Into Darkness

Revelation

She glanced at her watch; it was nearing 9 pm, leaving her to ponder where the time had vanished. Did he possess a way of making time inconsequential? Gathering her resolve, Sara straightened her shirt and adjusted her skirt before heading towards the door. Placing her hand on the handle, she took a deep breath.

"Okay, Sara, you're a journalist. This is what you do, so let's do it," she mumbled, unsure if her words were meant to calm her mind or reaffirm her chosen path. With another slow breath, she turned the handle, opening the door. Stepping back onto the landing, she observed that the light wasn't overly bright; instead, it was dimmed, casting shadows against the architectural features. Curtains drawn on the higher windows allowed slivers of light to slip through.

Pausing on the landing, she pondered for a moment before deciding on her course. She crossed the landing, ensuring two doors were locked before finding another that opened. The interior decor was not Georgian but Victorian in its presentation. The room featured a huge carved wood four-poster bed with heavy velvet drapes, and the bedding seemed to shimmer in the low light.

Gazing into the room, she observed a carved dresser, as though the wood used in crafting the furniture possessed a life of its own. Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror; this was indeed his room. For a fleeting moment, her mind wandered, imagining the sensation of slipping into that bed with him tucked up behind her. Quickly, she shook off the distracting thoughts, refocusing on the task at hand. The room divulged little, except for his evident good taste in bedroom furniture, which she suspected was as old as the duration his family had resided in the house.

His family? That story had seemed weak to her, if anything she was now certain that somehow this 40-year-old man was indeed the same man he claimed to be his grandfather, how was that possible? Her mind raced. Again she glanced into the mirror.

"It's rather impolite to explore uninvited in someone's home," Her heart froze, and her knees weakened upon hearing his tone. This time, it lacked the warmth and calmness she had previously experienced, carrying instead the authoritative air of someone unwilling to entertain any excuses for her actions.

"I... shit.... Fuck.... Please I...." She tripped over words now.

"You were merely curious about a man who lives alone? And is self-sufficient enough not to require a large staff to keep his home?" Was he mocking her? Wait she quickly glanced at the mirror, how was he even behind her, slowly she turned, he was indeed right behind her, all six foot six just behind causing her to look up, his blue eyes burned a hole through her. It was now that intrigue gave way to panic, a shiver trembling up her spine, she swallowed hard.

"Forgive me, Sir, I ... yes I was curious, but I meant no disrespect, I swear to you," She could beg, but she doubted it would matter, she had rather foolishly crossed a line and was now in trouble.

She could almost hear the thud of her heart once more as it pounded against her chest, she had been afraid but never like this. Humans had an inbuilt response to run from danger but somehow, standing in front of this man Sara wanted nothing than him to forgive her transgression, if she ran she feared the consequences of that action, she doubted she would even make it past that powerful frame, and then she could be in real danger.

"I do not like strangers wandering my home, I gave you the courtesy of allowing you to carry out your interview,"

"Yeah, why was that?" She snapped as her frustration at herself exploded in a snap comment and she quickly felt the heat of embarrassment, what was she thinking he was already angry with her, still might as well go out in a blaze of glory now.

"As you alluded yourself, my family,"

"You?!" She snapped back again pushing her theory he was the same.