Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
When everything was finally finished, the whole house looked cozier and cleaner. I thought about trying to light the firewood that was laid in the downstairs fireplace—it would be really nice to sit by the flickering flames on a chilly Autumn night. But then I had an even better idea—I wanted a bubble bath.
Luckily, the water got nice and hot. I wondered who had been paying the utility bills all this time? I would have to find out so I could keep up with it and the water and power didn’t get shut off.
I soaked for a good long time while Sebastian wandered around the bathroom sniffing, and then decided to go to bed.
On my way out of the bathroom, I saw something I had missed earlier. The hallway, instead of going straight down and ending in the library and my bedroom, had somehow grown another corner.
Curiously, I went around the corner and found yet another door with another antique brass knob.
This door seemed different somehow, though. It was dead black for one thing—all except the red X painted right in the middle of it. I got an uneasy feeling just looking at it—it was the first time I had felt less than comfortable in my new home.
Still, nothing bad had happened yet, so I dared to touch the knob. The minute my hand made contact with the brass, I felt a jolt of something I can only describe as unease go through me. I seemed to see a flash of something—a face?—but it was there and gone so quickly I wasn’t sure if I had imagined it or not.
“What the hell?” I muttered yanking my hand back. “What is this thing, anyway?”
Stealing myself for another jolt, I tried again. But when I tried to turn the knob, I found the door was locked.
“I’m sure this wasn’t here before,” I muttered, as I jiggled the knob. “Where does it lead?”
Or who does it lead to?
The question popped into my head, increasing the unease I felt to a stomach-churning dread.
“Leave be, child. This door is not for you. Not now.”
I was more than willing to obey the little voice in my head—the one I was beginning to think of as my Grandma’s voice. I let go of the knob and stepped back from the strange, black door.
“Not for me,” I said aloud.
But then, why had it appeared and why wouldn’t it open?
I thought about going to look for a key—maybe in my Grandma’s bedroom? But I didn’t really want to. What if it led to another world—a world that wasn’t nearly as nice as my Grandma’s house? No, I decided to leave it alone for now. If the door was still there in the morning, I’d worry about it then.
I went back to my bedroom, but as I turned my back on the door, I had an odd, itchy feeling between my shoulder blades as if someone—or something—was watching me.
The feeling left as soon as I closed my bedroom door, however. I felt nothing but warm and safe and comfortable in this place that was so clearly meant only for me.
Soon I was able to convince myself that the uneasy feelings I’d had were just my imagination and the strange door was no big deal. I probably just hadn’t noticed it on my earlier tour of the house and most likely it just led to the attic, which was probably full of old worthless junk I didn’t need to worry about.
I got under the smooth, cool sheets and cuddled down in the large bed. It was huge for just one person and at first I felt lonely. But then Sebastian jumped up and made himself at home on the pillow beside me.
With the sound of my cat purring in my ear and a soft wind blowing in the trees outside, I finally drifted off to sleep with no idea of what the next day might bring.
CHAPTER NINE
The pale golden Autumn sunshine pouring through the bedroom woke me. At first I didn’t know where I was or why it was sunny. I have blackout curtains on my apartment bedroom window to keep the bright Florida sun out. But I found I didn’t mind the sunshine here—it was milder and not as intrusive.
Half the time in Florida I feel like I’m Frodo and the sun is the freaking Eye of Mordor glaring down at me, but I could tell it would be different here. I wouldn’t have to feel like I was melting every time I stepped outside, for one thing. And I would actually be able to wear cute cool weather clothes like sweaters and tights instead of living in t-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops, for another.
Bearing in mind that I was going to have to make the dreaded trip to the store to try and buy supplies, I dressed accordingly. I decided to put on the dark blue dress and the black boots I had found in my closet. I paired them with some black tights and the gray cardigan that still smelled like Grandma. I even put on a little makeup and made an effort to pull back the front of my hair with a pretty golden barrette that had somehow appeared on my dresser overnight.