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The group continued their tour of the second floor as Mary elaborated on the house's illustrious past and informed them of captains of industry, princes, presidents and villains, all of whom had walked these historic halls. However, the deeper into the house the group strayed, the darker and more oppressive the atmosphere got, as if another presence had now joined them.
The discussion soon turned to sleeping arrangements for the evening.
"I'll take the blue room," Ivy laughed faintly as she joined the group. "It's got a history, I like that," she giggled, eyeing Chris as she moved close, wrapping an arm around his waist.
"You can have it, no problem," several voices muttered.
"Where have you been, my dear?" Professor Crooks asked in concern.
"Oh, I had some girl things to do," Ivy said airily. "Do you really want to know?"
"Never mind," Crooks flushed slightly.
"Not interested," Chris removed Ivy's far too friendly hand off his hip.
"Just a little fun," Ivy pouted.
"I don't have fun," Chris growled before walking over to join Buck.
"Oh, you're gay," Ivy sneered.
"No, I'm picky," Chris retorted.
"Damn Pard, a little nasty there weren't you?" Buck muttered.
"She makes my skin crawl, and won't take no for answer. I'm through being polite," Chris grunted.
Mary's smirk at the heated interchange was quickly suppressed as she continued her history lecture. "This house has had a history of tragedy since before its foundations were even laid. Four workmen died during the building of the foundations alone. A Native American medicine man called Kojae was killed during a confrontation on the grounds after he just showed up one day. What tribe he was from is uncertain, all that was known is he came from further south. He was shot and killed by Barbara Petrie's foreman, John Stewart, while performing a ritual at the site of what is now the main staircase. Barbara Petrie was incensed over the killing and pressed for a 'real' trial. John Stewart spent the rest of his life in jail for the murder. A very stiff sentence indeed for that day and age, considering the victim's nationality." Mary Travis expounded as she continued down the wide hall.
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"This is the library!" Mary announced as she threw open the double doors and entered the huge room.
The oppressive atmosphere of the room appeared to drain the last of Nettie's energy. She moved toward a comfortable chair and was soon settled in with Vin at her feet playing with his horse. Her grey eyes lingered worriedly on her chicks, as the remainder of the group wandered aimlessly around the room.
"Look at the books," Bruce breathed in awe.
"Truly an awe inspiring sight," Josiah agreed.
"They would all appear to be in pristine condition," Ezra thoughtfully perused some nearby shelves.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Cedric sniffed.
"I have viewed several collections equally inspiring," Ezra smiled sadly. "Where are the 'old friends'? The tomes which have been good companions?"
"Ez is right. These books weren't read. This is just a showplace, a status symbol," Buck spoke.
"Ez-RA, Mr. Wilmington. Two syllables, the name is Ez-ra. However, at no time was permission granted to use my given name. On the extraordinary likelihood that such a privilege be bestowed in the future, I would never consent to you butchering it in such a fashion." Standish corrected.
"I know." Buck's lips twitched and a grin appeared.
Ezra straightened his sleeves and glared at the totally unrepentant Wilmington.
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Josiah shivered as Ivy passed him on the way to a book case and a line from Shakespeare's "Macbeth" came to mind. By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.
Ivy stopped and looked back with a satisfied smirk before examining the book titles. Raising an arm, her sleeve slid back, revealing fresh cuts.
Dear God in Heaven protect us. The attitude is all wrong, not self-mutilation but blood magic. She's awakened something evil. No, not awakened, fed! She gave it strength. Lord, hold us in the palm of your hand.
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"I wonder how this one got on the floor?" JD leaned over and picked up a book. "Neat, I didn't know they used to do this kind of thing," JD mumbled, turning the pages of a book. A fleeting look of distraction crossed his face. "Josiah, this is for you." JD hurriedly held out the book to the ex-priest.
"Thanks, JD, but why do you think it's for me?" Josiah asked curiously.
"It said so," JD shrugged holding out the book, a flush rising on his cheeks. "It's kind of . . . risqué," JD warned.
"Thank you son," Josiah took the small tome.
It's warm; like it's been laying in the sunshine. Not cold like the rest of this place. Turning the book over to read the title, Josiah's heart skipped a beat, Le Langage des Fleurs, no wonder the boy was embarrassed. This isn't the sanitized Victorian edition. With shaking fingers, he opened the volume and turned the pages until he found the listing for peach blossoms and began to read.
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JD wandered over to where Casey was holding a book of poetry. "Vin likes the sound of us reading to him, I think," Casey sighed, looking over at the disconnected young man sitting on the rug.
"Then we should read to him," JD smiled warmly at the attractive young woman.
"Don't try to use Vin to manipulate me, JD," Casey warned.
"Never Casey, I want to learn how to be his friend. Vin's in there you know, I want to be here to help him find his way. I really think you're going to be very important to me." JD said earnestly.
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"Ms. Nettie, are you alright?" Nathan Jackson squatted down by the careworn woman.
"Just very tired all of a sudden, Dr. Jackson," Nettie sighed. "I'm just going to sit here and rest a minute."
"You mind if I check you over real quick?" Nathan's dark eyes lingered in concern on the old woman's pasty complexion.
"Go ahead, but I'm not sick. It's this house," Nettie grumbled.
"Humor me," Nathan smiled warmly, before checking Nettie's pulse.
The pony in Vin's hands stopped before once more moving over the carpet. Vin scooted a tiny bit until his back pressed against Nettie's legs.
"Do you need something, Honey?" Nettie leaned forward and stroked the boy's silky curls.
Vin's head raised and his right hand rose to cover his face. He peeked out between the spread fingers for a moment then went back to playing with Pony.
Chris and Buck walked over to the group.
"Problem?" Chris asked looking down to where Nathan still held Nettie's wrist.
"Just tired is all. I'm entitled. I'm an old woman," Nettie snapped.
"Why does he do that? The peeking through his fingers thing?" Nathan asked changing the subject.
"I'm not sure, but he connects for just a moment when he does," Nettie smiled sadly.
"It's like he's peeking through a keyhole. He's way up high or very far away. I'm not strong enough to reach him," Buck Wilmington tried to explain what he had sensed from Vin. "Like the old story of Sleeping Beauty in that locked tower. He's out of my reach." Buck sighed.
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"Hey! Where are the Prof and Ivy?" Bruce's question caught almost everyone's attention.
"They slipped out after Mr. Larabee gave Ivy the cold shoulder," Angel answered.
"Why don't we head downstairs for now? We'll make an itinerary for tomorrow." Mary smiled and waved them towards the doors.
Nathan moved over to Josiah's side, the older man seemed totally lost in thought.
"Josiah, are you alright?" Nathan's worried voice called his old friend back from his rumination.
Josiah looked up with a start, "For now."
Looking over Josiah's shoulder, into the book, Nathan studied the section half heartedly. "French? I am your captive?" Nathan asked suddenly uneasy.
"In the stained glass window it's reversed, the branch end is up," Josiah said sharply.
"The one on the front of the house you were so taken with?" Nathan looked puzzled.
"It reverses the meaning," Josiah hissed.
"We are the captives?" Nathan snorted. "If it bothers you that much, let's leave. It's only money."
"I think you'll find we aren't going anywhere," Josiah answered cryptically as serious eyes caught and held Nathan's gaze.
"Well, uh, everyone's heading back down stairs," a slightly shaken Nathan indicated the people moving toward the doors.
Josiah nodded placing the small book in his pocket for safe keeping as he followed his friend to the door.
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"We must have gotten turned around, this isn't the way we came in," Tony muttered, staring at the unfamiliar hallway.
"It was the way we came in," Chris snarled. "The damn house is evolving again."
"Get real," Cedric laughed in contempt.
"Well now, don't that just beat all," Buck blurted in amazement.
Everyone stared at the rope disappearing through a wall towards their left.
Buck moved the rope in his hand to prove that what he was looking at was indeed his rope.
"What kind of parlor trick is this?" Cedric sniffed.
"It must be something the Prof and Ivy worked out," Angel suggested hopefully.
"Don't worry, it's okay. We can just work our way to the back stairs and go down that way," Mary said cheerfully.
"Buck? Think you can do . . . something?" Chris asked uncertainly. He truly was unwilling to expose his friend to the ridicule of the nonbelievers watching.
Buck moved toward the wall with determination and placed a hand on either side of the 'disappearing' rope. His eyes closed in concentration as he pushed against the unmoving surface, the strain showing clearly on his face. "No good, I can't move it, not physically and not mentally either," Buck panted in an effort to catch is breath.
Chris reached out and squeezed the man's shoulder, then turned to begin the search for the back stairs.
"Whoa, don't give up yet, Pard. I've got me an idea." Buck said as he looked toward Vin Tanner.
"Hey Junior," Buck gently spoke to Vin. "Think you can help me here?"
Buck moved back from the wall, letting Nettie lead the boy up to face him.
"He won't understand what you want," Nettie growled protectively.
"Chris, he lets you touch him. See if you can get him to let you hold his pony," Buck requested.
"We need your help, Pard. Let me hold Pony for you," Chris petted the carved figure's mane.
Surprisingly, Vin's fingers loosened his hold on pony and he watched intently as Chris cradled it gently against his own chest.
Buck lifted his own hand in front of Vin's face and spread his fingers. Looking into the sapphire eyes, through the splayed fingers he made a fragile connection with the boy. //Help us//. Vin's eyes appeared to focus for a flash.
Buck gently placed both of Vin's hands flat on the surface of the wall.
"Push, Junior," Buck urged.
"The dummy doesn't know what you want," Kilkenny snickered.
"Open your mouth again son, and I'll kick your arrogant ass through that wall," Josiah warned the boy with a wide grin.
"He's right though. Vin doesn't seem to know how to work his telekinesis. It just happens," Casey revealed.
//Vin please help//. Buck 'reached' out.
//How//? Vin's confused thought was barely comprehensible.
//Push from here//. Buck touched between Vin's eyes. //Push hard//.
"Holy Shit!" Bruce bleated and fell on his butt when the wall slammed back and crumbled revealing the spiral staircase.
Vin silently turned and reached out. Chris gently settled the wooden horse back in Tanner's outstretched hand. Vin protectively cradled Pony against his chest.
"Thank you." Chris touched Vin's hand in emphasis.