Innocence

Chapter Twenty Eight

It was well into the afternoon by the time Sophia had finished her long explanation about what Blackrose had done, what she and David had managed to achieve since Halloween and why she couldn't have told anyone about any of it. She was worried the entire time, not daring to look at either of her parents while she spoke.

When she was done, there was a long, drawn out silence, until finally a sob made her look up in alarm. Credence was sat on the arm of the chair Percival was in, head in his hands, and shoulders trembling as he tried to contain his emotions.

"It's okay, Dad." She said, biting her lip.

Credence turned his head sharply towards her. "How can it possibly be okay?" He snapped. "We sent you to that place, for crying out loud. It is a school. You are supposed to be safe there."

Percival cut in. "It can be safe, once I sort this out. We just need to decide what to do now."

"We have to be careful." Sophia said. "If Blackrose finds out what Jasper did, who knows what will happen."

"The issue is that we don't have any evidence." Adam said. "It's alright knowing that Blackrose is a bad guy, but if we try to tell that to anyone, we'll look mad."

"We need to think carefully about what we have learned today and what we need to do moving forward." Percival said, thinking hard. "So we know that we have to act in a way that doesn't let Blackrose know that we know the truth. Which means that you kids are going to have to maintain minimum contact with us, as I am sure that Blackrose will still be screening your mail."

"But that's going to make it hard to keep everyone up to date on developments in the situation, or any discoveries that are made." Sophia pointed out.

"We're just going to have to make sure that we explain everything to each other whenever Credence and I visit the school." Percival said. He paused for a little while, thinking, before continuing to talk. "Adam, tell me about this John person who's been messing in our affairs. Do you think he has anything to do with what has been happening lately?"

Adam snorted. "Highly doubt it." He said. "The guy is an idiot. He can't even fly properly. Everyone knows that I should've gotten captain over him, including him." He cut himself off as he saw the exasperated looks he was getting from his family. "But seriously, I don't think he's behind it. He probably just wanted to mess with us that day because he's jealous of me. He told me the same thing that he told Sophia that morning. He probably just wanted to mess around with our heads a bit. He hasn't done anything like that again since then, has he, though?"

Sophia shook her head.

"Well, there you go then." Adam concluded, shrugging.

Percival thought for a few more seconds. "Well, okay. In that case, the best thing we can do right now is think about these posters that Sophia and David have been dealing with, then. Sophia, can you think of anything specifically that might help us regarding them."

"Well I guess the only thing that I would consider interesting is the fact that some of them had similar handwriting on them as the dummy had on Halloween."

Something clicked in Percival's head at that point. "And you burned them, didn't you? That must mean that there are multiple people behind this now. More than one or two." He elaborated when Adam and Sophia sent each other confused glances. "Think about it. The notes were unable to be destroyed. The dummy could be taken down and had different handwriting on it compared to the notes. That suggests at least two different people. The posters on the other hand could all be burned. Suggesting the person who made the notes didn't make them. However, multiple people must have made the posters if only some of them had the same handwriting on them as the dummy."

There was a stretch of silence as the new information sunk in. Finally, Sophia spoke.

"This doesn't feel like a breakthrough as much as another setback. I mean, correct me in I'm wrong but it feels like it's now going to be harder to solve this mystery."

"I agree." Adam mumbled.

"I know." Percival said gently. "But let's try and be positive. We have more information, and that has to be good. The more we know about what is going on, the easier it will be to put all of the pieces together and solve it."

"Right, I think that's enough for today." Credence said sternly, speaking for the first time in a long time. "Percy, Adam, why don't you two go out and get us some food?"

Percival shot his husband a worrying glance before nodding. He gestured to Adam to follow him as he headed towards the door, pulling his coat around him tight. Sophia saw a glimpse of snow as the door slammed behind them before turning to her Dad.

She couldn't read his expression, but knew it wasn't good. He had obviously wanted the two of them alone, and she was just wondering how angry he was with her when he dropped to his knees in front of where she was sitting and clutched her hands in his. She realised with shock that he was crying again as he began to speak.

"Sophia I am so sorry that we let that man hurt you." He sobbed. "If it were up to me I wouldn't care about the situation I would go up to that man and kill him for what he did to you."

"No... Dad don't talk like that, I'm okay now. It doesn't matter anymore. After all, I did break his nose first." She smiled softly.

Credence reached up a hand and gently pushed her hair behind her ears, stroking her head once. "And why did you do that?"

"He insulted you."

Credence chuckled. "My darling, you do not need to fight my battles for me."

"I know. But I will continue to do so."

Credence smiled sadly up at her.

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