Lark kept Sasha away from his house for a few days longer as he converted one of the bedrooms to an office for her and satisfied himself that Lynn was really gone. Everywhere he went he checked to see if he was being followed. He even hired a private investigator to follow him when he went out. The private investigator reported that no-one had followed him at any time and, finally satisfied that Lynn had decided to leave him alone, he had let Sasha come to his house.
She was amazed when she saw what he had done for her.
“Thank you so much, Lark. You didn’t have to,” she said. “We could have managed in one office.”
“We could have,” Lark smiled, “but I need space as much as I enjoyed having you less than a shout away.”
“Thank you,” Sasha said again. Then she asked, “Is Lynn here? I should say hello to her. It would be rather rude of me not to.”
“She’s gone,&rdqu
“When you see her, you’ll know…”The words of his father echoed in his mind when he saw her.Her long blonde locks curled down the side of her face and her blue eyes held him captivated the instant they met his. Her button nose and cheeks were sprinkled with freckles and her sparkling smile ended in dimples. She carried herself well, like royalty even though she was common born. Her posture was straight, regal even as she moved and greeted the guests.Her eyes lingered when they met his and he knew in that instant she had seen him and was assessing him. Her gaze moved on beyond his but the slightest hesitation had been all it took. Her gaze had returned and met his again. He had smiled at her and she had smiled too.He knew in that instant she would be open to speaking to him and was sure she liked what she had seen despite her knowing that he was beyond her. Or rather, she was beyond him.He was just a lowly boy who had ma
Some people believe in fate. Some call it destiny. Some like to believe that we have no control over it while others seem to believe we all create our destiny. These were the questions Lark would ask himself many years later as he regretted the events set in motion that night. The events of one night created a path into the future, centuries ahead.Lark thought he had made it. He thought he had not been seen when he left his place behind the tree and headed for the exit. The night was a success in every way he thought. And he had ended it on a high note with a kiss he could never have imagined getting from a girl he swore he would marry. He wanted to see her again before he left but he doubted it would be possible. How and when he would see her again he did not know but he knew he would make every effort to do so.Lark really believed though that he was free and clear and so when he was suddenly stopped at the main door by a guard, he was surprised. He wondered immedia
If it is true and destiny does indeed exist, we seldom see destiny at play until we look over the past. And often at that point, it is much too late.Lark could not know he had started his destiny that night. Was it mapped for him or did he create it? That was the question he would ask himself through the centuries that followed as he lived one long, cursed life. He would wonder about the question and its answer as Erin paraded through his one life with her many lives, one after another. In each of those lives, he would try to let her say the three words he needed to hear, “I love you.”And he would try to have her kiss him. Truly kiss him, because she truly loved him. That was the only way he would be free. The only way Erin and a few others would ever be free. And over the years he would come to wonder if he still loved her or if she had simply become a means to an end.Lark escaped from the castle unscathed. He thanked the gods for h
Lark was appointed to work at the castle. He had not doubted he would be successful. He returned home to give his mother the good news. He would start the next day and he asked her to cut his long hair so that he would look different.His short hair made him look even younger and without a doubt more handsome. He looked different too, which was primarily what he had intended. He had been employed as a butler and would first be trained before being considered a member of the household but he was a fast learner.The next morning, he packed his few belongings in a backpack which he slung over his shoulder. He left early and hugged his tearful mother. He might see her once a week on his day off now. The rest of the time he would be at the castle where he would live as an employee.He set out on the road and arrived at the castle an hour and a half later. He presented himself to the guard at the gate who let him in after confirming he was due to start work.La
Lark found Lance a short while later.“How did it go?” Lance asked.“Great. I think I have a good understanding of the layout of the castle. I walked it a few times so I can remember where what is.”“Good,” Lance replied. “It’s late so I guess you can go back to your quarters and rest. Don’t get too comfortable. I’m just too busy today to supervise you for your next training. You’ll be much busier in the days ahead.”“Well, what is my next training?” Lark asked.“Table setting, serving, pouring wine, where to stand during meals.”“Well, if you want, we can do it tonight in our quarters. It will help me learn quicker and get my training done sooner. Then you won’t have to worry about having time to supervise me during the day when you’re learning yourself.”“That’s a good idea,” Lance agreed. “
Eugene crossed to the window and looked down at the garden. He had a suspicion about Erin. He was sure she had been in the garden with someone but she had told him she was talking to herself when he had asked her.Had she been telling the truth? Was she secretly seeing someone? If she was, it had to be one of the household staff. A servant. He would not let her drag the family’s name through the mud for her childish, immature impulses and crushes.He decided to have her watched even as he thought he saw some movement down in the gardens in the shadows. As his eyes followed the shadow, he saw it separate from the other shadows in the garden and disappear behind the far corner of the castle. She had been with someone. He sighed as he changed into his pajamas and crawled into bed.An idea hatched in his mind. He had heard of it a few years before and had discounted it then as just a legend but now it seemed that it would be a most appropriate course
They entered the woods a little over an hour after leaving the castle. Eugene directed the soldiers to follow a specific path until they finally reached a rundown cabin in a clearing. Smoke puffed from the cabin’s chimney and Eugene ordered the riders to halt. He dismounted his horse and called out.“Keller!”Silence reigned in the clearing around them. Then the cabin door opened and a small man stood silhouetted against the light from within. The man’s hair appeared silver in the light from the cabin and hung down the sides of his face. He had a hat that sat askew on his head. It looked ridiculous but he seemed not to notice or care. He left the cabin and stepped out onto the porch.“Eugene? Is it you?” he called in disbelief.“Keller,” Eugene said as he walked forward and climbed the steps up to the porch where he stopped. He offered his hand and Keller took it. They shook hands briefly before Eugene pulle
“So what did the witch say?” Eugene said when Keller at last arrived back at his cabin.“She will see you,” Keller said.“Great. So which way do I go?”“Follow the path,” Keller said. “You can’t miss it. The path leads straight to the cabin.”“You mean that this path only leads to the witch’s place? What are you? The witch’s guardian?”“We have worked together often enough but I am not her guardian. What witch needs a guardian?”Eugene studied Keller looking for signs of deceit but he couldn’t see any.“Very well then,” he said tossing a few coins on the dinner table. “Thank you. If I have success, I shall pay you more.”“I’ll believe that when I see it,” Keller scoffed.“Don’t be so pessimistic Keller. Surely there will be success. She is your friend after all,