Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Eastvale, Highway R-17 - October 4, 3:08 a.m.
Minette knew what that household contained, she always had a hunch. She could sense it, the darkness of the place once she sped onto the premise. Still, she continued to drive away from the cottage and toward Eastvale, a confident smile upon her face as she held onto the wheel. 98 miles per hour and she couldn't care, she passed flocks of cars by and watched their headlights disappear into the darkness. Tonight wouldn't be the night to further confront Ines Mermier.
"Ines can bide her time all she wants, but she can't escape the inevitable," she nodded, passing another car along the highway.
Cars were specks, endless ants on the highway anthill and Ines was ultimately one of them. Like the cars fading away from the speeding Mercedes, the dispute with Ines too would be something of the past. Minette would make sure of it, but first she had to discuss her findings with the Queen.
Eastvale, Whitemoor Manor - October 4, 3:25 a.m.
One room glowed in the Whitemoor Manor, the rest remained unlit. No matter the condition of the manor, Minette had to inform the Queen of her discovery immediately, it couldn't wait until morning. She pulled up to the driveway and parked.
"We've been expecting you," the servant opened up the door and bowed before Minette, escorting her toward the parlor. "Come this way."
"I know my way around, you know." Minette's eyes met the servant's and she smiled. For years, she had worked with the royal family and knew the Whitemoor Manor as well as any of its residents did.
"Formalities, Miss Abbington. Don't forget that I'm a servant to not only the Queen but to all of her guests, including you."
"I know, I know. But I have something important to inform her of, I'm in a bit of a rush." Minette ardently walked behind the servant, eyeing the portraits of past royalty on the hallway walls. Most of the faces were familiar.
"She knows. Have patience, Miss Abbington," he lead her to the parlor and nodded at the Queen before leaving the room.
The Queen stood up from her seat, her emerald eyes meeting Minette's. She too was excited about Minette's return from Arborview but tried to contain herself. The gown she wore trailed behind her and the jewels on her neck flickered from the fireplace's embers.
"Your Majesty," Minette addressed the Queen. "I have urgent news for you."
"I'm aware." The Queen said dryly, attempting to mask her nervous energy. "Please, go on."
"Our hypothesis is correct. Ines and her husband have darkness."
"Darkness! You mean the elemental is in Ines' home after all?" The Queen's eyes widened. She moved closer to Minette, shocked at the discovery. "How are you so certain?"
"I could sense it from blocks away. As I drove up to the house, darkness took over me and it was then that I knew the shadow elemental was in there. No regular human could conjure such a feeling. It's the shadow elemental, your Majesty, he is there," Minette explained.
"That witch..." the Queen muttered, hands clenched in anger. "...and her hound of a husband, hiding an elemental deity. How dare they." She then remembered her place in royalty and calmed.
"I'm certain that she is responsible for taking the other shadow elemental too, so many years ago. Why else would the shadow elemental rebirth and suddenly disappear again? We haven't seen the shadow elemental in ages."
"I should have banished both she and her husband from Eastvale much sooner than I did, along with the rest of their creed." The Queen was absorbed in her own fury, anger overcoming her. She reminisced about Ines and Remi Mermier, the witch and her loyal spouse, and how they took advantage of Eastvale years ago.
"What should we do then?"
"Get the shadow elemental."
Minette looked down at her shoes. "It's not that simple, your Majesty, as a group, they're strong now - much, much stronger. I don't think I can confront her in Arborview and come out victorious."
"Then we'll get someone who can, my old friend, someone with physical strength. And we will do it quickly," the Queen exchanged confident glances with Minette.
Return to Chapter Three
Continue to Chapter Five