Prologue
It was the night of the winter solstice, the coldest, darkest day of the entire year. Christmas was just four days away. The snow fell in big fluffy flakes covering the already pristine ground with a fresh coat of that Winterland white everyone seemed to crave. I knew just beneath the surface the dirt lingered, it always lingers beneath the things that seem so pretty and flawless.
I sat watching the twinkling Christmas lights wondering for the umpteenth time what the point was. Did it really help keeping the creatures that lurked in the dark away, those stupid blinking colors or did it just lure them in? In my present mood I was voting for the latter.
I don’t know what it was about the holiday that made me so cynical. Sure there were lots of reasons to despise Christmas; the blatant greed in abundance was a huge hot button for me, when the season of giving became the season of getting and getting more and more. I shook away the dark thoughts staring out the bay window watching those snowflakes cascade down on a wayward breeze.
The snow didn’t care about the twinkling lights that were wrapped around the trees they covered them just the same. It brought a cynical smile to my lips watching the lights vanish beneath the white blanket.
“Are you there?” the annoyed voice of Karina demanded from my laptop speakers. I looked to the screen seeing her cross her arms petulantly.
“Yeah I’m here,” I sighed. “Where were we?”
“You were telling me why you’ve been avoiding me for the last three weeks,” she replied snidely.
“I’m not avoiding you Karina,” I muttered, “I didn’t ask to be sent to this . . .” I trailed off motioning around the log cabin.
“Your twenty minutes are almost up Chloe,” the deep voice boomed and Karina looked almost fearful.
“Who’s that?”
“Emanuel,” I grunted. “Listen Karina I’m restricted here and if I don’t sign off I won’t get to use the computer again for another three weeks so I’ll send you a chirp when I’m able to get back on.”
“You can’t be serious,” she gasped but I hit the button disconnecting her. I shut down the computer handing it out to the watchful gaze of Emanuel.
“You’ve gotten better at obeying orders,” he observed darkly tucking the laptop beneath his arm.
I ignored him staring out the window blankly.
“So you’re not even speaking to me now?” he taunted moving close enough to be reflected in the glass. His dark eyes were watching me and I didn’t like it.
“Emanuel leave Chloe alone,” Payton called appearing in the archway of the family room. Flour was streaked over her cheek absently and she was wringing her hands into the actual frilly apron she wore. Payton was Emanuel’s guardian and my mother’s sister apparently. I never even knew she had a sister, of course I didn’t know her not really, and then she up and died on me.
My father the shrink felt it was in my best interest to go up Northern Michigan and spend some time with my only living relative since I dropped my winter classes to his fury. Punishment, this place was punishment, a lesson to prove how good of a life I had so I’d get back on the track he wanted me to be on.
I was on my third year working towards my dual degrees in psychology and education just like my father planned. It was the death of my mother that derailed me. I knew it. He knew it. So here I was miles away from home over Christmas in one of the strangest social structures I’d ever encountered.
It was my aunt Payton, her live in lover master sergeant Travis Coffman, and their ward Emanuel Valade. There were strict house rules and Emanuel seemed to take a sick pleasure in enforcing them since he was home on winter break. Payton played referee to the best of her abilities.
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Payton said softly. “Travis worries that you’re not eating enough Chloe, please try to eat more tonight.” I gave a meaningless nod forcing my eyes to stay on the falling snow. “Emanuel will you come help me set the table?”
“Sure thing Payton,” he rumbled. “We’ll talk later Chloe.” I glared at his departing reflection letting the blatant threat hang between us. When he vanished from sight I breathed out again fogging the glass. The glass quivered catching my attention. I wiped away the fog stiffening when I saw a single black rose bud lying in the freshly laid snowdrift.
I stared at it in wonder as my brain tried to understand how it could be there. There weren’t any footprints disturbing the snow. Nothing disturbed its flawless surface except that beautiful rose. I stood up wrapping the shawl tighter around my shoulders opening the French doors that lead to the back yard. I stepped out into the blowing snow moving to the rose without a thought.
I lifted it in wonder almost surprised to find out it was real. I held it to my nose sniffing the unusual scent. The wind blew sharp against my exposed skin and I glanced up seeing the approaching headlights. Travis was home and he didn’t like to wait for dinner. I slid back into the house locking the door and hiding the rose in my room before moving swiftly to the dining room before he got there.
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