The Lone Blue: Escrea

Chloe?

ugh the fog in her mi

apping out of her daze.

with a f

r modest house, but instead saw a towering mansion wrapped in mist and i

tinctively for her things, but Lace stopped her wi

carry her coat-but something in his tone, or maybe in him, made

e you only ever see in gothic horror films-tall spires,

haunted mansion, she

thought passed t

Lace said with a soft chuckle

, startled. "I di

"You didn'

ressed or unnerved. Am I really that obvious

t least. Lace opened it with surprising ease, revealing a vast foyer with twin marble staircases that cu

Lace said, stepping

outh until she heard herself say, "Whoa. This place i

he flushed. Smooth,

?" he asked, gesturing

rately exaggerating her politene

oth la

d with underwater lights, a marble fountain surrounded by hanging gardens, a library taller th

ntrast to the mansion's ancient exterior. The

looked like it belonged in a vampire film bu

y contradictions.

w, she felt at

h

-

wing, Lace approached a tall door. With

echoed through

nter of the great hall

e that didn't wav

I know yo

oment-n

A presence. Something appr

grabbed it mid-motion, and wrestled

lessly and growled,

caped the figu

in pale but smooth like polished marble. Eyes as gold

y might call him Lo

he figure mused, voice like

e's mine," Lac

olden-eyed figure replied, voice c

urself. If yo

figure without fear, and be

huckle be

" the silhouette said. "Do you

pau

ooked over h

were no long

red. They were s

uman-if the

reamlined. Lethal. Even

e who moments before had laughe

le

isper could be seen

the door. He stepped through, and

en

still sprawled on the fl

at f

lou

lo

al. Wild

all seemed to tremble w

s if savoring i

s lik