Piece Of Cake~ A Teaberry Chronicle(COMPLETED BOOK I.)

XXIV. Return Of The Last Duvain

September 25, 2016

~there is a song behind the photo~

The doors open, hinges crying out as they finally meet the wall on either side, the sight before us that which can only be described as ruins of a forgotten wonderland. Sheets that cover furniture once were an almost bright white, now a dark beige from years of dust. Shards of broken mirror strewn from one end of the Grand Hall entrance to another. The power, out due to power cut years ago, and an eerie sound that most old houses make from years of neglect. A small splatter of dried blood paints the once white marble floor. "Follow me, we have to get candles from the cellar.....I have so much to tell you." I say, breaking the cold dead silence, Hikari staring at the once proud Manor Duvain, now a place where monsters lay sleeping.

Walking through the Grand Hall Entrance, we make our way into the Living Room. In the center of the far left wall is a grand fireplace, a mural of a Mad Hatter's Tea Party decorates the front of the mantle, an old english D carved into the center of the fireplace. A dried thorny twig with dried blood lays next the the fireplace, triggering old memories....

~flashback~

'Cut, cut, cut, until there is nothing left but the pain........'  "I can't do this anymore.....please go away!" screaming, digging the thorns deeper into my flesh......

"Ivvy!" hearing Hikari's voice, I snap from my thoughts, cold sweat on my brow, I look to him in terror. "Are you okay?" He asks, a look of worry etched across his face. "I'm fine Hikari....I have to do this, lets continue to the cellar." saying those words, I look up to see the large painting above the fireplace of the founding family. So much history in this dark place, I feel a sense of abandonment, looking at them looking back at me, and wondering if they are disappointed in y for not keeping this place alive.

Hikari's POV~

Looking around this place, I feel an uneasiness come over me. Curious as to what transpired here after her parents passed away. I imagine she must be scared of telling me everything, but I want to help her in anyway possible.

Continuing on through Duvain Manor, traces of dried blood has been spotted in several rooms. When I try to ask her about it, she simply says, "Wait, its getting dark soon, we need candles.". What could have happened here I wonder?

We finally reached a large wooden door, just outside of the kitchen, taking her skeleton key from her pocket, she unlocks the door, and pulls it open as it makes a loud groaning sound from the strain. "Come on, its just down here.", with those words, I took my lighter from my pocket and strike a flame. Carefully walking down the stairs of the cellar, I follow her down into the dark room. "This way." She says, turning down an aisle, passing shelves full of old items.

She finally came to a stop in front of an old wooden cabinet, opening the doors and taking a large box from the shelf, and closing the cabinet doors. "Come on, we should head to the West Wing, not far from the Grand Hall is the greenhouse. We will talk there." she says, turning to face me, giving me a look to lead the way back up stairs. As I turn around, I bring us back upstairs and out of the cellar.

~~

Leaving the cellar, I close the door back behind us, heading out of the kitchen and back into the living room. Turning down the Grand Hall, we head toward the West Wing. A broken mirror riddles the hallway, passing the grand staircase to the west wing. Finally reaching the door to the greenhouse, I hand the box to Hikari, and turn the crystal door knob. Opening the door reveals the once beautiful greenhouse, a menagerie of flowers of all kinds; now a broken room full of red roses. The roses almost dead, due to the changing of the seasons.