"Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom"
Tessa groped behind her, feeling along the walls for something to grab. The women coming towards her was small, even by her standards. She had a kind face, but Tessa knew from experience that that didn't mean she was. The woman came towards her steadily, as if purposely trying not to spook Tessa.
"I'm not going to hurt you. My name is Rebekah." She smiled. Tessa could feel herself warming to her. She extended a small hand and Tessa shook it gingerly. "We need to talk, if that's alright with you?" Tessa bowed her head, she was expecting this. Rebekah was going to tell her to leave, and now she was going to have to find somewhere else to stay, she thought of the man in the alleyway. She couldn't face being out there alone tonight. But then she surprised her. "I know you must have had a long day. We all have" She subconsiously pulled at her sleeve but not before Tessa saw the bruises.
"Eric will escort you to a room where you can have a good nights rest, we will figure this all out in the morning" With that she turned on her heels and left with the others. Leaving Tessa and the mysterious Eric alone. Even with all this space she felt that she could just reach out and touch him. She was still afraid, but her fear was dulling. Surely if they let a stranger stay the night, they can't be frightening.
Eric turned to face Tessa. He didn't once meet her eyes. She could finially exaimine his face. She made a mental gasp. He was beautiful. Like no man she had ever seen in America or London. His raven black hair jutted out and framed his piercing blue eyes perfectly. His skin, had no marks, no boils and scars. She should have guessed he was an aristocrat from what he was wearing. She felt dissapointed at her own thoughts. He sped off down the hall. Before Tessa had even got a breath to find out what was going on. He spat out "Don't Ask" and flew up the stairs. She tried to catch up but as she got close, he seemed to sense her and walk quicker. They halls upstairs were just as well decorated as down. They had wooden panels running along the corridors and Tessa could'nt help but stop for a second and examine them. Eric made an angry sound before telling her to hurry up. She ran after him. Her sodden boots making marks on the carpet.
His fists were clenched and his knuckles were white, like his fingers were pushing into his palm. He stopped suddenly and reached out with his hand opening a door. He turned to face her.
"I'll come and get you,..... Tessa." The way he said her name made her blush. It sounded natural coming from his lips. Although It looked like he was trying to force the words out. "At 8. Don't keep me waiting" No emotion except annoyance was being shown on his face but there was an instinct inside her that told her that he was hiding something. She scuffled through into the room and sat on the bed, examing her healed hands. Nothing remained but dried blood. Odd. Was all she could remember thinking before getting changed ointo a nightdress left on the bed and crawling under the sheets.
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Beams of light filtred through the room, highlighting the bed. Tessa groaned and rolled onto her side, the wood creaked. It must be old. I don't weigh that much! She thought. She had a small pocketwatch in her satchel that her father had given her. I was'nt worth much but it meant alot to her. He gave it to her the week before he died. She bowed her head with thoughts and respect for her father before taking off the nightdress Rebekah had sent to her and putting on her ragged, torn dress, old boots and shawl and as she did, began to feel more like herself. Less lost. Like this was all part of the plan. She had no idea how she was going to find Mr Dobson. Or for that matter, her uncle. She would have to ask around, but where?
3 loud rapps on the door alerted her to Eric's presence. She opened the door to his God-like face and just managed to pull her eyes away. He wore a loose fitting shirt today, tucked into his trousers. He gave her a quizzical look before closing the door behind her. He seemed more brooding today. His face was beautiful, but there were bags under his piercing blue eyes that she had'nt noticed. And his lips were cracked like he had been biting them.
