Chapter 3: Elinore's Prediction

         Alastair walked down the hallway, he could feel his son’s presence, and the boy was not very happy. He tried feeling Elizabeth’s presence but the wards worked in preventing him from contact with her, strangely though he was able to reach her earlier, she must have done something to activate them again. He would go see her as soon as he tended to his daughter. Alastair was quite proud of her, that at such a young age, she could be such an accomplished telepath, but she did not have any control over that power yet. He would have to explain to her that is what he feared, the unbridled power, not his precious little girl. She was guarding so fiercely it was like slamming into a brick wall every time he tried to reach her.

            Alastair finally came to Elinore’s door and knocked, he heard her sniff and then make her way to the door. He grabbed her into his arms and hugged her as soon as she opened the door. His poor daughter’s face was puffy and red; her eyes just as puffy and tear stained. She laid a hand on his chest and sniffed again.

            “Papa did I make your heart stop beating?” he cradled the child and stroked her dark hair.

            “No my heart stopped beating a long time ago. I do not blame you for anything daughter you are very special.” She looked at him with her large brown eyes, she sighed and he felt his still, cold heart ache with love for the little girl.

            “Momma always told me I was special, but I’m really not like other boys and girls am I papa?” she nestled against him and he felt himself relax, this was such a tender moment and he cursed Elizabeth for keeping him from moments like this with his daughter.

            “No my dear you are not like other boys and girls. Your momma has some special qualities about her, I’m not sure she has ever told you what they were though. I think your momma wanted you to have a normal childhood, to be friends with other little girls and boys.” He sighed and went on, “Your momma did not have an easy childhood because she was special. But I will let her tell you about that. You my dear have what some people call telepathic abilities. Meaning when you become overly emotional, power flares like a fire and it seems to react to the weakness of the person it’s directed it.”

            She chewed her lip and surprised him by how she grasped the situation. “So like a moth that is attracted to something bright, the bright knows the weakness of the moth, and the moth dies because of the power of the light.” He hugged her closer, he would really have to start training, and teaching her room, she would excel at alchemy.

            “Exactly, my weakness is sunlight, when you were upset your emotional flare of power sought my weakness and my body started reacting as if I were in the sunlight.”

            “Can you teach me how to control this power papa? I don’t want to hurt you like I hurt the boy down the street.” She started crying again, he was shocked at her statement, he looked into her face and caressed her hair, pain and confusion were mirrored in her eyes.

            “My darling I can do anything you want. Can you tell me about this boy?” she smelled of cedar and the vanilla scent he loved, she wiped a hand across her nose and snuffled. Then bit her lip and nodded, he admired how determined she was.

            “He was a boy that lived down the street, he would always tease me and throw rocks at me. I just wanted to play with my doll but he continued to throw rocks at me.” She took a deep breath and wiped away fresh tears, “Momma would always scare him away but that day she was sick, my brother must have been causing her to be sick. She was lying in bed and the midwife was taking care of her. So, I ignored the boy but he wouldn’t go away. Then a rock flew and hit me here.” She pointed at her temple where a small scar was hidden. Alastair felt himself grow angry that he wasn’t able to protect his daughter. “I healed fine but it was a large gash, I saw blood and I just sprang to where he was, it was like I was one of the stray dogs we saw fighting in the streets. I beat him and the just felt my anger flood out of me hot and boiling. He screamed and I couldn’t listen to his screams, I felt myself bite into his neck, something crunched between my teeth and I bit harder. There was so much blood, the midwife came and quickly brought me back inside. I remember the whistles being blown and people screaming. I was feeling very strange I remember looking at Momma from the floor. Then I felt something heavy inside my head telling me to sleep, then Momma saying she is a beast like me.” The small girl’s body shook and heaved as fresh tears streamed down her face.

            “You killed the boy because you shifted, it wasn’t your fault it was only instinct, I must teach you how to control your shifting powers as well. It is well that you did shift it helped to heal your wound.” He brushed his fingers over the scar and she shivered. He was angry that his daughter had to endure that treatment from some street urchin.

            “Papa don’t be angry he didn’t mean to. He was scared of me and the other boys told him that if he taunted me and threw rocks that my ghost would not come for him in his sleep.”

            “Sorry, but I will train you, now I must go tend to your momma.” She opened her mouth and he placed a finger on her lips, she nodded understanding. “I am sending in Gretchen, she has been with me since I was a young boy, she will get you settled. When your momma is well I will take you to her.” He stood up and made his way out the door.

            “Promise papa? You will take me to momma soon?” he smiled and then frowned at the alarmed look on Elinore’s face.

            “I promise, but there is no reason to look so forlorn. Everything is fine now.” He almost didn’t hear the barely audible reply that turned him to ice.

            “No papa by the morning of tomorrow things will not be fine, I love you.” He let the door close behind him and made his way to Elizabeth’s room, he needed to talk to her about their daughter’s abilities. He saw Franz his butler coming toward him, the man’s brows pinched together. The other man bowed and looked extremely nervous, Elinore’s words rang in his head.

            “Sir there is a disturbance in the city several bodies have been found mutilated. Since our mistress, her unborn child, and young daughter have not been seen or heard from. There are people looking for her and well your reputation is already,” the man shrugged helplessly.

            “Tighten security and get everyone ready to head to my country home. We must be ready by nightfall and gone from here.” The weight behind Elinore’s words echoed in his head, he shivered, the other man bowed and hurried off. It was time to try to rationalize with Elizabeth or force her to shift so he can transport her as his beloved family pet. He hated having to force her to do thing against her will but it was for all their safety. London was in an up rise; Jack the Ripper has struck and three people are missing from one of England’s most noted families. This was not going to end well if he couldn’t get her to cooperate.