16

S he lay in the conservatory. Still and untouched since the moment she had fallen. Hair splayed out about her shoulders and entangled with errant petals and leaves that had reached for her and grown about her during her compelled rest. A contented thrum wavered in the air as she laid peacefully among them, on the bed of moss.

She had been happy here once, with the blossoms and the dirt for company, and she would be again. Time to reset was all it took to pull the light back from the shadow that had consumed her. She had a gift for nurturing, one that came so easily to her that the plants yearned for her touch. Even now in her sleep they leaned toward her, in bundles and tangles, longing for her attention.

The front door opened. The disturbance shuddered through the walls in the foyer and stirred up hostility and covetousness where previously there had been calm. Darkness descended from the top of the Manor through each floorboard and beam. It crept over every brick, encasing the building in an imposing unease.

Three men stumbled over the threshold, dripping with blood not entirely their own. They stunk of violence and danger and, one especially, of death.

The lock clicked responsively on the atrium. A possessive barrier between her and them… and then unlocked all within the same moment. A twisted curiosity settling within the walls.

The shadows that wrapped around her seemed to stem from a consuming lonesomeness. Despite the companionship that had formed between her and the Manor she had a tendency to fall into despair, never lasting long before trying to escape it with finality. The walls rippled malevolently, the most recent attempt had caused the longest stretch of unconsciousness yet. Punishment for using the gifts it created especially for her against it.

Perhaps a change would stave off the madness for longer? Perhaps a reminder of what could await would steady her against repeating her actions again. The air swirled with sick fascination and contemplation. A short time then. It had been a while since things were interesting.

Open your eyes.