Life of the Strange

Welcome to the Castle

Aardy ran into the dining hall like a draft coming in from a storm. She ran up and hugged Siren, who was still sitting at her chair at the table.

"Everyone's here right?" She asked Siren, quickly and loudly.

"Well, Aardy it seems your back from your run. It's not like we'd start desert without you-"

"Everyone's here, right?"  This time her voice broke.

Siren looked at her, alarmed. "Aardy, what's wrong? Why? What happened?"

"Is--is everyone--"

"--Yes," Siren nodded to the rest of the table. "It's okay, everyone's here. Now tell me what's going on."

Aardy looked around the Dinning hall for more confirmation. When she saw that yes, Duke, Grit, Veil, Lambent and Tenor were all accounted for (and most starring at her from her sudden outburst) she relaxed a bit.

"Someone's knocking on the door." She told Siren.

"What?"

"The big door, in the front parlor. Someone's knocking on it! A stranger, I think there's two of them-"

"What?!"

Aardy was nearly jumping up and down with all the excitement, fear and frustration. "Come on! let's go look!"

After much confusion from the crowd, the castle members had soon gathered around in the front parlor to see what was the matter.

Silence sweeps the chamber for one waiting moment, and then;

...Thud thud thud thud...

Of course Lambent couldn't hear the knocking but he got to witness the changes in everyone's demeanor.

Grit immediately felt her feet move toward the porthole to find the source of this. She already had her bow and arrows. Grit peeked out while Duke's worried eyes swept the crowed in reassurance that everyone was there.

"Yep, people are out there." She confirmed.

"I know." Aardy said, exasperated.  "I said that."

Siren stiffened at the sight of the door. A cold, dark sense of déjà vu had settled over her, a feeling felt by most of the older castle members. Veil shrank back to the edge of the parlor at some of the memories glaring at her. Grits knuckles were pale.

The last time they had met someone new, it had not gone over well with anyone.

"Well," Aardy said, sensing the tension but not the overall gravity of the situation. "Are we going to open the door or not?"

"Duke, take all the young ones into the other room." Siren ordered. "I'll open it. Grit, if you can keep an arrow aimed at the door..." She stepped up to the big wooden doors and waited.

Aardy was soon ushered out of the room, but Lambent and Tenor wouldn't be swayed. Duke begrudgingly accepted this while guarding the way into the front parlor incase the girl had any of the same ideas.

Siren looked back and nodded, and started undoing the heavy latches barring the entrance. Grit had her bow raised.

There was a heavy click noise as the last lock had been undone, followed by another weary silence. Siren grabbed the handle with both her hands and pulled, but it only creaked. It hadn't been opened for six years.