The Language of Loss, The Locket's Tale

The horse, a beautiful black mare with speckles on her flanks and fluffy white socks, strode toward Bloom. Silvery white streaks glistened on her tail and mane.

“She resembles the sky at midnight,” Julian said.

She should be called Moonlight, Bloom proposed.

"You can. You own her. We don't require an additional horse.

Her eyes became wide with shock. "I am unable to take her!" she objected. I'm unable to provide for her; it's too much. She must be cursed, or you must want something in exchange. You know, I still don't trust you.

Julian gave an eye roll. "I assumed so. Despite your constant reminders that I am a noble, I am free to behave as I like. I want her for you. I'll stabilize her, and you'll see that she's gentle. All I'm granting you is the freedom to ride and come whenever you choose.

Bloom looked at him with disbelief. "There's no way I'm going to the manor. I am also unable to take her. Horses are not owned by commoners.

"Now they do," he demanded. "You own her."

Although her gut told her it was a ruse, she ignored the suspicion. She spontaneously threw her arms around him, her eyes glistening. "I'm grateful," she muttered.

"Anytime," he said with a kind smile. Do you want to ride?

Bloom watched the horses without saddles. "Bareback?"

"Yes, it's simple," he responded, gracefully leaping over the fence. It won't harm them if you hold their mane. He flipped over onto Duck's back. Unconcerned by its rider, the horse snorted and went back to grazing.

Bloom went more cautiously up the barrier. Moonlight walked over and nuzzled her for more sweets. She laughed and said, "Maybe later, girl." The mare responded with a snort, and Bloom laughed once more—a sound that had been missing for a long time.

Julian proposed, "Take her to the fence so she can mount."

Bloom mimicked Moonlight's snort. She shot back, "I know how to mount a horse." She hopped skillfully and landed precisely on the mare's back, exposing her black leggings as her skirt rode up. "Come on!" she called over her shoulder as she picked up a fistful of mane, kicked lightly, and trotted away.

Julian quickly caught up, a look of amazement on his face. He said, "You ride well."

She grinned fiercely. At Clearbrook Manor, I acquired knowledge. Some of the best horses are owned by them.

"Yes, I do remember that their gift had to do with animals."

She stopped smiling. "Yes, it does. Race you! With Julian and Duck following closely after, she pushed Moonlight into a gallop. She made an effort to escape the memories that followed her everywhere she went. Her eyes pinched with tears, which she attributed to the wind.

Soon, Moonlight was moving faster than Duck, and Bloom was swept away by the rush, the mare's mane stroking her face and the wind tearing through her hair. She pushed her problems, sorrow, and anxieties to the back of her mind and gave herself over to the present. The breeze on her skin, the horse beneath her, and an unrestrained, wild ecstasy were all that was present. Her laughter was an expression of sheer joy.

Bloom was unhappy when they arrived at a tiny woodland spot too soon; the joy vanished as soon as she halted. She dismounted and took the mare into the forest to graze as she was unable to wear her out.

A second later, a little out of breath, Julian caught up. He smiled wryly and remarked, "Comet might have been a better name." "Poor Duck found it difficult to keep up."

Bloom grinned as she continued walking, her former calm returning. They reached a pond after a few silent minutes, the horses following. Bloom slipped onto a grassy mound and stared up at the floating clouds while the animals dipped their necks to drink. Julian took a seat next to her.

As her mind wandered to the past, she whispered, "You know, they can communicate with animals." She trembled inside, but her voice was cool.

"Well?" Julian mumbled, sounding as though he was half-insensible.

"The Clearbrooks." They are able to communicate with animals. Their horses are unrivaled because of this.

"I didn't know the specifics, but I knew they were one of the few noble families with gifts," he said. To be honest, I don't think they should be permitted to use them.

She was intrigued by that. "Why not?"

He gave a shrug. They would probably misuse it. You can't trust them with such authority.

She compared what he had said to what she already knew. "The animal became more intelligent and human-like whenever Drake used his gift, but he typically left it writhing in agony."

"Drake?" Julian made fun of it. "Are we on first-name terms?"

Bloom covered her mouth with a clinched palm. "Am I able to retract that?"

He looked curiously at her as he laughed. "I'll act like I didn't hear it, but I'm paying attention to you now."

His eyes returned to the pond. Watching the horses drink, Bloom sat up. The scene was too peaceful to be marred by somber recollections.

She said, "I left Armanda when I was sixteen," in a voice that was just audible above a whisper, as though raising her voice might cause her emotions to flare. "I wanted to forge my own route without Grandmother's constant supervision." I wanted my life to be my own, but she was determined to mold it. After months of persuasion, I was eventually granted permission to go.

This was prior to the rumors of witchcraft. It made little difference to the people whether I stayed or went. Although they sent me well wishes, my buddies moved on after I left.

"I spent some time wandering, but I never felt at home. Then I met a remarkable young woman my age, Persephone—Seph—who was trying to find her own path. She was employed at Roddington's Clearbrook Manor as a maid. She helped me get a work there as a gardener because I was getting low on cash at the time.

They clicked right away when Seph introduced her to her older brother, Nolan. Perhaps it was love at first sight because of how well their personalities matched. Amid a flurry of adulation, Bloom accepted Nolan's proposal. Her entire universe seemed to be in harmony. It was hard to hide her present when he found it, but instead of recoiling, he marveled at it. He didn't care because he loved her.

"We had a boy, Darren," she added, her voice trailing off as she recalled his small hands, broad smile, and vivid green eyes. "He was stunning. We loved him so much, Nolan and I. The ideal aunt, Seph lavished him with affection. The entire community was won over by his tenderness.

He quickly started displaying traits of a gift similar to mine, though. Where he walked, flowers sprouted; his cradle rooted to the ground and grew new branches. People began whispering, but Nolan didn't mind.

The nobles were alerted to the rumors. We became friends with Lord Drake Clearbrook, who shared his talent for communicating with animals. We were honored to be in his inner circle and amazed that he would divulge such a secret.

He introduced us to Roddington's nobility and invited us to functions at the house. We reveled in the compliments.

However, it was untrue. He elevated us and then abandoned us. He also kept Darren.

Bloom trembled, hot tears streaming down her face.

We took Darren to a party one evening. I felt comfortable bringing him along because he was just old enough. Seph also arrived to assist with watching him.

The aristocrats giggled and cooed over his cherubic face as they handed him around. Then he arrived at Drake.

Silent sobs rocked her body. It was—awful. Before I could react, that jerk pulled out his knife and cut my baby's throat. Darren's screams became gurgles as blood poured. As the nightmare she had buried clawed its way out, she gagged on the words. The agony screamed to be released, even though she had never mentioned it. Lost in her agony, she hardly noticed Julian grasping her hand.

She went on, "I screamed and lunged at him, but they grabbed me and put me in chains." Nolan also struggled, but he was defeated. Seph was also slain when he attempted to step in.

To await execution, they cast me into a dungeon. I embraced it and yearned to go to the afterlife with my sister-in-law, husband, and son.

However, Gail and Frank, two other people in the cell, wouldn't let me give up. "Tragedy does not mean that you should give up on life," they stated. They probably couldn't bear to see me so shattered and prepared to die.

They gave me new life. They probably have no idea how much they have saved me. I summoned vines to break through the stone barriers, calling upon my curse, my gift. Under the cover of darkness, we managed to escape through the hole and came back here.

However, my notoriety followed me. Everyone now calls me a witch and treats me as such. It wasn't until today that it really hurt.

Her face smeared with mucous and tears, and her story faded off, weak and raw. Ignorant of her drenched garment, she staggered to the pond, fell to her knees in the shallow water, and feverishly wiped her face.

The necklace she normally wore concealed under her clothing was dislodged by the movements. It had been more than a year since she had opened it, so she sat back on her heels. Portraits of Seph with her wild red curls and happy blue eyes, Nolan with his red hair framing a charming smile and green eyes alight, and Darren with his round, pleasant face and green eyes that mirrored his father's, as well as his reddish-brown hair that was a combination of both parents' colors, were all within. She started crying again when she saw her missing boy.

Splashes signaled Julian's arrival. "Is it them?" he inquired softly. "Your relatives?"

With a silent nod, she gave him the locket. Carefully he scrutinized it, then put it back. Bloom tucked it beneath her shirt and put it back around her neck.

His voice remained gentle as he asked, "Have you told anyone else?" He smiled wryly as she shook her head. That clarifies your response. Why don't we talk sooner? As your lord, I could have taken action, or someone else could have.

She answered, "When I came back a year ago, you were away at the Front." And he killed my son in front of a group of aristocrats. They helped him, and no one stopped him. Were you expecting me to put my trust in another noble? Who are they going to believe?

"So you don't trust us because of that."

Bloom remained silent, her stillness making the answer very clear.

Julian took her hands in his and knelt before her. I would never harm you, Bloom. That so-called "lord" committed a monstrous act. It's true that many nobility are conceited—my father was, for example—but not everyone has the capacity for such depravity. For the faults of one man, don't damn the entire universe.

She muttered, "Not the world." With her shoulders slumping in sadness, she continued, "And he was just a little boy."

Julian remarked, "I couldn't do that to you." "I consider you a buddy. You ought to have informed someone. I think we still have time to pursue justice.

Her chuckle was hollow and sad. "It's too late. Shortly after my escape, Drake was discovered dead in his chamber. According to Gail, he perished in salt water, which covered his chamber. A realization hit her and she trailed off, her mouth hanging open.

Drake's death mirrored the recent disappearances and the bodies discovered under suspicious circumstances. She had dismissed her grandmother's warnings that she was being hunted as unfounded.

Stunned, Bloom assumed she was right.

"What is it?" Julian inquired in a cautious tone.

She gave a headshake. "Nothin'." He appeared ready to push her but refrained.

She noticed that it was almost noon when she looked up at the sky. Smoothing her wet skirt, she stood up. "I have to leave."

She rode Moonlight as easily as she had rehearsed. As she rode away, Julian stayed by the pond and waved distractedly.

Her rushing mind was calmed by the joyous relieve of galloping back across the field. Despite her reluctance to get off Moonlight's back, she lingered because she was hungry and her garden was calling. She would feel better if she tended it.

She slipped inside to change, determined to keep her delicate tranquility from being stolen by her awful recollections.