Amelia's Code

Episode Two: The Shadows of Desire

The building showed wealth and class, it was such a beautiful and grand edifice revealing stories of dominance and glory at every turn. A guardian against the threatening tide of modernity of the city was the neo-gothic mansion of Alexander Blackwood’s family that was located on the outskirts of Manhattan. Gargoyles and stone structures made it as if ancient tales were retold on the tower; this was perfect preparation for a night that would be extraordinary.

At seven o'clock on the dot, Amelia came in, her heart pounding with both a bit of thrill and trepidation. It was for a formal dinner, and the invitation had been delivered personally through a courier. The note was short and to the point, “Dinner at the Blackwood Estate … Formal wear,” There were no other specifications included with the invitation, except the ones that she had discovered just now.

She had spent most of the afternoon in a dilemma about whether to attend the event or not; such a meeting between duty and an inexplicable feeling that had gripped her mind lately. However, curiosity took the lead in the end.

As she alighted from the car, the freshness of cool night air tightly embraced her skin like a lover’s touch, making her spine tingle. A tall butler who was impeccably dressed was present and accompanied her to a very large door which she entered through, into the house which was dimly lit inside. The scent carried by the air was that of weathered wood which had a hint of a more earthy and intoxicating aroma.

With a gesture of courtesy, he added smoothly “Miss Haverford, welcome.” “Mr. Blackwood awaits you in his library, this way, madam.”

She followed him through a long and dark corridor with wainscoted walls on which dozens of ancestors with tight lips and eyes of the righteous stared at her. There was a pin drop silence in the house; the only sound which could be heard was the faint noise of her feet touching the marble floor.

Getting to the door of the library, the butler opened the door and ushered her inside. This room was an embodiment of warmth as well as taste; the walls of this room had high shelves of hard back in leather binding. In the solemn glow of fire that burned in the fireplace, there were soft armchairs and old furniture. He stood by the window, his back towards her, looking at the moonlight on the garden outside.

"Amelia," he said, turning around to face her with a mask of calm composure. "I'm glad you came."

She glanced nervously towards him before saying, “Thank you for inviting me. Your home is beautiful.”

He proceeded across the room towards her, dominating the ambiance of the small area. “So good,” he said, standing next to her. “This house has been in my family for so many generations that it holds stories and memories I wish it could share.”

He had mumbled something that sounded important, yet it left her feeling uncomfortable, as if he was speaking in riddles she could not understand. She sighed and tried to keep her calm. ”What did you wish to discuss?”

He beckoned her to sit down, and she selected a chair near an area where there was dry wood scented leaves burning on a hearth nearby. ‘Amelia, let me get to know you more. This engagement is more than a business; let us establish a certain level of trust.’

“Trust,” Like a blade that cuts through a sea of emotions still churning within her. Like no one should be trusted. She had been taught, especially not those who hold authority as their ‘sword.’ Yet there was something about the way Alexander looked at her and spoke that made her want to trust him, the sincerity in his gaze.

“It is about believing. And it is not always going to be simple.”

“I know that, but I am assuring you that I will work hard to earn your trust,” he whispered to her.

His eyes locked on her, and she looked up at the painting hanging over the fireplace. It is a depiction of a lady in a long light cream gown, with black hair falling over her shoulders and the look of sorrow etched onto her face despite the passing of time.

“Who is she?” Amelia asked, staring at the picture.

Alexander’s face was set in a stern way of grimness. She was Isabella Blackwood, my great-great-grandmother. She surely was one of the most prominent personalities of her time whose life was full of misfortunes. She is believed to have possessed paranormal powers and is still seen guarding our home even after so many years of her death.

At this point, Amelia was so frightened that she felt some eerie sensation engulfing the room. Nowadays, it is almost not possible to hear a question like: “Do you believe in ghosts?”

He put on a soft, slight mocking grin. ‘There are some places, some people, that will forever be burdened by their pasts in this life. It may manifest as a ghost or the residual energy of something bad that has happened. It could be either.’

“What do you aspire to in life?” Alexander asked out of the blue.

Amelia was suddenly put on the spot by Alexander and could not think of the right thing to say next. Her life had been meticulously orchestrated, and its execution was in pursuit of her family goals and aspirations. Not once in her life had anyone cared enough to ask what she desired in life or what she wanted to become.

“I don’t know,” she replied softly and hesitatingly, after what seemed like a long time. ”It seems I have lived so many years trying to survive for others, and now I don’t know how to survive for myself”.

This she said, almost in a whisper, and Alexander had to bend forward to hear her better. “Then start surviving for you now". You are mostly responsible for your future, Amelia; do not let someone else take it from you. “

His words made her remember something she thought she had long left behind, that yearning for liberation which had been masked by duties and commitments. There was a flicker of hope in her that she might find a way to break free from these chains.

As the night progressed, they discussed their lives' fears and expectations. Amelia began to trust the process and expressed things she had not shared with anyone before. Because of Alexander’s listening style, he made her feel as if she was being listened to for the first time in her entire existence.

They got up to leave after the big hand of the clock had struck twelve. While leading her to the door, Alexander placed his hand gently on her back, and despite the chill inside the car, she could still feel the warmth spreading from his touch.

”Thank you,” she let out, her tone shaking with a rush of feelings that were impossible to put into words. ”It was nice to interact with you.”

“I understand your feelings,” he said, and looked intensely at her as if trying to penetrate her inner self. “We should have another encounter soon.”

Walking into the fresh midnight air, Amelia felt an unexpected desire, a feeling that the future of their relationship would be different somehow. She raised her head to say goodbye, but words refused to come out at the sight of a shadowy figure looking at her with piercing eyes that gave her the chills.

In the darkness appeared the silhouette of a woman dressed in a gown that resembled the moonlight. She had black hair that fell down her hips, and her face was illuminated to reveal sad, lost eyes.

“Isabella?” Amelia said. She could hardly breathe, her heart beating so fast. But when she opened her eyes and turned, the figure disappeared.

“Are you okay?” Alexander asked. She didn’t look at him, her skin was as white as a sheet and her hand was trembling. "I saw someone."

He quickly glanced around the courtyard that was still surrounded by closed doors. “Nobody is here. I guess it was just an illusion created by light.”

Amelia nodded and turning away she walked towards her car, still shivering at what she had witnessed. Once she said goodbye, she got into her car, with a slight bewildered look on her face, turned on the ignition and drove home. This left her feeling insecure and apprehensive that someone was spying on her; that there were secrets that went on in the dark that she knew nothing about.

The next morning, she woke early and something on the nightstand caught her attention. There was a letter, as if created out of thin on the table. Gulping down a hard lump that formed in her throat, she opened the letter. The contents gave her a cold feeling of fear creating the picture of her being a part of a dangerous plot and her life being controlled by someone else. Cowering, as she read the letter, cold shivers ran down her spine. She suddenly felt like she was just a pawn in someone’s game, and she wasn’t in charge of her own life.

"Dear Amelia,

Remember that you are among people who have things that can bring about your downfall in their hands with extreme ease. It is all a facade, and no one is to be trusted, not even members of one's own family. The life you choose, or maybe you were born in, is dangerous, and the actions chosen further are going to define your life.

All my love,

Isabella”

The letter dropped from her hands and fell on the ground. The message played in her head like a chant of her inability to dictate her life and its consequences. Staring out the window, she sighed and whispered to herself that she would find out the secret and free herself no matter what it takes.