Sunday morning found Corbin worming around in his bed, trying to stay asleep, but the unshakable feeling that he was being watched roused his sleepy eyes, revealing the sight of Lydia standing next to his bed which confirmed his suspicious feeling. His waking visage stretched with a long yawn, then he smiled groggily at his little sister, who giggled back at the tangled wad of his thick black hair, which gave him a severe case of bed head. 

    "Wake up sleepyhead, we want to take you somewhere today," she informed with an alluring hook in her normal upbeat tone. 

    "Where?" he asked with stirred interest.

    Turning to leave his room, she answered casually,"To visit Mother and Pappa."

    A sobering wave rushed over Corbin as he realized what Lydia had said. He knew what she meant, having discussed visiting the graves of his parents with his sisters when he'd first come to live with them. It was something they earnestly wanted to do with him, but time had flown by so quickly during his first two months at the manor that everyone, including him, had gotten swept away in the welcome changes to their lives; but now the time had come.

    He got out of bed with a solemn purpose added to the new day, and after a quick shower he dressed warmly then met his sisters in the dining hall for  breakfast. They tailored the mood at the table for him, keeping the morning conversation light since they knew his heart would be heavy, and once the time came for them to leave he had to assure Gale's repeated concern that he was ready.

    The trip wasn't far since the mausoleum where his parents rested stood on a private piece of family land that adjoined the manor's broad estate grounds. Gale steered her sedan calmly along a path that she knew well, having visited the place many times throughout the passing years, especially during her life's trials when she felt lost. Shade and Corbin shared similar melancholy moods in silence as a mixture of heavy emotions swirled inside them, while Lydia quietly hummed to herself as she watched the endless row of trees that guarded the path on both sides pass by.

    The path ended at a large clearing defined by a stone wall that enclosed the dignified presence of the mausoleum in a grassy square. Gale stopped the car near a tall, arched iron gate that provided the only entrance to the hallowed grounds. Everyone got out of the car and assembled at the gate as they waited for Gale to unlock it. Supportive glances were given to Corbin by each of his sisters, and after Gale pushed open the creaky, weathered gate they all stood aside for him to enter first.

    He stepped through the gate then paused to view the granite mausoleum that bore a strong resemblance to the manor with it's gothic lines and pointy roof. The arched windows that lined it's sides reached up high for all the daylight they could gather, and the marble entrance with the Allender name engraved above the iron door was masterfully done. The stoic building was regally beautiful, but the very nature of it's purpose shrouded it with a reverent gloom.

    Corbin swallowed hard, trying to keep his emotions down, then he went to the door of the mausoleum where everyone assembled again as Gale unlocked it. The heavy door swung freely in to allow entry and everyone made their way inside where the cold winter air was stronger because of the mausoleum's thick walls that wouldn't let it out. The tall windows served their purpose, allowing enough sunlight in to illuminate the inner spaces without electricity or lamps. 

    Near the entrance, immediately in view, were two rectangular marble sarcophagi that rose from  sloped granite pedestals  and were topped with slightly-angled overlapping lids that sealed the tombs with all the weight of their large marble mass. They were spaced evenly in the center of the mausoleum with a simple marble bench between them for visitors, while bronze plaques on the foot of each sarcophagus revealed with elegantly inscribed words the names of those inside, along with the dates of their births and deaths. Daniel Hayden Allender rested to the left and Ambrielle Emma Allender to the right; the parents Corbin never knew. For the first time, the whole Allender family was together in one place.

    Corbin looked at his sisters as if to ask permission to approach the impressively crafted tombs of his parents, then after receiving a silent nod from Gale he walked gingerly up to the sarcophagus of his father. Tracing the smooth marble edge of it's lid with his fingers, Corbin walked slowly down beside it, trying to conjure images of his Pappa from the many photos he'd been shown at the manor in order to put a face to the person resting inside. When his poignant journey ended at the end of the lid, he turned to take the same trip down his mother's sarcophagus, recalling images of her as well. Then he sat on the bench between them, slumped and teary-eyed from the churning emotions that stabbed at him from within.

    The cold touch of the sarcophagi would be as close as he could ever get to the people who brought him into the world, whose lives he could only glimpse through his sisters' heartfelt recollections. He would never truly know the delight of his Pappa's eyes, or the safe embrace of his Mother's arms. He could never tell them he loved them and know that they heard the warmth of his affection, nor hear the sincerity of their  voices when they returned the same. They were as far from him as death and life could be, and that realization, so evident in the unyielding marble that separated  them, brought a downpour of tears from Corbin's eyes as he buried his face in his hands.

    Lydia led the charge of his sisters as they converged around him to console him. She sat beside him on the bench and placed an empathetic hand on his knee while Gale stood behind him, rubbing his sobbing shoulders to comfort him. Shade stood near, but watched with a feeling of helplessness as her brother lamented with so much heartache. She would have done anything to take his pain away, they all would have for they all knew it well but had the advantage of many years to cope with it.

    Gale lowered her head to speak softly in his ear. "We'll leave you alone with them, take your time."

    Shade started toward the door, following Gale, then she threw a look back at Lydia beckoning her to come too. Lydia nodded and stood up in front of Corbin, whose head was still buried in his hands as he continued to weep. She was saddened by her brother's grief, and as she stared at his hurting form she connected with him through her gift, sending a message to him that her voice in his head declared with an unwavering certainty.

    I never knew them either, but I've always known they loved me because I can feel it, at the manor and here too. It's a strong, embracing feeling of love that they have for each of us, including you. That's how I knew you were at the manor when Shade brought you home that night after you were stabbed, how I knew you were Corbin;  I felt their love rejoice when you came through the door, just like today when we came here. 

    Corbin lifted his head to look upon Lydia with his drenched eyes and tear-stained cheeks; her earnest, sweet expression gave no doubts to the sentiment she'd conveyed through her gift, which had dammed up his tears. She gave him a small, drawn smile under her slightly furrowed brow that identified with his pain while assuring him that what she'd said with  words that only his mind could hear was the comforting truth. She reached up to tenderly caress his cheek with the backside of her hand, then she went to join her sisters outside, leaving him with the thought that some echo of his parents lingered around him. 

    Corbin fought to compose himself during his first few moments alone, then he placed an open hand on his mother's sarcophagus and muttered through snivels a few sentences full of his feelings, his wishes to her. He turned around on the bench and did the same for his father. Having relieved a small portion of his wistful remorse, which was all he could bear for one day, he rose to leave them with a silent promise to  visit them again soon.

    As he turned to leave a peculiar sight at the far end of the mausoleum caught his eye, making him change his course to have a closer look. What he approached was something he knew was there beforehand, having discussed it at length with his sisters not long after he'd settled in at the manor. What he approached was a grim reminder of why for nineteen years he thought himself an orphan with no links to his origins,  a reminder that he knew would haunt the dark recesses of his mind all his days. 

    There, tucked away in the open space in the back of the mausoleum was a sarcophagus identical to those of his parents' only much smaller. It was sized appropriately for a child five years of age. The bronze plaque on it's end bore the name Willem Corbin Allender, and for nineteen years the charred remains inside were believed to belong to that name. Now they were a mystery, a sacrifice to Jarell's abduction of Corbin from his family, a horrible testament of Jarell's diabolical schemes and the gruesome lengths he went to in order to cover his tracks. 

    Corbin had suggested having the small tomb opened and the remains submitted for testing to possibly learn the child's identity, hoping to maybe bring closure to another family somewhere that had  endured a tragic loss at the hands of Jarell. After much discussion, and no shortage of anguish over the matter, Gideon resolved the issue with his time-tested advice; convincing everyone that while Corbin's intention was honorable, it would bring far too much unwanted attention from the authorities. In this case, it was best to let the past remain buried.

    Corbin stared down at the little sarcophagus, observing a reverent moment of silence for whoever was inside. Though he was not at fault for the fate of the young child who would forever be so, he whispered an apology and added the child's demise to his own burden of guilt.

    The Allender sisters were huddled together outside on the grassy grounds of the mausoleum when Corbin came through the door. They turned to him in silence, waiting for a sign from him that all was well. He strode up to them with his hands in his pockets, then flashed his boyish smile to persuade them he was alright. Lydia fell on him with a hug, trapping his pocketed arms in her embrace.

    Gale eased past them, warmed at the sight of them, so she could lock the mausoleum's door. When Lydia released Corbin, she asked for his hand by holding out hers so he retrieved a hand from his pocket to  accept; then she turned and offered Shade the same, who also accepted. Together they made their way back outside the stone fence, to the car. Gale followed soon after and locked the gate. She marched gracefully up to Corbin and held out an open hand with the key used for both locks resting in her palm.

    "Here, we each have one. Now you can come here anytime you like," she said.

    Corbin gave his thanks by placing his hand over hers and squeezing it appreciatively. She squeezed back as they exchanged steady, heartfelt glances for one another, then he slid his hand away, taking the key from her palm.