The driveway had black gravel. It was straight line with grass on either sides. The grass had tiny red flowers swaying in the slight breeze. At the far end, there were small bushes which separated the dense forest behind it. The forest was encapsulated in a thick white fog, and I could hear the screeching of eagles and ravens.

I rubbed my bare arms in a lame attempt to stop the chill. It was a long time, I had stepped out to breath in the air. I was usually confined to the walls of my dormitory when I was studying in university. Kay noticed my actions and put his jacket on my shoulders. I looked up at him with a shy smile, mouthing a thank you. Kay merely winked at me and I looked away, hiding my blush. I was glad he didn’t remove his arm from my shoulder and I pressed my body close to him, relishing his warmth.

I liked being confined to my dormitory room, not because I hated being outside, it was just that I had nothing to do. I loved spending time, loitering the university grounds, my music playlist playing on loop. That memory was so distant now, having to abandon it just because of my sickness. I shook away the uneasy feeling. I had to take care of my health now.

I looked curiously at the forest, half expecting some hungry wild animals to emerge from it. But it was still as a ghost. The only thing I could hear was the rustling on the leaves and the tree branches rubbing against the other.

We walked on the driveway towards a black iron gate with sharp spokes. It had an intricate filigree pattern carved into it making it look ethereal and beautiful. The gate had a rectangular mailbox affixed on the outside, the top flap partially open. I could see that the mailbox was empty. Near the hinges of the gate were fire lanterns perched upon a stone wall.

The gate opened and Kay guided me inside, his arm never leaving my shoulder. I heard radio chatter on the walkey-talkies behind me and I turned my head to see that Kay’s assistants were communicating to each other. We proceeded towards the entrance of the mansion but the whole time my eyes were scanning the tall stone mansion. It was painted grey with white lines highlighting the stone bricks.

Vines were creeping up the wall, lining the edges of the stone mansion. I watched in awe as a few gold winged moths were perched on the vines, their wings fluttering slowly. The gold of their wings was being illuminated by the fire lanterns.

Then I noticed a rectangular grass bed with tiny yellow flowers. Butterflies were perched atop the flowers, sucking their nectar. A water sprinkler perched in the middle spraying water circularly on the flowers.

The exteriors of the windows were rectangular with white metal bars affixed on the outside. The interiors were furnished with frosted glass. The roof tiles were dark red, a stark contrast to the monotone colours- slate black and white lined stripes om the corner of the bricks.

Under the roof, were gargoyles and cherubs were perched looking over me, their eyes silently judging my fate.

“Here.” I heard Kay’s voice break into my reverie. I glanced to my right and saw Kay was holding a rose in his hand, his other arm tucked behind his back.

I gasped, my mouth partially agape. I looked into his grey eyes, now boring into me. There was a lopsided grin on his lips. “What....?” I said taking the rose from him, at a loss of words. Kay shifted from foot to foot, his body facing me. I examined the rose. It was exquisite. It wasn’t red, like most roses, but a rich dark red. Almost maroon. I absently pressed it to my nose, breathing in its scent with my eyes closed. “It’s sweet.” I looked at Kay, who was blushing?

Kay was blushing?!

“I figured you would like this.” His grin hadn’t left his face. He was now glancing sideways, his body shifting from foot to foot. I hadn’t seen this side of Kay. He keeps surprising me, I felt myself giddy with excitement.

“Thank you.” I said, tucking the rose in my hair. I placed tick-tack clips to secure the rose in its place, not bothering how silly I looked. “No one has handed me a rose before.” I shrugged, as a matter of fact.

Kay’s blushed deepened and I felt myself smiling at his action. “I guess, you found your first admirer, then.”

“Admirer?” I chuckled, absently touching the rose, hoping it was secure in its place. “More like sexual partner.” I said the last part as a whisper.

The blush from his cheeks disappeared and it was replaced by something feral. My heart rate began to accelerate as I stared at him in a silent challenge.

A sound appeared behind me and I turned around to see that the main door of the mansion had opened. A middle aged woman with grey roots and fine lines on her face was standing behind it. Her hair was tied into a bun with a black butterfly clip holding her hair securely in place. She looked similar to Kay and I had a feeling she was his mother. Same eyes, same calm exterior.

Kay was back to keeping his arm on my shoulder and I glanced at him as he guided us forwarded. I then got a full view of her clothes. She wore a black long sleeved top with sequences dotted along the hemline and the neckline. For her legs, she wore dark grey pants complete with maroon shoes.

Kay cleared his throat beside me, a genuine smile encasing his features. “Mother.” He said, his back was straight, but he didn’t dare to remove his arm from my shoulder.

His mother’s eyed the hand on my shoulder and I stiffened before moving to Kay and then to me. I stared at her, too afraid to say anything. My face must have been devoid of all colour because I could feel my back sweating.

“Kay.” Came her reply. “We were waiting for you.” Her hands were overlapped each other, as she took in the others standing next to us. A few seconds later, she moved to the side, her arm beckoning us inside. I sighed with relief. “Come, come. Take a seat.”

We entered the foyer and I was stunned to see glass chandeliers, the centres filled with an orb of fire. The light reflected by the glass pieces, reflected on the walls around it, making it look like circular rainbow lights discs.

The walls were dark red with delicate filigree hand-drawn over it. The floor tiles were black and white like a chessboard, polished that our reflections were visible in it. She guided us to the sofas which were greyish white. Kay took a seat next to me, his hand in my knee. I looked at him and saw him mouth relax at me. I smiled at him, my nerves relaxing, leaning deeply into the soft couch.

The assistants were nowhere to be seen and I wondered where did they go? A man with grey shirt and pants styled uniform appeared with a tray of snacks next to us. He seemed in his late twenties or thirties. He placed the tray on the glass toffee table and stepped away.

“Please, have some.” Kay’s mother urged me gently.

I tensed slightly and I heard Kay shifted beside me. Before he could say anything, she started. “I’m sorry, my child.” An apologetic look befell her regal facial features. “My name is Clara,” she placed her palm on her chest and then glanced at Kay before setting it down. “I’m Kay’s mother.”

I nodded at her, slightly at ease. “Hello, Clara.” I said.

“You are Ruella, right?” she smiled at me, warmly.

“Yes, I am.” I replied. “N-nice to meet you.”

“Ah! Same as well, my dear. Kay talks a lot about you.” Clara smirked, glancing at Kay.

I risked a glance at Kay who was fidgeting nervously.

“I hope you like Kay’s humble abode my dear.” She said, looking at Kay. Then her eyes fell onto the food untouched on the plate. “You’ve travelled quite a distance haven’t you?” At my nod, she pushed the food plate closer to me. “I request you to eat please. I don’t like our guests, being hungry here.”

I reached out and grabbed a cookie, taking a bite of it.

Clara raised an eyebrow at me. “I hope you finish the cookie dear. We don’t waste food here. I know you are hungry and a girl of your age shouldn’t be hungry.”

***

Clara called one of the housekeeping staff- Remus, to show me my room. I watched in awe the room was beautiful. The queen-sized bed poster was gold. I ran my hands on the bed covers were soft with faux fur on both sides.

“Ma’am, can I draw you a bath?” He asked me, standing near the other side of the bed, his arms tucked behind his back.

I looked at him, my hand stopped over the softness of the bed covers. He had the same staff uniform as the one who served me snacks in the foyer. “Please, I request you not to call me ‘ma’am’ Remus.” I said with a smile. “You can call me Ruella. When you’re with me, use my name. Okay?”

He nodded and re-worded his sentence. “Perhaps, I could draw you a bath, ma’am- Ruella?” His cheeks flushed pink and I smothered a smile as he looked at the floor, embarrassed.

“Sure.” I replied, watching him look at the floor, a laugh escaping my lips. “I would love to!”