
Run is the horse that Marco presented to Jose on his tenth birthday. The horse is a deep black color, of the Andalusian type. Instead of riding on his family farm, Jose takes Run away through town. He nodded and smiled flamboyantly at the girls he passed by in the city, who laughed back with red lips hidden behind a fan.
To be honest, Jose didn't really want to ride. He only used the activity as a way to escape from Rolan. He was fed up with the dishonesty of his uncles. Sometimes they look like they're charging Jose something, something important, but no one tells him what it was. They played secrets and told him to sit around waiting like a submissive child.
Like doll.
Jose would not.
He does not want to be a tool that is ruled and controlled at will like his three brothers. Jacob may already have a life of his own right now, a little off the clutches of the Argent name, but Jose sees for himself how terrifying the life his older brothers lived. A life that cannot be said to be alive. They only do what Marco, Edgar, or the tutor at Bjork tells them. They feel like they are rebelling, even though they are walking on the path that Marco has outlined.
They're like machines. Like a wooden doll.
But even Pinocchio can choose his own life. Pinocchio has a desire to live and become a free human being.
Jose gnashed his teeth, drove Run through the tax office, crossed the Bjork bridge. He is free and he does not want to be treated like a machine.
Jose could see it in Rolan's eyes: a desire to dominate. His uncle was also willing to do the same as Marco did. They intend to use it as a tool. He won't allow it.
Jose whispered to Run's ears, his horse, making the clever beast run even faster, then jump high. Jose clasped the bridle, closed his eyes. He closed his lips as his horse poked the ground. His body was shaken up in the waves he used to feel. The wind caressed his entire body, splashing a hint of sweat dripping from the hair.
They passed pasture in South Bjork, but Jose went round the forest. He passed through the settlement, walking to another, wider field on the side of the foot of the mountain.
Now he was on the edge of the cliff, staring at the vast plain that stretched beneath him. South Bjork is located rather high, located near a steep mountain hill.
Jose got off the horse. Breathing gasps. He fondly stroked Run's mane, resting his temple on the animal's neck.
The solar eclipse is just one week away. I don't know why Jose's guessing something bad's gonna happen. Things involving Sir William, maybe. Many things can happen at the meeting point between the sun, earth and moon. Many mystical things can arise. And that cannot be allowed, regardless of whether Jose believes such a thing or not. The problem is that there is too much that he does not know. Is the black ghost connected to Sir William? What is it about the fog that always covers South Bjork?
Jose felt his head wanted to explode. It needs more information. He who now knows nothing and no one can help him.
A gentle whirling wind stroked her hair, opening Jose's eyes. He walked two steps forward and looked down at the cliff, towards the green foliage that was the tip of the tree. His feet were slightly amused at that height, but he did not feel horrified. Not even his horse backed off.
"You're brave, Run," he whispered as he rubbed Run's mane. The beast snorted softly in response.
"You think, if you fall from here, humans will die?" Jose squatted down, staring deep down. "Human will die. Sure. What about vampires? What about ghosts?"
Jose got up and led Run away from the cliff, letting him graze in an area that was still green and fresh. He himself sat under a shady tree, thinking of Sir William, then Nolan, then Mary.
Maria was completely pale and looked unwell when they met before the festival, and Jose could not remove Maria's face from his mind. The girl spoke as if jealous to see him familiar with Nolan or Nina, but Jose denied it himself inwardly. Maria is like that. What Mary did was not unnatural. Jose closed his eyes, trying to manage his feelings.
He doesn't want to expect too much. Maria laughs at the idea of being engaged to her when Marco proposes. It was obvious that the girl had no feelings for him. That left him a bit hurt, but Jose tried not to drown in melancholy.
Jose took a deep breath. He banged his temple lightly against the tree trunk. He should be able to control himself. He should be able to act like a friend. But once Sir William shows up and approaches Maria, Jose feels he can't pretend anymore.
Maria doesn't know, and probably doesn't need to know about her feelings. One thing that was bothering Jose's eyes was the way William looked at the girl.
That's not an ordinary look. That's a possessive gaze.
Jose remembers often seeing similar gazes on his older brothers. All three of her sisters had the same look in the eye whenever one of them was praised higher than the other. Eyes want to win. Wanna have. Not to lose. It's a competitive intention. Same as when Sir William looked at her.
Jose realized, the man was jealous of him.
And since the only thing that could make the man jealous of him was only his closeness to Maria, one thing was clear. Sir William wanted the girl.
Jose pulled out the green grass beneath him, a custom he passed on to Maria. Jose always does that when he's thinking, while Maria does it every time he's confused.
Mary was obviously interested in Sir William, although not in the way Sir William was interested in Mary. There is something strange about their relationship. It feels too fast.
Jose knows that sometimes love doesn't take much time, but this series of events forces him to think that nothing is a coincidence. All are causes and effects that are related to each other. Like a falling domino.
After thinking for a long time, Jose finally made up his mind. He will force either Rolan or Krip to tell him everything he knows about Sir William. He knew his two uncles were being careful of Sir William. If there's something wrong with him, he should know. Mary's fate is at stake here.
He called Run. His horse immediately stopped grazing and came obediently. Jose fixes the stirrups, preparing to climb Run, as his ears catch a strange rustling sound as well as a hoarse loud tugging sound. Like a cold person trying to breathe.
His horse suddenly agitated. Jose didn't go up. He caressed Run's mane, asking her to calm down, while his eyes searched for the direction of the voice.
Be met.
***