Chapter 9

Scorpius was checking his phone while sitting on the stool. The kitchen was very unfamiliar. There were no stoves or even a freezer. She should have at least expected a pantry but that was harder to find judging by how big the place is. They've stumbled upon four dining rooms and one formal banquet hall. Anything adjacent to it are just butler's nook and those didn't even have drinks. They've tried drinking off a faucet, but she wasn't sure if the plumbing is clean and frankly what the fuck were wrong with those sinks. All the faucets were really hard to use and she just abandoned all hope of using them again.

She was starting to get scared, and could feel Scorpius was as well. They had no means of exiting the place and they look true and properly stuck there. But now there wasn't even food nor water. She was afraid which will kill her first, her hunger or her sanity.

Ditching her last effort of turning every cupboard upside down, she just screamed in frustration and just asked for food. What turns out to be an awful idea, since they've agreed to keep quiet as much as possible, turned quite fortuitous as a feast was suddenly laid out on the counter.

They were a sumptuous spread of pastries and jams, even sausages that made Scorp's mouth water. The muffin smelled diving, and she could waft the scent of blueberries and poppy seed. There were even orange juice and some sweet frothy caramel concoction in a mug. Aside from that delicious looking fruits sliced into perfect bite sized, just ready to be popped into their mouths. She has never wanted to devour anything as much as that moment. However, despite their hunger and the enticing aroma, none made a move. Even Scorpius was skeptic at the sudden appearing act, and both have watched too many fucking films just to give in so blindly.

"You know that Pale Man from that movie…" Scorp whispered to her.

She had to swallow heavily thinking suddenly of the same creepy monster. "The one with it's eyes on his hands. From Pan's Labyrinth." He shakily nodded his head, both of them still staring at the feast.

"You think if we eat one, someone would suddenly run after us?"

"Well… there's a knife over there. We could probably use it in defense." she pointed at the dinner knife among the cutlery. "Maybe if we eat a little, we could gain our strength. I mean even a plate can be a weapon. Right?" She asked wide eyed, asking for confirmation from him.

"Not knowing how to use a weapon can kill us as well Rosie."

"But, I'm starving. And I might go delirious from this hunger and anyone who steps in my way of that muffin can just go suck it." She said determinedly.

Scorp remained rooted on his spot, his face contorting unease. He was clearly having an argument with himself, but Rose was just too hungry to care. She sat on the stool chair and with her knife and fork reached out for a beautiful golden butter muffin. Straight off, without care, she dug in for her first bite and was pleasantly pleased with her first choice. Hungry or not she could eat this muffin all day. The taste was just as divine as it looks and it literally felt like fireworks in her mouth.

Scorp loosing the battle within him gave into the delectable treats and dug in with much gusto just like her. They've tasted biscuits, the classic scones with fruity jam, and the circular shaped watermelon bites, even the sausages were truly mouthwatering and they've stuffed their mouths to their hearts content. Of course, not without Scorpius suddenly twisting on his chair watching out for monsters lurking by.

It was after their third plate (Rose would not admit to anything more), that they've finally satisfied themselves. Rose hated the fluffy butter concoction and spat it right out back into the mug, while Scorp had no problem downing one. They decided it was just the perfect time to walk around and finally resume their exploration. This time Rose had the forethought to pocket the dinner knife and an apple while Scorp took out his own and wrapped it in a napkin before doing so.

When the two reached the bottom of the stairs again, Scorp asked her to sit down at the bottom of it as he ran towards the main door. What surprised him was that, what he assumed was the main door just lead to a large antechamber that looks quite identical to the very first room they've landed on. Only this one has a large fireplace in it. The room was by far the most opulent looking in the house, and that was not even an exaggeration. Gold trimmings were on the ceiling as well as the paneled walls and the marble floor had a very intricate design. The ceiling caved in upward with chandeliers on all corners, but it was the one in the middle that was quite breathtaking.

Sensing Scorpius' confusion, she made to follow him and was just equally stunned as she went inside. The room was like no other, not only because of its grandeur but because it was the first room they've landed that had a portrait with a person in it.

A top the fireplace's mantle was a life size portrait of a regal looking woman, whose hair could rival that of Scorpius only stick straight like hers. She was seated on a high back chair, and she was possibly the most elegant looking woman Rose has ever seen. Her beauty was angelic, and even quite bewitching. Her long delicate legs were folded, slanting slightly to the side and one of her dainty arms was resting on the arm's chair while the other holding her chin gracefully. Her face had a slight glow to them, and whoever was the artist did the most exquisite job. The sunlight from the painted window were like dancing fairy lights on her skin, and her dress was just as elegant as her.

Rose couldn't stop admiring the woman, it felt like her heart knows her, and she had this longing for the woman in front of them.

Looking closely she realized the frame was not an ordinary one, like their golden necklaces, golden filigree wrap around the frame with vines and carvings of the narcissus flower surrounding it. And there at the bottom an emblem similar to Scorpius' pendant was carved beautifully. She wished they still had his necklace at the moment, for sure it would have helped them so. Maybe it could have even been a key to something.

Scorp shook her from her admiration and called for her. She followed his voice to another side of the room and it seems he has found a hidden door among the walls.

She entered the room carefully, not because of wariness but also they've entered a hall that has no windows in it. However, despite the absence of natural light, aside from the door she came from, the ceiling were depicting the night sky and constellations were seen up above.

Rose stepped up beside her brother, and finally had a look at what he's been staring at.

There was pedestal in the middle of that room, with illuminated water in it. Despite having a base, she could she the pedestal's basin hovering above a marble base. The basin was quite thin too, but inside the water seemed deep. It was no ordinary water too. Clear enough she could see the depth but it was if filled with luminous natant creatures. As if something was swimming, lazily traversing the water in hypnotic swirls.

Scorpius hasn't said a word and that had bothered her immensely. She made to grab his arm but for some reason he was rooted to the spot. Rose could suddenly hears echoes of laughter from the pedestal and everything turned eerily in an instant. She felt extreme unease staying inside and was alarmed that the door might close on them again, completely trapping them with no way out.

She called out to him, over and over, but Scorp's face remained grave and impassive. His frozen state could not be budged and Rose was battling with herself to whether shake Scorp awake or to run after the door. As if sensing her, the door made that choice for her as it shut in a bang. Rose's face encased in darkness.

… … …

"Scorp please, snap out of it. We have to go! We have to find out how to get out of here." He ignored her pleas and remained stoic.

How many times has he dreamt about this room, of this very pedestal. Of a man catching up to his tiny feet, preventing him from entering the room. Of a woman with curly hair swaying him in a room full of stars singing him lullabies, of shrieks and laughter echoing in the room where two tiny tots run after the other.

Dreams of magic, and a green eyed man. Of stone walled castles and floating candles. How many times have dreams of a darkened room haunted him, of a pair of silver and hazel eyes looking warmly at him. And of a little girl hugging him with her every breath never letting go.

How many times have he reached out to that pedestal, as if that all the secrets of the world is at its base.

Too many he believes. Too many the times he has woken up alone, confused and lonely.

"Scorp… please" Rose pleaded again.

He twisted from his place and stared at Rose. Her eyes just identical to her. He grasp both her hands and implored her to understand him, to trust him. Rose wanted to say no, that she would rather run away from this place. But Scorp looked at her with such vulnerability, that she couldn't even deny him. She resigned herself to him, her shoulders slumping. What was the point escaping anyway, they've come this far already.

With a tender smile he started to pull her hand, clasped together as Scorp took a big great gulp of air. She followed suit, thinking that they might end up swimming. He carefully reached out, his fingers just grazing the edges. And as the tip of his fingers break the surface of the water, the two were suddenly pulled inside. Like the trunk they felt like a a force was pulling them inside, and this time the two were far more ready to follow.