Part 6.1.

Mavis decided to visit the church before heading back, she watched the surroundings properly and even talked to the pastor but nothing much came out of it. It was still afternoon but she hadn't found anything else from the town so, she returned back to the Colton manor.

Mary stood in front of the manor staring at it in shock before she could completely swallow the fact that she was indeed not dreaming and everything happening around her was real. Mavis nudged Mary to come with her as she walked inside the manor.

"Is dis beautiful palace yers?" She asked awestruck by the interiors of the manor.

Mavis chuckled, "It's not a palace, Mary. And, no, this isn't ours either, our mansion is on the east side and this is our uncle's house." Mavis said.

"Is yer house like dis too?" Mary asked and Mavis nodded.

"Yes."

"It must feel like royalty ta live in such a huge place." Mary said as she swirled completely taking in the beautiful insides of the manor.

Mavis saw Elizabeth and Arthur coming out of the study and once he saw her, he rushed to her, "Mavis, you're back. Did you find something?" He asked, Mavis felt Mary slinking behind her.

"Miss Garnett? How did it go? Did you find something?" Elizabeth asked too.

"Yes, I found out a lot of things, but there's still something that I need to find out."

"About what? Can I help you with that?" Arthur asked.

"The man who Flora loved, we have to look for him."

"Do tell me if you have his description and I'll see if I know some men who fit in." Arthur said and Mavis nodded.

"Oh, who might she be?" Elizabeth asked as she tilted her head to look at Mary.

Mavis took Mary's hand pulling her from her back, "This is Mary, my new personal maid."

Mary's cheeks flushed bright red as she dipped in a wobbly curtsey.

"Since when did you need a personal maid, Mavis?" Mavis turned as she heard Maverick's voice, he walked over to her and Mary turned.

"Since now, brother dear." Mavis said.

"Did you find something?" Maverick asked and Mavis nodded.

"Yes, a lot of things."

Mavis asked the head maid of the manor to take care of Mary and lead her to her room while she went with Maverick and the rest to tell them about her findings.

"But there are a lot of men who have fair hair and blue eyes. How will we find him with only this description?" Arthur asked.

"She said he is like a Prince." Maverick mused stroking his chin.

"I reckon he is of some higher social standing that's why he never showed himself before anyone." Mavis said.

"He must be scared of being seen with a woman of low breeding." Arthur said and it made Mavis's jaw clench.

"Where's Peter?" Mavis asked.

"He said he'll search through the newspapers to see if he could find something else." Maverick said.

"Can't we ask, Amber?" Arthur asked and Mavis thought of it for a moment before deciding to attempt.

The rest of the party stopped outside as Mavis went inside to see Amber's skin turned almost translucent and the darkness eating away the skin around her eyes. Mavis took a seat near Amber's head and with a deep breath she gently brushed Amber's head. She slowly removed her hand and decided to call Flora.

"Flora? Flora, can you hear me?" Amber's eyelids slowly twitched and opened.

"Mavis?" It was Amber's voice which made Mavis's heart clench.

"Amber?" Mavis breathed.

"What's happening? I feel so... weak." Amber said and Mavis closed her eyes for a moment feeling completely helpless watching her childhood friend in this deplorable condition.

"Everything will be alright, Amber." Mavis said, opening her eyes and Amber's pale lips lifted in a smile.

"I know, you'll make everything right." Amber said, her voice was fragile.

"Take rest for now. I'll come later." Mavis said and Amber slowly closed her eyes again and Mavis sighed pulling the covers till her chest and then left the room.

The party waiting outside quickly approached Mavis as she stepped out.

"What did she say? Did she tell his name?' Maverick asked.

"No." Mavis said.

"What did she say then?" Arthur asked.

"It wasn't Flora. I talked to Amber." Mavis said and Arthur eyes widened.

"Did she leave her? Is my sister free?" Arthur asked as he held Mavis's hands in a hopeful tone.

"No, Arthur. But I don't think Flora could help us and by the rate Amber's condition is deteriorating, we should make haste." Mavis said and Arthur's hands slid off from hers.

"Don't lose hope, Arthur. We've come this far, we'll surely get to the end of this and save Amber." Maverick said and Mavis took Arthur's hand in her, squeezing it.

"I promise." She said and then walked off to see if Peter found something.

Maverick saw her walk off and how Scrab followed her, he was still wondering why she had asked Dr. Edwards to make a model of a human woman. At times, he never understood Mavis's brain, she was like the lake whose bottom couldn't be seen. Maverick led Arthur till his chambers and waited till Mavis could reach to some conclusion.

After an hour Mavis called Peter, Arthur and Maverick in the library and told them of her new findings. Maverick frowned as he noticed there were bandages wrapped around Mavis's hands and she was limping and wincing as she walked.

"What happened to your hands, Mavis? And, why are you limping?" He asked as he gently took her hands in his.

"I'm fine, just got... papercuts." She said fumbling over her words as she pulled her hands from Maverick's.

"Mavis, Are you sure you're all right?" Arthur asked sounding concerned.

"I said, I'm all right. Besides, I've found out who this lover is." She said quickly changing the topic.

"You're quite sharp in changing the subject." She heard Peter mutter, but no one persisted in questioning her wounds. She told them about her findings and Arthur's jaw slackened and Peter seemed thoughtful about it.

"That can't be true, Mavis, it can't be-"

"That's the truth, Arthur." Mavis's voice was filled with steel.

"How will we prove it?" Maverick asked not suspecting his sister's words at all.

"I have made a plan but I'll need your help. We'll do it tonight itself so, we'll have to make haste." Mavis's words were the command needed and as per her next instructions the preparations were made.

"The church was the place where she lost everything so, we'll have to call him there." Mavis said and Arthur nodded.

"Mavis, I've prepared the model as you asked." Dr. Edwards said as he entered the room with his eyes having a mad glint in them.

Mavis looked at the men gathered around her and gave them a nod, she asked Dr. Edwards to load the model and some other equipment that she wanted to get ready in the carriage and delivered it right to church.

"Is it really fine to take Amber with us?" Arthur asked and Mavis nodded.

"Flora needs her revenge and unless we show her her answer she won't let go of Amber." Mavis said and Arthur nodded as he made preparations to take Amber with them.

The day started drawing to a close as the winds roared, the sky turned a shade of gray getting deeper with each passing moment. The night was close, and so was the climax of the case. Mavis and the rest of the party reached the church and the only wait was of Flora's lover.

The letter that Mavis had sent would've reached around an hour ago so, she was expecting her guest to arrive within a few minutes. Just on cue she heard the sounds of the hooves of the horse slapping against the stone cobbled path and she signaled everyone to be on standby as she stepped down from the church stairs.

The gentleman dressed in a black riding cloak stepped down from his black stallion and pushed the hood of his cloak back a little, revealing his golden blond hair.

"Miss Garnett. I didn't expect you to reply and call on me so urgently and in this place? You could've called me at Colton manor or at a more private place."

"I wanted to discuss with you some things that wouldn't be discussed at the manor, Your Lordship." Mavis said as she stepped towards him with her red riding hood almost sweeping behind her.

"And, what might those things be?" His Lordship, Victor Winthrope asked with a gleam in his eyes and a thunderclap echoed in the cloudy sky.

"You said, I was the most beautiful lady you've ever laid your eyes on, didn't you?" Mavis asked as she reached in front of him.

"Yes, and that is true. I have never seen any lady as beautiful as you." His Lordship said with a charming smile. The clouds in the sky started growing darker and the wind picked its pace.

"Who was the last lady to whom you said this, Your Lordship?" Mavis asked, His Lordship laughed.

"Are you jealous that you might just not be that beautiful? I assure you, Miss Garnett. You are the most beautiful lady." He said as he stepped closer to Mavis and the wind howled loudly around them.

"The weather is turning wild, why don't we go inside and wait till it is clear?" There was an unmistakable glint in his eyes that Mavis caught and she stood her ground.

"I can tell you who she was." She said and His Lordship looked at her with a dubious gaze.

"What are you implying, Miss Garnett?"

"Flora Stoner. Do you remember this name? Or have you forgotten already?" Mavis demanded and the color from His Lordship's face drained.

"Wh-Who? Flora Stoner? I haven't heard of this name before." His Lordship laughed nervously and Mavis clenched her jaw.

"How convenient for you to forget about the innocent girl, whose life you ruined?" Mavis sneered at him and he scowled at her.

"Just, what are you talking about Miss Garnett? Are you ill?" His voice turned hard and Mavis gave him a bitter smile.

"You can never get away from the sins you do, Your Lordship." She said as she saw Amber standing behind him. Her hair waved as if they were alive snakes and her eyes were completely dark. It seemed like Amber's body was just about to go completely in Flora's power.

His Lordship noticed the danger behind him turned and saw the terrifying expression of Amber, his lips parted to let a gasp of horror escape but it was too late for him to escape now.