Here's the next installment of Jon's adventures with mom and the other ladies in his life.
I hope you like it as much as I did writing it. Please vote and comment to tell me how I'm doing.
Any storyline suggestions are always welcome. So without further ado...
*
Last Night in Arkham:
After the puppy pile with the twins and Veronika resolved itself, and it do so quite nicely I might add. We all fell into a deep restful sleep, or so I thought. The sound of a spectral memory woke me in the wee hours of the morning. It was the music of a harp and the only one in the house was located in the ballroom. I turned my head and saw that the twins were snuggled close on my right side. When I turned to look on my left Veronika was nowhere to be seen.
Troubled by the way that Liz had left us I got up to investigate. I carefully rose to my feet so as not to disturb my sleeping sisters and on bare feet made my way to ballroom. There seated on a stool was Veronika, eyes closed, playing the harp with such grace and beauty it was achingly sweet. When the piece was finished I clapped softly amazed at her talent.
"You weren't supposed to hear that," she said without opening her eyes.
"But I did and it was beautiful," I told her. "You have been keeping secrets young lady."
"Music is my fortress, my refuge from the outside world," she replied.
"I hope I haven't mistreated you so poorly," I said now concerned that all was not well between her and I.
"You have been brilliant and a perfect Master," she said her eyes snapping open. "I didn't mean to infer that you were the cause of my distress."
"Is there anything I can do for you," I asked.
"You are the first man to ever ask that question... I want... what I want from you is the chance to share a part of your life."
"Gladly Veronika," I told her. "Provided I need your help in the future you will reciprocate."
"I will help you anyway I can."
"Good, I have had a sudden idea and your musical background may be of great help."
"Really," she blinked and a slow smile formed. "Just ask and I will tell you everything you want to know. If I don't know it I'll research it for you."
"Good now come to bed," I said and she stood up and raced over to my side as if afraid of something in the dark. "You're trembling."
"It just means I am happy," Veronika whispered. "I'm glad you heard my song."
"Me too."
Mom showed up at promptly O-Dark-Thirty much to the dismay of everyone wanting to sleep in late. So after a community shower and fresh clothes that mom provided we all sat down and had a nice bite to eat together. Mom had mixed feelings about all of her babies going off at once but knew the wisdom of the decision. She wanted us safe and sound until the issue with the Senator and his son blew over.
So while the girls sat on the back porch and sunned themselves mom and I took a walk in the woods. I let my feet guide me while we walked in relative silence. I think it was the smell of wood smoke that guided my steps faster now. The woods began to thin and there to my surprise and delight was the mysterious cabin by the lake. Rising from the chimney of the cabin was a thin tendril of dark smoke. Someone was living in the cabin right under our noses.
Mom kept behind me as we approached the cabin. It was a sturdy construction and I could see where it had been repaired over the years. I knocked on the door but there came no answer from within. So I called out as I opened the door.
"Hey we are friends is there anyone home?"
There came no answer from within so I peered in and saw that it was currently empty. The dying fire and the remnants of a recent meal told me that somebody around here gets up even earlier than my mom.
"Well," my mom asked.
"Nobody is home let's not invade their space shall we?"
"Why the hell not, this is your property."
"Because I think I know who it is that is living here and I want to respect their privacy. Let's go check out the building over there."
I closed the door and left the cabin's interior unmolested. We walked around the front of the building and another twenty yards or so to a smaller building that appeared as sturdy as the first. I recognized the smell of blood right away, it's a prison thing, and was much more cautious now. But when I opened the door the only thing that greeted us were two deer carcasses that were hanging to drain the blood from them. They were recent kills and by the precision of the arrow strikes on the bodies our guest was one hell of a marksman. I borrowed some rope from our guest and closed the door.
"Nothing here but a house guest it would seem," I told mom.
"So who do you think is living here," she asked as she turned to leave.
"Do you really want to know or is that just idle curiosity?"
"I really want to know," she said over her shoulder.
"Your dad," I told her and watched her stop and turn slowly.
"You're not serious, what makes you think it's him?"
"Call it an educated guess. Besides we have more important things to concern ourselves with at the moment."
"Like," she said with a growing smile.
"Like how to leave a lasting memory in that sick little mind of yours," I told her as I tied a slip know into each end of the rope I was holding.
"What are you doing?"
"Shut up and stick out your hands," I said.
"What did you just say?"