Ravenwood Manor (2)

-Chapter 2-

She stared out of the window and I longed to reach my hand over to her and ease the tension. Her cross expression made me do otherwise and I too stared out onto the road ahead of us. It wasn't as bumpy today, or maybe it was just that I was in too much thought to notice.

"I had a dream last night, Neil." Isis whispered and I inclined my head to her to make her words more audible. She does that a lot (speak quietly so you have to listen). "The girl was standing over the bed. Her hands were wrapped around my throat and she strangled me to death."

The droned voice she spoke it in made me chuckle. Isis whirled her head over to me to break my snickers with and icy gaze.

"It's a sign, Neil!"

"A sign?" I mimicked with a snort.

"What else could it be? You know damn well what will happen if we begin living in that deathtrap!"

"First off, babe, the medium is still coming on Wednesday and secondly, that house is not a deathtrap."

"Like you would know!" She snapped with a catlike growl. I rolled my eyes and shut my mouth. Isis had that annoying habit of getting the last word in and when we argued that flaw really got on my nerves.

Today was even gloomier than the other when we drove to Ravenwood Manor. Zeus was once again in the back seat but he was extremely calm this time. In fact, the whole two hours I have heard nothing other than deep breaths from him. I could see his brown tuffs of hair from the corner of my mind slowly rising and falling. 

I turned my full attention back onto the road and listened to the silence. When that diverged road we came across once was in front of me again I took the anonymous side without hesitation. Isis inhaled deeply and I cringed at the thought of knowing what would happen next.

"I hope you know what you are doing." She said bitterly and I knew it would be useless to reply. 

The wrought iron gate came into sight within minutes. It opened automatically but this time there was no surprise in that action. The movers were already parked into the large driveway, unloading our belongings. If we hadn't stopped for lunch we would have beaten them, but I rarely gave them a glance; I was too busy staring at the large charcoal bricked home. It truly was a monster in size, but its elegance told a much different story.

The manor had been fixed up by its previous owner before the grayed man passed away. It had been in his family for hundreds of years, the realtor explained, but he had no offspring that would inherit it. I couldn't remember the name of the old fellow but I believe it was an Edward or Edmund or something another.

A lush green shade of grass would probably grace the house nicely, but the dead looking brown strands made it look all the spookier. Corrupted trees in the back and along the sides of the manor also did not help to make it appealing. I actually believe that the only thing that is easy on the eyes would have to be the house itself. 

I got out of the car and opened the back door for Zeus to exit out of. I thought he would take a while to leave the vehicle but he surprised me by jumping out of his sleepy state and hopping out. Isis, on the other hand, sulked in her spot.

"You have to get out sometime." I said through a sigh but she made no movement.

"Do I really?" She challenged and I was immediately annoyed with her defensive state.

"Look, no dead girl is going to come up to you during the middle of the night and strangle you. Now, Isis, get out of the car."

"I think I'd rather stay."

"We both know you want to get out but your pride is keeping you from enjoying the nice house we now live in."

"It is not my pride! It is my intelligence!" Isis shouted with venom and I had to suppress a wince. "I know this is a bad idea and I have from the start! Truthfully, this house scares the hell out of me."

"Oh please, nothing scary has even happened at the house."

"The window breaking."

"It was the neighborhood brats."

"So where's the ball or object that broke it?" She demanded.

"Are you trying to tell me that nothing escapes my notice?"

"Must you answer a question with another question?"

"Must you?" My eyebrow arched and a small grin spread across my face. "Now are you going to keep arguing or are you going to get out of the car?"

She made no reply but opened her door and slid out. Slamming the door on her way out, she gave me an angered glare. "If you keep that stupid smile I am going to..." Isis began rambling incoherently but my smile stayed in place as we walked over to the movers. Zeus was roaming the yard but I knew him well enough to know he would never walk off.

I started up a conversation with one of the older men while Isis glowered blackly at the house. The fact that I wanted to know what she was thinking was driving me mad. Her eyes and expression each told a very different story and that made it very difficult for me to comprehend her mood. 

She placed her hand lightly on the lump in her stomach before entering the dark home. I would have followed after but Zeus was barking off into the distance. He was jumping up madly at the thick brush along the front of the house.

"Be quiet." I muttered as I strolled over to him. I glanced into the shrub and saw something moving around. The hair on my back raised as I inched my hands forward to uncover the object. 

A black blur leapt past me and I shrieked girlishly. Zeus was no longer by my side but was now running after the black creature. I sighed and straightened out my clothes as I noticed it was merely a skinny black cat. 

"Lovely." I grumbled under my breath and I ventured off into the home to find Isis. I ignored the decorators that were placing the newly unloaded furniture around the home and set up the staircase. I was almost to the top before I heard her small footsteps beneath me. 

"Should've figured you were going to stalk me." She said louder than necessary as she noticed my presence. I quickly made my way down to her but she wasn't nice enough to slow down for me. She was definitely going to be holding a grudge against me for a while.

"When everything is put together and that landscaper comes here this house will be as good as new."

"Sure." I could hear the smirk through her tone.

"Tell me what is bothering you."

"You know what is bothering me! I can't live here because I don't need a medium to tell me that this place is haunted."

"Don't let your superstitions get the better of you."

"What's the point of asking me what is on my mind if you are just going to go against everything I say?"

"I just feel you should be more--"

"Like you?" She interrupted.

"Not exactly me but--"

"Neil, Neil, Neil... I don't feel like having this argument again." Isis looked like she was about to explode so I let her be as she strutted away from me and back into the car. She sat in the passenger's seat and I tried not to laugh. She looked just like a sulking child.

I glanced back at the house, entranced by its ancient appeal. Ghosts did not exist and I will be more than happy when Isis learns to accept that.