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First Time
A Shadow Hearts Fan fiction by Smutville.
She knew that the night was far from over though it was already late and she's tired from her recent ordeal.
But, knowing him as she did, Alice was well aware that Yuri won't be satisfied until he had given her a piece of his mind.
Longingly, she stole a glance at her bed, at the inviting, fluffy pillow and warm blanket, and wished she could just curl up and sleep…but, Yuri would be here soon and she sent a silent prayer that his anger has somewhat lessened.
Alice bit her lip as she stared unseeingly at her open wardrobe, the blue eyes hazy with worry as she glanced at the clothes neatly hung. Without bothering with selection, Alice pulled out the first thing she could reach, shrugging as she realized it was the white and blue outfit she wore that night on the train.
Maybe this will soften him up. The thought occurred to her suddenly, giving her a small ray of hope. Perhaps her appearance might distract him from his foul mood. Yuri has always favored this dress, the one she had worn that night they first met.
I've never seen him this mad before. Alice thought as she unbuttoned the fitted top. Not even when he found out about Zhuzhen's involvement with his father. There was a disconcerting air of violence about him, barely leashed, shimmering just beneath the surface. He looks like a man on the breaking edge and…she's quite frightened of him.
I did what I have to do…Alice bit her lip as slipped on her dress, silky locks of silvery hair clouded her vision as she bent her head to button her top. Distractedly, Alice tucked the unbound locks behind her ear, then slipped on her skirt. I just can't leave a restless, wandering soul like that…not when I can do something to help.
Only she has discerned that Ewan was already dead. Alice sensed it, the moment she stepped inside Gismot's bar and saw him standing there, murmuring to himself, she knew that Ewan was a restless ghost who hasn't moved on.
Yuri wasn't interested to help the man. "Look, I know you want to help him, honey…but if our friend Albert isn't stopped soon, us helping that man won't do any good." He had reasoned to her, and though Alice can see where he's coming from, she just couldn't turn her back on another needy soul.
I was given this gift for a reason…Perhaps Yuri wouldn't understand, but it goes against her nature to deny another person help when she's fully capable of giving it. And Alice just couldn't let Ewan suffer any more, he's been tormented long enough already.
If only Margarete and Keith were here, they would have accompanied me. But the blonde spy had returned with Keith to Blue Castle, and Halley had stayed in London with his mother.
Zhuzhen wasn't too keen on Alice's idea of investigating Ewan's case, but seeing the determined look on her face, the adept knew just how stubborn she can be, and reluctantly agreed to accompany her. The old man also knew that if he were to run to Yuri and tell him about Alice's madcap of a plan, she'll leave on her own without them.
And so, the two of them set off in the middle of the night, while Yuri lay slumbering in his room at the inn. Night was the ideal time to investigate poltergeists, as this was also the hour when most supernatural activities occur more frequently.
The house Ewan mentioned was situated not far from Prague's outskirts, it was also easy to locate as it was the only house built in a remote area, the nearest neighbor some half a mile away.
She had no more than taken a few steps near the old house that Alice immediately sensed that they were facing something more sinister than their previous investigations. There was something about the house and its grounds that gave her gooseflesh.
The garden, or what used to be one, has been left untended for what seemed like ages, the trees were bare, completely lifeless, the ground barren except for skeletal framework of twigs and sticks of what could have been bushes when they still lived.
The house itself fared no better.
"There's no one here." Zhuzhen said, "This house was allowed to rot and decay over the years of disuse! It's not even habitable, why would Ewan want to free this house from ghosts? They'll only come back again as long as this house remains unoccupied." The old man grumbled as he tugged on his beard. "Let's go back Alice, this is just a waste of time."
"Wait." Alice said as the old man turned to leave. "This place yearns for cleansing…the spirits have been trapped here for too long…there's an aura of bitterness all around the house…can't you feel it?"
"Yes. But what good will it do? Anyone would think twice before inhabiting this place. See? Even the indigent stayed away."
But Alice was no longer listening, she had pushed the door open and stepped inside the house. Cursing beneath his breath, Zhuzhen was left with no other choice but to follow her.
It was dark inside, without electricity to light their way. It took a moment for their eyes to acclimatize to the gloom, the moon rays from the large window, the only source of light. The interior fared only a bit better than the outside. The first thing she saw through the dim atmosphere was a single staircase leading to the second floor. The foyer had antique, dusty furniture, and an old painting must have fallen off its hook, leaving only a lightened area on the wall as the only sign that it had hung there before.
"Don't go anywhere before I get this lantern to work." Zhuzhen said, though he knew that Alice had more sense than to grope in the dark.
Though the lantern helped them see their way, there were areas the light couldn't reach, casting shadows that made the place all the more eerie.
An old grandfather clock stood near the foot of the stairs, its pendulum unmoving, the clock face too dusty to see the hour it stopped working.
"I wonder how long it was since anyone's been here." Alice said to Zhuzhen who was surveying the place through his monocle.
"Too long, even this house has probably forgotten."
Alice thought the words sounded sad, but said nothing. Cautiously, they examined the place, the floor beneath them protested with creaky, scratchy sounds with every step, making Alice worry if it would be able to sustain her weight. Indeed, some boards have either collapsed or are missing.
"Alice! Are you all right?" Zhuzhen asked in concern as Alice fell down on her knees.
"Oh! Sorry about that, I was just—Eeeek!" Alice gasped as the clock suddenly chimed, startling the wits out of her for a moment. Apparently it had just struck midnight.
"I just stepped on something and it's too dark to see what it is." Alice explained shakily, slightly embarrassed as she showed him what appears to be a crank for the clock.
Zhuzhen shook his head, though he was just as startled as she was. "That's strange, I would have sworn that clock stopped working ages ago." He eyed the large device, its pendulum still unmoving, and merely shrugged. "Well then, shall we continue?"
They decided to leave the second floor for later and headed on towards the door across the old clock. It led them to a great room, with a fireplace on the side.
"What kind of creature is that?" Zhuzhen said as he pointed at the animal trophy above the fireplace. "A deer?"
"A-antelope, probably from eastern Europe." Alice said, shuddering as she looked at the stuffed head. She gasped as the staring eyes glowed red, while the hair at back of her neck stood on end.
"Something is coming." Alice warned. Zhuzhen nodded, swinging his staff, battle ready as they conditioned themselves to meet the 'inhabitants' of the house
From one of the darkened corners of the great room, a shape condensed, slowly approaching the two.
Alice sent a silent prayer for protection and prepared herself for their first battle.
Afterwards…
"She…she was burned alive." Alice panted as the ghost of a girl vanished, whose screams still bore the pain she suffered before her death. Alice shuddered, wondering if she'll ever forget the grotesque appearance of the girl, her skin burned away, the muscles on her face falling apart.
"She'll be back." Zhuzhen said, as he too sat down to rest. Alice couldn't agree more, she knew that as long as the 'strongman' remains, the spirits will continue to haunt the house in an endless cycle, bound to this place, forever reliving the agony they had while they still lived.
"I wonder what's in there." Alice said as she stood up, brushing the dust off her skirt. Zhuzhen looked at the direction she pointed, at the tall, arched windows at the other side of the room. The door was left open, and he can see dead branches showing through the window panes.
"Must lead outside." He murmured, following Alice who was already walking towards that direction.
The area wasn't as big as he'd imagined, just large enough for a small garden and…and a fountain. Both were quite surprised to find it was still working. Just like the front of the house, this back garden too, was desolate, no plant or tree survived the long years of neglect.
"What is it?" Zhuzhen asked, puzzled as he watched Alice fold the sleeve on her right arm.
"There's something at the bottom. Help me." She said, clasping the old man's arm, as a precaution should she lose her balance, it would be a very cold dunk in the water indeed if she fell.
"Can you do it?" Zhuzhen asked after a moment, as Alice continued groping beneath the water.
"A-almost there…Aha!" Alice crowed triumphantly as her fingers touched something other than slimy algae. They found a key, a bit rusty but probably still useable.
"Maybe we can use this upstairs. Shall we proceed there now?"
They found what appears to be the library on the second floor. Books were strewn about on the floor in disarray and a slide projector was set beside the couch. Alice gazed out at the window and saw the fountain below, she couldn't approach the window too closely for a desk was blocking the way.
An open journal lay on top of the desk. Alice looked at the opened page and tried to read the words written. It appeared to be written by a child, the penmanship still clumsy.
…Lillith kindly spoke to me. Perhaps this will ease my loneliness somewhat.
Nice meeting you, Lillith!
They didn't find any use for the key upstairs and decided to explore the house and its grounds further.
Finally, the investigation led the pair of exorcists below the shed that was built beside the main house. Curiously Alice approached the door at the bottom of the stairs and turned the wheel that served as the door's handle. The door opened to reveal a room. Both were startled to see a wooden horse rocking in the center, a doll sitting on its saddle. But beyond the eerie rocking motion of the horse, nothing else happened.
"Looks like a girl's bedroom." Zhuzhen said, cautiously peeking at the toys on the floor. The room was furnished with a bed, a luxurious one from the look of it, though someone has ripped the sheets and there was a hole on the pillow.
Alice felt chills course through her skin as she saw the teddy bear with its cut stomach, and the stuffing spilling out. There were wet, strewn papers on the floor too, drawings from the look of it, all of them blood curdling.
"Look at this." Zhuzhen pointed against the wall, where the wallpaper or paint has worn off. The walls were riddled with the words, "HELP ME!" written in blood red, making Alice wince. Somehow she was fairly certain that Ewan had written those words.
Alice sensed great evil in the room, but she could not pinpoint its source, and there was nothing much they can do unless the entity decides to reveal itself.
"Let's check the main house once more." Alice said to Zhuzhen, as she reached for the door. Maybe if they return later, they'll—
"Hey, where ya goin'?" A voice behind them said.
Her heart jumped at the spooky, child-like voice, but Alice quickly controlled herself.
"Wh-who's there?!"
"Ahha ha ha… Over here. Don't you see me?"
But there was no one else in the room besides her and Zhuzhen except for, "a doll?!" The doll she has seen on the slide projector, the very same one who now sat on the rocking horse.
"Heehee! Don't be so scared. You're my new friend, right? In place of Lillith? C'mon. Let's play!"
"Is Lillith the girl on the slide? …So that means, you're Laura." And the childish writing we saw near the projector has been written by this doll!
"Yes. Lillith died. Ewan only comes home once in awhile."
A sudden, strong evil aura began to emit from the doll, it was getting stronger by the second. Zhuzhen and Alice braced themselves as 'Laura' finally revealed its true form.
Shivers ran down Alice's spine as the voice changed too, becoming more unearthly, as though spoken by a unified legion of voices. "Come on, play with me!'Till death!"
The monster before them was indeed a legion, or at least a mass of countless amputated limbs and flesh. A more developed body, with child- like proportions, stood out from the appalling, spherical mass.
Alice felt her stomach turn at the sight. There were flailing limbs protruding from the ball, moving as if with life of its own, still struggling weakly to be free…
"Here it comes." Zhuzhen warned as he took on a battle pose.
Shuddering, Alice opened her book and prepared to cast a spell—
An abrupt knocking on the door, broke through her trance. With a start, Alice looked at the direction of the sound. She has been so immersed in her memories of that abominable place that she'd forgotten that she's back at the inn, back in her room, freshly bathed, safe and warm
"Alice? I'm coming in." The voice behind the door said and without waiting for her answer, Yuri pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Yuri walked over to where she sat on the bed, a brush on her hand. With gleaming, amber eyes, he took in her appearance, whistling appreciatively as he studied her legs, bereft of white stockings for the first time. "Hmmm…nice!" He murmured beneath his breath, her legs were more beautiful than he'd ever imagined, sleek and long and delicately shaped, with pink, dimpled knees. But, the pleased smile left him as he saw her face.
"You look as if you've seen a ghost."
Alice touched her head self consciously, she had been braiding her hair, only one side done when Yuri came, and decided to undo it completely, letting her hair fall freely down her shoulders.
"You okay?" He asked, cocking his head to one side.
"Y-yes…I'm fine." Rather than meet his eyes, Alice looked down at his feet, wondering if he's still angry with her. He doesn't sound like it, and he's acting as though he had not lashed out at her on their way back here from Ewan's house.
Silence stood between them.
"This…feels kinda awkward." Yuri said as he shrugged off his trench coat. He was cold after his bath, but now the warmth was almost too much.
Unable to find a place to hang his coat, he dumped it on the bed, just beside Alice, the buckles made a metallic clink! sound, but after that, everything was silent once again.
Alice risked a glance at him, though still avoiding meeting his eyes. His hair was wet, nearly plastered to his scalp, droplets of water trickled from stray locks, to be absorbed by the neck of his shirt.
Yuri opened his mouth to speak, but no words would come out. C'mon boy, you can do it! He hadn't mean to talk to her that way, he was just overcame with fear, with anger at the thought of losing her, that he had…well, he told her exactly what he thought of her going off without him.
Anger stirred within him again at the memory of that horrible moment, he'd come almost too late, too late to save her from that monster at the cursed place. But along with the anger, came an emotion that was akin to despair…If I have lost you…if you've been killed…The mere thought was too much to bear, a hiss escaped him as Yuri fought to control the tide of emotions that swelled within him.
"You're still angry with me?" Alice asked tentatively as she rose from the bed.
Yuri looked at her, and she caught a glimpse of the despair he felt, making her even more contrite. She had never spared a moment to think how her actions would affect him, she had been worried about Ewan's soul that...
"My God! I could have lost you! You could have been hurt worse…or killed!" Suddenly he grasped her arms, just above the elbows.
"But you came to save me…I'm fine…" She sensed the urgency beneath his hands, his grasp almost painful, the anguish underlying his words.
"Don't ever disobey me like that again, you hear?"
"I won't…I promise…"
She gasped as he pulled her into his arms, and then sighed as she rubbed her cheek against the hard wall of his chest. His heart throbbed beneath her skin, strong and frantic, telling her how much he was still affected.
"I'm sorry I went off without you, I—"
"Damned right you should be sorry! I had in mind of pulling you over my knees and paddling that butt - so hard you won't be able to sit for a week!" He threatened.
"Yuri, don't." Alice chided, she felt guilty enough as it is. It wasn't just her own life she'd risked tonight, but Zhuzhen and Yuri's too.
Yuri sighed as he wrapped his arms around her. "Just…don't go anywhere without me again, you hear?"
Alice nodded her head, snuggling closer to him. His warmth was addicting, his presence so reassuring…