Chapter 10: How Sweet an Addiction to Poison

I stood in front of the great doors to the manor. Nothing seemed out of order, the guard greeted me naturally, as if I hadn't been missing the whole night. My disappearance meant nothing. I wondered if Brinley was awake.

I entered the door and walked up the main foyer. Not looking once at my surroundings, I walked to Lincoln's office. My body felt tired, like it was missing something. Like it would always be missing something. I knocked at his door and heard his voice for me to enter.

I walked toward where he sat at his desk.

"The house at the end of Baneberry Lane, a corner house under the ground. Send a pouch of silver coins. Take it from my weekly allowance, I care not how you get it, only that it gets there." I spoke directly at him with a voice like my Father's. How proud he would be of me at being a dictator.

I saw Lincoln's face look at mine hesitantly, he traced the red I knew covered my eyes. The small dips from a lack of sleep. My cold and shivering body unfazed from being inside. As if I were an addict approaching withdrawal symptoms. Lincoln nodded and asked, "Might you want to leave a note, young master?"

I turned to leave but stopped at the question in his voice. Like he knew.

I walked to his desk and he placed a small piece of parchment in front of me. I didn't know if Brinley knew how to read, it didn't matter. I hoped he felt me through the paper. I learnt then it didn't matter if you can't understand the words on a piece of paper the same way it might not matter if you don't understand how someone's mind might differ from their body. It only mattered of the person inside it.

I dipped the nib in ink and wrote;

I'd still find you. In every lifetime, every world and every universe. I'd walk back and choose you. Perhaps even waltz around so someone could steal from me and I'd have to stay with you. I'd still find you. I hope someday you find yourself as well.