Lowell saved his document and turned off
the computer. Closing his eyes he stretched his arms up and behind his head.
Spending time with his characters was fun but it made his back and shoulder
muscles tense. Rolling his head around on his shoulders he felt a few pops and
grimaced. It was gross but necessary. With everything properly stretched Lowell
gave himself a few minutes to relax and center himself, before getting up and
going to do some physical work.
While Lowell’s stay in the mansion was
basically an exile he was still the owner’s son. He had no duties around the
house, there was enough staff to deal with all the cleaning and day to day
running of the big household. Still, Lowell didn’t like being idle. He needed
something to keep him occupied and he found it in gardening. There were several
gardeners who dealt with the grounds, but Lowell had his own private little
garden at the back of the property where he grew flowers, vegetables and herbs.
He even had a few young fruit trees. He was the only one taking care of that
private sanctuary of his. Deciding it was time to do some weeding he changed
into his “business clothes” as he jokingly called the old tattered jeans and
hoodie, which he used for his gardening. Waving to some of the staff on his way
out, he marched straight to the shed. Grabbing a wheelbarrow filled with all
the items he’d need he whistled under his nose as he pushed it to his sanctuary.
Lowell left the wheelbarrow a couple metres
away and took the few steps to the small wooden door hidden in an overgrown
hedge. His private little garden was hidden well from the prying eyes and no
one except himself was allowed in there. People in the mansion knew about the
rule and expected it. Lowell decided to introduce the no-trespassing rule to
have a place where he could be alone and, if it was possible, bring Purr there.
His tiger loved their little garden as much as Lowell did and he often offered
his input on the plants Lowell should have there. Lowell would bring his tiger
there every chance he got and they would spend an entire days there.
Lowell grimaced at the thought. It was so
unfair that Purr had to stay cooped up inside the basement when the weather
outside was so lovely. Looking around Lowell noticed that several of the
vegetables were ripe and ready to be picked. A smile entered his face as he
thought of bringing those to his lover. He could cook a nice dinner for Purr,
maybe cheer him up a bit. A plan for the evening all worked out Lowell got to
work. He had some weeding to do, then he could take care of his lover.
* * * *
Lowell stood up and patted his jeans to get
rid of the soil that clung to it. The weeding took him longer than he expected
and it was already getting grey outside. Despite nice, hot weather autumn was
bringing with it shorter days and Lowell realised it was time to go. He quickly
picked up the vegetables he’d need for his planned dinner and he loaded all the
tools on the wheelbarrow. He set the vegetables on top and marched towards the
house.
There was a sudden feeling of unease
creeping up his back. He couldn’t say what was wrong exactly, but there was
definitely something not quite right about his surroundings. A strange
stillness, an air of anticipation, as if something was about to happen. Just as
Lowell quickened his steps, the unease getting the better of him, there was a
loud noise from the direction of the mansion. A startling band, then a lot of
shouting. Lowell dropped the wheelbarrow and run to the house. He noticed
strangers in a combat gear standing outside, corralling the nervous looking
staff on the front driveway. Completely ignoring the sight Lowell rushed to the
house.
It was about Purr, it had to be. His father’s
spies learned about the shifter finally and his father send his people for him.
Lowell wasn’t about to let the man win. His father wasn’t about to take the
most important person in Lowell’s life from him.
Lowell reached the kitchen door and run
inside. There was a shouting behind him, the armed men spotted him and shouted
for him not to enter. Lowell ignored it. He didn’t care who these people were,
he wasn’t letting them take Purr from him. The shouting grew louder, angrier,
but he couldn’t listen. As he run down the corridor and up the stairs he
noticed smoke coming from the direction of his room. No, it wasn’t happening!
He had to get to Purr, he had to save his lover!
Alas, it wasn’t happening. There were more
shouts behind him and then he felt a horrible pain in his back. They shot him!
These bastards actually shot him! Lowell gritted his teeth and pushed on. He
reached the top of the stairs, he had to only go down the hallway to get to his
room. From there he could barricade himself in, open the secret passage and go
free his lover. They could run away, hide somewhere, where his father wouldn’t
find them, they could live happily, just the two of them.
Even as Lowell thought that his vision grew
blurry and the word started spinning. Before he could brace himself on the wall
hi knees gave out under him, and he fell face-first on the rug-covered floor.
He had enough time to see black combat shoes stepping into his line of sight,
before his body gave up and he fell into a total darkness. His last thought was
about Purr and what was going to happen to the shifter, now that Lowell failed
to protect him.
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