Somewhere in Time (Erik Lenoir)

[maria]

Snapping awake with a breathy gasp and feeling the cold of being underground with darkness surrounding her. Panic started to set in as she leaned around her trying to find a wall. Crawling as she tried to gasp for air. It was difficult for her to keep her wits at the moment. The fog of what happened to her last did not let up. All she remember was wandering in darkness.

Finally her hands came to a wall. Using it to help her stand as she was blind in the darkness with no light. Slowly she walked along the wall to find a way out of the cold, dark place. If one had a light, they would see it was a medium room with a round vaulted ceiling. A perfect place to store something. At one point it time it did store goods, even used as a powder magazine at one point. But now it was empty. Like a tomb.

Once again near panicking as she thought was she in a tomb? Was she dead? Where was she? Too afraid to call out. To afraid in general and she began to hyperventilate as she leaned against the damp, cold wall.

[Erik Lenoir]

It was a lovely bright day outside, but Erik was not fond of the bright sun. He discovered how bright it was once he left his lair and ssaw it streaming in the mansion windows in the hallways. He decided that an ineresting idea would be to explore the underground area of the mansion.

Earlier, Erik had become locked in a dungeon which lay beneath part of the building. He had simply been exploring and the little blonde Christine had wandered through the oopen door, and the door had accidentlly locked them in for a few hours. To Erik, the time seemed as though a week or so had gone by. He was good with picking locks, but he had nothing on him to pick the lock with. When he found something that could be used as a tool, mysteriously the tools and the key that he had earlier had, mysteriously disappeared from his pocket. He knew that he had had those things, but they had just as mysteriously disappeared. Finally he had found the key again, between the teeth of a skeleton!

Erik did not want to be locked anywhere again, so he made sure that his lock picking tools were with him. He took his oil lamp with him.

This time, he descended a staircase. It seemed to descend several flights below. At the end of the flight was a door which had a lock on it, but was unlocked at the moment. With the dim light of his lamp, could see that the place was a wine cellar. The bottles were thick with dust and looked as if they had not been touched in quite some time. Erik picked up one of them and saw it was dated 1781...one hundred years old! It must be very good wine.

Erik walked through the large room. It was made of stone, floor and walls with a vaulted ceiling, reinforced with round cement pillars. There were many, many bottles of different vintages. Erik wondered if someone had had a windery here at one time. He had noticed grape vines in the garden, but they had not been tended in a long time. And there would not be enough of them to have bottled anything like this amount of wine. Yet there were barrels and the acoutrements of wine making along the walls and in several corners. Erik wondered.

Then at the end of the large wine cellar was another unlocked door. Erik went throught it and found a fruit cellar. The room had many wooden shelves built into thte walls and they were filled with jars of preserves. There were stocks of flour in bags and other dry goods. They were piled up quite high. He suspected if they were as old as the wine, they would be useless for food, as most likely vermin had taken to them a long time ago.

Going into another room built the same way as the wine cellar, Erik found old furniture piled up and covered with sheets and canvas covers. The covers were as dusty as anything else here.

Then he approached another unlocked door at the end of this room. He peered in and his lamp shone its warm glow on the vaulted ceiling. Erik thought that the room was empty until his lamp picked out some movement...

[maria]

Nearly ready to drop to the floor again as she was barely able to catch her breath from hyperventilating. Still a tad weak from what ever had happened to her.

Leaning against the cold, damp wall when light flooded the room. Wincing as it hurt her eyes and she released a slight gaspy-yelp. Blinking continuously to avoid the light since her eyes were so used to the darkness sort of. Raising an arm to use the hand and shield the light from her eyes. Trying to peer towards it to see who was carrying the light.

She wore a pinkish dress, almost like a costume. Her hair was both up and down. What hair that was down had fallen from the up do. That hair a soft medium brown that caught the light and added highlights to the brunette. But she was more a mess than she was a pleasure to look at. She could not see who was behind the light. She could barely see a figure. And wasn't sure if she should be scared or be ready to fight. At the moment, more scared since she felt vulnerable.
She stumbled back a couple steps along the wall still facing the light.

[Erik Lenoir]

The light of Erik's oil lamp picked out movement, but it was more than movement, it was a woman...a woman who arms were held in front of her face to shield her eyes. She must have been in the dark for some time...why would she be in this strange place?

Dressed in some type of costume of a pink hue, the woman's hair had fallen from the undoubtedly neat pinned up style she must have had it in. Strands fell down her back in disarray. Because her hands were before her face to shield her eyes from the light so Erik could not get a decent look at her face.

Erik walked closer, slowly, not wishing to frighten her, as he knew his countenance was so odd as to be perhaps frightening. "Mademoiselle, are you all right? What are you dong here?" His voice was quiet and comforting, he hoped.

[maria]

Still in a daze and unsure what had happened or how she got here. Glancing about with her eyes shielded by a hand. Panicking and looking like a frightened doe than a scared woman. Her breathing was heavy and twisted to roll along the wall. Stumbling back when she faced him again. Hunched over and frightened.

Though scared when he spoke, she felt it was either talk or die. Either way she may die. Or fall prey to some perverted bastard of the streets looking for a free whore to have their way with.

"Nuh!" a noise emanated from her. It almost sounded like a 'no'. What she said next was with the deepest fear and confusion anyone has ever heard. "Sssnn-taahy mmBBaaahh-kkk," it almost didn't make sense what she said . But with that much fear and trauma from where she came from. Trying so hard to catch her breath as she continued to hyperventilate.

Feeling light headed as her hand moved away from her face and planted against the wall with the other. The wisps of hair framing that perfect face. And those odd eyes looking up at him, narrowly seeing him. A mixed light and dark windows to the soul. She was trembling and no better to the point she could collapse at anytime.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik surmised from the confusion in the woman's voice and body language that she was another newcomer to the mansion. This was not a good introduction to the place, if ever there was one...and he felt he needed to help her find a better place, at least somewhere upstairs on the main floor.

The woman seemed to be trying to speak, but Erik couldn't for the life of him understand her. She must be so frightened that she wasn't speaking rationally. Erik made another try. "Mademoiselle...are you all right? I mean you no harm...Would you care to come to a better place in the house. It's a bit dark here to say the least."

Erik was a bit tongue-tied, a rather odd occurrence for him. He could tell the woman was young and pretty. He had no intention of leaving her here in this dark room, but ....

"Well, then I shall leave you alone, considering that you must be doing something important down here." He turned and the light from his lamp diminished as he had it in front of himself as he walked toward the door.

He pushed the door open, wondering if she would follow. He paused in the fruit cellar for a moment.

[maria]

More than surreal to her, it was eerie and strange. The confusion continued to rest over her and the darkness did not help any. Especially when she heard noises down here that frightened her utterly.

After he asked again, she nodded somewhat. Slow at first then faster. All the while her hands were planted upon the wall. But what she was agreeing to was the million dollar question. Was she alright? Was she not alright? Her confusion was indeed complete.

Shaking her head when he said he'd leave her alone. "Nuh! Nnnuhhh! Naahh." and watched as the light began to diminish, taken away by the dark figure. "Nugh!" As her hands walked along the walls with her, stumbling after him in an attempt to leave that dungeon like magazine room. "No!"

The fog barely lifted but the fear still there. Her determination to survive however took full swing! Taking her skirting and keeping it high enough to not trip over it as she stumbled quickly after that dark figure with the light. Her hand running along the wall with her. Catching the cold, the damp dripping waters from time to time. Cobwebs. Then well placed stones.
Bottles?
Stopping to look as the light now increased a little. Blinking her poor eyes that were trying their best to adjust to the light from the darkness. Yes. bottles. Many bottles of wine. A Wine Cellar.

Gazing at the bottles a moment, then returning her eyes to the figure with the light. Hoping he was not a ghost. But he was still there. Walking before her, away from her. She quickly moved her feet to catch up with him. To see he was indeed a man and not a ghost. Cloaked with a hat. But could not see his face. Not yet. At least he held a light and led the way. For this she was grateful that he freed her from that never ending darkness and torment.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik waited a moment, then turned and walked slowly away from the room in which the woman had appeared. It had looked to Erik like an empty powder magazine room, a place to store ammunition and explosives. He felt it would be best if he led her away and she did follow him, lured by the light he was holding.

He stopped at the end of the wine cellar, near the stairway to ascend to the upper storeys of the mansion. The young woman was following him. He wondered if she even spoke French. As she approached, he said, "Parlez-vous Française?" and "Do you speak English?" and again, "
Sprechen Sie deutsch?", hoping she knew one of thsoe. If not, he sould try another language. Her words to him were not making sense. He wasn't sure what it was; an inability to speak French? Perhaps she was some sort of mute? Or perhaps just the fright was holding her tongue and making her words not understandable.

"Mademoiselle, this is the way to the upper levels of the house. I am sure you will find it much more pleasant than where you've been." He paused again, looking at her face, which was still in shadow, considering he was holding the lamp and she was a respectable distance away. Her hair was thick and brown in the darkness and she had a pretty shape to her face. But he could see not much more detail than that.

"If you would care to ascend the stairs before me, I shall light your way with the lamp." He paused. "And be assured, I mean you no harm whatsoever."

[maria]

Looking about as she followed the cloaked stranger. Though part of her was unsure if it was a good idea. She did not know him. For all she knew, he could be luring her into a trap to have his way with her and that of his filthy comrades. But she took a chance. It was either that unknown possibility or to stay for certain in the cold darkness without light or hope. No food, no water, no rest. She'd die for certain.

Stumbling along like a helpless kitten what just opened it's eyes for the first time. The light increasing as they moved

"English," She finally stated in a voice of half-strength. Her hand walking along with as she climbed the stairs following him. "I'm American."

Once they reached the top, her eyes had finally adjusted to the welcomed light. Her fairy-angel costume was in a poor shape as well as her hair. A little dirt smudged upon her face and her arm. Dirt and mud upon her costume. Looking like a complete wreck and yet a beautiful wreck.

[Erik Lenoir]

When the young woman finally spoke, she told Erik she spoke English. "American," he repeated in English. "Excellent. My English is rather adequate." His voice was soft and gentle and his pronunciation British, with only the slightest trace of a French accent. "Interesting. Most of us are French here, althought I doubt very much that we are in France."

Once they reached the top of the stairs, there was much more light. Erik took the hurricaine chimney off of the oil lamp and blew out the wick. Replacing the chimney, he led the way down a corridor. His footfalls made no sound and his stride was slow and graceful.

Erik had noted the mud and dirt and disarray on her face and the dress she was wearing. "How long have you been down there, if I may ask, Miss?" I suspect you wish to eat something if you've been there a while. Would you care to come along to the dining room? There is a kitchen where food can be prepared and a place to wash your hands and face until you can properly take care of those things."

Erik stopped at the end of the first long hallway. He turned toward the young woman. The light was bright enough and he knew she could see his face clearly. He pulled the fedora down over his right side a bit more, as if that would do any good. The mask was still visible along with his heterochromatic eyes and his dark, puffy malformed lips.

He hoped she wouldn't be afraid of him. "Miss....I am called Erik Lenoir. Would you care to tell me by what name you are called?"

[maria]

Escaping the darkness was doing wonders to her nerves. Slowly she calmed but not enough to stop the trembling and the still present fear. For sure that was a traumatizing experience to be frightened, chased through the underworld, sink into darkness then awaken in darkness as though she were in the depths of Hell.

Following still that cloaked man. Hearing his voice far more clear. It was gentle and sooth. Almost velvety. Definitely a pleasant voice.
Nodding but no verbal response when he stated most spoke French here. She knew a little of it but not absolutely experienced with it. Sounds like she'll have to really learn it. A bit bewildered though when he mentioned that they might not be in France. If so, then where were they?

Without any thoughts in her head not care other than to put behind her with as much distance as possible that smothering darkness below. It was as though he were an Angel climbing the stairs into Heaven. Ever so glad the light that continued to slowly increase. Stairs to hallways. She only followed the cloaked man.

"Yes, please," she replied. Famished with something to wash it all down was more than desired. "I don't know how long I was there." Truth be told she had no concept of time when in that sort of darkness. It could have been mere minutes or lagging hours. Once again nodding glad that as least this man was helpful.

The majority of the time she was not exactly looking at him. Especially when he looked at her she was looking elsewhere. But now, he turned to her and she could see him better. That cloaked figure indeed a man. A man in a fedora... and a mask!
This arose a slight dim image in her head of a masked man she knew. But this man before her, his face was only partially masked and his mask was white. There was a difference between them. Voice. Appearance. At least this man she saw part of his face. The oddity of his lips which she tried not to linger upon. Trying so hard not to allow her curiosity in want to know. But she was soon enough drawn to something else... his strange eyes.

Blinking in astonishment. She'd not seen anyone else with different colored eyes before. She felt at time like a freak. But because she was beautiful, people over looked her strangely colored eyes as well. Most but not all people.

Repeating his name in her head Erik Lenoir. Extending a hand to shake, after all it was only proper manners, right? He did help her from the dark depths. "Maria." she paused. "Maria Christiane Minuet Gianelli," and tried to smile through the trembling voice and hand. She was hungry, tired, thirsty, and in need of a good bath, clean clothes. Everything really.

But she couldn't take her gaze away from his eyes. That alone captured her attention. Her own mixed soft jade green/teal and soft brown/gold eyes locked upon his clear blue and dark blue eyes.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik wondered where she had come from. And it must have been a horrible and terrifying experience it seemed, to have been thrown in to a completely dark place with no idea of where she was.

When he turned to speak ot her in the light, Erik saw unspoken questions in her countenance, but only smiled cryptically. "I am sure you will have many questions. I will answer them for you, as much as I can. And I should tell you that, much as I wish it were so, I do not as yet know all of the answers."

Erik saw the young woman probling his face with her eyes and he was grateful that she showed no sign of horror. That was good. She lingered on his mask a bit, then his dark ugly lips and then she looked upon his heterochromatic eyes. He noticed hers were both of a different colour also. One was jade green/teal and the other soft brown/gold. It was a rather enchanting combination, not like his own startlingly different eyes, one dark blue and the other a shade of grey so light as to look virtually white. This was the eye from which he could barely see, especially in low light, a consequence, he supposed of his facial deformity. The left eye though, more than made up for the right eye's inadequacies, for it was so acute he could see amazingly well, and in very little light also.

When Erik heard her name and she extended her hand, he removed his hat and bent over to kiss her hand. "I am most pleased to meet you, Miss Gianelli. " Erik smiled. He already liked her and he hoped she would be well disposed toward him also.

"I do think we should move on to the kitchen, where we will surely find you something to eat and drink. Come along my dear."

[maria]

Answers to questions? Her mind could barely comprehend what was happening let alone conjure up questions. No doubt there will be questions soon enough. For the moment, she was just trying to make some sense.

His voice soothing. His appearance different. She tried not to raise anything about it. He appeared somewhat like her own Teacher who came to her one evening, a masked man. Though his mask was darker and covered his whole face. Not a part of him was showing skin. Unlike this man before her.

She was a but stunned though. She expected a simple hand shake or barely taking her hand in a more graceful gesture. She by no means expected him to kiss her hand! If she wasn't so out of her element, she would have blushed. Standing there stunned, watching him. Strange man to wear a mask, but with such a wonderful voice and so very helpful.

"Thank you. Yes, I am a bit hungry," she replied in her usual warm, velvety sweet voice of which she was once again finding. "Where are we and are you the Master of this place?" Her exotic eyes danced about briefly over the corridor.

[Erik Lenoir]

Once the young woman had started speaking, Erik found that she had a lovely speaking voice, velvety and lovely. He knew she would be full of questions; they always were when they first arrived at the mansion.

She seemed not frightened of his hand kiss, but stunned. Perhaps no one had been this polite to her lately. He didn't know what to think. He tried to be as polite as possible with newcomers and, unless they were rude to him, the meetings usually went well.

"Miss Gianelli, I am by no means the Master of this place. If I were, I would certainly not have my guests appear in frightening places in the dark and all alone. As for where we are? I can't tell you that. We have come to call the house or castle, as it really is, the Manor. There is a small village purported to be rather near, and I am thinking about a walk to the village some time soon. I have been making inquiries and as yet haev not found anything solid. However, I am not one to give up easily and if there is a way to discover where we are and why we are here, I shall indeed discover it."

"Come now, we must find you something to eat." He led the way down several long hallways and finally pushed open one of the double doors that led into the dining room. He flipped a switch up and the lights came on. It seemed like a beautiful sitting room and dining room combined, with a theme of the colour green throughout the room. A green marble fireplace, green wall paper and an oriental rug with shades of green and pink.

Variousl furniture was scattered about the room, including a long case clock, an upright piano and a settee. Matching wing back chairs sat near the fireplace to warm a person on a cold night.

Erik led the way through the dining room and into the kitchen. "What would you care to eat, Miss Gianelli? There are all sorts of things in the ice box and any of it can be warmed on the stove. There is tea and coffee and fruit juice or wine if you would care for some. What is your pleasure, my dear? " Erik took off his hat and set it atop the clothes tree which stood in a corner near the pantry. He hung his cape on a hanger and then on a hook on the wall.

[maria]

Following her cloaked guide through the hallways, observing all that her eyes beheld. "I would certainly hope not. Kidnapping your unconscious victims only to take them and leave them in the darkness of the underground is rather a poor was to invite people here. If you are not the Master of the House, then who is?" she inquired bluntly.

"Thank you," she added at his willingness to help satisfy that new growing hunger. Food and drink was most definitely needed. Lord knows how long it had been since last she had something to fill that belly of hers.
The room upon which they ended left her stunned. It was grand and luxurious! "Certainly no lack of luxury."

Following Lenoir into the kitchen only to be stunned again with the size of the kitchen. As her eyes wandered about she slowly walked around the kitchen to look. Curious as ever. Turning to see he had removed his hat and cloak. Not truly stunned but it was strange since her own masked maestro never removed his cloak or hat.
Moving to the large island in the middle and reached for some strawberries that looked as though they were freshly picked. Next to them were apples. Taking a strawberry and greatly enjoying it. She leaned upon the island counter and took another strawberry and another. Then pulled herself away to look around some more. Seeing the wines. Looking and pulling out a bottle of moscato with a smile. Sporting the bottle as she picked up two glasses, "Care to join me then, Mister Lenoir? After all, it's the least I can do for now since you helped me out of that dungeon." A delightful smile upon her face as she came over, eager to enjoy the fine wine from Italy. Popping the cork and pouring the smooth whitish liquid into the two glasses before taking another strawberry. "Who ever our Host or Hostess is, they are mighty generous."