Her Danse Macbre

Chapter 5

Monday greeted her as it always did with a dullness that made her want to run back to her bed. Maryanne was her cheerful self as she walked up to her from her locker. “Hey, Heather. You never called me last night. Are you okay?” she asked, her brow crinkling with concern.

“I-“

“Heather can I talk to you in my office. I have to talk to you about your project for the upcoming Art Club” Ms. Pond said standing in front of them as if materializing. Heather was surprised since she hadn’t put much thought into what she was going to do for her project. Ms. Pond’s serious expression made her feel a bit uneasy since the teacher was usually relaxed and happy. Uneasily she followed the teacher to her office. The yellow of the office greeted her making her eyes hurt from the pure brightness. There were two people sitting in the room when she stepped over the threshold.

“Curtis! Jemma!” Heather felt all the tension leave her body the moment they saw them. Curtis and Jemma Aldraven were twins in her age group. Their mother died when they were young and their father was a bit of a recluse who traveled often. Henry Phillip Aldraven was a scholar and professor who taught seminars on history and the mysteries hidden within. This was all lot of things that went over her head, but the twins she has known since they were kids. The family moved away when their mother died and they lost touch for years on end with an occasional visit. Mr. Aldraven was not often seen even at the best of times. Other than running to seminars and classes he spent most of his time in his study. Heather and Jemma were two peas in a pod as children, always in each other’s company along with her brother. Curtis Aldraven was all lot like his father in nature and interest and looks down to the messy brown hair on his head. The Aldravens were rumored to have dealings with the occult due to Henry Aldraven’s reclusive nature. The man Heather remembered was shy, but very kind.

“It’s feels like forever since we have seen you.” Jemma hugged her friend tightly. She was a taller than Heather with the dark hair of her mother who had passed on. Their mother had died under mysterious circumstances. From the expression on Ms. Pond’s face told Heather that seeing the twins were not her only reason for calling her into the office. Curtis looked at her and smiled warmly at her and gave a simple nod of his head even now being quiet. The bell rang before Ms. Pond to articulate her real intention.

The hall was filled with students bustling around to get to their next class. The three of them moved through the groups standing around talking at their lockers or meandering.

“What brings your father back in town? From your last postcard you said you were in England examining the strange occurrence at the Ram Inn.” Jemma smiled widely and stared ahead for a moment. “We were, but my father got a call that he needed to come back home. Something about strange activity in our very home town.” The words caused a shiver to run up Heather’s spine. The events of the past week came nauseating crashing to her mind. “It has a connection to the lay lines in the Ram Inn. Fae lines. It seems even the dance in the school is of the fairy realm.” Jemma commented and pointed to the poster on the wall. The ten by eight poster gave the title Midsummers Dance and the date it would be attended. A weariness ran through her as she stared at the poster. Curtis looked up from the book he was reading to glance at it but didn’t vocalize his thoughts on it.

Sean saw her standing there with the twins and closed his locker, walking over slowly. He was dressed in a blue t-shirt with darker stripes and slacks. He walked over to her. “About the other day…” he started, seeming very hesitant to talk about it. “I was thinking that…well I would like to take you to the Midsummer dance tomorrow?” he asked calmly. “What about Lexie?” she asked frowning a bit. “I want to take you instead. Even if it’s lame I know that you will make it fun” he said then looked at the two standing next to her. “Hey you’re the twins that‘s father was an expert on that Ghost Chaser show.”

Jemma was looking at Sean with a pithy expression. “Yeah, our father is a researcher of the paranormal and occult.” She was always one quick to defend her father and what he does. Sean sensed the hostility and shook his head. “I think it’s cool. I wish I could travel around and go into abandoned buildings and stuff.” He said and looked at Curtis. “Hey man, a bunch of us guys are going to play Frisbee on the quad. Want to come along?” he asked casually. Curtis looked up from his book looking honestly surprised then smiled faintly. “Sure” he said and the two walked off.

“Well he has no problem making friends. He never has even with his nose in a book” his sister commented softly and shook her head. Heather watched the two walking away and realized she never got to answer the question that if she would go with him to the dance. Heather chuckled then waved Maryanne over when she saw her.

“Maryanne this is Jemma. Jemma is awesome. We have known each other for a long time. Her father travels the country.” She introduced. Maryanne gave a smile and nodded. “Nice to meet you.” She said, but turned and looked at Heather. “What did Curtis say to you?” she asked excitedly.

“Oh...he asked me to go to the Midsummer Dance with him.” She commented, not realizing that Maryanne had even seen her talking to him. “I didn’t get a chance to say yes or no. He is still dating Lexi…” Heather had dreamed of going to the dance with Sean, but Lexi was behind her near drowning. This was ice she didn’t want to tread on to have another cold dip.

At the end of the day Maryanne had her club leaving her to reconnect with her old friends. Walking with the two of them Curtis told them about playing Frisbee with the boys, and briefly mentioned how she saw Lexi and the Claw, but it was fortunately brief. It was a warm, cloudy day when they headed home.

“You should come over. My dad would like to see you again” Curtis commented giving a faint smile. Heather shook her head and frowned. “I’m kind of grounded. I got in all lot of trouble for something I didn’t do.” Jemma stopped and stared at her with her green eyes, a puzzled expression on her face.

“I don’t know how to explain it…”she said and decided to tell them everything that happened, about the strange wolf like creature that crashed in her living room, and about Fionn. She decided to let them decide if they think she is crazy or not. “My mom thinks I did it in some psychotic break.” Jemma looked a bit uneasy when she heard that and the two siblings exchanged glances.

“You need to come see our father. You need to tell him what you experienced!”

Aldraven Manor was a large turn of the century Victorian on the corner of Sybil St. The wood was in good condition, but the pain chipped. The wrap around porch was overgrown with vines that clung to it like an octopus on a stone. The door still had the old stain glass. Jamme walked to the door and pulled out the key and unlocked the door. Heather slipped onto the porch and studied the spider webs and vines. It was years since she has been to the manor. It was kept clean by maid service well they were away. Curtis slipped past them slowly to tell their father that she was there. The house was expansive with a double stairway from the second floor. The air permeated the scent of dust and incense though it was immaculately clean. Across from the entrance was a full knight in shining armor, holding a spear in its right hand. Heather enjoyed looking at the different items hanging on the walls and in cabinets as a child and still found interest in them. On her way up the stairs she saw the skeleton of a cat on top of the shelf in a glass case, and a rabbit with deer antlers trussed up on a mount. Curtis was standing at the double doors of the study waiting for her, and her sister to catch up. Ravens were carved on the door in a wooded forest. Jemma opened the doors and stepped in. “Father, Heather is here and she has something important to tell you.”

Henry Phillip Aldraven stood behind a large mahogany desk covered with books scattered messily. The walls, chairs, and even the floors were covered in books and papers. For a man in his middle forties he was handsome with flecked of hair in his messy brown hair. He wore a brown suit with worn elbows. Tiredness showed in his face, but his gray eyes were filled with kindness and calm.

“Ah, Heather. You have grown all lot since I last saw you. A little girl, asking questions about everything in the house.” He walked from around the desk to get a good look at her. She noticed that he walked with a slight limp in his right leg. This was an injury that was new to her, but knew that there would be plenty of time to ask. This all felt really strange to her as she looked at the man she once knew when she was a child.

“Curtis tells me that you have something very important to share with me. That you have had an experience with the supernatural. Is this true?” Mr. Aldraven’s voice was soft and kind as he spoke to her, not like was a small child again, but with absolute rapt attention. Hesitantly she retold the events that she told the twins without leaving anything out. The room was left in absolute silence after she finished the story. He looked at her for a long moment, with an unreadable expression then took a step back. “That cannot…be.” He murmured then turned back to the large desk and started to push papers aside. “I have traveled the world and what you are telling me is impossible. A fairytale.” He pulled a book up and started to open it. “Fionn and the EaglaWolf even I don’t believe in. They are part of a bunch of British mythology” The older man tried to reason, but there was doubt about his argument visible in his eyes.

Suddenly the sound of a violin split the air, sweet but audible. The music drove them outside of the manor house where it was coming from. On top of the roof Fionn stood in his crisp suit, the sun glistening off his hair and instrument in his fingertips. The song he played was merry. Mr. Aldraven limped out and looked up at the man on his manor roof with an expression of surprise.

“Get down here, you show boat” Heather found herself railing against the man she saw as the person who got her in trouble and made her seem crazy. Like a bird he leaped off the roof and did an aerial flip, landing on his feet half bent over. Slowly he rose to full height and looked at the three of them with a calm expression. Heather found herself once again in stunned silence gazing at his perfect man, this beautiful man.

“I am quite real; Henry Phillip Alderaven. I am offended by the mere suggestion that I am a fairytale. Everything you have seen in your work and you doubt me. Shame on you. Tsk.” Fionna commented with a devious smirk. “My name is Fionn, Prince of the Fae Kingdom. The pleasure of meeting is all mine.” He introduced like a perfect gentleman. “Can we have this conversation inside if you please?” Heather was doing everything in her power not to be impressed by the congenial wit of the fae, even she couldn’t find fault on his flawless introduction. Mentally she tried. Henry who seemed grasping at this realization with shock and excitement nodded and led them inside the manor where they had come from with the new visitor in tow.

Tea and shortbread cookies were served as they all sat down in the parlor. The windows were curtained to keep the sunlight from further aging the books leaving the fireplace the only source of light. Fionna sat in a winged chair with his violin laid against his leg. Aldraven was sitting in another chair holding a leather notebook and pen in hand, looking at the other man with fascination. The three teenagers crowded on the old red and gold threaded couch.

“Why did you come here? What messages are you coming to bring us?” The scholar asked, gray eyes fixed on the ethereal being sipping tea across from him. Fionn took a slow sip of his tea and lowered the cup onto its saucer.

“To answer your question simply…I am here for her” he commented, eyes becoming fixed on Heather.