𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟒

"Maeve—" Lizzie spoke hurriedly down the telephone. Maeve stood straight. "What's happened?" She asked with panic. Lizzie took a deep breath. "Ruby said she could hear voices coming from the chimney. She said it was the Grey Man." Lizzie spoke quickly.

Maeve pressed a finger to her lips and closed her eyes briefly.

"Call a doctor and then call Tommy. I'll get a car and i'll come down to Arrow House." Maeve said before slamming the phone down and rushing to get out of the house.

"Where are you going?!" Isiah shouted from the drawing room with Lennon on his hip. Maeve fumbled with the door key. "It's Ruby again. She's took a turn." Maeve replied.

Isiah frowned and walked out to the hall. "We'll come with." Isiah said. Maeve didn't argue and let her husband and son walk out before her and get into the car. Isiah wasn't going to let Maeve go alone. He knew she'd get in her own head about things, about Lennon.

Maeve was anxious on the entire drive over to Arrow House. Every other moment she would glance at her son to ensure he was alright. "Stop here." Maeve instructed the driver and wasted no time to get out of the car and rush into the home. "Lizzie?" She shouted.

"In here—"

Maeve walked into the room and set eyes on a pale looking Ruby who sat between her mother and who Maeve assumed to be a doctor. "Is she okay?"

"Shes got a temperature." Lizzie said with a hand on Ruby's forehead.

"The voices.." Ruby whispered. "There are no voices, love." Lizzie assured her. "It's the Grey Man. He says he's coming for me and he's coming for daddy as well." Ruby whispered. Maeve's skin crawled and her mouth parted.

"Did you call Tommy?"

"Yeah." Lizzie didn't take her eyes from her daughter.

Maeve paced the room and shook her head. A pain shot throughout her body and she winced, pressing a finger to her forehead. Her heart raced as she began thinking of what it was that could've been poisoning the young girls mind. But nothing.. she couldn't think of anything.

"When she coughs there's blood." Lizzie whispered to Maeve. Maeve continued to pace.

Time had passed and Lizzie had tucked her daughter into bed. Lennon was asleep on Isiah in the drawing room and Maeve stood beside the window, watching the car pull up.

It was only mere moments before Tommy stormed in.

Lizzie grabbed his arm and began talking to him. Whatever it was that Lizzie had said made Tommy storm through to the office, Maeve followed behind him. They both stopped at the desk and stared down at the many drawings Ruby had created. All of them rather disturbing.

"I need to get a hold of Esme.."

-

Maeve's heels made a clicking noise against the wood as she walked up the stairs of the unfamiliar house. The door was opened to her and she was greeted with the faces of Diana, Oswald and Ada.

"Speak of the devil." Oswald joked. "And she shall appear."

Maeve gave him a pitiful smile. "I hope you weren't waiting on me." She said as she sat on the chair beside Ada. Diana let out a smug chuckle and looked at Oswald.

"We are here because there's sickness in the family. Tommy wanted someone from the Shelby organisation to introduce Mr Nelson to you, and to offer all three of you an invitation." Ada continued what she had been saying before hand.

Oswald hummed.

"What invitation?" He asked. "The invitation can wait. And please remember that in this moment, in this room, it is the Shelby family that holds the power because we have the information and the incentives that will make Mr Nelson do what you require him to do. So when i speak please keep your fucking mouths closed. Because although i'm reluctant, i'm actually quite good at this. And yes, i will have champagne." Ada snapped.

Oswald raised an eyebrow and Maeve grinned at her Aunt's sudden attitude.

"I wish to see this side of you more often," she whispered to the older Shelby girl.

The doors opened and Gina walked in, laughing, holding Mr Nelson's arm.
Maeve sucked in a breath and excitement bubbled up within her.
Mr Nelson handed the butler his coat. "Okay so before these full introductions begin, I just have to tell you something that my niece, Gina, just told me."

"No Jack—" Gina attempted.

"She said the Shelby family are all witches and sorcerers who speak freely with the dead. So..who here is a Shelby?" he looked around the room.

Maeve and Ada shared a glance, both rolling their eyes before standing.

"Is it true?" he asked. "I can confirm what your niece had informed you is true for myself but as for my Aunt, I cannot speak on the matter." Maeve's eyes were glued to Gina and her smug smile. "Gina." she greeted, pursing her lips into a line.

"Hello Maeve.." she smiled smugly. "Micheal sends his regards."

Jack nodded, looking her up and down. "You're the niece?" he asked. "Yes, it seems that I am the niece." Maeve was growing bored already.

"Don't be fooled by her, Mr Nelson. It wasn't long ago that she held a weapon to me." Oswald swirled his whiskey around in the glass. "And with good reason." Maeve excused. Ada rolled her eyes again and sat down.

"I did some research, you were once just a girl who followed in her uncle's shadows but diamonds and lipstick now?" Jack asked. "Actually i'd say Ada is the diamonds and lipstick." Maeve corrected. "Maeve's the secret weapon." Ada crossed her legs and placed her hands over her knees.

"She's the one they use to intimidate." Mosley said.

Maeve hummed. "And are you intimidated, Mr Mosley?" She mocked and was given no response. Jack turned to him. "And you, you're the future prime minister of Great Britain and its dominions."

"Indeed i am." Oswald swallowed hard.

"And you, Lady Diana Mitford. Talk of London, with her amphetamines and emeralds.." he looked back to Ada and Maeve as laughs left Gina's mouth. "It's her sharp mind that i'm in love with." Oswald told him.

"Men bore me—" Jack scoffed. "Ada, do you have a man?" he asked. "My husband died years ago but of course, we speak often." She smirked, referring back to his mention of witches and Maeve's unsureness.

A grin appeared across his features.

"Between this sparkling conversation, could i get a drink of some kind?" Gina suggested.

Jack sighed and took a seat. "So this little kid, Gina, she runs out, marries a gangster and now here we all are." he spoke, sitting beside her. "Oh, Jack, please. You're so blunt." Gina smiled.

Maeve was disgusted by their dynamic.

"Yes, it's wonderful. A man who is not careful with his words." Diana smiled.

"I'm not careful. Just say it first then clear up the broken glass with my bare hands—" Jack nodded as Mosley handed Gina a glass. "Here you are."

"I don't seem to have a drink either." Jack observed with raised eyebrows. "Well, i have Scotch or Irish," Mosley offered.

"Tommy drinks Irish."

"Where the hell is he?" Jack asked.

"Irish.." Gina whispered to Mosley.

"He's been unavoidably detained." Ada said, looking at her hands. "Nothing is unavoidable," Jack scoffed. "His daughter is unwell." Oswald said.

"He doesn't have a wife?" Jack asked in disbelief.

"You know i did some research on you too, Mr Nelson." Ada interrupted. "I learnt that when you were young, you lost a brother and a sister to consumption." Jack stared at her blankly before grabbing the glass of whiskey he'd just been given. "No ice?" he asked.

"Well that same awful illness has entered his family. And you see Tommy has very little faith in current medical practices regarding tuberculosis. He's gone off in search of alternative approaches to cure the disease. Experimental work that he hopes will save the life of his daughter," She continued.

"In his shoes i would do the same thing. Thomas intrigues me."

"Yes, he often has that effect on people." Maeve glanced at Diana who had a devious look in her eyes.

"Yes and my future husband has that effect on 20 million people in this country, who attend his rallies and listen to his broadcasts." Diana bragged.

"It's amazing..what English upper-class women can do with just skin, bone and arrogance." Jack shook his head.

"He sends his apologies for not being here, and would like to invite all of you to his home for a meeting." Maeve told them and stood to hand them an invitation. "A meeting where the real business will be done. And where you can meet like minds from Ireland. Who'd also like to discuss the future of Europe. But as you say, this lunch is purely social. And looking at my glass, i see i still don't have champagne."

"Micheal told me that the sister and niece had gone straight?" Jack asked Gina.

"Yes, but, Tommy is the sun, the rest just orbit around him." Gina said. Maeve tilted her head back in amusement.

"Gina tells me lots of things but i want to hear it from you both. What exactly does the Shelby Company Limited do?" Jack asked with exaggerated hand movement.

Maeve grinned and quirked up an eyebrow before locking eyes with Ada.

-

Maeve sat alone in the Garrison whilst waiting for Lizzie. And soon enough, the distraught woman appeared. "Lock the door, Lizzie. You know people round here start drinking this early in the morning." Maeve poured two glasses.

Lizzie shook her head. "No." She refused. "I need to stay myself." She took a seat. "And be strong."

Maeve tutted when hearing the break in her voice and hugged her. "Not with me. You can let it out when you're with me." She whispered into her shoulder. Lizzie breathed shakily. "I can't cry, Maeve. If I start i'll fall apart. I need to stay strong for Ruby."

Maeve nodded. "Ada told me it's just in one lung."

"No— they now think it's in both. It's moving quickly. They collapsed the left lung but it made no difference. Starting her on the gold salts tomorrow. You know somebody who died from the gold treatment, yes. Half the people I tell look like you because they know someone who died from the gold treatment."

Maeve pursed her lips together and looked down. "The person I knew was old."

"Old and Young the same." Lizzie shook her head.

"You're giving up Lizzie." Maeve said. Lizzie stared at the bar. "No. I'm being strong. I'm at her bedside on my own whilst Tommy is up in the mountains to be with gypsy's. Well in truth it's a blessing he's not around at the hospital. All he wants to do is fight people and blame himself and i've nerve been so ashamed of him cause right now I need a normal man. It's me taking away the bloody rags and watching her disappear."

Maeve's heart dropped and her eyes burned slightly. Ruby was her cousin. Her beautiful young cousin who was destined to go far. And to have her slowly disappear was something she could not bare to hear about.

"Do you know when he's back, Maeve?"

"He gave Ada instructions and information." Maeve told her. "Can you get a message to him?" Lizzie asked hopefully. "He'll be out of reach." Maeve pursed her lips together.

"Maeve, I thought you might know things."

"I've been away from all this the same as Ada." Maeve lit a cigarette. Lizzie sighed. "You're still gypsy." Lizzie said. Maeve bit her tongue when she grabbed her hand. "You're still gypsy." She whispered. "You see things— I know you do." Lizzie said.

Maeve avoided her eyes.

"Tell me what you see.." she begged.

Maeve shook her head. "I've not seen anything, Lizzie." She said with an unsure voice. Lizzie sucked in a breath. "But you've felt something. You have, haven't you?" Lizzie squeezed her hand.

Maeve nodded slowly. "I'm getting pains— mainly in my head. They come and go. Bright flashes too.. almost like somebody is taking a picture of me. It's like they're trying to reach me.."

"Who are?"

"Someone. Anyone. They're trying to reach me but they can't get through." Maeve spoke lowly. Lizzie listened carefully. "They're fighting and fighting. But it's just not—" she paused, "working."

Lizzie watched her and noticed the way there was confusion in her eyes as if she was only just working it out for herself.

"If they get through, Maeve.." Lizzie ran a thumb over the back of Maeve's hand, "you've got to tell me what you see." She whispered. Maeve locked eyes with her and nodded. "I will." She said.

-

Maeve and Isiah were tangled up in their bed, both wide awake. Maeve couldn't sleep. There was a fuzziness that had filled her head and they were trying to break through more now than ever. Isiah stayed awake for her incase she needed something or incase something did indeed happen.

Maeve closed her eyes for a moment.

"Maeve!" A young voice called out. She opened her eyes and was stood in an empty field. "Maeve— come play!" They shouted again. Maeve could see the back of a little girl. Her brown hair was neatly tied up and a black ribbon decorated it. "Ruby?" Maeve frowned and approached her. She crouched before the girl and it was indeed Ruby. She sat with a toy horse in her hand. "Play with me." She repeated.

Maeve looked around but saw nothing but grass. "What're you doing here, Ruby?" Maeve asked. The little girl shrugged. "It's time." She said plainly. Maeve frowned. "What?"

Ruby looked up at her. "It's time."

Maeve shook her head in confusion. "Time— time for what? Ruby what are you talking about?"

"Where's daddy?" Ruby's voice shifted into some sort of panic and her eyes grew wide, skin pale. Maeve's mouth parted. "Daddy!" Ruby shouted, her voice now slightly distorted. Maeve grew scared at the girl's sudden shivering and blue lips.

Suddenly, screams screeched through Maeve's ears. They overlapped and echoed. Maeve hissed and covered her ears. Ruby was gone. Maeve stood to her feet and looked around but Ruby was nowhere. She had disappeared.

The screams continued and soon cries began. Maeve squeezed her eyes closed. "Stop!" She shouted.

Maeve sucked in a big breath and shot up, clutching at her neck. Isiah sat up in panic and looked at Maeve. "What is it?" He asked. She held a hand to her chest and looked around. She was back in bed beside him.

"It's Ruby." Maeve was out of bed within seconds and dressing herself.

Isiah watched as she rushed around frantically. "What—"

"They got through— I saw it. It was Ruby." Maeve ranted. Isiah could only guess that Maeve had seen something or felt something. "Get the car ready and get me a driver. I need to get to the hospital." She offered.

Isiah pulled his pants on and left the room.

Maeve grabbed the phone and dialled Tommy's number. No answer. He always answered when he was home. Tommy was not home— not yet. Lizzie was staying at the hospital.

"Shit.." Maeve ran down the stairs and Isiah held the door open. He didn't ask any questions. He saw the look in her eyes and the way she'd lost all colour in her face.

It was a race against time.

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