Work Text:
The question of what to do with Sam had become a point of debate. After the children retired to their beds and Simon, Theodosia, and Robert retire to the study for the evening eventually one of the them would bring it up.
"Should we perhaps attempt to find Sam a position in less dangerous employment?" Robert said this particular evening, looking up from the book that he hadn't read a sentence of in nearly three pages. "Surely there is somewhere safer for him?"
"Do you know anyone?" Theodosia inquired with a little bite to it, she was growing impatient with the back and forth though she knew as well as the rest of them that it was a genuine concern and a decision must be reached. They cannot continue as they were. Either they committed to keeping the young boy and properly educate him on their world or they send him to somewhere it would be unnecessary. This part way thing they were currently doing was ultimately untenable. "As I am sure you are aware by now, Simon and my social circles are limited," she reminded them of what was the major stumbling block. They would never simply toss the poor boy back out onto the streets without Jo to care for him, but they didn't know many people outside of the field of arcane horrors, and handing him off to one of them would defeat the entire purpose.
Robert looked back down at his book pretending to be distracted for the moment. There was a time when he might have had such contacts, but after so many years working amongst the occultist of London, his social circle had become equally limited. The few friends he still had in the publishing world were not close enough for him to trust them with the rearing of such a boy as Sam.
"Besides," Theodosia continued. "If we are to send him away it is likely that Jo will follow him. They must not. They're not ready yet, we would be damning both of them as surely as if we opened the door to the otherside ourselves."
"Oh, I don't think so." Robert replied quickly, this he had thought about and did have an answer to. "I think if we were to explain that it is what was best for Sam, and as long as they could see each other on occasion, to make sure the other was dong alright. I'm sure Jo would agree to finding a place for Sam elsewhere. This life, it is not a kind one. It has it's beauty. I would choose it again, if I had the chance. I do it all again." He adds with a soft look at Simon. "But Sam is still so young, and he is not like us, the supernatural hasn't changed him yet. He has a chance to live a normal life, untouched by the horrors we encounter so often. Is it not better to give him the chance to live in blissful ignorance at least until he is older?"
"We don't know that." Simon finally weighed in. "We don't know what has touched him yet."
"Perhaps we should find that out first, before we make more plans," Theodosia concluded the nights discussion. They will begin again tomorrow, without having made much progress.
They hadn't thought very deeply about it when they had first invited the two youngsters to London. They were more concerned with Jo at the time. They needed a proper education in the forces they were dealing with. Their gift was great, indeed, and dangerous, to themself and those closest to them most of all. That Sam would come along was a given that had not been given much thought. Neither Simon nor Theodosia had much experience with children of his age, even when they had been children of his age. Robert, though slightly more prepared, had not given the possibility of children much thought since he'd understood his own proclivities would be unlikely to lead to him fathering many. They had not considered what bringing a normal, sunny eight year old boy into a house like Fetter Lane might mean. They had handed him off to Cornelia, to assist her, and had not thought much more of the matter. He was a precocious, bright boy, who backtalked and smiled and filled the house with laughter. He had in the short time he'd been here managed to do something none of the rest had managed and convinced Cornelia to learn a hand language. They were making it up as they went - a secret language just for them, and maybe Jo. Learning a formal language had seemed to much trouble for the older woman, but this game Sam had come up with for them seemed an entirely different matter.
It seemed to be going well and no more thought seemed necessary. At least not until Theodosia had caught Sam curled up in Simon's big study chair flipping through a book of the darkest necromancy. The pictures alone were enough to curl the hairs on the back of grown man's neck and suddenly their house, that they had so thoughtless brought this boy into, seemed to be overflowing with books and tokens of the darkest ritual. It was perhaps on deeper reflection not the best place for children to live.
Jo was a different matter, of course. They were older for one, old enough to know not to go prying into the libraries of occultists, at least. They were sensitive as well. They could tell which books were best not to touch with the same innate senses that had guided Robert through his initiation into the world beneath. Sam's particular choice of literature demonstrated either a darker inclination then his general disposition would lead one to assume, or a total lack of sensitivity towards the currents of the mystic arts. And there was of course Jo's particular talents, which had brought both children to the attention of Simon and Robert in the first place. Even if Jo were younger or more inclined to look at books best kept locked away, they were still better off at Fetter Lane, then anywhere else. This life, this world that only a few people knew of, was their destiny, whether they wanted it or not. There was no escape for them, only the chance to learn to live with their gifts in the most responsible, safest way. Sam did not have any gift or curse. Sam did not need to stay where danger and darkness were so often unwanted guests. And perhaps it was wrong of the Fetter Lane residents to keep him there when he had the opportunity to live a life in the light.
"Excuse me, Miss Kay?" Jo's soft voice came through the cracked study door.
"You're supposed to be in your rooms," Theodosia replied not looking up from her book.
"Yes, Ma'am. It's just - I saw a thing." Jo continued coming fully into the room.
"Well let's hear it then," Miss Kay said putting down her book.
"Right. Well it's bit funny sounding, but the fair folk want the child back."
Miss Kay nodded as though that was a normal sort of thing for a young person to say. "Now are these actual fair folk or is there some room for interpretation?"
Jo closed their eyes and took a slow considering breath, "I'm not sure?" They said after a moment.
"That's fine. " Theodosia stated. "Try to describe to me what you see in as much detail as you can manage - for the moment leave out any impressions or feeling the vision has given you."
"Right. There's a woman and they have a boy, about seven or eight I think. He's - he doesn't look they them. She's dark haired and a bit tanned, a bit darker then Simon. The boy though, he's very pale almost white and his hair is white. There are vines growing up all over him, some kind of briar I think. And a circle of dirt like a fairy ring with the boy at the head. And I keep hearing the words give it back."
Theodosia nodded. "That is certain a strange vision. Do you remember what's the first thing we should do when we have a vision is?" she asked to Jo.
"Write it down?" Jo replied with some hesitancy.
"Good, come." Theodosia stood walking over to writing desk by the dusty window. "Do you remember your letters?"
"Well enough I think." Jo followed, sitting in the chair that Theodosia gestured to. They took a piece of paper and dipped the pen into the ink well, hesitating a second before putting pen to paper.
Under hill, under brush
beneath the briar and the weeds
From the home of the singing Thrush
Return the child of our seeds
Wrap the roots round the bone
Stored and safe beneath the stone
GIVE IT BACK GIVE IT BACK GIVE ITBACK GIVEITBACK GIVEITBACK GIVEITBACKGIVEITBACKGIVEITBACKGIVEITBACKGIVEITBACKGIVEITBACKGIVEITBACKGIVEITBACKGIVEITBACKGIVEITBACKGIVEITBACKGIVEITBACK
"Stop." Theodosia pressed her hand down on Jo's, stopping the deranged scribbling that had seemed to take over them.
"I'm sorry! I don't know what happened, I was just the words were in my head and then -"
"It's not your fault. Something is very angry and it found a way to speak through you." Simon said examining the paper, and handing it to Robert. "Anything stand out to you?"
"Well I think it wants it back," Robert said, studying the paper.
"Don't know what gave you that idea," Simon replied in his deadpan voice
"I mean it isn't a very hard little riddle, is it? Trees around the bone, under a stone? It's clearly a grave."
"Clearly," Simon agreed. "Do you make anything of the first part?"
"Well it's an illusion to faerie, the under hill part, don't you think? Though it might also just be more grave and burial imagery. The next part though I'm not too sure? From the home of the singing Thrush, that's the woods I guess? And the child returning I suppose perhaps dying?"
"Nothing stand out to you?"
"It's a poem, it's a bit like Shakespeare's Fairy Song, I suppose. There isn't a story here, Simon, there's no one for me to ask. What about you? Did the thing that used Jo, write anything on you?"
"Surely you would have felt it," Simon returned the question, taking Roberts hand to exam - as though he could sense if there was any pain left.
"True, so I suppose not."
"Gentlemen," Theodosia interrupted, taking the paper back. As Simon and Robert recalled that they were not yet alone and there was more pressing business for the moment. "We will do a scrying spell on the paper tomorrow, first thing in the morning. This spirit has come to Jo for help. We shall assist as best we can, hopefully it will assist us by sending us a location. In the meantime, I suggest we retire for the night, and get our rest. That means you too, Sam." She added raising her voice and the small blonde head poked through the door.
"We going on a trip then?"
"We are going on a trip. You will be staying here to help Cornelia." Theodosia informed him. "We might have taken you if you had come in directly but skulking around doors and listening in on private discussions is appalling behavior and now you shall have stay behind."
Sam's shoulders slumped but he dutifully turned around to head up to bed.
Robert followed. It was now policy that Sam should not be left to wander the house freely. Once they were out of Theodosia's earshot Robert leaned down.
"Don't listen to Miss Kay, listening behind doors is an excellent tactic to get information. I've practiced it myself many times. Those of us without the ability to see through the veil need to take our advantages where we find them."
"So I can go on the trip then?"
"Oh no, Miss Kay has made her pronouncement and only a fool would try and go against her now. You must simply take this as a lesson to not get caught." Robert said, ruffling the boys hair and sending him off to bed.
It is unlikely they would have taken Sam, either way. This case was already promising to be quite gruesome, with it's talk of graves and lost children. It was certainly not the sort of case to be bringing impressionable young boys along on. If Robert could have it his way, he wouldn't have taken Jo either, but the entity, faerie or spirit or something else, had sought them out and so they were trapped on the case. Hopefully the three of them could spare Jo from the worst this case had to offer, but that was just a long hope. In truth Robert expected that Jo would be faced with all sorts of grim dealings before the year was out, no matter how much the three of them that had taken Jo's education into their hands might wish differently.
In the morning Cornelia was careful to keep Sam extra busy in the kitchens. It wasn't a task she normally struggled with as Sam was always eager to help and to learn and have the captive audience that Cornelia provided. Today, of course with the excitement of last nights dealings, was an exception. Sam kept rushing through his tasks and trying to sneak off up to the study where the four of them were preparing their scrying ritual, until Simon had finally informed him that if he did not stay out the spirit was like to get angry and may hurt Jo. They saw no more of Sam after that.
While Sam was thus occupied the four of them began their scrying ritual in the drawing room. The note with a briar rose was placed at the north point while Robert and Simon, stood east and west. Theodosia took the south point next to Jo, linking their hands together so they might be read as one force. The candles, with their unsettling smell were lit and the map of England was placed in the center of the chalked markings. Scrying is not a ritual to be done lightly. Anything that calls upon the forces of the world that is behind and underneath this one is not to be done lightly. It is easier when the spirits want the help and harder when their are forces that wish to conceal and obfuscate the truth. The hope for this day was that the spirit that had called upon Jo would be amiable since they were here to help.
Theodosia lay the book on the ground in front of them and instructed Jo to do the reading. They were the one the spirit had called upon and it would likely respond best to their call. As Jo read out the words there was a feeling of pressure slowly building. It pressed down, heavier and heavier as air seemed to be pulled out of the room and the candles started to flicker. The pressure became almost unbearable and then all of a sudden the candles were snuffed out. From the north point the briar rose began to grow, a tendril of vine twisted out and winding it's way to the map and piercing through a spot east of Harlow. The pressure lifted. The vine fell lifeless and withered.
"I don't think that's ever happened before," Robert remarked stepping out of the position after a nod from Theodosia informed him it was safe.
"No, no it hasn't," Simon frowned and examined the vine. "Do you think this has something to do with the Green Men?" He asked, turning to Theodosia.
"Oh, I hope not. I hate having to deal with them, right stuck up bastards the lot." Theodosia wrinkled her nose.
"Green Men?" Jo asked.
"They are, I suppose the best way to explain is to call them the old families of magic in England," Simon answered.
"They are the keepers of sacred places and forgotten histories," Theodosia expanded. "They do love to look down their noses on us common ghost hunters, while they do absolutely nothing to help a soul."
"They would not be inclined to help us if this case does involve them," Simon added with a concerned frown.
"We won't know until we get down to Harlow," Theodosia replied, always the practical one.
The train to Harlow didn't leave until after tea, so there was plenty of time to pack anything they might need for the trip. Which was not as common a situation as one might think. Very often they were simply left with no time for such careful consideration. Robert had taken to simply having a small bag with a change of clothes permanently made up for when a case took them out of London suddenly.
Packing for Jo highlighted how little appropriate dress they had, and how little thought the group had given to the needs of children they had taken care off. They had washed the clothes the pair had arrived in and found a pair of shoes for Sam, but going out to a tailor to get them both fitted for appropriate wardrobes for social situations was not something anyone had considered an important concern. Simon and Theodosia were not social people and Robert's socializing had not involved children. It was only now that they suddenly they realized they had nothing for Jo to wear should they require proper dining clothes while in Harlow. Luckily, they had some trunks with old dresses of Theodosia's that fit Jo well enough. They were twenty years out of fashion, but at least Jo would have appropriate dressed for this trip. When they returned to London an appointment with a tailor would need to be made. Something more fitting for Jo's comfort would need to be ordered as soon as possible.
In all the concern over Jo and their state of dress everyone forgot for a moment about Sam, which was an unfortunate mistake, as he was far too clever and far to stubborn a boy to be overlooked. They almost missed the train, having over spent the time packing for Jo and did not have a moment to spare on Sam. When they arrived at the Harlow station in the late evening they were greeted by a barefooted Sam, waiting by the train door.
"Where are your shoes young man?" Robert asks in lieu of all the other questions such as how did you get here and what do you think you're doing?
Sam shrugs. "Left them at the house."
"Well, you had better go back to get them."
"Can't." Sam shook his head, unrepentant, "that was the last train."
"Then you better start walking," Theodosia crossed her arms.
"Oh come on, he's here now. Let him stay, please?" Jo said, coming round to wrap their arms around Sam's shoulders. "I'll take him home tomorrow, first thing - promise."
Theodosia shook her head as she gave in to the twin pairs of pleading eyes. "First thing."
Though the hour was getting late, their was still some sunlight left to the day. So rather then retire they took their trunk to find a coach or some other means of transport to take them to the small town of Tilegate Green which seemed to be about where the briar had wanted them to go.
The coach they found was manned by a older gentleman, who knew the area well. He had, he explained, been driving people around ever since the train had set up a station to make a little extra money. The adults and Jo all found a place in the carriage but Sam climbed up next to the gentleman and requested to sit up with him.
The man had smiled and scooted over on his seat to make room. They chatted as the coach road east, with Sam asking all sorts of questions about the area and pointing out every funny looking tree and passing deer with excitement until Robert interrupted to inquire about nearby lodging. The man had nodded and thought for a moment before suggesting the Milton Public House, just outside the Green. It had been a popular stop when he'd been a child, had been closed and abandoned for several years, and recently re-opened when the daughter had returned to the area following her mother's death.
"That sounds perfect," Robert had said, thanking the man for all his help.
"Always happy to help," The man had said pulling the coach off the main road towards a quaint building with a sign post signalling it to be an inn. "Here we are, oh and let me just see..." The man trailed off getting off and digging around in the foot well. "Ah here we are, my nephew likes to kick off his shoes when he oughtn't to as well. I thought he might have lost a pair in here. They might be a bit snug on your boy, but it's better then nothing ,eh?"
"Thanks, Sir!" Sam beamed up at the man. "It's terribly silly of me to keep losing my shoes like that."
The man smiles, charmed by Sam as most people are.
"Thank you," Simon said paying their fare and little extra for the shoes.
"It's no trouble, boys that age are always getting into scraps like that. If all he does is lose a shoe your a lucky fellow. Ah, but you got to love them. Children are what makes a house into a home as me mam always said."
"Yes, we're finding that out," Simon nodded.
The inn was a nice, if slightly dilapidated building. It was well lit against the beginning of the twilight and inside was cozy and clean. The few towns people were sitting around drinking ale and eating a late supper.
"We were wondering if you had any room for my family and I?" Robert asked the woman at the bar, she was of around forty years old with light red hair and bandages wrapped around her fingers.
"Of course!" The woman smiled, "I've got two room open if you ladies would like some privacy?" She said turning to Jo and Theodosia.
Jo shifted uncomfortably, in Theodosia's old clothes they did look very much like a girl and no one was entirely sure how to correct the woman's assumptions.
"Yes, two rooms please," Theodosia said with a tight smile.
"Wonderful, I'll just show you up so you can put your trunks away and then you can come down for a bit of supper."
"Thank you," Simon said.
"I'm Anna, by the way," the woman said, leading them up the back stairs to a hallway with a row rooms. "You just let me know if you'll be needing anything." She opened two doors right next to each other and handed Theodosia and Simon the keys before turning round and heading back downstairs where someone was calling her name.
The room wasn't very big, but it was neat and clean and had two beds. Anna undoubtedly expected that Sam would be the one sharing with one of the men, but beds were wide enough that Simon and Robert could maintain their usual sleeping arrangement, which pleased Sam greatly as it meant he had the whole big bed to himself.
Supper was an uneventful affair. The food was adequate though not particular exciting. Anna was attentive as she could be and other than the awkwardness every time she referred to Jo as "little miss" it was a nice evening. Sam was in good spirits, excited by the food and people and asking all sorts of questions about the place that Anna was happy to answer.
The next morning Simon woke before Robert, as was usual. He took a moment to appreciate the man in his arms. It would never cease to feel like a miracle that someone like Robert should come into his life, that his life could be so changed just by knowing one person. There would be no relishing that miracle this morning. The walls were thin and there was Sam in the next bed. Or not.
Simon looked over Robert's shoulder to check on the boy to find the bed empty. An unexpected surge of panic welled up in him. They were in a strange town on some unknown case that involved a child being taken. A child who was nearly Sam's age. They had not taken any precautions last night. Anything could have happened to him. He could have been taken by whatever it was that wanted it's child back. They had come in nearly blind and now Sam was missing because they hadn't been careful. They were supposed to be protecting these children and they had failed the most vulnerable one. Simon had largely stayed out of the debates between Theodosia and Robert about if Sam should stay with them, but had personally leaned towards keeping the boy. He liked Sam, he liked having him around. The old man had been right, Sam and Jo's presence had made their cold and empty house a home. But now he sees how selfish that was. Sam was in danger around them. How could they justify putting a child in such danger? How could he justify acting as the man who had raised him had, selfish and uncaring about the needs of the children in his care?
He carefully extricated himself from Robert's side. Robert was not as heavy a sleeper as he had been once, but he still rarely woke when Simon did and Simon had become quite adept at getting out of bed without rousing him. Today was no exception. There was no need to wake Robert and concern him with Sam's disappearance just yet, when nothing was known.
Simon pulled on his clothes quickly and slipped out of the room. His first thought was that Sam had gone to sleep with Jo. He did that sometimes, when he was scared. He had not seemed scared but perhaps he'd woken in the strange bed in the middle of the night and slipped out to find comfort in his older friend. He was about to knock and wake Theodosia when he heard a child's laughter drift up the stairs. He turned around and headed down the stairs to find Sam, barefoot again, sitting at the bar with a bowl of porridge. Anna was sitting next to him with a cup of tea, telling some story that had him giggling with open delight. Sam paused at the opening. He hasn't heard Sam laugh like that before. Another reason to add to the list of why Sam shouldn't stay with them. This laugh shouldn't be rare.
With a breath to prepare for the necessity of interaction with normal people, he stepped into the dining.
"Hello," Anna smiled looking up, as she heard the floor creak under his footfall. "How was you're night?"
"It was fine, thank you."
"Sam, come - it's time to stop bothering Ms. Anna."
"Oh, it's no trouble. We've been having a lovely morning, haven't we?" She said smiling warmly at Sam.
"Ms. Anna said she'd show me the garden later. She's been fixing it up!"
"I'm afraid there won't be time, as soon as Jo gets up the two of you are heading home," Simon reminded him. "Come on, we have to pack and find the shoes that nice gentleman gave you."
"But I can help with your case!" Sam argued as Simon herded him up the stairs.
"You're too young to help."
"But that's what makes me so helpful! I can get into places you lot can't and I can find things out and get people to talk to me. They think because I'm small I don't know things but I hear just fine. And I can tell you what I hear."
"Robert gets people to talk to him just fine."
"Please, Mr. Feximal, I promise I can be of use."
"This is not a suitable place for a child," Simon tried to explain.
"You're bringing Jo."
"Jo is special, it's different with her."
"I could be special, I promise."
"Be glad you're not."
Sam stopped throwing himself down on the hall floor. "NO, you can't separate us. I won't let you. I have to take care of Jo."
"We're not separating you." Simon said, picking Sam up easily. "We're sending her back with you, remember. Which might put this whole case in jeopardy, by the way."
"I heard you talking!" Sam yelled, twisting like an eel in Simon's grip and slipping back down to floor. "You're going to send me away!"
Simon stopped and looked at Sam red face and wet cheeks. He had thought they'd been good about only talking when the children were asleep. Apparently Sam had been listening at door more then they had realized. "We haven't made any decisions," he said in what he hoped was a comforting way.
"But you don't want me," Sam replied. "I can be learn to special. If you let me in the library again. I can learn to be special too."
"No, it's not about wanting you," Simon tried to explained, wondering why had he let Robert sleep in. Robert was much better at talking to the children then Simon was. "It's about what's best for you."
"Being with Jo is best for me."
"It was, but it might not be anymore." Simon reached for away to make Sam understand. "Things change and you need be able to adapt. Sometimes you have to be separated from the people you care about so everyone will be safe. And nothing's been decided." He added in an attempt to forestall any additional arguments.
Sam spun around and stalked back to their room, slamming the door behind him.
"Sam!" Simon heard Robert shout from behind the closed door. He turned around and walked back downstairs. Robert could handle the child for now, Simon was clearly only making mess of things.
"Ready for some tea?" Anna asked when she saw him come back down.
"Yes, please." Simon sat at one of the tables by a window looking out at the woods behind the house.
"That's a sweet boy you've got. Is he yours?"
"Ah, it's complicated."
"Of course," Anna smiled. "What brings you to Tilegate? Are you just passing through?"
"We're looking for someone, they're supposed to be around here - we think."
"Well I know just about everyone around here, who are you looking for?"
"Not entirely sure yet, but they'll reveal themselves I'm sure."
"Well, alright." Anna said giving him an odd look and heading back to the kitchen.
Robert came down a little while later.
"So you and Sam had a talk?" Robert said as he sat down.
"If you can call it that."
"We've done poorly with him."
Simon sipped his tea, there was nothing to argue with there.
"Tea, sir?" Anna came by to ask Robert.
"Yes, please."
"Be right there." Anna smiled and left coming back a minute later with a steaming cup of tea.
"Thank you," Robert said, and feeling the pull add. "I wanted ask, what happened to your hands?"
"Oh, I've been doing some work in the garden out back, getting ready for spring, and I keep catching myself on thorns and things. I should remember to wear gloves but I never do."
"That's it?"
"Yeah, that about the shape of it," Anna said, giving him an odd look before heading back to her kitchen.
"What was that about?"
"I thought...I had a feeling but...I guess not?"
Simon frowned into his tea. This case was getting strange. Robert's nose for a story rarely led them wrong, and yet pricking one's hands on some thorns hardly seemed like much to tell.
"Guess what!" Jo sang as they came down the stairs and threw themselves into the seat next to Robert.
"What?" He asked with a smile. The trouble with Sam and the strange non-story momentarily pushed aside.
"There's a bird's nest in the window of our room," They said with a glint in their eye.
"A bird?"
"A thrush to be specific," Theodosia said, as she came down the stairs at a more stately pace.
"The home of the singing thrush?"
"But there's no children here?" Simon pointed out.
"Not anymore at least," Theodosia agreed. "Perhaps you can ask our host about that."
"Where's Sam?" Jo asked, looking around. "I want to show him the birds."
"He's in the room still," Robert sighed.
Jo frowned, "No he's not."
"He's not?" Simon asked, an echo of the panic from earlier rising up again.
Robert stood up hastily, and rushed up stairs. The door to their room was ajar and the room itself empty. "Sam!" He called opening wardrobes and checking the other rooms to no avail.
The rest of the party had followed him up and when it was evident that Sam wasn't up there they headed back down, searching the house.
Simon opened a door on the ground floor and found himself outside in what must have been the garden Anna had told them about. It was bright in the morning sun, though most the greenery was still winter's brown, and there was Sam sitting next to Anna as she showed him how to prune a bush of some kind. Simon had never been all that interested in plants. He wanted to turn around and quietly leave, to gather the rest of their strange family and disappear, leaving Sam in this quiet, sunny place where he might have a real chance to be normal and happy.
Anna must have heard something because she turned back towards the house and saw him before he could give the impulse more thought. She stood up and waved for him to come over, there was a bit of red on her cheek. Just then Jo came pushing past him.
"Sam!" They yelled, running and wrapping the boy in their arms. "Don't you ever go running off like that again!"
"Sorry," Sam mumbled into their shoulder. Robert and Theodosia were not long in following the noise to the open garden. Robert ran right out after Jo, pulling the both of them into a hug, but Theodosia hung back with Simon in the shadow of the house and quietly took his hand.
"Terribly sorry to worry you sirs," Anna was saying, wiping away the blood. "If I'd known Sam here had snuck off I'd've sent him right back in."
"It's fine," Robert assured her. As he stood his eye caught on a white statue of a young boy. The statue itself was cleared off, though a bit dirty, but around the base were tendrils of briars and dandelion weeds growing up all around it. Around the statue in a near perfect circle was a batch of loose dirt as though something has been recently buried.
"What's that statue?" He found himself asking.
"Oh that old thing?" Anna frowned in confusion at the sudden change in subject. "My great-grandfather brought that home from the Americas. He'd had ideas about finding 'is fortune in the colonies. I suppose it worked out well enough, since he came back and set up this place. He brought the statue and my great-grandmother back with him. It's been there ever since. My grandmother used to keep it all nice, but my mom, she had the troubles, if you take my meaning. Let the whole place go to the weeds. I've been meaning to clean up this garden for ages. But I had to fix up the house enough for guests first. Just started on it this year. "
"And what happened there?" Robert pointed to the disturbed soil.
"Oh, there was a plant that used to grow there, the strangest plant I've ever seen. Really nothing like it anywhere around here. I was worried with all the weeds that had grown up and the terrible cold that it wouldn't last much longer. So I just moved it inside." Anna gestured towards the house. "Would you like to come see it? Perhaps you could identify it for me."
"Can we?" Sam asked, perking up.
"Sure, I just..." Robert kept looking at the statue, his nose tingling as it does when there is more to the story, but he hasn't got it all yet, and doesn't know quite which question to ask.
"Did you move the statue?" he finally asked.
"No? Well I mean I righted it when I first started work. It had fallen down during the years of my mother's neglect. But it's always stood right there."
"Hmm," Robert nodded and shook his head, "Come on, Sam, let's get a look at that plant?"
Anna led the two of them back inside, pulling her skirt away from a bit of briar that seemed to snake out to snag her. Meanwhile Jo, Simon, and Theodosia went over to examine the statue.
"That's the boy, from my vision," Jo said. "It didn't look like a statue in it," they added apologetically.
"Visions have a way of being confusing, you'll learn how to interpret them in time," Theodosia reassured them.
"This is a strange situation." Simon said bending down to exam the statue, Jo kneeled down next to him. "What's this?" They asked pointing to shards of white scattered in the overturned dirt.
Theodosia joined the two of them picking the white material up. "Ivory," she declared and then looking up at Simon added "bone."
"wrap the wood around the bone" Jo repeated. "You think that's the bone?"
"Perhaps," Theodosia looked up and started examining the statue again. "Here." She declared, pointing at the statues closed hands. "There's some broken pieces of ivory in it's hand. It must have been holding something that broke when it fell over."
"And the plant that was here, must have been wood wrapped around it." Jo said excitedly.
"But what does it mean?" Simon asked, though no one had an answer.
Anna led Robert and Sam back inside and into a sunny room off the kitchen. It was a small room full of plants in little pots lined up on shelves, herbs and small flowers mostly and in the corner of the room in a larger pot, standing about three feet high was a strange sort of flower. From it's base spread out a rosette of long sharp leaves that were green on the edges and almost yellow in the middle and growing out of the center of the circle of leaves was a long stalk topped with a cascade of white flowers.
"That is unusual," Robert remarked leaning down to examine it.
"Right?" Anna said touching one of the leaves gently. "I'm not sure where it came from, it looks like something you'd see in one of those fancy gardens with all the exotic plants from Africa and Asia. It looked so special though, I wanted to make sure it wouldn't get overrun out there in the garden. You can see how yellow the leaves are? But look here at the fresh one, such a perfect green." She pointed out. "I think it's doing better now that's inside."
Sam reached out to touch one the leaves and quickly drew his hand back.
"Careful, the ends of the leaves are quite sharp." Anna cautioned. "You can touch on the inside. See?" She demonstrated where to touch and Sam copied her.
"It was sick outside?" Sam asked
"Not sick exactly," Anna explained. "But it couldn't grow well and eventually it would have died. It needs special attention, because it's a special plant. If we left outside to fend for itself, it wouldn't be able survive much longer."
"It had to come in here to be safe."
"Exactly."
Sam nodded seriously, "I see."
"Robert?" Simon called out from somewhere in the house.
"Back this way," Robert replied and Simon, Theodosia, and Jo followed the sound of his voice to the small back room. There wasn't room for all six of them to squeeze in so Robert and Sam slipped out so the others could see the strange plant.
"Any ideas?" Anna asked the three new comers.
Simon and Theodosia shook there heads but Jo's eyes lit up. "That's a yucca! I saw one at the botanical show with me parents, before they died. We saw all these funny plants from America."
"Yucca," Anna said turning back to the plant. "That's a lovely name. Thank you." She smiled at Jo.
"Happy to be of service."
As Anna began explaining what she had observed of the plant to Jo, Sam slipped out. Theodosia didn't notice right away but she didn't have a particular interest in plants like Jo and Robert seemed to, nor was she content just to watch Robert as Simon so clearly was. She turned to go get some tea. In the excitement of the morning she hadn't had a chance to get any and that is when she noticed Sam had once again disappeared. They would have to teach that boy some manners before he scared them all to death. She retraced their steps back towards the main area of the inn and passing the still open door to the garden. Sam was outside again sitting in front of the statue in the middle of the circle of loose dirt.
"But, sometimes even though you want to stay together you can't because it's not the best thing for everyone." He was saying. "Inside the house Ms. Anna can take care of your friend much better then you can. She has all the special tools and knows all sorts of things that will help your friend grow up big and strong. I know it's scary to be alone but you're strong, so you can survive out here on your own. It'll be okay. And everyone is just doing their best to make sure your friend gets to live a good long life. So maybe try not to be so mad and stop attacking Ms. Anna. She's a good person, and she's trying to help."
Theodosia made her way across the little yard and sat down next to Sam. "You understand that you are the yucca in this questionable metaphor, right?"
"But I'm not special."
"Neither is the Yucca among its own kind. It's as common as a dandelion. It's only unique and in need of special care because it's not in it's proper place." Theodosia explained. "Jo is like us. They're touched by other forces and they will be subject to them for the entirety of their life. Just like me and Simon were. Our world is their natural soil. You, on the other hand, are the seeds that got carried here by a bit of strange fortune. If - and it is only if - we decide it's too dangerous for you to remain with us, it's because we care about you and want to you to grow strong and live a full, long, life. You are the plant that may need to be uprooted and placed in the care of someone who knows how to handle your special needs. And we would never simply throw you out to fend yourself in the world. You will be placed with people we trust and you will always be welcome in our home."
Sam nodded.
"And thank you for talking to the briar. It was very clever of you to figure it out. I don't think Simon, Robert, or I would have realized what was happening for a while yet. It's not our usual sort of case. It's actually been a quite nice one."
"Are you still sending me and Jo back home?"
"No, since I am quite certain there are no ghouls out here that will attempt to eat your face in the night. I think you can stay with us for the rest of the day. We will all leave the day after tomorrow, if it seems that the briar is no longer trying to attack Ms. Anna."
"It won't," Sam said with certainty. "It was only angry because it didn't understand why she took it's friend away. They'll be good now."
"That's good to hear. Now, you won't do anymore running off will you. Cornelia is probably terribly worried about where you got off to. We don't want to give the poor old woman a fright like that."
"I promise," Sam nodded.
"Good, come. I need some tea, perhaps if Ms. Anna is done showing off her plant she can tell us about some of the nice things to do around here."
Sam nodded and stood up, holding out a hand to help Theodosia stand.
There was not much of interest in the little hamlet of Tilegate Green, so they ended up passing the day around the inn. Theodosia and Simon read while the children ran around the garden, with the occasional supervision from Anna. It was a pleasant diversion, in which nothing terrible happened. A truly unusual occurrence. There was a new feeling in the air, like all of the terrible things that had haunted them through life were finally in the past. All the baggage they had carried with them could finally be unloaded and stored away. Maybe some of the books of necromancy and arcane horror could be stored somewhere away as well, at least until the children were older. Their house at Fetter Lane could be made different. Neither Simon nor Theodosia had ever considered that they could change the place from the mausoleum of horrors that Mr. Karswell had created of their childhood. But they could. It was their house and if they wanted to lock all the books of torture up in the attic and fill the drawing room with flowers and novelty teacups they could. It was their house, they didn't have to be trapped in what had happened to them there. They could make it their own. They could make it the sort of place where Sam and Jo would live without having to fear anything. There would be no need to separate them. It could be so simple.
Two days after their return to Fetter Lane, the three of them, Simon, Theodosia, and Robert were once again sat in the library. It was a bit emptier then usual with whole sections of bookshelves emptied of their contents. When a quiet knock came on the door and Jo poked their head in. "Excuse me, can I come in?" They asked as they did just that.
"Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" Theodosia says, not putting her book down.
"Yes, ma'am, but it's about Sam."
"Is Sam alright?" Robert asked immediately standing and taking a step towards the door.
"Yes, but you need to keep him," Jo said with a new conviction in their voice.
"We've discussed this with Sam," Theodosia replied, "we'll try but if it think it is too dangerous-"
"No, I mean I've seen a thing. Well not really seen. It's..." Jo furrows their brow. "Sam is the rock, when the shadow comes if he isn't ready they all crumble. So you see you have to keep him, and teach him about all this. It's important. Everything will depend on it."
The was a moment of quite following their prophesy. Simon looked over at Theodosia. It was not what they had wanted - if felt much like a whisper of the crimes that had been committed against them. Could they sacrifice Sam's safety and innocence for the darkness, should they? Even if the world apparently depended on it? But what other choice was there?
"Alright," Theodosia nodded at Jo, "we will teach him."