Gene of Isis Read Online Free Page B

her, which he rarely did to anyone in public. ‘Lady Cavandish assures me that all shall be well, so let us waste no tears.’
    Nanny nodded and gathered her wits.
    ‘My coach is out front,’ Lord Cavandish offered, ‘but what of the Lady Suffolk?’ He wondered whether my mother should be notified of the events taking place.
    Father shook his head. ‘This whole affair has left Mrs Granville ailing. Better that she sleep and awaken when it is all set right.’
    I lay in a dingy little room, unconscious or delirious from the effects of the doctor’s medication, for days. Thankfully, during my periods of semi-consciousness since arriving at the asylum, I hadn’t sighted Dr Rosen—I hadn’t really sighted anybody! The memory of that rotting, smelly man licking my face made my stomach turn and up came the little foodI’d eaten. The medication, apart from its tranquillising effect, gave me cramps and made me very weak and unable to follow a train of thought.
    I continuted reciting the names of Dr Rosen’s young victims as loud as my parched throat would allow, as this exercise served to keep my mind active. I couldn’t see the ghostly children, but I still heard them repeating their names, one by one, in a continuous round, which I echoed aloud.
    Keep heart, Miss Granville, help is coming.
    Although my sights were blurry and my wits dulled, the face of Damian Cavandish was perfectly clear to my inner perception.
    I’ve arranged everything, he said.
    The dark evidence of Damian’s guilt in early life had vanished. The gent was no longer a ghost, but a brilliant celestial being, whose appearance contained all that he might have been in life.
    You look like an angel, I thought, too weak to speak.
    Damian smiled, most pleased by his transformation. All thanks to you, Miss Granville, I am free of my self-induced limbo…the matter of your future welfare is all that binds me to this earth.
    I felt a warm hand take hold of my own and, with a gentle tug, I was aided to rise to a seated position. I knew something impossible was happening: I’d been heavily sedated and yet I felt so light. Light enough to just float out of my body.
    What is happening? I panicked as I realised I was floating apart from my body. Am I dying?
    Just sleeping, assured the late Damian Cavandish. And when you awake, all of your sweetest dreams will be answered…even the ones you haven’t conceived of yet.
    The weakness and pain ebbed as I left it behind me on the bed—apart from peace and contentment I felt nothing at all. I was floating beside the celestial gent, clutching his hand tightly as I observed my body in slumber. I don’t look at all well, I decided—my form appeared to be so small and frail.
    The door to my room unlocked and opened. Dr Rosen entered, accompanied by his usual entourage of ghosts, and two young, witless men who carried a stretcher. ‘Sorry to have neglected you, my dear.’ The doctor motioned his lads toward me. ‘Take Miss Granville to my surgery…time for her long-overdue examination.’
    The malign delight in the doctor’s voice taunted me, and I was drawn back toward my ailing body. For all my talents, I am defenceless like this!
    Do not fear. Damian clutched the hand of my light-body tightly, aiding my consciousness to remain at liberty from my form. You have abilities beyond anything that you can imagine and, even though you are yet to master these, they can be utilised by other disembodied entities when you, as now, vacate your earthly vessel.
    We won’t let him harm you, assured the eldest ghostly boy among the doctor’s victims, nor anyone, ever again.
    Damian’s assurances, and those of the children, kept me calm as my body was transported through the asylum, up a winding staircase to a tower, where I was strapped to a table.
    Help me, I appealed to my allies.
    Not yet, one of the children advised. Best that your body is safely strapped down before we deal with His Blackness.
    It will all be over soon,