Frost Arch (31 page)

It was half an hour before I heard the crunching footsteps in the snow just beyond the stall door. I slid from the stool and stood upon my weak, shaky legs waiting for my friends to enter. First Camryn entered; her red curls speckled with snow, then Jack a few paces behind. Neither of them said anything until they had hung their coats upon two hooks.

“Well?” I pressed.

“We couldn’t find him.” Camryn said, a little short of breath.

“We looked for as long as possible.” Jack said quickly, “It’s getting dark now, and the snow was becoming thick.”

I groaned, “I don’t believe he ran off like that.”

“I’m sure he will come back soon. You know how he doesn’t like to be alone.” Camryn said absent minded, stroking a nearby Pegasus.

“I’m going to wait here until he comes back.” I decided.

Jack shook his head, “Avalon, you can’t neglect your chores any longer. You’re already on thin ice. Any more negligence and you will be booted from the premises.”

I bit my lip, “Camryn, you’ll keep an eye out, wont you?”

“Of course, I’m always here.” She confirmed.

Once I was back inside the manor I bustled about cleaning and organising. At one stage Charles asked me to clean the Master’s study, but not to worry about Sebastian Forsythe being bothered by me because he was currently having dinner in the dining hall with his wife. When I entered the study it was the same as usual. Not only was this a study, but it was also a library and an observatory. A large winding staircase was towards the south of the large room, which led to a huge landing above. From below you could barely see the large mechanism used to gaze at the stars. Of course I had never been up this stair case, that isn’t to say I wasn’t curious. I stood below for several minutes, vaguely polishing and dusting surfaces, my eyes straying upwards every now and then. Hawthorne and Seth Swaggart were heavy on my mind and each time I thought about either it made me feel sick to my stomach. When it was time for bed I would make one last trip to the stables to see if Hawthorne had returned. I decided that if he hadn’t I would go looking for him tomorrow afternoon during my lunch hour.

As for Swaggart, well, I didn’t know what to think about that. I was scared out of my mind, but Jack seemed to think he was talking nonsense. He said that Seth’s power of so called “death detection” was much too far-fetched, because Jack believed that life is what we make it, and nothing is predetermined, therefore making Seth’s power impossible. I didn’t know what I believed in. I guess I believed in fate. I thought it was fate that I had met Hawthorne. It had been perfect timing that the night I happened to run away, Jefferson was getting ready to depart for the city. It was also perfect timing that Hawthorne happened to be on his way here. I guess in that sense I did believe in fate. So did that mean that death was predetermined too?

I ushered the thought from my mind and found that I had been staring up at the landing containing the enormous telescope that pointed towards the large glass dome ceiling. It was quite pretty indeed. Before I had thought about it at all I found my feet moving towards the spiral staircase. The black night sky could be seen clearly through the glass dome ceiling. A perfect night for flying, I thought. Hawthorne could change his coat to match the heavens and no one would ever see us. I placed my foot upon the first metal stair and hesitated. The Master was currently having dinner with his wife in the dining room, an affair which should take at least half an hour. After all I had been in this room no longer than five minutes. What was the harm in having a little peek? On my first day Charles had told me never to get caught upon the Master’s Observatory landing, but technically I didn’t plan on getting caught. What would the harm be in simply ascending the stairs anyway?

By the time I had finished reasoning with myself I was already halfway up. A few more steps later and I was upon the vast landing and smiling to myself.

The astronomical telescope was of massive proportions with lots of funny little knobs and levers around it. It was beautiful and frightening to look up at something so large. I daren’t touch it for fear that I might leave a fingerprint upon its gleaming surface.

I was momentarily distracted by a doorway towards the far side of the landing. I hesitated as I took a step towards it. It looked harmless and insignificant. Hardly important looking. I guessed it must be a storage room of some sort. Perhaps parts for the telescope? How could I pass up the opportunity to tinker with spare parts of this beauty?

I moved towards the door and outstretched my hand to touch the doorknob. Turning it I discovered that it was not locked and I would indeed be able to enter. The hinges creaked slightly as I slowly opened the door. The room was very dark because it had no windows or candles lit around it, but an extinguished oil lamp was visible on a little table right next to the doorway. I scowled, cursing my Power and fumbled in my pockets for the little box of Fire-Sticks Jack had given me as a present when my Power had first abandoned me. He said he had bought them at the Market, in a small little stall where they made and sold all sorts of old and useful little tricks for people who needed them. Stupid little sticks. Matches, he had called them. In my opinion the fire they produced was no match indeed to my Power. I had been using these Matches to light the Fire’s in the mansion ever since my little problem arose. Jack had even laughed at me when I had asked what they were. Why should I have ever seen or used one before? I’d never had any use for the blasted little things until now.

Lighting the oil lamp I picked it up and let it illuminate the dark room.

It was magnificent. The whole area was full of interesting gadgets and trinkets that looked decades, no, centuries old. On a table near to me I picked up a strange rectangle looking device that had the numbers zero to nine upon little square, squishy buttons. Next to that was another little rectangle device that had buttons labelled things like ‘volume’ and ‘AV’. I smiled at the oddities around the room, discovering many strange things that were clearly not from my time. Whatever I had imagined to be in this room, it certainly hadn’t been this. These were not broken or spare parts for the telescope but pieces of history, hidden away from prying eyes. For the first time I noticed a small stack of papers upon one of the many tables. It was held down by a small wooden box. Curiosity got the better of me and I riffled through the sheets.

Article No.001 – Dated Approx 2029 B.A – “travel telephone machine” – used for communication – human technology – Radiation.

B.A was a common short-hand I was familiar with meaning ‘Before Apocalypse’ referring to the time when Humans alone were dominant on the earth. Flipping through more pages I discovered much of the same content.

Article No.042 – Dated Approx 2045 B.A – “Television Picture Box” – entertainment – Radiation
.

Article No.057 - Dated Approx 2010 B.A – “Fire Lighter” – Fire – Vandalism
.

So it seemed Master Forsythe had an obsession with pre-apocalyptic technology. Not only that, it seemed the Master had an obsession for the human way of life. I wasn’t sure why, but this made me smile and I felt calmer suddenly.

These things were thousands of years old, parts of history, and according to these records, helpers in the damaging of the earth. Although I should have thought these things evil, I was quite captivated. Such small things had held such power and dominance over the human race at one point, and they didn’t even know it would lead to their demise.

It made me wonder what would lead to my demise. Was it right in front of my nose?

My pondering was cut short as I was having a peek at more of the objects. I heard the study door downstairs creek open suddenly, and heavy footsteps enter the room below. Instinctively I crouched low to the floor and held my breath. Was supper time over already? I felt like I had barely been here for ten minutes. Below I heard a cork being popped from a bottle and liquid being poured into a glass. If the Master planned on retiring in his study tonight, I would be here for a very long time. I silently crept from the room after blowing out the oil lamp and placing it silently upon the right table. I tip toed across the landing and peered over the edge so I could see the entire room before me. The Master was below, sipping some wine and riffling through some papers upon his desk. With a heavy sigh of a tired, old man he sat behind the desk and put on a pair of spectacles. I grimaced and retreated further back on the landing as not to be seen in case the Master happened to look up. How would I leave this room without him spotting me? I kept myself hidden upon the landing, listening intently for any sign that Master Forsythe might leave. I sat upon the landing, hidden behind the giant telescope for at least half an hour. I was becoming mind numbingly bored and picking at bits of lint upon my clothes. My heart leapt when I heard the creak of his chair and footsteps shuffling across the floor. He might be finally leaving, I thought hopefully. It was growing increasingly late and people would be looking for me, no doubt. Jack might just have a brain haemorrhage. He tended to worry about me a lot. Which is fair enough, really, I thought reasonably, I do seem to be a magnet for bad luck.

I felt my body tense with fear as I heard the definite sound of one smartly polished shoe placing itself upon the winding staircase. Then another. Oh no, please no. I cringed at the sound of Master Forsythe ascending the stairs to the landing which I happened to be hiding on. What kind of cruel joke was the world playing on me these last few months? As the footsteps sounded closer and closer I desperately searched for a hiding place. The only place I could go was back into the dark room where I would most definitely be trapped. But that room was dark and full of objects. I might be able to hide in a shadowy corner and go unnoticed. I crept back towards the door silently, which I had left ajar and slipped into the room, closing it silently behind me. It was pitch black and I couldn’t see a thing. What was stopping me from tripping up and making one hell of a racket? I felt my way around the room, hugging the cold stone walls which sent shivers through my body. As I reached the back of the room a ran my hands over something unfamiliar which I hadn’t noticed during my previous exploration. By the feel of it I seemed to be standing before a large cloak wardrobe which was against the back wall of the dark room. I would have to be quiet and quick. Surely it would only be a few more steps until he reached the top? I pulled on the door handle of the wardrobe. Success! It was unlocked. As I pulled it ajar it creaked slightly, but not loud enough to be noticed. Before it would be too late I slipped inside the musty wardrobe between the cloaks upon hangers and closed the door silently. I was immersed in darkness now and couldn’t see my own hand in front of my face. Everything was very quiet and I prayed that perhaps the Master wouldn’t even enter this room. I could hear him moving across the landing beyond the door. With a cringe I heard Sebastian place a key inside the room door. I heard him give a grunt as he realised that he had left it unlocked since his last visit here. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say he was in his mid sixties, so it would be perfectly normal for him to forget something simple like locking his secret room.

I was suddenly reminded of Noah’s secret dungeon, but I forced the unpleasant thoughts away. The doorway was flooded with light from the landing as the Master opened the door and I made out Sebastian’s silhouette in the frame through the gap in the wardrobe doors. As I observed him I saw his silhouette ignite a stupid Fire-Stick and light the singular oil lamp just as I had done previously. He didn’t even seem to notice that it was already warm. With the room full of flickering light now I managed to watch the happenings more easily. This man was not my Master right now, but an old man admiring his collection of pre-apocalyptic gadgets. He did not touch any of them, simply pulled a tiny duster from a draw and began brushing off the fresh layer of dust that had accumulated there since their last clean. No wonder none of the other staff had seen this room, for the Master cleaned it himself to ensure that no one came here.

I wondered why he had to keep his prized possessions under lock and bolt in a secret room like Noah had done with Madeline’s possessions. Even thinking his name left a pang in my heart. Part of me was angry at him, angry for what he had done that night. Another part felt sorry for him and the fact that he had to drown his sorrows in alcohol to cope with the pain of losing his love. Another part of me still had feelings for Noah Forsythe, as stupid as that was. Had he not been a perfect gentleman in all our evenings together? It had only been that one night of disaster where he had lost control. I often wondered why he had left the morning after. Had he felt overwhelming guilt, and couldn’t bare to face me? I couldn’t be sure, but I hoped that he did regret what he had done. After all, because of him I couldn’t use my power any more.

Time seemed to go at a snail’s pace as I crouched in the wardrobe, cramped and claustrophobic, my breathing sounding much louder than usual. The air was thick and dusty, and I found myself short of breath. Master Forsythe moved around the room slowly, and my skin began to perspire as I overheated due to the confined space and many cloaks surrounding me. I couldn’t be sure how long I sat there, but I guessed it was well over an hour. My muscles ached and screamed, protesting to be stretched and moved. One of my legs had been dead for well over forty minutes, and I could feel the pins and needles spreading over my body like a disease. The Master was closer to the wardrobe now so it was even more crucial that I not make a sound. I simply could not move a muscle without being discovered. How embarrassing it would be if I were found crouched in the absurd position.