Chapter 4

The tutor tsked and tapped the table sharply, jerking his student back to the present. “Ilreya,” the teacher said with a frown.

The lady in question stared at him for a moment, as though not recognizing him, then suddenly started. “I’m sorry, Jer,” she said with a sigh, black smudges evident underneath her cornflower blue eyes. “Maybe some other time. I just can’t seem to concentrate today.” She shook her head, as if trying to clear it of unwanted images.

Her best friend’s brother turned language teacher understood. “Well, that will be all for today then. Don’t forget to practice reading German out loud. It will help improve your accent.” Jeremiah looked as she got up wearily, then grinned in an attempt at humor. “It wasn’t that boring, was it?” he said, picking up the various dictionaries on the table and returning them to their proper places in the huge library. He sighed. “There goes my future in as language educator. Hmm…Do you think I would do well as a linguist?”

“It wasn’t you. I’m just tired, and feeling a bit out of sorts.” As if to give credence to her words, her actions itself were sluggish and slow as she pushed herself off the chair. Even her smile was a bit forced. “I think you’ll be a great linguist, PhD in Asian and Western Languages notwithstanding.” She took a step out of the chair and nearly collapsed.

“Jeez, Ilreya. Are you alright?” he asked, looking at her worriedly and putting a supporting hand around her arm to stop her from falling. “If you weren’t feeling well, you should have called. Jaina’s gonna beat the crap out of me when she learns that I was taught you when you were sick.”

She mumbled something about not enough sleep.

“Maria!” he yelled, not sure what to do with a near-fainting woman in his arms. His sister’s best friend none the less. Jaina was so going to kill him. He cursed and gave himself a mental kick for not noticing her unusually pale complexion.

Maria was there within seconds, taking Ilreya’s other hand and together the both of them half pulled, half dragged her unconscious form to the couch. The maid threw open the full-length windows to let the fresh air from the garden in.

While Maria went to call the doctor, Jeremiah hung behind the couch uncertainly. Being a male, he naturally didn’t know what to do during times such as this. A primitive instinct somewhere in his brain yelled for him to take himself as far away as possible from situations like this. But he couldn’t do that. Aside from giving him a thorough beating, Jaina would most likely skin him alive if he left Ilreya now.

Okay, calm down, he told himself. She just fainted, probably from lack of sleep. What did the first aid course said he must do? Oh yes, give them air to breathe. He looked around. Certainly no problem there, the soft breeze brought a rush of cool air into the room, bringing the soft smell of the rose bushes outside with it as well.

He looked down at the prone form. That long-sleeved jacket, though, could be a problem, he decided. He took a breath and proceeded to unbutton her stuffy-looking jacket. As he was pulling an arm out from a sleeve, he noticed several long cuts along her forearm which had formed scars, though some were obviously new.

Out of curiosity, he did the same thing to the other arm. A similar set of scars criss-crossed her left hand. Some of them looked deep, a few of them were even bleeding. He hadn’t noticed it as the jacket covering her had been black. When did something like this happen to her? Did she injure herself? An accident? Was that why she was avoiding all her friends, his sister included? She was afraid that everyone would see her scars?

Or… the stories he heard about her were actually true…

The wind blowing in the windows were no longer cool, but rather cold now. He shivered. The sun had been blotted out of the sky by dark ominous clouds. The low rumble of thunder resounded through the house the same moment all the lights turned on.

“Ze doctorr will be ’ere zhortly,” Maria said, entering the room. She took several steps into the room, saw the jacket off to one side, the scars on Ilreya’s wrists fully exposed and stopped. Her face took on a frightening look. “You muz’t tell anyone.” She herself, looked frightened. “Ze mistress will be fine zoon. It-It would be best if you leave now.” She fiddled nervously with a handkerchief. Not usual behavior for the taciturn, straight-faced nanny.

Ilreya stirred from her cushions.

The maid’s eyes widened and she hissed, “Leave now! Before she awakes!”

He didn’t need to be told twice. He hastily grabbed his stationary from the table and backed off, not liking the dark atmosphere of the huge house (it always creeped him out, the gigantic sprawling mass of it, especially during dark days like this one), coupled together with the scars he had seen on Ilreya’s hands as well as the strange behavior of the usually strict nanny/maid, was enough to spook anyone.

He gave a last look into the room before leaving and caught sight of Maria putting the jacket back on Ilreya. He also happened to hear a few whispered words. One sentence in particular jumped out at him. “No, I did not call ze doctorr.”