“Eleanor Carver,” Eddy repeated, her eyebrows knitting together. “That must make you the niece of James Carver, then?”
Osiris stepped forward slightly, wrapping a reassuring hand around Eleanor’s waist. “Do you know each other?”
“No,” Eddy said, glancing down at Osiris’ hand before looking back up at the pair. “At least, Eleanor likely does not know me. But I know of her and that cruel uncle of hers. Someone ought to teach him a lesson if I say so myself. I lived in the same town as you years ago. Never the matter, I am Edith. Edith Woodcraft.”
“Edith Woodcraft!” Eleanor exclaimed, her eyebrows shooting up as her eyes danced between Eddy and Osiris.
Eddy chuckled, taking a step forward to wrap her arms around Eleanor’s shoulders, guiding her away from Osiris. “It seems us ladies have much to discuss, Osiris,” she called, gesturing to the front door, “be a dear and place the fever few inside. We will be in the kitchen preparing a pot of tea.”
Walking deeper into the orphanage, Eleanor noted all the portraits that hung on the walls, and the toys that had been scattered on the floor. She could practically feel the love radiating off them.
Making their way into the kitchen, Eddy dropped her hold on Eleanor as she moved to the pot which was already steaming. Setting down two cups, she poured the hot tea into each one.
“You must have questions,” Eddy began, turning as she brought the cups to the table in the middle of the kitchen. “I can only imagine what kind of rumors have been running wild since I left.”
Eleanor smiled as she grabbed the teacup, pulling it closer to herself. “Well,” she started, looking up at Eddy through her lashes, “they think you were taken by the Headless Horseman. Not only you though, other women too.”
Eddy chuckled, lifting the cup to her lips, taking a careful sip. “Of course they do. Well, I can’t blame them completely for their ignorance, and, this is half a truth. You see, when I lived in Autumntun, I was married to a robber baron. A cruel man with a cruel hand. I knew of the legends of the Horseman. I thought that if I ran—”
“No one would come looking for you,” Eleanor finished.
Eddy nodded. “Precisely. Though, I had become lost in the forest. Osiris found me. The night I left I was beaten horribly, halfway to death really. I wasn’t scared when I saw him because honestly, any fate was better than the one I escaped.”
“I am so sorry,” Eleanor said under her breath.
“It is in the past. Though, who would have thought that Osiris would happen upon someone else.”
Eleanor’s eyebrows knit together as she bit her bottom lip, worry taking over her mind. “Were you and Osiris…”
“Friends. Only ever friends. So, you can imagine my surprise when he showed up here in the middle of the night, asking me how to make food for humans,” she answered, laughing as she explained what had happened.
They seemed to ramble on for hours, filling up their cups and exchanging memories of Autumntun.The good and the bad.
As a soft knock sounded from the hallway both women turned to see Osiris leaning against the wall, the flames in his head burning a beautiful, warm orange.
“The fever few is inside,” he informed, pointing to the hallway. “May I assist with anything else?”
Eddy smiled gently as she stood up, making her way around the table towards the backdoor.
“Well,” she started, placing a hand on her hip as her voice seemed strained. “I am getting so old, if only there was someone to help with the children…” her voice trailed off as she walked outside, being sure to leave the backdoor open.
Chancing a glance at Osiris, Eleanor noticed his flames dimmed slightly as he reflexively opened and closed his fists at his sides.
“Osiris,” Eleanor spoke softly as she walked over to him, grabbing his hands and lifting them to cup her face. “You should go. I am sure if Eddy is the one caring for them, they will not frighten so easily.”
Osiris’ worried face pierced a hole through her heart. “What if I do frighten them?”
“Then you will teach them not to be afraid. Was I not frightened at first? You calmed me, spoke with me, helped me.”
Osiris sighed as his shadows wrapped snugly around her ankle, dropping his head as he nodded.
One step after the other, his shadow staying attached to her ankle, they walked outside, stepping into the back yard. As the sound of playing children roared to life around them, Osiris’ breath hitched, and he pulled back slightly.
“I am here. I promise you, you are not a monster. No matter what anyone says, you aremybeing. You hold more humanity in your heart than most humans do in their entire body.”
Osiris nodded his head once as he stepped forward, walking out of the shadows and into the light of the yard.
The laughter died down, all the children coming to a halt to stare at Osiris, his shadows growing and flicking behind him as he stared at the tens of children.
