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Lord Dominus

Lara walked around the room, bored. She had been shown to this room over an hour ago and then the man had left instructing her to stay put until she was called for. Lara had kept trying to tell the man that she didn't want to stay in his home, but he wouldn't listen, he just kept telling her that she would stay until the storm had blown over. Eventually even though her mind had been screaming no, she agreed with the man and let him show her to the room she was now in. It was his eyes, those deep dark hypnotising eyes, making her lose her won thoughts. The man still hadn't told her his name, and she did not know what she should do.

She sat down heavily on the bed. It was a large four poster bed and it was black all over, ebony posts, and black silk sheets. Matching heavy black drapes hung to the side of the great window and across from it stood a large empty wardrobe. An elegant oak door next to it lead to a small bathroom with a sink and a small bath. Lara washed her face and finger combed her hair without a mirror because there wasn't one in the bathroom or the bedroom.

Sighing Lara walked over to the window and looked out. The storm still raged on for as far as she could see and the clouds were so black she began to think that this storm would never stop and she would be stuck here forever. She closed the curtains not wanting to watch the ferocious storm on the other side of the window, and now the room was lit by a single candle next to the bed. After sitting on the bed for a further minute just staring into space she got up and walked to the door.

She couldn't be bothered to sit here anymore, bored out of her mind and doing nothing. Even if she just walked up and down the corridor it would be better than this. She opened the door and was shocked to find Matana standing there looking up at her. She had changed her dress and was now wearing a blood red dress with golden trimming. The little girl looked like a princess but in the candlelight she looked even stranger it almost seemed to Lara that Matana's eyes were flickering, almost as if there was a storm reflected in her eyes.

"Dinner is served," she said in her sing song voice, all trace of her previous sinisterness had disappeared. "Please follow me," she said setting off down the corridor. Lara quickly shut the door and the hurried after Matana who had already disappeared around the corner; she walked fast for a child. However when she reached the corner there was no sign of Matana in the long stretch of corridor. "Matana?" she called softly. She was sure she had seen Matana come down here.

She walked down the corridor, her face lit by the flickering torches set at intervals in the stone walls. Suddenly she heard Matana's voice echoing down the corridor, "Lara," she called, "This way," Lara tried to follow the sound of her voice but found she couldn't, she didn't know whether the voice came from behind or in front of her but she couldn't tell. "Where are you?" she called to Matana desperately, she didn't want to get lost in this maze of corridors and doors which were all exactly the same.

"This way!" called Matana tauntingly. Lara tried to see the little girl but she couldn't see any sign of her. Blinded by her lostness, she half walked half ran down the corridor in the direction she thought she could hear Matana. As Matana's' voice rung from all different directions, she began to feel confused. She was lost, she had no idea where she was. As she began to get more frustrated she rounded another corner to find Matana standing at the top of the entrance hall stairs.

"There you are!" she exclaimed with a childish innocence. "Did you get lost Lara? You'll have to keep up next time." Lara smiled but the annoyance still showed through on her face. As well as feeling annoyed she was slight scared, this castle was scary especially when you were on your own.

Matana lead Lara down the dusty stairs, and this time Lara kept a close eye on Matana, a hard thing to do in the dark. When they reached the bottom of the stairs Matana lead her over to a set of grand doors and pushed them open to reveal a long room, dark. The only furniture was a table and chairs. A few candles were scattered along the length of the table, casting deep shadows everywhere. The table was draped in a deep red cloth. At the end of the table, the man sat on a throne like chair, sipping something from a musty golden chalice. When he realised that Lara and Matana had entered the room he stood and then bowed low to Lara.

Lara hesitated as Matana beckoned her to a chair next to her father. The man saw her pause and beckoned with his finger and she seemed to glide forwards almost as if he was pulling her towards him. When she neared him, he took her hand and let his lips brush over it, his eyes not leaving her face. Lara blushed uncomfortably, this man scared her. She withdrew her hand quickly and sat down ; and she missed the slight frown that appeared on his face. Matana's father sat back down his chair, and Matana sat opposite Lara.

Placing his chalice on the table he clapped his hands twice and a side door opened slowly. A middle aged man walked in, pushing a cart. Before he reached the table, he stopped and bowed low to the man. "My Lord," he rasped before bringing the cart to the table. Lara was slightly disappointed she had hoped this servant would have said Matana's father's name, as she still did not know what to call him. The servant proceeded to lay food on the table, a tureen of warm soup, a plate of beef, bowls of vegetables and a basket of steaming bread rolls. Casting a strange glance at Lara, the servant took his cart and wheeled it out of the hall, closing the side door softly.

Matana's father relaxed back in his throne like chair, one foot resting on the seat. He took another sip from his chalice and the gestured towards the food. "Please eat, help yourself." Nervously Lara helped herself to a bowl of tomato soup but didn't eat. It was strange that Matana and her father weren't eating either. Instead the man seemed to be lost in his own thoughts and Matana was watching Lara strangely. "Please sir," she said pulling the man out of his daydream. "Please forgive me but you have not given me a name to call you by." The man stroked is chin thoughtfully. "Have I not?" he half muttered to himself. "You may call me… Lord … no just Dominus," he said with a grin. Matana look sharply at Lord Dominus. Lara muttered a thank you and looked back at her bowl of soup. It was dark and thick, but she wasn't hungry.

"Matana!" said Dominus loudly and suddenly. "Please leave us." Matana looked away from Lara to her father and opened her mouth to protest. "Now!" he said sternly. Matana pouted and stormed away down the hall and slammed the doors as she exited through them. There was a large silence following Matana's departure. Lara stared at her food, and Dominus stared intently into his chalice.

Finally Lara decided to say something. "Will Matana's mother not be joining us?" she asked quietly. Dominus looked up from his chalice and its dark contents. A slight scowl played a cross the man's face as if he was remembering something from long ago. "Matana does not have a mother." he told her finally. "Oh I am so sorry!" said Lara softly. She had not wanted to bring up bad memories for Dominus. She looked back down at the thick congealing soup. It made her stomach churn.

"Are you not going to eat?" Dominus asked her, eyeing he contents of her bowl. Lara blushed. "I was waiting for you to start, my Lord," she told him. "Matana and I ate earlier this evening before you arrived." he told her. "Oh and please do not call me lord, call me Dominus." Lara nodded, her eyes still on the soup. "You don't talk much, do you Lara?" he asked with amusement in his voice. " Oh and if you are not hungry you do not have to eat."

Lara pushed the plate away from her and looked up at Dominus. He placed his empty chalice on the table and then turned to Lara. "What's the matter?" he asked her upon seeing the strange look on her face. Lara shook her head slightly. " It's nothing … it's just I am sure I have seen you somewhere before, I just can't remember when."

"I assure you if we had met before, I would have definitely remembered you." said Dominus. The hair rose on the back of Lara's neck and she squirmed uncomfortably. Dominus edged closer to her and Lara found herself edging further away. "Or maybe you just caught a glimpse of me one day. Where do you live?" he asked. "The village to the west of the castle. Have you ever been there?"

Dominus contemplated this and then nodded herself. "Many years ago, but not for a long time. Maybe you saw me when you were a child. Who knows?" he chuckled to himself. Outside there was a large flash of lightening followed by a clap of thunder which shook the hall. Lara glanced nervously at the roof. When she looked back down she jumped, Dominus was now only a foot away from her. "Did I scare you?" he grinned. Lara shook her head even though her heart was pounding wildly.

"Are you tired Lara?" he asked softly. She opened her mouth to say no, when she found herself yawning wildly. "I'll take that as a yes," he smirked, pulling her to her feet. Lara allowed him to lead her out of the hall and up the stairs and then down the various corridors to her room. He opened the door and followed her in. "Tomorrow I will be busy until the evening but feel free to explore my castle at your leisure." he told her sitting on the bed. Lara nodded and walked into the bathroom and got a glass of water from the sink. When she came out Dominus was still on the bed watching her.

"I will go to bed now," she told him. "Do you want me to tuck you in?" he asked with a mischievous grin on his face his eyes glittering. "I can do it," she said quickly and nervously. The smile disappeared off of his face. "Very well," he said standing up and gesturing to wards the bed. "Sleep well. Good night." He bowed low and exited, closing the door behind him. Lara sighed when he had left. That man scared her. She was glad he would not be around tomorrow. But by tomorrow the storm would be over so she would be free to leave. She climbed into the bed and almost as soon as her head touched the pillow she was asleep, dreaming of Matana and her strange father, Lord Dominus.