What Lies Beneath

[ 11 | Stained Souls]

"It's not yours." Casper whispered, unable for Emily nor Harnen to hear.

"Okay! it's not mine. Don't worry!" Emily said.

"Then who owns it?" Harnen asked.

"It's- Emily pauses, collecting the right words to say.

"I found a man, who's bleeding badly. So, I helped him by causing his blood to drop on me." Emily explained.

"Didn't I say don't involve yourself with those people." Harnen scolded.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just wanted to help the man, he looks no harm to me." Emily mumbled.

"Those people are crazy, anything to do with money and power. They want it, I just don't want you to get hurt." Harnen explained, caressing her hands.

"Ew!" Casper said in disgust, pretending to vomit.

"Shut up!" Harnen shouts, glaring at Casper but so turns all of his attention back to Emily.

"You should get to bed." Harnen suggested which Emily agreed.

She made her way to her room and flopping on the bed as she slowly fell asleep.

She stood by a tall building, it looked like a school building. She ascends the stairwell and enters. The kids giggle, and chatter welcomes her as she walks down the hall. A small girl grabbed her finger and led her inside a classroom full of children, some of whom were sitting in their chairs and on the floor, while others were playing with toys.

The little girl led her to one of the chairs before rushing to her bag, sitting on the floor with the rest of the bag. The little girl digs through her bag, in search of something. The little girl hurried in front of Emily, placing a book on her lap before handing her a flower.

"You're naive, aren't you?" The little girl smiled, a frightening smile.

Emily sat up, panting for air. She sighed, before yawning, pushing the cover off her. Thankfully Casper wasn't the one who woke her up, even better no one woke her up, it was all by her own will.

Emily heads to the breakfast hall but unfortunately Casper was already there. Emily sat in front of him, observing him reading a book but Casper on the other hand didn't spare a glance at her.

Suddenly a pancake was suddenly placed in front of her, her eyes widened in surprise, which caught Casper's attention.

"Eat well." Casper said, still reading the book he was holding.

The velvet cake sat patiently on his plate waiting to be eaten but he was too busy reading, not paying attention to Emily's existence until a pair of wine glasses was placed on the table beside them.

"Here." Casper brings the wine glass closer to her.

"Isn't it too early?" Emily wondered.

"No, I wake up to drink and I drink to go to sleep, enjoy the wine." Casper said.

Emily grabs the wine glass gently, trying to prevent herself from breaking the glass. Taking a sip of the wine but Emily's face forms in disgust as she places the wine glass back down, the bitter taste still lingering in her mouth.

"What's wrong?" Casper asked.

"It's kinda bitter." Emily explained.

"Taste kinda metallic"

"Oh." Casper smiled.

"Why are you smiling?" Emily said, quite annoyed, thinking he's making a fool out of her.

"Sorry, it's a force of habit." Casper apologized.

Silences filled the room but Emily's mouth won't bother to shut up and she decided to spark a conversation.

"Don't you miss the sunshine?" Emily asked, placing her fork down.

Casper placed his book down, quite puzzled at the girls' question.

"What I mean is, this endless snow storm made me miss the sunshine. I wonder if you miss it too" Emily explained herself.

"Certainly, but I also prefer not being burnt to a crisp." Casper said.

"Eh?" Emily snorted, not even surprised at what's coming out of his mouth.

"Don't like it when the sun is too hot." Casper redeems himself.

"Even though I'm hotter than the sun." Casper bragged.

"Well, I'm not hot nor warm."

"I'm too cold to say the least." Capser mumbled.

"Yeah, the snow storm hasn't stop, I

understand you." Emily agreed to his statement.

"The sno-" Capser pauses before nodding his head in agreement.

"If you weren't wearing jeans and white button shirt you won't be too cold." Emily scolded.

"Are you insulting my choice of outfit?" Casper said, offended at her choice of words.

"No, I'm just giving a piece of advice when your surroundings will freeze you to death." Emily sassed.

"I'm actually going somewhere"

"Adoption center. That's what it's often called. Maybe you can join me?" Casper asked, his eyes begging.

"Sure!" Emily smiled.

"You should get ready, I'll be waiting for you by the entrance."

Emily understood, nodding her head.

"I'll go now." Casper got up and so did Emily as they separated. Emily heads up to her room while Casper stands by the front entrance.

Casper's gaze was drawn to the girl at the top of the stairwell. Emily looked stunning in a white evening gown with ruffled sleeves. Casper stood there, at the bottom of the staircase, mesmerized by the view up front.

Casper walks up the stairs, shaking out his thoughts. He extended his hand to her, which she gratefully accepted, assisting her down the stairwell. They make their way to the carriage and onto the freezing, frigid road.

Casper help Emily to get out the carriage as both of them stood in front of the adoption center. He waited for Emily to fixes her dress before walking inside. Emily gre amazed as the adoption center still has its beauty after all these years.

The kids smiled and waved as both walked through the hallway and through the bedrooms. Emily's eyes flashed before the scene in her dreams replayed in front of her. The small girl dragged her to a classroom with a giggling Casper not far behind.

Emily grew confused and scared by this counter. She sits on the same chair in her dreams while Casper takes the seat beside her. Casper couldn't resist but to rush to the childrens and play with them. Emily watches Casper play with them, her smile growing each passing second.

"He'll be a father." Emily grew fluttered at her own thoughts.

As Casper continues to play with the childrens, he notices bruises and cuts on the child he was playing with, not only on that one child but multiple childrens. At first he shakes his thoughts but it was on their body like it's painted, it was fresh, not to mention.

Emily leapt to her feet as Casper walked out of the class and made his way to the office, face to face with the caretaker.

"How are you?" Casper asked.

"Sir Casper." The caretaker stood up in surprise at Casper's sudden arrival.

"Everything has been fine, as you can see." The caretaker smiled.

"Please sit down." The caretaker offered a chair.

"This is Emily, Emily Winston." Casper introduces, pulling Emily closer.

"Hi." Emily showed her tiny wave.

"How is it taking care of the kids?" Casper asked, sitting on the chair.

"Been fine, the kids have been good to me and I love them." The caretaker gushed.

Casper smiled— smirk, force of habit, like he says. The bastard dared to lie in front of Casper, after he found bruises and cuts on the kids. Casper tries holding the laughter trying to escape his mouth.

"He's a walking disappointment." Casper mumbled to himself.

"Sir Casper?" The caretaker called out, making Casper snap back to reality.

"Oh, that's great!"

"I'll just walk around, if you don't mind." Casper said, getting off his seat.

"I don't mind, If you ever need me, I'll be in here." The caretaker smiles before taking a seat.

Casper poke the inside of his cheeks before shaking his head. He fixes his coat and leads Emily out the office room. So enough, after roaming around. They both found themselves inside a room and found a kid sitting on his bed. Pain plastered on his face as the kid massaged his hurt foot. Casper rushed towards the boy.

"What's wrong?" Casper said. Emily hurried beside the both of them.

"I fell." The kid mumbled.

"Why?" Casper asked.

The kid pauses trying to form words but only "I just fell." escapes his mouth.

As worried Casper rushes to the caretaker, making it unable for Emily to chase after him. She returns inside the room, helping massage the boy's feet.

"I'll be leaving, one of your kids is hurt. I'll get him a nurse." Casper said, making his way out of the center

Before the caretaker could even react, Casper was already outside.

The journey was far.

The journey was lon, full of distress,

passing by broken bridges and lonely houses. He was on the right road but it felt long, he was worried for the kid. Casper gathered all his strength before hopping off the carriage and running through the thick stormy snow, just to make it to the nurse he trusted the most.

He sighed as he stood in front of the lady's front door, he was about to knock but the lady already opened the door for him to come inside.

"Come in, my child." Casper accepts the offer, taking a seat on the couch.

"Here, I hope this will keep you warm." The lady hands Casper a hot tea which he also accepts.

"I visited the adoption center." Casper blurted.

"I found a kid, he was hurt. I was hoping you could heal him." Casper pleaded.

"I will pay as much as you want." Casper said.

"You don't need to pay me." The lady said.

"Oh, well I despise the caretaker." The lady said.

"I do too." Casper mumbled.

"But I have an idea." Casper stated, smirking.

"What is it?" The lady asked.

Casper leaned in, whispering the words he formed when he was on the way to the lady's house. The words leaving his mouth, made a smirk form on his face while the lady's smile grew bigger and bigger. The lady looked at Casper and nodded her head in agreement.

They both stood up, heading outside the house but his carriage was already there.

"How did you get here?" Casper asked.

"I had to follow you. For your own safety, Sir Casper." The man said.

"You must be freezing cold." Casper observed, feeling rather regretful.

"I'm fine, sir." The man said, hopping off and opening the door for them before helping the lady get on.

Little did we know, we don't really know the lady nor what he said. It will all remain their secrets.

Since the journey back was long, when they got back to the nursery the kids were getting ready for bed. They went to the caretaker and the lady explained how she would heal the kid's broken foot and he shouldn't worry. The caretaker smiled before leaving both of them alone.

They both went Inside the room, Emily rushed towards Casper with worried expressions.

"Where did you go?" Emily asked.

"We need to leave."

"The lady will take care of the broken boy." Casper said, leading Emily out the room.

Casper returns, smiling at the kids getting on their bed which the kids return back. Casper peek through the window, seeing that shadow figure still lurking in the dark. Casper suddenly swings the curtains open before making his way out of the room, leaving the lady alone.

As the moonlight made its way through the window and inside the room. The moon flashing its beauty under the dark knight. The star's twinkling nature's lullaby. Though surrounded by stars, its beauty surpasses all.

The lady makes her way to the boy, sitting on his bed where he sits up straight, watching the lady walk towards him. The kids around them have already fallen asleep. The boy looks at the woman, giving her his trust while the lady just gives him a friendly smile before taking out a diamond-like shape object, whose color was a shiny silver, it let out a misty blue color through its designed holes.

The boy stared at the blue mist coming out of the diamond-like shape object but he felt himself slowly getting hallucinated

Then the woman softly said…

"Look and listen as the moon rise

Listen to me as a piece of advise

Beware of the beast that roam the hall

Ready to devour you inside and all

In the dark night, their shadow shine

A figure that's hard to define

but do not fear, if it's crawls near

for the beast can smell your fear"

The boy slowly falls on his bed as the lady makes her out of the room. After a few minutes the caretaker goes inside the room to check the healed boy, sleeping on his bed but the boy welcome him with his eyes open wide revealing it's red crimson eyes, its figure turning into a horrifying beast, hands forming into claws and teeth sharper than a sharpen knife.

The boy suddenly attack the caretaker, jumping on him. He screams in pain, trying to push off the child but it makes the other children awake but there are no longer innocent childrens who smile at you. As the other childrens turn into terrifying beast, they too, attack the caretaker who bruises, hurts, abuses them, and soon enough they devour him inside and all.

Casper pushes the two doors blocking his way. Casper felt himself smiling wide, thinking it probably the presence of Emily or is it, sitting elegantly, reading a book. What else could it be?

"Hey." Casper said.

"Hi, how was the child?" Emily asked.

"He's fine. The lady took care of it." Casper assured. Emily nodded her head as she continued to read the book she was holding.

"How's the other kids?" Emily asked, placing her book down.

"Great actually, the kids were amazing." Casper smiled, remembering the childrens.

"Shall we head out?" Casper asked, lending his hand.

"Yes." Emily smiled, accepting his hand.

They head out the adoption center and get inside the carriage, going through the icy road that never changes.

They head Inside the palace, dusting and hanging their coats on the rack.

"Hey, I have to check something, go to the dinner hall and we'll have dinner." Casper made his way to the left.

After hours have passed, Casper makes his way to the dinner hall, pushing the two massive doors open. He tilted his head, seeing the plate filled with food in front of Emily.

"You prepared dinner?" Casper asked.

"No."

"Well, a kind lady helped me... I think.. Ms. Molter is her name." Emily smiled.

"You changed your dress?" Casper asked.

"Yes, the lady's said I should." Emily explained.

"You look beautiful." Casper complimented.

"Thanks!" Emily smiled at the kind gesture.

She looks like a human being. Casper looks like one. It's easy to blend like a human if you take care of yourself.

"I'll head to my room, I'm quite tired." Casper stated.

"Oh, you won't stay for dinner?" Emily asked.

"No, can you eat alone? I can stay." Casper smiled.

"No need, you can return and rest." Emily flashes a kind smile.

"Uh, do you remember the way to your room?" Casper asked which Emily nodded in response

Casper climbs the stairs with the remaining strength he has left, but before going into his room he went inside Harnen room but he saw Adwen there too. Closing the door behind him and locking it, he walked towards the two brothers.

"I thought she was gone but here she is." Casper said, looking at Adwen with confusion and disappointment written on his face.

"I got rid of it already." Adwen sighs, flipping through the pages of his book.

"They were never going to change, you did the right thing." Harnen assured.