System - Book One : The Eyre Manor

Chapter 2

I grabbed hold of the lion's mane and held tightly as he raised his massive paw and pressed it against the wood of the door.

The door groaned as it slowly opened. The lion glanced down at me with a look of curiosity in his eyes.

"Are you ready?" He asked softly. As nervous as I was I silently nodded, not taking my eyes off the door.

The lion lead me forward, using his massive head to push open the door wider as we stepped into the Manor.

I stared wide-eyed at the elegant furniture and decor. It was like nothing I had ever seen before.

The walls were the color of deep gold with silver designs engraved throughout the surface.

The crimson red carpet that gently laid over the staircase was mesmerizing.

The candles that were placed in various areas of the room flickered and smelled of lavender. 

There was luxurious furniture everywhere. 

Tables made of shiny dark wood, a beautiful glass chandelier in the center of the ceiling, potted plants dotted the room.

There were huge portraits hanging on the walls of people I had never seen before. 

I pointed at one of a young girl who looked close to my age. "She's pretty," I said.

Sol looked up at the painting with a look of obvious pride glowing in his icy blue eyes. 

"That is Angel, my daughter," Sol said casually. 

His response left me speechless. "Your daughter? But she's... she's human and you're..." I turned to Sol and froze, my mouth hanging open.

"Human?" He chuckled softly. He stood before me as a very tall, handsome man dressed in a pitch-black suit. His long, wavy black hair fell just past his shoulders.

I staggered backward, stumbling. He quickly reached out his hand and gently gripped mine, helping me catch my balance.

"Easy now." He said softly. I took my hand out of his, my eyes still fixated on his form. "Are you alright child?" He asked softly. 

I nodded in silence, unsure I could find my words.

Sol kneeled down in front of me, low enough he could look up at my face. He reached up and brushed my blond hair out of my eyes and smiled at me. 

"You know, I haven't asked you what your name is. Would you like to tell me?" He asked.

"I'm Izzy," I answered. 

"Well Izzy, would you like to meet my daughter now? I have a feeling you and her will get along just fine." Sol said.

I nodded. Even though my hands were shaking with nervousness I was still very excited to meet a child my age.

Sol stood up and turned to the staircase.

His lips didn't move but I swear I heard his voice as clear as the light that was flowing in through the windows.

"Angel, will you come here? We have a visitor."

I looked around nervously, there was nothing but silence and it put me on edge. I didn't like the quiet.

But it didn't last long. In the distance I could hear footsteps running, they became louder the closer the girl got to us.

The girl suddenly burst around the corner at the top of the stairs and stopped at the first step, looking down at us with excitement shining brightly in her eyes that were as icy blue as her father's.

She wore a long, white silk dress. Her beautiful blond hair flowed down her back reaching her waist.

She was more beautiful in person than a painting could ever portray.

"Hi, there! I'm Angel!" She skipped happily down the stairs with such grace it left me with a loss of words. 

Before I could blink she was inches away from me with a wide smile on her sweet face.

"Oh look!" She exclaimed as she stood on her tiptoes. "We're the same height!" She laughed at her joke as she dropped herself down on her feet. 

"I'm Izzy." I introduced myself to her.

Angel smiled big. "I know. I heard you earlier when you told my daddy." She giggled.

Sol watched on in amusement. "I knew the two of you would get along." He said softly.

"Angel, why don't you take our guest to one of the spare rooms? I'm sure she needs some rest after her experiences today." Sol said to his daughter.

Angel nodded eagerly. "Yes, daddy!" She reached forward and grabbed my hand in hers, excitedly pulling me along with her up the stairs. "Come on! You'll love this!" She giggles.

Angel races with me down the hall and she surprises me with her speed as I struggle to keep up with her.

Suddenly she comes to a standstill and I stumble as I struggle to stop myself from running into her.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a tall woman leaning against the wall outside one of the many rooms in the neverending hallway.

She has her arms crossed over her chest and I almost gasped at how thin she is. 

The woman glares at me, rolls her eyes and then stalks off into the room she was standing outside of, slamming the door behind her.

"That's Adina," Angel said. "Don't mind her, she hates everyone." Angel winked at me.

Angel turned to the door we were standing in front of.

"This will be your room, if you decide to stay with us," Angel said casually. 

I glanced at her, confused.

"Where else could I go?" I asked and then shuddered as I thought of the room with the man and the storms outside the window. I did not want to go back there.

Angel played with her beautiful hair as she spoke. "You could go to lots of places. The world is massive, there's always room for someone somewhere."

Angel smiled at me suddenly. "Want to see your room?"

I nodded, understanding she wanted to change the subject. It made us both uncomfortable.

Angel opened the door and stood back, waiting for me to take the first steps in.

I walked into the room and stared at everything around me in astonishment. 

The walls were painted a beautiful shade of sky blue and there were pale silver designs engraved into the wall.

There was a bed next to the window with a desk on the opposite side. The sight of it sent a chill down my spine but I quickly pushed the memories away.

I wasn't there anymore, I was here and I was safe now. 

"Do you like it?" Angel asked. I turned around to see she was still in my doorway.

"I love it! Aren't you coming in?"

I asked.

Angel smiled. "I was waiting for you to invite me in." She giggled. "It's a rule around here, you can't come uninvited into someone's room. That goes for everyone here." Angel explained as she came in and stood beside me.

"Who makes rules here?" I asked. 

"My daddy does," Angel answered. "He's the leader. He's been the leader for a very, very long time." She smiled big.

"I don't understand something..." I said slowly. Angel waited for me to continue, her beautiful eyes watching me closely.

"Sol is your daddy but when I met him he was a lion... and then he was a man... and you, you're human?"

Angel laughed a little. "My daddy has different forms that he uses to keep us safe. Sometimes he's a lion and sometimes he's a wolf, but he tries to be a man most of the time." She explained.

"Indeed, I do." Sol's deep voice came from the doorway. I turned to see him casually standing there watching his daughter with pride in his eyes. "You did well with explaining that to our guest Angel. I am very proud of you darling." Sol said softly.

Angel's whole face beamed with happiness. 

Sol tilted his head to one side. "May I come in?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yes."

Sol came into the room, placing his hands casually behind his back as he approached.

"I understand if my forms make you feel uncomfortable, young one. But I assure you, as it is my job to keep you all safe, it is the only reason I will take those forms. It's not my intention to make you feel afraid. I only want you to be safe." He said softly.

Ange ran up to Sol and hugged him tightly. Sol laughed softly and returned her kind and loving gesture. 

Sol looked up at me as he held his daughter. "It is my responsibility to make sure you all are safe and happy here." He said.

Angel stepped back from him. "Angel, would you go and ask Alice to bring some snacks and refreshments to our guest?" Sol asked. 

Angel nodded excitedly and skipped out of the room, humming as she went.

Sol came and sat slowly on the edge of the bed, his face turned to the window. 

"If I may, I would like for you to see something. Would you come here please?" Sol asked softly, his eyes briefly glancing over at me.

I came and sat next to Sol, silently following his gaze out the window. 

"Izzy, are you aware of how special you truly are?" He asked softly.

I didn't answer, I stared at him in confusion. Sol stood up and turned to me, kneeling down so that we were eye to eye. 

"I would like for you to see something but first I must request that you close your eyes." He said softly.

I nodded and did as he suggested.

A few seconds later I heard his breathing change before he spoke. "You may open them now, little one."

When I opened my eyes I stared at the massive black lion that he was again. His nose and jaws just inches from my face and though his form was different I saw that his eyes were still the same icy blue no matter what form he was.

Sol didn't say a word as he turned his attention to the window. He opened his jaws and breathed onto the glass. Though it was transparent, I could still see the form of his breath as it left his mouth and came into contact with the glass.

Sol turned his eyes to me and gave a silent nod but his suggestion was clear. I needed to come and stand with him for him to show me what he wanted me to see.

I hopped off of the bed and stood next to him, my gaze following his out the window.

The trees and the valleys were gone and so was the sun. There were only storms and darkness everywhere. 

Bright blue and dark purple lighting flashed chaotically, striking the black earth below and igniting it to a flame.

"When I came here, there was nothing but what you see now. Chaos, darkness, uncertainty, fear." Sol spoke softly but when I turned to look at him he was no longer beside me.

"I built this Manor to keep myself and the ones who came here with me safe from the storms." His voice flowed around me like a calm river.

Through the window I saw Sol in his wolf form with Angel on his back, hugging him tightly as the aggressive wind made her beautiful hair fly in all directions.

To the left of him was a beautiful woman with straight blond hair, very pale skin, and brilliant golden amber eyes.

As my eyes landed on her face there was a sudden flash of blinding bright light in front of my eyes.

The storms vanished and so did the chaos that came with it.

I saw Kate standing in front of the Manor, she was smiling and laughing as a very tall and handsome man kneeled in front of her and kissed her swollen belly.

Just as quickly as the images came they left without warning. I blinked once and they were gone.

What was that?

"Are you alright, little one?" Sol asked softly. I didn't need to look over at him to know he was beside me, I could feel his fur brush against my arm as he stood closer to me. 

I struggled to focus for s brief moment until Sol gently laid his tail over my shoulders.

I nodded silently, unsure if I was able to speak. Everything felt numb and my hands were shaking.

"Hello, room for one more?" A very feminine voice spoke from behind us.

Sol and I turned at the same time towards the woman who spoke.

She was a beautiful, slender woman. The dress she wore was as black as a night sky and her hair was just as black and pinned up in a very particular 50's style. 

Her crimson red lipstick made her white teeth shimmer as she spoke.

"Alice, thank you for coming," Sol said, nodding at her giving her permission to come into the room. 

Alice flaunted in with an interesting way of walking.

"I brought you some snacks, I hope you enjoy sandwiches and sweet tea. I cut the crusts off for you, all the nutrients are in the white part after all." Alice said casually as she set the plate of small square crustless sandwiches and the glass of sweet tea on the table by the bed.

Alice looked down at me and gave me a smile. "Aren't you just a cutie. I could just eat you alive." She said. 

Sol took a step towards her. "Alice, why don't you prepare for tonight's feast?" He asked.

Alice nodded in silent consent. 

"I've made arrangements for a meeting to begin not long from now, once the meeting is over I'm sure everyone will be ready for a proper meal. You'll have it prepared won't you Alice?" Sol asked casually.

Alice gave a tight smile. "Of course Sol." She said before turning away from us and walking out of the room.

My stomach had knots in it and I felt queasy from nervousness but I was so hungry I didn't care how my stomach felt. I began eating the delicious sandwiches instantly and only stopping for a few moments to gulp down the tea.

Sol watched me in silence, his eyes glowed with amusement. Once I was finished with the food Alice had brought I suddenly felt someone else's eyes watching me.

I turned to look and saw the woman Angel had called Adina standing in the doorway. Her fiery green eyes cut into me like knives. She sniffed the air and then smirked. 

"I knew I smelled a newborn." She sneered.

"Adina." Sol greeted her with a curt nod. Adina glared at him and didn't give any attempt by greeting him back. 

I shifted my feet uncontrollably. The air was suddenly very thick with tension.

"Now that you've finished we can attend the meeting," Sol said to me softly. "Are you ready to meet everyone?" He asked. 

I grabbed hold of his fur and nodded.

Adina stepped out of our way but sniffed the air as we walked past her, there was a clear look of disgust all over her face. 

She didn't hide her dislike for me at all.

I let out the breath I didn't realize I had been holding as we finally lost sight of Adina who stayed behind us in the hall.

The further from her we became, the easier it was for me to breathe. The air no longer seemed thick and suffocating but that didn't make my fist unclench from Sol's fur as he lead me slowly through the halls of the Manor.

"Are you alright, young one?" Sol asked softly. 

I glanced at him to see his eyes watching me closely and with genuine concern.

"I'm alright," I said but my voice shuddered. I quickly cleared my throat. "I'm fine," I said with more certainty.

Sol gave me a soft smile and stopped walking for a brief moment. "I am proud of how brave you are being Izzy, but I want you to know that it is okay for you to feel how you are feeling. I know how frightening this must be for you but I promise you no matter what you will be safe here." Sol said softly, his icy blue eyes soft with understanding but also firm with honesty.

I nodded silently, unable to find the words to express how his words made me feel. 

"Are you ready little one?"

He asked softly.

I looked ahead of me and released my grip on his fur, letting my hands fall to my sides as I stared straight forward. 

"I'm ready."