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((...Sera's got a watch...but damnit. XD I don't know what time she can say it is. AKI COME BAAAAAACK!))

Sera had almost forgotten they were supposed to be looking for things to trade for the key, but some random thought reminded her of this. Oh! Right! Well..maybe there was something in her. She ditched the wall for now and flashed the light around to see if she could spot anything eyecatching. This was harder than she thought it'd be.

Sera? Did you bring your watch? One of the boys suggested finding out what time it is right now.

"Yeah. I've got my watch..." Seraphine moved closer to the stairs and looked straight up, pointing her flashlight up to see if she could see anything without actually going up the stairs. There was no way she'd take a single step up there without Dimitri and Thanes around to make sure it was safe! They seemed to have voted themselves the brains of this operation after all.

((Edit: She can totally tell the time. cool ))

-Di, some help please!- Remember practically shouted in his mind. -But be careful.- Dimitri immediately looked over to his daemon and sent a questioning thought towards her. -There's a key under the tool box. I don't want it to fall.-

Thanes had walked away in the seconds it had taken to convey those thoughts and Dimitri forgot about him. Instead he looked at the key, licking his lips. -Okay, I'll lift up the tool box; you grab the key with your teeth.- His other half immediately nodded before that thought was even finished.

He maneuvered over to the box, careful to step only where he was certain he wouldn't fall, wings extended a bit for balance. He slowly stooped down and grasped the handle of the tool box. He could feel a subconscious countdown to lifting it, much like how a mind rushes when discovering the answer to a hard math problem.

He pulled the tool box up when he heard the 'zero' in the countdown while Remember immediately darted forward to grasp the key in her teeth, intending to jump backwards the instant she felt, and tasted, the thing between her teeth.

Dimitri gave a rare grin while Remember purred in delight. The cat daemon then jumped over the gapping hole with her tail held high, then marched to the edge of the closet and waited expectantly. -C'mon, let's open that up! Perhaps something good will be in here!- Her excited voice burst into his head.

He carefully walked over and set the tool box down as light as he could before reaching for the key still in her mouth. "Leh's 'ope this works." He took the key in one hand, the lock in the other and attempted to push the key in and turn it, almost begging for the successful click.

Dimitri laid out the things in the tool box, from the iron crowbar to the locket. He fiddled with the locket a bit before remembering the list he had gotten of the things Nisha liked. Things that are rare or striking, unique or beautiful. Or edible. Clocks, jewelry, gold, precious stones. Sweet things, shiny things, Pillows or blankets. Watermelons.

The locket was gold, shiny and was jewelry. And it was rather out of place so was that rare? He pocketed the locket before looking around. Remember also looked around, as she was probably curious of the happenings as well. The door was nearly closed! He grasped his daemon and jumped through what was left of the opening before the door shut.

He stood up, brushed himself off, and looked at what had happened while he was fiddling with the tool box. "I managed to open the tool box," He said. Should he lie about what was in it? He gulped, for lying was hard for him to do. "There was nothing interesting in it. Anything I miss other than the door opening?" He asked casually.

Dimitri gave a nod before walking over to that door, passing one on the way, his boots stirring up dust. -You'd think that Nisha would've gotten the lights on by now. Oh well, I can see fine in the dark, though I think the others might have some problems. If all else fails, you can light up the room but I'd rather not. Something tells me that we shouldn't use too much magic in such a magical place as the House.- -I have to say I agree.- Came her response.

With that in mind, he peered into the open door, taking in everything, almost like a picture in his mind. -They should have chosen better wallpaper.- Remember said, her distaste clear. He gave a small smile at that before wrinkling his brow. He bent down and placed his hands near the print before touching the residue, lifting his hand to his face, and smelling it. Soot. What would soot be doing here? Where was the fire? "I'm guessing neither of left this mark, unless you're shoes have been in a fire lately."

He stood up again. Onward and upward, he thought. Upward indeed. Thought he knew they probably weren't waiting for his confirmation, he might as well start going up the stairs. "Let's keep going," He said, as he started up the steps.

Dimitri was slightly annoyed with her talkative nature and he felt a slight agreement from Remember at this thought. After all, she could've found the mark by looking near where his hands were. He lifted his fingers and trailed them on the wallpaper, some of it falling off and turning to dust at his touch. "Thanes is a big boy. He can follow when he wants to. After all, the maintenance closet's door shut so this one is the only one open, added to the fact our footprints are very clear on the steps."

When she asked if he'd found something, he stopped, gave a millisecond to decide whether or not to show the locket to her and took it out, holding it in the air to the side of him, though still facing forward. It was easier not to lie. "I looked around the closet a bit and found this. She might like it." Then he pocketed it again and started walking again, his daemon silent. He was at the turn of the stairway. A few more steps and he viewed where the stairs led.

The Stairwell

Obviously preoccupied with his own thoughts, Thanes trailed a bit behind the others...Rotary ambling at his heels. Whether or not he'd seen the contents of the tool box...and the locket...had yet to be revealed.

The stairs seemed sturdy enough, the ceiling high and the air cooler as they rose. The heat that pushed up from the floor boards lessened and vanished by the time they reached the landing.

The chandelier overhead was silent, except when graced by light. The wallpaper, the stairs...even the walls seemed to suffer when illuminated. The decay only stopped in the flickering half light. No windows were visible in the stairway...the flash of the storm 'echoing' down the stairwells from an unseen window high above.

The stairs twisted to accomadate the next rise, doubling back as they led to the second story. There was no door here, though...only more stairs, doubling up yet again for another flight. At the very top, on what could only the the third story, a single door stood facing the head of the stairs.

The Sitting Room

As Thanes arrived as well, taking up the back, the door silently edged open a scant few inches. Within was a gorgeous sitting room, much of the rich furniture sadly covered in sheets and dust. Most notably, an antique divan with musty bead fringed cushions, a small chandelier, and an old roll top wooden desk (lid shut) were settled about the chamber.

Across the room, another door led out of the chamber...blocked by a massive claw foot armchair upholstered with tattered velvet. It would take at least two, if not all of those gathered, to move.

From beyond the door, the scratch and pop of a needle on vinyl could suddenly be heard. Moments later, mellow instrumental music, sweet and low, could be heard. Apparently they were expected.

((I have to go for the night! Feel free to make a post or two, but don't take too many liberties while I'm gone. I'll be back tomorrow for more! Also, I would prefer if everyone stayed together for now...I've assumed everyone has ventured up the stairs to the Sitting Room. Please do not venture back down the stairs until I am available to post! heart ))