Call Of The Dark



Avice glared at her and then stomped to the balcony where she crossed her arms across the chest and stood for a long time. 

Emma shook her head and turned her attention to her brother. "Angus, how are you?" 

"I am well," he replied with a grin. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the bed. "Emma," he said with excitement. "You live in a huge house! This is so much more beautiful than ours!" 

She giggled and ruffled his hair. "Well, it is a palace. What do you expect?" 

"I want to see it all!" His eyes went wide. "How long will you keep us here? Mother said to father that she would go back in two days. Can I please stay with you? Please? Pretty please?" 

Emma laughed at this enthusiasm. "You can stay here for as long as you want, Angus!" She loved to see him again after so long. Angus was just the same and was healthier. "But won't father scold you?" 

He hmphed. "I will tell father that I am going to stay here and then Lord Lazarus can pass an order not to take me back and then I won't go!"

Emma loved the way his brain was working. "You are a smart boy!" she chirped. "I will arrange for a tour for you. This is a lovely palace, but you are going to feel very cold. So always wear your woolens. Why haven't you got more woolens?" She pulled his sweater tight over his shoulders. 

He looked back over his shoulder at his mother. In a low voice he said, "Mother hasn't told father that she has come here, because then father wouldn't have allowed it. She lied to father that she was going to her sister's place for two days and that is why she hasn't packed enough."

Emma was stunned. She knew that something was wrong. But why did Avice come unannounced? It was plain strange. Emma went to the closet and fetched fur for him. "Here, wear it." She draped it around him. 

"You are not angry, are you?" Angus asked, searching her face for anger. 

"No!" Emma smacked him playfully on the arm. "Why will I be angry? I got to see you. But you have to be smart. Can you be smart?" 

"Yes!" he replied. Then he turned to look at his mother. "She's upset. The dungeons were bad. They were damp and cold and she screamed at all the guards until she couldn't." 

"I know," Emma sighed. "But it's a protocol. I am so sorry that you also went through all this." 

"Ah, it's fine!" Angus replied. "I understand that it's a protocol." 

Emma took out a pearl necklace she was wearing and clasped it around his neck. 

"Emma, what are you doing? I can't accept it." 

"Hush." Emma clasped it behind his neck. "Keep it with you always. See this pendant?" 

Angus looked down at the red ruby pendant that was encased in gold. "This is Lord Lazarus's possession. Anyone with this will be granted entry in the palace. So from now onwards, don't worry and enter at your will." 

"Oh!" Angus was surprised as he lifted the pendant and examined it. "It's beautiful!" 

By that time, Avice came inside and saw her son wearing the pearl necklace with a large ruby pendant. Her eyes went wide. "What is that?" she asked, hurrying up to him and staring at the pendant. 

"This is a ticket to enter the palace!" Angus replied. "Emma gave it to me." 

Avice licked her lips. This pendant would bring her so much money that she could live all her life comfortably. She turned to Emma and said, "You should also give me something. The guards took me to the dungeons. It was harrowing! I don't want to go there again!" 

Emma bit her bottom lip. "I don't have anything now, but I will give you something later." 

Avice's eyes went wide for a moment thinking of the wealth Emma would give her, but she controlled herself and mellowed down her voice. "Sorry, I was angry at you earlier." 

"It's okay," Emma smiled. "I am arranging for a palace tour for Angus. Would you like to join him?" 

"Of course!" Avice replied eagerly. 

"Great!" Emma clasped her hands. "I will leave you two alone to rest now."

Emma came out and closed the door. She let out a rough exhale. Avice had come without telling her father. This was going to be either very bad or very good. She arranged for a tour of the palace for both of them but couldn't accompany them because of security. Lazarus had refrained her from going around after his sisters attacked her. 

Avice was stunned at the wealth and luxury of the palace. She couldn't believe that while Emma stayed in so many riches, she was leading such a lowly life. She hated Drogo for leading the rebellion because he couldn't openly enjoy it at his daughter's expense. But she was not going to leave the opportunity. Every time the man who took them on a tour looked away, Avice would pick up some trinket and stash it in her blouse or her pockets. If Emma didn't give her anything by the end of two days, she would have enough wealth on her own. 

They couldn't finish the tour by evening and returned exhausted. She stashed all her little wealth in her bag and shoved it under the bed. 

Emma came a while later and said, "Lord Lazarus has called you to join him for dinner. Will you be able to come?" 

"Of course!" Avice replied. How could she leave the opportunity to meet Lord Lazarus? 

In the evening Avice chose a dress from the room's closet. It was a burgundy down. She had to impress Lord Lazarus and she was going to talk sweetly to impress him because they started on a bad note. This was her chance to butter him so that he gave her some gold coins or jewelry when she left. To hell with Drogo. Besides, he would never come to know that she had come to the palace. Who will tell him? Surely Emma won't because she hardly talked with him. So if he wanted to continue with his rebellion, he could. Also, once she went back, she wasn't going to talk about this to anyone. No one will come to know. 

"Mother, you are taking all the time!" Angus remarked, irritation surging in him. "The escort is waiting for us."

"Wait!" she snapped at him. She adjusted her earrings and then walked out. The guard took them to the quarters of Lord Lazarus. Avice was even stunned at all the wealth his quarters were filled with. There were gold vases everywhere. Marble table embossed with gold, thick rugs, exquisite paintings and every other thing she couldn't even imagine was adorning this wing. Her throat became dry when she thought how much wealth Emma was surrounded with. She was definitely going to take some. After all, she was Emma's mother. 

When she reached the main dining hall, she saw Lazarus sitting at the head of the table with Emma on his right. She bowed to him and smiled at Emma. This was the beginning of getting rich. 

But what happened next was something she could never anticipate.