19 Chapter 18: A Path in Ash and Ruins

When Lillian and Rosalinda return to Lord Argon's mansion Lillian immediately searches for Malinda and goes to her mother's room in hopes she will be there. She does indeed find Malinda there as she enters the room. Her mother is sitting in a chair knitting while Malinda is dusting.

"Lillian! I got word you were back.", Lillian's mother greets her. Her and Lillian share in a loving hug.

"It is nice to see you again Lady Lillian. I hope your trip was well.", Malinda says hugging Lillian afterwards.

"It was great and I did much enjoy myself.", Lillian tells them happily. She truly did enjoy the peace and relaxation that was offered to her at the castle, but she feels even more thrilled to be with the people she loved again; especially after witnessing the scene with Prince Winston and hearing what happened the night she arrived.

"You must tell us everything that happened. How was it seeing Prince Winston again?", Lillian's mother presses eagerly. It becomes clear to Lillian that her mother is recovering well now from her trauma now. It is a shame that the aging that her grief put on her though could not be reversed. She had lost weight and her hair is dull now in color. Even the swelling underneath her eyes betrayed the amount of crying she did though it is going down.

"I will mother. I will, but first let me rest. Can we talk this evening over dinner...just the two of us?", Lillian asks.

"Of course, dear.", her mother replies understandably.

"Malinda, if you are not busy here anymore I would like your assistance.", Lillian says to Malinda.

"I'd be happy to. I will only be gone a moment my lady.", Malinda says first to Lillian then to Lady Lackburd.

With a nod from her mother Lillian and Malinda go off to her room. As they unpack Lillian's bags, to which Lillian insisted on helping with, they discuss what each of them found out in each other's time. They are careful to keep their voices low and hushed.

"Rosalinda knows nothing of her father's actions even if he is responsible. I suppose it was foolish to think that she would though.", Lillian speaks first.

"Not true. He could have easily shared with her some sort of plan that he had in mind should she become the future queen.", Malinda replies. "Anyway my search also proved almost fruitless.", Malinda goes on to report. Malinda's words peak Lillian's interest. She turns her head to her.

"What do you mean?", Lillian asks.

"Well...not surprising Lord Argon is careful to control the flow of information in his household as I suspected he would. He carefully assigns certain workers to certain parts of the house. The most trusted are allowed to go to parts of the house that would usually be off limits to anyone even family members. Of these servants the most trusted is his secretary who there is only one of and who handles all the letters and announcements that come into this mansion.", Malinda reports. Lillian's eyes widen. It is clear that it is the secretary they need to get to and if not him his work space.

"Malinda that is brilliant!", Lillian says excitingly, but still in a hush voice. "That is what we need! Do you know him? Have you ever seen him?", Lillian says.

"I have seen him, but I do not know him. He does work near Lord Argon's private studies, I know.", Malinda answers. Lillian starts to think of what to do next right then. Finally, it comes to her.

"Tonight either after or during dinner you could try to get to him and where he works.", Lillian suggests.

"I know what you're thinking, and I'm telling you now that could prove difficult.", Malinda says. "But I will still try.", she says after pausing.

.......

That evening Lillian has dinner with her mother as they agreed. Lord Argon didn't require them to eat with his family every day as is the custom when staying at another's home. Although, they are careful to show respect and eat enough times with them, but this is a night just for mother and daughter. Lillian shares with her mother everything that occurred while she stayed at the royal castle.

"That is amazing. Those two boys sound like a force to be reckoned with. That Vincent sounds like he has the strength of God with him.", her mother comments after hearing the tale of Prince Winston and Vincent. "I do hope they are alright now.", she continues. They laugh and share other stories as well. All the while Lillian silently prays to herself that Malinda is alright.

After dinner Lillian sits in her room. Malinda is supposed to be on her way back to report what happened and if she found out anything. As Lillian contemplates whether to call another servant to prepare her a bath she hears footsteps moving past her door. They sound like they are heading in the direction of her mother's room. Thinking it is a servant she opens the door to call to them, but before she can make a sound she sees it is Lord Argon and that he is alone.

Curious about what the lord could be doing here she decides to follow him. He does indeed go to her mother's room. Does he have something he needs to discuss with her mother? Lillian knows there is no way her mother would just sit down with Lord Argon and small talk. Her mother doesn't like him even before the incident. The only reason she stayed here is because they are not in the state to leave. On top of that there is the recent trip to the capital her and Rosalinda made.

Lord Argon opens the door freely. Lillian does not go in and instead waits and listens outside. She first hears the sound of conversation then after a few exchanges she hears her mother's voice louder now.

"How dare you!", she says along with the sound of a slap. Suddenly Lord Argon's voice becomes more aggressive and demanding followed by the sound of struggling and resistance. "Let go of me! Don't you touch me! You no good snake! Aargh!", Lillian hears her mother again.

Lillian is instantly on alert and looks both ways down the hall in a panic. There are no guards anywhere to be seen. Heart racing Lillian takes it upon herself and remembering Prince Winston's words she rushes in the room herself.

Lord Argon has his hand around Lillian's mother's throat and her pinned to the bed. Lillian runs over and jumps on the lord's back and starts pummeling him in his face. He rears up and throws Lillian off him, but letting her mother go. As her mother gasps for breath coughing in a fit Lord Argon turns around to Lillian. She looks up to him with terrified eyes, but her voice is still strong.

"You get away from her! You murderer!", she says to him. He looks down at her for a moment without replying. "I know you did it...! You are responsible for what happened!", she accuses him.

"Oh really now. It seems my suspicions were correct about you. You are smarter than you look. Now that I think about it I suppose you will do rather than your mother.", he says unshaken. Lillian gasps.

"Noooo...!", Lillian's mother says from the bed full of rage. "You will not put a hand on my child!", she says with eyes of fire and hostility. She lunges for Lord Argon and struggles against him, but is put down by a punch to the head. Hitting the floor with a grunt. As it happens, Lillian thinks of running, but what if instead of coming after her he goes for her mother again.

Lillian doesn't know where Malinda is and whether if any guards are nearby and the last thing she wants is for someone she loves to suffer. Suddenly Lord Argon grabs her and drags her out the room. She twists and turns and screams to no avail. When they are in front of her door, though she doesn't realize it, Lord Argon pins her against the wall and covers her mouth with his hand. Her eyes are full of terror and tears as she looks at him with muffled whimpers. It isn't long before the rising fear and panic in her heart causes her to blackout with the last thing she sees is the eyes of an evil spirited man.

.......

When Lillian opens her eyes again she finds herself in her room on her bed. Her body hurts and only moves her eyes. She finds Malinda seating by her side as her eyes focus. Malinda jumps to her and takes Lillian's hand in hers.

"Lady Lillian...", she breaths. The scene almost seems familiar to Lillian who for some reason doesn't have the energy to speak clearly. Her throat feels sore and her voice low and raspy.

"Malinda? What happened?". Lillian asks. She can't remember a thing from last night and why did her body hurt so much.

"I heard you found your mother dead in her room. It is said she killed herself and you fainted grief stricken when you found her.", Malinda says in an unconvinced tone. The mentioning of her mother brought back her memories of what really happened. She tries to sit up, but not without an uncomfortable pain that forces her to lay back down.

"No... No...", Lillian says slowly. "That's not what happened at all."

"I know.", Malinda pauses and her expression turns to one of sorrow. "But your mother is dead.", she says tearfully. The news causes Lillian's heart to sink like a boulder in a river. Her mother is dead. Lillian slowly sits up in her bed. Tears swell in her eyes and flow down her face until she starts sobbing uncontrollably. Holding herself around her stomach and her knees bent she opens her mouth in a silent wail that soon becomes the loudest and most sorrowful cry.

"Nooooooo-aaah", she wails through sobs of pain and loss. All her pain, her sadness it comes all at once as the little strength she did obtain fades. Malinda holds her in her arms as her own tears flow rocking back and forth. The world seems to slow to almost a complete stop and their grieving seems to last for eternity. Everything seems to fade around them with only Lillian's young voice wailing.

"I can't stay here! I can't stay here! I can't stay here!"