"Quiet people have the loudest minds."
― Stephen King
Shaking heads and tearful eyes filled a room. Eyes only looking down for Agustin who stared at his bandaged hands. He could remember the screams of someone. Who was it? Agustin thought. Who was it that was screaming? "Amara"! Thomas said, holding her hand. "Calm down". Ah yes it was Amara. Agustin thought. She was the one that was screaming. Another voice was yelling a man's voice. It wasn't his own and he couldn't think who's voice it was.
Was it Stellans? No Stellan was under the burning beams. Eddison? Yes it was Eddison. "Agustin help me"! Eddison said in a cry that he had never heard before. Agustin began to remember it all. Canary had tried ot push Stellan and Amara out of the way of the fallen beams but Stellan still held on trying to bring Canary who could not move her own feet with him. But he couldn't and instead the beams fell on both Stellan and Canary. It had knocked them out instantly.
And for a while the three of them stood there. Staring not understanding what had just happened. Looking back and forth between Canary and Stellan who laid face down on the ground and the beams that were on fire on top of them. "Ah-". Amara began. "Ah-Ahhhh"! A blood curdling scream came out of Amara. Snapping both Agustin and Eddison out of their daze. Eddison ran forward and dragged Amara backwards and began to lift the beams one by one. "Help me, Agustin"! Eddison yelled. And Agustin ran over and began to help him lift the beams off of them.
"Get the fire off"! Eddison yelled. "Pat it off"! He yelled again. And they began to pat the fire off of their clothes. Now Canary only had a nightgown on that was already tattered and when they had patted the fire off of Stellan and her the sight was too gruesome to describe. No….too gruesome to remember. And the events afterwards of how they got out of that burning estate none of them could make the words to tell anyone about it. Just that when they had made it to the garden it began to rain. It began to rain hard and no sound was made except the rain and burning estate behind them.
Agustin kept reliving that night over and over and soon a couple of weeks had passed by and there was barely any word from the Wolf family and Whitewood family who were back in the capital now. Today would be the first time Agustin would see Eddison since the fire. Him, Shimon, and Tearina sat in Shimon's office in quietness. None daring to eat the sweets and drink the tea on the table. "How are your hands healing". Tearina said quietly in almost a whisper. "Fine". Agustin replied tiredly. A knock was heard at the door and they all sat up in their seats knowing it was Eddison before the butler even announced it. Eddison walked in his face haggard and dark circles under his eyes he sat down in a huffed and quickly went to the tea in front of him.
"Eddy". Shimon said. Eddison held up his hand. "Give me a moment please". Eddison said in a raspy voice. He down the cup of tea and slouched back in the couch and stared at the three. He closed his eyes. "Stellan Wolf is up and about". He said his voice cracking. "And Canary-"? Tearina said. "Carry". Eddison said staring up at the ceiling. "When she isn't high on milk of the poppy she's in a medical induced coma". Eddison replied. "But milk of-". Agustin began but was stopped by Eddison holding up his hand. "Milk of the poppy is addictive". Eddison said finishing his sentence. "We know this which is why we stopped giving her milk of the poppy-". Eddison sighed and covered his fave with his hands.
"The doctors have been giving her medicine that keeps her asleep". Eddison said. "But its hardly any help you can still see that she's in pain". Eddison said. "Why is the Wolf boy up and running but Canary isn't". Shimon hissed. Everyone stared at Shimon in shock. Never thinking those words would come from him but Agsutin of all people. "Everyone is thinking it i'm just saying". Shimon said.
"She only had on a nightgown". Eddison said. "Stellan had on much more clothing than her". Eddison said looking tired. "I'll say what really no one is saying". Agustin said, finally looking up from his bandaged hands. "Those fire the great fire, whatever they want to call it wasn't an accident". Agustin said in a low voice. "What-"? They all said.
"The fires weren't an accident". Agustin hissed. "We all think it I'm just saying it". "Of course everyone would think it would be surrounded. The nobles estates are surrounded by trees and wood easy for other estates close by to catch on fire but the Whitewood estate is alone in the back area". Agustin said looking manic.
"The servants, some of them, weren't killed by the fire". Agustin said. "What do you mean"? Eddison said, sitting up. "Some of them had stab wounds". "Stab wounds"? Shimon said. "Yes stab wounds, some of the servants weren't killed by the fire but someone killed them looking to cover up their death by the fire destroying their bodies". "Why were Canary and Amara left in the mansion in secluded areas when everyone else was awoken by the fire and moved out of the mansion"? Agustin said. "The Wolf boy was already there helping people out of the mansion and me and Eddison helped them rest out among those people you would think they would go to the secluded areas to get Amara and Canary". Agustin said.
"My father-". Eddison said. "What"? "My father said something multiple times he told the servants who were helping him and my mother get out that Amara and Canary were in the back". Eddison said. "But the thing is these were new servants". Eddison said. "Not the usual servants that are there". "There can be many explanations for that though". Shimon said. "Maybe you were short on servants this year"? Edison shook his head. "No, we've had the same servants for the past year. Rarely do we ever change because we have a good relationship with our servants. Why this year? Why out of all the years we get new servants this year the year of the so-called great fire". Eddison sighed. "I don't know". Eddison slouched back down in the couch like he hadn't had rest in years.
"With the new baby and nobles still missing from the great fire my house is in a sort of chaos". Eddison said. "Your father"? Shimon said. "Yes the king has him over locating and fixing the destruction from the fire he hasn't been getting any rest right after he's done with work he's been going straight to Canary's side". There was a silence in the room with everyone trying not to stare at an exhausted Eddison.
"Has it just been Mariquis Whitewood at Canary's side"? Tearina asked. "No, my father, my uncle Lumis, and I have been taking shifts staying by her side". Eddison answered. "Amara and your mother"? Shimon asked. Eddison shook his head. "Amara has come to visit but she doesn't stay by her side". "We shall come visit her as well". Agustin said. "Yes, when is a good time to come see her"? Tearina said.
"Do you really want to see her? It isn't a good sight". Eddison said. "As you are our friend, so is she its only right to see her". Shimon said. Eddison nodded. "I guess you guys could come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow". Eddison said. He looked at his watch and sighed. "I have to get going to check up on Canary father will be leaving soon for work". Eddison said, heavily rising to his feet.
Everyone nodded and followed Eddison out to his carriage. Agustin left not too long after Eddison, each heavy at what they would see when they visited Canary the next day. And the next day came with both rain and darkness. Canary wasn't at the Whitewood Estate rather she was at her grandparents estate. Where the doctors said it would be beneficial for her to stay somewhere she would be more comfortable for her healing and the Longwood capital estate was that.
Agsutin, Shimon, and Tearina had all rode in the same carriage to the Longwood estate and when they had entered into the Longwood estate a faint smell of medicine had already begun to fill the entire estate. It was barely noticeable at the main door but the more they got closer to where Canary was staying the stronger the smell of medicine grew. Lumis stood just outside the door with his arms crossed peaking inside. He didn't notice the three of the walking up until the servant had announced them. "Oh hello". Lumis said.
"Sorry for my poor appearance". Lumis said with these deep dark circles under his eyes. "You are more than fine, you and your family are going through quite the tragedy". Shimon said. "May we enter"? Shimon asked. Lumis nodded. "A forewarning of the smell and look of the room". Lumis said. "Her doctor has just left". Lumis opened the door letting them into the room. The room was dark with a faint light coming from the window. The smell of disinfected and medicine filled the room. Three male figures where in the room the three of them could hardly figure out who they were until they drew closer and realized that Eddison was standing up by the window with his arms crossed. Thomas was sitting slouched down in the chair next to the bed and another man who none of knew who he was was standing over the bed looking down at Canary who was laying on her stomach and her back covered in wet wrappings.
"You have company". The unknown man said. Thomas who they now knew was asleep stirred from it and looked at the three of them. So did Eddison who seemed in a daze and didn't know that they had come into the room. "My apologies". Thomas said standing up. They all three shook their head and ushered from him to sit back down and Thomas obliged. "This is my older brother Thaddeus". Thomas said ushering his hand toward Thaddeus. "Hello". Thaddeus said moving out of the darkness to greet them.
Now the three of them were taken back at Thaddeus's appearance. His voice was deep so they expected someone more of a stern looking. It wasn't his gentle eyes nor his gentle smile that somewhat disturbed them, it was the fact that he looked like a carbon copy of Canary. It was an eerie semblance to Canary that disturbed them. From the gentle eyes down to the gentle smile. If Canary was a man Thaddeus is what she would look like. Handsome with a deep voice. His skin was dark and smooth looking like velvet. He was even taller than Thomas and Eddison. One wouldn't mistake him of being the younger brother.
Thomas standing next to him was the younger brother indeed and Thaddeus was the older brother indeed. But Canary looked like she could be Thaddeus' daughter and not Thomas's. Eddison looked sort of similar to Thaddeus but not as much as Canary it was shocking. "Errie semblance right". Thaddeus said, staring at Canary. "Uhh- Yes". The three of them said at the same time. "I said the same thing when I first saw Canary". Thaddeus said smiling and looking at Canary.
"You may all draw closer if you wish to see her". Thomas said. "I would just advise you that she does not look like herself". Thomas said. The three of them nodded and drew closer to Canary's bed. She was asleep and laying on her stomach. Her entire back was covered in wet bandages and she had seemed to lost alot of weight. Tearina touched her hollowed cheek and flinched back at the coldness of her body. "She's cold to the touch". Tearina said, worried. "It's the medicine". Eddison said, peering over at her. "She's lost a lot of weight". Agustin said, staring at her arms.
"Side effects from the medicine and she hasn't been eating alot". Eddison said. "She's been mostly sleep". "When shall she wake up"? Agustin. "The doctor said we should give her another week to take her off the medicine". Thomas said. "Until then when the medicine wears off we feed her porridge and put her back to sleep". Thomas stood up from the chair and stretched his arms out. "The Wolf boy is up and walking around". Agustin said, stepping away from Canary. "So i've heard". A sort of frown came on Thomas's face and then as if he told himself to change his expression it went blank. "Severe burns on her back and legs". Thomas said. "The Bandages aren't wet from water, they're wet from medicine, a burn on the back of her neck wrapping around to the front right side of her neck she shall have to cover her neck up with lace or jewelry or some sort that is if she even wants to come back into society". Thomas said angrily.
"And no traces of who or what started the fire this wasn't a normal fire"! Thomas roared. The more and more Thomas talked about the situation the more angry he seemed to grow. Noticing this Lumis who was standing at the door did a couple of knocks calming Thomas down. "Oh we can step out if there are too many people here". Shimon said. Thomas shook his head.
"Though Lumis is helping us keep watch over Canary he won't come into the room". "The first night Canary was brought back to the capital she was asleep when she got here but then the medicine wore off and the screams-". Thomas's eyes were looking off into the distance as if she was seeing something far away. "Lumis won't come back into the room". Thomas said. "He doesn't want to see her like that". Thomas said.
"Let us all get some fresh air away from the smells of disinfection and medication". Thaddeus said. They all agreed and began to leave the room with Lumis still standing outside of the door. "You should also get some air Lumis we shall put a maid here". "Don't worry she will be fine". Thaddeus said pulling Lumis away,