Aesthete

Mind consuming Crimson

I was having second thoughts about entering the villa. It was soo beautiful from outside. The walls had ancient designs. But the designs seemed familiar to me. As if I had already been here for a while. As soon as I saw the two floored villa, I was having a feeling of something strange but dangerous. First, Edward's eyes and now this familiar feeling seeing the villa. Everything was was suspicious. "Hey, come over here. " Edward opened the iron gate and we had a walk to the main door of the villa. "Are you scared? " I was shocked as if Edward just stepped on my weak nerves. "Not really. Why you asking anyways? " I partially lied. I was definitely feeling scared with a stranger I've just met, his suspicious eyes, behavior and now this giant villa. "Because I can sense it. Let's go inside. I wanna show you some of my favorite portraits. " I was just wondering why this villa is called Crimson Villa then what I saw didn't left behind any question regarding the matter. "This is our living room." It was a huge hall type room with no windows. Everything was crimson colored. The sofa the furnitures everything! Even the floor was crimson red too. The hallway, yeah I would call it a hallway because it was way too large than a living room. It had 2 doors. One was locked and the other one was open. "Shall we go upstairs? " "Sure." I was following Edward. I saw there was a dining space and probably some other rooms too. The rooms were in a line, side by side so I couldn't see much through the stairs. The stairs were round and made of iron. Everything was so fancy, aesthetic and attractive. "Do you like it? " "Like what? " "The house and interiors." " Yeah it's beautiful and unique but why am I feeling like I've already been here? " At this, Edward seemed tensed. He was murmuring something but I couldn't hear that clearly. "Did you say something? " "Nope. Lemme show you my gallery where I collect portraits. " I saw a large room. The walls were of course colored with crimson paint. Everywhere there was smell of something strange. "Where is the smell coming from? Can you smell it? " "No. Are you OK? " I thought maybe I was too stressed and there probably wasn't any smell. "Yah I'm cool! " "Lemme show you this portrait. " "Did you paint it? " "Yeah. You like it? " It was a potrait of a girl. She was wearing a black silk dress with pearl necklace. The necklace had the same heart shaped locket that I saw in Jenna's hand, but it was black, not blue. He had a few broken tulips in her hands and her face was covered with her deep black straight hair. "Who's she? " "Someone close to my heart. " Again Edward started behaving suspicious. "What's up with her necklace? I saw the same one but blue color in Jenna's hand. " "She and Jenna were sisters. " "Really?! Who is she? " "She was my mother. " Mother? Was? Is she no more? I didn't expect that Edward would open up that much and actually show me his dead mother's portrait. "Oh... I'm sorry for that but is she no more?" "Yes and no. " "What do you mean by that? " "Maybe someday you will know." I didn't force himself to tell anything about his mother as it seemed a very sensitive topic. "It's already 8 pm. Oh no! I'm so late. Edward please drop me home. We'll talk tomorrow. " "Edward looked at the giant Pendulum clock from the stairs. "It is not safe for you to stay here at night. I'm sorry I forgot about the time. Let's go asap. " Not safe? Why did he say that? Is there something wrong with this villa? With numerous questions and doubts in my mind, I agreed to reach home faster. "I'll drive. Sit beside me, it's safer. " I sat beside him in his car and I saw the road was suddenly filled with fog and everything outside the car was so blurred that I barely could see anything. I was already doubting the decision of coming here with Edward, a complete stranger.