Wings of a Dragonfly

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

Luca and Oliver were up to something. I caught them whispering together at several points during the next few days. Once, I woke up to find Oliver in the kitchens, talking something over with MJ and Luca. Whenever I interrupted them, they always had a story, a quick excuse. They had learned from when Luca and Oliver gave me two separate excuses, and now seemed well practiced in choosing which one to tell me.

"They are hiding something," I muttered to Danny.

Danny shrugged. "If they are, I'm sure it'll come to light soon."

I eyed him beadily. "You know what it is - I know you do. Tell me what you know."

Danny laughed loudly and said, "Finn, I worked for people much more scary than yourself. Do not think me so ready to give up secrets."

"At least you admit there is a secret," I huffed.

He laughed again and left me to ponder Oliver and Luca's secret. I did not understand why it bothered me so much. It was irritating to me, to not know what was happening in the house that I managed. I quizzed MJ, who told me to leave her alone and stop bothering her. I bothered Joseph, who sighed heavily at me and told me to go away. I even bothered Elle, targeting the person I knew to be shyest and most likely to give something away, but she merely hid behind Michael, who told me to stop annoying the rest of the staff.

That evening, MJ, sick of my snooping, put me on scrubbing the big pots. I hated that task, but I got to work, scrubbing each one hard until it was gleaming beneath me. It was somewhat satisfying to take out my irritation on the pots.

I heard footsteps behind me, and wondered who was coming to join me, but then the world disappeared from my vision. I felt strong hands holding me still and cloth being wrapped around my face to obscure my sight. I struggled a little, wondering who on earth was going to such lengths to prank me, but then I heard my brother's familiar laugh.

I sighed and said, "Is the blindfold truly necessary to accomplish whatever you are doing?"

Luca's laugh rang in my ear on the other side. "Yes."

"And what, might I ask, is it necessary for?" I queried, as Luca guided me out of my room and towards the stairs. "I will know where you are taking me; I know the routes around the house."

"I am not concealing the location," Luca laughed again. "I am concealing the vision of the location."

I sighed dramatically, but let him guide me to the stairs. When we got to it, I dryly said, "It would be easier to climb the stairs if I could see."

"Do not make me put you in the dumbwaiter," Luca teased, and slowly he guided me up the stairs without catastrophe. He steered me to the right, so I knew we were likely headed to the dining room.

I suddenly realised that it was a couple of weeks until my birthday. I guessed, "Have you organised a meal for my birthday? That is kind of you all."

"Finn, stop guessing," he scolded me.

I sighed dramatically again, but I did feel touched that they had seemed to organise a surprise for my birthday. I heard the sound of the heavy dining room doors open, and we stepped in together. Luca whipped off the blindfold quickly, and I blinked at the sudden light.

"Happy birthday!"

The first voice I recognised was one I had not expected; Faith. I frowned in confusion as the spry, lean man leaped forwards and bowed with a dramatic flourish.