The smell of bacon and the faint noise of pans clanging from below woke him, slowly opening his eyes and staring at the wall. It always took him a few moments after waking to get used to his surroundings, so different than what he was used to. Mathew pulled himself up and stretched, inhaling deeply, making his stomach growl. The sun hadn’t yet lite up the sky, he missed sleeping in. This place had its wonders but they did not outweigh the things that made him crave home.
Pulling on a pair of jeans before leaving the room, he followed his nose to the kitchen. Upon entering the room he found Damian dancing at the stove scrambling eggs. Mathew shook his head at the sight before taking a seat at the table. The younger was always so strange, amused by everything and now quite literally dancing to his own tune. Stretching his legs out under the table he was soon joined by his brother, who grunted his greeting.
“Good morning!” Damian chimed in his usual happy voice. Placing plates on the table piled high with bacon, eggs and potatoes. “I see my brother hasn’t risen yet, as usual.”
“He’s always been a heavy sleeper, not even the morning birds could wake him,” Mathew remarked, piling food onto his plate.
“I’ll get him, or he’ll be eating cold breakfast!” Damian stuffed a piece of bacon into his mouth as he left the room, calling over his shoulder “We need to bring as much bacon back with us as we can!” and he was gone.
“I’ll be working on the hedges across the street from the house today. I received a call this morning, apparently they were impressed with my work and prices and want to hire me as well.” Ian grumbled gruffly as he buttered a piece of toast.
“So you’ll have a good view of the house all day,” Mathew nodded, spooning eggs into his mouth, forget bringing bacon back, he wanted to bring salt and pepper. Looking up a messy-haired Alex entered behind his twin. The four sat in silence as they ate, staring at their own plates, all except Damian who watched them with an amused smile.
“After I consulted with the moon last night, I was able to determine that yes, she is starting to see things as she sleeps, however, with the day of her birth still months off it would seem more like vague nightmares,” Damian ended by sipping on a coffee he had walked over and poured while talking. “Coffee should come back too, this world is so fascinating!”
“So the chances she will see the coming events and be able to prepare herself are low then,” Ian nodded at this, seeming satisfied they had one less thing to worry about.
Mathew stood suddenly, cutting off all conversation. Alex looked like he was about to say something, not wanting a repeat of the night before. Spilling eggs and potatoes onto the plate with the last of the bacon.
“Alex, go get ready for school. Ian off to work with you. Eyes and ears open,” without a word they stood and left, Damian smiling at only something he understood. Shaking his head as he left the kitchen, sometimes he wondered about his cousin. They were all taught that to mess around with the mystical arts would addle your brain. Damian hadn’t cared, he was drawn to them and had quite a remarkable skill.
Unlocking the basement door with one hand, holding the plate of food with the other. Mathew pushed the door open and let the sunlight flood down the stairs. He didn’t bother closing the door behind him as he made his way down. Looking first at the cot in the middle of the room where he had left the small girl the night before, it was empty. It didn’t take him long to locate her, leaning against one wall with books all around her.
Mathew stood very still for a moment as his dark eyes landed on emerald green ones. They stared at one another for a moment, both is stunned silence.
“Who are you?” she asked, her voice was soft and yet steady when she spoke, pulling him out of his silence.
“My name is Mathew,” he responded without thinking, mentally giving himself a shake, no one had affected him the way she did.
“Why am I here?” she demanded in a tone not to be refused, pushing the book out of her lap. Pulling herself up to her foot, she stretched a moment, looking rather stiff. Mathew tilted his head a little wondering how long she had been sitting like that. Lindsay stepped forward, looking up at him, she was so small, barely reaching above his elbows. When he didn’t answer her, she gave him a frown and placed her fists on her hips. The sight of her standing there with her fists on her hips made him smile and this infuriated her even more.
“Why have you brought me here!?” she demanded hotly.
Chuckling softly as he held the plate of food out to her. Raising a brow when she didn’t make a move to take it. Her nostrils flared ever so slightly and her stomach growled but she stubbornly lifted her chin.
“I know you must be hungry and I will not leave the plate with you.” Mathew smiled when he saw the realization dawn on her pretty little heart-shaped face. “Oh yes, I found your shank, princess.” he laughed softly, amusement softening his face. Setting the plate on the floor between them, he retreated to the stairs to sit.
“These journals belonged to my father.” it was a statement not a question, though he wasn’t surprised she had made the deduction. “Don’t bother denying it.” she shot the dark man a glare as she sat back down on the floor and pulled the food into her lap.
Lindsay watched him with the same calculating look he gave her. They studied one another as she picked at the food with her fingers. He was tall and muscular, sitting there without his shirt and his hair a mess. Licking her fingers as she finished a piece of bacon.
“Is he here?” she asked with an eyebrow raise, catching his amused smirk. “What’s so funny?”
“Oh nothing, and no, he isn’t here.” his voice was deep and soothing. Lindsay knew she should be afraid, he was after all her captor. But instead his presence was calming, it made her frown. Mathew leaned back against the railing and rested one bent arm on his knee, watching her nibble her breakfast.
“But you know my father?” she insisted, not taking her eyes off his.
“I do.” was the only answer he would give her for now. “Finish eating and I’ll take you upstairs, I’m sure you’d like to shower.”
“Is he why you’ve taken me?” the food was nearly gone by now and it looked like he wouldn’t be answering any more questions about her father. The thought of going upstairs and out of this damn basement thrilled her. Her heart rate doubling almost instantly, the chance of escape almost making her smile.
“We’re a long way from anywhere,” he said, as if reading her thoughts “Running would not be wise and you wouldn’t get anywhere.”
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