(Vanessa)<br/><br/>Hiato gave what appeared to be an indulgent expression at Vanessa’s words and shook his head, allowing that rich river of black hair to glisten as it brushed across his shoulders. “It is best that you understand something. The man who owns this place is not a god, not by any means – an apex predator among the supernatural realms, certainly, but not a god. He does, however, have at his disposal a vast army of spies, many of which have their own secondary spies. He may not navigate the web, but when one of his agents informs him that a known reporter has been sniffing about, of course he will take note.” Hiato reached out and casually rested one of his delicate hands on Vanessa’s shoulders in a warm, reassuring gesture.<br/><br/>“It is his intent to allow you to get your story, to an extent. Naturally, the full and complete truth cannot be allowed out – no more than nuclear launch codes could ever be published.” Allowing his hand to drop, Hiato took Vanessa up one stairwell, down a hallway with ankle-deep purple carpet and up another, shorter but spiraling, stair case to a narrow hall of rooms. Toward the end of that hall, perhaps a quarter mile of walking just down that one corridor (or so it seemed), he turned to an ornate mahogany door and opened it.<br/><br/>The room within was cozy, neither too big nor too small. At the back of the room were several racks of clothing, each of which seemed to have a different motif: casual wear, formal gowns, sleeping attire, and so forth. Sitting in the room was an aged, ancient old woman, her long white hair limp over her form, her spider-like hands poised over an equally ancient spinning wheel. Her body, clothed in black sackcloth, seemed to radiate impossible age – time folded upon itself beyond memory.<br/><br/>“This is Grandmother Tshone, the Great Weaver and one of our many long term guests,” Hiato waved over at the clothes. “Choose outfits for each day of your stay. Several, if you wish. Simply touch one and indicate that you desire it and she will begin making adjustments. While you two work things out, I will see to it that arrangements are made for a longer stay. Pay, allowances with your employer, and so forth. It should not take long. After Tshone is done, I will return – or another servant will come and assist you back to the main event.”<br/><br/>Hiato gave Vanessa a beat to ask questions, for additional conversation, and then turned and left – presumably to handle the woman’s affairs. And leaving her behind with the ancient, unknowable Weaver.<br/>