Alexander Immortal: Chapter Three--part1

Chapter Three

Darkness Falls

         
The meadow is on fire.
         
         I’m running and out of breath, but the fire is closing in.
         
         “What are you doing out here all alone?” I hear a voice say, but there is no one there. “He’s not here to save you! Foolish little girl! He’s not here to save you!” The voice continues, screaming louder and louder.
         
         Save you.
         
         Save you.
         
         He’s not here.
         
         “What are you doing?” This time the voice comes from behind me, and I quickly turn around to see that it is him.
         
         The fire is suddenly gone and the meadow is green and alive again.
         
         “Alexander-” I hear myself say.
         
         “He’s not here,” Alexander says, “Stop looking for him! You are not his! Do you hear me!” he is screaming now.
         
         The fire is back.
         
         “Alexander?” I say confused.
         
         Suddenly I feel a pain in my chest and I fall to the ground.
         
         I cannot breath.
         
         “He’s not here!” he says again and then he jumps on top of me.
         
         Fear.
         
         Alexander then wraps his hands around my neck and starts to choke me. I hear a terrifying scream and realize the chilling cry came from me.
         
         I cannot speak and I find that I’m jerking my hands and feet, trying to get him off me. I realize that I’m trying to call for someone. Someone, but I cannot remember their name, panic rises inside me.
         
         Who do I want to call?
         
         “He’s not here,” I hear Alexander say again.
         
         Finally, I get hold of his mask and pull it off.
         
         I hear the crashing sound of glass, as I see the mask fall to the ground and shatter.
         
         He’s not here to save you.

         
         I wake up in a jerk, and I slowly sit upright in a bed, my bed. The door to my room quickly opens, and I see Ayola in the doorway.
         
         “Oh dear, you and broken glass seem to have a connection!” Ayola says while letting out a little laugh, her gaze directed to a spot next to my bed. Ayola steps into the room and makes her way to the nightstand next to my bed. She kneels down, and I see that there is a broken glass with a small puddle of water surrounding it.
         
         “Did you accidently knock down the glass of water I set for you?” She says while looking up from the mess.
         
         “Uh, I- I had a bad dream,” I say a little disoriented.
         
         “Oh, it makes sense after the day you’ve had Hun.”
         
         “Day?” I say to myself.
         
         “Perhaps I made it worse, breaking that mirror and Master Alexander whisking you away like that. But it’s lucrative, I heard he healed you. Oh I’m so sorry for that Hun! I should have been more careful.”
         
         So it was not a dream then? The time spent with Alexander in the massive room, the healing, and my outburst, Alexander taking me to the meadow, the flowers, and the black castle. It all happened. Everything he told me.
         
         “My name is Lottie Muliere,” I unintentionally say aloud.
         
         “You remembered your name, that’s progress!” I hear Ayola say happily.

         “Alexander told me.”I say with my head down.

         I then look at Ayola and see that some of her excited expression dimed a bit at my response.

         “That’s okay; you’ll see that soon you’ll start remembering things on your own!”

         I give her a little smile, and then I ask, “Ayola, what is the time?”

         “It is a quarter until six…. Oh gosh you should be getting ready for dinner!” Ayola clumsily starts to pick the glass shards quicker with a rag she had in her pockets. “My, I really don’t know why time passes by so fast!” Ayola then leaves to discard the glass.

         When Ayola comes back into the room, she has another white dress with her, along with a pair of flats of the same color.

         “I brought shoes this time,” Ayola says while gesturing them to me. “Now that you’ve had a well deserved nap, it’s time to get real food into you. The doctors have said that you may eat, but I still would warn you not to dive into your plate so fast. You have not actually had food in your stomach for a couple of days so I would eat slowly and with caution! I do not want you to become sick at the table.” She finishes with a smile.

         “I thought Alexander; well Alexander told me that I would not be leaving my room for the day.” I find myself saying this because I am actually scared to face the strangers who will be attending dinner.

         “Well he changed his mind, that man. Usually he is more organized with his decisions.  He asked me, though, to get you ready so you can meet some of the residents of the house, there are no house guests this evening, which isn’t strange given your condition. Usually we have house guests and visitors for dinner almost every night, but today it’s just family, well we all aren’t really related, but we all consider each other family. Don’t worry it’s not a lot of people Hun, and Alexander has warned them to go easy on you and to not pry.”

         My stomach has become a mess and I am not sure how I can be able to eat even at all tonight.

         “Will you be there?” I ask hopefully. I see the answer in Ayola’s expression before she answers.
         
         “I am sorry sweet pea, but no. I have Housekeeper duties to attend to during dinner. But! I will be there until all of the guests arrive. Alexander thought it would be best if you were the first to be there, and then have the family come one by one, that way you are not overwhelmed with staring eyes when you get there.
         
         I take a breath to relax myself. I am extremely nervous to have dinner with people who I probably considered family, and somehow I manage to feel nostalgic and upset because I will not recognize anyone at the table.
         
         “Ayola, were me and you, were we close before?”
         
         “Oh my dear, yes darling we were, very close. I considered you to be the daughter I never had,” she says with a soft smile.
         
         Ayola then sets down the clothes and shoes on the corner of the bed and comes over to my side and gathers me in her arms. I desperately embrace her, as my eyes begin to water.
         
         “You will get better; you will recover your memories. Lottie things will get better, there is no doubt. It might be slow coming, but you’ll see that you will find yourself again.”
         
         I hug Ayola tighter after what she has just said. I needed that; I needed reassurance, especially from her.
         
         “Thank you,” I whisper, desperately meaning it.
         
         “Oh okay, enough of that, time to cheer up darling.” Ayola ends our embrace and walks over to where she left the clothes.
         
         “Time to get ready for dinner!” she says regaining her cheerful mood.
         
         I get up and follow Ayola to the bathroom, and as she helps me freshen up and dress me, I ask, “Ayola, would, would you mind going over the guest that will be attending dinner?”
         
         I feel Ayola gently start to brush my hair, “You needn’t be nervous Hun, just know that we were all family before and we are all family now. But if it will help you feel better, let’s see there’s not that many just a couple.”
         
         She finishes with my hair and as I step into my dress, Ayola begins to name them off.
         
         “Now there are the Robesto’s, that is Annalise and her son Vaughn, they are an intense pair. Especially that boy of hers Vaughn, oh he’s just terrible, no discipline that boy!”
         
         I give a little laugh at seeing Ayola become so worked up just by talking about the boy.
         
         “Then there is that crazy old bat Tate, Uncle Tate, that’s what we call him. Hun for your sake let’s just hope Master Alexander has not invited him to dinner. He can be very unpredictable, that old wizard has lost his sanity with countless failed spells, even cost him his appearance. Although sometimes he has good days, on good days he doesn’t seem to act completely crazy.”
         
         Ayola finishes dressing me as I put on the white flats, which feel so soft on my feet. I then remember how I had stepped on glass this morning and I extract my left foot from the shoe just to inspect its completely healed appearance.
         
         “Master Alexander’s hands for magic really are incredible,” Ayola begins, “you have no idea of the extent he is able to go, it really is incredible. Well, he is a warlock after all; you can’t get any more powerful than that.”
         
         That is right I think to myself. I remember what it means to be a warlock; Alexander is a warlock not a wizard. Which means his powers extend far more greater than a wizard could ever dream. A shiver runs through me, and I find myself asking the question twice today, how did I end up with such a man?

         “Anyway let’s see whose left, oh yes Ryder!” Ayola continues on as we make it back to my bedroom. “He’s a quite boy, a shape shifter that one, and sadly blind; poor boy tends to keep to himself.”
         
         Ayola then goes on to close the window that looks out onto the meadow, and I have a sudden feeling to tell her to open it up again, but I decide not to.

         “And that’s it! Well, there would be five of them if it were not for Howls absence, but I don’t see him returning anytime soon, he left shortly after your accident. It’s strange, you two were very close, I don’t really understand why he left, but I’m pretty sure he had a good reason for it. Alexander didn’t seem displeased with him at all, so I imagine everything’s okay.”
         
         Howl, no his name does not seem familiar, and I find myself looking out window trying to get a view of the meadow to take my mind off the sudden thoughts about this person who I was “very close with.” I am brought back to reality by Ayola’s voice.
         
         “Oh my, there I go babbling on again! Sorry darling, forget about that. What’s important is that you will be reintroduced to the family that is present, and seeing that it is only four people I imagine that you will be fine.”  Ayola then takes a step back and gives me a quick glance.
         
         “Well you just look as lovely as ever in white,” she says. “Well then I must quickly run down to the kitchen to make sure everything is in order before your presence at the dinner table.” With that Ayola leaves and I am left alone in my white room once more.
         
         I make my way to the window and I glance over the meadow. It is strange, to think that I was there just hours ago, experiencing the garden. As I continue to stare at the meadow, I strangely feel a connection towards it, almost like a pull towards it. Unable to shake it off, I unlock the latch and open the window to its complete span, and I take in a deep breath. I find myself closing my eyes, slightly leaning out the window. Its air unravels my anxiousness and I am at ease. Once I have had my fill of the meadows air I walk on over to my bed and gently lay on its cool fluffy covers, careful not to crease my dress.

         All I find myself thinking about is the dinner. How will they act when they see me, these people who I considered my family, it feels strange even thinking about it, that they are my family. I go over there names, and amusingly think up of a back story and appearance for each person. Then I begin to think about Alexander, if he will attend, what will he be wearing? Will he speak to me? I even think of how he will eat, given if he wears his mask. And suddenly I begin to consider how it might be uncomfortable having him there, watching me, because of what took place earlier in the room and the meadow. There were some intimate things that were said and done, and I am not completely sure how I feel about them, or how he even feels about them for that matter!

         “Lottie, Hun are you all right?” Ayola.

         I sit up and face her small silhouette at the door. “Yes, I was just thinking.” I force a smile to reassure her.

         “Are you sure, are you feeling alright?”

         “Yes I am sure, everything is okay,” again I say with a smile.

         “Well if that’s all, dinner is ready so it’s time to head down.”

         I instantly become nervous again, but with a deep breath I try to conceal it deep inside me. “You will stay with me until they are all there right?” I ask.

         “Yes, I will stay with you until each and every one of them arrives, I will not leave you until it is my time to go, don’t worry child,” she says while extending her hand. I walk over to her and take it. I hold it more tightly then I should.

         We leave the room and go down the hall; we pass the countless doors and end up going through the same door Alexander previously took me through. Again, I am met with the same second hall with the room at the end, interestingly though I did not notice the spiral of stairs, at the very corner of the room that descend into what seems like infinity. As we step down the shiny metal stairs I continue to hold on tightly to Ayola’s hand while also sliding my hand down the cold shiny rail of the stairs. I begin to notice the change of lighting and atmosphere as we descend deeper and deeper into the stairs. The lighting has considerably dimed and I can barely see three steps ahead before the rest is consumed by darkness. As we continue on I almost miss doors that are scattered around the spiraling way down. And I am curious as to what those doors lead to. Finally we arrive to what seems like the end of the stairs, because I cannot see beyond the darkness, Ayola opens an oddly large sized door with the words “dining hall” etched on.

         “A tip, if you deiced to explore the house later on,” she says while pointing to the words, “every door is labeled, so you know where you’re stepping into.” Ayola then gives a small laugh, “It’s that this house is so massive you can easily get yourself lost if you’re not paying attention. Well then after you miss!” Ayola then steps aside gesturing me ahead.

         I hesitate for a moment before stepping forward, and I feel myself take in a breath. I am completely amazed by what see. It is indeed a hall, but my, is it monstrous! The ceiling towers over head and bends in a circular form, much like a doom, and it seems to be made of breathtaking stain glass. But I cannot quite make out what it is that is illustrated. I quickly move on to the decorations which are vibrant and bold. Hues of blues and reds are strewn all around, silk fabrics of copper fall from the ceiling, and gold yellows and rust browns dominate the table.

         The table, it is such a magnificent table. How raw and rustic it is. As if it was hacked down from a thriving tree, shaped into what it is now, and displayed for the world to see. It is not polished, nor is it smooth, but simply a tree made into a table. Its bark has not been stripped away and its rings provide the flatness that is needed for the top. Though as raw as it appears, there are signs of creative touches here and there, which are beautifully carved gold paintings around its base, and it seems to be an evolution of some sort of majestic bird; I suppose to make the table appear more elegant.

         “What do you think?” I hear Ayola say behind me.

         “It… It is breathtaking!” I manage to say while still admiring.

         “This is one of the few rooms Master Alexander actually decorated himself; he has quite a signature when it comes to his preferred style. It’s a bit all over the place it you ask me.”

         I managed to cast back at Ayola in time to catch a little smile on her lips.
         
         “Well, have a seat sweetheart. You will be sitting second to the lead chair.”
         
         I direct my attention to the table again and see that it sits about thirty-two people, fifteen on each side and two lead chairs at its ends. Though I notice that one of the lead chairs is larger than the other, so I assume that is Alexander’s chair, and I head over to the chair right to that one. When I sit down I feel so small and lonely even with Ayola by my side, and I begin to fidget with the tableware from the nerves.

         “Now Lottie you will be fine, try to relax.” I hear Ayola say when a blue ball comes crashing onto the table knocking down some wine glasses.
         
         “YOU DWINDLING DEAF DWARF!!!” The screaming voice makes me jump in my chair. “Did I NOT say to leave that ball back in the room!?”
         
         Then I see a small boy in a strange black wheelchair enter the room, followed by a strikingly beautiful girl in a red dress, with waves of long red hair that fall past her shoulders. She stands there in the doorway with a hand on her hip eyeing the boy with an angry expression, and I notice the unique birthmark she has above her left brow.
         
         “Ayola, would you retrieve that ball so I can suck the life out of it!” she demands while not taking her eyes off the boy.
         
         “No Ayola! Don’t listen to the evil witch with the ugly mole on her face!” says the boy mockingly, while turning his wheelchair towards the girl with the red hair.
         
         I am beginning to think that they are brother and sister by the way they are bickering with each other, until I remember Ayola telling me about the Robesto’s, the mother and son, but the girl with red hair seems incredibly too young to be the boy’s mother!
         
         “The only witch in this room is Ayola you dim-wit! And you better show some respect before I ask her to turn you into a mole yourself!”
         
         Wait Ayola’s a witch?! I take a few moments to process Annalise’s words
Then focusing my attention to the situation before me, I see the boy turn his head back towards Ayola with a smile on his lips, “You wouldn’t do that right Ayola? You’re a white witch and white witches don’t cause harm to other people.” He says matter –a –factly, and I cannot help but fall under his adorable charm as he continues to smile at Ayola.
         
         Unbelievable Ayola’s a white witch of all things!
         
         “Vaughn Robesto you know very well your smiles do not work on me, so I suggest you respect you mother or I will proceed to turn you into something undesirable.” Ayola replies firmly. “Now please you two settle down, before Master Alexander finds out you two have been at it again.  And do well and reintroduce yourselves to Lottie who must be even more stressed out do to the outburst you two have caused.”
         
         “Oh no please, Ayola I am fine.” I quickly say, actually feeling myself relaxing, being able to witness something as normal as bickering among family. I hear the girl with the red hair give a loud sigh and make her way to a chair one over opposite of mine.
         
         “I’m Annalise, by the way.” She says while pouring herself a glass of water.
“Nice to meet you Annalise.” I say watching her gulp down the water in one take. She sets down the empty glass with a thud, and gestures with a tilt of her head towards the boy.
         
         “And that is my son Vaughn, he’s five. I had him when I was fourteen; you knew that before so, I thought I’d just put that out there again.” She says without looking at me.
         
         Just when I am about to respond I see Vaughn come up to me in his black wheelchair. “Hi! Remember me, Vaughn Robesto, we weren’t really friends before, but I’m going to fix that.” He says with that charming smile only his features can embody. And I find myself asking why I was not close with such an adorable boy before my accident. So I get up and reach over to retrieve the blue ball that still sits surrounded by knocked over wine glasses.
         
         “I would really like that Vaughn!” I say cheerfully, while handing him the ball. As I look down at the little boy in his wheelchair, I cannot help but wonder how such a young child could end up in such a state. When he looks up at me I finally notice his stunning big gray eyes. They are truly breathtaking, as they seem to actually sparkle; they remind me of glistening gray chandeliers.
         
         “Vaughn, go on and hand that ball to Ayola, I don’t want problems with Alexander.” I hear Annalise say. But just as Vaughn turns around in his wheelchair to make his way towards Ayola, she beats him to it.
         
         “I’ll return it to your room after everyone’s made their way to the dinner table.” Ayola says directing her attention to Annalise, but she is preoccupied with pouring herself another glass of water to notice.
         
         I take a good deep breath in, this is not so bad. I have already met half the people that live here and I do not feel as uneasy as I thought I would. I place my hands on my lap disappointed only with the reality that I do not remember them at all. They do not seem familiar in any way, and I feel a sense of awkwardness begin to settle in the air.
         
         “Vaughn,” I begin hesitantly, while watching him settle in an empty space made for him at the table, across from me and next to Annalise. “Because I do not remember anything… would you do me the honor of giving me a tour of the house?” I say, thinking this is the perfect chance of getting to know more of the boy.
         
         He gives me a half smile and says, “Yes! Lottie, I can even show you all of my super secret passageways!” he finishes with his hands in the air, and I find myself smiling along with him.
         
         “Hey, Lottie,” says a whisper.
         
         I jump at the sound of the voice because it came from so close I almost thought I had imagined it, until I look to my left and I see a boy about my age or older standing next to my chair. He stands so quiet and still, and the fact that he is quite lean and thin makes him appear taller than what I imagine he actually is. His black bangs cover his eyes and I can see that his ears are covered in piercings and studs. How did he mange to get so close without me noticing?
         
         “Hello,” I smile, “what is your name?” I ask still a bit shaken.
         
         “Ryder, uh Ryder Tillson, It’s good to see your okay Lottie.” He quietly says.
         
         Ryder…. Oh Ryder! I remember, Ayola mentioned that he is blind, and a shape shifter. Maybe that is how he was able to sneak up on me! With my realization I reach out and take Ryder’s hand, and give it a small squeeze, “Thank you, it is nice to meet you uh again, Ryder.”
         
         I feel Ryder give a squeeze back and he lets go of my hand.
         
         “Uh Ayola,” he says in his quite voice, “Ale-, Master Alexander wants to know if Uncle Tate’s chair is ready so that he may bring him in.”
         
         I look over at Ayola and see a worried expression form on her face.
         
         “Tate’s chair? But if he needs the chair then… Where is the Master?” her voice is persistent.
         
         “He’s in Uncles Tate’s room.” Ryder quietly replies.
         
         “That man how insensible of him!” Ayola begins to make her way towards the large door we previously entered from. “Would everyone please remain seated at the dinner table, dinner will begin shortly.” And with that she is gone through the door of dark spiraling stairs with doors all around.
         
         Things remain quiet and still with the exception of Ryder shuffling around trying to get to his seat, and accidently knocking over a round drinking glass that clashes with utensils, made of some dark metal; to which Annalise responds with an eye roll, and Vaughn with quite laughter.

         Quickly I find my attention directed back to the circular doom of stained glass, because I am far too nervous to start any conversation. Sitting at the table, though, I am able to get a much better view as to what is illustrated on the stained glass. First at the far left corner I see a little boy who appears sad, barley clothed, and lonely. Proceeding is a strange and eerie being that is half male and half female. The male half is black and seems to have elongated claws as hands with what seems like blood dripping from them. He seems to be offering the blood to the boy. While the female half colored white, seems to be trying to destroy a halo, above the strange being of shared sex, with a large sword. I squint my eyes to get a better view of the detail around the female half that is holding the sword. I see that as the female half holds the weapon, strange black roots seem to be devouring her hand as she holds it.

         “You should see it when Alexander gets here.” I hear his quite voice say.

         I reflexively look next to me and realize Ryder is sitting in the chair one over to mine.

         “Uh, Master Alexander’s presence brings it to life, or his magic. I- I don’t really know which is it, but sometimes even though he’s here it doesn’t move so...” He becomes silent.

         “You gain sight when you shift.” I say quietly.

         I see Ryder smile, “Ayola told you?”

         “No I-”

         “I use a bird.”

         What? “A bird?” I say confused.

         I see him smile again, this time I catch his perfectly strait teeth along with really sharp canines. “I see the stained glass through birds’ eyes. Birds have magnificent vision, so when I want to see art or things of that nature, I usually shift into a bird to see them.”

         “That must be amazing,” I say “to be able to see the world through the eyes of so many animals.” I hear Ryder laugh and I become confused.

         Still smiling he says, “You said something like that before, before the accident, you told me something just like that.”

         I smile, “I mean it too, and it really must be amazing, seeing things that people can only dream of.”

         “It can be a burden too.” He says barely audible. And I become puzzled as to why he would think seeing incredible things could ever be a burden. Just as I am about to question why, I hear an unsettling cackling laugh.

         The hairs on my arms are at end and I find my attention directed to the now opened door, that I previously came through with Ayola, to find Alexander, Ayola, and an older man with hair so long and lushes that my only thought is to run my fingers through its strands. But when the eerie laughter picks up again, I notice it comes from the older man who stands in-between Alexander and Ayola. And all thought of hair touching is gone. I notice Alexander is tightly grasping the older man by his arm when they begin to make their way to the table.

         “Now Uncle Tate,” I hear Ayola say, “please remember your manners at the dinner table, yes? Or I will be forced to bring out your chair okay.”

         “Ayola there is no need, he will be sitting with me tonight. Vaughn I suggest you change seating.”

         “But I want to sit next to you Master Alexander!” Vaughn pleads.

         “Vaughn.” Alexander firmly says.

         With that, Vaughn lethargically backs up his wheelchair and makes his way into the space Annalise has made for him to the left of her.

         Then Alexander says, “Ayola, send word to the kitchen to serve dinner at this time.”

         “Yes, Master Alexander.” Ayola leaves, but not before she gives me a quick worried glance.

         I feel anxious now with the presence of Uncle Tate, and I look over to see that Alexander still has him firmly held by his arm, while they make their way to their seats. I can see his shirt wrinkle around Alexander’s black gloved hand, and Uncle Tate doesn’t seem too uncomfortable by it at all. In fact he seems to be completely distracted by me!

         I try not to be rude and look away, but his stare makes me tighten my jaw and nervously blink more than necessary. Unable to stand the lingering stare and stillness I let out a greeting and hello. A second of silence falls over the room, which honestly felt like several minutes, when Uncle Tate’s face contorts into rage.

         “YOU! HOW CAN YOU SIT THERE ALL INNOCENT LIKE AFTER WHAT YOU DID TO ME!” His thunderous voice makes everyone at the table jump and I see Annalise put her hands to her face.

         “You old fart; you nearly gave me a heart attack, God!” she says stunned. I see her take another sip of her water.

         “GIVE THEM BACK GRANDMA, PLEASE! Please, please I won’t be mad!”

         Wait, Grandmother? I actually look around to see if someone else is in the room, and of course, there isn’t. So I just sit there completely confused by what is happening. 

         “Sit.” Alexander’s voice vibrates in the air and everything goes silent again.

         I watch as Uncle Tate tensely takes his seat at the table, in the chair right across from mine, and all I want to do in this very moment is to bust out of my chair, run up all the way to my room, and find solace under some bed sheets.

         “Lottie,” I hear Alexander’s voice say as I try and hide the fact that my breathing has accelerated in the past few moments. “This is Uncle Tate, as you have noticed he is mentally unstable,” Alexander then faces him, “and unable to rationalize that you are indeed not his grandmother.”

         I hear Vaughn giggle.

         “But I assure you, he is not all insane.” I see that Alexander is directing his glance at me. I give a small nod and adjust my attention to Uncle Tate.

         Determined I say, “Hello, Uncle Tate, I’m Lottie. I am not your grandmother, but it is nice to meet you.”

         Uncle Tate sits there for a moment as if pondering over what I have just said, then he slowly brings his large hand up to his hair and tucks it behind his ear and calmly says, “Grandma, just give me back my fingers, so that I can properly wash my hair again.”

         Loudly, Vaughn begins to laugh frivolously and Annalise angrily slaps him in the back of the head. The word “fingers” rings in my ears and I quickly look at his hands to unfortunately find that there are indeed fingers missing from his right hand; All of them actually, his thumb being the only remainder.

         Alexander finally takes his seat in his larger chair and lets out a quick sigh. I take a quick look over at Ryder and he just sits there quietly, looking at his tableware appearing extremely reserved from the rest at the table. Much unlike Vaughn, who sits in his spot with an amused grin on his face, looking back and forth between me and Uncle Tate.  Annalise on the other hand, looks completely unconcerned over this whole situation, which is the absolute opposite of how I feel.

         I then look back at Alexander, and take him in. He appears unworldly, his attire, his mask, his castle. I wonder how I ever fit in his world at all.

         Suddenly I remember his last words to me at the meadow, ‘It’s not going to be easy.’ I do not know why those words scared me as much as they did when he spoke them. I know that my condition will be somewhat difficult to overcome, given that I seemed to have forgotten everything about myself and the people around me. Yet the manner in which he delivered those words, sounded like a warning. Why?

         The door from which Ayola left, opens and I am brought back to the scene at the dinner table. Numerous men and women enter the room with covered trays balanced on both hands.

         “Dinner,” says a young man dressed in all gray.

         Alexander merely gestures, the men and women, with a wisp of his hand to serve the food.

         Okay, the dinner is being served. I try taking deep quite breaths to relax myself. I sneak a peek at Uncle Tate and see that he has become distracted by Annalise’s red hair. He sits on his chair just staring wide-eyed at her hair, Annalise looking extremely annoyed.

         I smile, what an odd bunch.

To Be Continued in Darkness Falls--Part 2