Chapter - 6

Shelly fought hard to break free of her father’s grasp. She wriggled around in his arms like a worm in a hawk’s mouth, but no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t get away from him. The more she moved and tried to escape, the tighter he held her.

“Let go of me!” she finally shouted.

Daniel tightened his grip around her arms, his icy blue eyes locked on hers, “Those creatures you described could kill you. My only daughter is not going out into the darkness alone!”

“You can’t let Austin out there alone to die! I won’t let you!” she scolded.

“He’s not out there alone! Malcolm and Marcus are both out there searching for the lad! Now, come with me. We must be getting home. If your uncles find him, they’ll see to him returning home,” Daniel soothed.

Shelly nodded in defeat and the two headed out of the stables. They walked down the little hill and around the side of the house to the front. Daniel turned the handle on the front door and opened it. He then held the door open for his daughter and motioned for her to step inside. Hesitantly, Shelly turned her head towards the dirt path which lead to the forest in hopes to see Malcolm and Marcus heading back with Austin, but no one was in sight.

“Come on sweetheart. I’m sure they’ll be back soon,” Daniel said in a soft tone.

Shelly stepped inside of the cottage and Daniel right after her. He closed the door and followed her into the kitchen where her mother was waiting worriedly.

Sybil, rushed over to Shelly and hugged her tightly and cried, “I’ve been worried sick! I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you!”

Shelly hugged her mother in return and soothed, “It’s alright, Mama. I’m home now. I’m sorry to have worried you so.”

Sybil looked up at her daughter lovingly and caressed her arms with her hands, “I think it’s time for us to have a sit down, for I have some good news.”

Shelly looked over at her father and he nodded towards the dinner table. 

She raised a brow in confusion and followed her parents over to the table. Daniel took his place at the head of the table while Sybil grabbed some of the leftover pie from dinner. She placed a slice on 3 plates and poured some milk into 3 goblets. She then set the plates on the table. One in front of Daniel, another in front of Shelly, and one more in front of her seat of the table. After she sat the plates on the table, she brought over the goblets of milk and handed one to Daniel and one to Shelly before she took her seat and Shelly took her place at the table after her. Sybil took Daniel’s hand and smiled, and Daniel grinned in return as she turned her attention to Shelly.

“Shelly, there’s something we need to tell you,” Sybil said and held Shelly’s hand with her free hand.

Shelly placed her fork on a napkin beside her plate, “What is it?”

“We weren’t quite expecting this to happen just yet,” Daniel chimed in.

“I’m with child! You’re going to have a little brother or sister. Isn’t that exciting?” Sybil blurted out.

“Really!? I’ve always wanted a little brother or sister! Congratulations,” Shelly squealed in excitement.

“Yes, yes. Settle down now. This explains why your mother has been exhausted lately. She’ll need your help with the housework from now on,” Daniel informed.

“I’m happy to help Mama with whatever she needs,” Shelly replied.

Daniel smiled, “I’m glad to hear it!”

“But who will help Mama during my schooling and while you’re tending to the farm? Shouldn’t someone be here with her?” Shelly worriedly asked.

Daniel stroked his goatee, “We’ve sent for your Aunt Mylene. She should be here tomorrow morning. That way your mother will have someone to tend to her while we’re away.”

Sybil suddenly grabbed the dinner table, feeling a bit unsteady. She cuffed her hand over her mouth, feeling like she was going to be sick. She tried to get up to head outside, but she felt so dizzy that she couldn’t make it out of her seat. She fainted and almost fell out of her chair, but Daniel was quick to catch her. He felt her head for a fever, but there wasn’t one.

“Quick! Grab a cool cloth!” Daniel requested worriedly.

Shelly shoved her chair back away from the table and grabbed a cloth. She then ran outside and grabbed a bucket of water from the well and quickly brought it inside. She sat it on the supper table and dipped the cloth in the cool water, wrung it out, and handed it to her father. Daniel took it from her and dabbed Sybil’s face with it. Momentarily, Sybil slowly opened her eyes.

In a weakened tone Sybil asked, “What…what happened?” 

Daniel gasped, smiled in relief and worriedly asked, “I’m afraid you fainted Darling. Are you feeling alright?” 

“I’m a bit tired, but I’m alright,” Sybil replied.

“I’ll go fetch the midwife?” Daniel offered.

“No, darling. I just need some rest. I’m afraid I’ve been over-exerting myself lately. Help me into bed?” Sybil asked.

Daniel and Shelly agreed and helped Sybil upstairs and into her room. While Daniel helped her into bed, Shelly placed a vile of fresh water on the stand beside her bed.

“Is there anything else you need darling?” Daniel asked in a concerned tone.

“No, my love. I only need rest,” Sybil smiled and replied.

“Very well then. We’ll let you get some sleep,” Daniel said as he lovingly placed a kiss on her forehead and left the room with Shelly right behind him.

The two of them headed into the kitchen. Daniel took his seat back at the table and Shelly gathered up the plates and goblets and washed them.

“Come. Take a seat,” Daniel instructed.

Shelly gave a slight smile, nodded in agreement, and took her place at the table next to him.

Daniel thought for a brief moment. He decided to change the subject from Sybil’s current condition to the young man who had been courting his daughter. He thought perhaps he should at least get to know the lad who had stolen Shelly’s heart, and maybe… just maybe, he could allow the two of them to continue to court, and eventually even marry.  

Daniel sat back in his chair and inquired, “I know you’re worried about Austin, but I’m sure Marcus and Malcolm are on their way to bring him home safely. Tell me more about him. I know his father very well. Mr. Hawthorne is a very respectable man. However, I don’t know much of his son, Austin.

Before Shelly was able to reply, the front door of the cottage flew open with a loud ‘BANG.’ Daniel and Shelly shoved their chairs away from the table and stood up as Malcolm entered the room. From the grim expression on his face Shelly knew he didn’t bring good news. 

“Sir, it’s the young man you sent us to find,” Marcus began.

Shelly’s eyes widened in fear, “Where’s Austin?” 

“He’s outside on the back of Marcus’s horse, badly injured,” Malcolm informed. 

Shelly grabbed her skirts and rushed out of the kitchen. She ran through the foyer and finally out of the front door with her father and Malcolm right behind her. She ran down the steps on the front porch and to the dooryard where she found Marcus standing by his horse. He patiently waited for Malcolm to assist him with the young man who was draped over the back of the horse’s saddle. Malcolm approached Marcus and the two began to take the young man down from the saddle.  

“What in the bloody hell happened?” Daniel asked.

“Sir,” Marcus and Malcolm said in sync.

“We found him out cold. He has some real bad wounds. It looks as if he had been in a sword fight. He hasn’t said a word since we found him, Sir,” Marcus informed.

Malcolm looped his arms under Austin’s armpits and held him up as he waited for Marcus to help him carry the lad inside. Austin’s head laid against Malcolm's shoulder. His once tan skin was now pale with rosy cheeks, and he shivered as his body lay limp against Malcolm's. Shelly approached him and stroked his cheeks and they felt rather hot to the touch. She then felt his forehead and arms to confirm he does in fact have a fever.

In a panicked tone, Shelly called out, “His skin feels as if it’s on fire!”

“Quick, bring him inside! I can’t have him going back to his parents like this. They’ll be asking questions and I can’t have the village in a panic. Bring him into the guest room and lay him on the bed.” Daniel instructed.

“Yes Sir,” Marcus and Malcolm agreed in sync. 

Marcus then grabbed the young man’s feet and helped Malcolm carry the young man inside. The roaring fireplace welcomed them when they carried him into the guest room and laid him onto the bed. The room was decorated with dark wood paneling and hardwood floors. The bed sat in the middle of the floor with a deerskin blanket on top, a nightstand on each side, and two chairs sat in front of the windows with a small table in between them. Austin groaned in pain but remained unconscious. Daniel began to fear for his wife and daughter’s safety. He thought about sending for Mylene sooner, but even if he sent Malcolm with a parchment, he probably wouldn’t reach her until morning. He knew the only thing he could do was to make the young man as comfortable as he possibly could. He headed over to the bed to examine him. The hem of his shirt was torn up to his navel and the front of it was completely soaked with blood and sweat… but who’s blood was it? The only way for Daniel to know for sure was to remove the remaining part of the lad’s shirt. Shelly rushed into her mothers’ rooms and opened the drawer of her mother’s dresser where she kept her sewing supplies. She grabbed a pair of shears and quickly headed back to the guest room. By the time she had gotten back in the room, Daniel had ripped Austin’s shirt open. Whatever was left of the buttons from his shirt scattered onto the wooden floor. Daniel’s eyes widened in fear after he exposed Austin’s upper body. Four sets of claw marks were on Austin’s chest, stomach, and arms. His neck had a very dark bruise as if someone had tried choking the life out of him, and a goose egg on his forehead. 

In fear of his wife and daughter’s safety, he quickly wrote a letter to Mylene. He knew the possibility of getting the letter to Mylene before the first daylight would be slim to none, but he still had to try. The letter read; ‘Dearest Mylene, I do wish this letter would bear some good news, but I’m afraid Sybil has fallen ill, and we really need your help! Also, I’m afraid for my family’s safety. A young man from the village has encountered a beast of a man and I fear the monster could be one of the exact same creatures we had encountered back home. I have instructed Malcolm to escort you to my home in Willowdale. Please, Madam, there is no time to waste! My wife and the young man need your help and I know of no magic that can defeat this illness.’ He then signed the parchment paper. 

Daniel handed his letter to Malcolm, “You will travel to the edge of the forest and hand this to Lady Mylene personally. Do not leave until she agrees to accompany you here.”

“Yes Sir! I’ll get this to Lady Mylene as fast as my horse can carry me!” Malcolm said and headed out front to mount his horse.

Shelly dipped a cloth into the cool water from a bucket and cleaned the blood from Austin’s face and body. After that, she tended to his wounds the best as she could. For several hours, she continued emptying the bucket and refilling it with fresh, clean water and continued to switch out the rags when they would get warm in hopes to reduce his fever. Her father would check on the two every other hour to see if any progress was being made but to no avail. Daniel just had to know what happened in the forest that night. More so, he needed to know if he had been bitten. If indeed he had been, Daniel knew he would have to be put down like any other rabid dog. Two hours had passed by, and Daniel entered the room to check on Shelly. He leaned up against the wall and studied her. He could tell by the look in her eyes and the way she cared for the young man, that she did indeed love him.

Daniel crossed his arms, “You really do love him, don’t you?”

Shelly looked up at her father and tears filled her eyes, “More than anything, Papa. 

Daniel grinned and stroked his goatee, “I’m sure he will pull through. After all, he’s in the best hands a man could ask for.”

Shelly smiled, and turned her attention back to Austin, and lovingly stroked his stubby cheeks, “I do hope so.”

When her father didn’t reply, she turned to look at him, but he was gone. She shrugged her shoulders and returned her attention to Austin. She was so tired and exhausted that she decided maybe a quick break from sponging him down was in store for her. She laid her head on his shoulder and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep. Sybil stepped into the room and smiled slightly. Seeing her daughter asleep next to a bucket of water while sitting at his bedside, brought back memories of the day she had stayed awake all night at her Daniel’s bedside after he had been injured during the war with King Robert of Chelandra. 

Sybil placed her hand on Shelly’s shoulder, “Let me take over for a while so you can get some rest. You’ve been at his side all night. Clearly, you’re exhausted.”

Shelly lifted her head, sat up, stretched, and let out a big yawn. She was surprised to see her mother out of bed. She knew that if she allowed her to switch places with her, that her father would be irate. 

Shelly placed her hand over her mother’s, “I’ll be alright. Take care of my little brother or sister and get some rest. Aunt Mylene will be here soon.”

“You’re right, sweetheart. Just remember, you need your rest as well,” Sybil said and left the room.

The morning light began to peer through the curtains of the room. Shelly got up from Austin’s bedside and spread open the curtains. She then opened the windows to allow the fresh air and the glory of the morning sun into the room. The gentle breeze blew the curtains and filled the room with warm fresh air and the morning sun lit up the room. She took her seat back at Austin’s bedside and held his hand. After a few minutes of silence, she grabbed her book off of the nightstand beside his bed and began to read to him. When she turned to the second page of her book, she heard horses trot along the dirt road and stop in front of her house. Faintly, she could hear a woman’s voice speaking to her father just below the window. She heard the door open and close from downstairs and footsteps on the stairwell shortly after. She felt Austin’s forehead and scruffy cheeks to find the fever persisted and grabbed the cloth from the bucket and began wiping his head, neck, arms, and chest again. Austin shivered from the trails of the cool water left behind from the cloth but remained asleep. Momentarily, Daniel entered the room, followed by her Aunt. Mylene wore a teal gown, which flowed behind her as she walked. The gown adorned a long-braided belt with silver and gold leaves embroidered into the material with different colored little dew drops behind the design. She had long silver hair, which she wore the sides pulled back into a braid that swayed below her waistline with every move she made. Her gentle blue eyes looked upon Shelly and Austin curiously and she smiled slightly as she approached them. 

“May I?” Mylene said, motioning towards Austin. 

Shelly gave a nod and got up from his bedside. She moved to the side and stood by her father so her aunt could get a good look at the young man. 

Daniel put his arm around his daughter and turned his attention toward Mylene, “If you need anything, please let Shelly know. She has been taking care of him all night. I’m sure if he should awaken, she will be the first presence the young man will want to see.” 

Mylene, leaned over the lad and pulled his eyelids up to view his pupils, then she felt him for a fever and looked at his wounds, “I’ll need some freshwater in the bucket, and some leeches to clean the wounds and hopefully bring the fever down.”

Shelly nodded and quickly grabbed the bucket and headed outside while her father stayed with Mylene. On her way to the well, she emptied the bucket beside the house and headed out to the back of the house where the well sat in the middle of the garden. She tied the rope to the handle of the bucket and lowered it down to fill it. Once the bucket was filled with freshwater, she pulled the rope up and quickly untied it and rushed back inside of the house with the bucket in hand. She went up the stairs as fast as she could go. The bucket was heavy and carrying it upstairs without spilling a single drop wasn’t easy. With slow and steady steps up the staircase, she finally made it back into the guest room. She sat the bucket onto the floor next to Mylene and took her place next to her father. 

Mylene, turned her attention towards Shelly, “Thank you, child. I have already gathered the leeches. I figured I could do something to help you. After all, you’re just a child and you’ve been taking great care of this young man.”

Shelly smiled slightly while Mylene worked on Austin. She cleaned each of the wounds and then placed four leeches on each of them. 

Daniel placed his hand on Shelly’s shoulder, “Why don’t you get some rest, sweetheart. There’s nothing left to do but to wait this out. Besides, Austin’s in good hands.”

“You’re right Papa, and I am quite tired,” Shelly replied. 

Shelly placed a kiss on her father’s cheek and headed to her room to get some rest. She undressed and slipped into her chemise and climbed into bed. She didn’t mind taking care of Austin. In fact, she enjoyed just being with him, although she had wished the circumstances were different. She snuggled her head into her pillow, eyes shut, and slowly felt her consciousness ebbing away. 

Several hours had passed while she slept, and she would still be asleep if Mylene would not have woken her. She quickly sat up and a concerned look spread upon her face.

“Mr. Hawthorne has woken. His fever persists, and he is very weak. The good news is his wounds are on the mend. I had to stitch up the deeper wounds. But he’s awake, and he’s asking to see you,” Mylene informed.

Shelly flung the blanket off of her and rushed to the bedroom door. 

“Shouldn’t you get dressed before entering a man’s room?” Mylene called out.

Shelly glanced down at her chemise and hurried to her armoire. She pulled out her school dress and slipped it over her head. Mylene then tied the apron around her waist. Shelly quickly brushed through her long hair and braided it on each side and tied it in the back. Now she was ready to visit her courtier. She grabbed the doorknob, twisted, and quickly pulled the door open. She grabbed her skirts and hiked them above her ankles and rushed down the hallway and into the guest room. There laid Austin with his head propped up on a couple of pillows. He felt at ease when he saw her. To see her father had gotten her home safely and she was alright meant more to him than his own life. Shelly ran to his side and sat down beside him. She sat on the bed next to him and wrapped her arms around him snug and firm. 

Austin groaned in pain, “Be careful. Your aunt says it’s going to take some time to heal. She said I could heal fast, or I could heal slowly. It all depends on my body and how it reacts.” 

Shelly sat up, and caressed his scruffy cheeks, “What happened out there? In the forest?”

“Yes, son. What exactly did happen out there,” Daniel chimed in as he entered the room and pulled up a chair and sat down next to his bed. 

Austin slowly but carefully sat up. He winced a little when he stretched his arms to prop himself up into the pillows and groaned. 

“I feel stupid really. I should’ve stayed when you asked me not to go into those woods,” Austin replied.

“Easy son. Just tell us what you remember so I know what we’re up against,” Daniel said. 

“I only saw the one creature…I remember running through the forest, blinded by the dark of night. Tree branches brushed in front of my face and I ran through vines that had grown in between the trees. I tripped a couple of times on the roots of trees that had uprooted over time, but I brushed it off and kept going. I was focused on one thing and one thing only… killing the creature who threatened your daughter. As I passed by some brush, the hideous creature jumped out from behind it. I’m ashamed to say that he caught me off guard and scared the life out of me. When he tried to lunge at me again, I managed to grab his dagger and slide the blade out of its sheath. I took a few steps back as he was circling me and when he came at me again, I stabbed him in the gut. He howled in pain, but he still wouldn’t go down. Instead, he lunged at me again and when I jumped backwards, my boot got caught in between two rocks. He was able to get a few good hits in with his claws until I tried to pull my foot out of my boot. The creature struck at me again, and when I tried to avoid his last blow, my boot let loose from the rock, and I fell back and hit my head. That’s the last thing I can remember until I woke up here,” Austin explained. 

“You are incredibly lucky he didn’t kill you. Marcus and Malcom found you out cold. You have a hell of a bump on the head, and you will need a good night’s rest. You should be fine to go home tomorrow,” Mylene informed.

“Did you get a good look at the creature?” Daniel curiously asked. 

“If you’re asking me if it was the same beast Shelly and I encountered, then the answer is yes,” Austin replied. 

Daniel took a seat in a nearby chair and his mind began to race. He had hoped Austin was attacked by a bear or even a stray dog, but the more he heard about this beast of a man the more it sounded like the beasts that attacked his kingdom. If that were the case, how would he keep his family safe? He had no army with him except for his two royal guards and he had not heard from Aasiyah in several months. What if they can’t return to their home? As far as he knew, the creatures made themselves at home in his kingdom and took over the village. Momentarily, a banging on the front door followed by a man’s voice shouting and demanding for someone to open the door disturbed him from his thoughts. He got up from his seat and stormed downstairs to see what the commotion was all about. 

Suddenly, Shelly was hit with an awful headache, and her surroundings began to fade. Austin’s face became a blur. She grabbed onto Austin’s blanket, tightly and braced herself for what was about to come. She could see her father walking down the stairs and heading to the foyer. It was at this moment she knew she was having a vision. Instead of the guest room, she was now in the foyer behind her father. She could hear a man banging on the front door like a maniac, demanding her father to let him inside or he was going to break the door down. 

Her vision then took her outside of the cottage. There she could see it was Mr. Hawthorne who was continuously banging on the door and shouting. Daniel grabbed the doorknob, twisted, and pulled. The door swung open. Mrs. Hawthorne placed a hand on her husband’s shoulder to warn him about the door being open, but it was too late. Mr. Hawthorne didn’t pay her any attention and smacked Daniel in the nose with his fist. Shelly gasped at the site of her father being hit, but knew it was an accident. Daniel quickly held his nose and yelled out in pain. This scared Mr. Hawthorne out of his wits. He jumped backward and the heel of his shoe crushed his wife’s foot. He flailed his arms around trying to keep his balance, but the more he wriggled around the more the heel of his shoe dug into Mrs. Hawthorne’s foot. She cried out in pain and seeing as her husband was having a hard time in gaining his balance, she shoved him forward and he almost toppled on top of Daniel. But Daniel quickly grabbed Mr. Hawthorne’s arms and stopped him from falling. Mr. Hawthorne brushed off his shirt and turned to face Daniel. Mr. Hawthorne’s face was becoming more crimson, and his eyes seemed to spark with fury. 

Mr. Hawthorne pointed a finger at Daniel and shouted, “This is all your fault!”

Daniel put his hands on his hips, “My fault? How exactly is this my fault!?

“Never mind that! Where’s my son?” Mr. Hawthorne demanded.

Daniel sighed and took a deep breath. He knew he wasn’t going to get anywhere with Mr. Hawthorne as long he was acting like this. He pondered on what to say to him. Should he be honest and tell him his son was attacked by a beast or should he tell him a bear attacked him? 

“What’s wrong with you? Can’t you answer a man when he asks you a question?” Mr. Hawthorne said.

“He’s in the guest room. I must warn you; he was attacked by a wolf in the forest last night. My brothers, Marcus and Malcom found him. The doctor stitched him up, but recommended he not get out of bed until tomorrow,” Daniel explained. 

Mrs. Hawthorne crossed her hands over her heart and cried, “My baby, alone in the forest!”

“Take me to him at once!” Mr. Hawthorne demanded. 

Shelly’s vision faded and before she knew it she was staring face to face with a very worried Austin.

“Darling? I said, are you alright?” Austin asked in a concerned tone.

Shelly blinked in confusion and finally managed to answer him, “Yes… I was just lost in my thoughts. I’m sorry. What was it we were talking about?” 

Just then, Shelly heard footsteps coming up the stairwell. She knew it was her father escorting Mr. And Mrs. Hawthorne into the room, but how could she possibly know it was them? She thought about asking her parents about what had just happened in private, but she quickly cast that thought aside. ‘Surely they will think I’m crazy and send me off to the nunnery to get saved,’ she thought. The door opened and sure enough, Daniel stepped inside with Austin’s parents behind him. When Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne stepped into of the room, they noticed their son laying on the bed while Shelly sat next to him. When she noticed Austin’s parents she got up from his bedside and stood by the door next to her father while his parents took a seat next to his bed. Mr. Hawthorne lifted the bandages to look at the wounds on his son. When he saw the deep claw marks, he crinkled his nose and quickly covered them again.

“Was no ordinary creature that did this. What the bloody hell happened to him? I want an explanation from the very beginning!” Mr. Hawthorne demanded. 

Daniel took a deep breath and explained how he found out about Austin courting his daughter behind their back, the first encounter Austin and shelly had with the creature, and Austin taking off after it. Silence spread the room after Daniel explained what had happened. A scowl formed on Mr. Hawthorne’s face. The type of scowl where if looks could kill one would be dead. That was the look he was giving Daniel. His son was in Daniel’s care when he was with him in the barn. He should have looked after him, and he tried, but was trying good enough for Mr. Hawthorne? No! To him Daniel should have tried harder. Mr. Hawthorne shoved his chair back and stood up. His wife covered her mouth as he spit out words through clenched teeth a lady would not dare to repeat.

“This is all that little floozy’s fault!” Mr. Hawthorne shouted as he pointed a finger at Shelly. 

Daniel folded his arms, “Now see here!” 

“My son almost got himself killed over your daughter! She’s a witch! She put a spell on him to make him think he was in love with her! My son would never court anyone without my permission!” Mr. Hawthorne yelled.

Daniel and Mrs. Hawthorne tried to calm him down, but he just wasn’t having any of it. He was furious with Daniel for not contacting him when his son was brought to his house, and Daniel couldn’t blame him. He would feel the same way if something ever happened to Shelly and someone, he trusted knew about it. 

“My daughter has nothing to do with why you’re so angry with me! Tell me, John, how is this entire situation my fault!?” Daniel demanded to know. 

“Perhaps you should have more control over your little harlot, or even perhaps she should burn at the stake for controlling my son with her witchcraft! Mostly, you should have come to me and told me about my son being injured. Instead, I had to find out from Erick where my son has been,” Mr. Hawthorne said through clenched teeth. 

Tears streamed down Shelly’s cheeks. Normally she would remain quiet and not get involved in adult conversations, but this time she would not remain silenced. This time she would have to be heard. 

Shelly wiped the tears from her cheeks, “You Sir are out of line! I am not a witch! I have done nothing but love and care for your son. If you ask me, you are a bully, and I will not be bullied by you!”

Daniel placed a hand on Shelly’s shoulder and smiled. It used to worry him about what sort of queen his daughter would make in the future but now it’s all very clear to him. She will be a great queen someday. 

“Mr. Bradford, you better control your daughter, or I’ll show her some manors!” Mr. Hawthorne scoffed. 

Austin carefully sat up in his bed and winced, “Father! That was uncalled for. She’s been caring for me since her uncles brought me back here.”

Mr. Hawthorne pointed his finger at Austin, “You better watch your tongue boy!” 

“Watch my tongue or what? Last I knew I’m not at our home. I’m in Mr. Bradford’s home, which means I’m under his protection!” Austin folded his arms and grinned. 

Mr. Hawthorne clenched his fists and Mrs. Hawthorne interjected, “John Hawthorne! That is enough of this nonsense! Normally I wouldn’t speak out of turn, but this has gone on far enough! It is obvious they have been taking good care of our son. Let’s go home…our son can return when he’s well enough.”

Mr. Hawthorne turned and faced his wife. He cupped her rosy cheeks. Then it happened. He reared back and slapped her hard. Hard enough to make her fall to the floor. 

“Mother!” Austin called out. 

“Let that be a lesson to you boy! I am still the man in the family. I can punish you or your mother the way I see fit!” Mr. Hawthorne sneered. 

Austin slowly got out of bed and went over to his mother who was still on the floor, rubbing her red cheek. He helped her up and hugged her. 

Tears streamed down her cheeks while he hugged her. He took in her scent of her sweet perfume. The very scent that always calmed him when he was a young boy.

Austin turned to look at his father. His normally calm and pleasant demeanor slowly changed, and his face contorted in an all-consuming anger. His nostrils flared, and his mouth quivered, as he spoke, “I will kill you for this! Do what you will with me, but when you lay a hand on my mother, you are treading in dangerous territory! Mark my words, touch her again in a fit of rage, and I will kill you!” 

Daniel rolled his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair. He knew if he were to say anything in defense the argument would just keep going on and on. Instead, he had a plan. One he knew would work.

“Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne, may I see you in the study? I would like to speak to you both in private,” Daniel asked.

“Of course, Mr. Bradford,” Mrs. Hawthorne slightly smiled.

Mr. Hawthorne nodded in agreement. After the three of them left the room, Shelly approached Austin. She smiled and he embraced her in his arms in return, and Mylene left the room so the two could have a little privacy. 

“Let’s get you back into bed,” she whispered. 

Austin agreed and wrapped one of his arms around her shoulder. She led him to the bed, and he sat down on the edge. Shelly helped him pick his legs up and put them under the blanket, and he sank his head into the pillows. 

“Is that alright? Or do you need more pillows?” she asked. 

“When I look at you, I feel perfectly fine,” he grinned. 

She put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips. She knew he was still hurting, and he was trying his best to hide it, but he wasn’t doing a very good job of it. The pain was written all over his face. He patted the empty spot on the bed next to him and frowned. 

Shelly giggled and rolled her eyes playfully and crawled onto the bed and snuggled up next to him. He wrapped his arm around her and she laid her head on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry for the way my father treated you today. What he said about you…it just wasn’t right.” 

“What he said wasn’t true, you know? I am not a witch, nor do I have special powers. If I had, your wounds would already be healed.”

He chuckled, “There’s certainly no doubt you can handle yourself. You sure told my father a thing or two!”

“Well, he certainly deserved it!”

The two laughed together about the afternoon’s events. She was so happy Austin had woken up. She couldn’t begin to express to him just how happy she was. She buried her head into his chest and gently wrapped her arm around his waist. He turned his head and placed a kiss on her forehead in return. She closed her eyes and began thinking about their future and just how happy he would make her if he were to ever ask for her hand in marriage. That is if her father would come to love him and accept him. When she opened her eyes, she was in an entirely different room. Her vision was blurry, but she could hear the voices of her father and Austin’s parents as if she were in the same room with them. Her vision came into focus and she looked around the room and noticed bookshelves against each wall, a dark wood desk sat in the middle of the floor with folded parchment papers sitting on top, and a tall dark wooden chair sat behind the desk. No doubt she was in her father’s study. 

Daniel and Austin’s parents entered the room. He turned to close the door behind them and noticed Marcus and Malcolm rounding the corner. 

He poked his head out of the door and whispered, “PSSST! PSSST!” 

When the two noticed Daniel trying to get their attention, they headed for the door. Daniel gestured for them to come a little closer so the Hawthorne’s wouldn’t hear what he was about to say. 

“Stand outside until I’m finished. No matter what you hear, do not enter this room, and do not let anyone in,” Daniel whispered. 

Marcus and Malcolm took their places outside of the door, and Daniel shut the door behind him. He wasn’t quite sure what to say to Mr. Hawthorne. All he knew at that moment is he was furious about the way he had spoken about his daughter. He had no right to call her names or accuse her of doing anything he had no proof of. 

“How dare you speak about my daughter that way! Say what you will about me, but you will not speak of my daughter that way!” Daniel shouted angrily.

“I was only speaking the truth!” Mr. Hawthorne yelled. 

Daniel clenched his fists, but no matter how badly he wanted to tear him apart, he resisted his anger. Instead, he walked right up to him and grabbed him by his arms. His icy blue eyes locked on Mr. Hawthorne’s light-green coloured eyes. His pupils grew small and the colour of his eyes brighten as he compels him.

“Forget about everything you have seen today. Your son is staying with your brother to help him with the farm on his land. You haven’t laid eyes on him since he left, and you never spoke with Erick. Go straight home after I give the instructions to do so,” Daniel instructs. 

Mr. Hawthorne stood frozen in place as if he were in some sort of trance. Mrs. Hawthorne wasn’t sure of what exactly was happening, but her senses were telling her she needed to get out of there and fast. She tried to flee, but Daniel was too fast for her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and dragged her to the middle of the room. He twirled her around and gripped her arms just as he had done with her husband. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Now she was afraid. It was from that moment she knew Daniel wasn’t human. She didn’t exactly know what he was, but she knew his actions weren’t normal. 

“You’re not human…W-What are you?” 

“That’s none of your concern. If you do as I say, I won’t hurt you.”

She nodded. Not just because she thought she had no choice, but for the safety of her family as well. Daniel locked his eyes on hers and compelled her to do just as he did her husband, but this time he gave the instruction to go home and not to come back. The two agreed in a zombie-like trance. Daniel opened the door and held it open for them to leave. 

He leaned over to Malcolm and whispered, “Follow them home, and do not leave until they made it safely inside their home.” Malcolm nodded and followed the two downstairs.

The vision then faded and Shelly opened her eyes. She gasped at what she had just witnessed, or had she really seen anything at all? She had two visions in one day, and she was beginning to become concerned. She had never had visions before and she began to wonder what it all meant. Was everything she had seen a dream or was it reality? Was this something she would have to cope with for the rest of her life? Both questions she had no answers to. She was really beginning to think she should bring this up to her parents. Once again, she brushed it off. She wasn’t about to risk her parents locking her up and throwing away the key. She took in Austin’s scent and hugged his waist a little tighter. 

She smiled, “I know this may be a little soon, but I think I’m falling in love with you.”

Austin remained silent. He didn’t move or speak which wasn’t like him. 

“My love?” Shelly said and jiggled his side with her hand. 

He still didn’t move or make a sound. She listened to his heart beating. At least he was still alive. ‘Perhaps he had just fallen asleep?’ She thought. She looked up at him. His eyes were closed but his mouth was open. She sat up on the bed and shivered. She was drenched in sweat. Had she been sweating while she had the vision? She felt her forehead, but she didn’t feel the least bit warm. She cupped his cheeks with her hands. Austin wasn’t just asleep. His fever had spiked. She quickly got up and darted out of the room to find her Aunt Mylene.