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  "That it is!" They both laughed loudly. "I brought you a towel so you could dry off afterwards, but it doesn't look like it will do any good at the moment," she said while looking how drenched he was. The rain still poured down hard, flattening his dirty blonde hair to his face.

  "That's all right, I'm sure it will let up soon. Thanks though."

  "No Problem. I'm very proud of the effort you have put into livening up this garden. It hasn't been this well taken care of since my mother tended to it. She was the one who planted everything."

  Elijh nodded a thank you, feeling a little embarrassed.

  Jocelyn felt slightly depressed now at the memory of her mother. She looked down, and the basket full of tomatoes caught her eyes. "Wow, we haven't had produce grow that big in years!"

  Elijh blushed a little. "Really? How come?"

  "The gardeners we have had over the years didn't do their jobs too well. And, sadly enough, it has been months since we have had any help around here."

  "Is it because of the... disappearances?" Elijh said reluctantly.

  "I believe so."

  Elijh gulped at her words. He was beginning to get the feeling that someone was close by and watching them. Other than the sound of the rain, he suddenly realized it was quiet.

  "I don't think I'll ever want to eat eggs from those chickens again. I am covered in chicken droppings." Gaspard said to Elijh's utter relief. His nervousness subsided when he now knew that the feeling must have been triggered by Gaspard's arrival.

  Jocelyn giggled. "Then I suppose you will need this towel for more than drying off."

  "Yes, thank you," Gaspard said and took the towel, smiling.

  It made Jocelyn's cheeks turn red despite the cool temperature. She was thankful for the hood she wore. "I was just saying how well you both have been doing around the mansion. My father and I couldn't thank you enough. Also, we would like to know if your quarters are to your liking. I know it isn't much, but it’s been a while since anyone has lived in there for more than a few days."

  Elijh gave her a nervous glance. Did she have to add that last sentence?

  Gaspard noticed his look and stifled a laugh. "Our little hut is perfectly fine. It beats the orphanage we used to live in. I only have to put up with one person's snores instead of ten."

  They all chuckled until Elijh realized he was talking about him. "I don't snore!" He protested.

  "Of course you don't. I was speaking of the rooster," he said innocently.

  "Right," he said and then glared at him. He thought about mentioning how Gaspard screams after he dreams, but thought better of it. It would not only upset him, but nor would he embarrass his friend like that.

  The rain had finally ceased to a light drizzle during their conversation. Jocelyn had lost track of the time. She had to return inside before anyone noticed she was out in the rain. She bid them farewell after giving one long last glance at Gaspard and then hurried inside.

  Gaspard and Elijh continued working until late that night. They went to the kitchen for a quick meal of bread with tomato spread, rice, and a small piece of fatty steak before heading for a short night's rest.

  Elijh sighed heavily as he landed in his bed stuffed of straw and feathers. "I'm exhausted. I could sleep for a week straight," he said as he rubbed his tired eyes.

  Gaspard rolled his eyes in amusement, thinking of how hard his work must be, as he unbuttoned his vest and pulled off his shirt before he got into his own bed. His shirt had dried mud splatters and chicken droppings all over it from earlier that day. He would have to take it down to the stream the next day to clean it since he only owned two shirts.

  "Me as well."

  "It feels like we've been working here forever. How long has it been? A month?"

  "It’s been a week, Elijh."

  "Really? Wow, I could have sworn it felt longer." Gaspard pelted a pillow at him.

  "Hey! I was only joking," he said uncertainly as he threw the pillow back at him. Gaspard caught it before it hit him in the face and fluffed the small pillow back up before he laid his head down.

  "Sure you were."

  "I was never really any good at math anyway."

  "That's why you stick to planting flowers and trimming bushes, eh?" He said stifling a laugh.

  "Very funny, Gaspard." He put his hands behind his head. "Do you think it was a good idea to find work here?" Elijh asked more seriously.

  "Yeah. I like it here. Why?"

  "I don't know. I was just thinking... Maybe we should have looked harder-"

  "Are you kidding?" He turned on his side to face Elijh. "We looked up and down every street in the city for a job opening. Not one store or mill was looking for workers. I think we were lucky to find the jobs we have now."

  "Yeah, I suppose you're right."

  Silence crept over them as they both starred up at the wooden ceiling. Rain pounded hard on the roof. On the right side of the room was a crack in the ceiling and drops fell to the floor noisily. Gaspard made a mental note to fix it when he got the chance. They were lost in their own separate thoughts and drifting slowly off to sleep.

  Their sleeping quarters was in a small cabin on the edge of the mansion's grounds. The only furniture in the room was the two small beds, a table, and a wooden rail to hang their clothes on. The headgrounds keeper, who supervised their work, said they would have to either buy or build furniture if they needed anymore. Gaspard decided he would take up on that idea once he could afford some supplies to build his own. He had always enjoyed making things out of wood when he lived in the orphanage which now seemed a life time ago already. Two windows in the front of their quarters allowed some light to brighten the room once it was sunny out, but during cloudy days and nights the room was dark and desolate.

  "What do you think of Jocelyn?" Gaspard suddenly asked, startling Elijh awake.

  "She's nice. Can't say the same for her parents, though. Her stepmother looks at me like I'm road kill and I know she's just waiting to peck at what's ever left of my flesh."

  Gaspard chuckled loudly. "Awe, come on. They are not that bad." There were a few moments of silence before they both started to burst out laughing. "All right, maybe they are," Gaspard said, practically choking from laughter.

  Most of their conversation continued in small talk about their jobs and their thoughts of all the new people they have met since they started to work at the mansion, until Gaspard reached over to the small table in-between their beds and dimmed the lantern. It was already later then they should have been up and their wariness was getting the best of them.

  His last thoughts still conscious were of his first meeting with Jocelyn and what she said about her family's previous farm hands. Why did they disappear? Did something happen to them, or were they all just coincidentally unable to work anymore so they quit? Was Jocelyn hiding the truth from us? His questions continued like this until he reached a deep sleep and then his nightmares began to fill his mind of memories of his past once again.

  Chapter 4 Mission

  A few miles away, on the other side of Paris, stood a large

  castle. Its walls were sturdy, able to survive any weather, and having been able to do so since the days it was built over 200 years ago. In all aspects, it looked like a traditional medieval castle. The occupants of the house were nothing more than a mystery to the rest of Paris. Rarely was anyone ever seen entering or leaving, but when someone was spotted, their beauty and grace were beyond words to describe. No one wanted to further the knowledge of the castle, as no one was brave enough to go up and knock on the large doors. The mystery made the castle eluding, making it the perfect place for the occupants to live, as most of them had for countless decades.

  Inside the castle, in a large common room area, a discussion was taking place. At the front of the room stood a tall male. His long dirty blonde hair was tied back in a pony tail at the nape of his neck, his dark blue eyes examining the group of twenty people in front of him. He took a few swift, graceful st
eps, as he walked up a small step to a railing diving down the room so that he was slightly above eye level to the rest of them. His pale skin had an eerie look about it as he stood in the dimly lighted room. But, his skin tone wasn't odd among the others, for they had the same pale skin as he did. The room was deathly silent as he took his place, all eyes were on him.

  "What news do we have of the Dautry boy? And for everyone's sake, it better be good. My patience has grown thin with waiting."

  Everyone looked uneasy at this statement. And for what seemed like eternity, no one dared to move. Finally, one of the males took a step up, his eyes never daring to leave the tall blonde.

  "We have finally heard something of the boy, and as fate has it, he has taken a job at the Roux Mansion, Lucas."

  He looked down at his speaker, clearly pleased.

  "Now, this is good news! And your sure it is the right boy this time?" he asked, a hint of venom in the back of his voice, scaring the speaker slightly.

  "Y-yes. We’re sure." He made a point to motion to two other members, one male and the other female, obviously not wanting to take the full blame if it would take the wrong turn as before. "We over heard the young Roux girl greeting two boys. And one spoke of being of Dautry bloodline."

  He grinned widely, his white teeth glinting.

  "Very good. Everyone else can leave, nothing else matters at the moment, but you three," he pointed at each one in turn, "will stay so we can talk."

  The other's left as soon as he stopped talking. One of them, a male with spiked blonde hair, was the last to leave, glancing back almost suspiciously before he walked out the door. God forbid if anyone was left behind but the ones he had pointed out. His temper was nothing to be toyed around with. In mere seconds, the room was cleared of everyone but the four. Lucas began to pace the small area above them slowly, a wondering look on his face. Both males gave uneasy glances at one another, but the female seemed too infatuated with Lucas to even care that she should be worried.

  "I've waited long enough to find the boy, and it's now time to set things right."

  All eyes were back on him as he started to speak. He continued to pace as he talked, but mostly out of sheer excitement then out of questioning. He finally stopped his pacing, leaning against the railing once again, his long fingers wrapped around the top of it as if his life counted on it. He turned his attention to the male who had spoken up before,

  "I've changed my mind. You can leave."

  The male looked at him, confusion on his face.

  "I said leave!" Lucas almost bellowed, causing the man to jump slightly before he rushed out of the room.

  "I'll find someone to take his place, he wouldn't have been up to your new mission." He turned back to the male and female who remained. "What you two, and whomever I choose to accompany you, will do is of utmost importance. And if you fail to do it, I will do nothing short then torture and kill you."

  Their eyes grew wide as they listened to him, his tone was pleasant as he spoke; making the threat he mentioned one to worry about. When Lucas spoke in a pleasant matter in company to a threat, you had better listen, and listen well.

  "You will go back to the Roux Mansion, find the Dautry boy, and kill him."

  "But sir, we don't know which boy was him!" The male spoke up.

  "Why is this any of my concern?!" Lucas shouted. "Kill the other if you have too. Just get it done!"

  "But we cannot kill on the mansions grounds!" The male daringly spoke up again, fear written in his voice.

  Lucas jumped over the railing and landed nimbly in front of him, their faces so close together that the tips of their noses almost touched. Anger was flaring in his eyes, his patience having run out.

  "Did I ever say to kill him there?! Did I?!" He bellowed as loudly as before, causing the girl to take a step back. The male, other than a slight flinch, stayed motionless, not daring to move. "It's obvious I must make a plane. So, Alayna," Lucas stepped back, glancing at the girl, "You will lead the boy away from the mansion, and when he is far enough away," he glanced back at the male, "THEN you will kill him! Is that clear enough?"

  "Y-yes sir," he mumbled, while Alayna just nodding.

  Lucas gave them a look, as if he had just smelled something horrible, before leaving the room, leaving them standing there in utter confusion once more. He climbed the flight of stairs next to the room quickly, walking to the end of the hallway it lead too until he reached the last door.

  However, before he could tap on the door, a call came from inside. He opened the door swiftly and stepped in, obviously not wanting to linger in the room any longer then he needed to. The spikehaired blonde male was standing by a large window, leaning against the wall as he looked out calmly to the city houses in the distance. Lucas didn't bother to step fully into the room aside from shutting the door. He placed his hands into his long black cloak as he eyed the room briefly before turning to the male.

  "Gabriel, it's time you made a point of showing how strong you are."

  The male turned his head to give Lucas a bored look before turning back to his window.

  "I want you to accompany Alayna and Marcel to the Roux Mansion for a little mission."

  "What happened to Blaise?"

  "He's a damn coward! Now will you just focus on the main point here?!"

  Gabriel was the only one in the castle who dared to test Lucas' patience, and it was obvious he enjoyed it.

  "Fine. What's this 'mission' already?" he asked calmly, turning away from the window to take a seat in a large chair, watching Lucas closely.

  Chapter 5 Last Breath

  A rainbow appeared at dawn when Gaspard and Elijh awoke

  the next day. It was a beautiful morning after the previous day and night of rain. Gaspard's dreams kept him from sleeping much at all. He was tired when he had to get up. But, he had grown accustomed to it and it didn't bother him any more than usual.

  Elijh tossed and turned throughout the night from the loud pounds of rain on the roof. He didn't get any more sleep than Gaspard did and by the way he didn't talk much at breakfast, he definitely wasn't in a good mood. He worked sparingly and without much effort. Thankfully, no one had really noticed but Gaspard.

  It was late into the night when Gaspard was finishing up his work in the stables. Elijh had just finished laying down fresh gravel for the walkway to the front doors of the mansion when he came to see if Gaspard was ready to hit the sack.

  "I'm beat. Are you done?" he asked as he walked through the barn doors.

  "Hey Elijh. Can you close the door behind you? I don't want the animals to wonder out again."

  "Sure." He shut the door, it creaking loudly as he did so, and asked if he was done for the night again.

  "You go on ahead. I still have to feed the horses," Gaspard said, as he reached for the pitchfork.

  "Are you sure?" Elijh asked suspiciously. "I can help you with that." He grabbed a bale of hay from a stack in the left corner of the barn, "you'll be finished a lot sooner." He yawned while trying to carry the hay bale to the first horse stall. Just as he was about to drop it half way, Gaspard quickly caught it before it fell to the ground.

  Gaspard chuckled, "Yes, I'm sure and don't worry about me. It should only take me a few minutes. Besides, you look like you are about to keel over any moment now." He threw the hay bale into the stall. "I will meet you at our quarters before you even start talking in your sleep." Gaspard smiled teasingly.

  "Well, all right, if you insist," Elijh said, shrugging his shoulders. "I'll see you later then." He gave him a small wave as he turned to leave.

  "Bye," he managed to reply just before the barn door shut behind Elijh.

  Elijh stretched as he walked, trying to keep himself awake long enough to make it to his bed. The moon was high in the sky and nearly half way to its west setting point. He sighed as he realized how late it was. He was usually asleep by this time and he didn't like the thought that he had to wake in a few hours.

  It was a pe
aceful night; only the sounds of crickets chirping and an owl hooting in the distance. Though, it was still a little too quiet for his liking. He tried to keep his mind on other things to fill the silence as he picked up the pace.

  Something dark moved on the left and caught his peripheral vision. He stopped dead in his tracks as a beautiful woman with wavy black hair and wearing a tight, revealing red suit stood just five feet away from him. He had never seen anyone more gorgeous.

  The woman beckoned him over with one finger seductively. But Elijh stood as still as stone, mesmerized by her beauty. She kissed her hand and blew the invisible kiss in Elijh's direction. He looked behind him and saw nothing. When he pointed at himself in disbelief she nodded her head slowly several times.

  He could not believe what he was seeing. I must be hallucinating, he thought. I guess I'm more tired than I thought. He closed and rubbed his eyes wondering if she would disappear. Though, he hoped she wouldn't. When he reopened them, she moved.

  She was now within inches of his face. Elijh took a step back in alarm. "How.... did you-" The woman gently put one finger to his lips to hush him.

  "Come with me," she whispered into his ear.

  Her voice brought the hair on the back of his neck to stand. It was like ice.

  Beautiful, but dangerous.

  A voice inside his head was screaming at him to run. But he couldn't seem to move his feet. They felt welded to the ground. It was like his mind was telling him to go, but his body wanted him to stay.

  She took his hand and led him to the opening in the forest where she was standing when he first saw her. Her hand was cold against his sweaty palms.

  "Where... where are we going?"

  She turned back to look at him and gave him a sweet, but deadly smile. "I'll show you."

  Please, no one slap me awake, he thought as they entered the dark forest.

  Breaking Gaspard's concentration between work and thoughts of Jocelyn, he heard a piercing scream. He dropped the bale of hay he was carrying unconsciously, and froze. An image of his best friend rose to his mind. Elijh! Gaspard thought. He quickly rushed out of the stable, not taking the time to close the door behind him. Though, he later realized that that was a bad idea. He would have to catch the animals that would escape from the barn after he searched for Elijh. But, his friend was more important.