Spoiler! :
Five:
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Ephesians 6:18)”
Pound, pound, pound. Ava awoke with a jolt, lying on the floor of the attic, Kevin’s arm wrapped tightly around her. Pound, pound, pound .The noise came again, along with a shout “open up!” Ava jumped to her feet, pulling Kevin with her, who mumbled indistinctly.
“Get up,” she said, pulling on her clothes. She was already wearing the undergarments and shift, so it didn't take long.
He groaned and rolled over, pulling himself out from under the blanket and sitting up, his hair tousled.
“Come on!” she said pulling on his arm and the pounding came again.
He sighed and pulled on his tunic,that went over the shirt and pants. “I’m coming,” he exhaled heavily and stood up, pulling on his scuffed shoes.
“OPEN UP!” the pounder screamed, “NOW!”
Ava walked calmly down the steps, Kevin close behind. The two looked up and down as they walked, exchanging glances. Where is everyone? They asked themselves, reaching the door.
“Who’s there?” Ava said through the door, leaning against it to hear the callers answer.
“Love that’s who! I’m locked out! NOW LET ME IN!”
Ava turned the door knob and let the door swing open. “Where is everybody?” she said as Love marched past, pail of milk in hand. “Off to town, ain’t they? Made me stay here.” Love replied regally, stomping into the kitchen and slamming pots. “Rembrandt will be coming today and they didn’t want to miss him.” She continued, sloshing the milk into a hot pan of the stove. “Rembrandt is the lamia venator, for this town. He hunts witches and burns em’ at the stake. “ she leaned forward conspiratorially, “he would love to get his hands on the Necromancer or as he calls em’ the Magus” she nodded knowingly. “Hates anything out of the ordinary, he does. Speaks half in Latin, half English. Mam hates that, she does. But she can’t say nothing, since his family.” She stirred the milk and spooned it into mugs, then dropped in pieces of meat.
“What’s that?” Kevin said; his nose slightly furled.
“Quail in milk. Ain’t ya’ ever heard of that?”
He shook his head, and then ducked away. “We should get on the road,” he said, nodding at Ava, who also looked sick from the fumes wafting from the cup in her hands.
“Well take this then.” Love pressed a small bundle into his arms.
He raised his eyebrows and she said, “Cheese, ham, bacon, milk and bread, is what’s in there.”
Ava took it and nodded “thank you for your kindness,”
“Pleasure. Perfect pleasure. I don’t care. It’s fine that you were here and fine that you are going.”
Ava nodded, grabbed Kevin’s hand and pulled him behind her, out the door.
Once out of sight of the cottage, Ava turned to Kevin; her lips sat in a thin line. “Kevin, what are we going to do? What’s happened? Why are we here?” the questions, kept at bay for a night spilled at her mouth in a fast gasp.
Kevin’s brow was furrowed in concentration, his eyes flitting back and forth between Ava, the trees and the sky. “I have no idea Ashes. It’s just so complicated. But I did have an idea about how we got here.”
Ava looked up at him expectantly, tucking the food bundle in her large pocket.
“Those numbers, they were each four digits, well what if they represent years?”
Ava looked at him, her eyebrow raised high. “I don’t know Kevs…” she said slowly, “It could be, I guess.”
The skeptical look on Ava’s face was not lost on Kevin. “You don’t believe me do you?”
“It’s not that I don’t believe you… It’s just very hard to believe.”
“I know, but it’s the perfect answer. The clothes, the way they talk, everything. The number on the door was 1534, isn’t that the right time? Doesn’t everything add up?”
Ava let go of him hand and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Kevin, it does but…”
He sighed and grabbed her by her shoulders, looking into her eyes “I think that Rembrandt took The Magi. I think His imprisoned somewhere. I think we need to save him.”
“Kevin, how do we know he chose this door? How do we know he was in the house when he disappeared? Your facts can’t be true. They don’t add up.”
He groaned. “I just have a gut feeling. I know his here and I know he needs our help!” he sped up, his shoulders hunched forward in defeat.
She sped up, putting her hand on his shoulder, spinning him around. “I believe you.” As she looked deep into his eyes, she felt her heart flutter slightly. Then it beat faster and faster, speeding to an impossible pace. What’s wrong with me? She thought, unable to pull herself away from his profound grey eyes. Just look away Ava. She urged herself, lifting her hand from his shoulder, breaking the spell. “We better get going.” She said hastily shaking her head from side to side.
“Yeah,” he said a little breathlessly, following her down the road.
******************
Kevin stoked the fire, the smell of meat billowing up into the air.
“Mmm…” said Ava sniffing deeply.
“Smells good, doesn’t it?” he laughed scooping the ham from the edge of the fire.
“Yeah,” Ava took the piece of bread he offered her and bit into it. “Tastes good to.”
He smiled, and took a drink from the skin full of milk. “What are we going to do about sleeping?” he said, leaning forward to take a bit of cheese.
“Sleep here, I guess.” She replied, “Its midsummer so it’ll be warm, especially with the fire.”
“What about the Necromancer?”
“Well, we’re both fully qualified to battle some two-bit medieval necromancer.” She sniggered, trying to lighten the mood.
“true.” he said flipping over. “I’m tired.”
“Me to”
“Bet you would have loved my car today,” he said as he watched her, slip her shoes off her feet and rub the blisters.
“Yeah, maybe.” She said flopping down beside him. “Night Kevs.”
He stroked her hair, until her eyes fluttered shut, and her breathing became regular.
“Night Ashes.” he whispered, his head laying down and letting himself fall asleep as well.
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