In the living room, where everything was monotone, the black chandelier was swaying back and forth, and the creaking of the dark brown old wooden floor with every step, Rowena was furiously walking back and forth.

“Corvin!” she thought menacingly while her face was twisting in rage.

Then she sat down on the black and gray old loveseat by the black arched window, looking out to the Juniper Tree swaying and creaking back and forth.

“That damned tree… That damned Corvin… I’m sick of them,” she thought with her eyes with no gleam of light and her expression as lifeless as the gray skies.

“Knock~”

“Knock~”

“Knock~”

Edgar announced his presence by knocking on the wall leading into the living room.

With a serious and stern look on his face, “Rowena, we need to talk.”

Without Rowena’s response, the quiet stillness in the air became cold as tension rose.

“Rowena,” Edgar calls for her again.

Then, Rowena slowly turns her head to face Edgar.

“Her eyes… they look dead, and her face is so still and expressionless,” Edgar thoughts of Rowena concerned him of who she really is.

“Yes, dear,” Rowena’s voice had no emotion in them, it was like she was just done with the world and everything in it.

Edgar, with caution, approached Rowena and came face to face with her, “We need to talk about you hurting Corvin.”

“I know, but it was truly an accident… I didn’t know his rosey cheeks were so delicate…” Rowena's voice was a little playful, but serious at the same time.

Edgar couldn’t tell if she was being honest or not, but to quickly diffuse the situation he decided to believe her, “My precious son has always been delicate, that’s why I am warning you… to be more delicate with him and not to hurt him, even accidentally, again.”

His red eyes were sternly staring down on Rowena, and with that, made something inside Rowena snap.

She smiled with her eyes smiling as well, “Of course, that will be the last time… I promise you that.”

Edgar had chills travel up his spine at the sight of her smile, as if her smile meant something bad was going to happen.

Around the same time at the Juniper Tree, Aveline and Corvin are sitting against the tree and are holding hands taking a nap after crying so much.

The smell of dandelion flowers and the petals are all blowing softly through the air like a soft breeze. And one of those petals landed on Aveline's nose causing her to sneeze.

“Achoo~”

“Achoo~”

Aveline woke up from her nap, and replayed all the things that happened that morning.

She held her hand to her chest and balled her fist until they turned red.

“I still can't believe it… my mother who I thought was nice and warm… is actually cruel and cold…” Aveline thought while looking up at the sky tearfully.

The tears from Aveline fell onto Corvin’s face, waking him up.

“Is it raining?” then he looked up to see Aveline with a teary but determined expression.

“She must be heartbroken about Rowena…” Corvin hugs Aveline to comfort her.

Then the Juniper Tree swayed gently over the children, like it was comforting them.

“Thank you Corvin… I need this,” Aveline hugged Corvin back with tearful eyes.

The Juniper Tree swayed and danced happily, anticipating someone coming… someone who would bring the children peace of mind.

Soft but heavy footsteps could be heard coming towards the children and a warm shadow enveloped them.

“It seems like you two are as close as ever,” Edgar’s voice was rich and gentle.

Then he sat down on the grass near them and stretched out his arms awaiting a hug from them.

Both Aveline and Corvin got up and ran and gave him a hug so tight, it was as if Edgar was going to disappear if they let go.

“Children… not so… tight please,” Edgar had a hard time moving and breathing.

Aveline and Corvin both let go and sat on Edgar’s lap instead.

“Sorry Father, it was just… so wonderful to see you… it was like the sun finally showing through storm clouds,” Corvin laid his head on his father’s chest and his voice was breaking, but clear.

Aveline smiles and nods her head in agreement, “Father’s presence brings us peace of mind.”

Edgar pats their head gently, “I’m happy to hear that,” he smiled so gently that he looked like a soft teddy bear.

Then, his smile turned into worry.

“What’s wrong Father?” Corvin looked up at his father’s face.

Aveline, while still sitting on Edgar’s lap, concernedly puts her hand on his shoulder, “Father… did something happen?”

Edgar hugs the children, “I’m leaving out of town for work… and I have to leave you behind with Rowena…”

“Huh?” both Aveline and Corvin were stunned.

“Yes, I’m sorry, but I’ve hired a sitter to watch over you and I’ve had a talk with Rowena. So, there’s nothing to be afraid of,” Edgar can feel the children trembling as he was telling them those things.

“When… are you… leaving?”  Aveline's voice was trembling.

“At the end of the month, so in 2 weeks…” Edgar’s heart was aching.

Tearfully and painfully, Corvin asked, “Then… when is the sitter… coming?”

“Next week, so she could get used to the house and get to know you,” Edgar, hearing his children hurt and afraid, made his face burrow in pain.

A slight wave of relief washed over Aveline and Corvin.

“Hopefully, with the sitter here… Rowena won’t do anything…” Corvin thought while holding onto his father tightly.

“Mother won’t do anything bad to us… right?” thought Aveline while narrowing her eyes.

And they were right, Rowena didn’t do anything to hurt or to startle them, especially Corvin, for the 2 weeks Edgar and the sitter was there.

With the Juniper Tree creaking with unease, Aveline and Corvin are underneath the tree with a strong sense of foreboding.

“What is Rowena planning… she’s done nothing but… why does it feel like this is the calm before the storm,” Corvin's voice was tense while he was rocking back and forth.

Aveline, who was a little wishful, “Maybe Mother… turned over a new leaf! But, I can’t be too sure cause I feel so… unsettled,” Aveline kept her thoughts to herself.

Then, she pats Corvin back gently, “We have to stay on alert, but if she truly stopped her cruelty… then wouldn’t that be better?”

Corvin looked at Aveline, “I don’t know… everything she’s done to me cannot be forgiven just because she stopped… besides… this intense sense of unease… makes me anxious…” his eyes were filled with fear of something wrong happening.

Aveline then had a flash of her mothers twisted face when she was pinching Corvin’s cheeks.

She looks down, “You’re right… at least the sitter seems to be a nice one… maybe that’s why Mother hasn’t done anything.”

“Hopefully you’re right, but until this feeling is gone… I’ll still have my doubts,” Corvin, with his arms crossed, squeezed his arms slightly.

On the morning of Edgar’s departure, the skies were covered with gray clouds covering the sun, there was no wind yet the Juniper Tree creaking could be heard, and the smell of rain was in the air.

Both Aveline and Corvin ran up to Edgar and gave him a tight hug.

Edgar smiles, “Children, I promise to come back as soon as I can,” then he thought , “I wish I could bring them with me… but, it’s too dangerous.”

Unwillingly, Edgar lets go of the children and sets off on his journey to collect his treasure from a ship that was boarding a couple of towns and forests over.

“I hope Father keeps his promise…” Corvin watches his father’s carriage until he couldn’t see it anymore, with a sad but stern look on his face.

The sitter puts her hands on the children's shoulders, “Alright, it’s time to go inside before it rains,” her long brown braids tickled Aveline's nose.

“Achoo~”

“That tickles,” she giggles and politely moves the sitter's braid from her face, “She’s been nothing but kind to us, her kind pink eyes and her radiant smile… I hope this lasts…” Aveline thought happily.

“Oh dear, I’m sorry,” the sitter moves her braids behind her.

Corvin and Aveline hold the sitter's hands to walk back inside, but as the Juniper Tree creaking grows more violent, they see Rowena smiling with her eyes at the front door.

“Welcome back children,” Her voice stunned all of them with how cold it was. It was like the peace they’ve experienced until now was all fake.

The wrath they are about to experience will be life changing.