Chapter two:
Freaky people are found in a freaky place
Following Tai anywhere is a bad idea, something I should have learned years ago. Maybe it's the whole blonde thing, maybe I'm just living up to my crest. Finding myself in the front seat, Ken behind me, and listening to the effect of a mufferless exhaust system, is enough to drive me out of my skin. My teeth are rattling, and my ears are ringing.
Tai, of course, is grinning madly, enjoying the fact that someone has gone along with one of his plans. Ken didn't argue. I think he was just happy to get away from my fan club. Davis is as eager as Tai. What a surprise.
The trees are whipping by quickly, taking us into the country, and away from the smell of the city. Although, with the condition of the car, all I can smell are fumes anyway. We turn, taking us onto a rocky driveway. It's paved with limestone, instead of the normal gravel. We circle up and around, before stopping at a small building, attached to a large gate.
A man leans out of the door of the gatehouse, his wrinkly skin hanging loosely from his face. The engine is cut out, so as to hear him. "What do you young bloods want?" I'm suppressing the urge to laugh. This old man is very fitting to find right before entering a haunted house. Next come the spooky warning, and our snide laughter.
"We want to tour." Tai's eyes are lit in anticipation, and his left foot is tapping impatiently. "How much for four?"
"We no longer have public tours." He draws back a little, shadowing his body with the doorway. Something clicks, and the gate begins to swing open with a slow, mechanical groan. "Enter at your own risk. Leave me the names and phone numbers of all passengers."
So he can identify next of kin? Tai scribbles the information down on a scrap of paper, hands it to the old man, and starts the engine again. I look back, and see the door swing shut, the gate gaping open. "Man, that guy was creepy." Thank you, Davis, for pointing out the obvious.
"Does that mean we don't have a tour guide?" Ken's voice floats up from the backseat, raspy and throaty. His voice cracked at fourteen during puberty, and has been this sexy growl ever since. I could listen to him all day. Someday, I hope to have the opportunity to.
"We'll wander around for a couple of hours, talk to a few ghosts, and then head home." I can barely make out Davis' response. Then nobody talks as the house comes into view.
It's a giant mansion, three stories high, with four towers rising to approximately seven stories above ground. There's no telling how far back it goes. Impressive, in a horror-movie-type way.
"Wow." Thank you, Davis, for the understatement. I see Tai nod in agreement out of the corner of my eye. I look at it, a sweeping glance, and then return to scooping out Ken's reaction in the side view mirror. He's watching the house with troubled violet eyes. I wonder what he sees.
"We're here." Tai cuts the engine again, and jumps out of the car, Davis hot on his heels. I get out more slowly, and push the seat up with a grin at Ken. He smiles back, lips sliding back over his even teeth.
Breathe, Ishida. His form unfolds next to me, his gaze returning to our destination. "It's like something out of a horror movie, or a gothic novel." Forget the house; let's just jump into the back of the car, him and I. The other two can do what they want. I want Ken.
"Yeah." It's the only thing my throat will squeeze out, but he misses the throaty texture, and turns to Davis. Disappointment clogging my throat, I walk around the front of the vehicle, and wave a hand in front of Tai's face. "Let's go already."
He blinks, his brown eyes meeting mine with a happy glow. Gods, I'd forgotten that he had a weakness for the supernatural. I should have been paying more attention. He's a truly wonderful guy, and he deserves a better friend than I am. "Thanks for coming, Matt. I wouldn't have had the balls to come up here without you."
"No problem, Tai. It'll be an adventure, right?" He laughs softly, eyes scanning over the window and front door. I look back at Davis and Ken, who are now standing on the same side of the car talking. "We're going up, you two." They nod, and follow as Tai and I lead the way. Just like old days, Tai in the lead, but with me beside him, instead of trying to slow him down.
We approach the door, the four of us standing in a bent line. Tai reaches it first, and knocks. We stand in the silence, and wait for a few minutes, before he looks at me sheepishly. Instead of taking the opportunity to tease him, I reach out, and twist the knob, pulling the door open. We stand in front of the black cavernous opening.
"Someone should go first." Davis is eyeing us both wearily; half afraid we'll force him in the lead. He may not be afraid of many things, but I guess ghosts are one of them. "This was your idea, Tai."
"Yeah, but you wanted to come as much as I did." My best friend points out, raising his eyebrow in superiority.
A velvety voice breaks through their standoff, gaining our attention. "We came to help hide out Matt. I think he should go first." I gape at Ken, watching as his amethyst irises connect with mine, their depths unreadable.
"Thanks, Ken." I growl at him, despite the pounding of my heart, and turn to stalk inside. They trail behind me, unbolstered by the confidence in my step. "Here we are boys, inside the lion's den."
"Actually, the man that bought the house from the monks descended from the Moondragon's, a rich and wealthy family of the late 16th century." The four of us swing toward the newcomer, a young lady of perhaps twenty years of age. She looks at us with green eyes, her black hair coiled tightly. "Welcome, visitors, to the Dragon's Lair."
I swallow and look at Tai, who is staring at her with a mixture of confusion, and recognition, as if he knows he knows her, but can't place how. He seems to be of little help. I step forward, assuming the role of spokesperson. "Hi. I'm Matt. This is Tai, Ken, and Davis. We came to tour the haunted house."
Her lips curve into a smile, her eyes flashing briefly with some unknown emotion. "Really. We don't give public tours. However, since you're here, I'm assuming Gus let you pass at the gate." Tai nods numbly, and I can feel myself becoming increasingly uneasy as each moment passes. I wander if the others can feel the strange currents running around the room.
"He said the same thing, but that we could come up here, anyway." I glance at Davis, and see the same stunned look on his face.
"There isn't a guide, but you can wander around on your own. I'll give you a brief history, and then let you go on your own." She pauses, and waits for me to nod. "In centuries past, there were two people in love. Theirs was a good match, in wealth, title, and position. Nothing stood in their way.
"For their vows, they each wrote a poem, and called them 'Demand' and 'Respond'. She, being a strong female of her time, read hers first, and gave him her requests. The list was rather long, but he was confident through the whole thing. When she was done, their audience clapped, and then waited for his response.
"Before he could recite his poem, however, a terrible thing happened. A demon came, the messenger of a moody, and malevolent god, and kidnapped her, saying that to regain his bride, the man would have to live up to his vows. The demon and the girl vanished, leaving the groom behind. Not only would he have to learn courage to save her, but strength, as well."
She pauses, and looks at me, and then at Ken, who is standing several feet behind me. Tai and Davis look foggy, as if half-asleep. "What happened?" Ken asks behind me.
Her smile dims, grows sad. "He failed. When it came down to it, she asked for too much, and he offered too little. He couldn't hold to his promises, and now they both haunt this house, waiting for a time when they can earn another chance."
"That's sad." I can feel a hint of the pain they each must have felt. "Maybe his love wasn't as strong as he thought."
Sharp, green eyes sear me. "Really? What do you mean?" Her voice is questioning, but not unfriendly.
"I mean, he promised her so much, but when it came down to it, he didn't have enough love to gather the courage to do what he had said he would. If love is strong, it can overcome anything, even death."
Her smile flitted back on, her gaze showing what looked like relief. "That's a very good point. However, if a heart holds even the smallest amount of doubt, it isn't strong enough. Love is limitless. Forgiving, comforting, unforgettable."
"I have a question." She and I turn to Ken. His face is impassive. "What happens if they never get another chance?" I nod, feeling that niggling feeling run down my spine again. She's watching us both carefully, her smile small and gentle.
"Then they are stuck in this house for eternity, or until they tear it down." She claps her hands, and grins at us. "That's the story. You four have fun. I'm going to be around, so don't be surprised if you run into me again. The floors are sturdy, the roof won't fall in, so don't worry about anything, but having a good time."
She twirls away, and walks briskly down a hallway. "That was interesting." I look at Tai, glad to see him looking alert and himself again. "This way." He starts away, leaving us to follow. I want to talk, to ask them what they all thought of it. Ken is silent.
Something just feels off. Not necessarily wrong, just not right.