They reached the little front door of the cottage, the stone steps were wide, the plants overflowed and spilled from the flowerbeds onto the steps.

Beatrice saw out of the corner of her eye, a long and fat orange lizard, with jet-black eyes.

‘It’s ok’ Vladislav said to her, noticing her lingering attention. ‘It’s not dangerous.’

‘I’ve never seen such a thing before.’

‘There are a lot of things here that are perhaps new to you’ Vladislav said. ‘It will take some time to get used to it all.’

Beatrice glanced away, head dipped, looking at nothing in particular.

Vladislav watched her for a few moments, before turning to the door.

He pushed it open. It wasn’t even locked.

Beatrice couldn’t help but look back, eyes wide with curiosity. She wondered what the home of such a character would look like.

Vladislav turned his skull-head towards her, eyes dark, eyes always dark.

‘After you?’ Vladislav offered.

Beatrice swallowed nervously, pursing her lips.

She refused to show her fears, wanting to make herself strong.

Beatrice turned towards the open door, stepping forwards, she entered the home, glancing all around her.

The entrance rooms and hallways she could see from where she stood, where made of dark and beautiful wood. The archways were dark wood, the stairs were dark with even darker banisters made of ebony. Strange things were dotted about the place, so many trinkets and ornaments and things here and there. Even from the single spot she stood, Beatrice could see so much.

Strange pieces of art she could not fully understand, patterns, so many patterns, things that moved in a never-ending cycle, faces and portraits, illustrations on the wall of men and creatures, planets, models of planets moving around one another, shelves and shelves of books, strange things, optical illusions that her mind could not quite fully understand, puzzles and colours and smoke coming from somewhere. Pots of paint, open books, plans and drawing of…no, models of lizards coming off the paper. They were moving.

Beatrice turned back to Vladimir, eyes wide and shimmering.

‘This is everything I own’ Vladimir said to her, stepping forwards, over the threshold and into the home. ‘My entire life’s work and discoveries. Many lifetimes for any human.’

Beatrice turned away from Vladislav, looking back to all that was around her

‘Are you hungry?’ Vladislav offered.

Beatrice faced the mage again, shaking her head feverishly.

‘Oh, come now…’ Vladislav said, striding past her, moving slow and gracefully. ‘The journey was long, and heavens knows when you last ate, or what you ate for that matter. You must be hungry. I will make you something nice.’

Vladislav continued to walk away, pausing at the end of the corridor, seeing Beatrice had not moved.

‘If you would like to follow me’ the mage said.

‘Oh, yes…. sorry.’

‘Don’t worry about the door’ Vladislav told her, as she glanced back to the front door that had been left open. ‘It’s ok as it is.’

Beatrice was about to make her way forwards after the mage when she froze then, seeing something in the corner of her eye.

She turned back to the door, seeing a creature stepping through.

It was a doe. She ignored Beatrice as she wandered casually into the home, heading through one of the archways and into the other room, out of sight.

Beatrice continued to stare in surprise, hands clutched together over her chest.

A few moments later, the doe walked back out the room, back out through the front door, back outside.

‘There are lots of red deer here’ Vladislav voiced then. ‘Some of them have become very tame. There have been a few young ones that have been abandoned by their mothers for various reasons. It’s said a doe can tell if her young is sick or if there is something wrong. That’s why they are left forgotten. I have raised a few fawns over the years. Sometimes they like to invite themselves inside. They just like to look around. I think it’s very funny. Such curious things…’

Vladislav turned his head towards Beatrice.

‘Come. The kitchen is this way.’

Vladislav turned and began to walk away. Left behind, Beatrice took a deep and slow breath, trying her best to calm her pounding heart.

She felt so completely out of her depths, like she was in an entirely new country and not just a few hundred miles away from her home, but oceans away.

Beatrice lowered her hands, changing her posture into one more relaxed. She didn’t feel confident at all, but she was going to at least try to fake it.

Trying to push all her worries from her mind, she walked forwards. Vladislav was out of sight now, moving already down the winding corridor. However, she found him easily enough. The kitchen was at the end of the corridor, a cosy and sizable room. At this time, it was cool and pleasant, the windows above the sink that looked out onto the garden were open. Beatrice could see baskets of flowers hanging just outside the window, and below the window itself were flowers too, of many colours.

‘Come’ Vladislav invited. ‘Please sit down.’

Beatrice did so, sitting upon one of the tall stools at the dark table.

‘What sort of food do you like?’ Vladislav asked her.

‘I…don’t really know.’

‘Hm. Well, we can talk more about that later in more detail. I want to find out everything about you, all that I can.’

Beatrice said nothing.

‘Do you like scones?’

‘Scones?’

‘You’ve had a scone before, haven’t you?’

Beatrice stared at him unblinking.

‘I…don’t know what that is.’

Vladislav faltered then, seemingly caught by surprise.

‘Oh, well…how do I describe it?’ he began to emit a high-pitched whine then.

Beatrice found this sound to be very odd.

‘It’s a sort of…. let me think. It’s like a sweet bread…’ Vladislav tilted his head then, ‘you eat it with cream and jam.’

Beatrice continued to stare at Vladislav. He produced another high-pitched whine before turning quickly away.

‘I’ll, get you some…scones I mean. Do you want anything to drink?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Are you ok with water? The water here is good, fresh and clean. Or tea? Tea goes best with scones I think. Do you like any flavoured tea?’

Beatrice hesitated, watching Vladislav bustling around the kitchen. She realised he was waiting for an answer as he paused, glancing back towards her.

‘I…...’

She trailed off, unable to finish.

‘I’ll make you some plain tea’ Vladislav spoke quietly, turning back around and continuing to pull out plates and dishes, reaching for the stove and flicking his hand towards the kettle.

Beatrice watched closely, seeing a fire beneath the kettle now.

She wondered how he did that, had he used magic?

The silence within the kitchen stretched on, broken only by the sound of Vladislav, as he began to collect what he needed upon a single tray.

He paused, glancing over his shoulder towards Beatrice.

Their eyes met, at least Beatrice thought this was the case. It was hard to tell, since all she could see within the mage’s dark hollow eye-sockets, were those strange glowing orbs.

Beatrice pursed her lips, sharply turning he head again, looking towards the floor instead.

Vladislav too looked back the other way.

Beatrice sat awkwardly at the table as she waited for him to finish making the tea.

It was only a few moments later when Vladislav came over to her, carrying everything on a tray.

Beatrice glanced down at the tray as he placed it upon the table. It was decorated with flowers, pinks and whites and yellows. Even the teapot and the tea cups and the little sugar pot was pattered in a similar way, maybe even sweeter, perhaps sickly so. At the base of the teacups were bright pink hearts, above these were flowers, and amongst them, were little fieldmice, with cute beady little eyes and small hands.

Beatrice blinked curiously at this, glancing up tentatively at Vladislav.

‘Is everything alright?’ he asked her.

‘Yes’ she answered shortly.

Vladislav waited, expecting her to say more. When she didn’t, he prompted her.

‘What is it?’

Beatrice glanced tentatively back at him, speaking now only with great reluctance.

‘It’s just uh…’ she fumbled over her words for a short time. ‘It’s a very nice tea set.’

Vladislav began to hiss then. Beatrice leant back, a look of concern upon her face.

‘Have I upset you?’

‘No no’ Vladislav hastened. ‘It’s not like that. I was hissing because I was amused.’

‘You hiss when you’re amused?’

‘Yes. As you can probably tell by looking at me, I’m not exactly human. I communicate in ways different to what you would be familiar with.’

‘Are there others of your kind?’

‘Yes. Although, they are few and far between. The last time I met one like myself, gods….it was so long ago…’

As he had been speaking, Vladislav had been unloading the tray, placing the cups and saucers on the table, the small plate of scones, the jam and cream.

He sat down as he began to reminisce, head tilted towards the ceiling, a strange whirring sound emitting from his throat.

‘…she was like me.’

‘She?’ Beatrice whispered.

‘Yes. Our kind do not occur naturally, its more…uh…’ he began to whine quietly then before continuing to speak. ‘It’s complicated. But there are others like me. Last one I met was a female.’

He stopped abruptly then.

‘What was she like?’ Beatrice asked.

‘Well?’ Vladislav was silent for a few moments. ‘She was mad.’

Beatrice baulked.

This was not was she had expected to hear.

Vladislav let out a slow breath.

‘Would you like some tea?’ he offered.

Beatrice nodded mutely.

‘And you simply must try a scone. They are my favourite, so delicious and sweet. Do you like milk with your tea? Any sugar?’

Beatrice hung her head then, cheeks going red.

‘What’s the matter?’

‘I…. never tried tea before’ Beatrice replied meekly, her voice barely audible. ‘I don’t know how I like it.’

Vladislav hesitated at this, frozen for a few moments before coming to himself again.

‘Well…that’s ok. There’s a first time for everything. Here, let me give you just a little bit of milk and sugar. See what you think of it. And here is a scone for you. I’ll put the jam and cream on for you, this is how much I like to put for myself. I guess that’s the average amount of jam and cream? Oh listen to me rambling now.’

Vladislav sat back down, leaning back in his seat.

He let out a high-pitched whine.

‘If there is anything you don’t want…. I mean you can leave it if you don’t like any of it. At least give it a try. It may take some getting used to if you’ve never had food like this before.’

Beatrice swallowed nervously, staring down at her little teacup.

Even the inside of the cup was painted with little mice, cuddling together and offering each other flowers and hearts.

Beatrice swallowed again, reaching out to take the cup.

‘It may be hot’ Vladislav warned. ‘What am I saying. I will be hot. I just made it. Blow on it to cool it. I uh…I myself love my food and drink as hot as I can make it.’

Beatrice glanced up hesitantly then as Vladislav picked up his teacup, the still steaming tea he drank all in a few gulps.

Vladislav put the now empty teacup down, seemingly very satisfied.

‘I may be addicted to tea you know?’ he said to her.

Beatrice didn’t know how to respond to this, and so she said nothing.

She took Vladislav’s advice, blowing on the tea a few times before taking a small sip.

‘It’s very sweet’ she mumbled.

‘Too sweet?’ Vladislav asked.

Beatrice hesitated. ‘I…don’t know.’

‘Try the scones. I hope you don’t mind sweet things; they are rather sweet too.’

‘I don’t often…I mean…. I don’t often have sweet food. I guess it’s more of a luxury. Or maybe….’

She trailed off without finishing her sentence.

Vladislav watched her quietly as she started to eat the scone, taking a small bite.

 *

A few minutes later Beatrice clapped her hand over her mouth, suddenly retching.

Vladislav stiffened then, reaching for the closest thing to hand and holding it below her chin.

Beatrice grabbed the pan, throwing up into it. Glancing up but keeping her head down, she saw Vladislav’s dark robes standing before her.

Her shoulders began to tremble, and she heaved again, emptying her stomach.

When she was done, she slowly straightened up, tears brimming in her eyes.

‘Are you ok?’ Vladislav asked.

She looked up at him. He faltered, seeing her shining eyes.

‘I’m sorry, he said to her. ‘This is my fault. I should have known this was too rich for you. I’m sorry.’

Beatrice was unable to speak, overwhelmed with emotions, so much, more than she could even identify herself. She began to cry silently.

Vladislav took a napkin and wiped her mouth gently, brushing the tears from her cheek with his thumb, the fabric of his glove soft against her skin.

‘Come on’ he said to her, pulling her gently to her feet. ‘Maybe you should lie down.’

‘I’m sorry’ she gasped.

‘Don’t be’ he replied. ‘Come on.’

He led her to the next room, holding her carefully, one hand upon her elbow, the other in her hand.

‘Just lie down here’ he told her.

Vladislav knelt on the floor as she did so, she listened to him speak his words of comfort.

Beatrice lifted her legs, resting her feet on the sofa.

Still holding her hand gently in his own, Vladislav reached to the table beside him, grabbing the woollen blanket folded there.

He placed it over her body.

‘Rest’ he said to her. ‘You must be exhausted.’

Beatrice swallowed the lump in her throat, rubbing at her eyes.

Vladislav stared at her, with the orbs in the sockets of his animal-skull, ever unblinking.

He touched her face again, but not to brush away a tear, but to trace the pattern in her skin.

‘You are truly beautiful’ she spoke quietly, ‘do you know that?’

She said nothing, simply stared back at him.

Vladislav let go of her hand, rising to his feet and leaving the room, silently gliding away.

 [END OF CHAPTER 2]