Chapter 2
A/N: I really DID take forever to do this chapter, didn't
I? _ Lo sciento, gomen nasi, so sorry and a profusion of other
apologies for the delay. Thank you, all, for the kind and encouraging reviews!
(Though I still fall over every time I read yours, DrM. -_-;;; *prays that she
will figure it out on her own* ) I WILL finish this!!! I promise! … What? Why
are all of you giving me that look for? .-.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I topped off the glass with the evening's nightcap, readying myself for bed.
Turning around, I ruefully observed Holmes staring trance-like into the fire,
the Agony Columns abandoned on the floor. The search for prospective mind
puzzles was futile.
I silently walked up to Holmes, and touched him gently on the shoulder,
bringing him out of his hypnotic musing. He glanced at the drink I offered, and
accepted it with a nod of thanks. I returned to my chair on the other side of
the fireplace.
However, when I had nearly completely sunk down to the cushions, the bell
started to ring with wild violence. The good Mrs. Hudson, who must have been
just heading to bed herself, answered the door. We soon heard a rapid assent on
the stairs, matching the panicked ringing on our doorbell moments earlier.
Holmes had stood and opened the door, just as our guest rushed up the last
steps.
"Good evening, sir, do come in," he drawled, "Sit down, you look
quite worse for the wear."
Our guest, with a nod of thanks, did so, collapsing on the settee, panting
hard. My friend sat down more calmly, keenly addressing him with his sharp gray
eyes. I gazed at our visitor, before turning back to the cabinet to finish
pouring him a drink. He had thinning, brown hair, wild and unkempt, a flaxen
face, and weak, watery, green eyes. When I sat down again, I was surprised to
see that under his overcoat, he was still clad in his pajamas and boots with
the laces undone. I pondered what could have caused him to go out in the night
in such attire, and waited, rapt for the story that would answer the question I
mulled over.
Finally, after taking one last hurried sip from his drink, he spoke. "I'm
sorry to intrude upon you gentlemen so late, but the state of affairs are so
distressing-"
"We understand, and don't mind, sir. Please tell us your tale,"
responded Holmes with slight impatience as he sat back, steepling his fingers.
The visitor nodded and began
"My name is Jonas McKenzie. I recently inherited my uncle's house when he
died from the grippe, as I am his only remaining family. It was a nice building
and still recently built, so I moved in a week ago. But. in these past few days
there have been…strange things occurring."
He took a breath, and gulped some of his drink down.
"I assure you, that I am not paranoid, nor do I believe in ghosts, but
these past few days have begun to give me reason to think one or the other!
While I was putting moving boxes into their proper rooms to unpack later, I
would come back and find them either rearranged differently, one added, or
missing, then it reappearing where it once was before! I made sure all the
doors and windows were locked, but it continued happening.
"Even after a I finished moving in, furniture would continue to move on
it's own; mind you, I never saw it move myself, but I would leave a room, come
back minutes later, and find the whole room rearranged!
"But the worst was still to come. You see, I'm a restless sleeper and I'm
woken up easily. Last night, I was woken up, but for what reason I did not know
not. Suddenly, I heard the strangest …drumbeat coming in my room, from
somewhere else in the house. Of course, I leapt up and hurried to investigate,
but wherever I went in the house. As time progressed, the drumbeat was joined
by the most peculiar noises.
"Noises?" My friend interrupted.
"Like music from an instrument of which I've never heard the likes
of. The only one I could best equate to
is when you pluck a small spring. The rest I just simply can't describe. it
was… otherworldly.
"Anyways, I searched the whole house, but the music never got louder or
quieter, except when I left the house, during which it was completely silenced.
I came back into the house, continued searching, and it suddenly ceased, and
all was silent. The same thing started to occur tonight, and I couldn't stand
it any longer. I raced here, for you are the only one who can help me, Mr.
Holmes! Please aid me!" His breath had grown rapid again and his hands
shook.
" Calm yourself, man!" Holmes commanded him sternly. He complied the
best he could, gulping down the dregs of his drink. I took the glass from him
to refill it.
"Now, Mr. McKenzie, do you have any, per say enemies, rivals for your
inheritance?"
"No, I can assure you that I have no enemies, or anyone that would wish me
any ill will."
Holmes stood and paced back and forth in front of the fireplace, his eyes
glowing darkly with mental activity. At last, he seemed to come to a decision
and turned to the visitor.
"Take us to this house of yours, I need more data."
McKenzie smiled slightly. "And to check my sanity?"
Holmes did not reply.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"GROUP COUNCIL!"
So was the disturbance from our activities for the first time in hours. I
groaned, glancing at my watch: 10:30. And here I was, ready for bed.
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO SCREAM IT!" Emeraude bellowed in retort to the
retreating form of Pyro. " I'M NOT DEAF! Or at least I wasn't." she
finished with a growl, rubbing an ear gingerly. With a crisp snap, she put the
cover on her pen.
I rolled out of the top bunk and followed her to the living room, glancing for
a second at the newest creation to grace her desk. Only a couple of lines were
penned in, but I could recognize a cape or coat of some sorts. Ah, well. Better
check later.
"Alright, time to take a head count of who's hitting the rave." Pyro
announced in a pompous manor that seemed particularly ridiculous coming from
him. "Hunter, I already know you're coming with."
"Duh, there are like, always cute boys at raves," was Etna's
brilliant contribution for the night.
"Of course," replied Emeraude, leaning against the doorframe with her
trademark "There-better-be-a-good-reason-for-this" look on her face.
"Uh, er- I'm in," I hurriedly spoke up when all eyes were on me.
"Alright, Pyro, why the meeting? Since when do we count heads like we're
still in grade school?"
"Since the host of this thing told me that there was going to be a larger
crowd than usual, I wanna know where you are all gonna be."
"Pyro, I can take care of myself just fine, cuzz," Emeraude replied,
"And I'll look after Naoko." I felt like protesting, but since I
really didn't have any material to retaliate with, I kept my mouth shut.
"Don't worry, Mom, I won't drive drunk," Hunter rejoined snidely,
earning him a swift smack over the head by the other boy.
Etna seemed to have slowly drifted to the girls room during the argument and
chase that ensued, with me following close behind. Emeraude remained in the
living room, slipping to a corner, watching the boys with an amused smirk. If
there was anything that she enjoyed more than working on her art, it was those
two in a fight.
~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Whee, almost through the plot setup and we can get some action goin
here!!! @.@
