"Do you wish to know where we're retiring for dinner? I could escort you," he offered with a demonic-looking smile, extending the crook of his arm.
"Um, maybe. Who are you, anyway?" I asked.
"My name is Andrew. You can address me as such. Now, about my leading you?" This time, he took my arm and placed it in his. Leading me down the hallway, we headed towards a darker area of the house, one which I became steadily more uneasy as we went towards.
Finally, we stopped at a door. Pushing it open, Andrew revealed a dark room, furnished with a mahogany baby grand piano and black drapes over the windows. Multiple candelabra lit the room, and I saw tapestries of red amongst the black drapes.
"Um, is this the dining room?" I inquired, not sounding confident at all. This was spooking me. I couldn't imagine why we were in this remote corner of the house.
"No, this is not the dining room."
"But you said you were going to lead me to where we're all eating!"
"I never said that. I asked you if you wanted to know where Lydia planned for you to eat. Then I suggested that I escort you. But I never said I would escort you to the dining room," Andrew claimed, matter-of-factly.
At this time, I was very insecure. I felt all the life draining out of my feet, and all the color draining out of my face. I had no idea why he would take me anywhere else and honestly never planned on it. I prayed to whatever god would listen that nothing bad would happen to me here, where no one was likely to find me for several hours.
"Why so worried, Lira? You're positively pale! You look as if you've seen a-…ha. No, that old saying is fit only for less polished people, like our young friends, the Twins.
"But you do look quite upset. Here, have a seat and relax. We have plenty of time for that."
Andrew gently pushed me down into a straight-backed chair I hadn't even noticed before. Sitting in a rather ungraceful way, I stared off into space.
I was vaguely brought back to my plane of reality by the soft chords of "Fur Elise". Realizing it must have been Andrew playing, I turned my head to see his face hidden behind a sheet of music.
Now was my chance. I could sneak out and run wildly down the hallway, praying I came upon a more friendly face. Or I could sit here, without risking getting caught again by Andrew or Briana, and pray that I wouldn't be killed by this nut-job.
Just my luck; I might be told to stay here if I die in this house.
I wanted to laugh at this, but I knew that time was running short. Buckling up my courage, I sneaked off the chair and inched towards the door. Just as my hand was about to touch the knob, I heard a whoosh of sound. Turning, I saw Andrew's hand raised above the piano and pointing in my direction.
Suddenly, I was spirited back into my chair by some unseen force and held there forcibly. I tried to call out, but the pressure holding my jaw closed was intense.
"It's rude to leave a concert during a piece, Lira. We must remember our manners."
Andrew kept playing, even though my muffled struggles were rocking the chair back and forth, knocking it against the wall. The sheet music had fallen away to reveal his peaceful countenance, eyes closed and a sinful smile playing across his lips.
"It's been so long since we've had a visitor. These uncivilized pigs around us, they want nothing to do with fine music. I must say, my proverbial heart sang with joy when I laid eyes upon you, another artist like myself.
"It's also a shame you can't sit still and enjoy the music. I would rather you do that before I need use more powerful means to quiet you.
"But then again, they say you listen more attentively when you are asleep."
I stopped moving at once. Personally, I'd have rather be awake for this, rather than be unconscious and unable to defend myself, however little I may have had to offer.
Strains of soft music swept me away as Andrew changed to a symphony of mysterious chords that seemed to be a story in and of themselves. Slowly they grew, from delicate notes to booming refrains, and I felt as if I might swoon from the incredible sound ringing in my ears.
Suddenly I heard a creaking noise, a sour note in the sea of perfection I was floating in. As Andrew went on unfazed, my eyes beheld a savior if I ever saw one: Chris was standing in the doorway, puzzled.
"Lira, why are you sitting here when there's hot food on the table? The pizza got here five minutes ago; let's go!"
He grabbed my hand, and suddenly I was free from my invisible prison. Pulling me to my feet, I remained speechless and he led me out the door and into the hallway.
I turned to catch a last glimpse of Andrew, and I caught his staring, cold eyes. I could feel them burning into my own, daring me to tell what had transpired between us.