7.
~ I fully expected to see the children had been smothered as they dreamed. But as the four of us raced upstairs to check on them, we found them both to be sleeping comfortably.
Cobb carefully examined his young son as I watched Phillipa's breathing. I cool sense of relief rushing over me.
"What is it you saw?" Cobb whispered as we left the nursery for the parlor again.
I shivered involuntarily and tried not to think about the horrible creature that was perched on the helpless children.
"That thing was in their room, clawing at them. I told her that I could see her, and she attacked me. The whole house was... polluted with these shadows, and when the thing attacked, the shadows fled through the windows." I told them as I wrapped my arms around myself for warmth.
"Explains why all the windows were thrown open by themselves." Eames grumbled as he and Arthur were still at the task of closing windows. A flurry of new snow had escaped into the house from the light storm outside.
"Here." Arthur said as he returned from the hallway, where even the front door had been opened to the elements. He shouldered on me his very fine winter coat and, even though I was still cold, my cheeks warmed at the gesture.
I felt I owed them an explanation as to why I always was so fearful of the cold.
"Since the incident with the first demon, the one who I found on the girl, I've always been very cold." I explained to them as Arthur guided us back to the cozy parlor and the sitting room. Hannibal sitting close to me once more.
"I'm not sure why, I can't seem to stay warm. It's like it's deep inside me." I told them.
"Demons like the cold. They're cold blooded creatures." Eames said logically.
"While I was in that place, the place you sent me, it was very cold." I told Cobb.
He nodded as I could start to feel the prickle of the warm fire.
"Are you sure it was a woman?" he asked.
I nodded as Arthur asked Eames to get us some tea.
"I'll set Mrs. Robinson right on it." Eames grumbled as he left.
"What did she look like; exactly?" Cobb asked.
"Well, her eyes were glowing red. Like the other demon. Her skin was singed black and her hair was dirty and stringy." I explained. "I couldn't see much of her face, but her breath smelled like burned hair." I added.
Cobb seemed to suck in his breath.
"Do you feel anything now?" Arthur asked at length "Do you hear anything?"
"No, the house feels empty." I said.
"They know she's here and that she has the ability to see them. That's why they fled. They know this isn't a safe house anymore." Cobb said. "Maybe they'll leave now."
To me he looked nervous.
"Did the creature say anything to you?" he asked.
"Yes. She called me a foul name of which I won't repeat, and wanted to know who I was. Also something about soiling her family." I told them.
Cobb was breathing hard as Eames returned to us with a tray of hot tea.
"That was quick." Arthur commented.
"No tarts I'm afraid." he explained as he set it down before me. "But the kitchen was empty and the kettle was going off on the stove. Your Mrs. Robinson strikes again."
He looked at Cobb and Arthur who were exchanging knowing looks.
"What is it?" Eames asked.
"I'm tired." Cobb announced. "I think I need to turn in early."
We watched him leave our party and head upstairs.
We three were silent till he left us alone.
"What happened?" Eames asked as Arthur poured me a cup of tea.
Hannibal looked greedily at the cookie Arthur gave me on a napkin. I slipped it to him and he happily ate it for me.
"Cobb's wife died in a fire." Arthur explained. "When they pulled her body out of the house, her skin was black, and her hair was stringy from all the water used to put the fire out." Arthur explained.
"Why is she after the children, Arthur?" I whispered.
My friend looked at Hannibal alone and rubbed his head.
"I don't know." he said.
"You do know." I insisted.
"No, I don't!" he barked.
The room had changed again and I felt worried by it. Arthur knew something serious and was refusing to tell me.
"It's getting very late, I think we should call it a day." Arthur announced.
As we all stood, Hannibal stayed close to me. His intentions of wanting to stay in my bed again very clear.
"Hannibal!" Arthur called as he wished the dog to go with him.
My handsome bed mate from last night whined and hid behind my dress as if it made him invisible.
"Arthur, I don't mind if he sleeps with me again tonight." I told him as Arthur marched towards the dog who cowered closer to me.
"No, I want don't want him thinking he can sleep where he pleases." Arthur grumbled as he gently took hold of the setter's collar and guided him upstairs to his room. Hannibal looking back at me longingly.
~ Back in my comfortable suite, I hung Arthur's fine winter coat on my bed post, and undressed. A maid had been in an left a good fire for me. I was grateful for the warmth and gave serious thought to purchasing a better coat as my body felt better in my warm bed.
~ I must have slept lightly, because during the night, I awoke to my bedroom door unlocking with a loud, and ominous groan. I sat up and wondered when in the night my fire had burned out. The ashes looked dark and cold as if there had been no fire at all.
I slipped out of my bedding to feel the cold wooden floor creak loudly as the frost from outside threatening to invade the house.
I was shivering as I put on Arthur's winter coat and breathed into my hands. I was about to close the chamber door to my bedroom when I noticed all the doors in the hallway were likewise open wide.
I peered into the darkness as moonlight from the windows of each room provided the only light in the hallway.
It was ill luck to have all the doors open in this way, and I suspected even Arthur would not have allowed it.
I couldn't help but wander down the empty hallway to discover the sleeping quarters of the house.
Arthur had reserved for himself the master's chambers. Hannibal, having sensed something was wrong, was sitting expectantly at the foot of the bed; as if waiting for me. He jumped down and became my companion as we spied Mr. Eames and Mr. Cobb sleeping soundly in their respective rooms.
I dreaded peeking into the children's room. My fears for them doubled when I knew the demon was really after them.
Yet, when I opened the door, I found them to be slumbering peacefully. A low fire burned in the grate as the large window showed a bright full moon.
Something about how large and glaring the moon looked unnerved me. I went to the window and closed the curtains to block it off.
The room suddenly cast into darkness, my hands were quick to find an glass oil lamp at the ready.
With well practiced movements, I struck a match and lit the wick. A low, comforting light burned in the glass dome of the lamp and spread it's light over the table and to the floor. I felt better about this light. It was safer; saner.
I turned around, my eyes following the trail of light to see Phillipa standing out of her bed. Her beautiful hair covering her face as she looked curiously at me.
"Phillipa!" I gasped. My heart beating wildly in my chest. I had not heard the mattress or bedding rustle and the shock of her being out of bed provided me with a great scare.
"I'm sorry I woke you." I said. "I just came to check on you."
Phillipa looked at me through the tangle of hair over her face. Her breathing hard.
"Who are you?" she asked in a whisper.
"I'm Miss Bishop, your governess. Your remember." I told her.
I took a step to her and she didn't move or flinch.
"It's still late, child. Why don't we go back to bed?" I said I brushed the hair away from her face. "If you want I'll stay-"
I caught my breath as I saw her face. What ever this thing was, it was not Phillipa. It's face was hideous and scared. It's skin was peeling off in dry flakes as it looked back at me with dead eyes.
"Where is Phillipa?" I breathed.
The thing's ugly face turned into a greedy smile.
"Where is Phillipa!" I screamed as Hannibal started barking.
The thing started hissing at me and blood, black as mud, dribbled out of it's mouth.
"Let her go!" I screamed as I clamped my hands over the things head. I could feel the sullen child inside it somewhere. Lost and crying for help.
Simultaneously, the window of the nursery flew open and a fierce wind and snow beat down on the both of us. I felt my hands quickly turn to ice and not be able to move.
"You will let this child go!" I screamed at the thing that had possessed her.
James seemed to had stirred from his bedding and was looking at us. Only it wasn't James any longer, but a sinister, evil thing that looked at me with sharp teeth.
Both of the children were under the creature's hold.
I could barely recall Hannibal barking and hear Phillipa's cries when the men of the house burst in.
"What's going on here?" Cobb was shouting at the snow storm was pouring in over myself and the demon I held tightly by the head.
"Let her go!" I screamed. "Let her go!"
"Ariadne!" Arthur was shouting as the demon's face suddenly turned to Phillipa's again. I looked over to James' bed to see the little boy crying. His father picking him up and shushing him.
"Ariadne, it's alright!" Arthur was shouting at me as Mr. Eames closed the windows.
I felt myself relax as I saw Phillipa's face return to normal.
"Miss. Bishop!" Arthur shouted and I finally released the girl.
"She..." I panted as Phillipa was sobbing. "She was inside her."
I wanted to say more, needed to say more, but my world faded to darkness and I knew nothing else.