And Then There Was Fiction - Chapter Five · Jun 28, 07:28 PM

“What shall we do now?” Erik wondered aloud, “A mysterious host, a houseful of guests who have no idea why they are here, two girls fainted, and a bloody mirror!” He gestured his confusion, the oncoming threat of Erik looming on the edge of his mind. The other him; the one that consumed his every thought, every action, leaving him with a dark lust to quench his weak and stupid fellow humans. The side of him that didn’t think, only acted on impulse. Never again would he be helplessly left, being alone in the aftermath of Erik. A constant battle of inner humanity and the ability to place all humanity laws behind; he was faced with the question: what did he really want?

Legolas’ voice stirred him from his thoughts, the elf now standing near the window, looking out on the haunting moon upon the moor. “Did you hear me, Erik? I suggested we go see Miss Morgan’s room. Her note mentioned something inside her closet, did it not?”

In a moment Erik had the note in his gloved hand, “Yes, indeed it did. Why not tonight? The evening is still young.”

The elven head shook in the negative. “Miss Morgan has been placed in her room for the evening, and the last I have heard, she was still asleep. We would not want her to awake with two strangers in her chamber, would we not?”

Erik seriously considered the pure logic Legolas presented, then stood up with a growl. “Then we can simply not wake her up! I cannot rest without knowing what I am up against. I would be unable to, as much as I would wish to argue. This body will simply not rest while bloody curiosity is nagging at my mind.” He started for the door. “I must know with what forces I am to contend with!”

Legolas did not move, his eyes trained on the figure. The elf could tell there was quite a past to this strangely masked man, but he could not even begin to guess at what it was. Calmly, he replied. “I am sure that this ‘M. Nicholas’ will grow confident after tonight’s affairs. Once he grows more confident, he will become less reserved. That my good fellow, is when we strike.”

Turning around to listen with all eagerness to Greenleaf’s proposition, Erik seemed to consider this wise. Nodding slowly, Erik once more began to pace; this time, with more purpose, a more settled mentality. After several hours of silent questions, skeptical possible answers, and many ideas put to the test, the two men felt the strange chill that comes ere the dawn. All around the dimly lit room was the ominous whisper of dread. The candles burnt out many minutes before, Erik did not notice that Legolas’ eyes grew glassy and unfocused, as though in worlds and eras long forgotten.

A sudden sound sent two pairs of eyes darting towards the door to the parlor, and Erik answered with a growl.

“Yes?”

“P-Pardon me, sir, I don’t mean to disturb you…” Came an old, leathery voice. “But breakfast is served.”

Both men in the parlor audibly groaned, both reluctant to leave their thoughts. Erik went to open the door, with all intentions of ordering the man to leave, but Lawrence spoke again before Erik could reach the doorknob.

“And I think you’ll regret missing this meal, sir. Scrumptious, it is. Simply to die for.”

There was no evident inflections in his tone, simply a man fulfilling his duty as the head hired help. But both Erik and Legolas shared a curious look, and neither could possibly refuse. It was both a challenge, and a temptation.

Once out in the hall, Lawrence quickly left the doorway, scampering down the stairs first. He glanced back every few moments, to assure himself the two were following, it would seem. Some might say he was checking for possible daggers at his back, but none but Lawrence himself would ever be able to say for sure. And his window of opportunity, the time he might have had a chance to tell someone, was quicker gone than even Lawrence himself might have guessed. For suddenly, Lawrence found himself feeling a strange bout of nausea, and dizziness. Moaning audibly, he whirled around the corner at surprising speed. Erik and Legolas noticed his strange behavior, and quickened their pace.

When they turned around the corner, Lawrence was nowhere in sight. There was the dank smell of smoke in the air, a toxic odor that reminded both men of very different times in their lives. Neither of them lacking for blood, gore, and death.

Erik quickly went to each and every door, searching for any possible exits. Either Lawrence was a more talented runner than either of them thought, or he had simply disappeared.

After a few minutes of searching, both agreed that the best thing to do was to simply go to breakfast. Perhaps, by some strange turn of events, Lawrence was already in the dining room, out of breath and gasping for air. If not, they would have to relate the miraculous event to the rest of the guests.

But what could they say? Would anyone care to believe that Lawrence Shannon had disappeared into thin air, especially the moment after he had become disoriented and a bit eccentric? Erik had not exactly made himself the most well-liked of the remaining guests, and Legolas has remained mostly with Gimli – besides his brief chat with Miss Morgan, whom had collapsed along with Susan. One might have said that it was merely women’s wiles, just a strange faint after such oddities as being invited to a home with no host. But the case of Lawrence was certainly not accountable through women fainting. Something was seriously wrong with this place, this house, this situation. They had no other wish than that somehow, Lawrence would be in the dining room. Or that the others would believe them and leave immediately, at least.

“Three in one night.” Was all Legolas said, as they entered the dining room. Quickly scanning the chattering guests, Erik’s eyes darkened.

“Four.”

— MaskedNicci

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