Moon Of Gold

Chapter 8: A mysterious old mansion

       Its been at least an hour after the ridiculous ambush. It's still a surprise to me that the woman who let us stay at the hotel was a threat. I'm having this itching nerve not to stay oblivious to strangers. 
      I turn my head to check on Julian. He seems content but at the same time his shoulders are slumped, his eyes are tired, and his walking speed was a little off.
      I slow myself down and face him. He stops and slowly looks up at me. His tired gaze turns into mild confusion. I place my hand on to his forehead. Cold. 
     "Are you okay? Your body temperature is decreasing. You look pale or ill. Do we need to stop?" I whisper in concern.
     He sighs and straightens his slouching body. I can see his skin his paler than before. Was that even possible or am I just forgetting how he looked a while ago?
      Julian gently pushes my hand away. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I always look like this. We need to keep moving" he mumbles and drags his feet past me. 
     I sigh and shake my head. This man I swear! One second he's playful and then the other he's dead inside. Is this hereditary or something? 
     We come to a dead-end...well more like something I sort of expected. This creepy forest sure knows how to stir us in the right direction. The air around us is surprisingly cold and I could have sworn I saw a snowflake or two.
      The faded cobblestone path has to lead us to the most gothic looking mansion I have ever seen. Whatever this place is...I have a growing suspicion about it.
    There is a steel rusted fence that somehow remains intact. The grass around it is faded away. Its dark and hollow inside as the windows are dark and slightly cracked. The brick exterior was perhaps dark brown but the darkness covered it all too well.
    I slowly walk up to it and place a hand on it. The coldness brushes my fingertips as I slowly trail them down the wall. It's amazing how long this place has been here. Maybe in hundreds of years? I take my hand of it and look around. Silvaus isn't outside; he's inside and I know it. He has to have come here for some reason. Why?
     Turning around to Julian, I watch as he examines the door. "Hmph. It seems too quiet. A little too weird if you ask me." He quietly states, putting a hand up to the door.
    I huff and take a step near the entrance. I knock once and the door slowly opens. "Well, here we go."
      We enter and a cold blow of air hits me. The lights suddenly flicker on. I look up to see a beautifully crafted gold chandelier, hanging above us. The interior of the mansion is lined with an old-looking wallpaper. The floor is carpeted with red as well as the stairs that follow up to the second floor. 
    My nose wrinkles at the old scent. In other words, it smells like faded oil and burned bark. Weird combination for a place like this.
    I look up at the top of the stairs. A rather small old lady stands up top. Her head is covered by a blue cowl and a wooden cane stands by her side. She slowly raises the cane with a smile. 

     "Cia, Lyla, and Mika! They have arrived! Do not keep them waiting."