A Peculiar Time in 1944 - A Millard Fanfic (Miss Peregrine's Home) #wattys2020

Chapter 56

"All because I let myself feel something for one peculiar girl." {Jacob Portman, pg 143 book 2}

AURORA P.O.V.

After they left Millard with Radi and returned to the campfire they found Horace standing on tree stump giving people their fortunes. Many of them were very detailed – unlike the ones he'd been having about the peculiars – and Jake asked why he couldn't tell their futures that in depth.

"Horace's ability can be maddeningly useless." Emma explained, "He'll reel off lifetimes of predictions for strangers, but with us he's almost totally blocked. It's as if the more he cares about someone, the less he can see. Emotion clouds his vision."

"Doesn't it all of us." Enoch said braking twigs and tossing them into the flames. "And on that tip I hope you aren't distracting Jacob too much, Emma dear. It's hard to keep a lookout for hollowgast when there's a young lady's tongue in your ear."

"Don't be disgusting!" Aurora scolded only for Enoch to turn on her too.

"Well at least we know Millard's peculiarity can't be blocked by emotion. Otherwise we'd spot him clear as day whenever you're educating him on your French tongue."

Aurora blushed redder than the fire in front of her, luckily Jake intervened, deciding he'd rather have Enoch pick on him than Aurora. "I couldn't ignore the Feeling if I wanted to." He said before Olive stood up, whispered something in Enoch's ear and he turned and left.

"I'm sorry." She apologized for him, "Something's got him in a mood." She explained before she trailed after him. Hugh then took her place and moved closer to the three of them.

"So what was the secret meeting about? Did the gypsies really protect us because of some old alliance none of us have heard of?"

"The leader and his wife have a peculiar son. They hoped we could help him." Aurora explained, "That's where Millard is now."

oOo oOo oOo

It was hours later when Millard returned, wearing a fresh shirt under his jacket and his trousers. Everyone else had already curled up for bed when he approached them. Jake and Emma were curled up with each other while Aurora was by herself watching the dying embers of the fire. He crouched down by Jake and said, "He wants to come with us."

"Who? Where?" Emma asked groggy.

"Radi. With us."

"And what did you say?"

"I - - didn't say no. . . precisely."

"You know we can't take on anyone else." Emma said.

"I know, I know." Millard said, defeat already coloring his tone, "But he's disappearing very rapidly, and he's frightened. Soon he'll be entirely invisible and he's afraid he'll fall behind their group one day and they won't notice and he'll be lost forever in the woods among the wolves and spiders."

"I know he'll be disappointed. But it's really impossible. I'm sorry, Mill." Emma told him gently.

"Fair enough." Millard said heavily, "I'll give him the news."

Aurora followed after him, hating the sad tone in his voice and wanting to lift his spirits.

"So what else did you talk about?" she asked as she caught up to him.

"Nothing much." He replied curtly. It was such odd behavior for Millard, Aurora couldn't help but get the feeling he was keeping information from her. But what in the world would he want to keep secret that he'd been comfortable enough to tell Radi but not her?