said, stepping into the library. Charles’s heard it and recognized her voice did not hold that usual cheeriness to it, he had grown accustomed to. It was no wonder, he thought. They had searched the grounds and the manor until the early hours of morning the night before last. Each of them seemed more determined as the hours waned on. They went through every room, every area of the manor’s grounds searching and calling out for the children hours stretched on and on. Charles recalled, it had been Sarah who broke down for the first time since he had known her, under the strain of the night’s fruitless searching. She was exhausted and overcome with worry when she leaned and almost collapsed at the garden’s gate. By the time the sun was coming up, Charles had been holding her in his arms, comforting her in a manner he knew he should not have. He would never regret those moments, thought. It was the first time he realized that she had not been sleeping much either and instructed her, at the time, it would in everyone’s best interests that she remain within her senses. She took to his advice while he cancelled morning classes yesterday to make certain she would receive the rest.

He had not seen her until this morning. Charles had gone to her classroom to check on her state, he had said at the time, however it was for far deeper reasons. Something had happened to Charles since that morning in the garden, perhaps it began even before that, he thought. Throughout the ordeal with the children, he had relied on Sarah’s strength and support. He had relied on her. Charles could not remember a time in his life he had relied on anyone. He couldn’t remember a time when anyone ever comforted him or when he ever let someone do so. This morning, he watched her in intently during class as she patiently listened to the students reading aloud. Her eyes looked tired, but she showed no other signs illness from her lack of rest. Her face still held that comforting, pleasant smile that seemed to accompany her every move. He thought back on the memory of the garden again. As he had held her in his arms for what seemed like a brief moment, far too brief for Charles, a feeling overcome him from deep within a part of himself he had thought was lost. He needed her. He truly needed her to be there, each morning in the gardens, afternoon tea in the library and last suppers. He needed Sarah Rivermore more than his endless paperwork that greeted him every day and more than memories too painful to think upon and yet too vivid to let go of.

The revelation of needing her unfortunately had been followed by an overwhelming sense of fear and trepidation that he now carried with him. As she had leaned against him and he felt her steady breathing, he realized she was not inclined to need him. She would, undoubtedly in Charles’s mind, survive without him. That thought made him feel uneasy and uncomfortable now as she stood behind him, patiently waiting for him to acknowledge her. How would he survive without her? Could he ever tell her the truth? Would she ever understand it? Did he ever?

The other feelings that ran just as deep came to the surface on that day as well. How much he missed the children. To hear June in the hallway, to see her quiet reverence when she studied. To hear Alicia’s demanding words on him. To hear Allen’s curious questioning of the world around him. To hear sweet, little Rose’s footsteps bounding down the manor steps ready for a brand new day with all the excitement of her youth still within her. If only there was a way to reach them, he thought, if only Sarah could help, but his hope darkened with each day that passed without sight of the children.

"Yes, Miss Rivermore," he said, slowly turning to face her. His tone was steady, but if she looked closely, he knew she would see the true feelings he had. He turned towards his desk and looked down at a ledger of the boarding payments.

"I have laid out dinner for you in the kitchen, Mr. Dupont," she announced. He looked up at her.

"For what purpose?" He said, defeat and exhaustion in his voice.

"For the purpose of keeping you alive, Charles," her tone was soft, but with a firm resolve to it. Using his given name caused Charles to stare at her for a long moment. It sounded so nice to hear it, but he would take no comfort until the children were found. He could not. It had all been his fault and he would not rest until the were home and safe. He would not fail again, he thought as he looked at her pleading eyes.

"Thank you, Miss Rivermore, however, I will be working late," Charles sat down at the desk and started writing some figures into the ledger.

Sarah stayed across from his desk for a long moment, causing Charles to feel uncomfortable. He finally looked up at her with a look of annoyance on his face.

"You may chose to lock yourself away in this library and to not to speak with the children anymore, however, I will not stand by and watch you try to destroy yourself by taking no food for two days," Sarah’s resolve strengthened as she continued. "It may not be my place to speak to you of your eating habits and were there a Mrs. Dupont I would speak with her. As there is not, I will shoulder the burden."

"I hardly believe that," Charles started, standing up and taking offense to her statements.

Sarah would hear nothing of it. "It is a poor example you set for the children when they see your state of mind. You do not live here alone, Mr. Dupont, and it is time you realize that. There are over thirty people in this house and they look towards you for guidance and support in this trying time. Everyone is concerned for the children’s and pray for a safe return home. It is not your single burden to possess and I, for one, will not allow you to do so any further." Sarah walked a step around the desk, facing him.

"Now, you will come down to the kitchen and attempt to eat something off that plate or I will be forced to bring it here and serve you," she concluded, staring directly into his eyes for a long moment. Charles almost smiled and placed his head down. "I will do it, Charles," her voice was softer, "I have had the experience of three older brothers and two younger ones. None of which were any better in their eating habits than you."

"Yes, Sarah," Charles said, looking back at her and hiding a smile on his lips. "I best do what you say. You have a temper I was not aware of." He walked around the side of the table past her. "I would not want to incur its wrath," he said, leaning down.

"You have made an excellent choice, Mr. Dupont," Sarah said, following him to the library door. He paused placing his hand on the door handle with his back still towards her.

"I rather like Charles," he said, smiling to himself and walking out of the library. Sarah smiled quickly behind him.

After the ordeal of supper, Charles took himself for a quick walk instructed again by Sarah out in the garden to clear his mind and be able to focus on his work, she had said.

Charles took the opportunity to ask Sarah some questions about a certain book, he did not want to speak of, but he knew now was the time, if there was to be one at all. The children were still in danger and he must try every avenue to save them.

"Sarah," he said, softly as they walked through the garden, slowly turning to twilight. "Might I inquire about something that was lost?"

"Of course," Sarah replied, turning to him and stopping at the Mulberry Tree.

"I have been looking as of late for a book," he started. "Not just any book, it has a strange-looking cover with blue stones on it." He finished and looked towards her, careful not to see the desperation in his eyes about the finding the book.

"The one I have seen you reading all the time?" She said, simply. He held her arm a bit as she started to walk again. She looked at him.

"What do you mean?" He questioned, his harsh tone returned.

"I have seen you reading a book many times in the library with a blue stones on its cover. It looks quite fascinating," Sarah said, still trying to determine why a book would matter at this moment.

"Have you read it? Did you see it?" He asked the question frantically, still clutching her arm a little tighter now.

"No, Mr. Dupont, I would not presume to read something of yours," Sarah said moving away from his gripping hold and his dark eyes. She saw something in them, she did not like at all. It was like a madman’s.

"Miss Rivermore," Charles started and tried to calm himself, but he couldn’t think about anything but that book and if she knew something of its whereabouts. Sarah was already at the garden’s gate and moving down the path to the manor entrance. He followed picking up his pace to meet up with her.

"Miss Rivermore, stop," he said, demanding. She stopped at the manor door and looked towards him. He followed up to her and stood looking at her. Her expression told him she was not pleased with his behavior. He could not be bothered with that at the moment, he knew what he was doing. He had to find that book.

"If you will permit, Mr. Dupont, I will show you," she said and he nodded his head. They walked through the Manor Entrance and he followed Sarah to the library.

She walked to the small table and opened the small drawer that was on one side. She pulled out the book and walked to him, handing it to him.

"I found it the day the children went missing. He was lying on the floor near the sofa," she explained, he looked at her intently, "I knew it was yours, so I picked it up and replaced it in the drawer. I meant no ill intent in the movement of it. I am sorry for whatever illness it has caused you in not finding it. I did not realize it meant so much to you." She turned away to head back out the door, but Charles caught her arm.

"No, it means nothing to me." His eyes averted hers for a moment. It was the first time, Sarah could remember him ever doing that. "I despise it," he said and looked directly at her with a sharp intensity that ran a chill through Sarah’s bones. He walked away and stood next to the fireplace, looking down at the book.

"Are you all right, Mr. Dupont? You look..." Sarah said, taking one step back in.

"I am fine," he turned to her. "Thank you, Miss Rivermore." He turned away looking back at the book.

"Good night, Mr. Dupont," Sarah said with a sadness in her voice. Charles never noticed it. He didn’t notice her watch her for a moment before she exited quickly out of the library. He didn’t notice the tears as they welled up in her eyes before she closed the door.

For several days after, he didn’t notice Sarah or anyone else. All he thought about was the Storybook and how if at all, he could find them. Nothing else occupied Charles thoughts and no one was allowed into the library. Even Sarah was locked out day after day. She took to leaving trays of food by the door, which she noticed were hardly touched. Although, she resigned herself that he was eating something at least.

Charles stood inside the library, ripping pages of the book and throwing them into the raging fire, causing the entire library to be sweltering hot in the middle of June. The pages burned but re-appeared as soon as he looked down at them again, as if they had never been ripped at all. He threw the Storybook, cursing it and damning it day after day. If anyone passed by the library, they would believe a madman resided in there. Some of the children already did.

It was Sarah and Sarah alone, who watched over the children and tended to their small needs. She tried to enlist the help of Miss Smythe and some of the servants, but they were all doubting Charles’s sanity as well. Many of them spoke of leaving the manor once and for all. During the days, she reassured them all that he would fine, but at night, when she was alone with her thoughts, she was not so reassured. She prayed for Charles and for the lost children, hoping somehow her words would reach them and bring them all home.

"Pull in the riggings on the other side, Allen," Tory Tal yelled from up top a railing of the ship. She was holding onto the sailing pole as the ship tossed and turned in the rolling waves that never seemed to cease. This constant changing of the sails and maneuvering was more than four children can take. It had been many days since they had left the Evening Star Palace and held a funeral at to sea for Tory Tal’s first mate, Foster Grimm. And in that time, the Morning Dew had caught wind of three terrible storms that threatened their very lives.

"Look," Alicia shouted as she helped Allen pull the riggings as instructed by Tory and fastened them in place. Allen, June and Rose looked up at what Alicia was pointing to. Even Tory and her three shipmates followed their stare.

"What is it?" June cried out from the other side of the sail. The water was washing over the boat, causing her to cold and very wet.

As they looked up at the sky, it was changing from the familiar twilight blue color to a more deeper red, almost a blood red to it. It was ripping through the normal sky as the children continued to look, a loud roar of thunder and a large red lighting bolt shot to the side of the ship, nearly missing them.

"That’s the Angry King’s lighting bolts," Tory yelled as she pulled on other sail to turn it. "We need to head that way, come on, mates!"

"It will kill us," June yelled towards Tory. "Can’t we go around it?"

"There’s no going around the Angry King. He means to destroy all of Novella, don’t you know? If he wants you dead, you’ll be dead, believe me!" Tory jumped off one railing and onto the other side’s railing, pulling some more ropes.

"Why is he called the Angry King?" June asked, moving towards Tory. Tory stopped for a moment and looked at her.

"Cause he’s got a fierce temper," she said, very seriously. A moment later, she was pulling the rope again.

"What about the Enchantress?" June asked.

"What about her?" Tory yelled back. "She ain’t been seen in a long time. I figured she took off after the Angry King destroyed her home, Whims & Fancy over there," Tory said, pointing to the right of the ship. June walked to the railing and tried to look through the nighttime fog and the rain.

"I can’t see it," June said, looking back at Tory.

"Don’t worry, the Angry King will make certain you do," Tory said and jumped off the railing. "He always does."

"Alicia, Allen," she called, knowing Rose was below deck, safe. Alicia and Allen tied up their last rope and went to June. June pointed out towards where Tory had pointed telling them to look for the Enchantresses home. They nodded through the roar of thunder. A large lighting bolt hit away from them, illuminating the sky for a long moment.

"There it is!" June exclaimed as the red color showered over a small cottage far away on a shore.

"It looks completely destroyed," Allen said, walking back to Tory. Alicia took a step closer to June, still looking at the old worn out cottage, completely in disrepair. Their last glimmer of hope was now gone as well. Alicia shook her head at June.

"I hate this world," she said. "Everything gets destroyed." She walked away to meet up with Allen.

"It was a sight before the Angry King got to it, Princess," Natalie Cando said, walking up to June. The cottage was slowly fading from sight now. The rains were slowing up and even the loud thunder was rolling away.

"Why did he do it?" June asked. "Did he hate her that much?"

"He loved her," Natalie said, simply and smiled, "that’s what no one don’t get. She asked him to destroy her home and he did. Never refused her, you know. Nope not one time." Natalie leaned on the railing for a moment looking down at the ocean. "Some of us would rather that he had." She stood up and shrugged her shoulders, "bet you did, huh, Princess?" She looked over at her with a touch of mischievous.

"Natalie, get over here!" Tory yelled.

"Yep, bet you hated her," Natalie said as she ran back to Tory and away from June’s unanswered questions.

The night turned to day and the thunderstorm ceased on the sea, however the waves still rolled in as a constant reminder of Rainbow’s word to Tory a few days ago. They would not have smooth sailing on the Morning Dew.

"Up ahead, maties, the Twilight Blue!" Tory yelled from up top the crow’s nest.

Everyone came out from below deck and stood on the ship, Nathan was navigating it into a large port across from the ship Tory called out as the Twilight Blue. It was a magnificent sailing vessel, painted gold with that same blue that encompassed this world. But it was more vibrant somehow on the ship. The mast was large and carried a flag with a design Alicia could swear she had seen before. It was a large circle swirling into a center with a dash of the blue at its core.

"The library rug," Alicia finally blurted out, relieved she could remember the design she had seen in the sky earlier on in the world.

"What was that, Alicia?" June said from her right. She was holding Rose’s hand with Allen trailing behind her.

"The design on the flag and in the sky that day, I have seen them before," Alicia started. "There are the same design on the run in the manor library, see."

"Yes, you are correct. It is the path of confusion," June said as if she knew all along. Alicia looked at her. "I remember that," June turned slightly away, thinking. "Yes, that is correct, I am certain of it. The Path of Confusion where no one direction can ever place you in the center. Mr. Dupont used to call it a trick. An illusion your eyes see, but your mind cannot figure out." Allen, Rose, and Alicia were all looking at June now.

"Did you know this before?" Alicia said.

"No, I just thought about it right now. Strange, I’ve seen that design in many places throughout our travels." June replied and walked with Rose to where Nathan Nim was placing the ramp out on the ship.

"You ever get the impression, Alicia, June doesn’t tell us everything?" Allen said and walked to the ramp.

"All the time," Alicia said to herself, following Allen and the others off the ship.

The children walked onto a beach that led towards a small village. Other children all dressed in brightly colored clothing were running about playing games. Rose immediately started to run forward, but there was a loud whistle sounded and all the children playing scattered and disappeared.

"What was that?" Alicia asked Tory as she descended from the ship with her crew. Tory didn’t answer but took out her dagger and poised as before waiting to attack an unseen target.

Allen saw him first, a tall boy nearing their Uncle’s height stepped out from the dock behind Tory. He was dressed in all blue from head to toe with only a white puffy shirt in-between it and a gold buckle with a that same circle design on it. He also wore a short gold cape around his shoulder. His feet were bare like the other pirates, but he wore an eye patch over her left eye and an earring in his left ear. He carried a large dagger in his hand and a fighting lance on his belt to the left. Allen thought he should be scared of this menacing character, but he wasn’t, somehow he felt like he knew him. He looked very familiar. Allen moved one step in to get a closer look. The boy put his finger up to his lips, indicating to be quiet and he smiled, a mischievous, arrogant smile, Allen knew he had seen before, but still couldn’t quite remember.

Within a moment, the boy had jumped behind Tory, holding the dagger to her throat and laughing.

"Surprise, here I am," he said loudly and laughed an even heartier laugh than Tory had. "So, Tory, you passed the Magic Mountain and the Lonely Bay, but I’ve still got ya," the pirate voice was deeper than Tory’s and Allen assumed he was much older than Tory.

"Let me go, Calvin," Tory said, in a demanding voice. "You can’t kill me today."

"Oh, and why is that Tory?" Calvin said smiling over towards June and Alicia. They both looked away.

"Today is the second Tuesday of the fourth month in the twelfth year of the half moon." Calvin moved back, releasing Tory from his hold.

"No it’s not," his voice still held the accent, but it was younger now, more like a boy of fourteen or fifteen with obvious disappointment in it. "It is the third Tuesday of the fifth month in the tenth year of the quarter moon. It is your turn to perish. Let us begin," he took a fighting stance. Tory did not look happy at all.

"Calvin," she started.

"Pirate King to you," Calvin said, looking towards June and Alicia. June looked horrified for a moment, he put down his sword and walked towards June.

"I know you’re the Princess," he said, changing his voice back to a deeper one. He looked at Alicia, Allen and Rose. "Who are the rest of you?"

"I am Alicia, this is my brother, Allen and June’s sister, Rose," Alicia stated. Calvin looked from one to the other, smiling at little Rose.

"Well, ain’t you a ragged looking lot," he commented and completed a grand flourish for them. "I’m the Pirate King, Calvin Deckerdoo, nice to make your acquaintance."

"Calvin about the battle..." Tory said, impatiently from behind him.

"Manner, Tory, always got to have manners," Calvin said, smiling towards Alicia and raising his eyebrows twice in a rapid motion. Alicia looked strangely at him; something was so familiar about him.

"He’s just like Robert Raymond," June whispered to her side. Alicia turned to her, that was it. He was just like Robert Raymond. His face even looked similar expect for the long scar running from his cheek to his forehead.

"It is my turn to kill you, now let’s go," Tory said, lifting her lance at Calvin. Calvin gently placed it down with his hand.

"Sorry, sis, it’s mine."

"Mine!" Tory yelled.

"Mine!"

"Mine!"

"Stop it!" June said, suddenly, causing Tory and Calvin to look over at them. "You are both being childish. No one should kill anyone. You are brother and sister, you should be helping each other, not fighting."

"Nope," Tory and Calvin said together.

"Take ‘em, mates," Calvin called as three girls the height of the Tory’s shipmates came running out from behind Calvin, where no one had seen them coming. The girls all dressed in shades of blue, from light to dark, the same puffy pants and shirts style as Tory’s crew. They went towards Rose and Allen and grabbed them both from where they were standing. Rose and Allen kicked and screamed while they pulled them to where Calvin was. Alicia and June both ran forward, but Calvin held his lance up to them.

"Nope, sorry, Princess," he said looking at June. "Gotta have my captives."

"Why?" Alicia asked. "They haven’t done anything to you."

"Well, Tory won’t fight me today and I won’t fight her so I need a battle, a grand battle," Calvin said as Tory walked away a few steps annoyed. "That’s where both of you will help."

"We must certainly will not," June said looking disapproving at Calvin. "I will not stand for this behavior. You let my sister and Allen go right now."

"Nope, tie ‘em up, mates," Calvin called to his crew, they dragged Allen and Rose around a corner and onto the Twilight Blue Ship behind them. Alicia and June watched as they tied them to a pole on the ship’s top deck.

"Stop this!" Alicia said.

"So, when’s the battle to be?" Calvin said, smiling at Alicia. "I shall let fighting you, I believe." He held his lance steady but moved in one step to her. "You can be on my crew when you lose." Again, he raised his eyebrows up and smiled. Alicia did not like that smile.

"I would never be on your crew," Alicia replied back.

"Suit yourself, but they walk the plank if you refuse to fight."

"Calvin, these are people from a far away land called England," Tory said, moving in. "They don’t understand our ways."

"We want them free. We are traveling to the Forbidden Bog and then to the Angry King’s Castle, where hopefully we can leave this terrible world," Alicia said.

"June!" Rose called from the ship. June could see she was crying now.

"You let my sister go. She will not be walking any planks," June stood straight looking at him. "By demand of the Princess," she added. Calvin looked at her and smiled.

"Unless your father comes, it won’t help you, Princess. Everyone knows he never leaves his Castle. Now stop your whining and choose the battle," Calvin moved to the side of Alicia. "Choose well," he leaned down to her.

"It’s only two years until my revenge on you, Calvin," Tory said, suddenly and motioned for her crew to follow her. "We are leaving."

"You are leaving us," Alicia said, looking at her. "They have taken Rose and Allen."

"Not my problem, Alicia of England Land. Come, maties, we’re off," Tory said as the two remaining boys followed her up the ramp to the ship.

Natalie Cando was several feet behind talking with a boy that was taller than her and wore a dull blue pirate outfit.

"Get a move on, fourth mate," Tory yelled towards Natalie.

"Good luck, people of England Land," she said and smiled at June and Alicia. "Don’t worry so much, Novella has many surprises in store yet." She glanced over at the boy she had been talking to. "See ya, Paul."

"Have a good voyage, Nat," Paul called back and waved.

"Well," Calvin said, ignoring the exchange between the two fourth mates.

"You want a battle, fine," Alicia said, thinking of a plan as she spoke.

"This is Rose and Allen’s lives we are speaking about. It is not a game," June said.

"Actually, June it is a very confused game inside a more confusing book," Alicia turned and faced Calvin. "On the third Thursday of the fifth month in the tenth year of the quarter moon." Alicia ended her statement and crossed her arms. "That is when the battle will take place and you will do nothing until then."

"Done!" Calvin said and smiled. "Give me a kiss to seal it," he smiled at Alicia. Alicia turned away.

"Alicia, that is only, by my calculations, two days from now," June blurted out.

"Right you are Princess." He walked away to the ship. "See ya then, Alicia of England Land. And I promise you, I never lose a battle." Calvin walked up the ramp to his ship and waved. "Don’t worry, I‘ll take good care of the prisoners until then."

"I do not like this, Alicia," June said looking at Rose. "Rose will be very frightened."

"Allen is there and he will make certain nothing happens to her. Do not worry, June. It is a game and Calvin can’t do anything until the battle, I’m sure of it."

"I hope so." June looked away for a moment and right into the Twilight Blue’s fourth mate’s eyes. "Oh, I did not see you there," she quickly said.

"I have something for you, Princess," Paul started and pulled out of his jacket a golden wand with strange writings on it. "Here you go. It’s been waiting a long time for you."

June took the wand and marveled at its beauty. Somewhere deep down she remembered it from another moment many years ago.

"Is this the Enchantress’s wand?" June asked suddenly.

"It is the one you know," he replied and June nodded.

"Yes, I remember now. You are Paul Cando, Natalie’s brother, aren’t you?" June questioned. Paul shook his head.

"You have grown much since before," Paul replied. "You have grown well," he added. "Now, I must be on my way. Don’t worry about little Princess, I’ll take care of her, like I did for you." He smiled and walked towards the ship.

"June, what is going on?" Alicia asked as Paul walked up the ramp.

"I remember now what I had forgot," June replied. Her eyes lit up as she walked ahead. "I know the way." Alicia walked quickly to keep up with her as they walked away from the Twilight Blue and the village. The sky began to become darker as they rounded one road onto the next very fast. Alicia had to almost run to keep up with June.

"June, tell me," Alicia pursued as they rounded another road and found a path that just seemed to appear.

"It’s not far," she said. "I am a Princess, Alicia. I know why now. I always was here."

Alicia looked at her strange when she caught up to her. The sky was now black and it seemed was getting even darker. She couldn’t see June as they followed another path she led them onto. Alicia forgot about her questions as noises started all around her. Dark, foreboding sounds echoed through a pitch black night overhead.

"I can’t see you," Alicia called out and felt a hand touch her shoulder.

"Don’t worry, I’m right here," June said, beside her, quietly. "But we must be very quiet through the Forbidden Bog."

Alicia looked next to her, but she still couldn’t see June at all.

"Forbidden Bog?" Alicia questioned.

"Yes, it’s the only way to get to the Castle," June replied in a whisper. "The creatures are about, keep still."

They continued walking further and further as the noises around them grew louder. June and Alicia did not speak again until Alicia felt a hand, cold and clammy on her other shoulder. She screamed and June grabbed her hand, running.

"Hurry! You have awoken them," she said as they ran faster. The sounds were right behind them as June pulled her around another corner and continued. "If the Forbidden Bog takes you, there is no escape!" June yelled fear was in her voice.

"Where are we going?" Alicia cried to June, but suddenly she felt her jerk and their hands almost broke free. "June!" She yelled.

"Take this!" June said, placing the wand in Alicia’s hands. "It’s magic, I know." June grabbed Alicia’s hand tighter as she held onto the wand in her other hand. "They want me, I’ve escaped them before!"

"What are you talking about, June?" Alicia’s voice was in a panic as she tried hard to keep up with June.

A loud banchee scream was heard and the creatures from behind them seemed to be in front of them now. The only thing Alicia could see was their eyes, green and glowing.

"Come, come," they beckoned in unison, a dark chorus around all them.

"June, hold on!" Alicia yelled through the darkness as she felt June’s hand slip and heard her scream. "No," she cried, but the voices were gone and Alicia was alone she didn’t feel June’s hand on her and her hands felt nothing in front of her anymore. "No!!!!!"

Alicia fell to the ground, it was cold and wet, but Alicia didn’t care. She lost June, she lost Allen, she lost Rose and she was all alone in a darkness that covered her eyes.

"Give her back," she yelled into the darkness. "I want to go home," she added softer. She put her head down and did something she hadn’t done in a long time, she cried. Painful, heart-sobbing tears came forth as she sat there on the wet ground lost within a storybook, she neither understood nor comprehended. She was completely alone for the first time in her life. She wanted to cry out to her mother to help her, to Allen back on the boat, to June lost in this darkness, but she didn’t cry out to any of them. She sat back on her heels, still crying, wet tears streaming down her face and looked up into the black night above her. In that moment, through the tears and the fear, Alicia only cried out to one person on that night. The one person she swore she would never ask for help from, the one person she had sworn she would never need.

"Help me, Uncle, please," she begged to no one. "Please, help me," the last part was softer filled with a deep longing in her heart, she hadn’t felt since her mother died. She prayed that by some miracle he would hear her. That somehow, he could.

Sarah walked towards the library door as she had done many times in the last days. It had been two weeks since the children disappeared. The police turned up nothing as they searched all around the surrounding towns and questioned everyone at the manor. The last policeman, Capt. Reed came down from London just this morning and spoke with Sarah in length about the day they disappeared. When he asked to see Mr. Dupont, Sarah explained he had taken ill and was not available for another round of questions. Capt. Reed seemed contented with that explanation thanked Sarah and assured the search would be continuing. However, a pressing case in Dorset County involving a murder needed to be looked into. Capt. Reed was very careful to not say the police had given up or that anything was more important than finding the missing children, but Sarah knew two weeks was a long time to for any child to be missing without a thought that they may not be returning. Sarah nodded her head, thanked him and said goodbye at the manor door an hour ago.

She stood at the manor door and took a deep breath as one would when approaching a great battle, where the enemy outnumbered their opposing force. She stood tall and resolved with an expression of complete determination on her face. She knocked.

"Go away!" Charles’s voice was hoarse and low. Sarah nodded again, this time louder.

"Leave me alone!" He bellowed from behind the door, but Sarah did not budge.

"I will not, Mr. Dupont," she called from the other side. "You have been left alone far too long. You will open this door at once." Her voice was steady and demanding.

There was a long pause on the other side of the door that lasted several minutes. Sarah moved away and grabbed a chair seated in the hallway. A rather large chair that she picked up and threw at the door. Several children walking about on the second floor came out to see what the noise was.

"Go back to your rooms, children, everything is fine," she said as she put the chair back in its place and smiled towards them.

"Yes, Miss Rivermore," Ellie Partridge said as she and two other girls walked away, whispering. From behind them stood Ann Smythe, dressed in her usual school attire, even though this week was to be a recess from the rigorous summer session. Sarah had changed yesterday out of school clothes and was not dressed in a purple skirt that fell to her ankles and a cream colored blouse that tightened around her waist. The outfit highlighted not only her figure in a way Miss Smythe already indicated earlier today was inappropriate, but it made her features of green eyes and red hair stand out as well.

"Miss Rivermore, I must insist that you refrain from using the manor’s furniture as a door ram," she said in her usual disapproving way. Sarah turned to her for a moment.

"I would, Miss Smythe, however I believe throwing myself at the door would cause more disapproval from you," Sarah replied simply and went back to looking around for another piece of furniture that would perhaps get the door opened.

Miss Smythe descended the long steps to where Sarah stood.

"It is best, Miss Rivermore, to leave him be," she said, softer as not to disturb Mr. Dupont, it seemed.

"He has been let be for far too long," Sarah found another chair, smaller but one she could put more force into. "I intend to open this door. You can either help in this process or you may take your leave so that I can attend to my mission." Miss Smythe looked at her for a long moment, debating in her eyes if she was sane as well. After a moment, she stepped aside from the door and Sarah went towards it carrying the chair. As she made contact with the door, it opened and she fell through knocking down Charles with the unexpected force.

They lay on the ground, both motionless as Miss Smythe gave a loud ‘humph’ and walked away. The chair had fallen to the side of them, leaving only Sarah on top of Charles.

"You are a very determined woman, Miss Rivermore," Charles said, looking at her.

"Yes, I am, Mr. Dupont," Sarah said, trying to get help. She moved to the side and Charles stood up, holding his hand to help her. She took it and stood, straightening herself.

"You look no worse for the wear, Miss Rivermore," he said, reaching down and picking up the chair that had one broken leg now from the fall, "however I believe the chair has seen better days." He placed it back down and looked at her.

"I am sorry about the chair, Mr. Dupont," she said, not looking at him.

"Tell me, Miss Rivermore, what pressing matter have you that a chair needed to take the brunt of it," Charles said, moving a step away from her and towards the window. Sarah noticed he had changed at some point from the last time she had seen him when he locked himself away in here. He now wore a white shirt with a smoking jacket of red velvet that fell to his knees. His hair was not tied behind him any longer, but fell nicely about his shoulders, giving him a much younger look. His eyes did not hold the dark, intensity that Sarah remembered from that cold day. Instead his look had softened to one she had not recognized. She stared at him for a long moment as he had so often done. Charles turned to face her during her stare.

"Have you anything to say for yourself, Miss Rivermore?" He asked, his voice was still raspy from lack of sleep, but it was softer and unfilled with the normal harsh tones to it.

"I..." she faltered a bit and Charles moved in a step closer to her. "I wanted to make certain that you are well, Mr. Dupont."

"Am I?" He asked, continuing to look at her.

"The children were concerned for you...." she paused and turned away towards papers lying on the floor near the fireplace. She began picking them up and placing them neatly by a table. If she had looked at them, she would have noticed strange names and places on them. Magic Mountain, Lonely Bay, A-Knoll Glyn, but Sarah didn’t glance at them once during her clean up. Charles bent down and held her hands as she went to pick up a few more pieces.

"Sarah, I am fine," he said, softly. She looked up at him and her eyes were welling up in tears, releasing all the emotions she had held inside for these past few weeks. "Truly, I am fine." He reassured. A tear trickled down her cheek as he pulled her up with him and gave her his handkerchief from his pocket. "Please, sit down," he urged and took her hand leading her to the sofa. She followed in a daze.

"I was so worried that..." She started as she sat down.

"I know," he said, sitting next to her, keeping her hand in his. "My behavior was inexcusable. I am sorry, Sarah." He looked at her with such compassion, Sarah began to cry harder.

"I didn’t know what to do and everyone was..." she trailed off and placed her head down, crying softer. He pulled her into him in an soft embrace. She fell against him as she had done in the garden many days earlier and leaned her head on his soft jacket.

"I have something I need to tell you, Sarah. Something you need to know," he began as she calmed down her emotions slowly. She picked up her head and looked at him. Tears were still in her eyes, but she was regaining her composure, he could tell. She leaned back against the sofa, still holding his hand.

"I am listening," she said, softly. He stood up and walked towards the library door, closing it completely. After a moment, he was reseated on the sofa with her.

"I know where the children are," he started and Sarah immediately sat up straighter and looked at him with anticipation and relief. "And believe me, this will not be at all easy to hear or to accept, but my hope is that you will try."

Alicia’s tears were overflowing as she lay on the wet ground. But these tears were not for a frightened girl who was lost in a storybook or for her brother and her friends who were taken, or for the loss of parents and the ending of her youth and happiness. These were tears of relief, tears that washed away the pain of what was before her and gave her hope for what was ahead. As she had cried since June was ripped away from her and fell into the darkness of this terrible place, she had called out to her Uncle and pleaded for help. When all hope had dimmed and the darkness almost enveloped her. She had felt a cold, clammy hand on her shoulder, grabbing and pulling at her. In the midst of this terrible and endless night, she heard him. It was quiet at first, just a small echo in the distance. Just one small voice that rolled in like an unexpected thunderstorm. She had ignored the hands that multiplied, pulling at her and she listened for the voice in the distance.

Moment by moment, it came closer and closer. Finally, with a loud roar of thunder and a sudden burst of a red lightening bolt ripping through the darkness, she heard him. Heard him so clear it was as if he was standing there in front of her. The words were brief, but they said all she needed. I am here.

Ever since that moment, she had been crying with the sense of relief only one who had lost her way and found the glimmer of hope over the horizon could ever know. She would not doubt again. Inside this horrible, dark, frightening world far away from the safety of her childhood, her Uncle had reached her. He had called out and he had found her. His voice and those three words, carried with her a new resolve and a strength she never thought she possessed.

Slowly, Alicia stood up and walked towards the red, glowing light that were once the frightening thunderbolts on a dangerous ocean, and now held a path out of the darkness. A path towards safety, she could feel it with each step and she gained momentum as she continued.

Without warning, there was a loud scream from behind her and the red light in front of her faded for a moment. The sounds of the creatures all around her become louder.

"You must run, Alicia Dupont," a female voice was heard. "You must run, the creatures are coming." For a moment, Alicia obeyed and ran a few steps. Then she stopped as the red light diminished and completely faded.

"No," she said into the night. "No, I will not run."

A burst of white brilliant light appeared in front of Alicia, slowly it took shape. Changing and twisting about in a swirling motion until it completed its transformation. A small girl no taller than herself appeared, she was cloaked in a vibrant blue dress with a gold cape. Her eyes were covered in a gold painted mask with white feathers on either side. It was a beautiful sight and completely comforting to Alicia to be standing with someone in this place.

"Why do you not run, Alicia Dupont?" The girl asked. She possessed a pleasant voice, calm and serene. It reminded Alicia of her mother’s voice, expect for the English accent.

"I will not run away anymore," Alicia stated. "I will go to the Angry King’s Castle and face whatever lies ahead. I am not afraid, Enchantress."

"You are very clever, Alicia Dupont. I did not think you to be so clever as to discover my whereabouts or to reach the Castle," she said. She moved with a fluid motion, almost floating above the fog soaked ground.

"I am determined," Alicia replied. The Enchantress smiled.

"Determination is not always a good thing. Why do you not want to play in A-Knoll Glyn, was it not beautiful?"

"No, it was not." Alicia tried to look for the red light again, but she only saw white around her, blinding her senses from the lightening bolts. "Nothing about this world is beautiful or nice. It’s all an illusion, behind every wonderful thing is just another obstacle to overcome, a new challenge to be faced. It is horrible." Alicia finished.

"It is a perfect storybook for a perfect child’s imagination," The Enchantress said and walked a step closer to Alicia. "Is it not?"

"There is no such thing as a perfect child nor a perfect imagination. I am sorry to tell you this, Enchantress, but this is the worst storybook I have ever..." she paused looking for the word, "journeyed through. I would never return here. It takes my friends and it makes you feel helpless, alone and afraid. No child would ever want that."

"So, why, Alicia Dupont of England Land, would you want to travel to the Angry King’s Castle without your companions. He will surely destroy you." The Enchantress began circling Alicia slowly. Alicia felt a bit dizzy and closed her eyes against the movement for a moment. When she re-opened them, the Enchantress was standing very close to her and looking down at her hand.

"Where did you receive that?" She asked Alicia.

"It was June’s, she received it from the fourth mate of the Twilight Blue," Alicia explained.

"Of course," the Enchantress turned away for a moment. When she turned back, she was smiling, a perfect, beautiful smile. "You will give me the wand and I will show you the way out of this world."

Alicia looked down at the wand as the Enchantress started to circle her again.

"I think I’ll keep it. I may need it," Alicia replied. The Enchantress stopped quickly.

"You do not know what use it is, Alicia Dupont. I do. You will do well to leave it with me. The Angry King may take it from you and that would be very dangerous." Alicia was feeling dizzy from her constant circling and didn’t see her reach towards the wand until her hand was upon it. Alicia backed away a step, quickly as a red lighting bolt hit nearby, dimming the Enchantress’s white light.

"I’ll keep it, thanks."

"What use it is for you?"

"I don’t know, but it must have something or you wouldn’t want it so much," Alicia reasoned and stepped away from the Enchantress.

A loud thunder roar rolled in. The Enchantress looked up for a moment.

"The Angry King has been searching for you, you must go," she said.

"Show me the way to the Castle, Enchantress," Alicia said, a demanding tone in her voice.

"No, there I will not venture." The Enchantress walked away a step. "You must go alone."

"This book is terrible, no one helps anyone," Alicia started. "Why would anyone, child or not, want to come here. The only things that have been helpful are those lightening bolts. They help you see through a dark bog. At least they are useful." Alicia was furious as she continued. "If this is your world and you are the keeper of knowledge as Tory Tal said, then you are very lost, Enchantress. If you want people to come here and see your world, then you must let them do so on their own, not with your constant changing and shifting of it. It is unfair to do so and I will not listen to you and go through this book the way you want me to. I will reach that Castle and if I have to I will give the Angry King this wand, because there is something more important than beautiful worlds and fairies and mermaids and a perfect storybook..." she paused and took a step towards her. "My friends and my brother. There are more important. But you wouldn’t understand that, because you have no friends left, do you?" Alicia took another step in as the Enchantress backed up.

"Everything, Enchantress cannot be perfect all the time. It doesn’t work that way. Life is not a storybook and even if it was, it wouldn’t be like this one. Yes, challenges exist and obstacles to overcome are there, but you make it completely impossible to enjoy this beautiful world. You change it as you see fit and you make it whatever you want. Well, I for one am not playing your game any longer. I will not go back to A-Knoll Glyn and get lost within its splendor. I will not watch mermaids kill innocent boys and I will not allow you to win. I will find a way to the Castle, I will find a way beyond your game and I will find my friends. You will not win."

"And you believe, you can strike a bargain with the Angry King?" The Enchantress said, a bit more confidence in her voice again. "He does not make bargains."

"That may be true, but I will take my chances with him. He wants to destroy Novella the sprites said and Tory said he destroyed your home. That says to me, he may be a reasonable person, something the rest of you are not. If I had lightening and thunder I would descend it upon this world to end this useless path of confusion you have placed all of us on, Enchantress." Alicia walked away from the Enchantress as she stood still in her brilliant white light. However, Alicia didn’t see it anymore, she looked towards the black sky and the red lightening bolts in the distance.

"I will find my way, Enchantress." Alicia said as she walked out of her sight.

"Be cautious of your heart, Alicia Dupont," Alicia heard the Enchantress say, "for the Angry King could take it."

Alicia stopped for a moment after her statement and looked back, but the white light was gone and the Enchantress was no one to be seen. She took a deep breath and headed towards the red bolts again, creating a light to guide her through the dark bog.

"I cannot believe that," Sarah said, standing up. She had been listening for several minutes as Charles explained where he thought the children were and what it meant. She was tired, frustrated and completely exhausted from the last few weeks. She had cried on more occasion than she chose to admit and been awake at night long past the usual hours, pacing in her room and trying to keep the rest of manor running smoothly while he locked himself in this library, shut out from all of them.

As she looked back at him, she saw a changed person, not in form but in mannerisms and thought. Once, he stood tall with a demanding nature that caused everyone to jump when he spoke and to do exactly what was instructed of them. Now, he sat on the sofa with a calm expression, no harshness was present in his voice, no indication that he had behaved as a madman for the past days. Just a calmness that had taken over his mind and his very soul. An absolute conviction that the belief he spoke to her of was founded.

"I know it is difficult at best to believe this, but I tell you, Sarah, it is true. The children are locked inside this storybook and it will not let them escape."

"Mr. Dupont," Sarah said, walking a step closer to him with a formality that annoyed Charles at the moment, "I assure you that the children are not inside that book," she pointed to the Storybook sitting on the sofa next to him. "I cannot believe I am hearing this from you at all."

He stood up and took Sarah’s hand for a moment. She did not look at him for a long moment.

"I know how it sounds, Sarah, I know what you are thinking. When I was first told this fanciful tale I thought the same thing. I could not accept the possibility either," he let go of her hand and moved a step away. "How could a book possess the ability to open itself? How could it create a world outside of our known one? Why would anyone say such a thing?" He had turned back to her as he spoke. "It is preposterous, ridiculous and completing unfounded in any reality."

"Yes, it is." She said, softly.

"I do assure you here and now, the words I speak are truth. Never I have been more certain than at this moment." He moved a step in towards her. "The children have walked through the door to another world and right now, they are consumed within the Storybook." Charles looked deeply into her eyes. He wanted her to believe him, he wanted her to understand. This was the moment of truth for both of them and if only she could see that it was possible. But he saw what was in her eyes and it was disbelief and fear looking back at him. He sighed.

"Mr. Dupont, please," she held pleading in her eyes now as she looked at him. "I beg of you to reconsider this position. You are a businessman how can you believe this? Children walking through storybooks, other worlds of imagination and flights of fancy? Surely you can see this cannot exist."

"Yes, Sarah, it does," he said letting go of her hand and walking back to the fireplace. He was disappointed, but not defeated. He had to convince her, somehow. He turned back, advancing on her. He took her hand leading her to the sofa.

"Please sit down, there is more," Sarah reluctantly sat down next to him on the sofa. He took a deep breath and Sarah could see he was struggling for his next words. "I know this is true, for you see this book was written by my wife." He picked up the Storybook and placed it in her lap. "She penned the title on the cover." His hand felt over the title written on the cover of the book, bound in leather. It looked very well kept and preserved to Sarah. The letters were written in a beautiful hand with the S and the B completed with a swirling design in uppercase cursive. Charles reached out and opened the book to Sarah. She saw the back of its cover, blue outline with the same beautiful hand that penned a name inside.

"It was the date of our first anniversary when she wrote that," he explained. "I had given her a colorful quill made of peacock feathers from a business associate of mine for our anniversary that year." Charles stood up and walked again to the fireplace. His calmness that had been evident in the last conversation was slowly turning to frustration as he continued. Sarah sat patiently waiting to hear what he was about to tell her. She looked down once more at the book and Emily’s name. It was very real now to her. The rumors of life in the manor that circulated around Emily’s existence came back to her. Emily Moore, the most beautiful women in London was just the beginning of this talented person, Sarah thought. She was a writer of stories, an excellent hand scribe and even more, Charles had been completely devoted to her. His look and the mention of her name as his hand lingered over it, told her how important she had been to him.

"She penned a tale of a beautiful world named Novella," Charles began again, facing Sarah. "Complete with childhood fantasies and utilizing many of the children’s faces, if not names, from the manor. She wrote page after page inside the book, completing chapter after chapter of fanciful, tall tales. Mermaids, fairies, a Great Enchantress who kept the knowledge of the world while her counterpart was the Good King, a kind and giving ruler of Novella who held the key of truth. The tales were told to the children all the time. There wasn’t a time I didn’t hear June or the other children reciting the latest story of Novella...." he paused and turned away slightly, "of course, that was in the beginning when the Emily’s world was still filled with light." Charles paused for a long moment, Sarah placed the book back on the sofa and stood up.

"I am sorry for your wife’s death," she said, slowly, reaching out and touching his arm. "Truly. I have only heard words of kindness and generosity flow about her. She must have been a wonderful woman whom you miss greatly."

"Sometimes I believe I do," he started and looked at her. His eyes held concern as he reached out and placed his hand over hers. "Sometimes, I believe, it to be a relief that she is gone from this world." Sarah looked confused at him for a moment. "You must understand although Emily was a beautiful, loving woman, she had a darkness that consumed her and in the end it consumed all of us."

"I don’t understand," Sarah began.

"No, nor did I for many years. It wasn’t until the darkness took over her mind and seeped into the manor that anyone took notice." He removed his hand and moved a few steps away. "You see, she was not well. She had an illness not of body but of the mind and it grew with each passing day of our marriage. Those grand stories of heroes and adventures became faded behind a mask of deception and lies she kept hidden from me for many months. She wrote for endless days in that book on and on. Every time I believed her to be done without any more pages in the book left, somehow, and I do not know how, they reappeared blank and ready for more words. I questioned her about it and even more intensely when she stopped attending social functions, something that was always a part of her life."

"Please sit down," he said, moving back to the sofa. Sarah did as he asked sitting next to him and waiting to hear more about this beautiful Emily Moore. "Sarah, it was not something to be seen in the beginning. Emily was younger than myself by many years and I often attributed her strange ways to her youth. But the signs were present, whether I wanted to see them or not. One night after only a month of moving here to the manor, I found her in her dressing room, ripped apart one of her newest gowns she had just worn that night to a party. When I inquired of her what was wrong, she simply replied, it needed to be destroyed." He looked away and shook his head. "I thought at the time, foolishly that she was angry over the design or the look of the dress, I could never have imagined any other reason for the strange behavior. After that incident, I was unable to watch her as closely in the following months. Children were arriving at the manor and work was to be done in the hiring of teachers, completing the final construction and settling into the new business of boarding students." He took a breath and poured himself a glass of brandy, offering one to Sarah. She refused.

"You do not need to continue," Sarah said, standing up.

"No, I must. You must understand about the book and about Emily or we shall never find a way out for the children," he said quickly. Sarah sat back down.