Serafina and the Black Cloak. Robert Beatty

pa shut his eyes for a second as he took a good, long breath, and then he opened his eyes, looked at her and spoke to her with unusual softness. ‘I’m sorry, Sera. The truth is I don’t rightly know. But when I see her in my mind I think she must have been beautiful, both lovely and strong. She fought hard to bring you into the world, Sera, and she wanted to stay with you, but she knew she couldn’t. I don’t know why she couldn’t. But she gave you to me to love and take care of, and for that I’m much obliged.’

      ‘So maybe she’s still out there someplace . . .’ Her voice trembled, uncertain. Her pa’s story had made it feel like there was a tornado twisting inside her, but the thought of her momma felt like the bursting of the sun.

      ‘Maybe she is,’ he relented, gently.

      She looked at him. ‘Pa, do you . . . do you think that . . . do you know if she was human or –’

      ‘I don’t want to hear any talk ’bout that,’ he interrupted her, shaking his head. She could see in the tightness of his mouth how upset her question made him. ‘You’re my little girl,’ he said. ‘That’s what I believe.’

      ‘But in the forest –’ she began.

      ‘No,’ he cut her off, ‘I don’t want you to think about that. You live here. With me. This is your home. I’ve told ya before, and I’ll tell ya again, Sera: our world is filled with many mysteries, things we don’t understand. Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, both dark and bright, and they will ensnare your soul.’

      She stared at her pa for a long time, trying to comprehend his words. She could see the seriousness in his eyes, and she felt it too, deep down in her heart. Her pa was the only person she’d ever had in the world.

      She heard men coming down the corridor outside the door. They were searching the rooms of the sub-basement. The hair on her arms tingled, telling her to run.

      She looked at her pa. After all he’d done for her by telling her this story, she didn’t want to bring it up again, didn’t want to make him angry, but she had to ask one last question.

      ‘What about the man who took the girl in the yellow dress? What kind of demon is he, Pa? Does he come out of the forest, or do you think he’s one of the fancy-dressed swells from upstairs?’

      ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘I’ve been prayin’ to God in heaven that it was a figment of your imagination.’

      ‘It wasn’t, Pa,’ she said softly.

      He didn’t want to argue with her any more, but he looked straight at her. ‘Don’t get it in your head you’re gonna go out there, Sera,’ he said. ‘It’s just too dangerous for us. You see why now. I know you’re hankering to help her, and that does ya credit, but don’t worry about the girl. She’s their kin, not ours. They don’t need our help. They’ll find her. You stay out of it.’

      At that moment, someone pounded on the heavy wooden door to the electrical room.

      ‘We’re searching the house!’ a man shouted.

      Serafina glanced around even though she already knew there was no way out of the room.

      ‘Open this door!’ shouted another man. ‘Open up!’