Free His Black Wings by Astrid Yrigollen Page A

people to look less human with popular procedures that elongated their noses past their mouths and altered their eyes to make them huge and wide spread.
     
    I had only seen pictures in books at school of these people. Now we were taught that each person is beautiful and unique. Generally, people are now happy with their appearance. If they are not, they can always use cosmetics or change the color of their hair, but any type of flesh altering surgery is banned unless a person’s life is in danger. I wondered what type of deformity his son had as Mr. Lowood continued.
     
    “You see, I need you to be his friend if you are able. He might not even show himself to you, that is a chance that I take. However, my duty to your aunt is fulfilled, I have taken you away from that situation that you were in. In return, I only ask that perhaps you can help me, help my son. That is my heartache.”
     
    It was hard to consider all the different possibilities. What if his son has a foul temperament such as Kurten?
     
    I could not live with someone like that. There would be no peace.
     
    Mr. Lowood tapped his pipe against the polished wood armrest and answered as if he had read my mind.
     
    “I want you to know that if it doesn’t work out Claren, you can always find another place. I will help you. I don’t want you to think that you are stuck with us. I won’t lie to you. My son may never choose to even talk to you. He can be like a ghost, moving around our old estate. Or he may choose to be wrathful and angry that there is a stranger living with us.”
     
    It made me feel better that he said I was not to be obligated to stay if things did not work out.
     
    “I am just not sure if I can do any good Mr. Lowood.” He smiled.
     
    “Neither am I, but I have hopes Claren. Without hopes, dreams and faith, one cannot live.” He held out his hand to me which I took.
     
    “All I ask is for a chance.” He said.
     

Westwind
     
    Mr. Lowood had hired a carriage to take us from the train station to his home. The only carriage available was one being pulled by two steam horses. He patted one on its side before he joined me in the carriage.
     
    “We have horses, real horses on our estate. I hope you know how to ride Claren.” He shut the carriage door and the driver set off.
     
    “Real horses Sir?” I asked absently mindedly scratching Naza’s head. She was glad to be out of the train and looked outside the carriage windows excitedly. He nodded and smiled.
     
    “Yes, real horses are the best. While these mechanical beasts do serve their function, there is nothing like riding a real horse.” I smiled weakly, I had been afraid of real horses since I was a child. Their immense size frightened me.
     
    “I’m afraid my mother never let me be around horses. She was always afraid they would kick out.”
     
    “And her fear was contagious I take it?” He asked.
     
    “Yes. Plus there aren’t too many real horses in St.Marhen. Not enough space for them I suppose. While our own house was adequate, there was hardly any room to keep horses.”
     
    “Well, it will be my pleasure to introduce you to our horses, and hopefully after a time you will grow to love them as I do.” He smiled warmly. His eyes, even though they were ice blue, could appear warm to me, this was one of those times.
     
    “Ah, here we are Claren, here is the family manse, Westwind,soon to be your home. I think it looks rather nice from this vantage.” The coach turned down a long private road to the estate. I leaned out the window struggling for room against Naza, who refused to give me an inch.
     
    The front lawn was wide and expansive. Dark green and neatly clipped, I wondered what it would feel like to step on it with bare feet. Two pebble roads on either side of the lawn had a line of wind breaking trees, a type of Spruce I was not familiar with. As we were carried further down the road towards the house, I saw a large rectangle pool of black water in