Eyes of White

Chapter 3: Riverview house on Wardwatch Lane

The house was big and looming, at the end of a cul-de-sac. A sun-and-bird weathervane ignored the southwesterly bending the tops of the palm trees that surrounded the house. Instead it was pointing firmly to the north. It didn't even waver in the wind.

But Penelope and Persephone didn't even glance the weathervane's way. Their attention was solely fixed on the house. It was huge to their eyes, painted white, with two entrances. A large, mahogany door with stained glass panels, which looked like the main entrance, and a smaller, lower, wooden black door, like a cellar. Persephone nudged Penelope and pointed to the door. It had a sign on it which read: Articles and Antiques. Used for ornaments, music, and discombobulation of the

"What does the rest of that sign say?" Penelope wondered aloud, pointing to the bush covering the bottom right-hand corner.

"What?" Persephone squinted. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't see a sign. Even the door was beginning to fade...

"You can see it, right?" Penelope asked, confusedly looking at her sister.

"Not really..." Persephone craned her neck, looking for the door, which had suddenly disappeared. In fact, she could barely remember if there even was a door. She felt it slipping out of her memory and she tried to catch it, but it was lost and the only memory she had of it was the dim understanding of where it had stood. "There's nothing there, sis."

Penelope suffered from no such forgetfulness. To her, the door was bold and black, the outline, if anything, more defined than when she first saw it.

"Girls?" Cashmere asked. "Please, hop out. Stop arguing whether or not there is a door. Come on, don't be rude."

They slid out of the gold-and-silver Panda. Penelope gasped when they saw their grandmother. She wore silver boots that matched her silvery hair exactly. Her hair had golden streaks in it, unlike the boots, however. Her red, flowing dress contributed to the fact that she looked much younger than she actually was.

"Oh my god..." Persephone whispered.

Their grandmother smiled. "Were you expecting something different?" Her voice was just like that of sunshine. "My name is Zania, and I don't expect you to call me any less. Now, come here, let me see you."

Penelope looked at Persephone, the nervousness shining on her face, and stepped across the gravel driveway in six small-ish strides. Persephone quickly followed, not wanting to be left behind. They reached Zania and she grabbed their faces, first Penelope's. "Ah, Penelope. You have your mother's looks." She stared into the girl's green eyes and Penelope felt rooted to the spot. "Piercing green eyes, soft golden-brown hair, white skin, red lips... yes."

Turning away from Penelope, Zania grabbed Persephone's face and it was Persephone's turn to feel stuck in place, Penelope regaining her ability to move.

"Oh, my, you must take after your father. Of course, not having met the bloke, I can't really say... Cash, does he have thick blonde hair and black eyes; tanned skin and soft pink lips?"

"Yes, mum, he does."

"Oh, good." Zania removed her hand from Persephone's cheek. "Well, come in! Cashmere, my sweet, will you be staying, or do you have to... do you have any business?"

"Oh, uh, I have a... a trip planned, a work trip, to... well, actually, it's kind of confidential. Penelope, Persephone, I wish I could stay, but duty calls. I have one bit of advice: do as Zania says." She knelt down to hug them both. In each of the twins' ears, she whispered: 'Remember to watch the wards.' Somehow, the twins thought they hadn't heard it at all through her lips, and instead it went straight into their minds. But how was that possible? Cashmere pulled away, smiling. Then she slipped into the Panda, started it, and drove off, the wheels sliding silently over the gravel.

"Well. That's a bit of a shame, but we'll manage, won't we, girls? Let's go inside."

The girls followed their grandma through the mahogany doors, Penelope glancing at the black door, which didn't have a sign anymore. She thought it was odd, but didn't think about it once she entered the house, mainly because of the beauty of the old house.

~~Heheh. Vote. It's a funny word!~~