In today’s episode we read the chapter 21 – Sea Bird – in which Farfalla uses new found skills to avenge the Carnifex children.
This week's podcast partner is Mums, Mysteries & Murder: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mums-mysteries-murder/id1578866284
Interview with Melissa on The Brian Oake Show: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1zw9A6Q22ZqQiw9RNkq8Gc
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Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com
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The Skylark Bell is brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.
FULL TRANSCRIPT:
Things with Wings Productions presents: Chapter 21 of The Skylark Bell, Skyedive. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.
In last week’s episode Farfalla became aware of Nurse Betsey’s cruelty toward the Carnifex children.
In today’s episode we read the chapter 21 – Sea Bird – in which Farfalla uses new found skills to avenge the children.
Today’s podcast partner is Mums Mysteries and Murder, proud members of the boopod network of true crime and paranormal podcasts. Hosts Marti and Effie, each hailing from Australia and Scotland respectively, add a heavy dose of wite to their stories about true crime and the unexplained each hailing from their home countries. You’re sure to find topics you haven’t heard elsewhere on Mums Mysteries and Murder. Be sure to check the shownotes for a link to their podcast.
Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.
October 30th, 1799
I’ve figured it out. I will sing.
I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to find a way to rid the children of Nurse Betsey. I have watched as she has antagonized them and punished them without merit. She is cunning, always reserving her true self for moments when Mr. and Mrs. Carnifex are not present to witness her cruelty. In their presence she is every bit the perfect nanny, which has made it difficult for me to put an end to her twisted game. I tried speaking to them, gently guiding the conversation toward her behaviour, but the idea that Nurse Betsey was anything but perfect was so foreign to them that they wouldn’t even entertain it. I then attempted to speak directly to Betsey, but unlike most of the people in the village, she neither fears nor respects me. She laughed and told me the children were lying, and that she would “have a word with them about all this!”. My attempt at an intervention cost each of them a spanking.
I have spent sleepless nights trying to concoct a plan to get her out of their lives, trying to spend as many of my days with them as possible. Then, last night I was called to “perform” for a family on the other side of the island. The father was in bad shape, my guess is dysentery. I sang for him Audrey Tourtereaux’s French song, but he was still moaning and crying out. His wife began asking why I wasn’t making him better, and questioning my capabilities, so I sang the song of the Oak Tree. Not for him, but for her. Once I felt like she was... hypnotized? Papa always said my voice was hypnotic, perhaps he was onto something… I told her to go make herself a cup of tea with laudanum and go sit on the couch. Sure enough, she followed my instructions to the letter. She was sound asleep on the couch when I let myself out.
I will sing.
I will sing for Betsey, and she will do my bidding.
~~~~~~
“Children, why don’t we play hide and go seek?!” shouts Farfalla excitedly.
“I hardly think that’s appropriate; we don’t want anyone to go missing, do we?” says Nurse Betsey. Or do we? Wonders Farfalla.
“Oh, Nurse Betsey, we play hide and go seek with Miss Skye all the time! it’s tremendous fun! Please say yes!” begs Frannie.
“We promise we’ll come out if you can’t find us!” adds Felix.
Nurse Betsey, not wanting to be outdone by Farfalla, nods her head reluctantly. “But you need to stay on Carnifex land, understood?” she asks in her usual sharp tone. Both children nod solemnly.
“Wonderful!” says Farfalla, clapping her hands. “Now, the two of you go hide while Nurse Betsey and I count to 100. Ready? Set… GO!”
The children scurry across the field in different directions as Farfalla turns to face the stone wall at the back of Carnifex House. Nurse Betsey stands next to her, stoic and silent. Farfalla counts to fifty, then softly begins to hum the song of the Oak Tree. “What on earth are you doing?” asks Nurse Betsey, but Farfalla keeps her face turned toward the wall, gradually singing louder and louder. Eventually, she turns to look at Betsey, who is staring at her, wide-eyed. Farfalla, still singing, turns and starts walking across the field toward the path that leads to the beach. Betsey follows closely behind, as if in a trance. They walk all the way across the field, but instead of taking the path to the beach, Farfalla takes a sharp left, and they start walking uphill into the neighbouring field. Farfalla keeps her singing steady as the cold wind blows the tall dry grass around them. There is a chill in the air. October is almost over. The ocean will be very cold now. Farfalla can feel herself getting winded as they walk up the hill, which gets steeper and steeper with every step, but she keeps singing, and Betsey follows without question.
Finally, Farfalla reaches the top of the hill. From this vantage point she can see the ocean stretch for miles, its choppy surface interrupted by a series of rocky islands in the distance. She can see the sandy beach stretch out to her right, and she can see the rocks and crashing waves directly below the cliff on which she and Betsey now stand. Farfalla stops singing and turns to face Betsey. “I know what you did to those children,” she begins.
“Children…” echoes Betsey
“I know it was you who broke the music box,” continues Farfalla.
“Music...” whispers Betsey.
“I tried to speak to Mr. and Mrs. Carnifex. I even tried to speak to you!” she cries, tears streaming down her face. “You are a hurtful, horrible person, Betsey,” she continues, her emotions getting the better of her.
Betsey blinks, and Farfalla worries that the spell may be broken. She hums the song again to regain control. This time, a sea bird begins circling overhead, intrigued by the sound of Farfalla’s voice. Once she is certain Betsey is once again in a trance, Farfalla points to the cliff’s edge. “Walk,” she says, simply.
Betsey turns on her heel and takes a step. Farfalla wipes the tears from her face and smiles. It’s working! The wind picks up, blowing the sea bird out into the bay. It fights to get back to the cliff’s edge, and lands on a rock a few paces away from Farfalla. Betsey continues her slow, methodical march to the edge of the cliff. Farfalla licks her lips in anticipation. Finally, just as Betsey’s toes are leaning over the edge of the cliff she suddenly stops. Farfalla’s brow furrows. “No!” Farfalla’s hushed whisper is quickly carried away on the wind. Betsey slowly turns around, a look of confusion on her face. Farfalla, panicked, turns to the sea bird on the rock, and points to Betsey. “Fly!” she shouts. This time the wind is on her side, carrying her command straight to its target. The bird lifts off the rock and, without hesitation, flies in a direct line toward Betsey, hitting her in the chest and causing her to stumble backwards. Betsey’s eyes grow wide as she realizes what is happening. There is no time for her to scream before her body is hurled over the edge of the cliff. Farfalla can hear rocks tumble down the cliffside and land in the ocean. Betsey also lands, with a sickening thud. The sea bird lifts into the sky and circles back like a boomerang, landing at Farfalla’s feet.
“Hello there, friend,” she says, crouching to take a closer look. The bird tilts its head toward her, as if waiting for instructions. “You are free to go now. Thank you,” she says simply. The bird spreads its wings, almost like it is waving goodbye, lifts into the sky, and soars over the ocean. Farfalla watches until it is out of sight, then turns and walks back toward Carnifex House. The children will be wondering where she is, her plan took longer to carry out than she anticipated. She hums happily to herself as she scurries through the dry grass.
From behind the rock where the sea bird first landed, a small face with tear-stained cheeks peeks out. Confused, the child walks to the cliff’s edge and looks down. There, on the sharp rocks, waves crashing over her still body, is Nursey Betsey. She is laying at a strange angle, arms and legs dangling in different directions, the tips of her fingers dipping into the violent water below. Terrified, the child backs away, then races through the tall grass toward Carnifex House.
In the grey October sky above, an ever-growing flock of sea birds begins to circle, patiently waiting for their next instructions.
Thank you so much for listening. Join me next week for Chapter 22 – Trial by Water – in which Farfalla’s actions catch up with her.
The Skylark Bell is brought to you by Phaeton Starling Publishing and features original music by Cannelle. Leaving a rating or a review on your preferred podcast platform is incredibly helpful in helping the podcast gain visibility so others can find and enjoy the story of The Skylark Bell, it’s a quick, easy, and free way to support my work. If you’d like to support me further, you can also subscribe to Patreon, where you’ll get early access to ad-free episodes as well as digital downloads of my music, artwork, behind the scenes videos and more! And be sure to follow me on social media for updates, I love to connect with listeners... Just check the show notes for all necessary links.
Once again, thank you for listening – I’m Melissa Oliveri, writer, host and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast.
