Page 125 of Aurelia

Aurelia suddenly recalled Sir Gideon and glanced around. “Where is—” she shrieked when she saw the skeleton on the floor below the cave drawings.

“Shhh.” A cold clammy hand slid over her mouth and an arm like iron closed around her middle.

Aurelia’s mind rebelled against what was happening. There was a skeleton chained to a rock and Arthur had grabbed her. Her brain had no answers for either of those things, but her body experienced an explosion of energy and she fought against him like a wild creature.

Arthur grunted and cursed as she squirmed. She kicked back at his legs several times, as hard as she was able, and finally made contact with something that made a sickening crunch.

Arthur screamed and shoved her to the ground, his body falling on top of hers.

Her head struck something hard and pain exploded, along with a thousand white stars.

And then darkness.

***

Aurelia woke to a pounding head and something warm pooling in the corner of her eyes. She tried to wipe it away but discovered that her hands would not move. She tugged harder and heard a metallic clinking. Chains.

Memories of Arthur and the skeleton flooded back to her. She lifted her head and the room spun so violently that she turned to the side and retched up her breakfast.

The next time she raised her head, she did so slowly, her temples throbbing so painfully that her vision blurred.

Arthur was sitting beside the skeleton and mumbling something to it. Or at least that is what it looked like.

“What happened?” she asked, each word like a spike through her brain.

Arthur turned from the skeleton and gave her one of his sad smiles. She couldn’t help noticing that his nose was swollen and there were scratches down his cheek. “What had to happen, Aurelia.”

“I don’t understand.” She struggled to sit up, wincing at the nausea. “Arthur, what is the meaning of this?”

“I told you to accept Sir Gideon’s offer. I tried to save you, but you are willful and would not listen. You are so stubborn! It would only be Crewe for you. And I cannot have that.”

“What are you talking about?” Her voice rose, even though it sent waves of pain through her skull. “And who is that?” She stared at the skeleton, revulsion joining the nausea in her belly when she saw he was holding a bony hand.

“This is Rebecca,” he said, his smile loving as he stroked the skeletal hand.

“What?”

“Rebecca has been here alone for a long, long time,” Arthur went on dreamily. “I visit her when I can, but given the tides and my other responsibilities, that is not often.”

“Oh Arthur, what have you done?” Aurelia whispered, horror joining the other emotions roiling inside her.

“I had to bring her here, just like I had to bring you here, Aurelia.” He blinked rapidly, a tear sliding down the bloody scratches on his cheek. “She was the love of my life.” His face twisted into an angry mask. “Crewe never loved her! I told Rebecca that. I told her…”

“What did you tell her?”

Arthur shook himself. “I told her that Crewe would not love her the way I loved her and our child.”

“Your child?”

He blinked at her.

“You are Celsa’s father?”

Arthur nodded, a proud, almost sly, expression taking possession of his face.

Aurelia stared, suddenly struck. “You were the one who told Celsa that Roland wasn’t her father.”

“Because Celsa is mine,” he hissed, his eyes glittering madly. “Not Crewe’s. I cannot tell her that she is my daughter… yet. But she will know one day.”