Chapter Twelve
An Aside
The butterfly glided out of the gazebo, floating away from Josh and Lara, and up into the air. The butterfly was a Monarch, and like the Countess, the butterfly considered itself royalty.
A butterfly’s existence is a precarious one. At any moment one could be eaten by a predator, or swatted for sport by a human being. The Nereid never swatted butterflies for sport. The Nereid took care of the butterflies, which is why so many flocked to them.
The life cycle of a butterfly was also precarious. Some species only lived a few days, or a week, but this butterfly’s species lived for a year, longer if the butterfly was lucky enough to be serving the Nereid. This particular butterfly was lucky enough. This butterfly had survived many years, and in that time she remained a loyal, vigil servant of the Countess.
The butterfly floated through the wide open downstairs window of the large Applegate mansion. She winged her way up the sweeping staircase, and down a long corridor where she found the Countess in her study poring over some documents.
The butterfly floated up to the Countess, and whispered in her ear.
When the butterfly was finished whispering, she headed back downstairs, back through the open downstairs window, and on into the meadow where she hoped to pick up more juicy pieces of information to share with the Countess.
The Countess was indeed pleased.
When the butterfly whispered in her ear, the Countess perked up, her face awash with surprise and delight, for what the butterfly had whispered was more than juicy gossip, it was a life altering nugget that could possibly change everything.
The Countess rose to her feet as the butterfly exited the room.
“Petros!” the Countess called. “Come. I have something to tell you.”