Unlocking Adeline (Skeleton Key) (10 page)

“Locke has had his head up his arse for so long, it’s about time to poke at him some.”

I don’t say much more. I’m so confused. It’s like I want to know why Locke doesn’t want me, but then again I shake off the questions, because it shouldn’t matter.

Into the castle, through the large dining area and two long flights of stairs later, and Christof and I are stopping outside my door. “Thank ye for the wonderful walk. I am lucky to win the hand of such a lovely lady,” he says and places a soft kiss to the top of my hand. I’m suddenly tired and words escape me, so I just nod. The door opens, and Ellie stands in the doorway.

“Ahh, there ye are, Miss, I was quite worried. It is a must that ye get yer beauty rest.” Then she turns to Christof and bows, “Sir Christof.”

Christof repeats her gesture. “Good night to ye both.” And then he is off. Before I have a chance to let out a sigh, guess who is dragging me into the room.

“Geez Ellie, you need to learn to do more asking, and less manhandling when you want me to do something.” Once I’m in the room, with the door shut, she sits down.

“Miss Adeline, are ye aware of the Book of Wren?” she asks, and I nod, since that’s all people want to talk about. “Well, then ye will know that it’s the book that states all the rules for the land. The rules on the chosen.
In
the book, it clearly states when the chosen should marry by. What most don’t know is if they do not seal their fate by then, the bind is void. The female has until she is out of her twenty-first year, and the male until he has completed his twenty eighth.” Ellie has completely lost me here. These people and their riddles. “How about you just get to the point, Ellie? I am not following you.”

“Locke is one month’s time shy of his twenty-ninth birthday.”

“And who did you hear this silly fable from, Ellie?”

“It’s known, Miss. The sorcerer has spoken of it.”
Speaking of that sorcerer.

“What I am trying to say is that ye do not have much time with Locke.”

A
fter my talk with Ellie, it was imperative I talk to the sorcerer, but those plans got detoured when Christof invited me to a tour of the lands. As much as I wanted to take a raincheck, his smiling face brought some enjoyment to this messed up situation, so I took him up on his offer. He led me once more through the gardens and fed me story after story of the history. He took me by the stables and introduced me to Edward, the stable master, and walked me through, offering me each name of the horses. Finally, leading us through the orchards, I turn to him.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Ye may.”

“Have you ever gone into another world? Or realm as you call it?”

“I have not,” he states.

“Why not? Have you not wondered what it would be like?”

“Well, for starters, I enjoy this one. I have no need to be anywhere but in Wren. I am happy here, is the answer I guess that I am looking for.”

“But how do you know unless you find out?”

“Searching out answers has always been Locke’s thing. He has always seemed unsatisfied. Never sure on why.”

“And why are you so content? Why did you agree to have to take on his burden? I can’t imagine you’ve been all that happy about being forced to take me on, due to Locke’s uncertainty. I mean, I’m being thrown at you.”

He turns his head and winks at me. “Having ye thrown at me sounds lovely. Don’t ever think that would be a bad thing. For anyone.” He winks at me again. “And don’t ye worry about me, my time shall come. This land will soon flourish and life will once again be as it should be.”

“I know I had no clue about you or this place, but I’m starting to feel such regret that these people had to suffer on account of my dad’s poor actions.”

Stopping once again, we turn to face one another, placing his hands on each side of my shoulders. “Adeline, please. Do not feel bad for actions that are bestowed on ye. Ye are not the one to blame here. I understand the choices yer father made. But sadly some in this community do not.”

“Yeah, I get that, since they all seem to want to tar and feather me in the center of town.” He laughs, “Oh give them time. It’s a shock to learn about ye.”

“Yeah, and my grandmother? She, I’m sure, is first in line. She hates me.”

“Lovely, she doesn’t hate ye. Put yerself in her shoes. She defended her son for years after he left. Swore he had been captured while on a mission or that he was dead. She had mourned him for years. To find out he is alive, and that he had married and bred two children comes to a shock to her.”

I take in his words. I want to defend my dad because I love him. But I am beginning to understand where these people are coming from. He abandoned his family. He led everyone to believe he was dead, to selfishly create his own path in a world he did not belong to. But then I think of our family and the sacrifice he did make. He did it because he loved my mom. They created two great kids and he worked night and day to provide for his family. He was a prince in line to become the next great warrior of his time, and he left all that for my mom. I think about when my mom got sick: all the long hours at the hospital, all the medicines that didn’t work. I wonder how long my dad battled with knowing all he had to do was wait for that key to be summoned to come home to save her. I wonder when the day was that he finally broke.

I walk into the house, finally getting home from work. I had a late interview at the Uncle Hank’s Diner tonight, hoping to pick up a second job. I know Dad could use the extra help. No one is in the living room, but I hear sounds coming from down the hallway. As I walk back and into my parents’ room, I see that that they are both crying.

“What’s wrong?” I panic. It’s not unusual to see one or both my parents cry lately. It’s just how it goes when you have one that is dying. They both look up from one another to see me in the doorway. “Nothing, baby, nothing is wrong. Things are actually going to get better.”

I look at them both, the tears staining their faces, but the smiles are what I’m not used to seeing.

“Addie Bear, Mom is in remission.”

“Hello? Are ye still in there?”

I break from my memory to notice we’ve stopped walking and Christof is staring at me.

“I’m sorry. I… I was just lost in a memory.”

“No need to apologize.”

“What happens if Locke and I don’t pair? What happens if neither one of you want me?”

“Well, I am saddened to think ye already have given up on us,” he muses. Before I have a chance to retract my rude comment, he continues, “I know what ye meant. Well, I think that ye are lovely from the short time we have spent, and I will forever build on the daydream of us basking in the sun of wedded bliss, but I have faith that my brother will show his true colors soon. Then I will step aside and continue on with what I am destined to do.” Just the word brother, has me remembering the stolen kiss from last night; how his lips melted into mine, as if we had done that thousands of times before.

“Well then, I will remind you that your brother shows no interest in marriage, let alone showing a sliver of kindness toward me. So I fear you may end up really stuck with me.” At that, he laughs.

“Now what’s so funny?”

He turns to me, placing my hand in his. Raising it to his mouth, he lands a tender kiss to the top of my hand. Looking me directly in the eye, it causes my cheeks to flush instantly. “I am certain that my brother is far from detached from this challenge. I ensure ye that his interests entail one beautiful princess.”

He catches me off guard in a confusing matter.

“I’m not so sure I know what you mean?”

“Take a look to yer left, and maybe it will make more sense.” He smiles as I slowly turn my head toward the left.

And there he is.

Locke.

He is leaning against the armory, his arms crossed over his hard chest. His eyes are on fire. He looks angrier than I have seen him yet. As our eyes catch, he pushes off the wall and heads inside. Hearing Christof laugh again, I turn. “I don’t…”

“See? Ye are affecting him, just as ye are me. Ye are quite the prize in the end, Princess Adeline. He may act like the fool, but he is far from uncommitted into this challenge. Whether he will admit it or not. And I will enjoy every taunting minute of it.”

The remainder of the day was actually quite nice. Christof was very polite and funny. We seemed to have a lot in common, even with the era gap between us. I asked about his life in Wren, and he asked about my life in Seattle. He said he had heard of it, in stories from Locke. He even told me he has some shirts with logos of random sports teams. I wonder how they are brothers. They are so different, in looks
and
attitudes. Where Christof is kind and soft mannered, Locke is rough and always so angry. I wonder what made him so mad at the world. Does he ever smile? Why does he not have interest in taking up a wife? I mean. Not that I care. Roguish beast.
Oh God, I’ve been here twenty-four hours, and I am already using their ancient slang.

When the sun began to set, Christof took me back to the main castle and dropped me off at my room. He kissed my hand goodbye and said he would see me at dinner. I smile back, feeling a tiny bit of flutter because no one has ever been so sweet to me. Once I shut myself in my room, I remembered my task at hand. Find that key. Get the hell out of here.

“How was yer day, Miss—”

Forgetting my maid/guard, I jump off the door, ready to swing at her. “Oh Jesus, Ellie, a little warning would ya?”

She looks just as startled as I am, since I about took her head off with my right hook. “I’m sorry, Miss, but I was standing right in front of ye.”
Huh?
The thought of me coming in and laying against the door, daydreaming like an idiot, sends a small blush to my cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I’m just tired.” She bows and moves out of my way, so I can throw myself on the oversized bed that can fit a small family. “Ellie?” I ask, turning on the bed and lying on my back.

“Yes, Miss?”

“How long have you lived here? In Wren?”

“My whole life, Miss.”

“Did you know my dad?” Her smile falters a smidge, but she quickly hides it.

“Yes, Miss. I did.”