"How much does your family mean to you?"
The moonlight electrified his soft periwinkle blue eyes with a new insensitivity that could only be described as deadly and virulently intense like electricity flowing through two pools of water.
They were beautiful and Humility couldn't take her eyes off of them but at the same time her instincts screamed at her to look away and run for her life.
"What- what do you mean?"
Humility sputtered slightly, confused by the indifferent air in which he addressed the question.
"Oh sorry, do forgive me. Allow me to rephrase that.
Is your family important to you?"
Jarl had a over dignified way of speaking, although he claimed to have Welsh parents, he had that undeniable well educated English accent.
It was a buttery, velvet voice, satirical and almost cynical.
He had one of those faces that seemed to be permanently unimpressed.
He rarely smiled but the smile lines were unmistakable in the moonlit room.
He had broad eyebrows, a wide forehead, a stocky chin, a sharply slim aquiline nose.
His build was formidable and robust, he had extensive shoulders, brawny arms and sturdy looking legs.
His hair was a coppery brown and it curled into perfectly executed waves that were more prominent in the front then the back.
"Yes...my family is very important to me.
I mean we may not see eye to eye on everything and they often are loud, obnoxious, at times nagging and over bearing, they annoy me and irritate the heck out of me but you know in the end they mean a great deal to me."
"Aww...I see...so you are quite close to them?"
"Oh very close, a little too close to be honest.
I wish there was some distance between us.
I mean there certainly is now but it would be awfully nice if I didn't have to rush back home after a week."
"Really? A week? They only give you a week to go abroad?
How far are you into adulthood?"
Jarl actually appeared stunned by this bit of information.
However Humility didn't understand the question regarding her age.
She'd never been overseas before and the phrase was unfamiliar to her.
"I'm sorry, perhaps you're unfamiliar with the term.
Let me explain, I believe in your country the question is how old are you.
However I do understand if the question is too personal.
You needn't answer me if it's too personal."
"No it's fine.
You know alot of women get kind of sore when you ask about their age but for me it's really no secret.
I mean it's not like you're asking my credit card number or my current BMI.
I'm 25 if you want to know.
I know I look like I'm 18 maybe even younger, my brother likes to call it a baby face.
Sounds conceited but I have people ask me all time if I've finished with highschool yet.
What's really creepy is when older guys think I'm underage and
Then when they figure out I'm well over the age of an old maid they get super disappointed.
So gross.
I mean I don't mind older guys but most these men are still holding their pants up with suspenders and they still think long johns are in style.
We're talking 80 and up.
I mean the last guy that thought I was 16 I saw him put a bag of depends in his shopping cart.
What's worse sometimes I even see these little old men alongside their wives.
It's sad not for him but for the wife.
Anyway totally off subject, I lost myself for a minute there.
So yes I am for sure an adult.
I've finished highschool, finished college, I'm all set for the world.
My family has a different story in their books but that's okay, just as long as I've got my story straight that's all that matters".
"Your degree?"
"Mortuary science.
So Legally in the United States I'm a mortician.
Well technically I'm a embalmer since I wasn't ambitious enough to be a funeral director.
You have to study law and you have to train for an extra 2 years but at least I made it that far."
"Fascinating.
Your parents I take it didn't approve?"
"Goodness no...they practically tore their hair out.
They threatened to kick me out, said they'd call the cops if I came back, I came back anyway, they then threatened to lock me in my room, that never happened either because you can't ground somebody that's over 18 and if you did that pretty much is a hostage situation.
So yes it was fun at the Fortune Family house if you want to know.
Then shortly after I moved out, packed my things up into my car, I decided I wanted to travel and here I am.
Am I talking too much?"
"No not at all.
I find your casual discourse to be quite welcoming.
Life here at the manor here is ever so quiet and full.
You bring new life to this place, life I've not heard for quite some time.
I find your accent to be absolutely refreshing.
It's so unlike any accent I'm used to hearing.
You might not think about it but some of us in this country consider the American accent to be somewhat exotic."
"I'm far from exotic.
I'm actually pretty ordinary."
"You're far from ordinary, I assure you."
Yet again she was mesmerized with those neon blue eyes.
"I'm rather confused.
You mentioned that you only have a week to go abroad but yet you are currently no longer a resident of your parents home.
Is there a reason for you returning so early?"
"Oh my brother has a birthday and my parents expect me to be there.
I've never missed a birthday yet so it just wouldn't be right for me not show up for this one you know."
"Aww I see.
Family obligations.
Quite understandable.
Do tell me if your plans change".
"Of course you'll be the first to know.
There's always a possibility that I might not go this year.
I might soak up the culture here a little while longer.
You know I don't mind my parent's disappointment, I'm used to that, but I couldn't stand disappointing my brother.
He's more sensitive while my parents are just addicted to drama.
I don't want to hurt him.
I don't want him thinking that I don't care.
Perhaps I could call him and explain."
"What would you explain exactly?"
One of his eyebrows tilted in intellectual fashion.
"Oh that I'd much rather stay here- I mean I'd rather just stay put or explore or do whatever young dumb tourists like me do when they travel to another country.
I like the freedom and I like this place especially."
"Dumb Tourists don't have the privilege of staying in someone's private mansion.
So I highly doubt you fall into that any young dumb Tourist category.
Might I add that Young Dumb Tourists don't just happen to stumble upon a secret Manor hiding amongst the woods."
She peered out into the woods from the window rather dreamily touching the glass lightly with her fingertips.
"You know the funny thing about coming here is it's almost like I knew I'd find it, this place when I was lost in the woods.
I had gotten lost and in my mind I kept wishing I'd find someplace to stay but even before that I'd secretly wished that I'd have a place to escape to.
What's even funnier is that if I were to die out here no one would know about it.
It's so secluded and like you said it's somewhat of a secret so if they were to come looking for me, say the police I doubt if they'd find me.
The weird thing is, I like it.
I actually like being stuck here.
When I first saw this place, it was strange but I almost heard something or someone calling me to come in.
The woods had the same effect.
I don't know if trees can talk but those trees were full of voices.
I'd never been much in tune with nature but when I came here...well..nevermind I'm probably delusional".
"No...no you're not delusional...these trees speak to me too.
Sometimes they even sing.
I can hear music play during the night.
They say they are the voices of evil sprites and the songs of dark fey.
Some claim they are the voices of the children that were once lost in these woods.
You didn't see any children by any chance?"
Humility almost snorted but instead let out a muffled chortle.
"Oh you mean those cryptid like creatures that are disguised as children but they are actually ghosts with haunting black eyes?"
"Oh so you've heard of them.
You must be well versed in the supernatural yet the question is have you ever experienced it?"
"Oh no, I've never encountered anything supernatural.
I've never seen anything either.
It's just a hobby of mine, you know something to pass the time while you're waiting for the nail polish to dry."
Jarl made a a sighing chuckle with his mouth still firmly closed.
"Do you really like it here?"
"Yes I do but I can't stay here.
I don't want to over stay my welcome.
You've been really kind towards me and you've been very generous to have me stay here but I'm afraid I'll have to move on sooner or later."
"Where will you go?"
You could hear silky tones of sadness in his voice.
"Back to civilization.
After that I'll probably find a hotel or some kind of Inn."
Humility subconsciously in her sadness sighed to herself.
"Do you have the proper funds for the suitable lodgings?"
"If you're talking about money, I'm a little short but I could probably get some more at the next ATM."
"There isn't a ATM for more than a 160 kilometers from here.
In your standard of measurement that would be nearly equivalent to 100 miles
I say nearly because it's over 100 miles to the next lately populated area.
This is the countryside and right now we're practically in the wilderness.
It will take you some time to find the roads, most of these are roads are on a incline.
You'd have to travel through the hills just to get out.
I'm afraid walking on foot would not be wise.
You'd be better off staying here until you have proper transportation."
"What are you gonna do?
Call a cab?
Let me guess you're going call for a carriage?
Better yet Since we're not in any hurry I could learn side saddle and ride a horse right on out of here."
"There are no cabs, there will be no carriages and if you wish to learn to ride a horse I'd highly recommend you do so the usual way.
Side saddle is for far more experienced riders, it's not something that is usually done by a novice.
I might come from old money but I'm not that old fashioned."
"Old money.
Was your family rich?"
"My family was well do however they fell to hard times, they had to eventually depend on the kindness of others to help support them.
There was one such benefactor that took a shine to me as a boy and he gave me this house in his will."
"Wow, you lucked out.
I mean that was really fortunate that you inherited all of this.
I mean whoever built this place must had alot of class.
Oh does your house have any secret passage ways?
I've heard about these old homes in England that have these secret doorways leading down hidden tunnels and corridors.
They were built for the servants so they could seemingly be everywhere at once.
These secrets passageways literally could take them anywhere in the house.
They could peer in through peep holes and paintings to watch the comings and goings around the home.
I always thought it was something the movies made up but I've read that things like that really do exist.
So I was wondering if you had any that you still use?"
Humility's voice quavered with excitement.
"This place is simply brimming with secret passage ways.
I hardly see why that's such a great source of excitement.
Secret passages are really quite ordinary in homes like these.
I suppose to an American tourist it might be quite thrilling but when you live in such a grand estate hidden passage ways are hardly cause for any excitement.
Yes I do use them occasionally.
In fact one of the many fireplaces in this manor, has a hidden lever.
The lever activates a simple rotation device, which then leads to another room.
I suppose you want to see these passageways for yourself."
"Yes I'd like that very much that is if it isn't much trouble for you".
"For you it is never a trouble."
He smiled in contented smugness.
Jarl was beginning to think this was way too easy.
She was all too perfect and far too gullible.
she was going to stay here at Vistoff Manor whether she liked it or not.
