Search for the Crystal Key (A Continuation of Dark Escape)

Chapter 4

Dennis pushed his chair away from the table and loosened his belt. He couldn't remember the last time he'd made such a glutton of himself at the dinner table. After a day of getting to know her future husband's friends and assured neither knew her, Alana decided to borrow the kitchen and cook them a meal. At first glance upon the Hot Bloody Mary soup, cod cobbler and blackberry and apple turnovers, Dennis doubted he'd survive, but much to his surprise and delight, the food was profoundly delectable. Completely taken by his friend's beautiful fiancé, Dennis praised her talent in the kitchen and questioned if she had more delicious recipes up her sleeve. She assured him she did and promised to prove it one day.

Tara wasn't as taken with the mix of textures and flavors. Perhaps it was the food, or perhaps it was because she was no longer taken with the chef.

After another night of inconspicuously following her mysterious house guest through the vacant and darkened parts of her house, the woman rapidly lost what little favor there was in Tara's eyes. Tara didn't appreciate her hospitality being violated in such a manner. Alana's behavior was nothing short of vandalism. What made it worse was the fact that the woman could care less about the fact that she left these areas in so much disarray it would take ages to clean them up again. The fact that Tara found even more disturbing was that she seemed unconcerned about being discovered. Tara decided she would confront Alana about it after dinner. It needed to stop, and Alana needed to explain herself, not to mention the fact that Tara was feeling sleep deprived.

Their table talk eventually came to the topic of how Mitch met and fell in love with Alana.

Tara couldn't have been less interested. She found their story lacking credibility and substance.

There were far too many holes to fill in.

****

Alana waited for Tara, Mitch, and Dennis to get comfortable in the den, with a glass of brandy and a warm fire, before she made her excuses by claiming a splitting headache and the desire for an early night. She hoped her hosts would forgive her.

After expressing their condolences, the men dove into a conversation about a new sports bar Dennis discovered. They barely noticed when Tara excused herself and followed Alana up the stairs.

As Tara had expected, Alana went directly to the third floor. It was barely nine o'clock and the entire house is still awake. Mitch mentioned they would be leaving the following day. Perhaps her brazenness had to do with the fact that she hadn't found what she was looking for.

"Is there something I can help you find?" Tara asked.

She illuminated the room with a battery-operated lamp that she'd placed in it earlier that day.

Alana jumped, startled by Tara's unexpected intrusion.

"Tara! I wasn't expecting you," she said in a tone that actually sounded accusing.

Tara couldn't believe her ears. What type of response was this?

"I imagine you weren't," Tara said, indignantly.

"Get off your high horse!" Alana barked.

The woman's striking blue eyes turned dark with irritation, causing Tara to pause. There was something familiar about that look that took her aback. She suddenly wished she was anywhere, but there. She didn't like the mystery around what was happening. It felt wrong. It felt very wrong.

She needed air.

Tara started back down the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Alana bellowed. "Do you think you can hide it from me? I'll find it.