The Name of Eternity

Chapter 4: An Unplanned Guest

Rhea stood in a modest sized foyer. A slowly winding staircase rose on the right side of the foyer, the hand carved wooden rail and trim accented the pale walls. The floor was covered in tiles that matched the walls, with a crimson area carpet. A door beside the stairs led off into a hallway where the smells of a delicious meal drifted on the air. To the left another doorway led into an elegant narrow sitting room, with a tall, wide window facing the front of the Manor. Along the sitting room walls were a selection of vintage couches and chairs. A roaring fire burned brightly in the enormous fireplace at the end of the room.

Shivering and dripping, Rhea turned to the two men standing beside her. The red-haired man stood slightly taller than Rhea, icy blue eyes and a curious, yet cautious gaze. The taller of the two, dark hair, dark beard, and intense brown eyes, went into a closet and pulled out a blanket.

“Take this," he said. “Go sit by the fire and we'll call you a cab."

The house lights flickered and went out. Suddenly two candles emerged from the darkness.

“I'll see if we have some clothes you can change into in the meantime," the red-haired man said. “By the way, you may call me Aedan. This is my friend, Brennus."

“Thank you," Rhea managed to say. Her voice quivered. “I'm Rhea."

“Get in front of that fire, young lady," Aedan nodded towards the sitting room. The fire cast ample light throughout the room and Rhea had no trouble making her way to a chair.

Brennus came back down the hall.

“The house phone is not working," he sighed. “So I used my business phone. The storm has knocked out power and I was told no cabs are going out. It's not safe."

Aedan and Brennus looked at Rhea.

“I'll get her a change of clothes, then I'll get a room ready, just in case…" Aedan replied and disappeared into the darkness with his candle.

“Would you like some tea," Brennus stood in the doorway of the sitting room. “By the time it's ready, you will have some dry clothes to put on."

“Oh, I'd love some hot tea," Rhea answered, noticing her voice was a bit raspy.

Brennus disappeared.

In just a short amount of time, Rhea changed into some slightly rough, but warm and dry, clothes. She found herself sitting in a high backed chair in front of the fire, with a hot tea in her hands.

“I can't thank you enough," she began.

Aedan waved his hand, “It is the least we could do. It looks like you may have to spend the night as the storm has gotten worse and it's not safe to drive out there right now."

“Spend the night?" a smooth, low voice asked.

The three turned to see a form standing on the red carpet in the foyer.

Arras Mordhas strode slowly and confidently into the sitting room.

“We have a guest, Arras," Aedan said.

Arras eyed his friend warily, “I can see that, Aedan."

“Rhea's from the archeological company you spoke to," Brennus continued.

Arras stopped by the fireplace, “Yes, I know. We've met before."

Arras set his dark blue eyes on Rhea, “The storm came on very quickly, didn't it? Did you get the work done that you needed to do?"

“I'll get you some tea," Brennus said and disappeared into the darkness. Aedan followed.

Arras sat down in the other high backed chair that stood proudly by the fire.

“Oh, yes. I was lucky to get it all done before it started to rain," Rhea said, pulling her borrowed blanket around her. “I wasn't able to call for a ride back to the hotel…my phone got wet, then the power went out."

“You can stay," Arras said rather quietly. “This is an old house though, makes weird noises especially with this wind."

Rhea laughed lightly, “I love storms and I love old houses."

Arras turned his gaze from the fire to look at Rhea. She blushed and wondered if she sounded weird to her host.

“I didn't think the storm would be so bad," she mumbled.

This time, Arras gave a slight, dry laugh, “You are not from around here, I can tell. Our storms seem to have different rules here."

“A large tree has fallen across the laneway, we'll have to work on removing it later," Aedan came in and handed Arras a cup of tea.

“Looks like you will definitely be here for the night at least," Arras said smoothly. “You'll get to enjoy an old house and a good storm."

He paused as Aedan and Brennus excused themselves to retire for the night.

“What else do you do, Rhea?" Arras sipped his tea. “Do you do anything more than just work?"

Rhea noticed the tattoo once more, and how it filled the space on Arras' inner forearm. The hands that held the teacup were slender, but she could see the strength in their hold.

She realized he was watching her and she thought of her answer quickly, “Well, I can play the violin. I played in a local orchestra for several years. I used to grow the prettiest roses back home. I miss my flower garden."

Arras continued to look at the flames burning bright.

Rhea continued to fill the silence, “I also rode horses and went to theaters to watch ballet and musicals, though I have yet to see a real opera."

“You've never been to an opera?" the dark eyes snapped from the burning fire to Rhea's face in surprise.

“Uh…no. I've never seen an opera, but I would love to," Rhea replied self-consciously. “I hear there is an opera house here, so I hope to finally see one."

“I should say so," Arras sipped his tea again. “If you have seen ballet, orchestras and other musicals, you need to see an opera. There is no comparison."

Rhea raised an eyebrow, “I will take your word for it, Mr. Mordhas."

“Arras," her host corrected her. “And you won't need to just take my word for it. I will take you to the Opera. Fidelio is being performed in two days. The storm should be over by then."

Finishing his tea, Arras stood up, placing his cup on the mantle.

“Come, I'll show you to your room."

Rhea followed Arras to the foyer and up the winding staircase. She only tripped once, and Arras was quick to find a candle to light. At the top of the stairs was a long hallway with simple side tables and chairs. Arras stopped at a room on the left, and opened the door. A bed covered in purple and gold quilts, with a matching canopy, sat on one side and an elegant fireplace held a warm fire at the end of the room.

“You should be comfortable," Arras said suddenly, and turned to go.

“Thank you, Arras," Rhea said to the closing door.

Arras paused.

“You're welcome, Rhea."

Looking around, Rhea noticed her soaked clothes were hanging by the fire and almost dry. She proceeded to pull back the blankets on the luxurious bed and felt like a princess.

“I could get used to this," she mumbled as she drifted off into a deep sleep.

Sometime in the deepest hours of the night, Rhea awoke to the sound of gut-wrenching sobs. She sat straight up in the bed, wondering if she had actually heard what she thought she heard. Slowly Rhea crept out of her bed in the light of a dimming fire. Sticking her head out into the dark hallway, she could only make out the shapes of the furniture from the pale moonlight coming through a distant window.

She heard another sob, and stepped from her room. Rhea made her way carefully down to the other end of the hall, trying to find the source of the sobbing.

She eventually came to a room long and rectangular, with a high ceiling and long windows lining the one side. On the other side of the room, she could make out various frames arranged neatly on the wall.

Paintings. She was standing in front of a wall filled with paintings. For a moment she forgot what her original plan had been and stared in awe at a painting of a family.

Something wet touched her hand. Turning with a gasp, Rhea saw two glowing eyes hovering waist high to her right. It touched her hand again.

She gave a brief scream before the creature jumped at her, and barked. Rhea fell back at the weight of the massive, black dog. Snuffling her face, the dog began to wag its tail furiously.

“Faelen, off!" Arras stood in the doorway. “You are lucky he likes you."

The dog trotted over to his master.

Arras patted the dog briefly and Rhea could see his dark eyes turn to look at her.

“What are you doing?" he asked coldly.