Disclaimer: I do not own AHS
A/N: Thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews!
SMOLDERING CHILDREN
CH 3- Housewarming
LOS ANGELES, 1992
"Wow, its marvelous." Constance said as she stood outside of the large, ominous Victorian home she used to own years ago. Her eyes shone with excitement and desire.
Constance carried James in her arms, resting on her hip and Addie standing by her side. She grinned, savoring her victory. Then as if on cue she remembered and her grin disappeared. She looked back to the car parked in the driveway, "Tate, you get out of that car right now, do you hear me?"
Tate sat in the back seat of their old station wagon. He rolled his eyes and stepped out of the car, shutting the door and leaning against it. He looked up at the house. There was something so domineering about it and it brought Tate many memories.
It had been over a year since Constance brought Larry Harvey home and the two had been almost inseparable. Larry was always over for dinner and sometimes for breakfast but he never spent the night. Constance would not allow her children to get the wrong image. Needless to say, Larry fell foolishly in love with Constance. He weighed on her hand and foot and tended to her whims.
Somewhere amongst it all, Larry confessed his feelings to his wife and that he was leaving her for Constance. The day it happened, Larry came to Constance in hysterics. Tate, Addie and James watched from the kitchen entrance as Larry sat in the living room with Constance. He was crying desperately. Apparently, his wife was so distraught with the news of his leaving her that she barricaded herself and their daughters in a room and set it on fire.
Four months later, he took Constance and her children to move in with him. Tate was less then pleased. Addie was excited for moving back to the old house and James, well, James was non the wiser. She was only happy to see her mother and sister happy.
James was young, barely at the age of three. She didn't understand much of the things that were going on around her. She only knew that they were moving in to a new house and that was something to be excited about. Her mother was more then happy, she was thrilled and when Constance was in a good mood then everything was alright with the world. The only one who didn't seem pleased was Tate.
James knew Tate didn't like Larry. She didn't understand that either. She liked Larry. He was nice and funny and knew how to play with them (because he himself had kids). But no matter how nice he was, Tate didn't like him. He would go on an on about how their mother was just using him.
"Be nice, Tate." Addie would say.
"Yeah, be nice, Tate!" James would mimic her.
Tate couldn't help to smile. James was growing too fast for his taste. In his eyes, she needed to stay little forever so she would stay innocent forever.
Constance breathed in the fresh air. "Its going to be a new start for us all."
Larry opened the doors to his home and grinned widely. "You're here!" He boasted happily. Constance was less then pleased to see him but let him help her with their luggage.
Tate grabbed his backpack and followed after his mother.
"Glad to have you." Larry said placing his hand on Tate's shoulder.
"Yeah, right." Tate shook it off and followed Constance inside.
The house was almost as Tate remembered it. Larry showed them to their new rooms and Tate shut himself in his till nightfall.
That night Constance sat in the living room on an old rocking chair with James on her lap. She ran a fine brush through the little girl's golden brown hair.
"Look at all this beautiful hair." Constance marveled to herself as she ran her fingers through James golden locks. The little girl's bob was growing longer reaching her shoulders. She was absolutely precious an in the eyes of her mother, she was an angel sent by God himself.
"You know, when I was your age my mother would brush my hair all day and night. I used to brush your sister's hair too but that girl just would not stay still." Constance stopped and smiled at her daughter, "But not like you, sweetheart. You are as sweet as they come." She planted a kiss on the toddler's cheek.
"Sweet." James repeated.
"Now, let me look at you." Constance turned the little girl on her lap so she could see her. "Simply beautiful." Constance could barely contain herself at the beauty she had given birth to.
"You're destined for great things, James Langdon." Constance warned with a firm finger, "You'd do good to remember that."
"Great stuff." James repeated, "What great stuff, Mama?"
"You'll know one day my beautiful girl." Constance caressed her porcelain cheek. "But for now, you are Mama's little angel. Don't you forget that."
James rested her head against Constance's chest. "Mama's angel." She repeated slowly closing her eyes, feeling safe in Constance's embrace.
X
Constance was in the kitchen making dinner. She was ranting on about how her home had not been taken care of in her absence. Larry was off at the bank and Tate was in school. Addie was in the living room watching cartoons and James sat at the table listening to her mother rant on about things that didn't make sense to her.
It had been only a week since they moved in to the house. Constance had already made dramatic changes. James wasn't sure if she liked their new house. There was something odd about it. At night she could hear quick footsteps running downstairs and the basement door slamming shut. She could hear whispers through out the night and evil giggles.
On their second day there, James was trotting along with her zippy cup when someone pushed her down and spilled her juice. She looked up and saw no one but heard two distinct pairs of giggles hurry down the hall in the direction of the basement.
James also noticed Addie being drawn to the basement too but she was too afraid to follow her older sister down there. She instead stuck close to Constance, holding on to her skirt.
James was playing with her animal crackers when she heard someone whisper "Hey!" She immediately turned to the direction of the voice.
James looked back to Constance who was busy cutting vegetables and telling her about how she used to have her house decorated. James slid off her chair and followed the voice. She peered out of the kitchen where she saw two figures running down the hall. She took a step back with wide eyes.
Instantly, she was drawn to the child's laughter and followed after it. She hurried down the hall and around the corner to the staircase where she saw the two figures hurry in to the basement and shut the door behind them. James paused.
"Addie?" She called out.
Addie was in the living room transfixed by the cartoons on the screen.
"Addie, stop." James said unaware of where her sister was and hurried to the basement thinking it was Addie who was playing tricks on her. She hurried to the door but before she could reach for the doorknob it clicked open. The door creaked as it slowly opened.
With no fear, James peered inside the basement. The stairs lead straight down and she couldn't see anything but darkness. Slowly, she could see two figures in the darkness. Out of no where there was loud popping sounds that exploded close to her. James jumped and ran off.
She ran all the way to the kitchen where she hurried to Constance, crashing in to her legs.
"Oh! James!" Constance gasped as James startled her in the middle of a sentence.
James buried her face in Constance dress, clutching on to the fabric tightly. She whimpered.
"What's gotten in to you?" Constance asked.
James peeked from out of her mother's dress to see two twin boys peeking from behind the doorway of the kitchen. They snickered amongst each other. James glared at them and looked up to her mother.
"What's the matter?" Constance cooed and plucked James off the floor. The little girls raised her arms and let Constance bring her up to safety.
James leaned her chin on Constance's shoulders and watched as they boys disappeared and were gone.
"Your heart is pounding!" Constance gasped. "What happened?"
"Pop!" James whimpered as she pointed out in the direction of the hall.
Constance followed her child's finger in the direction of the living room. She frowned. "Did Addie scare you?"
James shook her head. "No, Mama. Mean boys there!" She pointed again.
Constance looked but saw nothing. She sighed heavily. "I know what it is. Its that brother of yours. I told him countless times not to let you watch those horror movies with him. That boy needs a good talking to."
James let her mother ramble on about her brother as she kept her eyes in the direction of the hall. She clutched on to Constance tighter. Whenever she was with her mother, she was safe.
