Chapter 61 Doug
I put some black wax on a golden plate, and place it over the flame of a candle. The wax is melting into a luminescent puddle. Then, I seal the letters with the hot wax. When it drys up, each letter vanishes and is transported to the receiver’s hand.
The lights in the mansion are all turned off to show our deep grief for the loss of Henry Burton, the adopted son of the master. I wish I could do something for the family. The footmen buried the coffin in the earth, but only Dr. Lupin and the staff were there to send Henry off. What a lonely way to go. The young masters must be devastated to hear the news. And they are even forbidden from coming back to attend the funeral. An hour like this reminds me of the days just before the War.
“Thank you Doug, for the dinner I just had,” Dr. Lupin comes in to say to me, “I’ll turn in early tonight. All the traveling back and forth has really exhausted me.”
“Of course, Dr. Lupin. Everything has already been prepared for your stay here. The bath is also ready.”
“Any news from the young master yet?”
“Not yet, sir. The letter, however, has been sent. It will ceaselessly find a way to deliver itself to the young master’s hands.”
“Yes. I believe that,” he squeezes out a smile, “Such a tragedy right? I feel awful that I couldn’t save him in time.”
I notice that his bowtie is crooked. A rare thing to ever be spotted on Dr. Lupin.
“I believe we tried our best, sir. We are certainly experiencing a difficult time.”
He pats my shoulder and leaves for bed.
The house is dimmer, as the afternoon light is slowly fading away. I look at the clock standing against the wall. It’s nearly five o’clock. I need to go into town now.
According to the letter, the meeting is at the Moonlit Cafe, and the time is 5.45 p.m.
I throw on a coat and put on a hat, then walk along the hill in the last tender breeze of the day. I have always had a bad feeling about this town. And look what happened after we moved here. Since when would I have a meeting with anybody! I’m trying my best to recollect the content in the letter, as my memories are really getting muddled these days.
“Dear Mr. Nelson,
I hope this letter finds you well.
I apologize with the utmost sincerity that I didn’t reach out to you sooner, or at least not soon enough to let me sleep at night. The tragedy has already happened and there is nothing I can do to revert it. In that case, I believe, as my people agree, that we should leave you at peace for the sake of your own safety. Please forgive me, and know that we do this out of pure concern and respect.
Now, an expected moment has finally arrived. A moment that took a great measure of time and a great deal of lives. It’s also the time that we can finally meet!
Please make sure you come to the Moonlit Cafe at exactly 5:45 PM, tonight. Time is critical.
I will wait for you with all my heart.
P.S. This letter will be self-ignited after you finish the last word, as it meant only for your eyes.
Best regards,
R. H. ”
I’m curious to find out who this “R.H.” is, and why they want to apologize to me. I don’t know any person whose name starts with an R or an H. It looks like this person did something bad to me, and now he or she is feeling remorseful. I truly wish nothing else bad has happened, and nothing really comes to mind. There was a fierce emotional agony behind the person’s words. Also, why would I be in danger? I have too many questions and too much confusion. I finally arrive at the Moonlit Cafe.
It’s weird that it seems to be shut down. I come forward to look into the windows. No one is in there. My watch says that it’s already 5:40 p.m. The street is full of people. But no one is heading into this cafe. Then, I find a piece of paper stuck on the front door. The cafe has just been shut down, due to hiring werewolves and unhygienic conditions. Well then, the person really had an eye for picking a location for our meeting. Could it be a practical joke?
But since I’m already here, I’m determined to wait for another five minutes. I withdraw myself to a corner of the street, in case I stir up any unnecessary panic if people see my face. I sniff in the smell on the street - musty, with a mixture of food and sweat. It smells human.
“Do you need any help, sir?” A beautiful woman suddenly appears in front of me. “I’m sorry, the store has been closed. We can’t accept any customers for a considerable period of time.”
Then, I notice that her eyes are puffy and red. She has been crying. I’m guessing that she might be the owner of cafe, or a manager.
“Um.. No madam. I come to see someone. Someone might be expecting to see me in the cafe. But maybe this is a prank,” I explain.
She suddenly looks at me. There is a spark in her eyes; she is positively trembling with excitement.
“Are you Mr. Doug Nelson?”
I acknowledge her, surprised, and with a tiny drop of nervousness.
She smiles warmly. “It’s not a prank, please rest assured. You are in the right place at the right time,” she reaches out her hand and shakes mine, “My name is Olivia Heart. Please follow me.”
It looks like I have no other choice. This woman is polite and looks very smart. She seems genuine and so sincere. An honest glare is resting at the base of her amber eyes.
I follow her into the back lane of the cafe and walk all the way to a dead end. She lifts up a trapdoor in the ground. She climbs down along the stairs, and I climb down after her. The stairs are iron and not as rusty as I expected, but shiny, as though many people had been climbing up and down them over a long period of time.
Then, we finally reach the ground. It is a spacious vintage tea room, and a man is standing in the center of it. I’m instantly aware that he is a werewolf.