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Chapter 3.

     Jessica sat at the table, staring at her uncle.  Gavin was seated next to her, wolfing down his lasagna.  Jessica couldn’t even sample her food.  The dining room had an air of stifling awkwardness and, try as she might, Jessica could not even shake the feeling enough to eat.

     Uncle Wess cleared his throat.

     “Well, I hope you’ve both settled in nicely.  I hope you like your accommodations and all,” he looked uncomfortable, as if trying to avoid an unpleasant piece of information.  

     Just then, Taren strode in, carrying a plate laden with steaming garlic bread.  She looked at Wess pointedly and then smiled politely at Jessica and Gavin.

     “Are you enjoying your supper?”

     “Uh huh,” Gavin said around a mouthful of noodles, nodding emphatically. Taren wrinkled her nose at him affectionately.

     “what about you, Jessica?”

     Trying to keep a straight face, Jessica forced a bite of lasagna into her mouth.  It was delicious!  The layers of creamy noodles and cheese blended together perfectly, the rich sauce danced across her tongue.

     “This is wonderful!” she said, silently chiding herself for not trying the delicacy​ sooner.  Taren nodded and, with another look at Wess, turned to leave.  After she was gone, Wess cleared his throat again.

     “The, um, the food is pretty good, isn’t it?” he said, clearly stalling.  “Taren’s an excellent cook.  She’s a regular wizard--in the kitchen, I mean,” he added quickly.

     “Here’s some more salad.” Taren said, rushing into the room.  She glared at Wess as she set the bowl down.

     Wess sighed. “Also, I think we need to have a talk...about rules.”  Taren nodded, an is that so hard? look on her face.

     He ignored her and continued, “I had thought that things would be fine if I just let you have your own run of the place.  Unfortunately, though, it has come to my attention that that is not the way to go.”

     Jessica thought she knew who had brought that to mind.

     “So,” Wess went on, “I have compiled a list of rules that I expect to be followed.  First, stay out of my office.  You have your space and I have mine.  Second, do not venture into the attic.  There’s a bunch of old, breakable stuff up there.  And third, do not ever, ever go into the Black Hall.  I believe Jessica knows why.”

     Jessica caught Taren staring at her smugly.  She then turned and flounced out of the room.

     Jessica tried to focus on finding a place for the rest of her things, but her thoughts kept straying to the dinner conversation.  As much as she tried to keep it away, images of the strange door at the end of the Black Hall kept resurfacing in her mind.

     “What did he mean about you knowing why?”

     Jessica jumped and turned to face Gavin, who was lying on his bed staring up at the ceiling.

     “What?”

     “Wess said that you know why the Black Hall is off-limits.”

     “Oh,” Jessica did not want to have to recount her adventure to her brother. “Taren said the ground is unstable.  It’s not safe to walk around over there.”

     “Oh.”  After a moment, Gavin stated, “I don't like Taren very much.”

     Although she hated to admit it, Jessica had to agree.