Where Spirits Roam

Chapter Eight Q & A

Ellsworth's presence at the table changed the atmosphere drastically. Gone was the easygoing laughter Eviee had walked into. The girl's faces had fallen into fake smiles and they exchanged hesitant glances across the table as their comradery willed them to check on each other. Fauna seeming to be the leader of the group looked toward Ellsworth with a defiant glint in her icy blue orbs.

He was seated at the opposite end of the table occupying the captain's chair. He had also made sure he was late giving the girls time to bond. Cameras were placed discreetly in the hall and he was well aware of the questions swirling in their young curious minds. His beady eyes bore into the girls while he patiently waited to see if any of them would speak up. As of yet, the only one who dared speak to him was Fauna the fiery-haired fire starter. She had an energy that reminded him of his beloved and he quite enjoyed her defiant nature when it suited him. It was the same thing that had drawn him to Elena all those years ago. The look in Fauna’s eyes took him back to that fateful night all those years ago. The night Elena was brought home. Her escape had given her the time to birth her child leaving her body tired and weak. She was strapped to the bed, drugged, and even then she didn't give in. To her last breath, she fought. He smirked remembering how she had been so confident he would never find her daughter. It had taken him almost eighteen years but she too had been brought home. All he had needed was a piece of her DNA to tie the two together. She had unknowingly left just that in her room. Eviee belonged to Elena. If their powers aligned as he hoped his beloved would be back in his arms soon.

“We have been patient in waiting for some answers, you told us once Eviee arrived you would give us some.” Fauna's voice broke Ellsworth from his dark thoughts. He slowly trails his eyes from Eviee who he only now realized he had been staring at to make eye contact with the fire starter.

“Ah, so I did say that. Well, girls why don't we start dinner and I will try to answer what I can.” Ellsworth says smoothly.

The words have barely left his mouth when servants enter the room and start placing steaming platters of food along the table. Fresh mashed potatoes, green beans, biscuits, and savory chicken breasts make Eviee’s mouth water. She had never had a meal like this. The ladies at the orphanage were on a slim budget and most nights some variation of soup was the only thing served. The facility wasn't any better and she was lucky to receive a warm meal.

Once the food is all laid out the servants quickly disperse. The sounds brought by the shuffle of movement are gone. Silence reigns again. While Eviee waits for someone to make the first move toward the food her stomach rumbles loudly still she does not dare to reach for the delicious-smelling items. Soon, Fauna reaches her arm out, grabs the large serving spoon sticking from the mashed potatoes, and scoops some onto her plate. The other girls follow suit piling their plates high. Eviee hesitantly does the same. When she is satisfied with the arrangement of food on her plate she stops. Her eyes may have been larger than her stomach the plate is filled with more food than she typically eats in a day, possibly two.

Everyone eats in silence simply enjoying the savory taste of the food. The only sound coming from them was their chewing and the occasional clank of silverware against the dishes. The girls have almost finished their meals by the time Ellsworth opens his mouth to speak.

“I know you are all wondering why I have brought you here.” He starts pausing to watch each of their heads snap in his direction. “For many years I have been aware of the abilities you all possess. I have spent that time learning about these abilities and how to use them safely. I brought each of you here so you can learn the same.” Though he had practiced his small speech over and over throughout the last few weeks he still felt he did not deliver it with the true passion of someone wanting to teach. Yes, he needed them to learn so he could harness their powers however he did not care about their safety or anyone else’s for that matter.

“Do you have any abilities?” Fauna questions quirking her slim red eyebrow up.

“I do not,” Ellsworth answers his lips forming a tight thin line. The subject of his inadequacy is not one he likes to speak on. He himself believes he is more deserving of the powers they each possess than they are.

“Then how do you plan to teach us?” Fauna’s rapid-fire questions don't come as a surprise to her friends nor do they to Ellsworth. He had prepared using the footage nonetheless even now he struggled to produce believable answers.

“An old friend of mine harnessed unimaginable power, she gave me valuable knowledge on how to guide you.” This was not a lie, his beloved had shown him vast amounts about the gifted. He knew more than anyone. He also knew the only way to bring her back was through the girls seated before him and he would bring her back.

“Where is this friend?” Again Fauna pushed Ellsworth.

His fingers gripped his knife hard fighting the growing urge to throw it at the feisty fire starter. Speaking of his beloved pained him greatly.

“Sadly, she passed decades ago.” He managed to grit out around the ball of anger choking him. ‘Her passing was untimely and an act of cowardice,’ he thought before continuing “If you'll excuse me, this will conclude our dinner. Please resign to your rooms when you've finished your dessert.” With that, Ellsworth stood swiftly making his departure.

The girls sat stunned for several minutes unable to fathom Ellsworth’s words. He had certainly left them with more questions than answers.

“That sounded like bullshit if I've ever heard it. The only truth that came from his mouth was about his friend.” Fauna throws air quotes around the word friend her face twisting in undisguised disgust at the idea of beady-eyed, old man Ellsworth having a lover.

“I would have to agree, it wasn't sincere,” Claire speaks up. Her soft voice eased some of the tension in the room.

“And did you see the way he stared at Eviee? Gross!” Nadia chimes in.

A shiver races down Eviee’s spine. She had felt his eyes boring into her during the silence the second they had landed on her, her senses had jumped into overdrive sending her hair standing on end. She had sent a thankful look to Fauna when she had drawn his attention away and from then Eviee had kept herself from making eye contact with her new caretaker. People often stared at her and she was used to being a test subject always pushing down her true emotions nevertheless the creeping feeling of unease that had settled upon her the moment Ellsworth’s eyes landed on her made her nervous.

“Maybe we should talk upstairs,” Jamie says her eyes scanning the room as the servants enter to remove the empty dishes. “Agreed.” Fauna nods.

The girls all stand and Eviee follows behind them as they lead the way upstairs. The darkness outside seems to have grown into an all-encompassing blackness during their dinner and after passing the first window Eviee doesn't try to look anymore. She let her mind churn through the dinner conversation. If she could find out who Ellsworth’s beloved is and why he needs them here she could better prepare herself for the events to come. ‘Is the charitable man he makes himself out to be all a lie?’ Eviee asks herself.