|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:58 pm
A cold breath of wind shot through the wagon, its origin unknown. It seemed aimed toward the box under the bed, which shuddered in response.
There was silence for a moment, then the top of the box started to rattle. It got louder and louder, until in the climax... it stopped.
Another breath of wind came in, seeming to linger around Lorelei like a presence. It seemed to move around the wagon, but never died down. It finally settled on the bed with a certian familiarity, right above the box, and right next to Lor.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:01 pm
At the rattling, Lor yelped and curled up into a little ball, again calling for Vanna.
But Vanna was staring, silent, at the bed. Lor caught the glint of her yellow eyes. "Vanna...?"
Vanna didn't move except for a deep shudder. Nothing moved.
Lor followed her gaze... looking at the space next to her. Nothing. "H... hello...?" she tried, heartbeat speeding up, breathing becoming uneven. "I... is there... is there somebody there?" she whispered, helplessly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:05 pm
The wind seemed to blow in response, carrying an unheard answer. The presence never moved from Lorelei's side, but still seemed to shift about in the manner of a person sizing someone up.
Suddenly, the box rattled again, as if beggin for attention. The presence moved slowly downward until it seemed to wait, expecting, by the box.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:10 pm
Shuddering, shaking with cold and fear, Lorelei slowly put one foot, then the next, onto the cool wooden floor of the wagon. Kneeling by the bed and fighting her innate fear of the dark and what might be lurking in it (and trying to ignore the fact that there was something in it, this time), she reached under and grabbed the box, the only thing under it. Pulling it out, she opened it.
It was completely and totally empty. Well... perhaps not. In searching the soft interior with her fingers, wondering at the lack of the mask, she found a small dimple. Slipping her finger into it, she pulled up... removing a false bottom. In the secret compartment was a small, hand-held mirror. She picked it up.
As she stood, she stumbled against something, falling back. She caught herself, but not before she pulled the curtains nearby open, grasping for balance, letting thin moonlight filter in through the ancient glass. With the light, she looked around. Seeing nothing... she looked in the mirror.
Vanna meanwhile, shifted from foot to foot, nervously.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:16 pm
With the feeling of a mission accomplished, the presence peered behind the young woman into the mirror. If she looked into the mirror, she would immediately see a shape. The shape would become a mask... but nothing else. Simply a lone mask, floating in midair. If she was to take enough notice, she would spot the mask attached to the presence that had been the exact same one that had lain unmoving in the box just moments before.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:24 pm
As the mask began to take shape, Lorelei was more focused on inspecting the outside of the mirror, the fine metal work surrounding it. Then something caught her eye... something in the mirror, over her shoulder. Something white in the darkness. Something covered in black lines, with a wild grin.
That was roughly when she screamed and dropped the mirror.
Vanna freaked as well, shrieking and flying around the room. She stayed as far away as she could from the mirror, though, finally beating wildly at the door. Lorelei raced for the door as well, opening the latch. Vanna flew out, and Lor hurried after, stopping a few feet outside of the wagon, panting.
What was that!?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:29 pm
All was still and quiet, not a sound made. The presence did not follow Lor outside, and it seemed like a normal night, though it still lingered inside, as if watching over the mirror, making sure it was taken care of.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:38 pm
Rojiza, awakened by a crash and a scream, sits up in bed next to her mother. Caroline still sound asleep, Ro decides to go investigate the noise. She pads outside softly, the cool night air caressing her through her nightgown. She wanders back toward Clair d'Lune and then comes across Vanna's wagon. She sees a very distraught Vanna and Lorelei outside. She approaches them slowly, head cocked in an unspoken question.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:41 pm
Lorelei knelt, panting, in the cool, dewy grass. The silence seemed almost to mock her. Vanna twittered anxiously, standing in the grass and stepping from one foot to the other, frightened. As Ro approached, Vanna took to the wing, backing away from the girl, chirping.
Lorelei yelped at the sound of approaching footsteps, then looked up. "Aa... ah... Rojiza... it's... it's only you," she got out, heart slowing a little bit. She still shook uncontrollably, however.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:46 pm
Ro kneels next to Lorelei, tipping her head again. She takes the woman's hands in her own soft paws.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:58 pm
"I... there's... there's something in my wagon," she whispered, frightened, voice creaking. "Something... I don't know. It... you can see it if you look in the mirror. The mirror that's on the floor. I dropped the mirror when I saw it, you see. I... I..." She whimpered, biting her lip. "Vanna's so scared, and...."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:02 pm
She holds Lorelei's hands in hers a moment longer before standing up and climbing the steps to the wagon. She peeks inside, looking around for the mirror. She spots it on the floor and looks into it, attentive for anything other than her own reflection.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:08 pm
The presence made care to hide itself from the unwelcome visitor in its wagon. The girl would see nothing in the mirror but her own reflection, not matter where or how hard she searched. It simply sat on the bed, watching and waiting patiently.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:25 pm
Lorelei came to the door, watching Ro. Quietly, calmed a little by the presence of the girl, she fumbled, found the lantern and matches, and lit the wick. Light jumped into the room. The box lay open on the ground, the false bottom on the floor beside it. There seemed nothing out of the ordinary, aside from that.
Even Aleysius was asleep.
Vanna wouldn't go near the wagon until the light flooded every corner of the wagon. Slowly, she fluttered to Lor's shoulder, sticking close, twittering nervously. Gone, at least for the night, was the normally happy and talkative Vanna. In her place was a frightened, protective creature, nervous of anybody who approached her mother.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:59 pm
Ro shrugs softly, seeing nothing in the mirror except for herself. She shows the mirror to Lorelei with an apologetic twitch of the mouth. She tries to be comforting, as she believes something is wrong, but she cannot see what.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
