Redstone: Sanctuaries
Chapter 15: Understanding

"Making people fall in love, hurting people, making them rich?" Mary repeated the statement in wonder. He looked at the Ghost Relic in his hand, watching the series of molars lacquered to shiny. "It could be like that, right?"

"Maybe it's like gemstones" said Jose, watching Maria's footsteps, just in case his wife stumbled over him because she didn't see the road. "According to legend some are lucky, but the more famous is the damned like the Hope Diamond."

Mary knew the story of the jewel. He raised the Ghost Relic to the shoulder. "If this is what's his power?"

"It invites positive energy." Jose embraces Maria as she descends the stairs towards the first floor. Both guests had long since returned home, but Blake left the dental bracelet as a 'remembrance' of their cooperation. "I think something like that would invite ghosts."

"Well, that makes sense. Just imagine if your teeth were plucked and made into bracelets after you died. If I were to be hiccupped anyway, I would obviously be flailing."

"To look for teeth sounds ridiculous."

Maria chuckles crisply. He returned the Ghost Relic to Jose. "You want to take her or leave her at home?"

"Save it in the drawer of the study or just wear it if you like."

"Hmm someone else bought a gold bracelet as a gift for their wife. My sweet darling gives human teeth."

Jose's turn to laugh. They had already reached the main room on the first floor, where Boris and Weston were waiting in their outer suits.

"I've called Luke to come. At the earliest, he'll be up to two more days." Jose grabbed Maria's one hand, linking their fingers. "Before he comes, I'll just hang around at Redstone. So no need to worry. If there's anything, I'll be here soon."

"You're just taking Weston and Boris?"

"They've had enough."

Maria actually wanted to protest, but she knew Jose preferred to move with a few people. "All right," he said, giving up. Highlight his eyes soften. "May your path be expanded, dear."

"And may the house I leave be blessed" said Jose, bowing his head, kissing his wife.

***

"Master didn't tell the madam?" ask Weston while they wait for Boris to pick up the car. The man was only a few years older than Jose, but he had served the Argent family since he was seven. "I mean, that we're going to check the fields?"

"And make him anxious? What's for?" Jose close the coat. It is now June, but the weather in Redstone is always cold and windy, even colder than South Bjork. "Again the sight of her face, Mary could already guess where I was going."

Weston actually wanted to ask more about why Jose decided to leave at night. But he held himself back just before the question could slide. Although Jose was friendly and not distant, still the man was his employer, not his friend. He must constantly remind himself not to let go past the boundaries. Discipline is the main thing for the servants.

"That's Boris," he said as soon as the car's lights lit up the road. He opened the front door for Jose, then immediately entered the rear compartment.

In an instant, the vehicle had already run smoothly across the manor courtyard.

"Let's stop for a while outside the gate." Jose pointed. "We'll bring one more person."

"Sure, Sir." Boris nodded firmly. Following Jose's orders, he slowed down the path and stopped once it was beyond the limits of the manor.

Weston guessed the one who would join them was Brooks. He shifted his body slightly to make room for the police inspector.

Before the car actually stopped, the back door opened and someone snuck in subtly.

Weston soon found out his guess was wrong. Brooks never comes in soft or supple. As soon as the car returned to running, a fourth person had already joined them in the rear compartment.

A young man in a black-and-black suit had just returned home from the funeral

"Welcome, Mr. Krucher," Jose welcomed the friendly. His black hair moved wildly from between the black pet hats, fluttering in the night breeze. "It's good to see you tonight. The one next to you is Weston and the one driving is Boris. Boris, Weston, our new friend is Blake Krucher. You must have heard his name."

Weston knew that name. A vicious young man who killed his own friends.

***

"Take the salt setoples, Sue," Mary's pinta as soon as she gets to her room. "Setoples full of pure salt."

Susan reigned over the other lady-in-waiting while she herself poured hot tea for Mary. "What does he want to use it for?"

"Submerse this relic, of course." There was something that made Mary uncomfortable looking at the set of teeth and she did not want to take the risk. "Say the function of this relic is to invite positive energy, but I've been caught dealing with all sorts of mystical things. Want to be positive or negative, no one should come to this house."

"Master don't mind?"

"I just put it in salt." Maria shrugged her shoulders. "Jose won't be angry because of this."

That's absolutely true. Susan nodded slowly in agreement. He approached the table in the sitting room, observing the rigid round bracelet. He didn't feel any hunch.

"Why didn't Madam tell you this thing was weird?"

"Because I thought it was just my feeling. But after Jose left, this thing felt more and more awkward."

"Angoing?"

Maria rubbed both of her arms. "It's like looking at a muddy shovel in the bedroom or the letters in the bathroom .. like that, but more extreme." He paused to look behind his back, but there was only a picture of his wedding hanging on the wall. "It's like seeing something that shouldn't be here" he whispered softly.

Susan looked at Mary worriedly. He knew what the family had been through before moving to Redstone. Maria has become more sensitive to things that smell supernatural since the incident in Bjork. But his daughter did not usually complain. If Mary felt uncomfortable and voiced it like this, Susan was worried that something bad would happen.

"How about we send a message to sir?" his proposal. "Master must know what to do."

"Don't ..." Maria shook her head. He threw himself on the couch and sipped his hot tea. "The time to call him back is only for the little things that are unclear." He propped his head up on the back of his hand, again dropping a glance at the Ghost Relic on the table. "For a while, just put it in a jar of salt and tie it tightly with iron wire. I'm gonna watch him, so just leave this thing in the room."

"Don't" Susan said firmly. "I suggest, let this thing be taken care of by the workers."

"Jose entrust—"

"Mistress," Susan interrupted bravely. He looked at Mary stern and firm. "Mrs is the most important person in this house besides you. The most important thing is the safety of the Madam! If the Madam does not want to call you, at least let the workers do their duty. If nothing happens, praise God. Mercifully. But what if the Madam's feeling is right and something is wrong? How should we look at you later? How would you feel if you came home and found Madam hurt?"

Maria froze in place for a few seconds, then laughed softly. He was very rarely scolded by Susan until this event actually made him amused.

"Mistress?" susan protest.

"Well, fine, we call workers." Maria took a breath. Her smile came out so sweet. "It's rare to see you angry like this, I'm a miss. You used to get angry and nag every time I came home in muddy shoes."

Susan was smiling. "I'm sorry for being so presumptuous" he said.

"No, Sue. You're gonna have to scold me like that if you think I'm wrong." Mary raised her face as soon as she heard the knocking of the door. "That's the jar. Take it there, then call Edwin. Let him choose the worker."

***

¬ Diamond Hope: Le Bijou du Roi (the diamond) is touted as a diamond that destroys the lives of its owners. Ten times changed hands, ten times it was also the victim fell from the owner of the diamond.