Chasing Henry Marshall

Chapter Nine

     After Mr. Marshall managed to calm me down and get me to go over every detail with him, he led me back downstairs. It was obvious that he was disturbed by the information, but why was the better question? Was it because he was liable for my safety? Maybe I had messed up the investigation?
     He sat me down and grabbed a radio out of his pocket.
     "Team 1 and 2, this is Marshall. Miss Maine has uncovered something that we need to discuss. Finish your rooms and come on back to base."
    I frowned and looked up at him. He had went back to calling me by my last name. How... unfortunate. I looked down at my hands and twisted them together in my lap. I remembered the whole event clearly but what stuck out the most from the past 10 minutes was how Henry had said my name. Actually, how he yelled my name and held my quivering body tight. A felt a slow blush surface and a smile tugged at my lips.
     "Feeling better I presume?"
     I looked up and found Mr. Marshall leaning against one of the tables, arms folded across his chest and cerulean eyes staring into mine. My blush raged across my face and I looked down, clearing my throat.
     "A little..." I whispered. It didn't take me long to recover from the sudden onslaught of butterflies in my stomach and I looked up once again. I found Mr. Marshall by a different table, writing something down in a book. I stood slowly and walked up beside him. "Why me...?"
     He slowly turned his head and I repeated myself, "Why did this happen to me? I mean, you're all the investigators and it has to know that. So why attack me? I have nothing to do with... your world."
     He flipped the notebook shut and stood up, sliding his hands into his pockets. He turned and looked down at me, a smile playing on his lips. I frowned and stared at him, "What? Do you find this amusing?"
     "Amusing? Surely not. I find it... refreshing."
     My jaw hit the floor. "Refreshing?" Even to my own ears, my voice sounded higher.
     He chuckled and walked to a bank of laptops. I followed quickly behind him.
     "How can me being attacked possibly be refreshing!"
     "We haven't had activity like that in years," he stated as if it was fact and I could hear an almost childish happiness in his voice.
     "Mr. Marshall... I was attacked. And your acting as if this was the best thing that could have happened!" I didn't care that I was yelling. Mr. Marshall stood up fully and looked down at me, a smug look on his face.
     "It was."
     I didn't even hear the door open behind me. All I could hear was the blood in my veins roaring in my ears. Rage built up inside me and before I dared to double think, I slapped that smug look right off his face. I pushed him and then spun on my heels.
     "Arrogant son of-"
     Nathaniel gently stepped in front of me, "Isabella? What happened?"
      I weakly tried to push beyond him but I couldn't keep the tears from running down my face. I looked up into his chocolate brown eyes and shook my head, "Ask your boss. I'm sure he'd love to tell you." And then I slid around the tall assistant and down the hall. I just wanted out. I needed fresh air... I could hear Nathaniel and Conner both asking questions, but Henry didn't seem open to answering them. I told them to get back to work and start writing down the readings. The last thing I heard before I went out the door was Conner yelling something about caring.

      I kicked a stick across the drive, making my way to the dimly lit fountain in the front garden. How could he be so cold? And after he seemed so... worried. He never once showed so much warmth like he had when he broke the door down. How come he seemed almost frightened for my safety while yelling through the door? I ran my shaking hands up my face and through my hair, tucking it behind my ears. I brushed the tears away as I sat down.
     "I'm so out of my league..." I whispered, staring into the dark waters. I could still see the little fish from this morning. I dipped my fingers in the cool water and tried to forget. Refreshing? What the hell was that all about. Sure, I know he doesn't want me around but that was ridiculous. I huffed and slapped the face of the water, staring out into the tree line at the far end of the surrounding acreage. I got lost in the glow of the fading sunlight. I barely managed to tear my eyes away from the beauty when I heard footsteps on the gravel behind me.
     "Go away Marshall."
     The steps stopped behind me and I turned around, looking right into the friendly face of his assistant. He smiled ever so slightly and lowered himself down beside me. I looked down at my hands and twisted them together.
     "Sorry..." I whispered.
     "Don't be. I have a feeling you have every right to be upset..." He said softly in return. I felt tears prick my eyes and I shook my head, looking up at him. I felt the tears finally spill over as I tucked my hair behind my ears. His smile fell away and he pulled me into a gentle hug. I couldn't help but melt into his warm, strong embrace. I fell apart at the seams, sobbing softly. I didn't even know what I was crying about anymore. Was it because I may have fallen for the most narcissistic, arrogant man alive? Was it because I was attacked by a demon? Was it because I missed my mother?
     I don't know how long I cried for but eventually I stopped. Nathaniel gently let me go and wiped my cheeks with a handkerchief. He smiled and laid it in my hands. I looked at it and smiled a bit, laughing as I noticed the initials in the corner. I looked up at him, "Really?"
     "I was told to dry clean it and just... haven't given it back. Its soft," He said with a shrug. I couldn't help but laugh again, a full smile touching my lips. He touched my knee, "Isabella, please tell me what happened. I need to know."
     I felt myself hesitate before I began to speak. "I was... attacked. Mr. Marshall says it was by the demon. I don't know what it was, but I know I don't want to encounter it again. Ever. And then, after he saved me, he pretty much said that my attack was refreshing and the best thing that could have happened..."
     Nathaniel looked slightly ill. I looked down at my hands again.
     "Well you certainly have every right to be upset. But-"
     I felt my head snap up, "But?"
    Nathaniel blinked in surprise and put his hands up, "Hey now. Calm down for a second. Let me finish."
     I glared at him as he proceeded, "I don't disagree with him entirely. Because it lashed out at you like it did, it means this case will end faster."
    I frowned and stood up, "What the hell is wrong with you people." He stood up with me and opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off, "My attack wasn't some kind of joke! I thought I was going to die!"
    He grabbed my arm, "Isabella stop for a second and-"
    I ripped my arm away, "No Nathaniel! You listen to me. I came out here thinking I was going to be taking pictures of writing on the walls or record whispers. I didn't sign up for a possession or worse yet, my own death. Especially when no one else around here seems to care!"
    Nathaniel blinked and shook his head. I took a step back and bumped into something behind me. Someone grab my arm. I looked up and Henry stood over me, cerulean blue eyes full of amusement.
    "Are you done?"
    I nodded slowly, a frown on my plastered on my face.
    He looked up at Nathaniel, "Your cameras caught almost all of it so go back inside and analyze it with Conner."
    I blinked and looked at the ground. They had... recorded it?
    "Almost all of it?" Nathaniel asked, walking past us. Mr. Marshall left me there, walking with him. All I could hear as their conversation faded away was that Nathaniel hadn't set up a camera on the door, so there was no evidence that the door had shut by itself nor was there sound on the one in the study itself.
     I stared out at the now darkening landscape. So... that was why he was excited? Because they caught phenomena on camera? I ran my hands through my hair. Was I really helping in ending this case faster? I paused for a moment and thought about it for a moment. So... was Nathaniel telling me that Henry had kind of, maybe complimented me in some way?
     I felt a soft warmth spread up my neck and across my face. A smile twitched at my lips. Perhaps Mr. Bossy-pants wasn't as terrible as I thought.