Sixteen: Twisted

"How long have you known you had witch blood?"

"Since I was seven. I was an early bloomer."

We were walking back home, apparently there was a much easier path other than the one I took. We were soon on the dirt road.

"And you're Dad taught you magic right away?"

"He didn't want to—at first. He wanted the magic to end with him, but he discovered me casting spells on my own." Tristane chuckled at the memory, "He was shocked and I thought he'd kill me."

I let silence engulf us so he could savor some happy memories. I switched off the penlight since the moonlight was brighter out here. We could see the road clearly.

"Are you scared of me Krista?"

"No. Why would I be?"

"I have witch blood, I cast spells—magic and all."

"I don't see why I should be scared, I'm amazed actually. To think magic is real its... amazing."

He gave a genuine smile, "You're the first to know about this. I hope this doesn't change the way we treat each other."

I stopped, he did too. Crickets continued their songs but neither of us spoke for awhile.

"Tristane-"

"Krista-"

Oh jinx. We laughed.

"You go ahead." He said.

"I uh, you see.. a lot of things happened and I barely know you. What happened last week it was a—"

"—it was glorious Krista." He interrupted and I couldn't help but stare at him. "I don't regret kissing you. In fact I think I'm inlove with you."

Oh damnation and hell! Did he just confessed?

"Say something, please?"

I couldn't, what should I say? No one confessed to me before right in my face in the middle of the road at god-knows-what-time it was!

"Tristane, are you sure?"

He frowned. Well, that came out wrong.

"Of course Krista, I work hard to be honest at all times. I'm telling you how I feel but I'm not forcing you reciprocate my feelings. I just want you to know, then you can sleep on it."

"Uh, err... thank you. I certaintly need to process this first."

"No pressure. I know its not appropriate and all but I just couldn't keep it hidden anymore." He sighed with relief hands on his hips, "That feels great, like a nail pulled out after being hammered so deep."

I nodded and we resumed walking. Awkward if you ask me.

"By the way, has your father mentioned how Letecia looked like? I don't remember the journal ever describing her."

"I doubt Claus would even mention her. But let me see.."

He had his hands on his hips while trying to remember the stories.

"Dad mentioned her having blonde hair and blue eyes. So did her descendants. I did have pictures of my great aunts and uncles who were blonde. Dad was, I got Mom's brunette shade."

"I see. She must be real pretty considering Clayton had an affair with her."

"I agree. Though we can't really be sure, those were times when men are accepted to have as many mistresses as they want, so long as they can provide for them. And his marriage to Elizabeth was not based on love."

"You think he really loved Letecia? Like he said on his letters?"

"Could be. They had ample time to get to know each other and they lived on the same house. But of course, they could never marry. She was a governess and he was a Baron."

I nodded and let silence rule for awhile. His ancestors sure was intriguing, not because she had an affair with her employer but because he played a huge role in the Norwood's life.

"Oh, I remembered something.. she had an odd thing with her hair."

"What do you mean Tristane?"

"Well, according to Dad, who heard the story from his ancestors all the way back to Letecia's daughters, that she had one lock of hair that was all white."

I frowned, why does that sound familiar?

"White? Not just pale blonde?"

"Even if it was, that was still odd. Why would her hair have a different shade other than the obvious golden one?"

"Could she have dyed it?"

Tristane shrugged, "Could have, but then it wasn't a common practice to dye hair that time."

"You know what, I agree. It is odd."

We resumed our pace until the moonlight waned, I saw heavy clouds have covered it. I took the penlight again.

"I can see the manor, Louie and I worked on the vines outside the gate. And we installed lights, too."

I followed where he was pointing at and I saw it as well. About a mile ahead lights were visible. We picked up our pace until we were almost running.

After a few minutes we arrived at the drive way, Dad's car was parked outside.

Oh shoot. He's home. I haven't thought of an excuse yet.

"Its empty. But he just got here, engine's still warm." Tristane peered at the windows before walking back to me.

"I hope he's okay. He was away since morning."

"I'm sure he is. Come on, gate's open."

The archway was the same, old and mouldy. The letters still missing the "E" and last "T". The rusty gate glowed under the yellow light the lamps provided, sure looks different at night.

We climbed the stairs side by side, I wondered if he wanted to hold my hand. But Tristane was oblivious to my thoughts for he just looked up ahead.

The door had a huge knocker with the Norwood family crest carved on it, but we didn't want to wake anyone, so Tristane tried the knob. It turned easily.

"Wait here."

Surely Dad would lock up, he always did. Was he planning to go out again? But the car was empty, if he bought anything it was already inside.

I watched Tristane snuck his head and slowly slid inside. I waited until he gave me a clear signal. The living room was dark save for the lone gas lamp by the table.

I closed the door as quietly as I could. We listened for any noises inside. There was none. We exhaled with relief.

"I'll lock up, go upstairs and rest." He offered.

"What about the-"

"We're both tired. We'll do it tomorrow."

"I'm not tired at all. If you want—"

A loud crash echoed from the study. Our eyes were alert but Tristane was the first to run towards the noise.

I saw him open the Baron's study while I struggled with the dark. My hands tried to fumble along the walls for the switch. But the walls were smooth. Where the hell are they? I continued feeling the walls until I finally found one.

Light flooded the room and we saw Patrick on the floor.

"Dad!"

Tristane knelt down and pulled my Dad, he was sprawled on his stomach. His glasses were not in sight, whatever happened here?

I looked around and saw the computer crushed to a thousand pieces. We could probably retrieve the hard drive but the monitor was totally a goner.

"Is he..?"

"He's fine, I can feel his pulse. Just knocked out."

Tristane managed to carry dad and laid him down on the sofa. I touched his face, it was cold but I saw his chest rose and fall back. Alive!

"He never lost conciousness before, Dad's healthy."

"Someone did this."

"But who? He doesn't have enemies here, and no one else lives around the area."

Tristane was quite, surveying the study. Aside from the broken computer that caused a loud crash sound, nothing else looked out of place.

"Stay here Krista. I'll look around."

"Whoever did this might still be in the house, you can't just go out there!"

"That's why I need to check the house, I might catch the bastard. Also, I'll go get Louie. He can help. Stay with your Dad."

He was gone even before I could utter another word. I turned my attention to my Dad. He was really out cold.

The lights started flickering. Now what? A ghostly scary scene? A killer waiting to strike again?

I brushed the negative thoughts away and went to the table, there should be some candles I could use incase we lose power.

The drawers were empty, not even a speck of dust. I tried the bookshelf who knows if there was a forgotten box of matches here?

I was so preoccupied that I failed to notice the door opening and closing again. The lights stopped flickering, that was good.

Giving up on the bookshelf I turned around.

"Hello Krista."

I saw the baseball bat and felt my head crack. My body went limp and I blacked out.

Secret room

I was in a dark and dusty room. Someone dragged me down here but I couldn't recall anything. I tried to move but the pain on my head was stinging and I just have to stay still.

Someone hit me with a baseball bat. What the hell? Those things are hard, I might as well have cracked my skull. The pain confirmed it.

I heard footsteps coming, it paused about five steps from me. A key rattled and the door creaked. The light came on and I was blinded for a second.

The footsteps came nearer and stopped right infront of me. I realised I was tied to a chair, a sizeable rope wrapped around my stomach. My hands were bound, possibly with the same kind of rope.

"Are you awake sweetie?"

It was a woman! But who?

I peered under my heavy lids, the light no longer blinded me. I saw her staring at me sitting across another chair. My eyes widened, it couldn't be!

She smiled, "Suprised?"

"Emma?"

"Good, you can still recognise me. I thought I hit you way too hard. Guess I never knew my strength afterall." She laughed it sounded hollow and wicked.

"Why.." I looked around, "where am I?"

"Relax. You're still in Penthurst Manor. Its a secret room used by servants to get away from work or just to meet their lovers in secret."

"And you know this because?"

"You want to know wouldn't you? I will tell you soon, but not just yet. I don't want to spoil the fun."

I saw her hand raised slightly and it looked like she had fireflies on her palm. What the heck?

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you. Just a little magic to ensure you won't escape me that easily."

Then I felt my bounds tighten, as if they weren't tight enough! I flinched as the ropes twisted against my skin, it was hot and painful. For sure I would get blisters.

"What are you Emma?"

I managed to raise my head and meet her gaze. She was smiling.

"I'm a witch sweetie. And I have been alive for a very long time. When this house was still occupied by the Norwood's, I was once an employee. Call me a grand witch if you want, for I never age."

Emma? A witch? Is she serious?

I raked my brain about history, so far as I remember they burned witches long ago. How did she survived? And what does she want?

"It hurts Emma..."

The ropes continued to twist behind me and she still had her hand up, after hearing the pain in my voice she stopped her magic.

My hands were more secure than ever, I could barely lift a finger. She might as well have stopped my blood flow.

"Don't fight it, they'll tighten if you move."

I yielded, the pain was too much and I would rather not move a muscle for now.

"Good. Now be a good girl while I gather your Dad's project. I already had a good fire burning, I just need to toss everything out."

She stood and turned towards the door, she's going to leave me here?

"Let me go! Dad needs me!"

I squirmed against the seat but the rope twisted as soon as I moved. It was like having an anaconda hug you till your bones pop.

"I can take care of your Dad sweetie. Stay here and be a good girl, okay?"

"No! Don't you dare hurt him!"

But she slammed the door and was gone. Now what?

But she left the lights on, thank god. I craned my neck to look around. The room was bare of any furniture not even a bent nail I could use to cut the ropes.

I have to do something before she comes back. Who knows what Emma was capable of, after hitting me with a goddamned baseball bat, I should expect the worst.

But how could she do it? We were close, Dad cared for her. What drove her to do this? Am I at fault? Was I making her feel an outsider by staying with my mother instead with her?

Crap! I'm panicking and this is not good. I have to find an escape and get away from here.

I studied the rope again, maybe if I try to wriggle out I could get it lose? I'm not very flexible, save when I'm in the water.

Uggh. Think Krista!

I tried dragging the chair towards the wall. Perhaps I could try breaking the legs, the chair was old. I might have a chance.

I lifted the chair and smacked it hard against the wall. It brought intense cramp on my back and the stinging pain came back on my head. I suddenly felt dizzy.

And to my dismay the chair remained intact. I sat back down and let the chair support my weight. I just need a few seconds then try again. My head was spinning.

The door burst open again. Oh cripes!

"We're going on a field trip." Emma said.

She held a knife in one hand and car keys on the other.