His Black Wings (24 page)

“I never went out again after that. It took a month for my wing to heal and I don’t know if I have ever really healed from my encounter with other humans. Thomas, my father and you are the only ones I have ever really talked to.”

“I’m so sorry Etrigan. You have lived with so much loneliness. I can see why you would not want to risk being out in public again.”

“Oh I go out, only at night though.” He turned and smiled at me. I was surprised to hear that he went out.

“You go out? Really? Does your father know?”

He chuckled at my surprise and seemed delighted to have a secret of his own to share.

“No, he doesn’t know. My own way of rebelling I guess. I perch on roof tops or trees watching people enter their carriages or hurrying home after work. If there were a coat large enough to hide my wings in a convincible manner I would wear it and walk among them!” he said and laughed. I looked at him and could see tears in his eyes.

“Have you ever thought of getting your wings removed?”I asked cautiously.

“I have, but my father has forbidden it. He will not say why. When I turned fourteen or fifteen, I can’t remember exactly what age it was, I pleaded with him. He said no, no matter how much I begged.”

I was silent wondering what would be Mr. Lowood’s motivation for not letting his son get the surgery to make him appear normal. Surely his wings did not fall under the cosmetic surgery act that the Grand Council had instituted. I stood up and walked over to Etrigan and stood by his side. Etrigan reached out and stroked my hair softly.

“It’s not all that bad, sometimes I see wondrous things at night when flying by the lighted windows.”

“Like what?” I asked, suddenly suspicious of the sounds I had heard outside my window at night.

“Pretty ladies in their flimsy nightgowns.” He said mischievously. I gasped and slapped at his arm as he threw back his head and laughed.

***

The day of the Celestial Ball once again found Mrs. Whitby bustling around my room like a tornado. Mr. Lowood appointed her my chaperone for the evening and she was very pleased.

“I got myself a new frock as well.” She confided to me as she lay out my black gown and wings.

“Now I can do your hair tonight, I think you should wear it down. I picked up these clips to wear on the sides though.” She pulled out a pair of diamond barrettes that sparkled in the fading sunlight that shone in through my windows.

“Those are beautiful Mrs. Whitby.” I said and ran my finger over them, smudging them. She blew on the surface of the one I touched and shined it with her apron.

“They are, aren’t they? They were my grandmother’s, passed down to me. Diamonds used to be worth something hefty back in the day. Now precious gems have been devalued so much by the Grand Council people no longer want them.” She brushed out the soft curls in my hair and pinned the barrettes in them.

“But I think they are still my favorite stone. You can’t put a price on sentimental value.” When I felt her pinning the barrettes in to my hair I protested.

“No Mrs. Whitby I cannot wear them! I thought you were showing me what you were going to wear in your hair.”

“Hush now, I want you to wear them.”

“I would be to worried that I might lose them…” I protested. She waved her hand back and forth in front of me telling me no.

“Miss, you won’t lose them and even if you did I would not be upset. These clips are far too young for me and I regret that I have no daughter to pass them on to. Wear them tonight or you will offend me.” She set her mouth in a hard line as she often did when trying to impress upon me her point of view. I relented, she smiled. Inwardly I was worried since I knew myself better than Mrs. Whitby did. I had a penchant for losing small things like earrings, necklaces and barrettes. I reached my hand up to my hair to feel them gently. I wanted to make sure they were pinned in securely. She slapped at my hand lightly.

“Now, now, they are fine where they are! I secured them. Don’t keep messing about with them or they will fall off. Now just slip into your dress and I will help you attach your wings.” I did as she commanded, Mrs. Whitby had a way about her that made you obey. When she was finished attaching my wings she bid me look into the mirror.

I laughed with delight at the prettiness of my dress and wings.

“They are so pretty together Mrs. Whitby! Your friend Hanna is truly a genius!” I had tried the dress on once at Mrs. Whitby’s insistence when we had first brought it home to make sure it fit properly. However she would not allow me to look at myself in the mirror.

“Good! Now you are all set,” she said as she looked me over, her hands resting on her plump mid section, “I need to hurry and get myself prepared as well. Meet me in the foyer in thirty minutes.”

“That’s all the time you need?”

“Oh Miss, it doesn’t take long for these old bones to get ready. You just make sure you are ready downstairs.” She pointed a finger at me in warning as she left my room.

Dekker and Horace arrived in one carriage, squabbling as usual, as I let them in. They both wore coats of white soft velvet with matching white wings. Their wings were somewhat smaller than mine.

“Claren! You look astounding!” Dekker said as he touched my wings.

“You do look beautiful in that gown Claren. Just like the first night I saw you.” Horace added shyly.

“Thank you gentlemen, and I have to say the both of you look quite debonair yourself. They both beamed and bowed deeply to me for the compliment.

“Well, are you ready?” Dekker said taking my arm in a rather possessive manner.

“Oh, just a moment, we have to wait for Mrs. Whitby.” I smiled at them knowing that they had not expected her to come along. Dekker’s face dropped.

“Mrs. Whitby?” He questioned, a perplexed look on his face. Horace chuckled at his friend’s expression.

“Surely you didn’t expect Claren to come out with the both of us without a chaperone?” Mrs. Whitby walked into the foyer all smiles wearing a white cloak. She held in her arms what I assumed was a black cloak for me.

“Please allow me.” Dekker said, attempting to take the cloak from Mrs. Whitby.

“No, allow me.” A deep voice said that came from the top of the stairs. Mr. Lowood stood at the top looking down at us. I wondered how long he had been there, watching silently. My companions had suddenly become mute, Dekker’s hand frozen in mid air towards the cloak in Mrs. Whitby’s hands. Mr. Lowood walked down the stairs slowly, looking at the two young men at my side. Without a glance at myself or Mrs. Whitby he claimed the black cloak and put it on me, all the while holding Dekker’s gaze.

“Now I am assured you will take great care with my niece. Her happiness is my one single wish. I trust you gentlemen will take care of her as if she were your own dear
sister
.” A silence, thick and heavy formed between the three men, Mr. Lowood’s meaning clear. Both Dekker and Horace began speaking at once.

“Yes, of course Mr. Lowood, we want to make her happy as well.”

“You have our word Mr. Lowood, we will be her constant companions.”

“Good. As long as we
understand
each other gentlemen.” He said and bore his piercing gaze, that I had been subject to so many times before, into them. Satisfied at their submissive response, he turned towards me.

“Enjoy yourself Claren.” He said simply and walked away. Dekker and Horace watched his departure for a full minute with wide eyes. I could tell that they were both awed and upset with my “Uncle”. It took Mrs. Whitby’s businesslike manner to get the party to move along.

“Now gentlemen, we should be on our way.” She said in a boisterous voice. Coming back to themselves, they each took one of my arms on their own.

“Yes, lets.” Horace said. The carriage ride seemed somewhat awkward as if the two wanted to say something to me, but were afraid to because of Mrs. Whitby’s presence. Instead Horace spoke of the facility in which the Ball was being held.

“Now this event center is renowned for being technologically advanced. When it was first built I thought it rather awkward looking, a sore thumb really. It did not match with the rest of the aesthetic of our little city.” He leaned forward in a confident manner as he further explained the event to me.

“You will see the most advanced androids, really artificial humans, serving at this Ball. They will have demonstrations as well after dinner. My favorite are the android animals. You cannot tell them apart from the real thing.”

“I prefer the women robots.” Dekker said salaciously. Horace frowned at him.

“You would. As I was saying Claren, since the majority of the large cats, Bengals and such were wiped out during the Great War, there was a need to educate the public about these lost species. One of my mother’s subsidiary companies has developed these amazing replicas.” Horace was very excited as he told me about the benefits of owning one. I was not sure if he was trying to sell me one or not.

“I look forward to seeing the Jaguarundi. Even though it is only a midsize cat, they are truly beautiful.” He said excited, as I took out my handkerchief.

“Calm yourself man, you don’t want our wings to be sopping wet do you? I am crushing the deuce out of mine as it is.” Dekker said as he shifted uncomfortably. Mrs. Whitby sat in silence the whole way listening to our conversations with a queer little smile on her face.

“I didn’t know that you dealt in robotics Horace. That is truly an interesting field. The amount of advances that have been made, even in the short time since I was a child, is amazing.” I said to Horace.

“Well, I myself don’t deal in robotics. My academic career did not lead me down that path. As you know, I research ancient cultures and societies.”

“Oh no, here we go.” Dekker said blowing a lock of hair out of his eyes and looking out of the carriage window bored.

“As I was saying, once again before my rude friend interrupted, I research and lecture on ancient societies, all aspects of them. From the average home life of your daily laborer to business practices of the rich. Very interesting things we can learn from our ancestors.” I nodded and smiled at him, always being keenly aware of when Dekker felt bested by Horace. He continued speaking on the benefits of owning artificial animals in lieu of real ones until we arrived at the Ball.

The Event Center was very different from all the other buildings that surrounded it. While the majority of the buildings in most cities were fashioned after the Victorian period in human history, ( another wish by the Grand Council), this building was not. There was a grand line of beautiful people waiting to get in to the front of the building. Men and women dressed in white wings and beautiful white clothing trimmed with silver and gold, chatted happily with one another. I felt more than awkward when we were let out of the carriage and rushed to the front of the line directly to the entrance. My black dress and wings made me stick out, but now being brought to the doors by four men in white serving clothes, it was too much.

“Mr. Bitwater, we are so glad to see you this evening. This must be Miss Lowood, a pleasure to meet you Miss.”All four men spoke in unison and bowed. The entire line of party goers had become quiet and were watching the spectacle. I felt my blood turn warm and heat my face.

Horace looked towards me and smiled conspiratorially.

“They are androids Claren, aren’t they wonderful?” I nodded somewhat woodenly as Horace took my arm to lead me forward. I noticed that Dekker was trailing behind with Mrs. Whitby.

“It is custom that I, we, me with my guests get to enter first, for a look around before any other guests. This of course is my first year ever to do this.” He said excitedly into my ear. I felt him spit on my earlobe. I forced my hand to stay at my side, even though I wanted to wipe away the wetness.

“I’ve never had any friends to come with. This is a very exciting night for me Claren. Thank you so much for coming.” I nodded and smiled and could not help feel queenly and shy at the same time as we were ushered into the building while the rest of the party goers had to remain outside.

Horace showed us around the facility that when not in use for this yearly ball, doubled as a museum and technology center. He whisked us through the interactive displays and new product areas. We lingered at the animal area where several new species had been duplicated into robotic form. Dekker tried to hide his joy when we came to the display of robotic females. You could not tell that they were made of synthetic material.