The Goth House

Go to sleep

Ami got the rest of the bags and soon it got dark. A little while after, Mr Slate the butler, arrived. He's been the family's butler since before Ami was born, and had moved in a couple of days ago, needing to prepare for the master and little mistresses arrival. Ami called him by his first name, Colin because he was like a formal grandfather to her. Even though she had asked him many times to call her by her name, he always called her mistress.

He set the table, made the fires and prepared dinner, and Ami and father sat at the large oval table, eating in silence. Ami sat on one side, father sat opposite her, and John sat at the head. Because he couldn't eat, he just sat there in silence, not talking to Ami because it wouldn't be adequate for father to see his daughter talking to "herself" at the dinner table. He watched Ami as she delicately ate her roast pork and potatoes, and smiled at her cute lady-like manners. Ami didn't look back at him, instead she kept her head down at her plate, eating slowly.

They stayed like that for a short while, until Ami had nearly finished her dinner. Father had already finished, and out his cutlery together on his empty plate and pushed it away, folding his arms on the table. Ami felt his gaze on her, and looked up at him sweetly. Father chuckled very softly, and spoke just as Ami put another forkful of potato in her mouth.

"Ami, you see that door just there?" He asked pointing to said door, in the corner of the room to the right if the fireplace. Ami stopped, took the fork out if her mouth, and looked over to the door then back at father, still chewing and nodded. "That door leads to the stairwell for the tower. My lab will be up there, Ami it is my wish that you never go up there without permission, is that clear my dear?" Father said with a solid low turn, his expression unreadable, and Ami thought for a moment before smiling again, she could never disobey her dear father she loved so much.

"Of course father, I promise to never go up to the tower without permission." She said innocently, and she meant it, and fathers glasses shone with the light from the fire, and he smiled.

"That's right my dear."

Ami giggled softly before turning her head slightly to Look at John, who had not let his gaze wonder from her. She was surprised to find that as she looked at him, he turned away and turned his attention to her father. She had to cover her shock when John actually FROWNED at her father! Why would John be mad at Father? He's never looked at father like that before, wait.....has John ever spoke about father before, even looked at him?

Ami frowned herself, in thought and looked at father. He had his head resting in his hand, smiling to himself and looking at her. Ami looked back at John, and he stopped frowning at father when he realised that Ami was looking at him, and instead turned his attention to the kitchen doorway. The EMPTY doorway. Ami desperately wanted to ask what was wrong, but with father still here, she could do nothing but watch.

DONG DONG DONG

Ami squealed and nearly jumped out of her skin, and Johns stare was immediately broken as he whipped his head around to face her, his face filled with concern. The huge clock that sat on the mantle piece above the fire was really loud, and father chuckled at Ami's surprise and Ami went red and giggled in embarrassment. "I think it's time you went to bed, Ami. We need to unpack tomorrow and you need to get rested up for school in three days. Your uniform should be arriving tomorrow, now run along my dear." Father said standing up, and Ami got up and skipped round the table and gave her father a hug, not noticing Johns scowl. "Goodnight father!" She said, and raced upstairs to her room and got into her bed, grabbing her toy bunny that had been made by her grandmother for her first birthday, Paws.

John passed through the door and slowly sat on a chair near the bed. Ami turned to face him, and even though she was drowning in fatigue, her eyelids drooping, she still wanted to know the reason for Johns sudden weird behaviour.

"J.....John?"

"Yes Ami."

"Why...why were you...frowning..at father...?"

"I cannot explain at this time Ami."

"Will...you explain...someday...?"

"I promise Ami, now go to sleep."

"Hm....yes John..."

Ami was asleep in seconds, and John slowly stood up and walked over it her bedside, not making a sound. He stood over her sleeping frame, and made his hand solid as he brushed the hair off her face.

"Please Ami, don't use the charm. I made a promise to try to protect you, don't use the charm."

John went and sat back in the chair, continuing to watch over Ami, like he had promised years ago.