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Dozens of pigeons flapped and snapped from white-crusted wood above, their feathered and beating wings disturbing and rustling the air as they swooped down and around the area behind the clock face. Coos sounded from their beaks while clicks came from their nails as they landed clumsily on the rickety banister that lined the stairwell. Gray and white heads glanced at one another, or down the rectangular hole in the floor.

A soft “thunk thunk” could be heard echoing on the old wooden slats below, and the noise, for some reason, caused the dirty birds to chortle and coo even more so than they already where. They’d puff their chests, stretch their wings, or fan their tails, all the while, as their constantly twitching head peered downwards.

Something moved, causing the floor to creak. An eerie silence fell heavily on the room where the dark-haired woman kept herself. The pigeons had stopped cooing in the rafters, their bodies seemingly frozen as they stared down at the bells. Around, the crackling of the fire grew almost faint, and one could no longer hear the rain that slapped and "wsshhhed" against the clock face just minutes ago. The air seemed to be holding its breath, but it was gettin closer to the strained feeling one often got moments before gasping for air again.

Silence...Silence...

The atmosphere was reaching its breaking point, as if almost any second something would break in the law of the world and send everything into some space time continueum.

"PONG" Something hit one of the bells, and just like that, the fire grew louder, the birds above cooed and rustled their feathers, and once again the rain and wind could be heard from outside.

Despite all this, though, nothing revealed itself to the questioning woman.

IndentIyemina now heard two sounds coming from the tower. She stood her ground, waiting to see if anyone approached her. Nothing. There was only silence, and the occasional sounds of a thud or two. She sighed, putting a hand to her chest, the other to her forehead. "How very strange," she mumbled, still feeling a weird sensation.

IndentWith nothing else to do, she shrugged. Returning to the fire, she noticed that it hadn't burned through any of the wood yet. "Perhaps that's my doing, my powers." Iyemina only once had to use her full powers, and that was as a child, running away from a crazed nun. "I am not of their kind," she muttered, "I have no real family, home, and I am not powerless."

IndentTaking a piece of wood from the fire, she began to explore more of the tower. "I know there's someone here," the sorrow said, determined to find the cause of her strange feelings. "You are fooling no one but yourself."

IndentIyemina, trying to be polite, smiled at the pale woman. "Oh my, hello there," she said, not quite sure what to say or expect. Mina, as she was once called by a loved one, was not given the gift of great social skills when she was created. However, her speech had changed to English speech of today- probably from listening from above. She was shy, but would not draw back against someone. Afterall, that wasn't her nature...

Indent"You don't look or dress like the people that wonder the streets. What is your name?" Mina noted the single crimson eye showing, remembering that no one she had ever seen had eyes of that color. Quickly scanning over the new female, she saw something that let her know exactly WHAT she was- another sorrow. Still, that didn't answer who the silver haired woman was.

IndentIyemina smiled, hoping that the other would do the same. "Iyemina is my name. Mina was once my nickname." She turned, her back facing the woman. "That was long ago, however." Mina sighed, her sights set on the back of the clock.

IndentIyemina touched it gently, it's huge size making her resemble almost that of an ant. "I haven't seen another being like ourselves in many generations. I have been traveling for a long time, staying where there are many large clocks. Sometimes, though, it feels like I am looking in a mirror."

IndentTurning back to face the soft-voiced woman, she gave a softer smile than before. "You never told me your name."

IndentIyemina paced around the top of the tower, lost in her own thoughts and that of the one similar to herself. "I had a brother once. We were both similar, him and I. However his heart yearned for something more, and we parted ways. That was hundreds of years ago, however." Iyemina didn't smile this time, though she thought only of good memories she and her brother shared.

IndentSuddenly the large bells in the tower began to ring, almost shaking the area. It didn't seem to bother either, however. Iyemina guessed it didn't bother the one named Relíque, since her voice itself almost sounded like little bells. Iyemina had become used to it over the years, but because she was not purely human, it did not effect her hearing.

Indent"So over the years, where have you been? What have you seen?" Mina was curious to know more about Relíque, and she had an idea.

IndentMina nodded, not asking why or going into details. It was well-known- atleast to Iyemina- that she was only shy around humans. When her brother was alive, they were both very open to each other, and so she was not afraid to share with those like her. Sadly, her brother had changed and moved on, and Iyemina was almost forced to do the same.

IndentFiguring it best not to ask anymore deep, possibly personal questions, she walked back over to where the fire was. She placed her torch with the rest of the burning wood, and Iyemina sat behind it. "It has been raining on and off all day, it seems. Then again, it has always been that way here in Europe, 'suppose. I haven't been off of this continent in about a decade..."

IndentFinally noticing that she was trailing off and going into personal teritory again, she shook her head. Long, dark strands of hair fell around her, almost like a protective cape. Relíque made her feel strange, almost little. "You didn't happen to see anyone else outside, did you?"