Nathaniel parted ways with Emily Rose reluctantly.  He was most jealous over what the ladies might speak of and he was even more disappointed that the pretty maid would be serving the women.  He sighed as he chomped on his cigar in irritation not bothering to have lit it.  His eyes narrowed at the Major who seemed to have charmed the ladies overmuch but it was not his concern.  The lovely Rowena was certainly that and he was sure would be even lovelier if he held her down and watched her.......well, now that was for his own meanderings later.  Some things don't come true but he grinned to himself at the thought.<br/><br/>As he sipped his scotch by the mantle, the male chatter to innocuous to hold his attention, he slipped from the library in search of something more entertaining.  He moved down the hallway to find the room that held the mummy.  Surely it was this way.  Then the darkness rolled in and he grimaced at the cloying feel of it.  As if it surrounded him and seeked to take of his innermost secrets.  If it were not dark one would see the paleness of his skin and the cold sweat upon his brow.<br/><br/>Fists clench, he held up his hands in the dark, the sensation that eyes were on him, the scream sharpening his senses.  Was that Emily?  No, it had come from upstairs.  Though weaponless, the stairs had been a mere few feet from him and his curiosity overrode any fear.  Whatever was going on, he gathered his courage and made his way to the stairs step by careful step.  As he moved upward, the darkness seemed to thicken.  This was insane!  He should be running the other direction but if there was a maiden in distress he had to have made an effort.  Chivalry was a Windham trait regardless of his scandalous behavior.<br/><br/>He reached the landing but when he looked in either direction he felt cold inside.  Too cold really.  He looked back downstairs in the darkness and wondered at his sister.  She had to be safe among the women.  He felt for the wall and moved with it, ears cocked for sounds.<br/><br/>____________________<br/><br/>Emily had sat pleasantly listening to the chatter.  She barely wore any jewels, much of it having been sold but it was still nice to be among women.  She did peer curiously at the dark woman who spoke nothing.  Despite that she had a feeling that the woman should not be here, she still looked as if a friend was needed.  She was just about to speak to her when there was a moment of disorientation, when the feeling that something evil was coming.  She gasped a half heart beat before the darkness descended upon them all and she clutched at the arms of her chair, too afraid to move.<br/><br/>"Nathaniel," she whispered.  A scream so horrible pierced the night and she thought her heart stopped.  She wanted to faint but forced herself to stay alert.  She was overcome by a sudden wash of fear, not for herself but for her brother.  Danger!  She looked to the door and stood up, her skirts tangling around her.  Never having been more scared in her life, she moved toward the door, something in that inky blackness calling to her.  She had to find Nathaniel.  Tripping over table legs and bumping painfully into furniture, her tread toward the door became more frantic.<br/><br/>She was startled when there came such a banging but from the opposite side of the room.  Had she gone to the wrong door?  There had been another.  It was strange, she was sure she had gone the right way.  She felt the cold brass under her fingertips.  Was this the right way?  if it was, then why did her heart beat so rapidly in her chest.  She didn't like this and she didn't want to be without her brother.  This was awful.  Something bad was happening and the tears began to track her face as she opened the door and slipped into the darkness of another room that seemed to swallow her in one malicious bite.