Faceless Instincts

Bloody Brother

The sun was way overhead which made the remaining light disappear, we were already done looking through the ground floor; not that there was too much to look at. The living room had minimal stuff, a room, study and kitchen.

"Well, that was a nice failure." Nikolai said as he sat down on a chair in Dorian's study, "but I must say, the man's got taste." He looked around, "his house is a vintage and antique marvel"

I looked around as well, "true" then extended my hand "but that won't help us"

He took my hand and stood with a sigh, "yes ma'am"

I chuckled and we walked out of the study. The house began to feel familiar, we walked around freely and looked into every nook.

"Do you think Dorian would be upset if he found out you were snooping around in his house?"

"Not if he doesn't know."

He narrowed his eyes again, "yes-yes" we turned the corner and started going up the stairs when I noticed Nikolai hesitating at the foot.

"What happened?"

He looked nervously at me, "i... I don't think it's a good idea"

I stepped down and stood in front of him, "Nikolai I appreciate that you are helping me, but I am not going back now; you can though."

Looking down at the floor, he nodded, "okay, let's go upstairs."

I looked at him, mystified, "I am not leaving you alone, here." He said and started up the stairs.

"Beware of the ghosts, though, not joking," I said as I poked a finger in his back.

He stiffened and looked back at me with an annoyed look on his face, "you go ahead, I'll stick behind."

I giggled and walked ahead, coming into a long hallway. It was adorned with giant paintings and a thick carpet. Wood dominated most of the structure like the other parts of the house and mini chandeliers hung at a satisfying distance. I walked ahead and tried to open the first door, "it's locked." I looked at Nikolai

"I am not breaking it," he said, wide-eyed.

I raised an eyebrow, "I am not asking you to."

We moved to another door which luckily opened, I entered the room and an instant smell of roses wafted towards me. I looked around to find a Rosa Albertine vine making its way into the room through a damaged window. Little reddish-salmon buds popped from the branches, while others have already bloomed into big pink roses.

I turned to see Nikolai taking in the room, "looks like it's been empty for a while."

"Yeah," I said as I tried to open a drawer, but found it empty "Dorian lives alone"

Nikolai opened a cupboard but it was empty as well, "looks like it, I don't think we will find anything here, it's a spare room."

"I agree, let's move to the other one."
I glanced back at the room one last time and closed the door.

"So he lives alone," Nikolai said as we moved further into the hallway.

"Yes"

"No family?" He asked a hint of curiosity in his tone.

I shrugged, "he lost his parents, mother when he was a kid and father when he was a teenager."

"No sibling?"

"He does have a brother," I said as we entered another room.

The room was bright. Walls were covered in pale blue wallpaper with tiny blue flowers, barely noticeable from distance. Furniture was made of white painted woods. The vibe in the room was neutral as I walked around it and stopped in front of a mirror, looking distorted, I finally realised how my face had several bruises, a long cut above my eyebrow, a scratch on my cheekbone, and a wound near my jaw.