Tess had almost made her escape from the mansion when a gentle hand landed on her shoulder.  John’s gentle hand.  Just as she was the opposite of Charlotte, he was the opposite of Kell.  Gentle and sweet, not firm and demanding.  Yet both men shared an obsession for sweet little innocent Lotte.  Kell desired to claim her while John wanted to have her.  Poor little blonde angel, the object of so much desire, and now here was Tess who wanted her for yet another purpose.<br/><br/>A sweet smile formed as she turned towards John, a slight not acknowledging the errand on which he had been sent.  One did not simply deny Kell that which he wanted; she knew that when she came here.  His word was law.  “Did he say what he needed from me?” she questioned as she turned to accompany her escort where he would lead her.<br/><br/>The small talk focused on Charlotte; it always did.  She felt sorry for John.  It was painfully obvious that his love for the Oracle now bordered on obsession.  He would do anything to be near the girl or to be close to anyone who was the girl’s confidante.  It was hard not to wonder what power the girl held over poor John but after spending time with the sweet angel, it was easy to see that she was being manipulated by the Ovrem men.<br/><br/>Innocent Charlotte, the troubled girl afflicted with the voices whispering in her mind.  Voices that echoed the poisonous words the son poured into her ear.  Tess could not help but wonder if the doctor was the cause of the voices, if he had done something to damage the mind even further.  The logical conclusion to that line of thought was that if she could just get Charlotte away from this place, there might be a way to help her heal.  The baby would make it more difficult since she doubted Kell would be willing to give up his own child but there had to be a way.<br/><br/>Soon enough she was deposited at Kell’s door as John faded away as he so often did.  Her knuckles rapped a little rhythm on the heavy wooden door as she pushed it open with the other hand.  Her eyes landed on the tall male figure perched on the desk and she couldn’t help but smile.  In that one glance, she understood why so many women<i>wanted</i>him; he was tall, handsome, and extremely charismatic.<br/><br/>“We’re settling in quite well, thank you.  Everyone is just so kind and thoughtful.”  She smiled, playing the part of a doting sister.  “I do think Carlton needs friends though.  I was wondering if he could accompany Charlotte and I on our walks.”  A short pause, her brow furrowing slightly as she seemed to give the idea some thought.  “Perhaps John could come too?”<br/><br/>By this time, the son was by her side, his hand on her back as he guided her to the desk.  In spite of herself, she found that she liked his touch.  A faint shake of her head cleared her thoughts as she settled into the offered chair.  She would do well to remember that he was a<i>bad man</i>, someone who manipulated others for his own selfish gains.<br/><br/>From her seat, she was forced to look at up at the tall man, a deliberate arrangement she was sure.  A smile flitted across her face.  “She’s doing well.  You know she’s very excited but nervous about the baby.  She frets about whether you are happy.”  A brief pause as she examined his face.  “Are you happy to be a father?”<br/><br/>Tess tore her eyes away from his then, doing her best not to lose herself in their darkness as so many other women had.  She glanced around the room then cleared her throat quietly, her fingers clasped tightly in her lap so their fidgeting would not give away her nerves.  Tell him something about herself.  That much she could do.  Something, anything, to fill the silence between them.<br/><br/>“Oh, there’s not that much to tell.”  Ever the demure woman as she tried to make herself seem less interesting.  “Carlton and I are the only two children of the family.  He’s older but of course you know that.  You seem to know everything.  Our parents divorced and our father disappeared.  Mother fell apart after he left, forced to support two children on her own.  We’ve been searching for something, for some sort of purpose for quite some time.  And now we find ourselves here, with you.  With Charlotte.”<br/><br/>Their eyes met once more, hers wide and vaguely innocent.  Not quite as innocent as Charlotte.  No, something more mature lurked behind her eyes.  Something that hinted that she would not be so inexperienced as the golden angel.  “Will you tell me something?  How did your father come to find Charlotte?  She is so…. special.”