Mandi was blown away by how vast Enmu's subterranean home was as he showed her around. She was curious as to why so many of the rooms had been partially decorated or even empty. When she inquired to Enmu about the sparsely finished rooms, he laughed and said he didn't have any idea what he wanted to do with them yet. "His home isn't just a house; it's a freaking maze!"
She stopped counting after he showed her a fifteenth room. She couldn't imagine how he could have built this place, especially with it being all underground. She'd seen a movie one time called Cube where the people in the movie tried to escape out of a fourth dimensional object, a tesseract. After seeing so many rooms, she wondered if she wasn't really in a hypercube. With most of the rooms, there didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason. Many that he had given her a tour of contained bizarre, sexual sculptures and paintings in them, something like Salvador Dali or Picasso would create. They were standing in one room that had a red theme, and it was filled with red leather gothic furniture and black accents.
She stood next to a pedestal that had a bust of a man upon it in bronze. There was a very large life-like painting of a woman adorning one of the walls. She was naked, curled into a ball, and had numerous hooks piercing her flesh. Her raven hair was laid out in a silken wave before her, her chin tucked down obscuring her mouth. Mandi cleared her throat. This wasn't the first proactive art she had encountered in Enmu's home. Much of the art was very surreal and dream-like, but some of it looked as if it was certainly done from life. She looked back at the bust wondering who it was.
"Ah, that's Marquis de Sade," Enmu answered without her needing to ask.
"Who is he?"
"Oh, no one special. He's one of my idols, though! I love his philosophy."
"Which is?" Mandi raised one eyebrow at the bust then to Enmu.
"Nothing special. Another topic for another time."
"Why so evasive?"
"Because there is much more to see," he offered her a warm smile.
"Okay. Then what about all of this artwork? The various sculptures I've seen. Did you paint this girl being tortured?"
"It's called "Discipline", and yes, I did," he looked at her curiously.
"Well, I have to say, it's amazing if not a little alarming. Was it done from life?"
"No," he replied a little too quickly. The girl who modeled for him had been Nadine, and she was easily persuaded to do what he wished on the promise of beautiful dreams. He granted her her dream by draining her of life. She had even smiled wantonly as he inserted the hooks into her. He wet his lips, recalling how sweet and sultry she had tasted.
"I've seen nude photos of women though on your tour as well. Are you into photography, too?" she glanced back at the painting of the pincushion woman.
"Why, as a matter of fact, I am. I have a darkroom in my laboratory."
"Can you show me?"
"That's the one room that is off limits, Mandi." Enmu shook his head. "It's basically my private study, so no I can't show it to you, unfortunately."
"I understand. It's where you keep the other locked up girls," she said with a smile.
"What?" he replied hesitantly. He calmed himself immediately. "She's only joking with you. Be nonchalant." "When I'm ready to tie you up, that's where I'll take you."
"Haha, you're such a card!" she poked her tongue out at him. Oh, the things he'd like to do with that pink tongue of hers.
"Shall we move on?" he asked, indicating the door. Mandi nodded, wanting to be free of the Red Room of Pain.
The next room made Mandi gasp out loud. The walls, floor, and ceiling were nothing but mirrors. Mandi went to press herself into a wall as she was overcome with vertigo. Enmu held his hands out, catching her. He didn't hold her as close as he had when he had kissed her but just enough to make sure she didn't lose her balance. Mandi looked around before glancing over her shoulder at Enmu.
"What kind of room is this?" she asked, daunted.
"One that exercises the mind, wouldn't you say?" He felt her take a step and away from his arms. He had to try hard to keep himself from frowning.
"Yeah, I would definitely agree with that statement. I feel like I'm going to fall through myself."
"Then I designed this room well," he said, closing his eyes. "By the way, use this room as a reference if you need to. The next room leads to the main living area," he said, indicating a door she couldn't see. "If you want to go exploring, you'll know you have to pass through the Mirror Room to do so or start back in through the kitchen."
Mandi nodded and cast a weary look back towards Enmu. She didn't like this room at all and not just because she didn't like seeing her reflection. It made her feel very unsteady and lightheaded. There was something else about being in the Mirror Room that was just unsettling. Enmu, however, seemed confident and borderline cocky. She caught him admiring his reflection for a second.
"And how do I know how to get out of here?"
"There's a hidden latch here," he gestured and knocked sharply on one of the mirrored wall panels. The sound echoing off it was the only indication that it was different from the rest. "The door opposite is hidden in the same way."
"If you don't mind, could I tape a piece of paper or something to the real door? This room makes me feel like I'm going to faint or something. Not really a room I'd want to spend a lot of time self-reflecting in," she added with a weak laugh.
Enmu nodded and smirked at her statement.
"Well, on to the part of the house you'll probably spend the most time in?"
"Lead on!"
As he led her through the hidden door, Mandi couldn't help but think of the off limits laboratory. By him saying it was restricted, it had kindled a fire of curiosity in her belly. It made it all the more alluring given how strange Enmu was as a person. Perhaps, that room had some answers to Enmu's character. His lab reminded her briefly of the story called Bluebeard and how the room was presented as a test to Bluebeard's current wife in the form of a key. "At least he didn't give me a key I could use to unlock the banned room." Still, she couldn't say that she'd never try and 'accidentally' open the door, that is, if she ever found it.
夢 夢 夢
The Mirror Room exited into a large "L" shaped hallway with a glass encased garden as the left wall. Along the hallway were, of course, more doors. Mandi frowned at them. "More mazes, more puzzles."
She stopped for a moment to admire the lush garden and immediately longed for a breath of fresh air. Even if she stepped outside the double french doors into it, it wouldn't truly be fresh air. It had to have been an underground room with artificial lighting, otherwise Enmu would be sunburned even standing near the glass. There was a small stream that circled around the garden with medium-sized river rocks. Although she couldn't hear it through the glass, she would bet it sounded like a cheerful, babbling brook.
"This is really pretty," she said, placing one hand on the glass. She noticed a chair among the trees and bushes. "Can I sit out here and read, some time?"
"Absolutely! It's what I do out there, and it is the only way for me to work on my tan," he smiled at her. His smile seemed strange, however. It was sharper than usual.
"It's beautiful," she added again and gingerly rubbed the base of her head and neck where she had fallen. She peeled her hand back with a gasp. "What? It doesn't hurt anymore? How is that possible? I didn't think the ice took down that much of the swelling. Enmu's secret healing remedy to the rescue, again?"
He motioned a halo over his head and gave her another sharp smile.
"If you did, thank you. I have no idea how you did that, but I'll take it!"
He didn't respond this time, only glanced at her and then motioned to the first door on the right. He pushed the handle down and stepped inside. Mandi followed behind on his heels.
"Wow, just wow!"
She was standing in the most luxurious bathroom she had ever seen, perhaps even in movies. The entire floor was a lovely white marble with warm undertones. A huge, crystal chandelier glittered above a massive black marble tub that appeared as if it was carved from a single piece of stone. There were 'his' and 'her' sinks to the left, and oddity to Mandi given that Enmu lived alone. In the left-hand corner of the room was a black marble tiled walk-in shower with multiple shower heads. Inside the shower sat a lovely teak wood bench adorned with those fluffy white towels you'd see at a ritzy resort. To the right of the shower was a water closet. To Mandi's right, there was a single sink matching the pair on the other side of the room. The counters were black marble and the sinks were carved from white. There was not a drop of color in this room anywhere aside from the teak wood bench.
"I take it you're impressed?" She watched him back up to the tub and rest his palms on the edge, facing her.
"Well, I suppose it will do. I mean, I've certainly seen bigger bathtubs than that, but I can rough it."
"Ha, I hope my accommodations don't put you out any!" he replied, dishing back some of her sarcasm at her.
"Really though, it's beautiful. Your whole home is beautiful, but this is just gorgeous and luxurious. Again though, mirrors everywhere in here," she said, indicating the walls.
"Yes, but they reflect the glow of the chandelier well, don't they?"
"They certainly do at that." She gazed up at the chandelier, transfixed.
He stepped away from the tub, hooking his arm around hers and slowly pulled her from the bathroom and back into the hallway.
"Straight ahead is your room."
Tentatively, Mandi stepped forward and pushed down the white handle of the ebony door. The entire room, floor to ceiling, was white. Mandi was glad for a moment that her face was hidden from Enmu, because she could not hide her puzzled expression. "White, just like my last name." Other than the lack of color, it wasn't a plain room. In the middle of the room sat a full sized bed with a goose down duvet. Her suitcase was next to the edge of the bed, and her purse sat upon a white wood vanity, probably made from holly. The only thing in her room that sparked her interest was on both sides of the bed were two niches carved into the wall, each containing a beautiful bonsai tree. The walls were covered in a very elaborate white cream damask. It was lackluster to her but clearly extravagant.
"It's pretty," she said with some effort concealing her confusion about all the white. Although much of the flooring in Enmu's home was checkered white and black marble, white didn't seem like a color that Enmu would use for an entire room.
"Hopefully comfortable though."
"Yes, it definitely looks like it," she said with chagrin. She just couldn't get past all the white for some reason. It was too pure for someone who decorated their home with a plethora of photos and paintings of naked women and sexually explicit sculptures. Mandi turned, shutting the door quietly.
"There's a small closet in your room, but the main closet is the next door down. You're welcome to store your clothes here as well if you like."
Enmu opened the door bracing for the impact. He knew that this room, especially his bedroom, would unsettle her further. Inside the enormous walk in closet was his entire wardrobe. There were rows upon rows of similar varieties of his signature black tail coat, grey pinstripe tweed pants, long sleeved dress shirts, and white shoes. Like he had said, there was a small space to the right of the door that had been cleared for her use. She peeked into the doorway silently.
"Variety is not your spice of life, is it?"
"Oh, as a matter of fact it is, but just not when it comes to fashion." He grinned at her. She rubbed her hands over her arms as if she were chilled suddenly. She didn't know what to say about his closet, and instead she remarked about the next room.
"The last door then. Your room, I take it?" His smile answered her question. "Do I get to see where you sleep at night, Dr. Tamio?"
"Be my guest."
Taking her eyes off his, she opened the door, and pressed down the black handle.
"Okay, then!" she stammered and then fell silent.
He took her by the elbow again and led her into his room. She had to stop herself from planting her heels into the marble floor, because she definitely did NOT want to enter his room. It felt wrong somehow, not to mention the color was making a loud statement. Whereas her room was entirely white, Enmu's room was completely black. It could have and probably was a carbon copy of hers. Instead of the white cream damask that decorated her walls, his was a silky black damask. His king sized bed was covered in black satin sheets and a matching satin comforter. He also had two bonsai trees in carved out niches as well, but the chandelier in his room redirected her focus. It seems not everything in Enmu's room was black, after all. She looked up at the blood red glass chandelier and quickly back at Enmu curiously.
"It's a Chihuly. Isn't it beautiful?"
"Not the first word that came to mind to be honest. It looks like a bunch of bloody tentacles reaching down towards your bed. The way you have it lit up, too, makes it really seem as if it is alive and trying to grab something. I will admit though, it definitely is captivating in its own way! Honestly, your whole color scheme on your house seems to revolve around white, black, and red. It's all rather interesting."
"I think those three colors go well together, and black is my favorite color."
"It would appear so. I think your chandelier wouldn't be so creepy if it wasn't blood red. It really does look like tentacles," she gave a nervous laugh.
"Be comforted, Chihuly usually does multicolored works. I just had this commissioned."
She turned and walked back to the sanctuary of the encased garden, watching the water bubble and boil in the stream. She heard him follow behind, shutting his door. He silently came up and stood next to her.
"I can speak my mind around you, can't I?"
"I hope you'd feel comfortable enough to. That's how I'm supposed to help you, right?" He gazed out at the garden himself, lost in thought.
"All this stuff you've shown me, the marble, not to mention that this is all underground-I didn't think any kind of doctor made that much money."
"They don't. I-," he hesitated for a moment, "I had some rich relatives that left me an inheritance."
"Oh, that makes more sense."
"You're thinking something, aren't you?" he questioned, his gaze still fixed outward.
"I'd bet that you are thinking something yourself."
"Ladies first."
"You wouldn't hurt me, would you?"
"What in the hell? How could she even think that? Did I not do enough with that dream I created? She's too intuitive for her own good. I wonder what kind of talents she'd possess as an oni? Oh hell, how do I respond and give a convincing enough answer?!" He sighed and turned towards her, taking a step backwards away from her and frowned. "That's it, give her space. That helped already the tension she's feeling."
"What would make you think I'd want to hurt you?" She didn't look at him, but gave a nervous laugh and pressed her forehead against the cool, glass wall.
"Uh, because I've had a weird life, I guess. Don't mind me. I'm sure I'm just feeling silly for no reason but, usually when things start to go well for me, disaster strikes. I'm not trying to be pessimistic or anything, but I keep wondering what the catch is. There has to be a catch somewhere. I guess I'm just expecting you to hurt me, and that's unfair. I'm sorry, Enmu."
"It's okay, I can understand why you feel that way. I probably would as well if I were in your circumstances and experienced what you have endured. Good can come out of a bad situation sometimes, right? Don't apologize. I'll need your honesty at all times in order for me to be able to help you the best."
"Thank you, Enmu."
"You're welcome."
"Now, your turn. What were you thinking just now?"
He looked at her, his expression still a bit stoic. Like he was certainly about to tell her what was on his mind. A gentle smile perked up at the corners of his eyes and he tilted his head to the side.
"I was thinking that a certain lady might be hungry."
"Enmu, the great mind reader," she said softly.
He stepped quickly in front of her, making sure that she couldn't walk right next to him. He didn't want her to see the grim, confused look on his face.
夢 夢 夢
"I have to say that for there being no natural light in here, you made it look as realistic as possible," Mandi commented after taking a sip of her soda.
"Wait till night. I have lights set up in the bedrooms to mimic the moonlight. I find it really calming to sleep to," Enmu replied, watching her finish a sandwich.
They were sitting at a breakfast bar made of black granite. Enmu was seated on a bar stool, his elbows on the counter. His fists were poised under his chin. When they first walked into the kitchen and sat down, Mandi startled a little at the sight of the countertop, remembering the sexual dream she had where Enmu had fingered her. A blush crept up on her cheeks, and she covered her mouth with a hand. Enmu stopped, looking back at her.
"Everything okay?"
"Yup. All good here. Just felt a little faint for a moment." He had this peculiar smirk on his face as she told her white lie.
He had asked if she would like Sarah, the maid, to prepare something for her, but Mandi opted to not bother her and made herself a simple sandwich. Enmu didn't seem the least bit hungry, but they had a pleasant conversation while she ate. They sat in silence together for a few minutes, and Enmu's thoughts turned inward. Mandi took this opportunity to examine his features a second time and more thoroughly. She wondered what had made his mind wander in the first place; she couldn't help but compare how often he seemed to daydream much like herself.
He really was androgynous, as Mandi had noted before, but incredibly beautiful in an odd sort of way. His shoulder length black hair was in some sort of a lob, sloped down towards his chin. There were two pieces that were longer in the back. If he had them braided, she thought you could have called them rattails. His eyes were big and were such a pretty shade of turquoise, highlighted by black eyeliner and thin, arched brows. His shoulders were on the narrow side along with a thin and elegant looking neck. His eyelashes were long and would be coveted by just about every woman. He was handsome but also had this feminine beauty about him, too. When he walked, Mandi could make out a slight indication that he had some attractive hips on him underneath that black tailcoat.
"How, may I ask, did you get all this stuff down here? I mean, how did you even manage to build this big of a home underground and under a forest?"
"A lot of time and money."
"But you don't look like you're that old, no offense. This seems like it would have taken years."
"My, uh, grandfather had started the project and then was taken on by my father. I was willing to continue working on it. Proper permits and such. Like I said, time and money."
"What forest are we under, by the way? I feel I should know this already, but I didn't look at a map much before I came here." Enmu grinned, looking down at his reflection in the black, shiny granite.
"I'll leave that one for you to discover," he chuckled.
"Why not just tell me?" Mandi cocked her head to the side, genuinely curious at the sudden mystery.
"Because isn't life just much more exciting when you discover things on your own? Besides, there is a present for you in your room in the closet. You can use it to find your answer."
"Do I have to guess at what the present is? A map or a globe?"
"No, a laptop. I wouldn't want you to be bored while you are here."
"Wow, really? Uh, thank you! That's a really generous gift! I'm just still in awe and overwhelmed that I'm even here in your grand home. I wish I had some way to repay you. I feel like I should be your slave for life or something," she laughed.
"Oh dear, sweet summer child of mine!" It took every ounce of strength in him not to laugh at her fate. Instead, he stood up and stepped away from the counter.
"If you'll excuse me, I have some work I need to get done in my laboratory. Please, feel free to look around and explore all you like. I won't be around towards dinnertime, either. I'm on a special diet anyways, and the maid makes my meals for me. I'll probably be in the lab for the rest of the day. There's something important I'm working on." Mandi smiled and nodded at him.
"Thank you again for everything, Enmu. Ha, I take it you won't even show me where your laboratory even is?"
He shook his head, another smirk on his face.
"So secretive!"
"So curious!" he mimicked back. "Don't you know curiosity killed the cat? You wouldn't want to end up like Bluebeard's wives now, would you?" With that, he closed his eyes, smiled, and waved at her before ducking out of the ebony door that they had used to enter the kitchen.
The hairs on Mandi's neck and arms stood up, and she stared at the door he exited with a somber expression mixed with confusion. "Why the hell would he say something like that? And the coincidence of mentioning Bluebeard after I had been thinking about that story earlier. Damn! It's almost as if-he really can read my mind. But that's just silly!"
Much like Bluebeard, the possibility that he could really read her mind never completely departed as she cleaned up after herself and left the kitchen.
夢 夢 夢
Mandi tried to find a clock somewhere, but had to backtrack to the kitchen to read the time on the microwave. 3:00PM. It was odd that there didn't seem to be a clock anywhere, but then again she hadn't really paid attention while Enmu was giving her a tour. Her thoughts drifted back to the kitchen. Something wasn't just quite right here. Looking around, she noticed that all the appliances in the kitchen seemed brand new. The stainless steel refrigerator even still had that thin, clear plastic protective cover stretched tautly over it. Enmu may be on a special diet, but it looked as if most of this stuff in here had barely been touched. "It's possible that he just replaced everything, because it was old. He did say he needed a couple days to get things together before I came here."
The more she thought about the oddities surrounding Enmu and his home the more curious she became. It was like an itch that just wasn't going to be satisfied with a simple scratch. He did say she was free to explore! Perhaps, she could just uncover some of the mysticism that seemed to shroud the good Dr. Tamio while she explored? It didn't sound like a bad deal to her. She was curious by nature, and he also said for her to do everything she'd normally do. Between exploring and napping a lot, she would be back on her regular routine. She stepped up to the fridge and inspected it for fingerprints but found none. The whole thing was odd, very odd.
Before she decided to explore Enmu's home more, she left the kitchen and headed back towards her bedroom. She inhaled slowly as she stepped inside and shut the door behind her. Her bedroom door was comprised of two different types of wood: ebony facing the hallway and holly, a pale wood, facing inside. It was still the same institutional white everywhere. It was offbeat that the door was made from two different kinds of wood, but she should be getting used to Enmu's oddity.
She unpacked her suitcase carefully. All of her clothes fit inside the small closet in her room which suited her perfectly, because she didn't like the thought of going back into Enmu's 'closet'. She saw a box with a gold bow around it sitting inside and picked it up. She sat down on the bed and opened her present, a gold chassis MacBook. She traced her finger around the mirror-like gold apple and then suspiciously looked around the entire room. White. Plain. Bridal, even. Yes, perhaps that's why this felt strange. She had been given a pure white bedroom to stay in and a gift of gold. "It might as well be a gold wedding ring," she thought to herself, holding up the gold bow that had been around the package.
"No, stop this foolish 'head up in the clouds' thinking immediately! Suspecting motives based on a gift and the design of a bedroom? How much time do you possibly have on your hands, Mandi? You think too much! You need to calm the fuck down and grow up!"
She sighed at her mental chastisement and delicately closed the gold chassis on the MacBook. It really was too much kindness, though. She grew up with the notion that such expensive gifts had some serious strings attached. She lifted up the laptop, looking under it for such a string. There was none, of course. It was a gift, a very expensive gift. He was a doctor and had presented her with great kindness.
"But I kissed him, and I don't think that should have happened if we were having a strict business relationship. I'll have to refrain from any sort of affection and flirting the best I can. I certainly don't want to lead him on (or get my heart broken). Can't deny that it was a damn hot kiss though!"
Setting the laptop on the bed, she stood. Yup, there would be no more flirting on her behalf. She would try to maintain healthy boundaries while she was here. Save those girlish fantasies for when she was asleep. This was a fresh start indeed, and she was going to make the best of the situation regardless of how strange things seemed to her. There really was nothing wrong with all the white in the bedroom, she decided.
Mandi stepped back into the hallway and shut her bedroom door though she supposed it didn't matter if she left it open. She gazed into the 'outdoor' garden for a moment, sighing. Her thoughts were nothing but a bunch of irrational whirlwinds. She was safe. She was okay. It was okay to stay here at Dr. Tamio's home. She turned and headed down the hall with the massive living room at the end.
To her left was the kitchen. There was a very heavy looking black lacquered door standing menacingly in front of her. She guessed it was the front door. There was a door to her right, the door the maid had exited through. Before deciding on a direction, she observed the living room in full.
It's black and white theme was mixed with an array of modern and gothic style furniture. Black and white checkered marble flooring, the black chesterfield couch she had woken up on, several other pieces of furniture either in black or white leather, and there was a huge entertainment system against the wall protected by a sectional couch. It looked like a perfect area to binge on Netflix and popcorn. There were various modern and gothic style lights in different parts of the room including a couple golden candelabras. Enmu definitely had tailored his specific tastes, hadn't he?
Since she had been in the kitchen, she decided to try the door the maid had left through. It was made of ebony much like many of the other doors. Mandi pressed down the handle and frowned. It appeared to be locked. "Maybe this is the maid's personal quarters then. That would make sense."
Walking back to the huge black door she assumed was the front of the house, she decided she'd step outside for a bit of fresh air. She frowned again when she discovered that this door was locked from the inside apparently with a key which she did not have. She'd ask Enmu about that later. She didn't see any reason as to why she couldn't go outside while she was here. With one choice left, she headed back to the kitchen to make her way through the labyrinth of rooms.
She didn't enjoy herself as much as when Enmu had shown her everything. The house, his house, it was too quiet. It was either too quiet or her thoughts were just too loud. She entered the red 'Discipline' room again. She studied the painting in better detail. Although it was disturbing to her, it was really well done. Another painting caught the corner of her eye that she hadn't noticed before hanging on the opposite wall. Upon further inspection, this wasn't a painting.
The woman in this photograph looked identical to the woman curled up in a ball with metal hooks running across her back. In fact, with the way she was standing, she dared to say it might have been the same woman only in a different pose. In the photo, she was holding a black, silk cloth covering her hips and groin. There were hooks looped into nipples and tiny droplets of rubies dangling down from her breasts to the floor. Blood. She was smiling in this photo with this seductive 'come hither' look in her eyes. If Enmu had painted her, then he must have certainly photographed her.
"What the fuck is this guy even into?" she said out to the empty room. She then looked around to make sure that she was alone. She was.
She cast another glance at the bust, trying to remember the name Enmu had given him. If she could remember the name, she could research him on her laptop and find out what prompted him to be Enmu's idol. She brought her index finger up to her mouth while looking at the bust, biting her finger gently. There were subtle hints and clues all over the place, and she was determined to solve this enigma. That, and discover where his private study/lab was hiding. Wanting to find his secret room was starting to become an obsession.
Mandi accidentally discovered a room that Enmu had forgotten to show her: a fitness room. "This will come in handy. I need to work on losing weight, though I think just walking around his fun house is enough exercise!" Though not on the ceiling or floor, the whole room was lined with mirrors. "Why all the damn mirrors?" she groaned inwardly. "It's like he likes to look at himself-a lot."
Eventually, Mandi made a circle and arrived back at the Mirror Room. Weird, she thought it connected to the Red Room of Pain. Maybe there were multiple doors leading to the Mirror Room?
She grit her teeth as she pushed open the door. That woozy feeling washed over her the instant she was in the room. She left the door behind her partly ajar so she could get back out quickly if she couldn't find the other door's hidden latch. She hastily walked to the opposite side of the room and started feeling for the hidden latch Enmu mentioned. Her heart started to pace with an upbeat tempo, but she knew it wasn't just only account of locating the hidden latch or seeing dozens of herself. It was the light.
She paused and looked over her shoulder, down at the floor, and then up at the ceiling. There were no visible lights anywhere, just mirrors. "How is this room lit?! It makes no sense!" Mandi instantly went clammy. She wanted out of this room yesterday. The vertigo was hitting her hard, and she felt like she could easily faint at any moment if she didn't get out of this room. She clamped her eyes shut, reaching blindly for the damned latch that kept eluding her. Sweet relief washed over her when she felt her fingers brush over it. She opened her eyes, and she saw that she was no longer alone.
Enmu stood at the center of the room, watching her intently. How had he entered without her hearing his shoes tap on the floor? The lights in the room seemed to dim down, and another wave of vertigo washed over her. The light in the room now had a kind of flickering quality as if there were dozens of invisible candles floating throughout the room. This absolutely had to be a dream. She must have fainted and was just rather lucid at the moment.
She opened her mouth to call out to him but he put a finger to his silent lips, and then he held one pale hand out, beckoning her. Powerless to resist those smoldering eyes of his and gorgeous black hair, to him she gladly went. She put her palm in his hand, and he entwined their fingers. His right hand made its way to her hip, and she naturally put her hand on his shoulder. Together they danced slowly to the beat of some sultry, soundless tune. He spun her and pulled her back to him, their bodies pressed together.
"This dream is starting to get good," she thought as he let go of her hand and her hip then buried his hands in her hair and pulled her lips to his. She offered no resistance. His movements and kisses were slow, seductive, and methodical. It was as if he knew exactly what buttons to push to turn her on and make moisture pool between her legs. He deepened the kiss, his tongue slipping along her bottom lip before entering her mouth. He moaned into her mouth when she wrapped her arms around his neck. They were grinding against each other now, both on fire.
He pulled away from the kiss and moved behind her. He lifted her hair off her neck, kissing the warm skin underneath, nibbling gently. He trailed his palms down her arms, stopping at her hands, grabbing them and kissed their fingers back together. He drew her arms away from her body and crossed them in front of her breasts, and then she felt his hips sway in time with the music she couldn't quite hear. She was rapt. She knew this was beyond wrong, but she couldn't speak or look away from their dancing forms reflected in the mirrors. It was almost like she was under a spell. She could smell cedar heavy in the air, and the scent was intoxicating to her.
Enmu knelt down, placing one hand under her skirt and slid it up her thigh. She whimpered in frustration wishing she hadn't worn leggings. His fingers crept higher, brushing against the edge of her groin and about set her on fire. After teasing her, he spun her back around slowly so she was facing him again. Everything was in slow motion like she was drugged, and he interlocked one of their hands together. He began to dance again to some kind of slow tempo music, their bodies so close together that you couldn't slip a piece of paper between them. She leaned her face towards him as if to kiss him again, but he pulled back playfully. The cedar smell was definitely coming from him.
She never took her eyes off his, not even when he took one of her hands, palm down, and guided it slowly down the curve of his buttocks. She smiled, wishing that all her clothes would melt away in this dream. He grinned at her in return, and let go of her hand. His own hands snaked their way down her backside now, cupping and cradling her ass to him. Her hips had a mind of their own and tried everything they could to stay connected with him and the raging hard on he had underneath his twin tailed coat.
He looked her up and down as if willing her to undo her unbutton blouse. She complied readily, silently. Her white neck was exposed to the flickering lights, a light sheen of sweat beading her skin. His lips were on her shoulder in an instant, nuzzling, kissing, and nibbling. His teeth felt so real and so very sharp. His lips worked their way up to her neck, his teeth still pressing into her skin. She moaned loudly, grinding her hips into him. He pulled away abruptly. Mandi cupped his face in her hands, and kissed him as if her life depended on it. Now, her tongue was in his mouth, invading and demanding. She heard him gasp, and she held fast to him. For some odd reason, he was now trying to get away from her.
"Bullshit, I'm yours now. You can't run from me, beloved," she whispered huskily, and kissed him deeper. She ran one of her hands down his front, her palm caressing the outline of his cock through his clothes.
She felt him grab her roughly by the shoulders, and he shoved her away with this regretful look in his eyes. He waved to her with his left hand and then darted out the door he came in. The flickering lights slowed down even further, the flashing slowing down as if mimicking a dying heartbeat. It was getting darker and darker in the Mirror Room to where she could barely make out her hands in front of her face. She slumped to the floor and closed her eyes.
When she came to, the room was back to its regular, mysterious lighting. She must have passed out. She felt her forehead, but it didn't appear as if she had fallen and hit her head. Her blouse had never been unbuttoned, and Enmu had never been in the room with her. She noticed the door she had been trying to open was now askew a few inches making it easy for her to get the hell out of this psychotropic room. She saw that the other door was still open as she had never closed it, so she stood up carefully to make sure she wouldn't fall and walked over to it, shutting it. Keeping her eyes partially closed, she loped quickly to the other side and escaped the Mirror Room. It was just one room she would absolutely have to avoid. That had been one hell of a hallucination.
She stood in the "L" shaped hallway where the bedrooms were and went into the bathroom. She had to pee, anyway. After relieving herself, she washed her hands in the single sink and splashed cool water upon her face. She had dark circles under her eyes. She looked at her single reflection for a moment wondering if she should mention her 'trip' to Enmu. But how do you tell your doctor that you had a hot fantasy about him? She rubbed her eyes and sighed into her hand. She flicked the lights off, and stepped back into the hall.
Enmu, the real Enmu, was standing by the glass encased garden. The lights in the garden had dimmed considerably making Mandi assume that it was near dark. That worked out for her, because she figured she could use some sleep after what just happened.
"Sorry, I forgot to put this in your closet. It's another present for you." He turned and smiled at her and held up a beautiful, soft pink kimono robe with cherry blossoms and two cranes on it. It looked soft and inviting.
"Oh my gosh, that looks perfect! Thank you!" She stepped closer to him and took the gift. It certainly felt like silk or a silk like material. It truly was gorgeous.
"I was hoping I'd bump into you sooner or later, because I wanted to give you that. It's about bedtime for me, however."
"I understand! I think it's about bedtime for myself. I had a little fainting/dizzy spell while exploring. It really was nothing though. I just took it as my body saying, "It's time to sleep!""
"Well, I hope you are alright at least."
She nodded.
"Okay, remember, just do what you'd normally do. Go where you want, do what you want. I have a library somewhere, but I think I forgot to show it to you. I'm sure you can find it tomorrow though if you want. You'll get used to my place pretty quick, I think."
"That reminds me."
"Oh?" His arched eyebrows shot up with curiosity.
"I assume the massive black door in the living room is the front door so to speak. I tried to go outside for some fresh air, but it was locked. May I have a key?"
"I'm afraid at this time I can't let you go out. Let me observe you for a while first, and then you can go outside if you want to, though there isn't much out there to do."
"Still, it'd be nice to get some fresh air and real sunlight, but I'll happily make use of your garden here." She offered him a smile. "Thank you, too, for the MacBook. That was really an extravagant gift! I shouldn't accept it."
"Please, I wanted to, Mandi. Like I said, I wanted to make sure you had enough to keep yourself entertained. Breakfast is whenever you want. Knock on Sarah's door, the right hand side door in the living room, if you want anything or feel free to make something up yourself. The only schedule around here is what you set for yourself, and naturally we will get together in a couple days and discuss things. If you have any concerns, you know where I am. If I'm in my lab, just text me if you need anything at all. Good night, Mandi. I hope you have pleasant dreams."
"Thank you, Enmu. You do the same. Good night!"
He smiled, bowed a little, and entered his bedroom, shutting his door quietly behind him.
She entered her room and noticed that indeed it looked as if there were moonlight streaming in from a nonexistent window. "Really neat effect, it is!" Shutting the door, she didn't feel the need to lock it. She began to undress and get into her pjs, an oversized shirt and comfy flannel shorts. She set the delicate robe on the edge of her bed, smiling down at it. The white room now looked like it was bathed in soft blues and greys. It was soothing and inviting. As she climbed into bed, she noticed a light switch by one of the end tables. She flicked it, and the moonlight was chased away. She smiled again. The moonlight was cool, yes, but she liked the dark for sleeping.
Snuggling into the comfortable and soft bed, she couldn't help but feel those butterflies in her stomach not just for Enmu but for the situation. This felt so right and safe! Maybe now, the bad dreams and memories that plagued her for so long would finally abate. She counted each of her blessings and weighed them up against the oddities. This was a strange place, yes, and a strange man, but she felt giddy and hopeful. After saying her prayers, Mandi was asleep within minutes.
夢 夢 夢
Enmu tried to sleep for over an hour, but he couldn't take his mind off of her. The black satin sheets pooled around his hips, caressing his skin. It's why he always slept in the nude. The feel of the sheets against his skin was so soothing and soft like water. He loved the moonlight that he had created, and he never slept with it off. It illuminated the Chihuly chandelier quite nicely. He closed his eyes, trying to force his mind to relax, but again the image of his Sleeping Beauty lying in a bed a couple doors down from him came to mind. He no longer could ignore how hard his cock was, either.
He reached down and slowly stroked his hardness with his left hand, writhing his hips a little against his bed. He pretended it was Mandi's hand on his cock, stroking him. He cried out softly, trailing his other hand down to cup his sack. He closed his eyes, and slid his left hand slowly down in a circular motion. He could imagine shoving his cock between her gorgeous breasts and giving her a lovely 'pearl' necklace. He pumped his hand around cock a little faster, sighing. He opened his eyes slowly, his gaze unfocused. While imagining his dirty fantasy, he could see her right now, and it just added a level of excitement. Suddenly, he froze.
He really COULD see her. She was standing in his doorway, staring at him. For whatever reason, his 'patient' was standing in his room, and he was whacking off in front of her. "That bastard will NOT go down, either!" he groaned to himself. He forced himself to look at her, thankful that the sheets were just covering his privates. Barely.
Something wasn't right though; she wasn't herself. She had to be sleepwalking. Her scent was different, and she was staring at him with unseeing eyes. She was wearing the robe that he had given her. It looked beautiful on her, hugging her luscious curves in all the right places. It moved around her skin in a fluid like motion that was mesmerizing. He could see her creamy shoulders reflecting back the pseudo moonlight. "Wait, what the fuck? Oh dear gods, no!"
He watched her untie her robe and let it slip off her shoulders in a silken waterfall, pooling at her feet. His breathing and heartbeat were quickening rapidly. This could NOT be happening! Enmu Tamio was a man who rarely was shocked by anything, but right now he was borderline panicking. Mandi slowly sauntered to his bed, completely naked. His eyes darted back and forth from her breasts to the dark triangular patch of hair between her legs. If his cock was throbbing before, it was raging on fire now. She was so beautiful to him. It was unreal.
She was by the bed now, on the right side looking down at him and yet not seeing him. He waved his hand from side to side to see if her eyes would follow the movement, but nope. She was completely out of it and completely naked in his room. Perhaps, he shouldn't have fucked with her in the Mirror Room earlier. He'd been watching her partially while she explored his house on her own, but seeing her in the room with the mirrors, he couldn't help himself. "And I almost bit her. It was too close. She had unbuttoned her shirt for me, exposing her neck. My teeth were at her throat ready to sink deep into her soft flesh, but I thankfully stopped myself. To think that causing that little scene would cause THIS. I don't even know if I should try to take her back to her room or what. She's got me completely off my guard!"
Mandi made a choice for him and grabbed a fistful of his black satin sheet and yanked it away in one swift movement. Enmu cried out in shock and desire. He was fully exposed now. He swallowed hard, his throat needing moisture so badly. "Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck-!"
"I'm here. I came to you. Now, we shall be one, beloved." Her voice had been a whispering, beckoning siren song, and Enmu was nearing the point of no return.
"M-Mandi, you're dreaming," he stammered. "What do you mean "Shall be one?" Mandi, what are you saying-."
He lost his voice completely as she straddled him. He could feel her slickness bathing the tip of his cock. He groaned, twisting his head to the side for a moment before looking back at her. He tried to summon his glamor in case she woke up and actually saw him, but he couldn't focus enough.
The moisture and slickness between her legs felt like she was more than ready for him. In one quick motion, she impaled herself upon his swollen, throbbing shaft. They both cried out in unison, him in sheer ecstasy and surprise and her in utter pain. He could smell blood in the air. She started sobbing.
"Good gods, I just broke through her hymen! She was a virgin!" He had to calm her down though and quickly, because he couldn't have her waking up like this. Hell no! That would be bad for both of them! He sat up, immediately wrapping his arms around her, cradling her to him. He wasn't sure if she would hear or understand him, but he had to try. He hoped she wouldn't wake up from the pain.
"Shh, shh, it's okay, precious. Just stop moving and allow your body to adjust to me. There will not be pain again, only pleasure. I promise! Shh."
He kissed her salty tears away, and she did indeed calm down. He lay back on the bed and let his arms outstretched to his left and right. He watched her, his mouth ajar, allowing her the chance to either leave or stay. Slowly, she started moving her hips again, sliding up and down on his shaft. Enmu moaned deeply, squeezing his eyes tightly shut. Mandi was whimpering a little from the pain still but surely from the heated pleasure that was taking over her loins. She was squeezing him too damn hard. He was buried to the hilt in her wet, slick heat, and she was practically milking him with her pussy. "Oh, fuck no! I'm going to-to-cum. Please, don't squeeze me so hard! I can't last any longer!"
But she didn't slow down let alone stop. Her eyes never left his. The way her tits jiggled with each thrust, his body refused to obey. She even had placed her hands on his bare chest as if she was holding him down to prevent him from leaving.
"Oh, Mandi, you're going to make me cum, precious. Ugh, so tight! I'm-sorry-can't stop!" He clamped his teeth down together hard. His groan easily echoed off the damask walls of his bedroom.
His cock twitched as he emptied his seed deep inside her tight pussy. Sweat lined Enmu's forehead, and he panted like a dog in the summer heat. Mandi sat atop his cock for a moment longer, wiggling her hips a little. It made him jump, his head so sensitive now. Slowly, she withdrew, and stood up. He watched her bare ass jiggle as she sashayed out of his room, leaving his door open. He heard the bathroom door open, probably so she could clean herself up a little. He knew he absolutely destroyed that virgin pussy. It'd been far too long since he last had a woman, and never in his life had a woman take him by force.
He lie on his bed in a drunken stupor, dazed, confused, and satisfied on a level he had never known. He chuckled in his moonlit bedroom unable to believe what the hell had just had happened to him.
A/N: A little more intense than the last chapter, perhaps? Song on repeat while writing this chapter is Darren Hayes "I Like the Way" from which this chapter was named, of course. The painting mentioned titled "Discipline" is in fact a real painting done by the artist Dorian Cleavenger. Chihuly is also a famous glass sculpture. Some of his works do remind me of tentacles which of course Enmu would simply be attracted to for some odd reason! The little seductive dance in the mirror room was heavily inspired by the dance club scene in the movie Fright Night. Yes, I had to insert a Fifty Shades of Grey reference joke in here, sorry! :D Thank you for all the likes, kudos, and comments!