Authors note: Listen to Taurus by Spirit to set the mood.

The mansion was best described as "gothic" because of its unusual darkness, that seemed to be possessed of another world. It was a cold day, with mist descending and snowing heavily, definitely not the sort of weather anyone would want to walk in, and yet, Francis Bonnefoy, a French doctor, working in England, trudged through it, as he was going to keep an appointment with the owner of the mansion, who was a bit of a local eccentric. His name was Lord Arthur Kirkland, and he lived in this huge place all alone. It was so cold that Francis was wrapped up in a big coat and scarf, and even that wasn't offering much protection. Eventually however he reached the grounds of the mansion. He opened the large iron gate and walked up the winding path which was lined with twisted and tortured trees that for all the world looked like dark souls trapped in immobile bodies. In the distance he could see a little graveyard on a hill, like little houses for the dead, at least that's what he thought of it. In reality they were crypts, where deceased members of the Kirkland family were laid to rest. He continued to the front door where he let himself in. At one time there would have been a butler to open the door and take his coat, but that time had long since passed. All the servants had either left or died of disease, leaving the mansion an empty shell of its former glory. Francis thought that it represented the British Empire perfectly, although he never expressed that opinion to the owner. He'd been working as an assistant to Lord Kirkland, for a few months as well as having previous connections during the war, and they had become close friends, and perhaps a bit more, and this was why he was willing to trudge through miles of snow and ice just to be there working with him. His endeavours were not recognised by the scientific community as well as they should have been, but Lord Kirkland poured his fortunes into his works and ideas, somewhat neglecting his home that used to be very grand. The huge door clanked as it shut and echoed through the gothic arches of the once beautiful mansion, now falling into ruin. It was just as cold inside as it was outside, and dusty as there were no servants to keep the place in good condition. He made his way down the stairs to the foundations and opened a little door to a basement room. In there it was a bit warmer, and music was playing in the background.

"Arthur?" He called out "Are you here?"

"Come through…" He replied from behind another door.

The laboratory was quite large, and set in a series of gothic arches, in what used to be the wine cellar of the mansion. It was lit by lamps on the wall and had an unusual smell about it that wasn't unpleasant but a distinctive fragrance, that filled the place, a little like rose incense. Arthur was working on a large machine that he and Francis had painstakingly constructed, over the last few months. It consisted of a large steam engine, cogs, and wheels, and all manner of cranks etc but there was so much more to it. Arthur, who was one of the worlds greatest mathematicians, had constructed a particular algorithm, which he had programmed into an enormous computer that he'd managed to procure from the British Government at the end of World War 2. They were reluctant at first to give it to him but as they soon found out, money talks. In a cordoned off area of the lab, there were what looked like dead bodies all in a row and covered with sheets. Francis entered and as he made his way over to Arthur he saw them lying there.

"Mon Dieu… Arthur… are those human cadavers?"

"They are indeed my fine French friend…" Arthur replied enthusiastically as he worked on the machine.

"Well what do you intend to do with them?" Francis asked, looking quite alarmed.

"I intend to bring them to life…" He replied. "With the help of … the machine… " He said "I really need to find a better name for this than 'The Machine' don't I?"

"You…can't bring people back to life Arthur…" Francis said "And where did you get those bodies?"

"I have a friend who works in a graveyard…" He said and stopped. "The machine will bring them back to life…" He said. "How else was I supposed to test it?"

"Yes… I understand but…" Francis replied

"Do you know what the other scientists said when I told them I could bring people back to life?" Arthur said as he tinkered with some machinery. "They said 'Arthur Kirkland, your experiments are the vagary of a demented maniac and cannot be allowed to continue'. Well this will show them won't it?" He said "You don't think I'm a demented maniac do you Francis?"

"No… on the contrary I find you to be a visionary…" Francis replied. "But you must take a break." He said "How long have you been working on the machine this time?"

"All night…" Arthur replied. "You're right… I need a break don't I?"

"Oui. Shall I meet you in the lounge in ten minutes?" Francis asked. "Besides I walked here in the freezing cold, I need to warm up."

"Alright… I'll get changed and see you there in a few moments… there's something I want to talk to you about." Arthur replied as he wiped some grease off his fingers.

Francis nodded and went to a little door that was on the other side of the laboratory, it was red and made of wood, with a little black handle.

He opened it and it was a cosy little lounge with armchairs and an open fire in the hearth. Arthur Kirkland, got there a few minutes later. "I'm so glad you made it." He said as he offered him a glass of whiskey. Francis would have politely declined but it was rather welcome after his walk through the snow. He took off his outdoor clothes and took a seat in one of the armchairs. This was one room in the mansion that was kept in reasonable condition. The walls were decorated in a red pattered wallpaper, there was a red carpet on the floor and a rug in front of the fire. Arthur stood in front of a large red curtain, wearing a suit and a doctor's white coat.

"Thank you." He said as he took the glass of whiskey.

Arthur sat in the other armchair with his own glass of whiskey looking a bit thoughtful, a bit distant, and even distracted. He looked to Francis and smiled a little as he watched him warm up by the fire. It was a terribly cold day after all.

"Francis, we've known each other for a long time." He began. "You've helped we work on my inventions and the time we've spent together has been great? Don't you think so? And… as its just you and I here… I know that what I say to you is in confidence… and… and…"

The Frenchman turned to look at him and seeing a different expression than usual on Lord Kirkland's face, he realised that he wanted to talk about something more personal than the usual scientific studies or theories. He was glad that their conversation had come round to this as he had been experiencing attraction and feelings for him, and wanted so much to get that out into the open. However, he let Arthur speak first.

"What I mean to say, is that you excite me in ways that I feel others wouldn't understand." Arthur continued "Working with you is stimulating." He said and looked to the Frenchman sitting opposite. He was just listening to him with a little smile forming on his perfect French features.

"If you want to know if I feel the same way then oui… the feeling is mutual…" He replied, and when he said that. Arthur smiled, looking at him intensely. He got up from his armchair and knelt in front of the fire beside his friend and took his hand, which was still cold from the temperatures outside.

"I have felt this way for a long time." Arthur said meaningfully. "I had hoped you wouldn't mind, and I even anticipated that you might not want to know…"

"I am glad you told me…" Francis replied, gazing at him, the firelight from the open fire dancing in his eyes as he grasped his friends hand. Arthur cautiously moved to kiss him, and Francis responded by kissing him back.

"Is this what you made me walk through miles of endless snow for? You naughty Petit lapin…" Chuckled Francis "Not that I am complaining…"

"Sorry..." Arthur replied. "But I wanted to tell you how I feel and… thought you might be happy to stay for a while, seeing as we might be snowed in tonight."

"I guessed as much." He replied. "But if you think I am sleeping upstairs in your freezing derelict mansion… think again."

"Of course not." Arthur replied.

"Mon Cher… what about your machine hm?"

"It can wait.. " Arthur replied, which was unusual. Normally he'd be showing Francis everything and asking his opinions and even going a little mad here and there. He appreciated his friend's help with everything, but the current situation was a little more intense than most things.

"Indeed it will …" Francis replied as he kissed him softly. "Do you know how long I've wanted to kiss you?" He asked.

"If its anything like how long I've wanted to kiss you… from the first day we met." He replied.

Francis recalled how the agency had sent him there, on a temporary basis to work after the end of the war, as a break from his usual career choices. After seeing so much death and carnage in the battlefield he wanted to do something less stressful. They indicated that Lord Kirkland, his old army ally, had advertised with them for someone with medical training, so he was sent there. He remembered how he'd arrived at this mansion a few months earlier, and been greeted by Lord Kirkland, in his run down mansion, and the first moment he clapped eyes on the Englishman out of his usual army uniform, he was captivated. It might have been his pristine suit and gentle English accent or a combination of things, but all he knew was that he found himself attracted to him, even though he'd been told that such feelings for another man were wrong. Francis knew he was more attracted to men than to women but this was the first time he could actually be free with it, and now to know that Arthur was also attracted to him, meant the world.

"It is true… I have felt this way from that very day." Francis replied. "Where do we go from here? We will have to keep our feelings secret…"

"Let's not worry about that for now." Arthur replied. "I'm just so glad this worked out and you do want this." He said softly. "I feel my heart fluttering… I hope that's what's supposed to happen…"

"Oui… it is what is supposed to happen." Francis replied. "You will no longer be the lonely Lord Kirkland.. " He said and kissed him again, as he responded to Arthur's touch. They embraced and Arthur stroked his hair a little, the Frenchman wore his hair long and silky. It was captivating in the soft light of the open fire. It was the start of something special, but something that would lead to an unusual and frightening occurrence.