Under the Blood Moon

Fenrir Manor

Chapter 15 – Fenrir Manor

Stefan

I can feel Scarlet becoming increasingly tense as the drive continues, her eye twitches every now and then as she watches the scenery fly by the car. Anne is equally silent and thoughtful as the miles trip by. Andy is softly snoring in the back seat, his teenage body responding to a mix of boredom and growth hormones.

Unsure as to whether it is best to break the tension or just let the two experience their own thoughts and worries, I take Scarlet’s hand in mine, settling it on her knee with a little squeeze. She peaks over at me smiling softly before returning her eyes to the road. Her body seems to relax at my touch, so I leave the silence as it is.

When we are around ten miles out, I cough slightly, announcing that we are close. Anne replies “mmhmm”, still lost in her memories. Scarlet looks at me and I see the fear and doubt in her face. “They’re going to love you. Don’t worry.” I say, I can see that she still isn’t sure though, so I ask, “Tell me what the worst case scenario is?”

She smirks “They hate me, and we are forced to run away and spend the rest of time together on a desert island.”

I snort with unexpected laughter. “Well, I like coconuts and I think you’d look hot in a grass skirt!” I twitch my brows suggestively, earning a giggle.

“ OK, I get it I’m being silly.” She concedes, squeezing my hand and grinning at me widely. “So any landmarks that I should see?” She asks.

“Hmm let’s see.” I look around the countryside we are driving through. “That field over there” I point “I was chased by a herd of cows over there.” Her eyes open wide as she covers the snort of laughter, “When?” she asks. I blush before answering “Last week, I was listening to music on a jog and didn’t notice them.” She claps me on the shoulder, the laughter coming more freely now.

The road sign ahead announces the turn off to the home estate, “We’re here.” Anne sighs heavily from the back seat.

Scarlet

‘Fenrir Manor’, the road sign declares as we drive along the straight country road. An arrow points off to the left through an impossibly thick looking forest.

Stefan smiles at me, his hand coming to a rest on my knee again, giving me a firm squeeze, to allay my building nerves.

“We’ve been here before” mum announces. She is scanning the surroundings with great interest. “Yes, if we turn left, not right…” she points at the opposite lane to the forest path, her words fading into nothing.

“mmhhmm” nods Stefan, “that’s where George’s parents lived.”

“Lived?” Mum questions.

Stefan nods but doesn’t answer the question. I stretch my neck backwards to look at the left lane as we turned right. There was a pretty little cottage just a little way down the road, the garden looked overgrown and unloved.

“I’ll take you all to visit after we get settled in” he tells us all.

Mum looks unhappy at the unanswered question; shadows of unpleasant memories are clouding her eyes. “As you say sweetheart” she nods.

The drive up to the manor loops through the woods on a surprisingly even and well-maintained road. After ten minutes, the trees break, and a beautiful manor house appears sitting atop a beautifully manicured lawn.

Children are playing happily on the grass, kicking footballs, and flying ornate kites. A small grey-haired woman is stood at the top of the stone steps wringing her hands in a tea towel as she watches the car slowly pull through the last few feet of the driveway. She smiles and waves as we pull up. “Your mum?” I ask.

Stefan nods, and says “Yes, that’s Mum. I wonder where Dad is?”

Stefan swings out of the car, opening the door for Mum, then Andy and finally me. The older woman skips down the steps to meet us.

“Baby boy” she squeals as she grabs him for a hug. She squeezes tightly before letting him go, she spins on an immaculate heel to face me, a huge grin splits her face. “Scarlet!” she cries before pulling me in to a vice like hug. “I couldn’t be happier to see you again!”

She holds tight for a minute or two before her head starts to bob, “Anne, where are you hiding? Stefan told me you were coming too!”

“Right here Cathy.” Mum calls out.

I’m stunned, Stefan has told us all about his parents, but I don’t remember him mentioning their names once. Does this mean that my mum and Stefan’s were friends? Please let them be friends and not enemies!

“You’ve not changed a bit” mum states, looking Cathy over before heading towards her arms raised.

Friends, thank god!

“Well, a little” Cathy murmurs, her fingers touching her hair self-consciously.

“Ah, well, age gets us all doesn’t it”, Mum laughs, pulling Cathy in for a huge hug. The two women separate and immediately start to talk at one hundred miles an hour, walking side by side towards the open door at the top of the stone stair.

Stefan looks at me, shrugs his shoulders in the universal ‘who knows’ gesture before taking my hand and motioning for Andy to follow us.

Anne

I’ve known for 15 years that our paths would bring us back to this estate, that one day I would stand at this door again with Scarlet by my side. The vision I had that night showed me clearly that we would be back here. The children grown and the immediate danger passed. Leaving Scarlet’s bear behind with that little note had given away far more than I should have, and I knew that Cathy would have questions for me. I only hoped they were questions I could answer.

15 years ago, I was bound by a covenant that prevented me from telling my husband or friends about the visions I had experienced that summer. It had nearly broken me seeing the loss and pain that was to come, the upheaval and change that is still to come.

The covenant will be broken soon, and I can share what I know again, provide the children with the answers they have needed for so many years and perhaps find my husband, hopefully, alive.

Scarlet

Stefan and I follow our gossiping mothers into the house, a bemused smile across both of our faces, neither had mentioned a word about knowing the other in the last two days.

As we reach the warm and ridiculously large kitchen, our mothers turn to us, asking if we’re hungry at all. We all nod fervently; Andy’s stomach actually growls!

We leave the two mothers together and Stefan takes us to our rooms to get unpacked while they catch up.

“What is all that about?” Stefan asks as he lands on his large bed facing me. I am milling around the room unpacking the few items I have in my overnight bag.

“No idea” I shrug “Mum has never mentioned any friends from before I was born.” I’m digging through my brain for any indication that Mum had ever mentioned any of this stuff to me or Andy and there’s nothing, she never even spoke about her own parents to us.

“She’s always kept these things from us for some reason.” I’m scratching the soft patch of skin behind my ear, hoping to kick a memory loose. “I wonder if it’s a witch thing?” I muse.

“Maybe” Stefan replies, “Have you talked to her at all about your own witchiness yet?”

I shake my head, since this whole mess came out into the open, I’ve barely had a few minutes alone with Mum and those were taken up with conversation about Stefan. “Maybe later today I can peel her away from everyone and get some answers.”

Andy knocks loudly at the door as I finish my words. “Get your clothes back on, lunch is ready!” he shouts before peeling off down the hallway laughing at his own hilarity.

I poke my head out of the door shouting at my little brother to grow up before launching a shoe at his disappearing back. Stefan and I then follow him, me stopping to put my shoe back on as we reach the bottom of the hall. I wonder if his sister and brothers are as much of a pain as mine as we head towards the dining room.

Walking through the door, I am faced with Stefan’s immediate family, his Mum and Dad are sat together with my Mum beside them. Andy is chatting with the older of Stefan’s brothers while his sister and younger brother are arguing over who gets first choice for pudding after lunch.

They greet us noisily, Stefan’s little sister climbing quickly onto her big brother's lap as he sits down.

“Melody, meet Scarlet” he says to the little girl. She is tiny, maybe four or five, jet black curls spilling down her back and the biggest blue eyes I have ever seen! She puts out her pudgy hand for Scarlet to shake. “You’re my new sister!” she announces, “Can you help me beat up Marcus?”

“Melody!” her mother calls sternly. The little girl sticks her tongue out in response before jumping up and pushing the little boy forward. “This is Marcus, he stinks!” she giggles. Marcus pushes her back before turning to Scarlett. He is Melody’s image with shorter hair. “Glad to meet you both” I say while taking Marcus’s hand and shaking it with a mock serious look on my face.

“The twins” Stefan gestures at their backs as they return to their game. “Over there is Marrick, he’s a little older and a very serious little man.” I follow his point to a boy maybe 2 years older than the impish twins, the same black curls but none of the joy shining from his eyes. He is buried in a book, but when he raises his head to nod a greeting, his smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Dad, or Carmine”. Stefan gestures “meet Scarlet”. I smile at the older version of Stefan sat across the table. He greets me warmly before getting up to hug me. This family is very touchy feely, I note, every one of them has tried at least once to crush my ribs!

Lunch is warm and friendly; the food is delicious and, by the end, even Marrick has joined in with the conversation. Mum is back to her beaming self as she settles into her position of mother-in-law. I’m sure I heard some wedding planning happening over the table as we ate.

After the table was cleared and everyone was staring to head in different directions, I suggested to Mum that we have a stroll through the garden. Stefan had told me about a private lane that would allow me to get the information I need from her.