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Chapter Two

-October 15, 2006-
5:45 pm


Constance stared out the window of her private room at Ridgemount hospital. The day had faded into night and her test results were still in limbo. She was getting restless, lying on the angled bed with nothing to do but think. Diogenes had been gone for most of the afternoon. He said that arrangements had to be made for their future. Constance felt the protruding mound that was her stomach beneath the ghastly hospital garment. It was an odd feeling, touching her stomach nowadays. Somehow it seemed alien and new every time she caressed the growing lump. Her child within her seemed to feel her restlessness too. It had been kicking and moving through the later afternoon.

Rain had pounded on the window all afternoon and had only just ceased. The remaining moisture that clung to the outside reflected the millions of lights outside. Getting slightly more agitated with her boredom, Constance decided to turn on the television for a bit of sound, if only to drown out her fragmented thoughts.

The sound of the some random half hour comedy show the modern culture dubbed a sitcom droned into the silence. Making herself comfortable, Constance sank into the pillows. A smile crossed her delicate features as she recalled how she had gotten so many extra pillows. Forceful charm was a trait that seemed to be ingrained into the Pendergast family blood. All three members she'd had the fortune of knowing possessed this trait. Despite what each of them chooses to dedicate their lives for, they were nonetheless bound by what ran through their vines.

Classical music convoyed with a promotional advertisement of Europe filled the screen. The cleverly edited video showed all the classical destinations that Constance just recently had the pleasure of seeing with her own eyes. A swift kick from the baby brought her distinctly into the present.

A soft knock emanated from the door announcing the nurse assigned to her care. Nurse Bennett was a pleasantly round woman that reminded people of a mischievous old aunt. Her dark hair was pulled back in a fashionable bun and her uniform was immaculately ironed, but there was slyness to her smile and a tinkle in her eyes. She was holding what looked like to be several leather bound books in her left arm.

“Has the baby been behaving for you, my dear?” she asked. Her voice soft and lively, as she placed the books gently into Constance’s lap. “Most men send flowers but that does nothing to neither settle the nerves nor pass the time.” Patting the tops of the books to emphasizes her point. “He is a thoughtful one, that sweet heart of yours.”

“He is meticulous in taking care of details.” Constance smiled weakly at her. “How long do the tests normally take? I’ve afraid I don’t care for the staleness of this room.”

Nurse Bennett regarded her with care. “I’m sure it won’t be too terribly long now. But I do have to perform the normal checks. Now if you’ll give let me take your pulse.” Constance complied.

Although the presence of Nurse Bennett was a pleasant one for Constance, it seemed to have the opposite effect on the baby. From the moment Nurse Bennett laid her fingers gently on Constance’s wrist , the baby started to become extremely restless. The movements jarred Constance’s calm, sending her heart rate so high that it became noticeable immediately. The maternal smile on Nurse Bennett’s face dropped as shock took its place.

The world started to spin for Constance as her heart beat soared even higher. A sharp pain started to shoot down the side of her left leg. Constance gripped the side rail of the hospital bed closing her eyes. Nurse Bennett hit the panic bottom on the wall calling for help.



6:30 pm


The crowded waiting room of the hospital was a frantic sea of activity. Aloysius sat in a pea green plastic seat that attached itself to a long row of identical seats, all bolted to a scuffed tile floor. A large set of files lay in his lap and a silver laptop sat to the left occupying another seat.

Form after form the handwriting of Diogenes assaulted Aloysius eyes. The address Diogenes had given was none other then Riverside Dr. Aloysius came up on the form for emergency and secondary contacts. His name and full contact information appeared along with that of Proctor’s private number.

The phone hidden in the pocket of his suite buzzed, sending a shiver not entirely of surprise down Aloysius spine. A swift movement brought the phone to his ear. The familiar voice of Captain Laura Hayward filtered through.

“Pendergast, I have the warrants you asked for. I hope this favor is not going to haunt me.”

“I will be most cautious in how I move forward. The criminal facilities are not to my liking. Is Vincent in route to Blue Haven?”

“Vincent left the moment you called. I have no doubt he will be calling you very soon.”

“Very well, you have my sincerest thanks... Oh and now that we know Constance is still alive, it is safe to assume the others are still living as well.”

“I understand. I’ll keep you updated. Goodbye.”

“Thank you.” Pressing his lips together into a line, Aloysius sighed inwardly. The image of his first and only kiss with Viola Masklene floated into his mind.

News of her death reached him just over five months ago. Accidental fire was listed as the cause by the Italian police. It was terrible news that saddened him a great deal, but to his surprise it wasn’t the heartbreak he had expected. Like a dream, her affections and death left a shallow mark in his mind. It was not the deep scar he had expected. With Diogenes’ last letter, the possibility of Viola still being alive was no longer a factorial. There was no excitement or hope in Aloysius heart.

Maybe he was finally hardening. Aloysius stuffed Constance’s files away into a file and placed it in his lap. Leaning over to the laptop, he brought it to rest on top of the files. With a few clicks the folder titled A. Cornelia was pulled up. The picture of the wine colored box marked with evidence scales popped onto the screen. Next he pulled up a file listing the materials of the box and the ingredients of the contents it originally contained.

The unique fudge came from an old candy shop in New Orleans. Recently the infamous hurricane Katrina had flooded it out of existence. There were no other known makers of the recipe.

Aunt Cornelia was taken from her residence at the mental health facility eight days ago. The following morning a courier had come by the house to deliver a package. It had contained the wine colored box and the number ten written on a hand painted card. An English rose in the Victorian style with a single bud about to bloom on the side. Aloysius stared at the digital scan of the card, now fully understanding all that it stood for.

The nurse at the reception counter hung up the phone and signaled for him to come up. She told him that the doctor was finished and will be out to speak with him soon. Aloysius nodded and returned to his seat with everything put away.

Less than three minutes have passed when a tired man dressed in wrinkled surgery scrubs walked into the corridor. Dr. Armetis walked over to the counter whispering to the attending nurse. With a roll of her eyes she described Aloysius briefly. But before the Dr. Armetis could walk over, Aloysius was standing by his side.

“Mr. Pendergast? Miss Greene has just given birth to a boy prematurely, but she is doing well.”

“I’m glad to hear it. But if we could I would rather speak somewhere a little more private. There are some rather delicate matters I need to relate to you.”

Dr. Armetis furrowed his bow and shook is head lightly. “This is a most unusual but... ah... I suppose we could use the senior staff lounge.”

“Very good, if you please lead the way. Dr. Armetis, would you be so kind to tell me how the child is doing?”


Constance slipped into the depth of her memories. The drugged sleep brought vivid dreams of a pleasant past. She smiled slightly at the images they conjured up.



January 31 2006


Sweet smelling smoke drifted through varies cracks and seams of the deep-rooted secret passages. The mansion was silent but Constance knew she was trapped by Diogenes. She wanted to scream but the thicken air strangled her throat and the world soon disappeared from her eyes. A velvety blackness settled over her with no dreams of what was to come.

Silky warmth enveloped her as a strange sense of rocking gently joggled Constance from her sleep. Opening her eyes, Constance found it very hard to focus he sight. The room that swam into view was strange to her eyes. It was lit with warm light that reminded her of candle light.

Blonde wood paneling molded to the walls, pale cream colored brocade covering what seemed to be a short window. The room seemed to have no straight walls nor is there a visible door. A large mirror glittered softly opposite the possible window.

Constance looked down at herself and found that she was lying in a large oval bed with thick covers. The clothing she was wearing at the mansion had been changed into a soft cotton nightgown with heavy lace trims. Modest alarm quickened her heart a little. Sitting up in bed, Constance tested her balance, the world didn’t seem to tilting but there was a distinct nothing of rocking. From her new vantage view Constance gaped at her reflection.

The gown hugged her form with a delicate sensuality that she had never had. She saw for the first time a fully formed woman. The little girl she saw everyday until now gazed from behind her eyes but it was not reflected in her appearance. Constance caught the scent of smoky sweetness filtering through the vents, and her reflection faded into darkness once again.

All was still when she awoke again. There was no mysterious rocking, no sweet smoky scent. Just the empty glowing room. A soft knock sounded beyond the mirror. Hesitating for a moment she found the courage to speak.

“Yes?”

The mirror slid into the side wall and a tall figure with ginger hair walked into the room.

“Good evening, dear Constance. I do hope your awakening was too rude.” A crooked sly smile decorated classical aristocratic features.

“Diogenes...” barely more then a whisper. “Where am I?”

“At the moment you are where you need to be.” Gazing at her with mismatch eyes, he smiled again and scoffed. “There is really no need for you to be afraid. I am not going to hurt you. I don’t know what information my brother has been feeding you in the past; the truth is I am here to see that your life is not wasted.”

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