Enchanted by the Demon Wolf

Chapter 6

Alex tried to act coolly as she sat on the white leather couch. She looked at Arthur with a smile on her face. She tried to make it look as genuine as possible as she didn't want to give him any sign she was no longer comfortable with him around. She now understood a bit of the role he played in Mr. Piers Anderson's life.

"He is the custodian of the knowledge of whatever might be wrong with Piers Anderson and he is unwilling to let anyone help him but why?", she thought to herself. If she wanted to dig up the facts on Piers' past it was clear to her, she could not rely on anything Arthur had said to her, she had to uncover the truth for herself but covetly.

"Please, can I meet with the rest of the staff members?", she requested politely.

"Yes, of course you can", Arthur said, giving her a fake smile. 

"Thank you!"

"Please come with me, let's go and meet one of them", he said.

"Oh, I am very sorry. I wish I could come along with you but my feet hurt from wearing my pumps for so long. As a doctor, I am not so used to it", she said, sounding like she was genuinely experiencing some discomfort in her feet. She was such a good actress and it appeared believable.

"I am sorry to hear that. Would you like to change to something more comfortable? I can request for Edwin to get one for you", he offered.

"Thank you Arthur but I just need to rest my feet, I'll be fine", she said.

"Okay, you may remain here then while I go get one of the staff for you", he said, it sounded like a caution.

He turned away from her and started walking into the passageway of the mansion. Alex watched him with keen interest as he disappeared from her sight at a corner before quickly getting up on her feet.

She knew she had to act quickly before he returned. She expected him to be back in about 5 minutes, enough time for her to run upstairs and speak with Edwin.

"I have to know the full details of what he wanted to share with me", she said curiously, as she got up from the white leather couch and ran towards the helical staircase.

She took her time climbing the staircase not to trip and fall until she got to the top of the stairs. She had now made it successfully to the second floor of the mansion. It was as beautiful as the first floor. 

The floor was made up of white tiles with small black square shapes. The walls were painted white and there was a grand chandelier hanging some inches away from her reach. The roof revealed a beautiful cupola dome sky glass roof that allowed natural sunlight to penetrate into the beautiful mansion. 

Alex had to stay focused on her mission and not allow herself to be distracted by the beauty all around her.

"So left or right, which way is it?", she whispered to herself, trying to make up her mind on where to go. The mansion was big and if she made the wrong choice, she would miss her golden opportunity to talk to Edwin without Arthur around.

"I'll go with the right, hopefully I am right". 

She quickly ran as fast as her pumps could carry her towards the passageway on the right without overthinking her choice. As she ran she listened for any noise. She was hoping she would hear the sound of Edwin's voice or his footsteps and then she heard him. 

He was talking to himself about something but she couldn't make out what it was. It was faint for her ears to detect what he was saying distinctively but she heard the sound of his voice. She was glad she went the right way.

The second floor was almost empty, except for the two of them and it echoed. She was sure he must have heard her footsteps too, as she ran on the tiled floor with her pumps.

She came to a stop at a door that was opened. Apparently it was the room she was going to be spending her nights in for the month - it was the guest bedroom.

The door of the guest bedroom was slightly opened and she walked right in. It was a very beautiful bedroom that was well decorated and furnished. It had a beautiful wooden floor. It had a fireplace, inbuilt into the beautiful white walls. It had a grand chandelier hanging down the middle of the room, where a centre grey rug was laid on the floor. The chandelier hung at the edge of the end of the king sized bed. There was a white leather couch, a three-in-one leather couch, a glass table opposite the bed, separated by the grey centre rug where the chandelier hung directly at the top. The couches were all close to the panoramic view that led to the balcony. She loved her bedroom as she took in the beautiful sight. 

"Isabel, what do you want?", Edwin called out from the closet. That was where he was arranging her lounges.

Alex thought he must have mistaken her for Isabel but she didn't know who Isabel was.

"Hello Edwin, it is Dr. Alex", she announced as she stood outside the closet, waiting for him to come out.

"Oh, Dr. Alex!", Edwin said, sounding surprised as he stepped out of the closet, leaving behind what he was doing.

"Welcome to the guest room. I see you found it on your own", he said, as he looked around to see if she had company. 

She knew who he was looking out for, it was Arthur. As the house manager and butler, he was supposed to take her around the house and not allow her wander alone by herself until she was familiar with her new surroundings.

"Yes, I did. It was kind of Arthur to give me some alone time", she said, with a smile on her face.

"You mentioned a name when I walked in - Isabel. Who is she?", she inquired.

"Oh, I'm sorry Doctor. Isabel is a young maid that works here alongside her mother and grandmother. I confused her for you. I mean no disrespect but she is the only one I know who runs along the passageway. I thought she was looking for me and so I asked what she wanted", he said.

"No offence taken. Thank you for telling me Edwin", she said smiling at him.

"Can I trust you?", she whispered, as she drew closer to him.

"Sure...yes you can...why not?", he mumbled. 

"Good".

"Please, can you tell me a little more about the doctors who have worked in the mansion in the past?", she asked, there was a hint of desperation in her voice. She made sure he was cornered physically and psychologically. She drew close to him, ensuring he didn't have enough personal space to invade the situation and she looked straight into his eyes to read his expression in case he decided to lie to her.

He gave a titter as he was nervous.

"Please tell me", she said, urging him to go on. 

"Okay", he said, as he tried to calm his nerves. She could see he was genuine about wanting to share with her what he knew about the doctors that had worked previously for Piers Anderson in the past and so she stepped back, giving back his personal space once again. 

"Piers Anderson had sought the help of 5 psychiatrists before you. Dr. Gabriel, Dr. Cedric, Dr. Jasper, Dr. Izen and Dr. Brom", he revealed. 

"I know all of these doctors, they are all excellent psychiatrists! How come none of them succeeded with Piers Anderson?", she asked.

"I don't know exactly but I know they all didn't last to the second day here. One after the other they fled from this place. I don't live in the mansion or it's premises after dark, my father; the groundskeeper and I return back home every evening but I can assure you something strange is going on in the mansion only Mr Piers Anderson can answer", he said.

"Do you have any idea what that could be?", she inquired, she was intrigued by the mystery surrounding Piers Anderson.

"So there you are!", Arthur called out as he walked into the guest room. Alex jumped as she was startled to hear his voice.

"He returned sooner than I anticipated. How did he walk so quickly and so quietly through the passageway and no one heard him?", she thought within herself as she turned quickly and faced him. She gave a nervous laugh as she faced him.