Thunk

Thunk

Thunk

Edith rose with a start, but there was no eyeless creature in the bedroom.

Creeeeeeeeeeak

The door handle rotated, paused, and then rotated back.

"Thomas?"

Wrapping a shawl around herself, Edith flitted to the door. She was greeted with nothingness. She glanced down both sides of the hall. Still nothing.

She turned. A black hand clutched her throat and a gaping maw rushed to her face.

She woke.

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"Thomas, get up."

Lucille draped a heavy blanket over Thomas, wondering how he could have slept on the library floor all night and why.

He stirred and she pushed back a tuft of hair from his face. It was damp.

"Are you feeling alright?"

She placed a hand to his forehead. He felt feverish. Lucille hoisted him into an armchair and she noticed sweat on his neck.

"Have you been dressing warmly enough when you work? Doesn't matter now," she tsked. "You need medicine. I'll have Finlay fetch some."

Thomas enveloped her hand in his. He was too warm.

"No. I'll leave instructions for Finlay and the men. We don't have much time before the snow comes. We can't lose days of work because of me. Go into town in his stead. Please."

Lucille stroked his face.

"I won't be long."

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Edith hugged her knees to her chest, her heart pounding painfully in it. That felt too vivid to be a dream. Was it a vision?

Pup snored and twitched at the foot of the bed. She envied the dog. He was probably dreaming of chasing his ball through a field or running towards a delicious meal.

Thunk

Pup's ears twitched.

Thunk

He sleepily raised his head.

Thunk

A cautionary growl rumbled in the back of his throat.

Knockknock

"Y-Yes?" Edith managed.

The door opened and Thomas stumbled in.

He was white as a sheet, his shirt covered in sweat. Pup barked and scurried out the door. Edith scooped her arm under Thomas' as they made their way to the bed. He collapsed onto it and almost brought Edith down with him.

She felt his forehead, then rushed to the bathroom and ran cold water over a towel. She dabbed gently on his face and neck.

"Were you feeling sick yesterday?"

"No," Thomas breathed, his eyes closed as though opening them would take too much effort.

Edith rolled him onto his back and worked to remove his shoes and socks. Then she moved to his jacket and shirt. She held him up as best as she could while pulling his arms out of the sleeves and hoisting the shirt over his head.

She paused.

Would removing his pants help?

Shaking her head, she helped move him higher on the bed so his head was resting on the cool pillow. Thomas covered himself in blankets and shivered.

"I'll see what I can make for soup."

"Wait, I need paper and pen."

Edith paused at the door, confused.

"I need to leave instructions for the men. They'll be arriving soon."

Edith nodded and made her way to the one place she knew where to find what she needed.

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Edith bounded the stairs to the library's balcony and searched for some blank pages in her bag. Unfamiliar handwriting caught her eye before she saw her own work. "Artemis" was signed at the bottom of the stationary.

After delivering the pen and paper, Edith set to work on making soup. In the larder, there were a couple of bags of potatoes, onions, vegetables, bundles of garlic, herbs, bread, cheese, butter, and salted meats.

"Need some help?"

Edith smiled before meeting Artemis' flawless face.

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The finished brew made Edith's mouth water. The stock smelled rich and the soup was hearty with meat, vegetables, and potatoes. Artemis was scared to touch anything so she patiently gave Edith instructions. Close to two hours must have passed, and Edith's worry grew.

She took the bread off the wood stove where it was browning. The crunch the crispy crust made when she spread butter on it was tremendously satisfying. She carefully carried the tray of soup, bread, and tea up the stairs and to the bedroom where Thomas was asleep.

Artemis lingered outside the room, watching Edith through the ajar door as she set the tray on the covers and gently dabbed a damp towel on Thomas' chest. She gave a small smile before dissolving into the air.

Thomas awoke, groggy.

"Here, eat while it's still hot." Edith placed the tray on his lap once he was upright.

"Edith...this looks amazing. Thank you."

There was so much sincerity in his voice and expression that she had to glance away.

"Which tin did you make this from?" Thomas gestured to the tea.

"One of the blue tins. I don't remember which one. Why?"

Some tension melted away from his body.

"I don't like some of the flavors. It's alright."

"I could make coffee, if you want."

Thomas smiled warmly at her, his heart swelled painfully. He took her hand and kissed it.

"Some water from the tap would do."

Edith rinsed out the tea and filled the quaint cup with cold water. Thomas finished it in one greedy gulp. She silently refilled it again.

She watched as he took careful bites and spoonfuls of the steaming soup. He ripped the buttered loaf of bread in half and offered it to her. At first, she declined it until her stomach grumbled. Thomas playfully pushed it into her hands and the discussion was over.

Thomas brought the bowl to his lips and drank the rest of its contents. He leaned his head back against his pillow and smiled broadly.

"Thank you," he sighed.

"You're welcome."

Edith wanted to say something else at the end of that statement, an endearment, to soften it and to reflect the fondness she was feeling for him in this moment. Thomas' complexion improved and he no longer shivered.

Thomas laid back down, and Edith placed the tray on the floor. For a moment, she considered leaving to check on Artemis. Then, she felt gentle pressure on her back.

"Will you stay?"

Wordlessly, she laid next to him, adjusting the towel over his forehead. She took his hand in hers and lightly traced the lines of his palm.

"I think...I owe you an explanation as to why I was upset by what you wrote." He chuckled. "I think it's causing me to be worried sick."

Edith prompted herself on her elbows, listening intently.

"The library you wrote about. The one we visited. I was the reason why it buried down. I...I killed two people. One of them was my..."

Edith gave him an encouraging squeeze.

"I don't know if there's a word for what she was to me."

Edith caught the faint scent of smoke. Immediately, she wondered whether Artemis was listening nearby.

Edith stayed silent. Thomas turned to her. 

"You don't look surprised..."

It felt wrong to say the words now but there was no right time or right way to bring up the dead.

"Artemis is here, Thomas."