The guesthouse was spacious, it was brick, like the main house, but had different woodwork. The interior was furnished with antiques from different centuries. It was a hodge-podge of styles, but, it all came together quite nicely.
Gage pushed his chair back from the overstuffed dining table and looked at each of them in turn. "We still need to sleep in shifts. We can't get complacent just because we had a warm welcome. Remember, Satan usually uses deception to get his gains, though he has gotten bold in coming after us. These people seem nice, Steven has a great sense of humor, but, we cannot trust anyone knowing what is after us." He said, noticing the expression on the twins' faces. "Quinton, Quentin, you guys look like you haven't slept much, why don't you take the first sleeping shift?"
They nodded their exhausted approval. They rose as one and headed to the stairs, stopping to kiss and hug their mother goodnight. "Sleep well, my boys, no nightmares tonight." said Miss Vivian, patting their hands.
Rose, watching all of this, stood and walked to intercept them at the ornate wooden staircase. She took their hands in hers and closed her eyes. A moment later, she opened them again to see the boys wide eyed. "You will sleep well," she told them, "get to bed quickly." She let their hands fall and turned back to the table. "I prayed them a sedative, they have been through a lot of trauma and haven't been sleeping well. They will be at peace tonight, but, no guard duty for them. They need the rest more than we do."
Alex grunted in agreement and Gage nodded at Rose. "That's a good idea, they have taken things pretty badly. We spend too much time terrified. Hopefully, the rest of the trip to Boston will be smooth."
"Maybe, we shouldn't continue." said Miss Vivian, wringing her hands nervously, "We have been a burden to you since we met up."
"Your boys have been a boon to us, never a burden." Rose answered, shaking her head. "They saved us more than once, and, they have stepped up to every challenge thrown at us. It has worn on us all, but, the burden is lighter because of you three."
"Then we will help you carry it, Rose." Vivian said after considering her words for a moment. "For starters, I'll clear this table." She smiled and got to work.
Alex joined her in cleaning up the dinner dishes and Gage got up from his chair and moved toward the door. "I am going out to get some more supplies from the truck. We have to make sure we have enough ammunition. We used a lot."
"We should be able to resupply at the markets, they seem to have plenty." Rose said. " I am going to check on the boys and get some rest. I'll take second shift."
"Deal," Gage said, and then to Larry, "you want first or third watch?"
"First, I suppose, I ain't that tired." he said, following Gage to the door. "I'll help get the guns."
Rose reached the top of the stairs and walked to the right, where the boys were sleeping. She quietly cracked the door open and looked in. Both boys slept peacefully, faces identical in repose as in wakefulness.
She turned and went back to her room and decided to shower before bed. This done, she turned in. She could hear Gage and Larry speaking softly downstairs and she made nothing of the conversation as she drifted off to sleep.
She was on a precipice, the wind blowing her hair back from her face. She was flushed with triumph and exertion. She was looking into a valley not far below her, she was perhaps one hundred feet above on a rock outcropping. There was a small city growing up below. It happened like she was watching in fast forward. The people were happy, the city was booming. She knew that everyone down below was a good person, the last of the evil ones was purged at last from this part of the world
Rose wondered if there were others like her on the other continents, others that could help.
She was in Boston, she looked around herself, trying to see who was with her. Most of the time, she was alone, but, other times, her brothers were beside her. She was alone this time, okay.
She was standing on the pier where she had lost her mother. It was raining hard and Rose was soaked to her skin. She called the power and the water changed. It began to move as if it were a satin sheet with figures writhing beneath it. Some of the figures started to take shape and move toward the pier. She searched the faces for her mother, her breath coming quicker and shallower with each passing second.
"Rose." She heard her mother's voice.
"Rose." The voice changed, became deeper.
"Rose!" It became Gage's voice. "Come on, Rose! We have to get to the market."
She opened her eyes to see him standing by the door, excitement in his eyes. She sat up and threw her pillow at him, barely missing as he shut the door. "Hurry!" She heard with the footsteps down the stairs.
Thanks for stopping by! See you next time.
