Broken Promises & an Old Longing-

From the other side, someone stepped out, not the man you see, but a woman, she looked familiar. Resembled the emerald girl.

Mother.

Impossible. It must be the sister. The younger one.

Aunt.

She walked, her footsteps small, and stopped somewhere in middle. It was obvious what was expected. Leonard threw the door; Turdley stepped aside, and walked the rest of the distance stopping in front of her. He looked at her, and saw the glimmer of the painting in the third floor. More than a glimmer. The resemblance was uncanny even though she was much younger. Not her eyes though, nor that smile, nor the warmth, no she looks nothing like Emerald Willington.

"Young man, how have you been?"

"I am quite well, Ma'am."

"Ma'am? Are we that distant Leonard?"

"We do have a familiarity. My apologies if you felt that."

She signed. I was aloof, but he has maintained this image for quite some time and despite himself intended to keep it.

"Your Father has been meaning to talk to you."

"He always does seem to, yet you are here."

For a moment she was quite, "he fears what he will see when he looks at you. You look at him."

It strangely hit him. Common trend- big rich families are always feuding, stabbing each other. That was not true here- they were relatively few members. That must be the perk. Except there was a time when they had a lot many. They just seem to die. More frequently and restlessly. Then they do not seem to leave, their presence marked with a hauntings, that made his skin crawl, his neck tickle.

"He has nothing to fear, I will always be fond of him." that was true.

She gave a smile at that; his heart ached with the familiarity, she did have the same warmth, and "Will you visit then?"

"I just came yesterday." He actually wondered if people were aware, and believed that in fact he had just stepped foot here.

She definitely did not.

"You have been here for ages, Leo."

He took a good look on her face, suspecting a humour outburst. She looked sincere, little mad elders seemed to get when youngers are lying to them. Except, he was not.

"I do not understand."

"Neither do me, Leo. There is no reason to hide."

"Hide? Why would I hide?"

"I am saying the same thing."

A bizarre conversation. She genuinely did not believe him.

The sun was light but his heavy coat and the rise in his defensiveness was not helping with the rising warmth.

"Should we go inside?"

She hesitated, resisting flinching further away. Leonard kept his face neutral and innocent.

Then Merlyn looked at the manor behind him. What did she expected? Horror? Grief? Anger? She did not feel any; she felt a warm rushing, sweet memories flooding, her family, her parents, and her elder sister. Her heart broke- her beautiful sister. All lost. She looked at the young boy again, he stood in front of her, he kept his eyes down, she smiled sadly, and I remind you of her, she thought half mockingly. The resemblance was a source of pride for her and a cause of a pain for him. He coincided dangerously too- not just features young lad but him. The person. Grew to a good, proud young man. Although she wished, he was nearer. She wished he would look at her, let be close and allow her to cherish him. One day, she will.

"Let's."

He gave a surprised look, but quickly hid it away, small bow and lead the way.

Such a boy.

Merlyn has grown up like her sister. He bit his lips again. There were more marks on them he had in months. Then he did just call by first name basis. He saw her so young and she insisted on being only called by the name given. He had obliged. Turdley stood behind and could only judge by the expressions since they were beyond his hearing ability. Their expressions were neutral and passive. Unhelpful.

Then they began proceeding towards the manor, to him. He rushed to his Master's side bowing to the guest. Was she? This manor belongs to her as much as Sire's, maybe more. She was the youge- no the Mistress.

The Mistress.

They went in; Leonard looked as he saw his Aunt reminiscing, her eyes gliding from one thing to another. Exclaiming now and then, recognizing some of the maids who have been there since she was a little girl. He felt a little guilty. Her eyes slowly then traced the stairs, her eyes caught with wistfulness. She must have felt watched because she hastily turned around towards him and said quietly, "I will visit her later."

He nodded. "Let's sit in the study."

She smiled, "yes, lets."

A silver tea tray was set already, with a numerous number of biscuits, cookies and scones. All courtesies to Turdley he suppose. Merlyn eyes shone like glitters, as she sat on the luxurious deep red velvet chair. She positively shrunk in. Leonard sat opposite to her, and dispensed the servers with a smile and thanks. After Turdley shut the door behind, she picked a fruit biscuit, flicking in her fingers and gave him a narrowed eye look, and "so, you have been lying."

Great opening.

He cleared his throat, not willing to have the same conversation again, "for how long I have been here?" he added, "in accordance to you."

She did not drop the narrow eyes, "a month, because I marked the date and promised myself that I will not let you live beyond that."

Leonard scratched his head, "I told you that."

"I know your voice, Leo." Making a poor imitation of his voice.

Leo felt exasperated, "I have not spoken to you in months. The last I spoke to you was on the art exhibition," which was, he counted on his fingers, although he knew already. Just for dramatic effects, "eighteen months ago."

That amounts to a broken promise.

So much for dramatic effects.

She took a bite, munching the biscuit, leaning back, her eyes big, "are you embarrassed now?"

He looked at her, "That I caught your lie?"

She munched a little loudly.

He looked down, intertwining his long fingers, he considered, "I am sorry. I should have called more often" when he saw the look on her face, "and visited more."

She dusted the crumbs of her fingers, glittering with rings. "Fair enough lad, now will you come?"

He scratched his head, he had to make sure, "that me being here for a long time," he spread his hands, "all that, was a prank right?"

She gave him a serious look, but he could see the smile tugging, "a lesson, but sure."

"Aunt I came yesterday, after eighteen months of suffering, may I be here?"

His aunt looked at him, "On one condition."

He looked at her eyes; he already knew when he saw her eyes.

It had a longing.

"I want to be here too."