"Of Spring Grove Cemetery
How does your garden grow?
With broken skulls and rotting hulls
And brittle bones all in a row."
_c. Lydia Wick
I stare out at the blurring trees and grave yards through the car window as the engine drives.
"Why are there so many graves in this field?" I asked.
"Humans die often," Sebastian answers from the driver's seat.
"That's not what I meant. This grave yard is unnaturally big!"
"Well, it is clear that they all belong to the Randolph Manor"
"Seriously, but that's just too much"
"I mean we 'are' driving on his lands"
After a few minutes we finally arrive at the Randolph Manor, where there are no surrounding buildings and trees, but acres of graveyards and some poles and wires for electricity. There're also some torn and broken fences here and there, which makes it extremely hard to park, for it was already dark by the time we arrive at 12:30 p.m. which was past the given time.
Through the lights illuminated from the two lamps beside the doors of the manor, I can tell that the red bricked building is a very complicated piece of architecture. This building is more of a palace than a manor.
"Sebastian, are you sure this manor isn't just a larger version of another undertaker's shop?" I ask, picturing the silver hair guy giggling back in his shop.
"I assure you Young Mistress, if that is the undertaker's shop, there would be more than just graves"
Then the two double doors to the manor opens, revealing two women, in red and white maid dresses, to each entrance.
"Welcome to the Randolph manor. My name is Melroy"
"And my name is Melrose"
"We are the maids of this manor," both of the maids said, rather emotionlessly at the same time.
You can't help but wonder if they are actually robots. They both look oddly identical with the same short red curls and startling green eyes. Even their postures are the same.
"You must be Miss Faustine Dolorie," says Melroy, "and you are?"
"My name is Sebastian, I am her butler"
"Very well, servants shall go in from the left entrance with me," said Melrose.
"Miss Dolorie will go in from the right entrance with me," said Melroy.
"I refuse, since there is no need for that. Sebastian, I order you to stay with me"
"And I shall do just that"
After a brief pause, Melroy finally agree to let Sebastian go through the right entrance.
_Inside The Manor_ (The Living Room)
The living room of the Randolph Manor was lit by a single chandelier in the middle of the ceiling, which was carved into the shapes of white marble angels. Even though underneath it all, the whole room is occupied by twelve guests, there seems to be enough room to spare for about fifty more.
"Holy shit! Are you sure this is only just the living room, Dan?"
"Yes Mr. Grayhem"
"Are you sure?"
"I am the butler of this manor, so I know" Dan the middle age butler with all of his silver hair slicked neatly back and dressed in a grey butler's suit gestures at the red silk couch for Mr. Grayhem to sit in. The other guests also sat in four different couches while one of the guests, a boy stood next to the window.
"I presume you're all here for this game of 'hunt," Mr. Grayhem said in a mocking tone, "or am I the only one who was dared to come?"
"Actually, I was dared too," says a woman who is wearing a brown fur coat. Her hair is in short golden waves, typical for the women these days. "He knows I would love to torture him more than anything"
"You are?"
"My name is Iris Del Lerons"
"Why don't we all introduce ourselves? My name is Mr. Grayhem. People at my place would call me Detective Grayhem"
"Yes I know you," another man says, "I'm Detective Baerch. We've worked together on a case before" Detective Baerch and Detective Grayhem shake their hands.
"Crazy eh? He invited all of his enemies," says Baerch, "we would all like to get our hands on Randolph"
"Not all," says another man in a dark tuxedo with the golden initial of J.F. sowed onto the collar. The rich fellow has his fingers full of silver rings and a glass full of red wine.
"That boy over there told me that Mr. Randolph is also after him" He waves his glass at the window, where the boy stood staring out. His silver hair covers the sides of his face, blocking it from view. His deep golden eyes stares, as if it's in a daze.
'Who is he?" Baerch asked.
"Low, Gaspard Lowe.
He's not the type to talk much. As for me, I'm Gerald Fitzenburg"
"You are that man!" a woman exclaimed, "rumored to work with Randolph!"
"Well yes, you must be Marlene Street the current owner of Cilivan Banks"
"Say, where are my servants?" Marlene asks, "I haven't seen them ever since they went through the left entrance"
"Yeah, you're right"
"Mine too and wasn't there supposed to be the thirteenth guest?"
"I wonder who it is"
Then, the sounds of the echoing footsteps were heard in the hallway, as it approaches the door to the living room. Louder each time. The tall wooden door opens with a slight creak and the two maids, Melrose and Melroy, steps inside.
"The last guest has arrived," Melrose said.
"You guys shall wait here for further instructions," Melroy said.
With that, they hold the door for the next guest to come. The people were certainly surprised at the two odd guests that walked inside. They were certainly wondering why the man had brought a little girl to such a place. But Detective Baerch knew that the guest is not the tall pale man in the black trench coat, but the little girl, for he recognized the exact same adult like eyes inside a childish face back at home.
"You must be the last guest," Grayhem said to the man.
The man laughed and says, "No I'm not. My name is Sebastian and I'm her butler"
"What? You mean the girl?"
"But why would he invite a girl"
"She's not just a girl," Gaspard, the boy next to the window said, "That girl is Faustine Dolorie, one of the three Young Mistresses of the DOLL company"
"DOLL? Oh I've heard of the company," said Fitzenburg, "one of the largest companies in England, France, and Germany.
Except they weren't allowed to trade with Germany anymore because of some problems with the government"