Love Never Dies

Chapter 1With a determined step, Aurora Pendragon stomped to where the airship the Freedom was anchored. She scaled the ladder quickly, clambering onto the deck and began her search. Once she’d checked the ship, and ensured that her brother was nowhere on board, she gave an impatient huff. With her heels clopping across the wooden deck, she stomped down the ladder and stalked toward the house. He is so…so casual about things. Her heels picked up their tattoo of sound as Aurora entered their home. At the noise of her heels, their mother came out of the sitting room and Lady Magenta’s smile of greeting turned into a questioning expression. “Hello, dear. What’s wrong?” “Midnight is what’s wrong. He may be an exceptionally talented tinker, and he works hard when on board ship, but he’s so…so immature. We have a trip in two days and he’s nowhere to be found. I wanted to make sure the Freedom is in good working order. I can’t manage the automatons like he does, and I know nothing of engines and furnaces.” Aurora stuck her hands on her hips and drew in a deep breath. “No, dear.” Magenta shook her head. “He just thinks differently. He’s never let you down, has he? And without him, you wouldn’t have a ship to captain.” “I know. And no, he hasn’t.” Aurora sagged, her anger evaporating under her mother’s calm demeanour. “Oh, Mother. I love him dearly, but I wish he was more…more organised. Less forgetful.” “Yes, well, in that respect, he takes after his father. More than a couple of people said he wasn’t right for me. We were too different. Him so apparently carefree spontaneous and me so staid and in need of order and control.” Magenta shrugged, her smile widening. “I was willing to ignore what others called his shortcomings because I loved him. And look.” She waved her hand around. “I have a beautiful home, and two talented, intelligent, beautiful children, and I’m still in love. When I look at him, I still see the young man he was, with tousled blond hair and such perfect blue eyes, so eager to make me happy. He makes my pulse race as much today as he did when we courted. And every time I see Midnight, I see Griffin when he was that age.” “Oh, Mother. You’re such a romantic.” Aurora smiled and Magenta winked at her. “Perhaps one day, you’ll find the right one who does the same for you.” “Maybe.” Aurora laughed, then held up her hands as if to ward her mother off. “But today is not that day. But it is the day I need my brother to do all his checks on the ship.” A barking sound stopped Aurora and she dashed across the entrance hall to stand beside her mother, knowing what was coming next. A moment later, four dogs galloped into the house, jumping at one another, and leaving a trail of muddy paw prints in their wake. “Ah, we have a trip booked, don’t we?” Midnight and their father strolled in behind the dogs, and her brother stopped dead the minute he saw Aurora. The dogs all stopped and dashed back to mill around Midnight. “In you go, my lads.” Griffin waved at the dogs and they hesitated a couple of seconds before running toward the back of the house. “I’m afraid we spent a little too long out there.” “And the mud?” Magenta asked and both Griffin and Midnight looked around to see the many paw prints as well as two sets of human footprints. “Oh dear. We won’t be popular.” Griffin chuckled. “We walked beside the lake, and there was a trapped buck, his antlers were caught in tree branches, that the dogs alerted us to it.” “And Midnight went to his rescue.” Magenta nodded. “Of course he would.” “I think you need to check the ship, son.” Griffin kissed the top of Midnight’s head. “I’ll take the boys out back, get baths organised for them. “Oh, my lawd.” The wail of Lucy, their housekeeper rang out. “Just look at this mess. All over my nice clean floor.” “Don’t worry, Aurora, the ship will be fine for the flight. I’ll go right now and check the engines and automatons. I’ll see you later, Father, Mother.” Midnight turned and ran from the house. With Midnight having run one way and her father the other, Aurora looked at the housekeeper who was still lamenting over her floor, and then at her mother, before they both burst into peals of laughter. “I think I shall go for a stroll myself.” Lady Magenta pecked a kiss to Aurora’s cheek. “I don’t want to get in Lucy’s way, and you’ll be off in your ship.” “Absolutely, Mother.” With a wave, Aurora ran out after her brother. * * * * At a full run, and vocally cursing his forgetfulness, Midnight headed to the small airstrip. Aurora would be close behind him, so he decided to sort the ship out before he went to the cold store to get his treat for QC. He scaled the ladder in record time and activated the mechanism for lowering the ship’s ramp before dashing to the stairs to get below deck. He went directly to the engine room and began setting the furnaces, checking its mechanics, and awakening his automatons. Once all his checks were completed, and Midnight was happy that the automatons were functioning correctly, he fired up the furnaces. With a last nod, he went back up on deck where Aurora stood waiting. “I expect you’ll want to go out to that pet of yours.” A hint of a smile tugged at the corners of Aurora’s lips and Midnight relaxed. If his sister was trying not to smile, she wasn’t as angry as she appeared. “Yes. We need to give the ship a test flight and, after all, we do have the best reputation for getting passengers’ photographs. A treat now and then is a small reward.” “Small? A whole pig, I hardly call that small. Given you’re so skinny I wonder how you even manage to carry the carcass.” Aurora smirked and Midnight sniffed loudly, tossing his head. “I’m not skinny, I’m…wiry.” Midnight strode off, head high, with Aurora’s laughter ringing out, and a wide smile on his own face. Hurrying down the ramp, Midnight trotted to the cold store. The pig carcass had arrived the day before, and Midnight was scrupulous about keeping such carcasses separate from meat he and his family ate. The meat was tied up in tarpaulin, and Midnight readied himself to lift it into the nearby mechanized barrow he used. The clockwork creation was an invention of his own and certainly saved him a great deal of physical labour. With a grunt, Midnight hefted the dead weight and dropped it carefully into the barrow. He added the provisions they’d need and which the much smaller cold store in the galley could hold. A moment later, with the barrow fully wound up, Midnight steered it with only the lightest of pressure needed toward the ship. Already the great balloons that kept it aloft were almost fully filled and the Freedom looked magnificent. He and Aurora had both agreed that a trio of balloons were the best option. The ship could fly with just two, although if only one remained inflated, Midnight wasn’t entirely sure how fast the ship would descend. Not a particularly pleasant train of thought when I’m about to fly. Positive thoughts, Midnight, positive thoughts. As much as Midnight enjoyed flying, he always got nervous before they took off. Lengthening his stride, he pushed all morbid notions from his mind as he ascended the ramp, the barrow at his side. “The balloons are almost ready.” Aurora called out. “Retract the ramp, loose the main anchor, and release the magnetic anchors.” “Aye, Captain.” Midnight switched off the barrow, then saluted smartly. Their main anchor went from land to ship, the secondary anchors made connections with large magnetized strips. They had more conventional ship’s anchors on board, but rarely had need of them as they remained aloft for the duration of the trip. Hurrying to complete Aurora’s orders, Midnight flicked the switched and tugged on the levers that tethered the ship to terra firma and gripped the rail as the Freedom rose gracefully into the air. “Here we go.” Aurora called out. “Best get to the helm, if you please, Midnight.” “Aye.” Midnight crossed the deck and took up position at the rudder. Their trip was only out to the uninhabited island their family owned, just off the coast, and where QC had her nest. Although if so wished, their commercial flights could cater to longer as well as much further flights to their patrons. Midnight smiled as they rose into the air. Now he could spot he nearest village to them. A tiny place called Tintagel situated on Cornwall’s coast. They had a deal with its local innkeeper there. He provided accommodation, a secure place for leaving personal belongings while patrons enjoyed their flights, and transport to the airstrip. And it works beautifully to our mutual benefit. The breeze was in his face and the scent of the sea in his nostrils, and Midnight could almost forget they were in the sky rather than on the ocean. Even as they flew out over the water, Midnight spotted QC leaving her nest on the island to fly out to meet them. Laughing, Midnight waved at the pterodactyl as she flew in circles around the ship. “Someone’s keen.” Midnight shouted out to Aurora as he pointed to QC. “You spoil that pterodactyl.” Aurora shook her head, but her smile was warm, and Midnight laughed all the more. “To think, we thought QC was just an ordinary pterodactyl, but she’s so much bigger than any of the others we’ve ever seen. And that’s why she’s so popular for our intrepid voyagers wanting their photographs. In the circumstances, a treat is the least we can give her.” “I still can’t believe you called her Quetzalcoatl.” Aurora stood with her hands on her hips. “Feathered serpent? There isn’t a single feather on her.” “No. But her neck is snake-like, and she flies. Anyway, QC likes her name. Help me suit up.” Midnight indicated the leather pants and jacket he’d left ready to change into. The pants clung tenaciously to his skin as Midnight tugged them on with Aurora’s help. “I wish there was an easier way.” Aurora huffed as she pulled the stiff leather up to Midnight’s knees before he tugged them up over his thighs. “I see far too much of your skinny legs for my liking. “Hey. My legs are not skinny. Well, not that skinny. Done it.” Midnight gave a sigh of relief as he fastened the pants in place. “Right, jacket next.” Midnight slipped his arms into the sleeves and fastened it securely. “Now, the jet pack.” The jet pack was the reason Midnight needed the heavy leather suit. Although the ventumium gas allowed flight, it would freeze Midnight’s skin if it made direct contact. Any protracted flight necessitated the protective clothing. “Secure.” Aurora nodded and stepped back. “Go feed your pet. Don’t be too long, though.” “I won’t.” Midnight unwrapped the side of pig from its tarpaulin. Lugging it in his arms, he went to the stunted gangplank and readied to jump. The moment he stepped off the plank, he activated the jet pack and flew toward QC’s immense nest. A screech echoed out and the colossal pterodactyl stood up, her sinuous neck weaving back and forth. “Coming, my beauty. I have a treat for you, too.” Midnight loved to fly. Although Aurora had tried, she hated it, and struggled to manoeuvre in the air. Midnight had no such problem, arching his back to perform an airborne somersault before aiming straight toward the nest. Hefting the carcass, Midnight readied to drop it into QC’s open maw. With a grunt, Midnight tossed it and QC snapped it in mid-air, her throat rippling as she swallowed. With a sound reminiscent of a pigeon’s coo, only far more reverberating, QC shook her wings. “I thought you’d like that.” Midnight laughed and leaned in to pat her above her eyes. “Now come fly with me. We have passengers tomorrow and I won’t be able to fly with you then.” Midnight didn’t think twice about chatting to the pterodactyl as they spent the next few minutes flying together, with him either riding her like a mighty steed, or flying beside her. Finally, Midnight spotted Aurora waving and he realised it was time to return to the dirigible. With a final pat to QC, Midnight left her to settle on her nest while he returned to the ship. “She seemed in a good mood.” Aurora tugged at the jet pack. “You only had a third left. You mustn’t lose track of time, Midnight.” “She was, and I know. It’s just so amazing, flying with her. I told her we had passengers tomorrow. I think she’s excited to show off.” “Midnight, she’s a flying reptile. I big one, I grant you, but a reptile, nonetheless.” “Yes, I know. But they have intelligence, too. But I’m not going to argue with you. Let’s go home, and I can get this leather off. Save you from my scrawny legs.” “Oh, I think I can manage one more view of your scrawny, and hairy, legs.” Aurora grimaced theatrically. “Get the pants down to your knees and mind you, keep your drawers in place. That’s a view nobody wants.” Aurora shuddered dramatically, and Midnight couldn’t stop the strangled sound that mixed embarrassment and indignation which escaped him. With a good hard wriggle, and a great deal of shoving, Midnight got the pants down to his knees while his sister kept her gaze averted. Maintaining his dignity as best as he could, Midnight sat down. “I’m decent.” “About time.” Aurora tugged them the rest of the way, giggling like a schoolgirl. Midnight smiled at the carefree sound. He liked seeing and hearing her so relaxed. Aurora didn’t laugh as much these days. She took her position as captain of the dirigible, and as a businesswoman, very seriously. Anger rippled through Midnight as he thought over the way she’d been treated for rejecting the advances of the son of the local aerodrome owner. Although there was no rule regarding a woman owning a ship, captaining it, or keeping it at the aerodrome, the owner had deliberately caused so much internal division with the men, that they’d been forced to move. Instead, their parents had sectioned off a part of the grounds around the house for their dirigible and encouraged them to operate the business from home. So far, it’s proving a highly successful operation, although Magnus still tries his best to find fault and suggest that we don’t keep to the same high safety standards as he claims he enforces. He’s such a liar. He couldn’t care less, so long as he’s paid on time. “There.” Aurora tossed the pants onto Midnight’s lap. “Now for goodness sake, cover yourself up, brother mine.” With a smirk, Aurora strode away, and Midnight couldn’t help but poke out his tongue at her retreating back.