Downtown London

Chapter two

--------------------------------------------

Walking through the hallways, Max thought he could smell blood. Fresh blood. No-one has been here for weeks? So why can I smell fresh blood? Max thought. Though, he dismissed the thought as quikly as it came. Damn, now Nora has me paranoid.

Max was walking in front of Nora, which he does alot. He doesn't stand far in front, only about half a stride. He had always felt the need to be protective over her, ever since they met. Maybe because he's always been an only child and he's never been able to protect anyone or be protected.But, none-the-less, Nora has always been appreciative of it and reminds him constantly.

Once when they were fourteen and fifteen Nora said something quite rude to another girl. You see, she is very smart and quick witted so in hindsight the other girl didn't get the insult and was morbidly embarrassed. She was about to run to her rich and powerful parents, which would have ruined Nora and Max's family reputation. Max stepped in an offered the girl one date if she did not run to her parents. Of course she agreed - Most girls around his age drool over him. Afterall, he is very good looking.

It was the most horrid date of his life. First of all, the girl was late and Max had to sit at the dining table at the girls house with her parents asking questions about his future. Which of course, he'd never given a thought to and pretending he was very found of their precious daughter. Secondly, everything she did laugh at -which was at everything he said- she'd snort which was an unearthly sound. And lastly, the place she wanted to eat at was a vegetarian place.

After dropping the girl off, back home, Max and Nora stayed up all night mocking her. It was a very rude and in-excusable thing to do, but no-one else was going to see nor hear. That night was one of the best memories Max had. The way he was protecting Nora by going on the date and then coming home to Nora, laughing about it. He loved each moment they spent like that. He couldn't wait for more in the future. He really loved her.

"Nora, can you smell that?," Max asks "Like fresh blood."

"Oh yes, it's foul"

They were amoungst the rooms now, just passing room 221. 221 rooms on the ground floor! Nora thought, impressed. She longed to see what it was like inside a room. She bet they were exquisite, like the lobby. She thought otherwise though, Max would get very annoyed.

"Max, there's nothing here." Nora excliamed. All she really wanted to do was crawl into bed with her favourite book - Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. "You can leave Nora, I'll be fine." No you wouldn't Nora thought.

Max looks at Nora, waiting for her answer. Her dark brown hair was in curls and elegantly pinned up with a few strands hanging on the side of he face. She wore a navy blue dress that hugged her waist, adding slight curves to her frame. She is very beautiful, but she has never gotten attention from boys. She's very quiet so they look past her. Her brown eyes looked up at me as if to say Hurry up.

BANG!

It sounded like it came from  somewere above them. Glass smashing maybe? Nora thought.They both started running to the flight of stairs at the end of the hallway, it was about five doors down. Upstairs, was a beautiful ball room. Elaborate balls would have been held here. For the rich and famous. The walls were coated in the same patterns and colours as the lobby. This room was just as grand.

In the far corner of this beautiful room, a large mirror was smashed. There were hundreds of shards of glass scattered on the beige carpet. Behind Nora, she could hear Max laughing "Stop laughing Max." She scolded. "Nora, I am not laughing."

Nora turned to face him. "Do not lie to me. I heard you laugh."

"I was not laughing," Max looks around, "No one is here, you imagined it."

"I guess I did."

The door they were  standing a mere fifteen feet away from, slammed shut. Max jumped but Nora was unfazed about it. "What the hell was that?" Max asks.

"Just a gust of wind." Someone said in front of them. Nora turned around to look into the eyes of a handsome man. The blue, sparkling eyes and light brown hair - with some blond- worked so well together on him. Max could never pull that combination off. The man  was more pale than the moon and stood just as high as it. There was a little bit of hair on his chin - not too noticeable. "What brings you here?" He said in an American accent.

"We thought this place was abandoned." Max said. "You thought it was, i just brought along." I mutter.

"Enough of the chit-chat. Who sent you? Was it Josephine?," The teenagers shook their heads. Who is Josephine? "What are your names?" he snapped.

Nora fearlessly stood forward "I am Miss Nora Salem and this," She pulls Max by the wrist "Is Mr Max Salem."

The man looked Nora up and down "You are beautiful sweetheart"

"I am not your sweetheart." Nora said, angered. Normally she loves.sweet comments such as this one. But coming out of this mans mouth, made it feel dirty. "So brave, " he whispered. "Yet the man is foolish." He said looking at Max.

Nora had an urge to say something like "Don't you dare accuse him of that" But then that would make him seem cowardly. She didn't want that.

"Please just let us through, we will go straight home an never speak of this again." Max pleaded.

"If only it were that simple."

The man clapped his hands three times. Through the doors around the room, a large amount of people came into the room, surrounding us. Each of them as beautiful as the mysterious man standing before them. Far out man. What have you gotten us into! Nora thought.

-----------

A/N: Thanks for reading! Tell me what you think. Please Vote, Comment or both!

-B xo