Summoning Bones

10. Lies in the Commander's Suite

Cadmus led Eirene out the office and down the corridor, but instead of turning left towards the stairs, they turned right and carried on deeper into the mansion. As they traveled, Cadmus began to explain the different parts of the esteemed Eldridge Mansion.

"We were in the recreational wing. There, are libraries, the billiard room, Noah's play room, and Lidia's tutoring room. We are now traveling towards the maids quarters. All live in the mansion, except for our head maid, Miss Menour, who has a cottage on the mansion grounds. Madam Sylver and I too live on the grounds. She lives in a room above the horses. I, in the mansion. I have a series of rooms under my jurisdiction. This," he said gesturing to large door, "is Lady Eldridge's office. And on the floor above is the Lord and Lady's quarters. The floor above then is Noah and Lidia's. Of course on the main floor, is the kitchen, dining room, and parlor." The reached the end of the corridor, where a woven tapestry hung on the wall. The rich greens and blues seemed to glow in the corridor. They wound in a green tree with a light sky behind it. Deer and wolves frolicked under the tree's shade. The thread shimmered and seemed to flow like water, the tapestry coming to life.

"If you will," Cadmus said, pulling the tapestry back to reveal the remainder of the corridor. Eirene nodded as she passed by him. As she did, she caught the smell of pine and polish. She inhaled deeply, but quickly caught herself. She cursed and hurried further into the corridor. As Cadmus followed, there was a gently swoosh when the tapestry fell back into place.

"It is late, so stay silent," Cadmus instructed. They crept along the passage to a set of stairs. They began to climb them, as they spiraled up two floors. At the top was an oak door. They entered into a living room. Two plush couches faced each other while a fire crackled merrily. To the right, was another door, propped open with a lush armchair. Inside, Eirene saw a large bed with silk sheets and tall bed posts holding a canopy. To the left was a table sinking under the weight of a dozen stacks of paper.

"Welcome to my suite," Cadmus said, shutting the door behind them. Eirene gasped.

"Your suite? Where am I to sleep? The guest room?" Questioned Eirene. She would not share a bed with a beast, and stranger.

"My bed," he said, but upon seeing her rage at his answer quickly spoke. "I will be on the couch." Eirene continued to glare at him.

"Very well, but I will lock your door," she said while Cadmus smirked.

"Of course my lady, I expect nothing less of a witch." Eirene face furrowed into a poorly concealed rage.

"And I hope you to respect the locked door, if not, well I expect nothing less from a beast." He scowled at her. He was no beast, just as she was no witch, something Cadmus had unraveled from his journey to Lidia's vigil room. No witch could raise the dead, but the way her eyes glinted and nose scrunched, made him never want to stop calling her a witch.

"I am not a beast. And I know you are no witch. But I cannot tell what you are. You're magic is too strong," he said.

"Yet you accuse me of being a witch. I wish you to stop," she said.

"The longer I am in your presence, the more I sense power in you."

"Then you should consider that a warning if you were to cross me." He ignored her words, not minding if she ever wished to show her true abilities.

"Perhaps a strong witch, or demigod." Eirene smirked, she was more than a mere demigod, but the beast need not know that.

"Perhaps." He looked her over and smiled.

"Well witch, what may I do for you? A feast?"

"Far too extravagant. A nightly tea will suffice," she said, unbuttoning her cloak and setting it on the royal blue armchair that held the door to the bedroom open. Cadmus' eyes raked her over and darkened considerably. She glared at him.

"I will not call you beast, unless you act like one," she said angrily.

"Of course. I have yet to know your name," he said, abruptly changing the subject.

"I'd like to keep it that way."

"If you are to stay in bed, and we are to travel through the home of the dead together, I need your name."

Eirene looked at him. What he said made sense, and beyond that, seemed reasonable.

"Fine. Eirene Alisis."

Cadmus looked at the woman. Her lithe body covered in a modest white dress. Her dark hair was tied back in a thick braid. Eirene, it did not suit her. Her pale skin, but dark as night hair, like two halves of a whole.

"Thank you Eirene. I shall make you a tea." Cadmus left Eirene in the living room, to the kitchen. She sat on the plush couch and stared into the fire. The flames licked up the half burnt log.

Cadmus entered the kitchen, closing the door. When it shut, he cursed. The one true love of his lied yet again. What she was, witch or something else, and her name. Lies and more lies. They seemed to stack on themselves and grow into a wall between them. A wall Eirene did not seem to be in a hurry to knock down. Cadmus growled and cursed. Why would the Moon Goddess curse him with such a creature as a seemingly witch. He took a deep breath and settled his churning and angry thoughts. He continued to make her tea and brought it out to a slumped over form of a sleeping Eirene.

He looked down at his love, and set the tea tray down, then scooped her up and carried her to the bed. He set her down on the plush, down pillows. She settled into the pillows and sank into the bed. The soft sound of her breathing filled the room. Cadmus left her, ensuring to the lock the door before he shut it. He then fell into the couch and settled into a sleep, surrounded by the smell of Eirene, lavender, rain water, and the sickly sweet smell of death. But lavender and rain water surrounded him, lulling him into a deep slumber. Even in the world of dreams, Eirene had to protect her identity, something that if found out would risk more than her freedom under Lord Eldridge.