Au

Chapter 9

It was mid evening when Iris lowered her self into the heated, indoor pool. Instantly, her muscles began to relax and she closed her eyes, willing herself to forget what had happened. And she just about managed except for one, tiresome detail. The shade of green that encompassed the strangers eyes. Once again she found her thoughts trailing off to deep and dark places. Conjuring images of romatic nights filled with candle light and picnics beneath the stars.  Picturing his arms around her as they swayed in time to a slow tune. Delusionaly savouring the taste of his pink lips. Her thoughts became so vivid that she could almost sence his presence, as if he were standing in the room or somewhere near by.

And he was. Iris might not have been aware of it but her body was drawn to his and it senced his presence when he stepped out of the van and walked into the ellustrious building.

"Qui es-tu(Who are you)?" a petite Asian woman asked. She was pretty and her hair was up in a bun that was casually held in place by chopsticks. She scrutinised him suspiciously through her spectacles, making him uncomfortable enough that he took a step back.

"Uh, I think you just asked me who I am, in which case, Hi I'm Barry Allen and my knowledge of French ended after my last year of high school so..." he offered her his hand and when she didn't take it he fumbled around with it for a while before deciding that it would be best to simply rest them at his sides. The drive had proved to be immensely therapeutic and he was slowly easing back into his old self. That is until he stepped inside the grandiose structure with its high ceilings and marble tiles. Something about the place called to him and gave him that eddgy, firy sensation he'd felt earlier that day, he just couldn't quite put his finger on what it could possibly be.

"So Mr. Allen. What can I do for you?" she asked in an audibly superior tone, her accent undeniably pronounced.

"Right. I, um. I have some documents here for a Ms Iris West. There was a bit of a mix up at the..."

"Hand them over." she cut him off sternly and he shut his mouth immediately, cautiously handing her the envelope he had come to deliver. She snatched it away from him and turned on her heel, walking away without a second glance in his direction.

"Au revoir monsieur Allen. You can show yourself out." She called out over her shoulder while going up the stairs, her hips swaying a little too seductively in her black pencil skirt.

"You're welcome," Barry whispered under his breath as she dissappeared into the top floor. Normally he would have listened to her orders and taken his leave but something inside him begged him to take a closer look. His curiosity was at it's peak, for some odd reason, and he couldn't fight it off so he just gave in and looked around. The place was intimidating and large. Everything from the floors to the decorations sparkled with a glass like fragility that made him petrified of touching anything. The doors seemed antique, but the kind that was well kept to the point of looking new and all the knobs and fixtures were polished to perfection.

Barry shoved his hands inside his pockets as he roamed around, navigating his way towards the back of the mansion. A pair of sand blasted glass doors stood infront of him and one of them was pushed in allowing him a partial view of a glorious indoor pool. Miniscule waves rippled in the stunningly blue water, looking inviting despite the cold weather. The giddy feeling at the pit of his stomach increased the closer he got to it and his heart began to pound so hard that he found it hard to catch his breath. Through the sandblasted image of a dancing mermaid on the other door, Barry could just about make out the silhouette of a swimmer on the other side. His heart began to pound in his chest as he got closer to the door.

"Qu'est-ce que tu fais(What are you doing)!" came a shrill voice from behind him and he turned around startled to find the petite woman from before rushing towards him.