Don't Go Into The Woods

Chapter 49

Leaving behind Roman, Cherry turned and started to walk down a dimly lit passage. Nervously, I followed. It wasn't like I had a choice on the matter. It was either leave with Cherry or stay with Roman. I was fond of neither, but opted for rather trying to find out where exactlyI was than to stay another second in the presence of Roman.

There were more shadows than actual light in this place. The passage was short and at the end of it were a spiraling set of stairs which seemed to go on and on. Cherry started down the stairs with me right behind her. She moved far more swiftly than what I did. It was like she could see exactly where she was going while I used mostly my sense of touch and hearing to figure out where I was going. That was how poorly this place was lit. Cherry kept glancing back up at me, her orange eyes visible in the dim light. I wasn't sure if she was surprised to see me moving so quickly after her or if she was amused by my attempts to keep up with her. Nor was I brave enough to find out.

Finally we had reached the bottom of the staircase. I now found myself in a large hall which was just as poorly lit like as the staircase. Cherry floated forward. I followed her till we had arrived at a set of doors. Before opening them, she stopped in her tracks with her hands on top of the doors, and looked back at me.

"I'm not sure as to why Claude has chosen you, but I suspect it has something to do with your beauty. He is a fine collector of beautiful things. I should know." Cherry said, giving me a strange smile which I could only see properly thanks to her very red lips.

Looking away from me, she opened the one door and led the way inside. What I found inside was a massive dining room which was only fitting for a castle of this size. There was a massive fire place which overlooked the entire room. The loud crackles of the wood burning and turning into coals was the only source of light in this room as I noticed that all the windows had been boarded up to ensure there was absolutely no chances of any sunlight entering this room. A long rectangular shaped wooden table was planted in the center of this room with the fireplace right behind it, blazing in the background. There were at least two dozen chairs placed at this table. That is how many guests it could seat and serve. All chairs were empty except for the one. It was the chair situated at the head of the table with the fireplace right behind him.

Claude sat there.

His eyes were fixed on me the moment I had entered. I felt strangely nervous. After what Cherry had just said to me, I could not help, but get the feeling that Claude was secretly undressing me with his eyes. In his hand, he held a glass of what I believed to be red wine at first glance.

"Brother!" Cherry said, floating up towards Claude to greet him. He rose to his feet, pushing back his chair and leaving the glass of red wine down on the table. She threw her arms around Claude, now her brother, and gave him a very warm hug. He returned her hug and added a kiss to her cheek which left a smudge behind when he was done. I sort of just stood there lingering in the doorway, watching in awkward silence as they greeted one another. Cherry was quick to wipe of her cheek before they both turned their attentions to me.

"I'm glad you brought her." Claude said.

"Anything for my brother." Cherry said. They were talking about me like I was not even here or able to hear any what they were saying. This made me extremely uncomfortable. I wished I was back upstairs. I wished I was back in my room with Carmen and Dimitri. I hoped that wherever they were, they were alright and that they were looking for me.

"You did well my sister, but now I need you to do one more thing for me."

"Anything for you my brother." Cherry sounded just too eager to please when saying that.

"Give us a moment alone while you go fetch the rest of our guests." Claude said, not taking his eyes off of me as he said that. "Dinner shall be ready soon so I don't want anyone to be late for our dinner party you see."