As Frederick escorts us back to the room, my mind works double time to digest the 'meeting' we just had with the man named Guillaume.
Like his demented son, he claims to be a vampire, which, of course, is ridiculous because vampires don't exist.
He also mentioned something called the Elder Committee. What is that? Some sort of cult?
It wouldn't surprise me. The people in this place are obviously all off their meds and clearly delusional, which means we need to get out of here as soon as possible before one of them snaps and murders us.
Acting before thinking, I spin around and bring my leg up in one quick surge, nailing Frederick hard in the groin and sending him to his knees.
Sofie gawks at me, shocked, and I grab her hand.
"Run," I say and we hurtle down the hall towards the staircase.
"Merde!" Frederick shouts whilst clutching his groin and struggling to stand. "Get back here!"
We take the stairs two at a time, stumbling and gripping the shiny gold handrail, before sprinting through the entrance hall and racing towards the front door.
Please don't be locked, I mentally plead, please don't be locked.
Upon twisting the handle and shoving the solid wood with all my strength, it becomes apparent that the door is, in fact, unfortunately, locked.
"For fuck's sake," I say in frustration. Just our bloody luck.
Frederick appears at the top of the stair, hobbling as a result of his intimate injury.
"You two," he says, "Stay right where you are."
I flip him the bird before running in the opposite direction with Sofie by my side.
"Bon sang!" I hear him exclaims as we run away. Damn it!
Through the panic and adrenaline, I realise that I have absolutely no idea where we are going. The front door was the only escape route I had come up with but because that's no longer an option... now what? Oh, I really didn't think this through.
Surely in a house this big there are multiple entrances and exits? Maybe there are places we can hide long enough to come up with another plan.
While running down corridors and through various rooms- none of which offer any cover- I can't help but feel threatened by the pleasant decor and expensive furnishings.
The house's pastel colours and airy openness make me feel exposed. Hiding is going to be impossible.
We round a corner and come to a halt at the sight of two large double doors. What's beyond them, I don't know, but at the sound of Frederick shouting our names from not far away, we don't hesitate to open them and dash inside.
Behind the doors, we discover a library.
Wooden floorboards expand out before us. Ceiling-high bookshelves obscure the walls. A metal-framed spiral staircase leads up to a second floor.
There is a desk, a fireplace, and a large window hidden by a long dark curtain, depriving the room of daylight.
"Searching for an escape?"
A soft, lilting voice catches us off guard and we both scream simultaneously.
Whirling around, I quickly discover the source of the voice.
Sitting in an armchair in the furthest and darkest corner of the room is an old man who appears as frail and elderly as the black leather book he holds loosely with his long, wrinkled fingers.
"If so," he continues conversationally in a voice which really doesn't match his grey hair and saggy skin. "You won't find it in here. Unless it's an escape for the mind, of course. That you will most certainly find. Books are such wonderful things, aren't they?"
He smiles then, revealing crooked yellow teeth, and I protectively push Sofie behind me.
"Who are you?" I demand.
"The name's Malcolm," the man replies. "Malcolm Falcon."
Leaning forward slightly in the armchair, he sniffs the air before smiling again.
"I thought I smelled guests," he says, sounding oddly satisfied.
"We're not guests," I retort.
His eyes seem to glaze over and a pale tongue darts out from between his chapped lips, licking them.
"Dinner then," he rasps.
Sofie squeals from behind me like a frightened guinea pig and yanks me back. I stumble, barely managing not to trip over my own feet before the doors to the library are flung open and Frederick stalks in, appearing to have physically recovered from my low blow.
"You two," he says furiously and we both scamper back.
"Stay away from us," I yell, blindly grabbing a book from one of the shelves and chucking it at him.
He ducks out of the way.
"Don't do that," he huffs, advancing forward.
"Stay away from us!" I repeat, throwing another one, this time hitting him in the chest.
He freezes in the centre of the room, staring at me as if he can't quite believe I had done it again.
Malcolm suddenly laughs, taking the butler off guard, and I use the distraction to hurl a third book. It hits him hard on the head. Thwack!
Sofie gasps, Malcolm stops chuckling and a deathly silence befalls the library.
Frederick blinks down at the book before returning his eyes to me. If looks could kill then I would be dead.
Without any other words, he lunges for us and we scramble our way around the room in a desperate attempt to escape.
I grab another book and turn around to throw it but freeze with my arm above my head, the heavy book suspended in the air above me when I see what Frederick has done.
Sofie is no longer beside me, having been snatched away. Frederick now holds her hostage in his arms, her back against his chest.
"Drop it," he orders.
I don't. I'm frozen.
Without breaking eye contact, Frederick raises a hand and wraps his fingers around Sofie's throat. She gasps, her eyes growing so wide I'm surprised they don't pop out of her skull and roll onto the floor.
He stares at me from over my cousin's shoulder, face once again cool and professional.
"Don't test me, Miss Emilia," he says - no, threatens.
Sofie stares at me imploringly, lips quivering, and it motivates me to unlock my hold on the book and let it fall to the floor.
Frederick nods his head in approval and takes a step back, pulling Sofie with him.
"Don't hurt her," I beg.
"I won't," he answers calmly. "So long as you do as you're told."
"I'll do anything," I concede. Fuck you, you wanker.
"I will escort the both you back to your room now," he tells me. "And you will not attempt to run again. Am I clear?"
"Crystal," I mutter and take a step forward, reaching out.
"Now let her go."
"Not yet," he says, moving further away. "I will once we are upstairs."
"Emmy..." Sofie whispers, eyes full of fear.
"It's okay, Sofie," I coo, making my way across the room.
I glance at Malcolm as I pass and see him staring at Frederick with an unsettling sort of intensity.
Silently and obediently, I follow Frederick out of the library and back upstairs. True to his word, he releases Sofie as soon as we are back in the bedroom.
I grab hold of my cousin and hug her close to me, glaring daggers at the butler.
"Lunch will be delivered in an hour," he announces before leaving and shutting the door behind him.
Comments (0)
See all