Where Spirits Roam

Chapter Nine Shawl

The girls eagerly filed into the sitting room hoping to continue their conversation from downstairs only to be met with Ms. Magdalen. Fauna stopped when she spotted her causing the others to bump into her backside. The older woman stood near the end of the couch her arms crossed over her chest making her pompous chest bulge forward. She had a stern look plastered on her rounded cheeks and the girls immediately stopped in their tracks looking like deer in headlights.

The governess walked from her position crossing the short distance to the door and closing it with a click before resuming her previous stance. The girls had turned as she walked keeping her in their sights as they switched spots with her. They huddled together near the end of the couch watching her with slight distrust.

“It's past curfew you have ten minutes to clean up and get to bed.” Ms. Magdalen scolds her tone having lost any hint of kindness. Her hand moves up to her face, her fingers rubbing along her brow bone where a slight twitch is aggravating the area. “Off you go,” she shooed them when no one made an effort to excuse themselves.

It was later than the woman was used to being up her long day having started at six am. She knew it was not the girl's fault but the quicker she ushered them to bed the quicker she could escape to hers. All she wanted was a long soak in the tub before she crawled into the plush bed in her designated room down the hall.

One by one the girls padded down the hall breaking off to escape into their rooms until only Eviee was left standing in front of her door.

Turning the knob she pushed the door open entering the space that she had been given. Her book bag still sat by the vanity chair and she took a step forward prepared to grab her meager bathroom supplies when she noticed the position of her hairbrush. She was sure she had not left it laying so perfectly along the edge. The knocks had startled her and she’d placed it on the vanity in a haphazard manner. Eviee spun her body in a three-sixty trying to notice if anything else was out of place as she came back to her previous position. Nothing caught her attention. Taking purposeful steps forward she crossed the gap gingerly picking the hairbrush up. It was no worse for ware than how she left it. Dropping it down on the vanity she bent down reaching for her bag. At first glance, the zipper seemed untouched. Lifting the bag into the chair Eviee tugged the zipper away revealing the contents. Everything was where it should be, everything except the one thing that mattered. The thin pink shawl was gone. Tears sprung to life in her eyes at her sudden loss. Anger quickly surged to the forefront drowning out all reason and she stormed from the room her eyes glowing a vibrant violet hue coating her vision in the color much the way night vision goggles do.

“Where is it?” Eviee demands her voice a deep rumble shaking the room as she confronts the woman guarding the door.

Fear replaces Ms. Magdalen’s hardened thin-lipped expression. The girls peer from their doorways drawn by the sudden outburst. Her eyes widen flicking to the growing audience gathering in the hall.

“I'm not sure what you're referri—”

“Don't lie to me, it was here when I left and now it's gone. Someone touched my belongings and I want it back.” Eviee’s voice rose with each word and she stepped forward invading the woman's personal space. It was a bold move and very much unlike her. Her anger had either made her braver or incredibly stupid.

“Pl-please, I, I, I haven't been in your room,” the woman stutters shifting away from Eviee and her back connects with the doorknob.

***

Ellsworth knew he shouldn't have taken the shawl however when he left the hall he had been so very angry just knowing Eviee belonged to Elena had led him to her room. One moment he was outside her door and the next he was in her room his eyes scanning the area. He caught a glimpse of the light pink shawl in her backpack and it dredged up old memories of Elena. He took it without fully processing the consequences of his actions.

Now, he sat behind his desk with the thin fabric gripped between his fingers trying to prepare a believable alibi. His initial instinct was to use Eviee’s previous diagnosis’ against her convincing her it was she who had removed the pink fabric from her bag. He could then easily play the savior card taking the stance that he found the article of clothing while leaving the dining hall and planned to return it in the morning. The only downfall to this was that it would deteriorate any progress with Eviee. She would start questioning herself again and that would elongate the process, keeping him from his beloved.

The surveillance cameras became staticky followed by an earthquake-like shudder. His eyes instantly moved to the screen showing the girls sitting room as he willed the static to clear.

Ellsworth didn't get a chance to contemplate his decision further knowing he needed to intervene in the commotion upstairs. He stood from his desk the shawl hanging tightly in his fist and stalked up the stairs.

For an old man, he had stayed fit using the passing years to take care of his body rather than deteriorate it. So, when he reached the door he was barely breathing any harder and was able to push the rounder woman away to enter.

Ms. Magdalen almost tumbled into Eviee from the force of the door being shoved inward. Her flight of fight mechanism jarred her into motion and she regained her balance shifting her trajectory away from the small girl shooting death glares at her.

“What is going on here?” Ellsworth demands using as much of his body to take up the doorway as he can. The simple gesture making him appear more dominant and in control.

“She came at me accusing me of stealing her things. She's violent.” Ms. Magdalen exclaims her eyes wide and fearful. She hoped to sway the situation to her benefit while moving closer to her employer for safety.

“Is that true?” his beady eyes land on Eviee assessing her carefully.

Under his scrutiny she steps backward increasing the distance between the two of them. Having regained some of her senses beneath his intense stare, Eviee felt nervous.

“I asked where my belonging had gone. It's missing and I would like it back. It's the only item I have from my real parents.” Eviee squeaks her voice returning to its normal pitch.

“Is this the item in question?” Ellsworth pulls the shawl into view keeping it near his middle as he dangles it like a lifeline in Eviee’s direction.

“Yes Sir,” Eviee’s eyes water and she rapidly blinks shoving her emotions away while looking at her guardian.

“Eviee, I'm afraid your allegations have been made in haste and you are mistaken. I found this when I left the dining hall. I spoke to a few guards and one of them happened to have seen you with this on your way to dinner. You must have dropped it. I planned to return it at breakfast but seeing as were here,” Ellsworth steps forward holding the shawl out to a confused-looking Eviee “I suppose now makes as good a time as any to return it to you.” Ellsworth keeps his tone neutral however the inflection is evident.

Everyone looks at Eviee although she has grown a second head. She is no longer being accepted for her differences. One incident has turned her into an outcast.

“I'm sorry, thank you, sir,” Eviee mutters taking the shawl from him and stepping away once more.

“We can discuss more tomorrow, ladies please go to your rooms and get some rest the morning will be here before we know it,” Ellsworth instructs dismissing the girls and Eviee’s apology.

The sound of feet retreating fill the silence and when the last door shuts Ellsworth exits the room. He enters his office minutes later returning to his comfortable leather chair behind his desk ‘this changes things’ he thinks settling his eyes on the various screens around him. He watches the round woman scamper down the hall to her room.

Ever since Ellsworth had given the explanation Magdalen has been trying to recall seeing Eviee with the shawl. For the life of her, she can't place the tattered pink garment. Chalking it up to another stressful day she walks into her adjoining bathroom preparing to relax.

***

Eviee lay in the large bed unable to find comfort in the plush blankets she was sure she had not taken the shawl from her bag. It was not something she ever dared to carry with her. It was too precious. With her mind running over the different scenarios of how he had come to have her mother's shawl Eviee found it growing increasingly harder to fall asleep. Even so, the dark tendrils of exhaustion managed to wrap around her eventually dragging her under.