The dark room surrounded him after she disappeared from his room and he leaned back on his back. Resting his head on his hands, he stared up at the ceiling and closed his eyes. Since he had Leon bring that pup in from the barn he has had a morning visitor every day. A scowl began forming on his face when he recalled how uncertain Eve had been in his room. She had been okay until he had spoke and then something spooked her. He pushed it aside and rolled onto his side. Looking at his covered window, he took a deep breath and sat up. He climbed out of bed and walked over to his window. The curtains kept the sun out but he could smell the incoming storm through the raised window behind. He pushed the curtain back and found the sky slowly turning black in anticipation. Silently he left the window and entered his bathroom. Stripping out of his clothes, he took a warm bath and washed his hair. As he dried his skin off he listened to the quiet stirring outside his room and knew the rest of the castle's inhabitants were finally waking. He dressed in a pair of tan slacks and a black dress shirt. Quietly he hung his towel up and slid on his socks and boots. He walked to his door and slid into the hall. Quietly he made his way through the East Wing and down the stairwell. Hushed voices came from the kitchen but he stopped in the parlor. The room was empty and he walked over to the window. He found the ocean stirring and the waves growing in strength with the incoming storm. His eyes narrowed and he glanced across the room at the family portrait. He met his father's gaze and held back a sigh. The man would always find something positive about storms but he couldn't. That part of life was sucked out of him the night he lost everything. Scowling at the morbid memories, he left the parlor and made his way to the dining hall. When he entered the room he found the table set for breakfast and spotted Oric heading back to the kitchen. The cook stopped when his eyes landed on the old man and looked back at him. "I see you're up. Your cousins are joining you for breakfast today." His scowl deepened and the man chuckled. He took his usual seat and watched the cook disappear into the kitchen. Quietly he poured a glass of juice and leaned back in his chair. He swirled the glass around in his hand and heard Grace's approaching footsteps. She entered the room with a smile and took her seat on his right. "Morning Cousin." He took a drink from his glass and heard Christopher attempting to be quiet as he entered. His brown eyes met the man as he entered and Christopher sighed in defeat. The man took his seat and they silently ate their breakfast. As he worked on his food, he listened to the hushed kitchen sounds and found the morning usual missing. He finished his breakfast and pushed his chair back to stand. Abigail came out of the kitchen frowning and stormed into the hall. He watched her disappear and felt his cousins look up at him. Gathering his dishes, he walked around the table and entered the kitchen. Leon was sitting at the corner table going over some inventory and Oric was working on some meal plans. He placed his dishes in the sink and heard the quiet yawn. Glancing around the corner of the counter, he spotted Tanner stretching and the pup looked up at him. His tail began wagging and he trotted up to Johnathan. Quietly he knelt down and ran his hand over the soft head. "He's pouting." Johnathan looked up at Oric and the cook continued writing. He stopped petting Tanner and walked back to the sink. Washing his dishes up, he placed them in the strainer and looked back at the room inhabitants. "Mind taking him out to the stable when you go? I can't keep my eye on him while I have all this planning to do." "Planning?" The man smirked and said "You know what for." His eyes narrowed and he looked down at the papers on the counter. Menu options for the upcoming fall ball looked back at him and he frowned. "I said to cancel it." "You know we never do." His scowl replaced the frown and he walked to the door. Tanner trotted after him and he let the puppy out the door before letting it swing shut. They entered an empty dining hall and he walked to the Hall. Silently he opened the front door and the pup ran outside. They stood on the porch and Johnathan glanced up at the darkening sky. Quietly he left the courtyard and the pup trotted after him. They walked along the gravel path and a cold breeze swept against his face. The smell of rain became more prominent as he reached the stable and found no sign of William outside. When he entered the stable, Tanner trotted down the aisle and he located the boy feeding some of the other horses. William stopped when he saw him and cleaned his hands. "Going out for a ride as well?" He swept his gaze to the back stalls and found Carina's empty. "Solomon was fed an hour ago and is anxious for your ride." "Thanks." Silently he walked down the aisle and met the large stallion's gaze. Solomon sniffed at him and he ran his hand over the horse's face. Tanner nudged his leg and he looked down at the pup. He unlocked the stall and guided the stallion out. They walked down the aisle and met William and the doors. The boy handed him the saddle and he placed it on Solomon's back. He adjusted the straps and took the waiting bridle from the boy. Silently he slid it over the stallion's face and secured it. Solomon flicked his tail and snorted. "I would make it short this time, my Lord. The storm is approaching quickly." He glanced down at William and said "Keep that one in here until I get back." William smiled at the mention of Tanner and nodded. As they walked to the doors, Johnathan found the saddle bags missing and looked back at William. "Oric had Eve go run some errands." "I highly doubt he asked her." William smiled again and said "I think you're right." They stepped outside and he felt the storm winds approaching. He ran his hand along Solomon's neck and heard hooves approaching. Glancing down the gravel path, he found Carina flying to the courtyard and walked Solomon toward her. The mare bucked off a mounted man and whirled around. Leon came outside and helped the man to his feet. The guy brushed himself off and looked back at Johnathan. "I was suppose to deliver those saddle bags to Oric." He caught the mare's reins and forced her still. Leon and the messenger removed the bags and walked inside. The mare twisted free and bolted out of the courtyard. He watched her race back toward the valley and swung up into his saddle. The messenger came back outside with Leon and sighed "Guess I'll be walking back." "Get on." The man looked surprised but took his advice. He helped the man up onto Solomon and looked back at Leon. "The mare headed off to the valley. I'll be back with her hopefully before the storm gets bad." Leon nodded and he dug his knees into Solomon's sides. They tore out of the courtyard and raced across the hillside. He could feel the storm's power growing above them and felt the messenger holding on tightly. 'Something is wrong.'