Chapter 21—Earlier at the Inn

Jonathan stepped into the dimly lit parlor and poured himself something to drink. Guests were milling around, deep in conversation. He spotted his sister chatting with an old gent whose ample figure filled a chair close to the low-burning fire. Her long strand of pearls and honey-blonde hair reflected the flickering light.

Celeste glanced up at her brother, and he nodded slightly toward the door. She got the message and edged out of the conversation to join him in the hallway.

"What's going on? You look nervous."

"I can't help but think something is afoot with the kids." Jonathan's frown lines deepened. "When I got to Jesse's room, he was all keyed up. And I found him picking up an unfamiliar cloak off the floor. He told me it was Daniel's, that he had washed it for him."

Celeste tucked a few loose hairs into the twist at the back of her head. Her own frown lines appeared. "And you don't believe him?"

"Definitely not. He wouldn't look at me when we talked, so I decided to stay in his room a while longer to keep him talking, and he kept checking his watch."

"Now you mention it, the girls seemed overly charged too. Well at least Aimée did. Juliette was in bed faking sleep and wouldn't speak to me. She's been heartbroken since you yelled at her."

"I know, and I am sorry. I wish I could figure out what they've been up to with that mine. It's not so much what they took, like the old man accused. That place is dangerous for kids, for anyone really."

Celeste heard a sound and looked down the hall to see Madame Printemps rushing toward them like the demons of Hades were behind her. "What is it, Giselle?"

The housekeeper remained quiet until she caught up. And when she did, she was panting, catching her breath.

Jonathan's stomach clenched. "Giselle, what is it?"

"It's her—Madame Villars—she's in the kitchen and wants to talk to you both."

Celeste blanched. "Madame Villars is here?" The mysterious owner of the olive grove had not once stepped inside the inn.

"Giselle, run upstairs and see if the kids are in their rooms," Jonathan ordered. "Let us know right away." Celeste's eyes widened and the housekeeper's breath caught. Then she nodded and trundled in the opposite direction down the hall and toward the stairs. Brother and sister hurried to the kitchen to meet the estranged, and deeply feared, owner of the olive grove, whom the village was convinced was a witch.

The door to the kitchen was open. Madame stood in the center gazing down at the terrified Chef Marie, who had collapsed onto a kitchen chair, her face a mask of surprise.

"W-would you like tea?" Marie had gathered her wits enough to ask this. She was not sure how one treated a witch who could cast a spell at any moment.

"Non merci," Madame said, and bent into a slight bow. "You may enjoy tea, however, my dear." Marie did not answer. Her eyes grew to twice their normal size, and she remained glued to the chair while waiting for her mistress and her brother.

Not soon enough for either lady, Celeste and Jonathan rushed into the kitchen. Madame Villars turned toward them and offered a friendly smile. Jonathan opened his mouth to speak, but Madame put up a hand.

"You are no doubt wondering why I'm here." They nodded. "I believe the children are in the mine now, with my wolfhound and that dog you call Le Nez."

Celeste gasped. "How do you know?"

"That's not important at the moment. I can lead you to the old man and he will take you below, into the mine. Then you shall learn what they are doing there."

Jonathan looked down at his tuxedo and his sister's gown. "We have to change first. Will you wait for us? Please sit."

Madame bowed at the waist. "Of course," she said, and took a seat next to the trembling Marie. Madame couldn't help feeling sorry for the young woman and tried to make light conversation, although it was mostly one-sided.

A short while later, Jonathan and Celeste burst into the kitchen wearing jeans, sweaters, and hiking shoes. And they carried flashlights. Madame Villars stood up. "You're right," Jonathan said, his face tense. "The kids are not in their rooms."

Madame's eyes glowed. "Non. They're in the mine. I am sure of it."

"Lead on then," Jonathan said. "Take us to the old man's house." He walked to the service entrance door, not wanting to alarm the guests, and left it to the housekeeper to express their regrets for the evening.

Three shadows set out into the dark night brightened by the moon. They followed Madame Villars, who held up a luminous globe that had appeared out of nowhere. Jonathan and Celeste looked at each other in astonishment but didn't say a word. Partway down the driveway, Madame turned onto the path that led toward the dense forest. Celeste felt her body tense. She had rarely been in the forest, and certainly not at night.

Soon Jonathan was banging on Monsieur Voyeux's door. The small stone building was no more than a keeper's station, and for a moment, Celeste felt a surge of sorrow for poor Daniel. She wondered what kind of life he had here with an aging wino as a companion.

After several minutes of pounding and yelling, Jonathan was losing patience. "Maybe I can crawl in through a window," Celeste said.

"We don't have time." Jonathan turned to Madame. "Do you know the way to the mine?"

"Mais oui. I certainly do," she said, holding back a knowing smile.

Jonathan rubbed his hands together as if trying to shed the impatience he felt. "Then take us there now. Please," he added with difficulty. He couldn't imagine what the kids were doing sneaking out at night to go to a dangerous abandoned mine.

Madame led them to the carved face. She circled her right hand, and they heard a gate creak. Branches parted, and she turned to beckon them through the foliage and onward toward the mine. Celeste wondered if they might be falling into a devious trap. But her brother forged ahead, undeterred by fear of subterfuge.

The elevator shaft took Jonathan by surprise, and he shone his flashlight into the dark hole to see the top of a moving container rise toward them. He had not seen Madame push any buttons to activate it. Something was most definitely different about Madame Villars.

The elevator jolted to a halt, and Madame stepped on with confidence. She could get to the children without it, but was reluctant to frighten these two adults by overusing her powers. They were already suspicious.

Celeste paused. "I'll wait up here for you." Her voice trembled.

Jonathan stepped on the elevator. "No you won't," he said, pulling her on board. He saw a wooden handle and reached to pull it, but the elevator started down on its own. Celeste grabbed his arm as the machine shook and jerked all the way to the bottom.

The moon slipped behind a cloud as they stepped off into the darkness, where all they could see was the small light from Madame's globe. Then in the distance they saw four lights moving and twinkling. Jonathan looked at Madame. "Is that the kids? And damn it, I want to know what they're up to. There's more to this story than what you're telling us."

Madame's inky eyes penetrated Jonathan's. "You will learn all, and very soon."