<strong>~  Kyan Dryden in the Library</strong><br/>Kyan had stood off to the side sipping on his malt while the other men talked and got a bit obscene with the statues. He didn’t smoke cigars and waved away an offered one. He was brooding and knew it. Just a few scant days before this event, he’d failed Brie. Out on an errand he’d found an opium den, and try as he might, he couldn’t resist the siren call. He’d just returned home the day before yesterday, drunk on the opium in his system. It was the first time Brie had learned of his addiction. He was ashamed for her to find out about it, but there wasn’t much he could do about it now. She’d nursed him to somewhat sobriety to be able to attend this function he didn’t really want to be at. But he couldn’t let her come unescorted.<br/><br/>Then the lights go out and all hell breaks loose. The howling is disturbing, and the scream makes his blood run cold and his first thought is Brie. Stumbling along until he locates a wall, he tries to orient himself and head for the door. He must get to Brie and make sure she is alright. Just as he’s about to scream himself in frustration, the lights come back on. He quickly reorients himself and heads for the door that he’d been nowhere near. The yelling in the library doesn’t even penetrate the overwhelming urge to make sure his cousin was safe. Just as he reaches the door he runs into her coming in, nearly knocking her small frame over. He is quick to wrap an arm around her and steady her. He asks her, “Are you alright?”<br/><br/><strong>~ Brie Hatteclyff in the Drawing Room going to the Library</strong><br/>The darkness had been terrifying, the screams, shouts, banging’s, and that weird howling. Brie had sat immobile through it all, too scared to move, afraid not only would something grab her, but even worse, that she’d stumble over something or someone in the dark and the oppressing presence would grab her.<br/><br/>When the lights came on she saw Lady Rowena’s masked servant and Major Tyler amidst a busted down door. She briefly thought that that was going to cost a pretty penny to replace, then forgot it as she jumped slightly at the shouting from the library. She watched as Major Tyler moved to the Lady Rowena. She sat quietly watching all, as they talked and then left, the maid trying to clean up the broken tea pot, ladies trying to revive Mrs. Brown. She also noted that young Emily was missing. It didn’t take her long to spot the open armoire and figure out where Emily had got off too.<br/><br/>She again heard a cry from the library about a brother being dead. The library. Her thoughts turned to Kyan and she wondered if he was well. Suddenly she rose from her chair and briskly walked out of the drawing room, careful to avoid the shattered door. She had to check on her cousin, and in order to do that she must venture to the library. She wasn’t overly thrilled with wandering the halls alone, but it was only a few short steps to the room she wanted.<br/><br/>Upon entering the library, she is nearly bowled over by the very man she came looking for. As he helps to steady her from taking a tumble, she asks, “Are you ok?” at the same time he asks after her well-being.