Fall Into Me

...I...

The car had pulled up to an old Victorian mansion, a massive thing that looked straight out of a gothic horror movie. It sprawled over the land, rising up high above them. The massive doors opened and three women stepped out. One, Mona recognised as Fiona, tall and imposing, very clearly the woman in charge of everything around her.

She had a round face with full cheeks and a soft jawline and the way she'd styled her hair - side parted with voluminous waves - gave extra length to her face. The colour was icy, old money blonde, which gave her an air of wealth and sophistication that put her above the two women on either side of her. Blue eyes scanned them all carefully, settling on Minerva for a longer period of time. She wore a simple burgundy dress which accentuated her classic hourglass figure.

The other two women Mona had never seen before. A brunette to Fiona's left, dressed in a wine red pantsuit, no jacket, crisp white shirt beneath a tailored waistcoat. She wasn't as tall as Fiona and didn't seem very intimidating, more uninterested than anything else. There was something in the way she looked at Minerva, Esme and Diana though, a sort of anger that Mona didn't understand.

To Fiona's right was a woman straight out of a comic book. Clad in the same deep wine red, the woman had an impossibly narrow, wasp-like waist, dramatically flared hips, and a full bust, looking as though she'd stepped straight out of the mould for an hourglass. Instead of a waistcoat, she wore a black corset belt with gleaming bronze hooks.

Honey blonde hair was pulled up into an intricate braid, her makeup done to accent her features, and she was very pretty. Not in an intimidating, intense way like Minerva was, but a much softer, kinder way. Mona could tell she smiled a lot, her blue eyes bright and cheerful, lips upturned as she looked over them. Every single inch of her screamed power and control, but wrapped up in the softest fuzzy blanket.

Mona wasn't the only one completely stunned, and Lorelei laughed at their reactions as she left the car, opening the back door for them. The others also stared at the waspish woman in mild awe and disbelief. The woman herself didn't seem to care, warm eyes roaming over each of them curiously, calmly, assessing them.

"Ladies," Fiona greeted them warmly, "welcome to Avonna House. We have rooms made up for you all and food ready to go - I understand you've been travelling for quite some time without much sustenance. Please, take your time to recuperate, and if you need anything further you can buzz for Isobel," she gestured to the woman on her left, "or Lila," then the waspish woman, "from your rooms. They will arrange whatever you need." Fiona's accent indicated her North Welsh heritage - calm, gentle and measured, her faintly rolled 'r', crisp consonants and rounded vowels.

Isobel didn't look too impressed to be playing babysitter, which Lila seemed to catch, because the warmth in her eyes and smile chilled slightly when she noticed.

"Minerva," Fiona addressed her solely, "once you've taken some time to settle, call for Lila, she will bring you to my office."

"I do not need time to settle," Minerva said coldly. "We will get this done, so I can go home." The two of them - Minerva and Fiona - stared at each other. Minerva wasn't going to bend easily, but Fiona was just as stubborn, jaw setting. They don't blink, they don't shift; they just stare.

"No," Fiona said firmly, tone leaving no room for argument or discussion.

"No?" Minerva's question was deadly but Fiona refused to back down.

"There are things that must be done before you get involved. You will take time to settle, then Lila will fetch you when I am ready." Minerva was seething but to Mona's surprise, said nothing. "Anyway, a hot bath, fresh set of clothes and a full meal will do wonders for your temper."