Chapter Six

The Path We Follow

Victor looked around the Skeffington’s home, studying every small detail. It was as magnificent and glorious inside as it was on the outside, if not more so, albeit a bit cold in color. He grinned as he thought to himself how, in just a few weeks, this would all be his. He followed the old servant as he guided him through a maze of grand stairs and long, richly decorated corridors. The old man spared a second to look at Victor again and he smiled, nodding slightly, to which the servant replied with a shake of the head and a look of disapproval.

“Remind me again who is it that I should be announcing, sir?”

“Gabriel McGrath.” Victor smiled.

“My master doesn’t usually receive visitors that are uninvited or unexpected.”

“Well, I am not a usual visitor.” Victor grinned and he could feel the servant agreeing with him, though not in a positive way. “And your masterisexpecting me.”

“If that was the case, he would’ve told me so.” The old man eyed him with suspicion. “Sir.”

“Well, let’s just say that he is expecting me to come aroundsometime.”

The servant kept his skeptic look but proceeded to guide him, anyway. It was like he feared Victor, like no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t bring himself to trust him. Victor wasn’t bothered by it, though. The man he needed to impress was certainly not this old servant. The man whose trust he needed already trusted him.

“We have arrived, sir.” The old man pointed at a majestic wooden door with a golden knob and ornaments. “This is my master’s office.” Without waiting for a reply, he knocked on it.

A very faint “come in” was heard from the inside of the office and the old man slowly opened the door, widening it just enough so that he could step in but Victor couldn’t look inside.

“Sir, there is a certain Gabriel McGrath here to see you. He seems to believe that you’d be expecting himsometime.” Silence followed this sentence and the servant continued, as if to excuse himself, “I told him it was most indelicate to come without invitation, but he insisted that-“

“No, no, it’s quite alright, Albert.” Victor could hear the tired voice of, he could only assume to be, Amos Skeffington himself. “Send him in.”

Victor grinned as he heard this and he made his best to properly show it to the old man, who clearly disapproved of it. Albert moved aside, finally allowing Victor passage into the chamber. With a last nod of his head, Victor took off his hat and entered the room, leaving Albert to close the door behind him.

***

Inside the much smaller, degraded von Mallesch house, Ethel sighed as she allowed herself to fall on the couch, a glass of freshly poured wine in her hand. When she opened her eyes, the stuffed dog was sitting on top of the couch in front of her.

“God have mercy!” She jumped at the sight of it and immediately heard the sound of Joshua’s laughter.

“What are you doing, witch lady?” he asked her, peeking around the couch.

She glared at him and answered coldly, after taking a sip of the wine. “Minding my own business. You should try it.”

Joshua giggled. “Are all evil witches rude like that, witch lady?”

Ethel took a deep breath, as if collecting all her patience, and mumbled, “I certainly can’t deserve this.”

“Leave her, Josh,” Alice told him, as she entered the living room. She stared at Ethel with disapproval on her serious, chillingly calm face.

“What?” the older woman asked abruptly, without trying to hide her foul mood.

“You’re not that much of a lady, are you?” Alice asked, defiant, “The sisters taught us how to behave with manners. It seems like somebody failed you in that.”

“Why you…” Ethel grabbed the glass with all her might and managed to control the sudden rage that invaded her. She drank the rest of the wine in one large gulp and took another deep breath, followed by a dramatic wave of the hand to her forehead. “Oh, if I hadn’t promised Selina I wouldn’t hurt you…” She looked at them, her gaze dark and menacing, her words slow and cold, “I would hurt you.”

Joshua trembled and Alice had to control every fiber of her being not to do the same, for those eyes told her – and certainly told Josh, as well – that Ethel wasn’t exaggerating. She was being honest, deeply and cruelly sincere.

The little boy whispered something into Jacob’s ears and, after a few seconds, nodded, as if hearing an answer from the toy dog. Ethel was confused and disgusted by this behavior.

“Jacob says you’re crazy,” Joshua told her with a strange, uncharacteristic bravery. He was serious and insolent and daring, like she had never seen him act before. “He says you’re quite mad.”

Ethel just kept staring at him, as if crept out, then she shook her head and seemed to shake it out of her mind as well. “Well, look who’s talking.” She shot him a devil look that seemed to bring back the usual Joshua, for he flinched a little. The proof that both children were terrified of her though was that, when she quickly got up from the sofa, Joshua immediately ran to the other side of the room and Alice took a few steps back. Ethel reveled in it, their reactions made her smile widely with pleasure.

“Don’t be scared, Jacob. The witch won’t hurt us,” Joshua quietly told the dog, while gently caressing it.

Ethel snorted at this, hiding her discomfort of the child’s behavior towards his toy. “I wouldn’t be so certain, if I were you.”

“You can’t hurt us, that’s the deal,” Alice told her, straightening up her back, as if she was trying to look taller.

Ethel laughed. “Foolish little girl, why if I really wanted to, I’d made sure you were out of my way permanently and trust me... I wouldn’t have to worry about you speaking a word to anyone, ever  again.”

Alice’s eyes widened as she understood what the woman said in its full meaning.

“But… you don’t really want to, do you?” Joshua timidly asked in his corner.

“I haven’t made up my mind yet.” She smiled, shrugging naturally, examining her nails. “However, you can help me decide.”

“How?” he asked, with hopeful expectation.

Ethel’s smile grew and Alice didn’t approve of her shining eyes. It wouldn’t be good for them, of that much she could be quite sure.

***

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Sir McGrath.” Amos Skeffington didn’t even made an attempt to smile, although, by the tone of his voice, Victor could guess he was being sincere. As the older man got up from his chair behind the desk and extended his hand towards Victor, the latter spared a few seconds to study him.

There he was. The man he’d been chasing all his life.

Amos Skeffington. In person, right in front of him, giving him his hand in a pleasant gesture of welcoming. The man he hated. The one he would always seek to destroy.

The ultimate culprit.

Amos Skeffington seemed much older than his forty-seven years of age. His dark brown hair and beard had patches of grey that aged him a decade, but he looked, nonetheless, tall and powerful, unshakable, much like his mansion. His clear blue eyes were dead, with no shine or light coming through. The older man looked serious, respectable, indestructible, cold and, curiously, permanently bored.

He barely looked like the man Victor recalled from his childhood, he could’ve swore Amos’s eyes did not look so lifeless before, he could’ve swore he had seen him smile, even laugh – but such an image seemed almost ridiculous now, when compared to the tired shadow of that man that stood in front of him now.

Victor felt his anger boiling, his hate awakening like a sleeping beast inside of him. There he was, so close. He could just kill him now and get everything over with. It would be so easy… All he had to do was embrace the man’s neck with his hands and it would all be over, he would feel the life seeping out of him slowly and would finally be able to breathe and the burden of misery and hate he felt would finally be lifted. It could all end, so quickly.

Too quickly.

As he fought these thoughts and feelings, he heard someone cough from the corner of the office, the sound shaking him awake of his dark fantasies. Victor noticed how tense he was, how his hands were curled into fists and quickly composed himself into a more suitable, relaxed stance. He looked to the corner where the sound had come from and another figure from his past showed itself to him.

He was Julius Holman Grunt. Victor mentally slapped himself for almost forgetting about him. How could he? Julius was as much of a part of his past as Amos had been.

Julius Grunt shared the same fate of looking way older than his true age. His dark hair and mustache were too gray and thin, his dark eyes covered with a pair of glasses that Victor was sure had not been there ten years ago. But Julius had one important difference from Amos – his eyes were alive. His dark eyes shone in a way that Amos’s bright blue ones seemed incapable of.

The man stood against the wall, his hands casually hid inside his pockets, dressed as impeccably and flawlessly as possible, his hair tidied and carefully combed as Victor remembered. Even his mustache seemed perfectly groomed. As Victor recalled, Julius was an intelligent, caring man that used to play games with him and his sisters when they were children, being considered a part of the family.

Victor now understood why he had always been around – he had been his father’s and Amos’s most trusted advisor and closest friend. His brilliance and intelligence - and heart - had always been of most use in his father’s – and Amos’s – businesses.

He now studied Victor with serious and suspicious eyes. Victor knew he would be hard to impress, he knew he would be a challenge to fool.

So be it.

Victor looked to the ground and smiled, quickly returning his gaze back to Amos and politely taking his hand for a shake. “Not a greater pleasure than mine, I assure you, Sir.”

Amos nodded and gestured him the chair in front of the desk, inviting him to sit. But before Victor did it, he looked at Julius again and extended his hand to him, still smiling wide. “I assume you are Sir Julius Grunt. It is the greatest honor to finally meet you as well.”

“Yes. Indeed,” Julius mumbled, carelessly taking Victor’s hand in his before quickly ending the shake.

“So, Sir McGrath,” Amos started as he sat down in front of him, “to what do we owe this pleasant visit? I admit that I wasn’t expecting you in St. Agnes before the year’s end. If I knew you were coming so soon, I would’ve made some arrangements-“

“Nonsense, dear Sir.” Victor lightly laughed. “I appreciate the thought, but it’s not necessary. Besides, I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn’t have come without a warning.”

“It’s not a problem.” Amos sighed and put a small pair of glasses in front of his eyes, looking older and more tired than ever. He then stared at Victor with a kind of humble scrutiny, as if analyzing him. “I assume you are here on business?”

“Yes, I was on the neighborhood and decided to make a visit to this lovely city of yours, to oversee the most recent properties I’ve acquired. I thought it would be rude not to visit one of my most prized associates.” Victor made his very best not to turn his polite smile into his usual grin.

“You did well.” Amos nodded, resting his chin on his hand and looking thoughtful. “I must say, I was getting rather curious as to what kind of person Gabriel McGrath is, besides being a brilliant business man. It will be interesting to finally get to meet each other, don’t you agree, Julius?”

Julius nodded from his corner, without ever letting his eyes off of Victor. “I didn’t picture you to be quite so young, Sir McGrath,” he finally spoke, “It is quite rare to find such prolific businessmen at such a tender age-“

“I owe it to my father.” Victor’s smile widened. “He taught me well. I believe you knew him.”

“Yes, Silas McGrath was a dear friend of mine.” Amos sighed again, playing with a pen that rested on his desk. “He will be missed.”

“I am here to finish his will and keep his empire alive.” Victor smiled again. “And I must say, it is an honor to negotiate with such a great and famous man as yourself, Sir Skeffington.” He slightly bowed his head at the man in front of him.

“Very well.” Amos returned his eyes and attention to Victor. “Let’s talk business.”

***

“No, Jacob, I’m not telling her that,”Joshua whispered in his toy’s hear and quickly glanced at Ethel with scared eyes. As soon as he noticed the woman looking at him, he returned his eyes towards the dresser he was dusting immediately. Ethel, who had been listening to the child talking to the stuffed dog for hours now, couldn’t even gather the strength to feel insulted or angry. The boy and the dog were just incredibly creepy to her. She shook her head and drank more wine, before she turned her attention to Alice.

“You missed a spot,” she pointed, commanding the little girl to wash the floor better. Alice gave her a killer glare, but Ethel ignored it, her only answer being a malicious smile. “Work harder, little slaves. Harder and faster. The sooner we’re done cleaning, the sooner I can stop looking at you.”

“We aren’t cleaning anything. Josh and I are. You’re doing nothing. All you do is boss us around!” Alice angrily told her, throwing the mop away and resting her hands on her hips.

“Silly, silly, stupid little girl,” Ethel sang as she drank another glass, “I am teaching you a very valuable life lesson here.”

“Which is?”

“You should always reduce yourself to your insignificance.” Alice scorned and Ethel proceeded, “Also, if you expect to receive beds and meals, you shall work hard for them. Also, do as you’re told. Also, don’t mess with stronger, taller, smarter people than you.” She smiled sweetly. “See? Lots of great lessons. You shall carry them your whole life.” She laughed.

“Yes, I shall forever remember how taller, stronger people will always take advantage of the smaller ones, because they’re too lazy to do things themselves.”

“And too evil,” Joshua completed.

“Do you want to live?” Ethel asked with as much casualty as if she was asking the time. Joshua quickly returned to his work and Alice’s eyes opened wide. “I can see you do. So keep your bloody mouth shut. You’re giving me a headache.” She touched her forehead with exaggerated moves of the hand.

“Maybe you should blame the wine,” the little girl mumbled.

“Maybe you should get back to work!” Ethel answered with a bitter tone as she got up from the couch and made her way towards the kitchen. She poured herself more of the blood red drink and, as soon as she turned around, both children were in the kitchen, staring at her. “What are you doing here?” she asked, looking at them as if they were dirt on her shoes, “Have you finished the living room?” neither of the children answered, so she continued, “You’re wasting valuable cleaning time. Go back to work.”

“Do you have any evil powers?” Joshua asked, climbing a chair, “Sister Margaret said witches have evil powers.”

“Sister Margaret is a fool,” Ethel mumbled against her glass and was surprised to see Alice nod in agreement.

“Do you… Do you have magic?” the little boy insisted.

“Yes, I can make obnoxious little boys disappear forever. Would you like for me to make a demonstration?”

Joshua hid behind the chair and shook his head, looking at Ethel with amazement and fear. Alice also shook her head, although she did it with reprisal.

Ethel sighed deeply and loudly and decided to leave the children to mind their work. “Just finish the cleaning. I’ll be in my room.” She would only later notice that she wasn’t going alone. As soon as she reached the door to her old room, she saw the two children right behind her. “What do you want?”

“Nothing,” Alice replied, shrugging.

“Then stop following me and get back to work.”

“You’re not coming with us?” Joshua asked, his face hidden behind Jacob.

“No, I’m not. Go back to cleaning and once you’re finished I’ll go and supervise it. If I’m not happy with it, you’ll do it all over again, so I suggest you take it seriously.” Ethel opened the door to her room, got inside and closed it in the children’s faces, right when Joshua was about to open his mouth to speak. Taking a deep breath, Ethel walked towards the large window and drank the rest of her wine while she admired St. Agnes’s bleak and foggy image.

After a few seconds, she turned around, only to find both children standing at her room’s entrance.

“Take this as a warning - you’re starting to really test me,” she said as menacingly as she could, “What is wrong with you? How much clearer can I make this? Go. Back. To. Work!”

“You should come with us,” the little boy suggested, smiling at her.

Ethel snorted and furiously stepped out of the room, followed closely, and inexplicably, by the two children and the stuffed dog.

***

“A personal maid of mine is expected to excel in all the household affairs.” Lenora Skeffington, a strict and rigid woman with dark blond hair tightly knotted in a perfect bun, without a hair out of place, brown and stern eyes and an amazingly straight pose walked in front of Selina, supposedly showing her the ways of the Skeffington mansion. She talked fast and with an impressive commanding tone.

She barely spared a look at the younger girl. “You are to answer to all my personal needs, along with those of my family. I do not tolerate incompetence. I do not tolerate mistakes or accidents. I do not like excuses and I appreciate punctuality, effectiveness and a fast, clean, perfect service. Do you understand?”

“Ye-yes, ma’am.”

The truth was, Selina quite liked Lenora – though she wasn’t sure the feeling was reciprocated. She could see how difficult of a task that was, how most people wouldn’t really understand Lenora’s strict and rigid behavior. Selina though, found it very endearing. Familiar and loving. Lenora was so much like Edna.

“At the first sign of incompetence or failure to meet my standards and general rules, you will be disposed of. Is that clear?”

“Yes, ma’am. Of course.”

Lenora suddenly turned around to face her and Selina had to make a mighty effort not to bump into the woman. She studied her every inch with a perfectly impartial face. Selina had no idea if the woman was impressed or rather unsatisfied with her.

“You look rather young and inexperienced. Those are not traits I usually admire.”

Selina swallowed, nervous. It was imperial that Lenora Skeffington hired her. Victor and Ethel were counting on it. She tried to hide her uneasiness and smiled timidly at the older woman, a gesture that she didn’t seem to appreciate.

“However, I am always willing to give young people a chance and I am in dire need of a personal servant.” She sighed and looked to the nearest wall for a second, as if to chase something away from her mind. Something unpleasant, it seemed. “I shall give you one opportunity and one opportunity only. Do not make me regret it, please.”

Selina nodded and tried to hide her excitement. Was she hired? Did she do it? Victor would beproud of her. At the sight of her widening smile, Lenora reacted impatiently, “Oh, for God’s sake child, stop acting so extravagantly.”

Selina’s smile faded in a second and she resumed nodding. It would sound like she had just jumped in happiness and screamed and maybe hugged Lenora. She imagined herself hugging the woman and the picture seemed completely ludicrous. She could not see this strict woman effectively hugging anyone.

Lenora seemed to have noticed the dreamy look in Selina’s face, for she made her best to put an end to it immediately. “Pay attention, child. I don’t like to repeat myself. I highly appreciate good listening skills.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Lenora spared her another quick glance. “What did you say your name was, again?”

“Sel-Beatrice,” she quickly replied, shaking away the irony behind that question, “Beatrice LaFontaine, ma’am.”

Lenora nodded and turned her back to Selina again before she resumed her tour of the house. “Very well, Miss LaFontaine. You’re hired. I expect you here, tomorrow, at seven in the morning. Not a minute later, not a minute earlier, understand?”

“Yes, ma’am! Thank you!” She was glad Lenora couldn’t see the small victorious dance she made at the sound of that, or the way her smile grew even wider than before.

***

“As always, Sir Skeffington, it has been a comfort dealing with you.” Victor grinned, as he shook Amos’s hand.

“Likewise, McGrath.” Amos returned the gesture, again, while he didn’t smile, his tone seemed sincere. “Likewise. I look forward to our meeting tomorrow.”

“I share that sentiment, Sir. My father would be happy to know our business together is growing.”

“I have no doubt of that. Silas McGrath would be more than proud to have such a talented son.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Victor’s smile faltered for a second, before he quickly composed himself. “I will see you tomorrow.”

Amos nodded and Victor put his hat back on his head, smiling at Julius. “See you tomorrow, Sir Grunt.” Julius only nodded as a response.

Victor walked away with a wide, happy grin on his features. It was all happening as it should be. He could not be more satisfied and hopeful of the success of his plan. The two men that lingered behind though, were not smiling. Amos was watching Victor disappear through his corridors, guided by Albert. He studied every single move the young man made and seemed to be, once again, lost in thought. Only Julius broke his concentration.

“Are you sure of this, Amos?”

“What are you talking about?” Amos asked as he went back inside his office.

“I’m talking about this man, Gabriel McGrath. About your willingness to conduct business with him.”

“He’s an exceptionally bright young man,” Amos replied, tiredly, as he sat down in his chair, his hand rubbing his eyes, “I think we can be very successful with his help.”

“He’s very bright, indeed,” Julius agreed, not bothering to hide his concern and slowly approaching the desk, “And that’s where the problem lies. He carries hidden intentions.”

“We have been dealing with him for as long as a year now and we have met nothing but progress and fortune ever since.”

“I don’t trust him and you shouldn’t either,” Julius repeated with more energy.

“His father was a dear friend of mine…”

“Yes, Silas McGrath,” Julius started to pace around the room, “I heard you speak of him before and I don’t understand your liking of him. My sources tell me-“

“Your sources, Julius?” Amos interrupted, “What business do you have investigating my acquaintances?”

“I am sorry if that offends you, Amos.” The man looked at his old friend with sadness. “But ever since… Ever since what happened ten years ago, I feel compelled to… study things more thoroughly.”

“We can’t make everyone a suspect, my friend.” Amos showed him a small trace of a smile, a shadow of what it once was. “I know you seek to protect me, but-“

“How couldn’t I see it?” Julius brought his hand to his frail hair.

“Forget it.” Amos sighed.

“We can’t. We must learn from it!”

“The situations could not be more different-“

“There is something very wrong with that man, Amos! You shouldn’t trust him. Amos, listen to me…” Julius put his hands on the desk, starring into Amos’s dead eyes with urgency, as if he was desperate to make him understand. “Forget the adviser, I’m speaking as your friend,” he spoke slowly and clearly, to make sure Amos got it, “do not trust Gabriel McGrath.”

***

“Thank you, Albert. I will see you tomorrow.” Victor grinned to the old man. “I hope to get a warmer welcoming, by the way.”

Albert only snorted as a response, shaking his head as he did before and slowly closed the mansion’s gate behind the younger man. Victor laughed and headed home, ready to share the good news with his sisters. He only hoped Selina had been as successful as him, for if she had, nothing would stop them. He walked through the crowded streets of the grim city, St. Agnes suddenly looking brighter to him, its people suddenly not so lifeless.

On the other side of the street, a young lady, roughly his own age, caught sight of him – the image of him crossing the street paralyzed her immediately, her tanned skin turning pale, her eyes widening and her heart beating fast. It was like she had seen a ghost and, in fact, Preshea thought she did.

“It cannot be…” she whispered. Immediately, Preshea followed the young man to the other side of the street. She couldn’t even remember making the decision, it was like her body was drawn to him. Could it really be? No, it couldn’t. Too many years had passed, she had to be mistaken.

Preshea followed the man across St. Agnes, making sure he couldn’t see her. His back was constantly turned to her and she hadn’t seen his face clearly, but what little she saw made her believe. That face, those eyes, that grin… they were all traits she could never forget. She would recognize him anywhere. She hid behind an old tree as she watched him approach a house,thehouse, the von Mallesch home. When he got inside, her heart exploded with a mist of feelings: confusion, anxiety, excitement and, most of all, happiness. It was all the confirmation she needed. It really was him. Ithadto be.

“He’s back…” she whispered again, her hands landing on her chest as she fought to keep her breathing under control, “I can’t believe it… I knew it.” Preshea smiled and looked into the sky before returning her gaze towards the von Mallesch house, laughing.

“He’s back!”

***

Ethel heard her brother getting inside their house. She heard him talk to Selina, heard them talking to Alice and Joshua and even noticed their excitement as they shared news with each other. Something good was happening, but Ethel didn’t care.

She was leaning against the door of the first room. After what seemed like hours of staring at it, she finally gathered the courage to enter their parent’s bedroom – but she hadn’t been able to move since. Ethel had been standing dormant, almost in an awaken slumber, against the door. She reacted now, thanks to Victor’s voice, but she was still glued to the wooden door. Her eyes were frozen on the large bed in front of her, images of the last memories, her last visions of it, kept playing in her mind.

What she saw in that room, what she did there - it would haunt her forever. It shaped her whole core into what she now was.

Finally, she walked towards it, slowly, unsurely. She touched the old, dusty sheets and, to her surprise, realized she was crying. Ethel’s eyes widened as her hand reached her cheek, cleaning away a trail of fresh tears. She hadn’t cried for years. When she looked at her wet hand, she couldn’t contain it anymore. Ethel fell into the bed, not caring about the dust and dirt, not caring about the old smell. She hugged what once was her mother’s pillow and cried.

Ethel cried like she hadn’t done in a decade. Her sobs were drowned by the ancient pillow against her face.

She cried for the past and for the present. She cried because she had a burning secret. A dark, unforgivable, heavy secret.

A secret she had never shared with anyone.

Not even with Victor or Selina.

Author's Notes - Woohoo! Finally, right?

I really hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for your patience, my darling penguins (I do love penguins). Talk to me, uhuhuh.