Parchment & Pearls

15. I'm Sure I Can Still Beat You In A Fight...Until You Don't Fight Fair

Chapter 15

I’m Sure I Can Still Beat You In A Fight…Until You Don’t Fight Fair

 

 

Just as Emmy predicted, John, Drake, and Cruz never came out of the office for the rest of the day.  For me, I decided to stay out of the way instead of charging in like I was so tempted to do, opting to spend the day with the kids.  We played hide-and-seek, rode horses, and helped Emmy and Elena make dinner. 

Even after all the fun, I still couldn’t fall asleep later that night.  My bed wasn’t comfortable enough and my mind wouldn’t shut down.  I didn’t want to go to sleep.  I couldn’t.

Pushing the covers off me, I left my room in my pajamas.  Walking past Drake’s open door, I peeked inside to see he wasn’t there.  Cruz’s door was closed, though, and his slight snores sounded from inside. 

I headed downstairs, the hallway lights dimly lighting the way.  John’s office door was open, though no one was inside.  The one door that didn’t open to a room, but a stone stairwell lined with torches, was slightly ajar, light glowing behind it.  I followed the stairs down coming to the one room that had been part of the Brotherhood for as long as it had been in existence – smooth rock walls, carved with colossal columns, lit torches hanging in between each, polished floors, stone benches, and an altar-like space in front.

But what I was headed for was behind it.  The stone door below an archway was open, usually closed and hidden to anyone who didn’t know it was there.  The room it opened up to after a short darkened hallway was one I’d spent plenty of time in before.  The room, carved from the same stone underground, was circular, lined with shelves that held large, leather-bound books with two distinct markings on the spine: a location and a year.  Another, hallway-like area held more shelves with even more books, disappearing into the darkness.  At the center was a large table with a wooden chandelier hanging above, holding dozens of unlit candles. 

At the wooden table sitting in the center of the room, lit with candles, was Drake.  He had one of the books in hand with his feet propped up on the table.  Dark lines were prominent under his eyes from lack of sleep, but they were still bright and alert as they swept page after page.  He was still dressed in a white tank and pajama pants, his hair messy as if he’d repeatedly ran his hands through it all day.

I don’t know how long I stood there, staring at him and leaning against one bookcase.  Long enough for a feeling to spark in my chest.  I finally cleared my throat, pushing off the bookcase and walking toward him just as he looked up. 

“Hey,” Drake smiled.  “What are you doing up?”

I laughed slightly, shaking my head.  “That’s a question you should be asking yourself.  You know it’s almost two in the morning, right?”

His smile turned sheepish.  “No, I didn’t.  I guess I just got caught up.”

“Sure,” I grinned back, and started toward the table to sit in the chair opposite him.  I copied him, leaning back and sticking my feet up on the table.  “So what are you doing?”

He held up the book long enough to see the year 1923 on the spine.  “Reading up on the few months before Lorraine and her father came to the manor.  This is all about why they wanted Dr. Ellis to be the one to hide the pieces in the paintings and give the bronze boxes to each respective country.  He had access to them all, being so well-known, and it helped that he had Wesley’s backing.”

“So you’ve just been down here for hours reading?”

His smile broadened.  “I’m turning into you, huh?”