Not the end of me

[amlia]

She was quiet for some time, playing it as though she had been reading the words. She wasn't reading at all though, but she was rather listening instead. Her eyes were running over the words, but she wasn't seeing them. Her ears were doing the work, and listening for that sound. That sound that had returned. The unmistakable thumping outside the door. It moved away this time, though, and it was like it went down the hallway and faded off. She wasn't afraid, but rather annoyed with herself for having to keep picking up on little things. Victor was right, though. It was a large home and animals could be a huge cause.


"You're a huge help," The girl said and pushed the book shut. She should sit down, she figured. She had recalled the clock chiming not too long ago, and she had taken notice now to the hour. Angeline circled the chair again and took her seat in it, looking at Victor. This time though, she was looking at him just as much as he was looking at her. She was curious as well, and probably for the same reason. What were the odds that a man gets lost on his own property?


"It's late." She said quietly. She wasn't too tired, but she wanted to give him the opportunity to leave her for the night if he was. She didn't mind the company, not having been the one to gain much attention and let alone conversation.

 

[Syrrus]

"Ah yes, I apologize." Victor said, as he rose from his seat and stretched his back, yawning rather loudly - without being tired. He had not been tired for years, perhaps it was simply the fact that he never had to do anything which resulted in many hours of rest, or maybe there was another more obvious reason. He gave his guest a weak smile however and gestured around the room. "I apologize for the tiny space, but I would rather have my guest in here, until the house becomes more safe, God knows how long that will take me." He sounded kind, yet slightly sombre. "I shall go and find you a blanket, to keep you warm."


Victor walked towards the room, left and closed the door neatly behind him. He walked through the house, the long and dusty corridors, the great hall and up the stairs. he found his mother's old bedroom and the red blanket which lay untouched on top of the bed. With one quick motion he pulled it off the mattress and walked back downstairs into the library.


"I apologize, it took me a while to find what I was looking for." He smiled gently at her and handed her the blanket. "I hope it is comfortable enough for you, I shall lead you back into town tomorrow morning."

 

[amlia]

She could tell that he wasn't even all too tired, but she didn't argue. He would stay if he wanted to. The girl almost wanted him to stay since she tended to be scaring herself and hearing things because of it.


"A place to sleep is a place to sleep," she said after Victor had apologized for the small space. She didn't really mind one bit. Her room she had been staying in was barely half the size, and not nearly as nice as even the simple library that he had offered her. Angeline didn't necessarily want to stay there, however; She'd rather peek around the home and at what hid within it.


Gray eyes circled around the room, and when they went to the rows of books her eyes narrowed. The three different books that the girl had touched were stacked on the ground before the shelves- even in order of which she had touched first. Shifting, Angeline stood to approach the books. After smoothing the creases in the blue dress, the doors to the library had opened. Except when she looked that way they were still closed. It's an old house, she thought, would you quit frightening yourself?


When she touched the books the sound of a handle turning came again causing a frustrated breath to be taken in. Only this time he had actually been there holding the blanket. Quickly she had returned the books to their proper spots and approached, taking the red blanket gratefully- "Thank you, Victor." She used his name for the first time along with a smile, "Goodnight."

 

[Syrrus]

"Goodnight, my dear." He said, for a final time before exiting and closing the door tightly behind him. Victor said no other word, as he walked down the long corridor, through the great hall and started to take one step after the other, up the great stairs. He walked with his back straight and his eyes on the spot straight in front of him. He had one hand upon the railing, stroking the palm over it just lightly, almost as if he was afraid to brake it with his very touch. Dust fell from the tall roof, dotting the great chandelier and the once blood red carpet upon the stone floor below in the great ballroom.


Victor continued to walk, as he reached the top floor, down a great and empty corridor. Past the rounded decorations, the empty suits of armour, above the long carpet which left deep footprints within the layers of dust. Footprints which instantly covered itself up. He walked by the drawing room, the music room and the multiple bedroom which also stood empty, the furniture untouched and unused for years and years.


He unbuttoned his shirt, one by one as he entered the room which belonged to himself. He removed his west, his shirt and his shoes, as he came to look our the window at the rain which fell onto the grounds beyond. He watched the races in the glass which brought him sorrow and pain. Yet he said nothing, he simply listened to the world beyond.

 

[amlia]

Left alone, the girl was left alone again in the large library. Her eyes were cast in the direction of the shelves where those books had been so deliberately stacked. As if to taunt her. As if one had tried to tell her that they were watching her every move. Paying attention, really.


Angeline's gaze went to the door and she tried to get comfortable again. In the silence though, she could hear the soft thumping of the rain drops against the tall windows. It had let up enough for her to think clearly, but she was still stuck on the empty state of the home. She couldn't take her mind off of it; As though it was tugging at her itself. What man would go through the trouble of staying in an empty home like that? Not caring to share it wiht somebody or restore it to its former beauty? There was so much that lead her to think that something was off.


Sighing in frustration, the female knew she'd regret her next decision at some point. Standing, she pulled the red blanket along with her and wrapped it around her shoulders while stepping over to the door. Silently, Angeline slid it open enough for her to slip through. She didn't plan to make trouble, but wanted to find any sort of answer to satisfy herself.

 

[Syrrus]

The echoing of a lonely door opening somewhere in the house, Victor could hear it like drums in his ear and could not help but sigh heavily. What had he imagines, bringing a girl into his home, in an attempt to save her from the death of cold, yet by bringing her into the house perhaps he had caused a worse fate. He pulled his shirt back on, without bothering to trying it up and walked towards the stairs as quick as his feet could carry him - without making too much noise.


While Victor did this, the piano had once again gotten the attention and the beautiful yet sombre tones played through out the house, which caused the Master to beg even more nervous about their guest.

 

[amlia]

Her feet stepped carefully over each board, though she could have guessed that in such a large home just the sound of the library door opening could have echoed throughout the entire mansion. The dark was eerie and uncomfortable, but somehow it produced just enough light that she could make her way. The red blanket contrasted with the blue gown and her pale skin, and her eyes seemed to glint in the dark. They darted up the steps she had been preparing to pass by at the sound of the piano, curiosity flashing.


Angeline slowed to a stop and looked once more down the long hallway before her, thinking maybe it was just Victor at the instrument. She took her eyes away now and stepped forward, paying more mind now to the blanket of dust she was stepping over. Her nose scrunched, and she then put it out of her mind.

 

[Syrrus]

Victor hurried to the stairs, though stopped by the music room and hissed with annoyance towards the dripping creator which now had caused great problems with not only his guest, but the carpet and piano keys as well. However, the creature at the piano did not stop her playing and Victor had to close the door and lock it before reaching the stairs, where he spotted his guest. He wanted to shout out to her, tell her to turn back around and return to her sanctuary but something gripped his hear and turned him cold.


Victor was pulled backwards and behind a pillar so that their guest could not see him and he then spotted a new figure walking down the stair. It was a woman, dressed as a noble Victorian Lady would, with her hair done up and a shroud of black over her shoulders. It showed to be something of a mistake for Victor's eyes grew large.


"Who might you be?" The lady asked, peering down upon the guest with uninterested and shrouded eyes,

 

[amlia]

Angeline could have sworn she heard the footsteps near the top of the steps, and she halted. It was too late to sneak back to the library, and while she meant no hard to the house she knew that Victor may not know that. It was as though something else took over her though, asking her to step further and uncover the hidden secrets of the home.


At the sound of the woman's voice on the steps, her grey eyes darted back that way as she swung around in alarm. Carefully, the girl examined the woman from a distance. "My name is Angeline Foster," she answered, her voice showing politeness rather than surprise or confusion. A wife, maybe? No, he clearly stated that he lived alone. Slowly, Angeline traced the path the woman took from her point in the hallway, ""Vic- Lord Edwards," She wasn't sure, "He brought me in from the rain and cold."