Chapter 44
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Chapter 44: Harbinger
Warnings: bad words, implied nudity, adult situations, violence, abuse of goth imagery and dream sequences...
Cecilia was never one to remember her dreams. She recalled the odd nightmare as a child, most likely mis-remembering something as far more traumatic than anything that had actually gone on in her young subconsciousness. To those who didn't know her or her family, her life was close to perfect. There was nothing in her history that would ever give anyone cause to suspect that she could see dead people.
Right now her subconscious must have had a sense of humour. Bring the girl who can talk to dead people to a cemetary of all places.
Slight movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention.
The cat didn't even bother acknowledging she was there. As if Cecilia were the one who walked into its dream instead of the other way around.
Cecilia: Hello, kitty! What are you doing here?
The cat protested mildly but allowed Cecilia to pick him up.
She held the cat close to her, and thought for a minute about the snow that surrounded them. Despite the snow burying her ankles, she did not feel cold.
The cat meowed and started to push himself away from her. Cecilia carefully set him down and watched as he walked casually through the cemetary gates which opened with a loud creak, as if expecting them.
She gave no thought as the cat simply disappeared into the snow.
The graveyard was old and unkempt. Death did not just exist underground. Spindly, crooked, decaying brush, vines and trees retreated away into corners, grasping desperately at crumbling, ancient stones.
He was standing in the far corner of the cemetary.
She was walking through the snow, but she figured that since this was a dream, it made complete sense for her to not make any noise at all.
If he heard her, he didn't indicate it. She was at his side, and yet he didn't turn to look.
Cecilia: Who is she?
She wasn't sure why she decided that whoever was under the stone was a "she".
Wesley: It was an accident, how she died..
Wesley: If there was anything I could do to bring her back, I would. Even if it meant giving up my life.
Cecilia: You can't bring back the dead.
Even as those last words left her, she knew she didn't believe it.
It was then that he turned to her, reaching out and touching her wrist lightly. Instantly, she shivered where his fingers slightly pressed against her skin.
Wesley: Can you help me?
She didn't know how to answer him.
He didn't wait for a reply. The moment seemed to last a while before he broke away and began to walk towards the derelict church.
She had to run to catch up with him. The snow was deep and made her stumble a few times while he seemed to skim lightly above it. She finally reached him at the steps to the old building. He turned towards her, making sure she was following.
Together, they stepped through the doors.
The building seemed much more immense inside, as large as a cathedral. Stone walls seemed to climb high towards a ceiling she couldn't see. There were candles lit, but their tiny glow seemed lost in the darkness that hovered over the room like a fog.
Where the altar should have been was a tall pedestal upon which sat a dark iron birdcage.
Inside the cage, something stirred, disturbed by the sound of Cecilia's footsteps on polished stone.
Slowly, she arose.
"Hello my love. I've missed you."
Wesley: Countess!!!
Her scarlet eyes rested on Cecilia. There was no sense of unfamiliarity as the woman in the cage looked at her and grinned..
Sibyll: You've quite the gift, child, if you've managed to find me.
She stammered. She was nervous. It was as if she were addressing royalty. Someone more powerful than anyone she had ever met in her short life.
Cecilia: I wasn't looking for you...
Sibyll: Of course you weren't. And yet here you are, connected to him. My dearest Wesley. Thank you for bring him here.
Cecilia: He's trying to help you.
Sibyll: I know this love. He's a stubborn lad, trying to solve all the world's wrongs and ill-doings when he himself has his own problems he suffers for.
The world seemed to shift and Wesley no longer moved or made a sound. It was only she and the Countess now.
Cecilia: He loves you.
Sibyll: I know this as well. And because he will die trying to save you all, I am here.
Sibyll: You will find him again in the waking world. He will need your help. The one he has bound himself to is treacherous. You must be wary.
Sibyll: If someone doesn't destroy her first, she will bring about death and ruin for this world. Yet because of his oath to her, he will protect her. Unless he dies... Which is what he may choose, ultimately, poor dear.
Cecilia: Well... um... I don't know what to do about it. I don't know what you're talking about and I don't even know who he is.
Sibyll's voice was disappearing, as was her form in the cage.
Sibyll: You'll know in time, love. You will have help.
"Strange little birds will bring you death. It begins there."
She gasped as she saw Willow appearing in Sibyll's place. She cried out to her, but Willow didn't answer.
Cecilia: I don't understand...
She suddenly had the sense that she wasn't alone.
She turned around quickly, seeing her sister behind her. But Jasmine didn't say anything, and just like Wesley was now, they were all ignoring her, staring up instead at Willow. This was the stupidest dream ever.
Jasmine, Adrian, Rowan, Gabriel... along with her and Wesley, they were all there, saying nothing and moving slowly, all towards the cage.
And though Cecilia couldn't explain why, she shouted for them to stop.
They were going the wrong way...
He lay close beside her, watching her as she began to drift away into sleep, listening to her soft, even breath.
He didn't know how this happened. Usually he was always so careful and patient. He never jumped in this quickly with anyone before. But every sense of logic left him when she took his hand and lead him to her room.
Everything easily fell into place.
A sound coming from downstairs alerted him.
Jasmine mumbled in protest as he turned away from her.
Jasmine: What are you doing?
Adrian: I thought I heard something.
Jasmine: You know we're not the only ones that live here.
Adrian: I know. But it's three in the morning, who'd be making any noise this late?
Jasmine: We were.
He chuckled warmly.
Adrian: I think most of that was you.
Jasmine: I hope you're not implying I was enjoying it more than you were.
Adrian: Not at all. You're just a little more vocal about it.
Jasmine: It was good though, wasn't it?
Adrian: Yeah... it was.
He smiled, giving her a small kiss before pulling on his jeans.
Adrian: I'm just going to check out whatever I heard. Just to be safe. I'm not sure how undead-proof this dorm is.
Jasmine: Good point. Come back, okay?
Adrian: I will.
Jasmine had rolled over in bed, not noticing that as he got up he saw something on her desk. She didn't miss the intake of breath as he hesitated.
She could hear him as he stepped towards at her desk, looking down at the picture she had left there and forgotten about.
Jasmine opened her eyes, wide awake now.
Did he see the photo? And if he did, what went through his mind?
For the past few hours, she'd been able to forget about everything... and as attentive as he was to her, it was easy to. But once he was gone and the emptiness filled her room, that small hit of reality came back to her and started to amplify. She knew the emotional risks here. She knew he may still have feelings for Willow. Did she move too fast?
Was this a mistake?
The first thing he noticed was the stack of books that had been knocked over.
Though he wasn't clear how it they fell over. It might have been haphazardly stacked. It was his only explanation at this point. Dutifully, he piled them back up onto the desk.
He walked around the place, making sure the doors were locked... and nothing was broken. There were more than just rivalling school mascots and burglars to worry about now.
He saw a brief reflection of something move in the glass in front of him, but it was gone when he looked up. He didn't react.
Taking his glass, he left the kitchen area and did another walk around the common room.
He was wrong, he thought.
He wasn't the only one down here right now.
He walked back into the front hall, towards the stairs leading up to the bedrooms. It was hard not to hear the shuffling of fabric and the squeak of sneakers on tile.
The intruder moved too soon. Adrian turned quickly, grabbing him by his shirt...
The intruder's high pitched shouts could have been heard down the block. But only Jasmine came running down.
"Dammit, dude, don't hit me!!!"
Raven: What the fuck did you have to do that for?
Jasmine: Raven?! What are you doing here?!?
Adrian: You know this kid?
Raven: You could have broken my neck, you dick...
Jasmine: He's my cousin. And where oh where is the other one?
Adrian: ... other one?
On cue, Wren showed up, nonchalantly glancing at his brother on the floor.
Jasmine: There we go. Now I could ask both of you what the hell are you doing here this late at night?
Wren: Technically, early morning. We thought it would be the best time to reach you without being noticed.
Jasmine: Without being noticed? Good job on that.
Wren: It was critically important that we met with you in strict confidence. We don't know if we're being followed.
Wren: You have no idea what kind of danger we've encountered for this mission, and it isn't over yet.
Jasmine: Mission? Wren, what "mission"?
Wren: Here. We've got the dirt you wanted on your Dad's girlfriend.
Raven: Get it? Ashes? Dirt?
Wren: Shut up, Raven.
Cecilia: ... what?!
She didn't know what she was saying. What was the warning in her dream about? The words were quickly fading. Something about birds and death. She had a dim memory of that dream. Of the woman in the cage and the vampire who called himself Wesley. But the details were disappearing into haze.
She strained to remember. She had never had dreams this strange before and she knew she couldn't forget this one. Did this tie into her being a medium? Because if it did, then it sucked.
Why did things have to be so different anyway?
Cecilia could hear them as she walked down the stairs. She was certain she'd heard her name. They stopped talking when they noticed her come down.
She never felt close to any of the girls who lived here, not even Tashia. They were all nice enough to her, but there had always been the underlying current of rivalry that had always been there since the first day she's moved in.
Tashia: Looking good Cecilia. Off to seduce some lucky professor?
Cecilia: Actually, better. I'm cutting classes this morning. I have a date.
She smiled proudly, punctuating every word for emphasis.
Cecilia: With Malcolm Landgraab the Fourth.
Tashia: Sure. Who needs grades when you've got a sugardaddy, right?
She froze slightly, but decided to bear it with a small grin. She hastily said her goodbyes and all they could do was watch her as she walked out.
Malcolm's assistant was waiting outside for her, ready to hold open doors for her. Cecilia could feel her sorority sisters' jealous eyes burn into her back.
Things hadn't changed at all here in over a generation. One Brittany Upsnott was gone, but there were always a dozen more waiting to take her place.
Gabriel had no idea why he ended up here this morning. This wasn't his usual routine. Not that he had a usual morning routine.
Unless he had class, it was easy enough for him to sleep until noon. This morning he was up a little earlier than usual, despite being up most of the night, unable to sleep. Instead of going right to class, he called a cab and had them drop him off at the Landgrabb Mansion. He looked up at the old structure. It was just brick, wood, plaster. Nothing to it. But being here right now after what had happened here to Willow... he hated looking at it.
He wished he never heard of the Secret Society. Let alone agree to join it. He wished he'd never brought Willow here.
The leaves of the Laganophyllis Simnovorii rustled... whether from the wind or by itself, Gabriel didn't know. He stared at it in disgust. There's another reason he should have just walked out on the place years ago.
Carl: I didn't expect to see you here this early... or ever... Mr. Markelly.
Gabriel: Oh hello Carl. Glad to see you're alright.
Carl: Of course I'm alright. Why wouldn't I be?
Gabriel: You don't remember what happened last time I was here, do you?
Carl: You come and go as anyone here might. I can't always record everyone who does.
Gabriel: So you don't remember anything? Samantha, the witch? The beam of light coming out of the roof?
Carl: Beam of light? Witch? Are you sure you weren't partaking in the Bubble Blower again, Gabriel?
Carl waved the hunk of meat around, watching gleefully as the plant's head followed each sway. Gabriel had never seen that plant move that fast, nor had he ever seen Carl with that sadistic grin on his face.
Gabriel: Dude, aren't you ever worried that plant is just going to take a chunk out of you instead?
Carl: Nonsense. Phyllis and I understand one another.
Gabriel: Phyllis?
Carl: Yes. As in Laganophyllis...
Gabriel: Yeah, yeah I get it. You don't get out much do you.
Carl: Well, Gabriel. Is there anything the Landgrabb Society can help you out with today?
Gabriel: Actually I was hoping you can help me out with something.
Carl: Of course.
Gabriel: I'm...uh... I'm doing an architecture assignment. I'm wondering if you'd know offhand where they keep any records of this building?
Carl: That's not an odd request at all, Gabriel.
Gabriel: Did I say it was?
Carl: The building was named for it's first owner, one of the early Landgraabs. Maybe even Admiral Landgraab himself. Records show that he was quite a hoarder. He collected things from everywhere he visited. This used to be his country house and, as legend has it, where he kept some of the more peculiar items from his travels.
Gabriel: Uh...huh.
Carl: Much later on, the Landgraabs donated the building to the Sim State University with the provision that most of the odd items, devices and inventions remain here for a select group of students to study and use.
Gabriel: Right. When did this place get renovated last.
Carl: Well, there was a fire quite some time ago. Decades ago maybe. Some new recruit apparently went insane and managed to set fire to the place.
Carl: Quite a sad story. A very popular sorority girl. Stress of school wore her down, and she was committed to an insane asylum. I believe she died there.
For a moment, Gabriel thought of the ghost Cecilia and Willow had been chasing. The reason why they'd come to the mansion this night in the first place.
Gabriel: Rough. This place has quite the history, huh?
Carl: This old building has many, many stories. Don't be so arrogant as to think that you are it's only visitor.
Carl: Here we go. And you're in luck, it includes blue prints.
Gabriel: Great!
Carl: Please take care of these and return them from whence you've found them.
Gabriel: No problem dude. I won't even leave here with them.
Carl: Terrific. And maybe...maybe you may even be able to pull in a favour for me.
Gabriel: Like what?
Carl: Your cousin. The pretty one with the name like a song.
Gabriel: Cecilia.
Carl: Yes. Her. I find myself rather smitten with her... though I can't really recall ever having a conversation with her.
Gabriel: Jesus, Samantha really did a number on your brain didn't she...
Carl: Anyway. All I want to know is if she is seeing anyone.
Gabriel: You know, I actually have no idea. But let me get back to you on that one.
As funny as it might have been, Gabriel had no intention of hooking Carl up with Cecilia. He'd never hear the end of it.
He took a seat at one of the desks, unfolding the blueprints and survey, leafing through the records... which were suspiciously thin for a house that supposedly had this much history. There were no deeds or any records of ownership of the property. Not even a letter stating intention. But the place was old, Gabriel could imagine that records could get lost along the way.
He didn't know why he was doing this. It was as if Gabriel blamed this house for whatever happened with him and Willow.
Things had actually been going great between them until they came here. She disappeared, and when she came back, she was different. Not that Gabriel had known her all that well before they started dating. For all he knew, she could have made this type of behaviour a serial problem.
If Willow wasn't Jasmine's friend, he might have believed that.
He walked over to the bathroom. Before the supposed fire, this bathroom used to be a closet. It lead up to the attic. Except the attic wasn't really an attic, it was a third floor. Gabriel suspected that there used to be a staircase that lead up to here, but for whatever reason they decided to seal it off.
He knew he was going to regret this...
It took a little while, but he managed to find a ladder behind the building. He brought it to the bathroom so he could safely climb up into the third floor.
Even during the day this place was creepy.
He made it to the "room". This was what they saw that night. The room Willow vanished from. Samantha said she most likely panicked and used her magic to escape. But Gabriel sensed that was bullshit.
At least Samantha had the courtesy to not mangle his head like she did with Carl's. At least he hoped she didn't.
There wasn't much up here at all. Just some furniture and a sealed up window. There was so much usable space up here doing nothing, Gabriel began to wonder if there was a legitimate purpose for it being closed off. It didn't look unsafe.
No deed. No records. Not even an address. Gabriel sighed. He knew at least one person who'd had made a killing dealing with purchasing and restoring old properties. And this person would probably be the one to call if anyone wanted any indepth information about a building like this.
The thing was, they weren't exactly on the best of terms.
Gabriel hoped he wouldn't have to regret this too.
"Clive Baird here."
Gabriel: Hey Uncle Clive. Wondering if you could do a favour for me.
Cecilia didn't recall it ever being such a quick ride through Bluewater Village.
She had only been here once, but everything looked completely unfamiliar. It was bigger than she remembered it to be. The snow had just cleared from the ground, and it wasn't even spring. Yet here it didn't feel cold at all.
This particular mansion, the assistant explained, was still a "work in progress". Malcolm purchased it when the family mansion got too "small" for what he needed.
He sat her down in the lounge, offering her refreshments, which she politely declined. She was assured that Malcolm will be here shortly. "He is very much looking forward to seeing you."
He arrived sooner than she expected. He didn't keep her waiting at all.
His eyes were bright when he greeted her. And seeing him there for some strange reason made her freeze momentarily. She felt awkward when he pulled her close to him gently.
Malcolm: Good morning, Cecilia.
The kiss seemed like a formality. She kissed him back, smiled and blushed about it, but it felt strange how disconnected she felt from him. She should have been more than enthusiastic about it. He was after all the richest sim in the country. Richer than her dad, even. All the girls back at Tri-Var would have loved to be in her place.
After an all too formal greeting and exchange of usual polite pleasantries, Malcolm gave her a brief tour of the mansion. The building was on the outskirts of Bluewater Village and according to him, it had used to be an old factory of sorts. He bought it and converted it into his home. But he dedicated a small part of it to his ancestors.
Malcolm: I never knew my parents. My father died before I was born and my mother passed away when I was young.
Cecilia: I'm sorry to hear that.
Malcolm: You shouldn't be. I was raised well. My Grandfather was a severe man, more interested in accumulating more wealth than raising a grandson. My Grandmother, Marion, was the one who made sure I grew up well.
Cecilia: She's very beautiful.
Malcolm: Outside and in. The Landgraabs wouldn't be known for their philanthropy if it weren't for her founding several of our charitable organizations.
Malcolm: I like to think that I share the best of both of their personalities.
Cecilia: I think it's wonderful how much you respect them.
Malcolm: The Landgraabs wouldn't be the name they are if it weren't for our history. It is important to respect those that came before you and learn from their wisdom.
Cecilia giggled awkwardly.
Cecilia: I never knew my maternal grandmother. But I love my Grandma Talula. Dad says I'm a lot like her in some ways.
Malcolm: Yes, I've met her. She is a very lovely woman. Very spirited. I can see that in you.
Cecilia stiffened slightly, being reminded how Malcolm probably knew just about everyone important in the country, such as the wife of her Grandfather, the Mayor. She was also reminded that they were probably the same age.
Cecilia: Do you mind if I get freshened up a bit before we eat?
Malcolm: Of course. My butler will bring you to the powder room.
Cecilia: I'm sure I could find it myself.
Malcolm: It's a big place, my dear. I just wouldn't want you to get lost.
He was right. There were so many hallways it wasn't easy to navigate if you were unfamiliar with it. The halls were dark and windowless and started to make Cecilia feel clausterphobic.
For about the tenth time, Cecilia started to question again what she was doing here and what she hoped to get out of this. She spent one night with this guy, and she thought everything would just magically work out. That she'd get her Prince Charming and life would be happy ever after. And he seemed to care at least... he was the one who sent flowers, and asked to see her again after all. That means that there must have been something there, right? If she just tried a little harder, she and everyone else could forget that she was a freak of nature and that she could still be rich, pretty and popular...
Heather Huffington's words filled her head. "Let's just say that Malcolm has a type."
She hoped it wasn't "pretty, young and naive."
She stepped out of the powder room, looking around for the butler hoping he could lead her back to Malcolm. As she did, she froze. Something was at the end of the hall watching her.
"Oh you poor, poor child."
The voice was a soft breath in the still hallway. Her own gasp of surprise echoed as she saw the figure standing there.
Cecilia: Dammit. Not again.
She thought she was done with ghosts. Apparently they weren't done with her...
The ghost beckoned to her and disappeared through the doors. Cecilia sighed and started to follow, a little frightened but more curious now. Who would be haunting Malcolm's home?
The doors lead into a small library.
She found the ghost there, at the other end, waiting by another small door in the corner. Cecilia noted that the woman older and she moved gracefully. There was something very familiar about her.
Why am I doing this to myself again? She knew she should just leave. There would be ghosts everywhere, she didn't have to keep following every single dead thing that puts on a song and dance for her...
Cecilia hesitated a few moments as the ghost disappeared through the door. Cecilia walked towards it tentatively. She reached for the door knob...
"Did you get lost, Miss Baird?"
She nearly shrieked, turning around and seeing the butler there.
Butler: Let me lead you back. Mr. Landgraab is waiting.
Cecilia: Of course. Sure.
The butler brought her to where Malcolm was waiting on a nicely decorated terrace where the table was set up for them there.
She was shaken slightly. The thought of the ghost in Malcolm's home... but there were ghosts everywhere, right? She looked at him curiously.
And for the first time since she's met him, she wondered if he had anything to hide.
What was behind that door that the ghost wanted her to see?
In the dark room, the candles lit themselves, and the Construct stirred once again.
Elsewhere...
Clara watched the girl quietly. To think, she was the one that her Coven called the "Heir". The heir of fabulous powers, supposedly. All that and the girl still wanted to finish college. It was slightly amusing.
She could wake her now. But Clara could be patient. The girl will tell her everything she knows. She'll need her rest.
Clara was very aware of how dangerous this was for her. If Malcolm knew that Willow was here, there would be hell to pay.
Next » [ Chapter 45: Home ]
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notes!
some references for you:
* The trip to the Secret Society mansion, Carl's encounter with Samantha Cordial and Sibyll's death: Chapters 28-30
* Jasmine's little arrangement with Wren and Raven ( Chapter 21), and of course what they found at Clara's ( Chapter 41 )
* a transitionary chapter, but this one was fun writing. It was fun to throw almost all the major characters in a chapter.
* Malcolm's assistant "Carter" is played by "Djor Carter" byleaths from her story "Next To Nowhere".
* Once again, I apologize this took a while. It's been waiting and waiting to be written, but as you know real life comes first. :)
* I got my laptop back yesterday, and finished up the last of the picture editing here after I've reinstalled what I needed to reinstall. A little more than half of this was done with the ancient desktop PC, and the monitor sucks. So I hope the pics look okay on your end. (Yes, I resurrected my old PC -- the one I bought for The Sims 2 in 2004 -- just to finish this chapter while my laptop was being repaired. I told you I was hardcore.)
* Will Willow be rescued?!? Tune in next time true believers!
* Please be honest, and let me know what you think! Thank you for reading <3.