WILLOW CREST: Jason Banished from the Brice House &a Mysterious Tattoo (CHAP 4)

The Next Morning:

Lydia, the Brice's servant girl, entered Jason's room with a knock. He was awake, pawing over old textbooks of human anatomy and cures for the common cold.

"Sir. Will you be attending church, Sir? It is Sunday."

"Hmm?" Jason looked up from his studies. "Oh, no. Thankyou, Lydia."

"Don't like church, Dr.?" She inquired boldly.

Jason shook his head. "No. I'm an atheist."

"Good for you." She smiled, glad to finally see someone oppose the 'Dear Reverend Peterson.' (Who was not nearly as pious as he lead himself to be. The young lady left Jason to his books and went down to the kitchen to clean up breakfast.

From his window Dr. Sullivan could see the whole town crowding into a small church right next to a General Store. The old church was in disrepair after a harsh snowstorm, so this spare building was painted white and made into a house of worship.

He sighed and started to doodle a picture of the necklace Lilith always bore. It was a sword wrapped with thorns, a black rose, and a skull. Never before had he seen anything like it, but still it seem familiar. She wore it on a long chain, as to hide it in her blouse when her father or the Reverend was near. Surly they didn't approve of such a unique charm.

Lunch:

Jason sat in silence and Mr. Brice offered a prayer before the meal. Jason saw Lilith roll her eyes as her father added "and may the lord punish the HEATHENS among us," as he glared at Jason. "Speaking of HEATHENS. I noticed you did not attend services today, Dr. Sullivan. Feeling well?"

"I am well, Sir, thankyou. But I am no longer a member of the church."

Brice spit his beverage out, and Lilith giggled. Mrs. Brice ran over to him with a clean napkin.

"WHAT?"

"I am not a Christian, Sir." Stated Jason. It really wasn't a big deal, but Willard was acting as if Jason had said that he enjoys stabbing his eyes with toothpicks on Saturdays nights.

"What are you then. Hmm?" Hate rose into his eyes, already overflowing with ignorance. "A Jew?"

"No, Mr. Brice. Atheist."

Again his face went red, and Lilith intervened. "Perhaps we should start up a friendlier conversation. You know the saying of what not to discuss at mealtimes-"

"Or perhaps naive DAUGHTERS should hold their tongues!" Barked the piggish old man.

"Sir I hardly believe-" Jason began to defend Lilith when Brice piped back in.

"I DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU DO AND DO NOT BELIEVE! If you want to stay in this house, you WILL attend church! Like the rest of us! And, to further the point, why do you ALWAYS wear black, Mr. Sullivan? Hmm? Mourning a death I suppose?" He stated sarcastically. "You will do well to change your attire! We have no devilry in this town, and we will not start with an immature, amateur-" He kept yelling and spitting and barking, but Jason had already excused himself, thanked Mrs. Brice kindly for her hospitality, given Lilith a nod and went up to his room to pack.

Lilly rose from the table. "WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!" Mr. Brice continued. But she ignored him and ran to join Jason. Lydia rolled her eyes at Willard and scolded him for yelling while he ate. 'You just banished a Dr. from your household, while you choked upon your dinner. Wise choice.'

However much he hated being questioned Brice couldn't retort to what Lydia had said. She was more of his wife's maid than his own and angering Mrs. Brice was not a good idea.

Lilith made her way up the stairs quickly. She opened the door to find Jason filling tools, papers and belongings into his one large bag. "You're leaving?"

"Yes."

"But. I-we need you! You're our Doctor. I know I said before that you should leave but- I...maybe I was wrong? And, well, you can't just abandon that responsibility."

Jason turned around. "Nor do I intend to. I am merely relocating. I am not welcome here."

Lilith realized what he was saying and grinned. "There is an empty house at the end of the road, it's a rather long way's down, shadowed by trees, but you should be fine there."

"Thankyou. You have been most kind to me."

Lilly starred into the boy's deep black eyes, framed by a face paler than the moon herself. In that moment she wanted to kiss him, but knew that it would be awkward and inappropriate. So instead she just let her smooth delicate hand brush the hair from his eyes.

"Meet me tomorrow night."

"Excuse me?" Jason asked.

"Tomorrow at Midnight I will be outside your house. There is something I need to show you. It is important."

"But-"

"Tomorrow." She kissed him on the cheek and ran out of the room, leaving Jason mystified. He sighed again, and rubbed his arm, revealing a tattoo that had been on hs wrist most of his life. He didn't know what it meant, or how it had gotten there. It resembled a cross, but with an oblong loop attached at the top. Woven into the symbol was a black rose, much like Lilith's.

Jason remembered only fragments of his youth. Flashes of memories that haunted him. His solid recollection of life only begins at the age of 13. Where the first 12 years had gone, was unknown. He'd been discovered standing outside an abandoned church, his only memory: his name.

He was taken in by the Professor who found him. Jason's past was an enigma.

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