the problem, Joanie?”
Gabe heard the hesitation in her voice. Clearly, this woman had information on Moira. As a servant, he understood that she was taking a great risk going behind her mistresses’ back. Gabe wondered what she or her household must have done to be sentenced as the Verdons’ slaves.
“Will this remain confidential? I do not wish to cause more problems for my family. ”
“You have my word.”
Joanie’s voice was low and slightly trembling. “Mr. Harlan, my mistress has taken three humans as prisoners. Up to now, they have been well taken care of, except for the morphed who has not been fed.”
Gabe nodded, hoping she would get to the point, but unwilling to interrupt in case she divulged useful information.
Joanie pressed on. “Initially, she told me that they would be imprisoned until she married Mr. Voss, at which point, she would free them. Now, things have changed. She has become increasingly paranoid. She does not trust anyone, not even me. I am making this call when I should be doing errands.”
“I understand.”
“Well, I have a feeling that she is jealous of the morphed. She curses her name throughout the day. She even threatens to kill her! She doesn’t even seem to care that she could be exiled for such an offence!”
“The problem, Joanie, please.”
“Yes, well, she is taking them away. All three girls! Even the humans who are of no threat to her.”
Gabe froze. He was potentially now dealing with a loose cannon: a paranoid woman on the verge of a mental breakdown. “Where are they?”
“I am unsure of the exact location, but I overheard her ask the chauffeur to drive her and the detainees over to Helena’s Bog.”
Gabe smiled, relieved. If Moira was heading to the bog, then he knew where she would probably put the girls. One of the estates, that was confiscated from the Harlan’s, was a small cabin situated in Helena’s Bog. He never understood why it was part of the deal; the cabin was run down, old and falling apart. It was more of a shack than anything. Still, it had a sentimental value to both his mother and father. The small cabin faced the bog, and was isolated in the area. Gabriel would head there directly.
“I think I know where she is heading. Had she departed?”
“No, but they will very soon.”
From where he was, it would take him approximately an hour to get close enough to walk towards the cabin. It would still be daylight and dangerous. His safe bet, would be to wait until the sun set. This left him very little time to free the girls, stop the wedding, and bring down the Verdons from this hellish experience. He had to get a hold of Benedict!
“Listen, Joanie, thank you. This will stay between us, and I promise you that your days as a will soon be over.”
“One last thing, Mr. Harlan…” She seemed to falter but quickly regained her composure, “I think Mistress Moira is foolish enough to hurt the women. I mean, I have no proof that she would do this, but I can think of no other reason as to why she is heading there. I believe that she is trying to cover up her tracks. You must act fast! She has completely lost it!”
“I will.” Gabe announced, “May I ask you why you’re doing this? Why are you risking your House’s welfare? Surely, you do not care for the well-beings of humans to jeopardize your standing within our society.”
There was a slight pause. Gabe wanted to certify that this was not a trick. The last thing he needed was a wild goose chase and waste even more of his precious time.
Softly, Joanie replied. “Mr. Harlan, my House, like yours, was reduced to ruins centuries ago. I will not go into the details, but I fear that the Verdons are hoping that Benedict will balk at marrying Moira. Even if he honors the wedding, the Verdons’ will gain more power than they already possess now. Ultimately, reducing the Voss family to nothing.”
Gabe heard the hesitation in her voice. Clearly, this woman had information on Moira. As a servant, he understood that she was taking a great risk going behind her mistresses’ back. Gabe wondered what she or her household must have done to be sentenced as the Verdons’ slaves.
“Will this remain confidential? I do not wish to cause more problems for my family. ”
“You have my word.”
Joanie’s voice was low and slightly trembling. “Mr. Harlan, my mistress has taken three humans as prisoners. Up to now, they have been well taken care of, except for the morphed who has not been fed.”
Gabe nodded, hoping she would get to the point, but unwilling to interrupt in case she divulged useful information.
Joanie pressed on. “Initially, she told me that they would be imprisoned until she married Mr. Voss, at which point, she would free them. Now, things have changed. She has become increasingly paranoid. She does not trust anyone, not even me. I am making this call when I should be doing errands.”
“I understand.”
“Well, I have a feeling that she is jealous of the morphed. She curses her name throughout the day. She even threatens to kill her! She doesn’t even seem to care that she could be exiled for such an offence!”
“The problem, Joanie, please.”
“Yes, well, she is taking them away. All three girls! Even the humans who are of no threat to her.”
Gabe froze. He was potentially now dealing with a loose cannon: a paranoid woman on the verge of a mental breakdown. “Where are they?”
“I am unsure of the exact location, but I overheard her ask the chauffeur to drive her and the detainees over to Helena’s Bog.”
Gabe smiled, relieved. If Moira was heading to the bog, then he knew where she would probably put the girls. One of the estates, that was confiscated from the Harlan’s, was a small cabin situated in Helena’s Bog. He never understood why it was part of the deal; the cabin was run down, old and falling apart. It was more of a shack than anything. Still, it had a sentimental value to both his mother and father. The small cabin faced the bog, and was isolated in the area. Gabriel would head there directly.
“I think I know where she is heading. Had she departed?”
“No, but they will very soon.”
From where he was, it would take him approximately an hour to get close enough to walk towards the cabin. It would still be daylight and dangerous. His safe bet, would be to wait until the sun set. This left him very little time to free the girls, stop the wedding, and bring down the Verdons from this hellish experience. He had to get a hold of Benedict!
“Listen, Joanie, thank you. This will stay between us, and I promise you that your days as a will soon be over.”
“One last thing, Mr. Harlan…” She seemed to falter but quickly regained her composure, “I think Mistress Moira is foolish enough to hurt the women. I mean, I have no proof that she would do this, but I can think of no other reason as to why she is heading there. I believe that she is trying to cover up her tracks. You must act fast! She has completely lost it!”
“I will.” Gabe announced, “May I ask you why you’re doing this? Why are you risking your House’s welfare? Surely, you do not care for the well-beings of humans to jeopardize your standing within our society.”
There was a slight pause. Gabe wanted to certify that this was not a trick. The last thing he needed was a wild goose chase and waste even more of his precious time.
Softly, Joanie replied. “Mr. Harlan, my House, like yours, was reduced to ruins centuries ago. I will not go into the details, but I fear that the Verdons are hoping that Benedict will balk at marrying Moira. Even if he honors the wedding, the Verdons’ will gain more power than they already possess now. Ultimately, reducing the Voss family to nothing.”
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