billie
Junior Member
I don't got all day, and I sure as Hell don't got all night!
Reckon as I see it.. you have two choices.
Posts: 63
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Post by billie on Nov 21, 2012 22:05:51 GMT -5
The past couple of days has been rather hellish having to sort through what was left of the house, the statements and working with the local police, and worse was not knowing what happened to Ana. The speculation was that she perished in the fire though no remains were found. Ash had been collected in a few places to determine if a body had been cremated or not. It was possible since the house burned with such intensity that even the house could not withstand the extreme heat.
However this did not stop Billie from continuing on with life even though he wanted answers. Hoping that Ana made it out of the house alive. If she was alive, then where was she? A search party was organized on horseback and with dogs to sniff her out. So far, there was no leads.
Billie made a trip to the Manor to see if anyone had seen her since Halloween night. The truck pulled up into the massive drive in front of the Manor and parked. He got out of the vehicle, glanced around and shut the door. Looking around once again as he moved to the main entrance to make his presence known (either with a knock upon the massive doors or a doorbell if there was one). He waited for someone to answer hoping silently that someone had seen Ana. Hoping that she was OK. But each passing day, each moment, the chances of her being a live wore thin.
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Emma Ravenhearst
Love can hold one captive in more ways than one...
The bride of Ravenhearst
Posts: 269
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Post by Emma Ravenhearst on Nov 21, 2012 23:14:23 GMT -5
Emma Ravenhearst had been rather removed from the rest of the manor for the past few days. She and Charles had shut themselves away, trying to find out how best to take Claude out of the picture. Consequently, she had heard not much about his doings in and around the manor. Now, however, she was venturing out again, trying to be polite and make herself known to the residents of the manor. Charles wanted everyone to know that they were in charge, no matter what Claude might say.
On this day, Emma was wondering the manor, dressed in a modern dress. She had started to grow more and more fond of the modern clothes that Charles was providing for her, so long as they included a skirt. Pants did not sit at all well with her. Her dress on this day was deep blue, with large white polka dots. It was tight on the top, flaring out at the bottom, flattering her figure very nicely (typical, as it had been chosen by Charles). Her long brown hair was twisted up into a bun. Frankly, she didn't look much at all like the woman she had been 107 years ago- she was very much changed, from the events that had occurred and simply from time, though she was still just as beautiful.
When she heard someone knocking on the door, she made it her business to be the first to the door- she wanted to fulfill her duty as mistress of the manor properly. She opened the door with a smooth smile, "Hello, sir...Can I help you?"
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Nov 21, 2012 23:29:06 GMT -5
The early November days had turned frigid. Erik decided to take a walk even before dark, for the day was overcast and gloomy. It was a day that Erik didn't mind. It was just the cold that he minded. He put his cape about himself and pulled his hat to a rakish angle and left his lair for the upper regions of the mansion.
Erik missed Teressa greatly. He hadn't seen her since the afternoon of that kiss with Ana that had done him in....in Teressa's eyes in any case. Erik shuddered even to think about that situation. He missed her so much, and yet, it hurt to think about her. He was planning to do what he had done for the past few days now and that was to go outside in the garden and walk a bit, ending up at Teressa's favourite tree, the weeping willow. He always leaned against it and just closed his eyes, wishing that Teressa were here. Then after a while, he continued his walk and went back inside. It truly wasn't making him feel any better, though.
Erik had stopped speaking to anyone unless he had to. He kept away from the other residents if possible. If he met anyone, he didn't tarry to speak with them, he merely nodded and acknowledged them and continued on.
This afternoon, as Erik passed the foyer, he heard someone knocking vigorously at the door. He frowned, wondering who it could be. Most residents simply went in and out of their own will. But someone was there before he was...a woman, dressed in modern clothing. It looked like... Emma Ravenhearst, whom he had not seen in a very long time. Could it be her? He had thought she was a ghost...perhaps it was someone else. Erik watched as she opened the heavy door. It was Billie Cristofersen at the door, the American fellow with the mane of white hair and the smooth, pleasant voice.
Erik stayed in the shadows and watched.
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billie
Junior Member
I don't got all day, and I sure as Hell don't got all night!
Reckon as I see it.. you have two choices.
Posts: 63
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Post by billie on Nov 22, 2012 0:18:26 GMT -5
Think perhaps Lenoir or one of the de Chagny's would answer the door so when an unknown woman answered the door in rather contemporary attire, he was rather thrown. He definitely came to the right place. Nodding, Billie spoke in his usual deep, smooth voice, "Afternoon. I was wondering if perhaps Mister Lenoir, or one of the de Chagny's, perhaps Lu, or someone might have seen Ana." There was a hint of concern in his voice as he watched the woman. Her face seemed so vaguely familiar.
"My apologies," he began and held his hand out, "Billie Cristofersen. I was hoping someone could help me." There was some nagging in the back of Billie's mind and not sure what exactly it was all about.
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Nov 22, 2012 0:41:02 GMT -5
Erik wasn't sure the woman was Emma Ravenhearst, but that's who Billie had been looking for when he had first met him coming to the mansion. He wondered if he should take a chance and step out of the shadows to greet Billie and say hello to Emma. Erik hadn't seen her since that night in the graveyard.
Erik rather forgot his determination to stay aloof of the other residents of the manor. His curiosity becgan to get to him. Billie deserved to find the woman he had been looking for. He wondered what the reason was that Billie had originally come to the manor this dreary November afternoon.
Erik stepped out of the shadows. He stood there for a moment to see if either would notice him. Then he said, "Bon jour, mes amis...it is good to see you, Monsieur Cristofersen. What brings you back to the mansion. And Mademoiselle Ravenhearst...this is indeed a pleasure...it had been a while. You look so different in your modern clothing....It is Miss Ravenhearst, isn't it? Miss Emma Ravenhearst?"
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Emma Ravenhearst
Love can hold one captive in more ways than one...
The bride of Ravenhearst
Posts: 269
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Post by Emma Ravenhearst on Nov 22, 2012 10:04:17 GMT -5
Emma knew that Lenoir had entered the room from the moment that he did. The manor and she were one, connected by the demonic magic that Charles had worked all those years ago. Now that she had a physical body, that sense had not gone away at all, like she had thought it might. She sensed, however, that he did not want to be seen right away, and so did not acknowledge him, focusing instead on what the strange man had to say.
Billie Cristofersen...Where had she heard that name before? It sounded familiar, which told her that he had been in the manner before. His aura certainly seemed familiar enough. She took his hand when he offered it, letting it lie rather limply, indicating that her old habits still had not completely gone away- she had never shaken a man's hand in her life. It was more appropriate for a man to kiss a lady's hand. She nodded at his request to see Mr. Lenoir, but did not point him out right away. As it turned out, she didn't need to.
Before she could answer any of the man's requests, Lenoir stepped out of the shadows and started doing something she rather thought she should slap him for. Introducing her to a stranger?! People inside the manor, she was perfectly content with being introduced to and would share her secret of being stuck here for 117 years, but people from the outside...! If they knew her name...Or, if they looked it up, they would instantly find that all was not well within the manor, that things were not as they seemed. And then the curious people would begin flooding in, disturbing the peace that she and Charles had worked so hard to achieve.
Consequently, when Lenoir started spouting her name left and right, she met his gaze with a hard glare, turning back to Mr. Cristofersen with a wavering smile, "Ah....Yes...But, of course, I am not the woman of the legend...The one who disappeared all those years ago, I mean. A sad story, don't you think? I was named in her honor."
She congratulated herself on her rather quick thinking, but there wasn't much she could do about his comment on modern dress. She could only hope Mr. Cristofersen had not fully absorbed his words. She wanted nothing more than to be left alone by the outside world...Peace. That was what she wanted and desperately needed.
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Nov 22, 2012 13:27:28 GMT -5
Erik knew that this Emma Ravenhearst was the very same one he had seen floating about the graveyard those many months ago. He knew it by the glare that she gave him. He would have believed her assertation that she was simply named in her honour if it had not been for that look. She seemed to have changed from that wispy spirit who had been so afraid of Charles when she last spoke to Erik. She seemed a woman of more substance now, not only because she seemed to now have a physical body, but her personality seemed different.
This was interesting. Erik had been so caught up in his depression over Teressa that he could think of nothing more. Until now. This was a bit of a mystery. Erik's curiosity was piqued. So Emma had somehow changed from a ghost to a live person, like Adina had? Interesting. Were all the ghosts going to become alive? Erik could see that Emma didn't want Billie to know who she was. But Billie was the one who had originally come to the mansion looking for her. Shouldn't he be told the truth? Of course Billie seemed like a pragmatic man, one who would not accept such a strange story. Of course, he would, in time, if he made enough trips to the mansion and spoke to enough residents, he would indeed find out the strange truths of the mansion.
Erik decided not to say more. He did not want Emma to know that he knew that she was masquerading as someone elsse and he knew the truth. He would see what happened.
"Miss Ravenhearst, I was about to take a walk alone in the garden, but I have changed my mind. Why don't we show him our hospitality, invite Mr Cristofersen in and make him comfortable. Perhaps he has something he wishes to say to us..." Watching Billie, it seemed to Erik that he had a slightly troubled look on his face. He wondered what his mission to the mansion was.
Erik removed his hat and prepared to leave the foyer and find a sitting room where they could converse. He made a dramatic gesture with his hand to move them in the direction of the nearest sitting room. He smiled urbanely at the two.
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billie
Junior Member
I don't got all day, and I sure as Hell don't got all night!
Reckon as I see it.. you have two choices.
Posts: 63
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Post by billie on Nov 22, 2012 14:37:06 GMT -5
Greeted by the woman and shaking her hand but it was the name that Lenoir had mentioned upon his appearance to greet as well that struck Billie with a stunned bewilderment as he gazed hard at the woman. Emma Ravenhearst? And he stopped there nothing thinking more other than 'how?' But then the woman recanted and deflected the oddity of the moment by saying she was named after the woman who lived long ago. How odd it was but sounded viable. Billie seemed to accept it as the truth though his face did not quite reflect his thoughts. "Nice to meet you, Miss Ravenhearst."
"My apologies to impose. But," well now he had two reasons instead of one, "I could talk to both of you." Nodding to Lenoir, "Mister Lenoir knows I'm seekin' information on Emma Ravenhearst."Not sure how to explain why he was interested, "She's family and am needed some answers."
But before he allowed anyone to respond to the. "That can wait though. More pressing situation is Ana." He shifted his gaze between Emma and Lenoir with a rather disturbed gaze. "Our house burned down Halloween night. It unknown whether she died in the fire or is missing." Looking over at Lenoir, "I was hopin' someone here at the Manor had seen her."
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Emma Ravenhearst
Love can hold one captive in more ways than one...
The bride of Ravenhearst
Posts: 269
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Post by Emma Ravenhearst on Nov 24, 2012 14:36:53 GMT -5
Emma breathed a secret sigh of relief when Mr. Cristofersen seemed to accept her admittedly strange cover story. Her imagination had not completely rotted away in all these years, it seemed. She followed Lenoir as he lead them over to a sitting room, wondering if she should take over the role of host. She was, after all, the mistress of the manor...Mr. Croistofersen just didn't need to know how very long she had held that title for.
Consequently, she did not sit when they arrived in the sitting room, but stayed standing, hands clasped in front of her stomach, looking between the two men. It gave her a bit of a rush to think how displeased Charles would be if he found her conversing with two other men...Perhaps she was getting a bit of her spunk back at that. Her hand flew to her chest when she heard about the woman who might have died in a fire. She had never heard of the woman before, but any woman who disappeared under mysterious circumstances was certainly one close to her own heart. She furrowed her brow, shaking her head, "I'm sorry, sir...I've never heard of her before...I certainly will listen for any information that I can...Perhaps Mr. Lenoir knows something...?"
She glanced over at the masked man before returning her gaze to the newcomer, "Please...Allow me to fetch you some tea."
She gaze a small smile before moving out of room with purpose, headed for the kitchen.
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Nov 24, 2012 15:03:51 GMT -5
It was extremely strange to see Emma Ravenhearst again, expecially with a body. He wondered how he could explain this to Billie. Of course, when Erik had come to the mansion, he had not believed there were such things as ghosts either. It took a lot of convincing.
Last having seen Emma as a frightened spectre in the graveyard, Erik was amazed at the change in her. He knew it was undoubtedly too early to bring that up to him. Billie would have to be convinced slowly, and with hard evidence. He was like Erik in that way; he would not believe someting without firm facts.
Erik led the way to a sitting room quite near the entrance of the mansion. The cool day had rendered the small room, with a wall bordering the outside of the house, very cold. Always one to suffer from the cold, Erik said, "I hope you shall excuse me while I warm the room." Erik opened the damper of the white marble fireplace and built a crackling fire. The heat soon warmed the room.
Billie's words about Ana shocked him. When he had finished with the fire, he said, "I am so sorry to hear of the fire...you say Ana is missing since that occurrance?" He paused. He had been keeping to himself since the kissing incident for it had seemed to alienate him from many of the manor's residents. He hadn't seen her, but again, he had barely seen anyone since then.
"I have not been about the mansion for the past weeks, Mr Cristofersen, I have not seen Ana, nor many others either, I fear." While he didn't really care for Ana, he didn't wish evil on her and felt sorry that she was missing. Billie seemed quite distraught over her disappearance. It was too bad that this had happened just when Emma Ravenhearst made her apearance. He would have liked to get Billie interested again in finding out who she was and her "relationship" to his ancestor. Billie would be quite surprised.
"Where are you staying, Monsieur? If you need a place to stay, I am sure there are many vacant rooms in the mansion which you could choose from." Erik stopped then. He wondered if inviting the man to the mansion would be a bad thing. He might be entrenched in the mansion just like the others were and not be able to leave. It had happened before to a villager, Roselin. Although Billie wasn't technically a villager...
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billie
Junior Member
I don't got all day, and I sure as Hell don't got all night!
Reckon as I see it.. you have two choices.
Posts: 63
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Post by billie on Nov 24, 2012 15:30:20 GMT -5
"Thank you," he nodded as he strode in and made his way to the Sitting room with Lenoir and Emma. Almost oblivious to the chill in the room as he walked about and then stood by a chair. Nodding as the woman seemed genuinely sympathetic over Ana's unknown fate. "Again, thank you," as he looked over at Emma with a nod. Though not one much for tea, he would accept it for the sake of hospitality.
Once the young woman had left, gazing after her a moment with narrowed eyes then turned to Lenoir. "She told me what happened," His deep, soothing voice echoed slightly in the room. Then shifted his gaze to Lenoir for a silently spell wondering how that would stir him or ruffle his feathers as Billie always put it. Then to change the topic as he shook his head, "I'm just hoping she's missing," his face drawn and almost looking distant as he gazed off towards the wall. "Though the authorities believe she died in the fire." He stood there a moment and looked rather distant. Ana was like a daughter to him, a daughter he never had. They were more like one another than anyone really figured or gave credit to. More than once he saved that girl's life. And now, to think she could actually be dead was leaving him in a rather detached state.
Inhaling deeply as he shifted his gaze to Lenoir. "Been stayin' at a local motel." Not really, since he barely had time to sleep, he's been in his truck resting the times he's not awake and trying to get answers to Ana's fate. "Thanks for the offer though. Might take you up on that." Billie then moved over to the sofa and sat down, his hands came up to his face as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. Rubbing his face then holding it, brushing and smoothing out his hair before bringing his hands back to rubbing his face again. "She didn't deserve it," Billie softly stated. "Dead or kidnapped, she didn't deserve it." Holding his face in his hands, elbows upon his knees as his eyes were locked forward in a daze.
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Emma Ravenhearst
Love can hold one captive in more ways than one...
The bride of Ravenhearst
Posts: 269
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Post by Emma Ravenhearst on Nov 24, 2012 15:49:38 GMT -5
Emma glided through the halls that she knew by heart, heading for the kitchen. There was still an unearthly quality about her, though she had gotten quite good at hiding it when she wanted to. She didn't blink quite often enough and one could almost swear they saw a misty trail following her about, though it could merely be a trick of the light. She tried not to notice it and hoped to God that no one else did either. She wanted so badly to be human, to be normal- But this new man piqued her curiosity.
He had said that Emma Ravenhearst (herself, though he did not know it) was family...How could she still have family? After all these years...Her family had had no son, so he could hardly be a direct descendent. It was very strange and unnerving to think that this man, this very old looking man, was in reality much younger than she. What could he possibly want from her? For all he knew, she was dead, and there was nothing more to say about the matter. Unless...
Unless he came to discover what had happened to her? In that case, his presence was extremely dangerous. If he came around asking what had become of her, someone was going to tell him that she had been murdered by Charles Dalimar. And that would lead to all sorts of problems. Invariably, he would speak to someone about it, realize that Charles was still here...The horrible things that could happen began to flood her mind and she had to stop for a moment, clutching her head, shaking. No. She could not let that happen. She shared one thing with this distant relative- a fierce refusal to lie back while bad things were in the making. But what could she do? The first thing that came to her mind (and it rather frightened her when it did) was poison. She could kill the man. But she had learned herself that death was never the end of problems. She shuddered a bit, surprised that she had even considered it. Charles was certainly making an impact on her.
She continued walking on towards the kitchen, lips pressed, thinking hard. The manor itself gave a long, creaking moan, almost as though it pitied its mistress...
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Nov 25, 2012 21:19:46 GMT -5
Erik was shocked when Billie stated that there had been a fire at the place where Billie and Ana had been staying. More shocking still, Ana was missing, possibly killed in the fire or possibly she had escaped, but to where? Erik had two exact opposite emotions when this information was revealed to him. The first was relief, which he was immediately ashamed of even thinking. But he would be relieved if the strange modern woman never showed her face at the mansion again. The second emotion was sorrow, undoubtedly sorrow if she had come to a terrifying or painful end or if she were lost somewhere. He also felt sorry for Billie losing his close friend and associate.
"So the police believe she died in the fire? Did they find...anything to make them come to this conclusion? And now you bring up sometihing else...kidnapping." Erik was certainly glad that no one had seen them the day that he had "kidnapped" Ana, mesmerizing her with his voice and brought her to the lair. Hoping against hope that no one had seen or heard...if Teressa caught wind of that, it would only be another nail in Erik's coffin.
"Who would have done such a deed, Monsieur Cristofersen?" asked Erik., wondering if there were another kidnapper about who was a crazy as Erik and would kidnap that mad modern woman... "Perhaps she might have sought refuge at the manor, not knowing where else to go, or where you were. I expect, besides myself, she may know some others at the manor. Perhaps we should question the residents and ask if anyone has seen her."
Erik truly wanted to tell Billie who Emma really was, but he could see that this was not the time. He was conflicted too about Ana. He hoped she had gotten away from the fire, but wished she had gone home to America and stayed there.
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billie
Junior Member
I don't got all day, and I sure as Hell don't got all night!
Reckon as I see it.. you have two choices.
Posts: 63
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Post by billie on Nov 26, 2012 15:20:49 GMT -5
Billie sat there with his arms over his knees crisscrossing inwards, "That's what they're thinkin'," he began the shook his head, "They're still tryin' to determine what happened." But Billie looked a bit dazed at the idea of Ana home alone and burned to death with her body reduced to ashes. She did not deserve that sort of fate.
Looking up at Lenoir with the slightest hint of a furrowed brow, the confusion upon his face at the thought that Lenoir presented that perhaps she was here at the Manor and no one knew it... His thoughts trailed. "I can only hope you're right, Mr Lenoir," hoping against hell that she had survived. Somehow. But the fact of Ana coming here and not a hospital or seen elsewhere, especially when she was so completely unease about being at the Manor.
Now Billie had two mysteries to crack - the fate of his great great aunt Emma and Ana, who was like a daughter to him.
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Erik Lenoir
Hide your face, so the world will never find you...
Hide your face so the world will never find you...
Posts: 1,241
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Nov 27, 2012 20:05:51 GMT -5
"I'm so sorry that Ana has disappeared. Of course you know that when she came to the mansion the first time, she and I spent a few ... lovely hours together talking with her. She is quite an interesting person. I have not known a woman of her ilk before." He paused. "Did I, by any chance, speak of her while we were at the pub? I don't quite remember much of what transpired there. And I do thank you for helping to bring me back here. " It was a bit embarrassing, but Erik wanted to explain, and moreover, to find out more about exactly what had transpired that night. Most of those he spoke to did not want to say anything, for some reason. "I am not used to anything stronger than wine, and that, no more than one or two glasses. I am not in the habit of overindulging."
Then Erik went back to the subject of Ana. "Perhaps we should ask Miss Ravenhearst what she knows. She has a way of gliding about hither and yon and I am sure she would have seen Ana had she been here after the fire. We must question her closely. I expect she may have some information. Why sometimes one does not even know she is in the room with them. She seems almost invisible and her steps are almost soundless. Indeed she may have heard someone speaking of Ana."
Erik was enjoying his own little joke. He couldn't keep from smirking a bit. It was rather funny. Perhaps Billie would enjoy the joke more when he found out who Emma really was.
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