Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel & Amelia)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Amelita on 06-04-2011, 16:30:21</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amelita</strong> on <strong>06-04-2011, 16:30:21</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://static.choosetotravel.com/images/hotel/org/943/943165.jpg)</div><em>Once upon a time on a big and grand property, lived a kind old woman named Isabella Carter. The old woman had no children, but was blessed with the company of her sister's grandson and her friends' granddaughter every summer from the time they were five years old until they reached the delicate age of 16. The two kids meant the world to Lady Carter and were the closest thing she had to a family after her sister died. Cherishing the old woman, both kids stayed in touch with her, even if the years of spending summers with her were only a part of their childhood now. Years passed and the two young people didn't see each other for a very long time. <br><br>When Lady Carter died, she left the property, Carterhill Manor, to the two young people who were by that time 26 years old. There were terms to her gift, however. To gain full ownership they must live together in the house for 30 days. The motivation was strong for the two people. The property value was more than they could imagine and the land was sought after by several prospective buyers. Should they choose not to follow Lady Carter's terms, they would remain owners but not gain the right to sell, and with the sky high property taxes and maintenance costs... It wasn't much of a choice. </em><br><br><hr><br><div class="floatright">(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SYtwBJb5J2U/TItbg6JS6kI/AAAAAAAAAVg/ty2D7Eq45x0/s1600/kelly-brook.jpg)</div>Daniella Barton slammed the door of her ancient Ford and walked slowly towards the main entrance of a house she knew as well as the back of her hand. Carterhill Manor was as big a part of her childhood as riding a bike, and it stored some of her most cherished memories. She didn't smile as she neared the door, and the fact that she had a key made her sad. The woman who had brightened the house with her smiles and stories was gone and all that remained was an empty shell of bricks and concrete. <br><br>She swept her hand back over her head to smooth the hair down, the mass of brown and honey waves contained within a tight bun on the back of her head. Lady Carter would hardly recognize the fun loving girl now masked with a pale shade of grief and dread. Spending a month here wouldn't be so bad... If it didn't include <em>him</em>. As silly as it was, Dani had never quite gotten over the embarrassment and hurt of being rejected by him. They had been sixteen, her emotions were fragile and not to be toyed with at that time and he'd ruthlessly crushed her hopes. It was at the end of the summer, only a week before they were to part again. She'd been steadily growing a crush on him since the first day they spent together that year and everything had seemed so perfect. As it turned out, she was the only one to think so. <br><br>Maybe the resentment wouldn't have been harbored this way had they met at all during the last ten years. Who knew? What mattered now was just to get through this month. Dani stood in front of the door for a while, white slacks and cream colored turtleneck in complete contrast with the dark wood as it was to her complexion. She glanced back at her car, then again at the door, rocked back and forth a little and then finally mustered up the guts to put the key in and turn. The lock creaked and clicked, she pushed the door open and took a deep breath. Funny how she still almost expected Lady Carter to stand there with a bright smile and welcome her for yet another stay... 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>06-04-2011, 16:56:06</strong>
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				(http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/legacyimages/a/6a00d8341c630a53ef0120a58fba00970c-pi.jpg) <br><br>Alexander Holloway was not your ordinary human. Oh, he looked every bit the part of a near-perfect specimen of humanity with his athletic, well-toned body, his handsome face and light blue eyes under a messy mop of short, brown hair. Dressed in dark grey slacks and a blue shirt, he could easily be stepping right of the Armani catwalk. Still, there was something intangibly different about him. The secret lay in his heritage, the heritage of the Carter family. The blood of the Angels, the fierce soldiers of God, flowed through his veins. Long ago, a forbidden union had give birth to what was now known as the Carter family, of which he was the last living heir. Over the generations, the blood had thinned, diluting the ‘Grace’ they had access to. That was until Alex was born.<br><br>Through a random matchup of genetics or perhaps fate, he had ended up with more ‘Grace’, the angelic well of power, than most of his progenitors. And with it came the calling. The calling to fight and vanquish the evil in world, with sword and fire if he had to. Well, usually it didn’t come to much swordplay, luckily. It wasn’t the most conspicuous of weapons nowadays.<br><br>Driven by his calling and with the encouragement of his grandmother, the last before him that was aware of the ‘Grace’, he had elected not to follow in his father’s footsteps. Dean Holloway wanted Alex to become a dentist and to take over the family business in upscale New York. Instead, the youngest Holloway was now a lawyer, specializing in prosecuting all those that ‘committed evil’ to put it crudely. Even at twenty six, he was having some success as a promising starter, winning plenty of cases. With his chosen venue of law, he would never get rich, but he would see justice done. Without fear, he faced the most corrupt officials and businessman. He faced the most dangerous criminals and the most despicable men –rapists, wife-beaters, child abusers,…-. And he was content.<br><br>There was an empty spot in his life, though. Once he became aware of his calling, somewhere during puberty, he had somehow gotten the idea it didn’t leave room for a romantic partner. Would it not only serve to distract him? He was young and foolish when he made the decision. And it only became worse that fateful summer. His best friend and he had grown closer. He had felt the stirrings of very human emotions in his heart, tugging at him. And she confessed her feelings… only for him to turn her down, saying he didn’t return those feelings and that she would never be more than a friend. He… simply could not bear the thought of her reaction to him not being human. And how was it fair to involve her in a life that had taken away many of his family. His aunt, his grandparents, his uncle… and now, in the present day, he was the last, only Lady Carter dying a natural death.<br><br>No, he had been right in keeping her out. Not all of his battles were fought out in the court room after all.<br><br>Just as he spotted her reaching the door, Alex drove his own car, a more modern Ford, up the driveway and pulled over next to her older model. Getting out, he grabbed his duffel bag, before turning and facing the young woman at the door, the lock creaking as she opened it. She looked gorgeous and he felt the familiar stirring still swirling inside of him. Ten years and he hadn’t forgotten her. Ten long years that he felt guilt over turning her down. Ten years that only made his determination to avoid romance grow as he faced the darkest parts of humanity, some of it actively hunting for him. And now, by the will of Lady Carter, he was here, forced to spend thirty days straight with her under this roof.<br><br>Walking up towards her, he gave her a small smile, his blue eyes drinking in her beautiful presence, before he greeted her, “Hello Dani. Long time no see.” It was exactly the same way he greeted her at the start of every single one of those blissful, happy summers. And about now, he would usually be greeted by a tight hug and a tingling kiss on his cheek. <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amelita</strong> on <strong>06-04-2011, 17:31:43</strong>
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				<em>Jesus, this isn't fair... He looks so good! When did he grow up into... into..."</em> She remained speechless while he walked towards her and greeted her. The simple words brought back a rush of memories and all sorts of unwanted emotions. Dani cleared her throat, rolled her shoulders back and walked into the house. "Let's just try to stay out of each others hair, okay?" Her voice was almost hostile, putting up a very clear barrier. <br><br>She threw the key on a chest near the door and then walked back outside, making sure not to touch him when she moved past him. Her stomach clenched at the heady betrayal of her heart as the darn thing fluttered like a hummingbird. Her bags were heavy and far too big for a one month stay, but she hadn't been able to decide just what she was going to bring along. Or rather, what not to bring. Should she bring a bathing suit? The lake would be lovely this time of year... No. Why would she even risk being dressed like that where he might be? Then again, why should she care? So into the bag the bathing suit went. This was the same debate with everything, and she ended up with this stupid load.<br><br>Struggling up the steps and half-tripping through the door, Dani stubbornly held on to the suitcases and headed for the stairs. Why did the bedrooms have to be on the second floor?<br>"I'll just stay in my old room," she managed and shot him a warning glance. He better not even think of offering to do this for her. Even if she ended up looking like a glazed pig, she was doing this herself. It would just be a good excuse to stay away from him. Bathing could easily take forever... <em>Oh god, shouldn't have thought that as I looked at him</em>, she thought and her heart rate suddenly escalated over mental images of a naked Alex, dripping wet... <em>Damn stairs.</em>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>06-04-2011, 17:46:55</strong>
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				<em>I guess I only have myself to blame</em> Alex thought as she avoided him, while she sounded almost hostile. Frankly, he was quite hurt at how she acted now. Was turning her down once enough to throw eleven years of close friendship out of the window? Apparently it was. <em> Still, it is not like I tried to contact her, either. </em> One thing Alex had learned: Playing such blame games was useless. Perhaps it was his Grace, perhaps it was his honed skills and instincts as a lawyer. He just knew that both of them had made some mistakes, all revolving around his own, stubborn decision.<br><br>“All right then”, he answered easily. He could at least be friendly to her. Watching her struggle with her suitcases was testing his patience, however. He could easily help her and be her little gentleman. But one look in her eyes and he was reminded just how bad an idea that would be. Did she have to be so hostile?<br><br>“It’s going to be a long month”, he whispered under his breath, before joining her in the trek up the stairs, duffel bag easily in his hand. To him, the bag packed with most of his casual clothes to wear around here, weighed nothing. Once upstairs, he opened the door to his own room in the manor. To his surprise, he found it to be immaculate and exactly the same as he left it ten years ago. Only this time, there were no cookies and milk waiting for him as a welcome ‘home’ to stay him over till Dani would arrive in time for dinner.<br><br>Shrugging his head clear of the memory, a stab of grief striking him at the memory of his ‘grandmother’, he set the bag down and placed some of his clothes in the clothes cabinet. Minutes later, he was walking down the stairs again to collect his suitcase, containing some of his work clothes –suits and shirts-, as well as his laptop bag. In his profession and with his calling, he couldn’t afford to be completely cut off from the world. That wouldn’t stop him from making something of a vacation out of this, however, regardless of the now unpleasant company.<br><br>Once those things were stored away as well, he took the small shopping bag he had picked up on the way here and headed for the kitchen. Even after all these years, he remembered exactly what Dani liked to eat. He remembered how he had asked the Lady Carter to teach him how to make the dish, which he then prepared as a nearly birthday gift for his best friend, cooked by himself without help. He had been eleven back then. Good times… Now, he had bought the ingredients for reasons unknown to himself. <br><br>At five thirty, delicious scents permeated the manor, originating from the cosy kitchen he was using. As the meat was sizzling, signifying everything was about ready, he took two plates and glasses, some silverware and walked to the back yard, setting their favourite, small wooden table. Walking back inside, into the hallway, he called out loudly, “Dani, dinner!” Silently, however, he added, “Unless you won’t even eat with me.”<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amelita</strong> on <strong>06-04-2011, 20:10:38</strong>
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				The trek up the stairs was painfully embarrassing and satisfying at the same time. She felt small beads of sweat on her forehead and her arms and hands felt on fire, but she did it! When she got up to the second floor she turned her head to send him a 'I don't need anybody' look but his back was already turned. She dropped the suitcases the second he disappeared into his room and pushed them one by one into her own. It was just like returning at the beginning of a summer, everything perfectly in order and just the way she liked it. Dani knew Mrs. Grey had been kept on staff the last two years to do housekeeping and cooking for Lady Carter. She must have made sure the rooms were clean before she left after the funeral.<em> The funeral</em>. Tears welled up in her eyes. She hadn't made it to the ceremony. She'd been stuck in Europe for a meeting. <br><br>After she finished putting most of the clothes into drawers and the closet, Dani grabbed her shampoo and tiptoed down the hall to the bathroom. She spent a good while in the shower before drying off and tiptoeing back with the towel wrapped around her. A familiar scent filled the air in the hallway and her heart clenched a bit. <em>No he didn't</em>... How was she supposed to keep him at arms length while he did things like cook her favorite food? Only one way to get out of that one.<br><br>Five minutes later she jogged downstairs, just as he came inside to call her to dinner. She walked briskly past him, waved a little and headed for the door. "Not hungry, see you later!" She knew the trainers and Nike stamped clothing would be enough to hint that she was going for a jog. <br><br>She walked out the door and closed it quickly, trying to wipe the image of him standing there from her mind. Her heart clenched as she thought about how mean she'd just been. There he was, making an effort and actually cooking her dinner and she just brushed it off like a boring movie. She jogged off the parking lot and onto the soft grass that surrounded the entire house, but then stopped. She should go back. She really should. <em>And say what? 'Oh I'm suddenly starving, how nice of you to make dinner...'</em>? No, it would just be worse. Maybe she'd just apologize when she got back. Check if there were leftovers. She thought of the food and a memory of an eleven year old Alex warmed her chest. He'd been so cute and she'd loved him so much. Of course, that was before the word <em>love</em> gained a romantic meaning in her heart.<br><br>"Get a grip", she ordered herself out loud and walked back. They had known each other for twenty years, been best friends half that time. She could at least be civil. She wasn't that crying sixteen year old anymore.<br><br>She entered the house again and walked straight into the kitchen but he didn't sit at the kitchen table and there was no food in sight. Her heart sank even further when she realized he must have set their table out back. <br><br>"Hey," she said as she joined him, attempting a smile but it came out more like a grimace. "I'm sorry, the last days have been... tough." <em>Great. Use Lady Carter as an excuse. She'd just love that...</em> The sarcastic voice taunted her but she stuck to her story. There was no way she'd just come out here and say, 'sorry I was a bitch, thank you for being so... God damn hot...' the last bit of thought strayed as she watched him and she forgot what she was about to say. How could he still do this to her? Why was it worse now?! <em>So not fair...</em><br><br>"Alex, I..." she started but fell quiet again, not knowing what to add. Instead of going all sappy she steeled herself again and took a deep breath. "This smells good. You must have practiced." She grinned a little at the tease, allowing a bit of her usual self to slip through. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>11-04-2011, 17:03:54</strong>
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				Well, that was rather expected, Alex thought as she turned him down and breezed right past him, out of the front door. He followed her path with his eyes, catching himself when his eyes dropped lower than was appropriate, ogling her shapely behind as she moved away in her jogging outfit. A very fetching, formfitting outfit. Shrugging himself, he turned away once the door slammed shut. He would have dinner by himself apparently and it would be a shame to let the food go to waste even if he didn’t feel so hungry anymore. <br><br>Heading back towards the kitchen, he picked up the pan and carried it outside, placing it on a pan-mat before scooping his own plate full. Sitting down, he pushed all thoughts from his head and focussed only on his meal. Of course, as he started chewing, his ever working mind became lost in the thoughts he was trying to avoid.<br><br>Thoughts of a fourteen year old Dani wearing her bikini when they went swimming in the lake that summer. The first time he saw her developing body like that, showing off curves he had never even known about before. The thought of Dani at eight years old, running into his room at night, scared of the ferocious thunder storm raging all night. The thought of the first kiss – on the cheek- she ever gave him as the two of them were caught under the mistletoe, that one Christmas they had spent together, here at Carterhill Manor when they were twelve.<br><br>As he was eating, Alex knew that all of his happiest memories were those he shared with Dani. And he had given up on that by turning her down, despite him returning those feelings she had for him at least to some degree. Enough to have said yes. But he had made his choice and now, gazing at the empty seat besides him, he knew he had to live with those choices.<br><br>Of course, he was surprised when he heard her approaching, before she dropped down in the seat by his side. <br><br>“I know. They were tough for me, too. Still, being here makes me remember all the good times. It helps.” He left it unspoken that all those good times involved her as well, at least till ten years ago. Afterwards, he had still often visited his almost-grandmother, but for shorter periods of time, periods that grew further and further apart as he went to college and got involved in the fight that she had thought over with her generation, simply because the blood of the Angels had become too thin. <br><br>“I did practice. Lived alone ever since my eighteenth. I always have to cook for myself, unless a court case takes too long and I grab some take out. Still, even in New York, take out isn’t everything.”<br><br>He took a few more bites, while her conflicting emotions rolled over him. He wasn’t fine-tuned enough that he could read them, but he could feel her emotional state in some sort of turmoil, which is why he offered, “Do you want to visit her grave tomorrow, together? I noticed you couldn’t make it to the funeral. It was just me and Mrs. Grey. There aren’t any other Carters left”, he told her. He hoped she would accept his company. It would give her a shoulder to cry on, for he knew she had loved the old woman as much as he did, even while she wasn’t directly related.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amelita</strong> on <strong>15-04-2011, 14:34:55</strong>
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				"Yeah... Or you know... I think I'd rather go by myself." She cleared her throat and took a bite of food, avoiding his eyes. The idea of him being there when she broke down and cried like a baby was not a good one, and that was exactly what she'd be doing when she visited that grave. It seemed a bit strange to think like this while sitting here. years ago he had been the one she sought after when she needed a shoulder, and he'd always been there too. Things as trivial as a lost teddy when she was five, and as serious as her parents' divorce when she was thirteen... Alex had been there no matter what. <br><br>She felt it as she sat there, the warmth and calm of how they'd been. He was her best friend in the world all those years, each summer arriving with boundless joy of reuniting in this very house. It had all been so innocent and simple, but now she was grown up and knew better. Things were never simple. <br><br>"Do you think her wine is still in the cellar?" She asked after a little while of eating and watching anything but Alex. She was thinking of what to do tonight and the thought of curling up with a book and a glass of wine was heavenly. She would be able to forget all about why she was here and who she was here with. It would just be her and some story flying off the pages. <br><br>Dani sat back a little and tugged her top down, then smoothed the material on her thighs with a single stroke of a flat palm. She met Alex's eyes for a moment but looked away nervously. How was she going to stay here for a month with all this awkwardness? She didn't feel like it was okay to act the way she started to before. After all, they couldn't just erase all the years of close friendship and pretend to be strangers. But then, they practically were, weren't they? She hadn't met him for ten years. People grew up and changed in such a long time. <em>He could be a...a... criminal or something</em>, she thought in a lame attempt to find something bad enough to justify her point of view. She glanced at him and blushed a little. He was no criminal. He was Alex. And he was a much hotter version than the guy she'd fallen for as a teenager. <br><em><br>Still Alex, still the guy who broke your heart and never got in touch after that. </em> She hushed the voice but she couldn't get rid of it. This was the reason she wished he was anywhere but here. Stupid first love business. It was time to forget about it. Actually, that time came years ago. Maybe now she'd actually do that and stop wondering about silly things like <em>why</em>.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>28-04-2011, 08:51:46</strong>
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				He accepted her refusal of his company and moved on. It wasn’t like he could do anything about it. Besides, they were stuck here for thirty days together. He hoped that in that time, there would be at least some opportunity to talk things through or make up even. And he was determined to make those thirty days. His family’s most valued property would not be sold just like that. Still, to survive those thirty days, he would need to keep in mind to not push Dani. He wanted things to go back to how they were between them. He was all alone in the world right now and he missed his best friend more than ever.<br><br>Dani wasn’t the only one with unresolved, lingering feelings. Alex still thought about the what ifs, almost every day, every time he was confronted with something that would either make her laugh or draw a comments from the Dani he knew. Like the smell of fresh frappuchino, or that obnoxious vendor on the subway. But he knew it could never be, especially not after their history. If he hadn’t made that stupid decision, things could have been different. She would still be in danger being with him, but if they lived together, he would at least be able to protect her. Besides, she had grown up into a very fit looking woman that was obviously determined to take care of herself.<br><br>Still, the thought of her living with him in his cosy apartment back in NY was more than a little appealing. And seeing her looking at him with that mixture of desire and disappointment, in addition to her adorable blush and beautiful looks, had Alex blushing lightly, too.<br><br>Turning his own baby-blue gaze away for the moment, he focussed on his food, before replying, “You can always go check in the wine cellar. I don’t know your tastes regarding alcohol, so you can go pick something if you feel like it.”<br><br>Neither of them knew that what would happen next would be the start of a cataclysm determined to rip them both away. For there was someone else on the grounds, with not such friendly intentions. He/She had prepared for this a long time. Spying on and dealing with the Lady Carter and now determined to deal with the offspring, he/she had made many plans. But before the young twosome would be dealt with permanently, there was fun to be had. And He/She would relish in their fear and despair, with hidden little cameras and surveillance equipment installed everywhere and small booby-traps spread throughout the house. And if the girl went to the cellar, the first opportunity would come. The heavy door to the chilled part of the basement was rigged and would lock behind her –the lock being disabled in the process-, capturing the girl in the cold room. Nothing lethal, but it was dark, dank and cool…<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amelita</strong> on <strong>11-05-2011, 01:06:27</strong>
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				Dani offered a small smile at his words, not sure if she was relieved or disappointed that he'd not pressed her harder about going to the grave together. But this was Alex, he was considerate. Of course he didn't push it after she'd said she didn't want his company... She finished her food without initiating more conversation, having simply nodded at his suggestion about the cellar. She didn't know quite what to say that wouldn't lead to things she wasn't ready to talk about. She had to admit that being in his presence was a great feeling, even if it was tinged with the hurt he'd left her with all those years ago. She braced herself with the fact that they'd only have to stay here a month and after that they could go separate ways again. Somehow it didn't bring her as much peace now as it had a couple of hours ago.<br><br>"I'm gonna go check out the cellar and... You know, maybe go browse the library after that. There are a few jewels in those shelves I'd like to revisit." She chuckled quietly and couldn't help but smile, tilting her head for a moment and looking at him before she stood up from the small table. "Thank you for this," she said and gestured towards the plates. Then with a small shrug, she turned around and walked into the house. It didn't occur to her until she walked through the kitchen that she should have brought her plate inside, instead of leaving it with him like he was some sort of a servant. Eating in restaurants a lot seemed to be ruining her table manners...<br><br>The cellar was easy to find, perhaps even more so because she'd been rather scared of it as a kid. She had always avoided walking past the door if she possibly could. Being down in a cold, dark, windowless room was... not her favorite idea. Dani had been extremely claustrophobic as a child but through the years, and a little therapy, she'd gotten much better. She wasn't even uncomfortable in an airplane anymore, even if the idea of not being able to leave gave her chills if she thought about it too much. She still stayed completely away from tiny spaces, though. No broom closets or small elevators for her... <br><br>The door opened easily with a loud creaking noise that felt more comfortable than scary in the warm house and the waking memory of it's beloved inhabitants. Finding anything scary in here would prove difficult, in Dani's opinion. And so it was with little hesitation that she stepped through the door, closed it gently behind her after turning the light on and carefully walked down the stone steps. The light was dim, the bulb probably needed to be replaced soon, and the air was moist and a bit smelly. Mold, probably. There was a low humming sound she assumed was from the electric fixtures down there, installed way before such things were hidden behind pretty drywall and paint. Down there the walls were raw stone and cement, isolated from the outside with the earth it was buried in. <br><br>A small chill ran down her spine at a little sound she couldn't locate, but she shrugged it off and headed for the wine racks, lining two walls of the cellar. She brushed the heavy layer of dust off a few bottles, read the labels and had to peer at the small print as the paper was faded and the light was not much help. These had to be ancient. She'd have to mention this to Alex, because the collection was probably worth quite a sum. Chewing idly on her lip and trying to pick a bottle, she hummed quietly to herself. The soft sound stopped and her breath froze at a loud clicking sound she was relatively sure was the lock on the cellar door. Metal in metal, was how it sounded anyway. She turned around on the spot and exhaled sharply, fighting back a surge of panic from the idea of being locked in. She didn't know that. It might have been something else. <br><br>She didn't wait around to find out. In a few long steps she was at the stairs and started running up them, but midway the light bulb flickered and then died. Complete darkness wrapped around her and stole a long beat of her heart, leaving her breathless and clenching her jaw. The remaining steps were slow so she wouldn't trip and fall, and eventually she yanked at the door. When she realized it was locked, she fumbled to try to open it, feeling for a key or a lock or a hatch, anything that would get her out of there. A sickening fear settled in her body, a familiar panic rising and pushing at her until she trembled with effort to keep from breaking down in sobs. <br><br>"Alex!" She shouted and banged her fists on the door, the thick wood only making a muffled thumping sound. She turned her hands and beat her knuckles on the door to get it to make a louder sound, wincing from the pain but not noticing it as such. Her breath was rapid and her heart pounded against her chest, adrenaline flooded her veins and the fear wrapped tight around her as she battled the tears. "Alex!" She shouted again and again, her voice changing from desperate to furious when she realized he was the only one one the house with her. The door wouldn't lock from the outside on its own accord. This had to be some sick idea of a joke. He had to remember how bad she felt in small spaces and when she felt trapped. He had to remember, and he did this to her? <br>"Alex! Get me the fuck out of here!"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>11-05-2011, 13:41:24</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The Perpetrator, the person being out for Carter blood, to finally end that abomination of a family, was pleased. The girl had disappeared in the cellar and the trap had been triggered. Sitting back, the mastermind enjoyed watching her anguish as she discovered her predicament. It seemed that being locked up in a dark, narrow, cold place frightened her even more than it should, making the suspicion rise that she was claustrophobic. That was an unexpected but welcome surprise, as seeing her terror was like drinking a fine wine. Something to be savoured.<br><br>Meanwhile.<br><br>Alex sighed, sitting back in the garden chair. He gazed at the table with a wistful smile. The two empty plates sat there, waiting for him to clean up. A bit forlorn, he looked over to her empty chair and shook his head. Seems that despite her softening earlier, she was still angry at him. Who could blame her, unpleasant as it was. He stood up, straightening out completely as he stretched out, his muscles and tendons popping after sitting down on a chair that had actually grown to small for his current length. Picking up the plates, he headed inside, where he made quick work of the dishes.<br><br>Being a partial Angel or whatever you wanted to call it had its advantages. Probability always decided in his favour, like now. The Water turned hot immediately and the stains on the plates were easy to wipe of, as were the pots and pans he had used. Not five minutes after coming inside, he was already putting everything away, till he suddenly heard a lot on banging and Dani shouting his name in an ever rising crescendo of fear and fury.<br><br>What was going on?<br><br>He honed in on where the knocking came from and hurried over to the basement door. Standing in front of it, he could see it thundering every time she knocked it. She had to be putting quite a bit of force in, as it was a heavy door meant to keep the heat out and the coolness in to better preserve the wine. For a moment, he stood, watching in confusion as he couldn’t understand how she had managed to lock herself in. There wasn’t a key on the outside, after all.<br><br>“Calm down, Dani. I’m here. Just relax and breathe slowly. Think of me. Think of us, when we were ten, think of me pushing you on the swing. Breathe in the rhythm of the swings”, he told her, hoping to calm her down, knowing her fear of dark, enclosed places. “There is no key on this side. Wait, I’ll look for one.” He could look, but he didn’t dare go far away. Luckily, Lady Carter was an orderly woman and always kept things in specific places. The key to the Wine Cellar would be in one of the drawers of the nearest cabinet. Opening them one by one, he trusted in his usual luck to find it. <br><br>Nothing.<br><br>The key wasn’t there. He hurried back to the door and said, calmly, “Hold on, Dani. I’m going to get you out.” Closing his eyes, he drew on his Grace, his angelic power, before rifling through the cabinet again and finding two pins. Immediately he set out to jimmy the lock, but he failed. It was as if something was in there, blocking the entire mechanism. That was strange and slowed him down a great deal. Sensing the urgency in Dani, however, he took a step back and placed his hand on the knob.<br><br>“Hold fast, I’m opening it now.”<br><br>He just hoped she wouldn’t ask too many questions about the how as he called on his grace again and started twisting the knob, exerting more strength, more and more, till the metal seemed to tear and he tore the entire lock apart, causing the door to tumble open towards him, revealing a very frightened and pissed of Dani.<br><br>Joy…<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amelita</strong> on <strong>11-05-2011, 14:32:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Her skin was flushed with color, blood pumping through her veins at the too hard rhythm of her heart. Her eyes were dark and wild, glistening with tears that threatened to follow the wet path down her cheeks even as she clenched her jaw in anger. Her fists were clenched, skin tight and pale in contrast to the battered knuckles, blood trickling slowly down from one or two of the deeper scratches she'd gotten while mindlessly banging them into the wood. Her shoulders were hunched when the door opened, and her body trembling with raging emotions. Seeing him there did nothing to calm her down, not any more than his voice had when he teased her, pretending not to be able to open the door. <em>Picture a fucking swing...<br></em><br>When she managed to move she threw herself at him with every bit of fury in her heart and let her fist lead the way, aiming for his cheek. A strangled mix of a roar and a scream left her lips when he grabbed her wrist and easily kept her from punching him. "What's wrong with you, you fucking idiot?!" She screamed at him and yanked her hand away, "Why would you do that to me? What kind of a sick jerk have you turned into?! You <em>know</em> I'm claustrophobic, you <em>know</em> what this would do to me! You better stay the <em>hell</em> out of my way while I'm forced to be under the same roof as you!"<br><br>She felt her body tremble with energy as she let out her anger on him, and completely ignored the fact that this outburst had more to do with hurt and disappointment than anger. Despite everything, she would never have believed him to do something like this to her, something this cruel and calculated. She felt like the last ten years were wiped away with a breath and she was standing in front of him with the fragile words of confessed love on her lips, watching him as he looked away and broke her heart. Everything was brought into a single moment, all her hurt and all her hesitations. <em>This</em> was how he was. <em>This</em> was what she should have expected of him all along. Not the sweet and wonderful boy he'd been or the man he first seemed to have become. No, this. A depraved jerk who couldn't wait a single day to show his true colors. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>11-05-2011, 14:54:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He caught her fist just in time to prevent his face from getting a thorough pounding. Already, he had to use a tad more than human strength to effectively stop her cold. He didn’t fancy walking around with a throbbing face for several days and he really didn’t want to have to explain how he could heal a bruise in a matter of hours. Still, he was shocked at her attack and at her outburst, not believing her words. Did she really think he was capable of that? Was her opinion of him so low that she immediately blamed him for something inexplicable?<br><br>He could see how she could logically come to this conclusion. After all, the lock had obviously been tampered with and he was the only other person in the house, but still, it hurt a lot to see the girl he loved, the girl that had once declared to love him, see him like a sick fuck. As she almost seemed to sag, her energy fading as her rant ended, he kept holding her hand. Even though he meant her no ill will, he definitely didn’t want to be on the receiving end of a punch. Dani had always been very fit.<br><br>“Listen, Dani. I did not do this. I know you’re Claustrophobic. And I would never put you through that. I can’t believe you would think that of me”, he told her, some of the hurt shining through in his voice, a hurt mixing with frustration, concern and annoyance. He let go of her hand and stepped back, looking at her, his expression unreadable.<br><br>“In fact, I was outside first and in the kitchen then, doing the dishes. I didn’t even know you were still down there till you started screaming. Only for me to get her and not find a single key. Someone stuck something in the lock, too, for I couldn’t even jimmy it. I had to break the entire handle and lock to get you out. So, if you think I am some sort of mastermind planning this all out in the half an hour we weren’t together here in the Manor, you go right ahead and think so.”<br><br>Some anger was leaking through, fuelled by his annoyance and frustration as he regarded her coolly now. Was this all because he had turned her down? It wasn’t like he lead her on and then cheated on her or something. And once here, she treated him like dirt and now accused him of something so ridiculous. <br><br>“You know what. This isn’t worth it. I’d much rather lose the house than spend another thirty days with you.” <br><br>Fully angry now, he turned and started heading for his room, intent on packing his bags and getting as far away as possible. For heaven’s sake, he had turned her down, ten years ago and now, he was suddenly a criminal?!<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Amelita</strong> on <strong>11-05-2011, 16:41:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A furious reply was on her lips when he started talking, ready to be spat at him in mockery, but when he explained how he'd had to break the handle she swung her head around and saw for herself. The door was a mess, and if he'd had a key all along he wouldn't have done that. Slowly but surely her anger faded and the panic returned. The hurt in his voice also registered with her, and she recognized his sincerity. She felt a cold chill spread around her body and felt bolted to the floor. Her eyes remained on the lock, or the broken remains thereof, until she heard his last comment. Irrational pain stabbed at her, making her heart clench and stealing her breath, when she realized what he was saying. Her outburst had been violent and direct, painting him as a culprit because of reason she couldn't see past in her fear and anger. <br><br>Numb and without a way to make sense of what had just happened, Dani sank to the floor and hugged her knees with a soft whimper. She couldn't bring herself to call out to him, to ask him to wait. If he hadn't done this she had just accused him of horrid things and there was nothing she could say or do to take that back. The knowledge of this made her wrap her arms tighter around her knees and she buried her face in her forearm, breathing shallow as she battled the tears again and this time for another reason. <br>She was too lost in the emotional side of all this, too confused and hurt and now hurting because of pushing him away yet again. <br><br>It wasn't until she felt a light drought from the open cellar that she tensed up and her eyes shot open. She scrambled to her feet, too frightened by the possibility she'd now finally realized to think about what she was doing. Within a few moments she'd ran the stairs and burst into Alex' room, and then stood panting with her back pressed against the door she'd closed behind her. <br>"Then who?" She asked breathlessly and licked her lips, eyes scanning the room and what he was doing. "If it wasn't you, then who was it? And why?" Fear practically dripped off her words as she stood there, tensed up and hands trembling slightly.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Carterhill Manor (Arkaniel &amp; Amelia)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Arkaniel</strong> on <strong>11-05-2011, 19:35:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Alex was still seething like mad when he stalked into the bedroom he had chosen, the one he had slept in for so many summers. Coming to a halt, he looked around, taking in every single one of the oh so familiar details, before his eyes drifted to and out of the window, taking in the gently beginning sunset, the enormous, well kept garden surrounding the manor and the golden rays of the lowering sun giving everything just that little bit of additional colour. If he went through with his stated desire, this would be the last time he would ever be in this room, the last time he could ever afford to even be in or around the mansion.<br><br>Could he really do that?<br><br>Was he really that angry?<br><br>His eyes narrowed. Yes, he was very angry, not caring in the slightest that such emotions were sinful and whatnot. Being angelic didn’t mean he had to be devoutly religious. His blessing was also a curse in his opinion and he often thought the people who doubted God, any God, had a point. There was just too much badness in the world to keep happily believing in the values taught through the Bible and other Holy books. But he had always persisted and always fulfilled his calling, only to have to deal with this? <br><br>He hadn’t been happy in his life. Not for the past ten years. Sure, he got a bit of fulfilment out of his job and his duty, but he always came home to an empty apartment. It was hard to keep friends with a demanding, time-consuming job on top of being a part-Angel crusader in his sparse free time. Before, yes, then he had been happy, spending time with the Lady Carter and with Dani. It was one of the reasons he had been looking forward to this stay. To patch things up with his former best friend and perhaps feel some of that happiness again, to see anew what exactly he was fighting for.<br><br>It had been a bust. The first few hours had been bad enough, but when she accused him of that, showing a side of herself he hadn’t ever seen before, showing she didn’t know him, or maybe once did and now loathed him… it had snapped something inside of him. But as he thought about it, he felt bad, too. He new her panic when it came to small spaces. He knew it was one of the things that frightened her the most. Of course she would over-react. It didn’t diminish the hurt he felt, though. <br><br>Undecided, he stood in the middle of his room, till suddenly, he heard the stairs thundering, followed by his door slamming open. He turned in surprise, only to see Dani there, resting against his closed door as if she was trying to keep someone outside. He could smell the fear dripping off of her and he looked at her in askance, anger and hurt temporarily forgotten. Well, not completely forgotten, as he fought down the impulse to go and embrace her. That is, till her words registered. An icy trickle started in his stomach. Worry. A bad, bad feeling crept up on him…<br><br>And he stepped forward, once, twice, till he reached Dani. He pulled her in a tight embrace, his powerful arms wrapping fully around her, her shivering body pressed against his rock-hard chest, his chin resting on her head as he whispered, “Relax, Dani. I’m here. You are right… someone had to have done this. But I’m here and I won’t let anyone hurt you, all right”, he soothed her, seeing how her nerves were frayed from the ordeal, while he tried stretching out his senses to be aware of any threat.<br><br>“What do you want me to do?” He asked her, still holding her. “I can hold you and keep you safe. We can search the house, together, not splitting up. Or, we can get out of here, together.” He loosened the embrace just enough so he could use one hand to lift her chin up, forcing her gently to face him, as his eyes locked with her. He gave her a comforting smile, looking into her tearful, yet mesmerizing eyes.<br>
			</dd>
		</dl>
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