-Alright...onto the second chapter. (sorry for not typing it up sooner...I am
lazy...)
Maureen removed the glasses and approached Cyrus slowly. "You have no explanation for that?" His back was turned to her, but the smile on his face could clearly be heard in his voice.
Maureen shrugged and fumbled with her words. "...No sir...well, I thought perhaps she was possessed by another ghost, but, if you saw what I saw, that...wasn't human. I've never seen any true accounts of demonic possession, being possessed by an angry spirit is, as far as I know, mistaken for a demon." Since she had worked with him, Maureen had never not been able to give Cyrus an adequate answer. Her inability to provide him with the information he sought worried her and this new girl, frankly, frightened her a little.
Cyrus merely nodded, giving no indication of what he thought himself. "Very well then." Turning to face her, he adopted his usual business like tone. "Take care of this mess and put our little friend in his former containment cell downstairs. I should like to have a little...chat with our new guest." Without waiting for even an acknowledgement that she had heard him, Cyrus made his way towards his car and the person that waited within.
Erelah leaned up against the car door as he slid in. There were too many people around so she had not attempted to escape. Her gray eyes bore into him, but he could not quite read the emotion they held. He hesitated slightly, but smiled warmly. "Well, well..."he regarded her for a moment before finishing. "It's a bit late for a stroll, don't you think?"
Her jaw set, she gave a simple answer. "No."
Cyrus nodded and chuckled. "Well then, I suppose you do this sort of thing all the time, especially along haunted highways." Without waiting for her reply, he continued. "Tell, what are you doing here? And don't lie, because I'll get the truth out of you one way or another."
Disregarding his question, she glared at him. "What did you see back there...with the glasses on, when you looked at me?"
His voice rose slightly now, a hint of anger finding it's way into his tone. "I asked you a question. Answer me first. What are you doing here?"
Erelah remained perfectly calm, a defiant flicker illuminating her eyes. "I live around here. Now tell me what you saw?"
Fury flashed momentarily across his face, but he kept it in check. This girl was already getting on his nerves. "You live her? Near that thing?" He motioned out the window, indicating the cell and it's contents. His laugh was short and disbelief apparent on his visage.
Nodding slowly, Erelah persisted, trying to obtain the information she sought that she knew he could give. "Please tell me what you saw...I need to know." Her tone was almost begging in nature and calmed Cyrus' nerves. For some reason, the vision he found through the spectral viewers was important to her. An expert at manipulation, Cyrus knew he could use it.
"Very well then." He said, half to himself, nodding almost imperceptibly as he thought. Erelah thought that for a moment she would receive the answer she was seeking, until he leaned forward and spoke quietly to the driver. She heard the click of the doors locking and the quiet rumble of the engine starting. A slight panic filled her eyes.
"Hey..." she attempted to calm herself, but her tone remained frantic. "Hey, you can't do this. Let me out." She tried to find a way to unlock the door, but her shouts trailed off as she realized the futility of her escape attempts. Slumping back in her seat, hopelessness filled her as the car pulled away from the shoulder of the road and began its long drive. Cyrus' mouth quivered slightly at one corner in a half smile as he, too, leaned back in his seat.
Erelah never saw the house until they were nearly on top of it, but the sight of the glass structure appearing from between the trees made her sit up and her jaw dropped slightly in amazement. Cyrus grinned at her response and his voice broke the spell that seemed to have settled over her. "We're here." With those words, the car rolled to a stop and he stepped from it, breathing in the fresh night air of the surrounding woods. He motioned for the driver to assist Erelah from the vehicle. Having no intention of running at this point, Erelah shook the mans hands from her person and got out herself, her head tilting back as she gazed the height of the building.
Cyrus slipped the odd looking key into the lock and, after a series of clicks and whirs, the door slid open. He stepped back and motioned for her to enter the house, a warm smile spread across his lips. Erelah hesitated briefly before deciding there was no danger at the moment and stepped through the doorway.
Cyrus stepped in right after her, and the rumble of the truck pulling into the driveway could be heard before the door was clicked shut. "Welcome to my humble abode," he said, spreading his arms to indicate the house. Erelah stared back blankly at him. Cyrus ignored her reaction and motioned for her to follow him, "This way please." After a series of turns, he led her into the library where he eased into a large, comfortable looking chair, motioning for her to do the same across form him. She did so and they stared at each other in an intense silent for a few moments until he spoke. "Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?" He was immensely curious about her and looking forward to solving some of the puzzles currently surrounding her.
Erelah stared back at him in disbelief and it was a moment before she could manage to speak. When she did, it was in an exasperated tone. "I'm walking along the road, minding my own business, when, out of nowhere, you, I don't even now your name, come out of the blue and kidnap me. And now you want me to tell you a little bit about myself...I don't think so."
Cyrus frowned, but remained calm. "First of all, you were not minding your own business, you were minding my business." He sighed, looking at her for a moment before continuing. "You are right, however. I should have introduced myself sooner, but I was...beside myself." He spread his hand sin a surrendering manner and smiled slightly. "I am Cyrus Kriticos, owner and designer of this wondrous structure you are now seated in."
Erelah stared at him blankly for a moment, cocking an eyebrow, before reluctantly offering her own name. "Erelah..." she mumbled, slumping back in her chair, trying to keep her eyes on Cyrus. However, she could not help sneaking glances at the surrounding room and it's interesting contents. A bookcase dominated one wall and held a number of books, most leather bound and quite old looking. There were also several expensive looking items, including a decorative katana inlaid with gold and jade.
The man that sat at the other side of the table removed a cigar from a box and clipped the end off before lighting it. It was Cyrus who then broke the uncomfortable silence, as Erelah refused to speak. "Well...Erelah...I am quite curious about you. Tell me a bit about yourself..." He frowned, choosing a question to ask her. "How old are you?"
"Nineteen." Her tone was flat and emotionless.
Cyrus nodded once, happy to finally be getting some information out of her. He was slightly surprised at her age, having thought she would be younger. He asked more questions, his tone encouraging. "Where did you grow up? Tell me about your parents, tell me anything, my curiosity is insatiable."
Fed up with him, Erelah rolled her eyes in a juvenile manner. "You know, all you have done since I met you is ask questions. I think I need some answers too. Like why the hell I'm here, and what exactly you saw back there." She was insistent now, her tone stating clearly that she would go no further if he did not comply.
Cyrus' mouth opened to answer, but the door to the library opened and Maureen appeared carrying a tray with a teapot, cream sugar and three teacups balanced on top of it. She tried to act normal, but snuck quick, furtive glances at the girl and kept to the other side of the table. Her frightened manner was slightly more pronounced and she jumped slightly when Cyrus spoke. "Hello Maureen, how is our little friend?"
She set the tray on the table and sat herself in a chair beside Cyrus, every move under Erelah's gaze. "He's in a containment cell downstairs, all is well. Everyone has been paid adequately."
"Good...good." He proceeded to pour a cup of tea, introducing Erelah. "Maureen, this is Erelah, Erelah, Maureen." Erelah offered a half-hearted smile, but said nothing. Maureen merely peered over at the girl. "Would you like some tea?" Cyrus asked the girl. She nodded and he filled all three cups. "Sugar or cream?" Erelah shook her head to both and took the cup he then offered. There was a moment of silence as he prepared his own cup, leaving Maureen to fend for herself.
"I was just having a chat with Erelah here. Did you happen to think of anything on your way over?"
Maureen shook her head, but spoke. "I do remember, now, sensing her presence before, when we were still setting up."
Cyrus nodded, lifting his cup to his lips to take a sip of the steaming brown liquid. "Maureen is our resident psychic." He explained to Erelah, who's brow furrowed slightly now and glanced at Maureen once more.
"You still haven't answered my questions." She said bluntly, glaring at Cyrus with her arms crossed over her chest.
He sighed, the girl beginning to grate on his nerves. "As for what I, what we saw, I think you already know something about that. As for why you're here, that has to do with what I saw. So, disregarding pleasantries, as you seem inclined to do, it is you who should be telling me what I saw." Cyrus sat back, a satisfied grin on his face as he awaited Erelah's response. Maureen meekly sipped at her tea in silence, sneaking frightened glances at Erelah.
Erelah glared back, frowning, and her tea sitting untouched on the tabletop. "I'm too tired to put up with this anymore, I just want to go home and go to bed, it's late."
"Well, if you are tired, I'd be more than happy to accommodate you. As for going home, I'm afraid I cannot let you do that." Having grown tired of trying to pry information out of her, he decided to be finished with her until tomorrow morning. "Maureen, show her to a room." He leaned back, closing his eyes, signaling the end of the conversation.
Maureen and Erelah rose at the same time. The mousy woman opened the door and, as Erelah stepped through, she was about to lay her hand on the girl's back, perhaps as a friendly gesture, although there were ulterior motives. Her hand was stopped, however, by a quiet but sharp remark. "Don't touch me. Trust me, you wouldn't want to." With that, both stepped through the door and it clicked close behind them, leaving Cyrus alone.
The man in the chair grinned to himself, eyes still closed. The girl's last comment, however quiet, did not escape him. It told him that she at least had knowledge of what being psychic entitled, but he was sure it had some other significance as well. What, exactly, he did now know...yet.
-yeah...so we still don't know exactly what's up with that girl......you'll find out next chapter, I promise...along with another surprise. Thank you for all the reviews, luv you all -blows kisses-
Maureen removed the glasses and approached Cyrus slowly. "You have no explanation for that?" His back was turned to her, but the smile on his face could clearly be heard in his voice.
Maureen shrugged and fumbled with her words. "...No sir...well, I thought perhaps she was possessed by another ghost, but, if you saw what I saw, that...wasn't human. I've never seen any true accounts of demonic possession, being possessed by an angry spirit is, as far as I know, mistaken for a demon." Since she had worked with him, Maureen had never not been able to give Cyrus an adequate answer. Her inability to provide him with the information he sought worried her and this new girl, frankly, frightened her a little.
Cyrus merely nodded, giving no indication of what he thought himself. "Very well then." Turning to face her, he adopted his usual business like tone. "Take care of this mess and put our little friend in his former containment cell downstairs. I should like to have a little...chat with our new guest." Without waiting for even an acknowledgement that she had heard him, Cyrus made his way towards his car and the person that waited within.
Erelah leaned up against the car door as he slid in. There were too many people around so she had not attempted to escape. Her gray eyes bore into him, but he could not quite read the emotion they held. He hesitated slightly, but smiled warmly. "Well, well..."he regarded her for a moment before finishing. "It's a bit late for a stroll, don't you think?"
Her jaw set, she gave a simple answer. "No."
Cyrus nodded and chuckled. "Well then, I suppose you do this sort of thing all the time, especially along haunted highways." Without waiting for her reply, he continued. "Tell, what are you doing here? And don't lie, because I'll get the truth out of you one way or another."
Disregarding his question, she glared at him. "What did you see back there...with the glasses on, when you looked at me?"
His voice rose slightly now, a hint of anger finding it's way into his tone. "I asked you a question. Answer me first. What are you doing here?"
Erelah remained perfectly calm, a defiant flicker illuminating her eyes. "I live around here. Now tell me what you saw?"
Fury flashed momentarily across his face, but he kept it in check. This girl was already getting on his nerves. "You live her? Near that thing?" He motioned out the window, indicating the cell and it's contents. His laugh was short and disbelief apparent on his visage.
Nodding slowly, Erelah persisted, trying to obtain the information she sought that she knew he could give. "Please tell me what you saw...I need to know." Her tone was almost begging in nature and calmed Cyrus' nerves. For some reason, the vision he found through the spectral viewers was important to her. An expert at manipulation, Cyrus knew he could use it.
"Very well then." He said, half to himself, nodding almost imperceptibly as he thought. Erelah thought that for a moment she would receive the answer she was seeking, until he leaned forward and spoke quietly to the driver. She heard the click of the doors locking and the quiet rumble of the engine starting. A slight panic filled her eyes.
"Hey..." she attempted to calm herself, but her tone remained frantic. "Hey, you can't do this. Let me out." She tried to find a way to unlock the door, but her shouts trailed off as she realized the futility of her escape attempts. Slumping back in her seat, hopelessness filled her as the car pulled away from the shoulder of the road and began its long drive. Cyrus' mouth quivered slightly at one corner in a half smile as he, too, leaned back in his seat.
Erelah never saw the house until they were nearly on top of it, but the sight of the glass structure appearing from between the trees made her sit up and her jaw dropped slightly in amazement. Cyrus grinned at her response and his voice broke the spell that seemed to have settled over her. "We're here." With those words, the car rolled to a stop and he stepped from it, breathing in the fresh night air of the surrounding woods. He motioned for the driver to assist Erelah from the vehicle. Having no intention of running at this point, Erelah shook the mans hands from her person and got out herself, her head tilting back as she gazed the height of the building.
Cyrus slipped the odd looking key into the lock and, after a series of clicks and whirs, the door slid open. He stepped back and motioned for her to enter the house, a warm smile spread across his lips. Erelah hesitated briefly before deciding there was no danger at the moment and stepped through the doorway.
Cyrus stepped in right after her, and the rumble of the truck pulling into the driveway could be heard before the door was clicked shut. "Welcome to my humble abode," he said, spreading his arms to indicate the house. Erelah stared back blankly at him. Cyrus ignored her reaction and motioned for her to follow him, "This way please." After a series of turns, he led her into the library where he eased into a large, comfortable looking chair, motioning for her to do the same across form him. She did so and they stared at each other in an intense silent for a few moments until he spoke. "Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?" He was immensely curious about her and looking forward to solving some of the puzzles currently surrounding her.
Erelah stared back at him in disbelief and it was a moment before she could manage to speak. When she did, it was in an exasperated tone. "I'm walking along the road, minding my own business, when, out of nowhere, you, I don't even now your name, come out of the blue and kidnap me. And now you want me to tell you a little bit about myself...I don't think so."
Cyrus frowned, but remained calm. "First of all, you were not minding your own business, you were minding my business." He sighed, looking at her for a moment before continuing. "You are right, however. I should have introduced myself sooner, but I was...beside myself." He spread his hand sin a surrendering manner and smiled slightly. "I am Cyrus Kriticos, owner and designer of this wondrous structure you are now seated in."
Erelah stared at him blankly for a moment, cocking an eyebrow, before reluctantly offering her own name. "Erelah..." she mumbled, slumping back in her chair, trying to keep her eyes on Cyrus. However, she could not help sneaking glances at the surrounding room and it's interesting contents. A bookcase dominated one wall and held a number of books, most leather bound and quite old looking. There were also several expensive looking items, including a decorative katana inlaid with gold and jade.
The man that sat at the other side of the table removed a cigar from a box and clipped the end off before lighting it. It was Cyrus who then broke the uncomfortable silence, as Erelah refused to speak. "Well...Erelah...I am quite curious about you. Tell me a bit about yourself..." He frowned, choosing a question to ask her. "How old are you?"
"Nineteen." Her tone was flat and emotionless.
Cyrus nodded once, happy to finally be getting some information out of her. He was slightly surprised at her age, having thought she would be younger. He asked more questions, his tone encouraging. "Where did you grow up? Tell me about your parents, tell me anything, my curiosity is insatiable."
Fed up with him, Erelah rolled her eyes in a juvenile manner. "You know, all you have done since I met you is ask questions. I think I need some answers too. Like why the hell I'm here, and what exactly you saw back there." She was insistent now, her tone stating clearly that she would go no further if he did not comply.
Cyrus' mouth opened to answer, but the door to the library opened and Maureen appeared carrying a tray with a teapot, cream sugar and three teacups balanced on top of it. She tried to act normal, but snuck quick, furtive glances at the girl and kept to the other side of the table. Her frightened manner was slightly more pronounced and she jumped slightly when Cyrus spoke. "Hello Maureen, how is our little friend?"
She set the tray on the table and sat herself in a chair beside Cyrus, every move under Erelah's gaze. "He's in a containment cell downstairs, all is well. Everyone has been paid adequately."
"Good...good." He proceeded to pour a cup of tea, introducing Erelah. "Maureen, this is Erelah, Erelah, Maureen." Erelah offered a half-hearted smile, but said nothing. Maureen merely peered over at the girl. "Would you like some tea?" Cyrus asked the girl. She nodded and he filled all three cups. "Sugar or cream?" Erelah shook her head to both and took the cup he then offered. There was a moment of silence as he prepared his own cup, leaving Maureen to fend for herself.
"I was just having a chat with Erelah here. Did you happen to think of anything on your way over?"
Maureen shook her head, but spoke. "I do remember, now, sensing her presence before, when we were still setting up."
Cyrus nodded, lifting his cup to his lips to take a sip of the steaming brown liquid. "Maureen is our resident psychic." He explained to Erelah, who's brow furrowed slightly now and glanced at Maureen once more.
"You still haven't answered my questions." She said bluntly, glaring at Cyrus with her arms crossed over her chest.
He sighed, the girl beginning to grate on his nerves. "As for what I, what we saw, I think you already know something about that. As for why you're here, that has to do with what I saw. So, disregarding pleasantries, as you seem inclined to do, it is you who should be telling me what I saw." Cyrus sat back, a satisfied grin on his face as he awaited Erelah's response. Maureen meekly sipped at her tea in silence, sneaking frightened glances at Erelah.
Erelah glared back, frowning, and her tea sitting untouched on the tabletop. "I'm too tired to put up with this anymore, I just want to go home and go to bed, it's late."
"Well, if you are tired, I'd be more than happy to accommodate you. As for going home, I'm afraid I cannot let you do that." Having grown tired of trying to pry information out of her, he decided to be finished with her until tomorrow morning. "Maureen, show her to a room." He leaned back, closing his eyes, signaling the end of the conversation.
Maureen and Erelah rose at the same time. The mousy woman opened the door and, as Erelah stepped through, she was about to lay her hand on the girl's back, perhaps as a friendly gesture, although there were ulterior motives. Her hand was stopped, however, by a quiet but sharp remark. "Don't touch me. Trust me, you wouldn't want to." With that, both stepped through the door and it clicked close behind them, leaving Cyrus alone.
The man in the chair grinned to himself, eyes still closed. The girl's last comment, however quiet, did not escape him. It told him that she at least had knowledge of what being psychic entitled, but he was sure it had some other significance as well. What, exactly, he did now know...yet.
-yeah...so we still don't know exactly what's up with that girl......you'll find out next chapter, I promise...along with another surprise. Thank you for all the reviews, luv you all -blows kisses-