Nala changed her seat as I watched him step on the gangplank. Sure that he would be okay I drove off and back to the hotel room. Parking the jeep next to Nala's truck I locked it up after we both got out. Nala offered to make lunch while I cleaned up. With a nod I headed back to my room to dry off and get changed; coming back out in a black tank-top with a design on the back, a white skirt with a design on the bottom done in white, blue, and red. Pulling my hair up into a bun and out of my face I sighed in frustration.
"I need a new set of shoes." I grumbled as I looked at my water logged flats, the only shoes I owned.
Reluctantly I pulled them back on, grumbling as I felt the cold, wet lace settle over my feet, creating wet areas. Nala smiled as she put a grilled cheese sandwich in front of me along with a small bowl of salad. Quietly I ate my meal then stood up. Taking my plate to the sink I washed the dishes then washed Nala's plate as she passed it to me.
"We should head to the station and pick up the keys to Grey Manor." I said calmly.
Nala nodded and said, "Then shopping?"
"Yes."
Nala squealed then raced to her room and grabbed her purse while I grabbed my bag, taking a few things out before we left. We both hopped into the jeep and Nala turned on the music. She flicked through the stations until she found a Classic Rock station that was playing Living on a Prayer by Madonna. Smiling I sang along, quieter then Nala, as we drove to the station. Parking, we stepped out and I brushed my skirt down a little before grabbing my bag and locking the jeep up. Walking into the station I headed to the chief's office and caught sight of Nathan just leaving. He gave me a dark look and I raised and eyebrow at him before grinning and slipping into the office he just left.
"Miss Amarantha, I take it you are here for the keys." Chief Wuornos said.
"Yes, Sir." I said with a nod.
"Alright, well I thought you might like for someone to show you up there so Officer Wuornos will be escorting you to Grey Manor. Here are the keys and the deed." He said and with that I had the feeling we were dismissed.
Nodding I took the keys and the deed and headed out with Nala. Nathan was staring by his car, waiting for us. Nala grinned and waved at him while I just shook my head and got in the car. Nathan followed suit and soon we were pulling out with him in front of us. The car was quiet except for the station which Nala had turned down. We drove a little ways outside of town and up a dirt path. About a mile up the dirt path we pulled out into a clearing where a brick manor stood. It had an old feeling to it but looked like it came from England during the Victorian era rather then these parts. The grass was nearly as tall as me and ivy was crawling up the sides of the house. I pulled the jeep up next to where Nathan had parked and Nala and I got out. It was a beautiful house, though it would need some definite work.
Nala went to bound up the steps but I grabbed her arm to stop her. "Careful Nala we don't know what is sound and what isn't." I said still looking at the house. Nathan stood beside us and I looked over at him. "So you are the chief's son."
I said it more as a statement then a question. "I am, why does it mater to you?" He asked
"Mmm, no reason." I said then turned back to the house and began to walk around it.
There was a stable in the back with a large fenced in area and I knew from the deed that we owned from where the dirt path started to the bluffs on the east and south of us, behind the barn. I vaguely heard Nala talking to the lawman but ignored what they were saying as I walked around to the back. The porch wrapped around the entire first floor and there were three balconies along with a few bay windows facing towards the bluff. Walking away from the house I went to check out the barn. Slipping under the fence and across the area. It took a bit to pull the door open as it was over grown with plants.
The inside was dusty as hell and the wooden floor was questionable at best. Looking up I took in the loft and all the hay that was up there. It would need a serious cleaning out and a whole new roof before anything could live in here. Turning around I phased when I heard the soft sounds of meows. Cocking my head I followed the sound and found several kittens who were playing in a bed of hay. Watching them I smiled and took in the fact that they all seemed well fed. I watched them for a few more moments then left the barn and headed out to see that Nathan had left and Nala was peaking into the house. I waited for her to acknowledge me and smiled when she came bounding over to me.
"It is beautiful." She said beaming
"It is but it is going to need quite a bit of work before it is livable."
"Well yeah that was kind if a given. I asked Nathan about a contractor and stuff and he gave me a list so we can have them come out and have a look at it. Do you really think we should put so much time and effort into this house, Nissa. I mean in the end we will just have to leave it or burn it or something just to cover our tracks." Nala asked and I smiled at her.
"Well I was thinking we could make it a home. What do you think?"
"Do you mean it?" Nala asked looking at me with suppressed hope.
"I am tired Nala, of running, of fighting for every step. The Coven has hounded our every step and our plan will be very hard to unravel this time. Though if it does happen and they find us we'll make a stand. As I said I'm tired of running." I said with a shrug.
All the sudden I was on the ground with Nala hugging me to death. "Thank you Nissa. Oh! Does this mean I can get a pet?"
I laughed as I hugged her back. "One thing at a time, petite etoile (little star). We need to fix the house up first. I am going to have to make an out of town trip to get cash, possibly. We can do small amounts but large ones like with the cars could point the Coven in our direction."
"Razz has us covered though." Nala said
"It is better to be safe rather then sorry." I said softly as we laid there in the grass. "Come on let's go look at the inside of the house."
She nodded and crawled off of me. Quietly we got up and walked towards the house. The steps creaked under our weight but otherwise held. Our steps caused the porch to creak and groan ominously and I looked over my shoulder at Nala.
"It gives off the whole haunted house feel. It is rather creepy, I love it!" Nala said with a grin and I laughed. "I wonder if there is a ghost living here."
"I am sure a ghost would make an excellent guard dog."
"If it isn't one that moans all the time." She said thoughtfully and I silently agreed.
I unlocked the door, having to shove my shoulder against it as the wood had swollen shut over time, and peeked inside. Pushing the door open a little more I Stepped lightly into the foyer and took in everything around me so far. Nala gasped and I looked back at her.
"It is really beautiful in here, for how broken it all is."
Silently I agreed with her. The house was just as run down on the inside as it was on the outside. A once beautiful winding staircase was missing it's middle half, most likely eaten by termites. Several of the windows had been busted out, either from the elements or over active hoodlums that thought it would be fun. Taking a step forward I heard the wood give a threateningly loud moan and just as I went to step back the boards gave out under me. Rolling with the landing I bounced back to my feet and looked around; gloomy blackness stared back at me. A chill went down my spine and I turned but saw nothing. Cocking my head I tried to see into the darkness and sighed when I couldn't see anything. Closing my eyes I allowed my power over the shadows to fill me and allowed them to tell me what was there that may not have been easy to see with human eyes. There was nothing there but I still had that chill. Humming softly I was brought out of my thoughts by Nala.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah fine, though cement doesn't make for a very comfortable landing." Nala laughed above me.
"What is down there?"
"Basement," I dead panned
"You know what I meant." She yelled back and I did but I still couldn't help myself.
"Not much but I can't really see anything either. Do we have any flashlights in the jeep?"
"I don't thing so. What about your cell phone, don't you have a light app on it?"
"Yeah I do, one moment." With that I took my cellphone out and turned it on. I noticed the chill was gone and sighed to myself as I turned the light on before taking a look around at my surroundings. There were boxes and sheeted furniture everywhere, making it seem like there was a ghost in almost every corner of the room.
"Anything?" Nala called down.
"Furniture and boxes." I called back up.
"Any way to get out?"
"Ummm, one minute." I said calmly and headed further into the darkness.
If we had switched places and Nala had been down here I would have had to deal with a full blown panic attack. She fears the dark and I fear tight spaces and crowds, what an interesting pair we make especially since we were both bred to be assassins. Moving silently through the darkness I found my way to a set of rickety set of stairs and slowly made my way up, slamming against the door that was stuck. Stepping out into the open air I coughed slightly upon stepping into the new room. It looked like I had stepped out into a pantry that was most likely attached to a kitchen. Moving across to the door I muttered when it didn't open, even when I slammed my shoulder into it. There was sound on the other side and I muttered as I figured that the footsteps were that of a man.
"Nala is there a guy here?"
"Nathan came back with a contractor."
"Beautiful." I muttered I checked my phone and saw that I didn't have any bars for service. "Mother of the gods."
"Don't worry we'll get you out of there quick as a whistle, miss." A new voice said
"Peachy, watch the floor!" I called out but my warning came too late; there was a crash and the sound of someone yelling in surprise.
Muttering about idiots and creaky houses under my breath I too a few steps back then slammed my foot into the door. The door jiggled but held. Muttering I tired again and the door opened with the sound of splintering wood. Walking quickly through the house, my feet being led by the shadows to the soundest areas. I made it into the hall way where Nathan and Nala stood trying to pull a man out of the newest hole in the floor. Taking a few running steps I jumped and flipped over their heads to land on the other side. Nala let go of the man's hand and I took her place.
"On three we lift." I said calmly and the man looked panicked while Nathan nodded. "One, two, three."
We gave our all and pulled him out of the hole and onto solid ground. For a moment Nathan and the man caught their breath while I looked around. The way I had come from led to the kitchen and a dinning room which I had only glanced at when I had been making my way here. My feet led me to the foyer again and out of the house. Nala came after me skipping while the others were more like me in just walking out.
"Why are we out here?" Nala asked
"Less danger." I said calmly looking at the house.
Nala got what the contractor figured it would cost to fix up before he and Nathan left. I continued to look at the house and for a moment I thought I saw a flicker of movement in one of the upper windows. Shaking my head I made my way to the jeep and looked at Nala who was watching the house. She staid there for a while longer until I called for her and she startled then came to the car and got in. With that I started the car up and left the way we came. Parking we gout out and headed to the hotel room and had a meal of fish and salad before heading to bed, hoping tomorrow wasn't quite the headache today had been.