Bloodstone: Revived

[Firesprite]

Please check the OOC for Bloodstone and post a bio there before joining.


March 1888

Gale force winds lashed the tiny English village of Whitewick, ripping slates from the roofs and tearing limbs from trees.

On the small isle linked to the mainland the people staying at the newly opened Greystone found themselves stranded, the bridge and causeway had been washed away, the water too rough to be crossed in the small boats available. All communication with the mainland was lost.

In the raging storm, a huge old oak shuddered before the onslaught and then, caught by one mighty gust, the oak toppled, its roots tearing at the earth beneath.
Revealed between the gnarled roots there lay some human remains.

There was know way of knowing who this poor soul was, little clothing remained, and the body was nearly bones. The only thing remaining was a ring on one finger. A bloodstone ring.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Lucy

Lucy sat in her room combing out her long hair in prepartion for dinner. Strange how this had been her room on every visit she'd ever made to Greystone...and now none of the orginal family was left and she was still here in front of the same mirror she had always used.

http://www.tourismresources.ie/cht/lisnav/carlow03.jpg

In fact, if she ran her hand under the top of the vanity she'd find where she and Laura had carved their names one stormy night like this one, swearing with a prick of their thumbs and a smear of blood they'd always be friends.

Lighting cracked outside the leaded windows and almost immediately after the roll of thunder made the mirror shudder. Thank goodness they didn't rely on electric here as she did in her small but tidyLondon house. Although the lamp flames quivered they remained bright.

Useing bone pins to hold up the heavy tresses Lucy tucked a few violets in her hair in rememberence of the dead; which Lucy and her father the Lord Greystone surly must be. Standing and fluffing her bustle she made her way down to the palour where she suspected her host would be.

 

[The GrandMage]

Professor Plum

Plum sat, as he spent most evening doing, in front of the fire. The book lay open in his lap, and his chin rested on his chest. He had fallen asleep. His calico cat stared up at him before making the climb up into his lap and curling up on top of the book to enjoy the comfort of it's master's lap.

His breathing was low, and barely noticable. In fact, for a few days after he'd owned the place, the servants had always been sure he was dead when he was dozing.And being a heavy sleeper didn't help.

But after a few days of being told that when he was dead he'd thell them, they finally accepted the fact that they'd just have to hope the old man died in an obvious way so they'd be able to tell.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Zoé Lépine

The violent rainstorm had enveloped the ferryboat as it came within a nautical mile of Whitewick, and actually getting across the bridge to the islet of Greystone safely was possible by the grace of God alone. Escorted by one of the servants of the Manor that had been waiting at the quayside, Mlle Zoé Lépine made her way across the estate clenching her overcoat closer to her body, quite ineffectually. Drenched from head to toe from the hard rain, it took all their strengths to reach the front doors of the dilapidated house without being swept off their feet by the strong gale. As the doors were closed behind them, it was clearly audible the loud crack indicating that some of the nearby more decrepit trees hadn't been so lucky.

Zoé stood inside the great hall, trying to catch her breath, looking around the familiar space. Everything was exactly like she remembered, it was as if no one had set foot in the place over the last decade. She couldn't contain a smile when she realized that was probably true. Two young maids were valiantly trying to clean the mountains of dust accumulated on the wooden balustrade of the main stairway.

The steward welcomed Mlle Lépine to Greystone Manor, and informed her that Prof Plum had already retired for the evening, and that her accommodations were ready. Zoé withheld a sigh of relief. The only thing she wanted to do right now, was to get out of her dripping clothes and into a hot, reinvigorating bath.

***

Two hours later, in her green formal dinner dress (the only one from her whole wardrobe that wasn't soggy one way or another), Zoé made her way back down the main stairway, inspecting the familiar tapestries and chandeliers, decided to find something to eat and maybe find out who else was staying at the Manor and why.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Lucy

The parlour was empty, but a tea set had been laid out. Touching the pot she found it still hot and poured herself a cup.

A maid she'd questioned had said that some rooms of the house were fit for company, but most weren't. The most commonly used rooms were being done frist, and so the parlour must have been intended for use because it was spotless.

Going to one of the bookshelves she pulled out a photo album and sat in one of the red velvet chairs before the fireplace where the draft caused by the gusting winds didn't bother her so much. Sipping tea and flipping through the pages she smiled at her memories of Laura.

Hearing a rustle in the hall she looked up and called out; "Is someone there?"

 

[DarkTalon]

Lt. Muster

He stepped out of the hired carriage, which was his favorite way of traveling. He raised his Coat collar as the wind blew and the rain worsened.

Having just returned from India he was still unused to the English wet. He knocked on the door of Greystone Manor. He hadn't been here for a long time. His father had brought him here a few times when he had business with the Duke.

The door was opened by a young serving girl and he walked in.

He handed the girl his wet coat and looked around. Remembering when he was younger chasing girls around this old place. Laura and her friends. The Last time he was here with his father Laura and the lord of Greystone Manor vanished.

Both is father and himself helped in the search, but to no avail. They were not found.

"Miss Lucy is in the Parlor, I think, my lord. I'll tell Professor Plum you've arrived." the girl bobbed a curtsy and scurried off.

Remembering his way though the house he moved to the Parlor door when a woman's voice called out "Is there someone there?"

With out Acknowledging Lucy's Question he entered

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Lucy

Unnerved because no one had answered, Lucy set the album aside and stood. She crossed to the fireplace and waited in the shadow of the mantle; her right hand near the fireplace poker.

 

[The GrandMage]

Prof. Plum

A small servant girl approached the professor's chair, reaching down to lift his cat from the man's lap. She set the cat on the floor, and turned to her employer. She leaned a little forward. "Sir!"

The old man came awake with a jerk, looking around a moment before settling his eyes on the girl. "Huh? Oh, oh! Time to go and see to my guests, eh? Have they all arrived?"

"No, sir, but the tea's ready in the parlor."

The old man got to his feet, stretching back. Standing upright he stood above the girl. But he leaned forward, moving into the shape his old body had taken over so many years hunched over old books. He glanced over at the girl, looking her in the eye, and nodded, dismissing her to other, probably more important duties.

He looked at his cat on the floor, he picked up his cane, poking it. "Come, cat, we've got guests to see to."

And so the old man left his comfortable chair by the fire, moving out into the large manner to see to the guests he'd invited, hoping more would arrive.

 

[DarkTalon]

Lt. James Muster Jr

"Hello, Lucy You in here?" He asked.
as he entert the parlor he memerized the room. He smiled as his eyes cetch a glims of her hand resting on a poker at the firer place. He Fallowed the hand all the way to its owner hiding in the shadows.

" Ther You Are Lucy"

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Lucy

Lucy stepped out of the shadows.

"I'm here. Is that you Jamie? My, how you've changed." She crossed the room and held out her hand. "It seems that the miltary life agrees with you although I remember you swearing you wouldn't join just to suit your father."

After he had given her hand a light squeeze and bowed to her she returned to her seat.

"Tea?" She asked, her hand hovering over the steaming pot.

 

[DarkTalon]

Lt. James Muster Jr.

" Yes Its Me . Pleas Call me James. Yes well I joined for my self And I retierd early for my self. I'm a Chef inspector now." He gave a charming smile as he took her hand with a gental squeez. He kissed her hand as he gave a slight bow. than she took a seet and asked if he whanted tea.
"yes I think I will join you for some tea ." He than sat in a chair nerr Lucy "My Lucy , you are more stuning Than I remeber. How has life been treeting you?"

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Lucy

"Oh, I'm not sure what you've heard of me last..."She poured his tea, holding up sugar and cream for his nod. "I married shortly after the disappearences..." she reached into her pocket and flicked open a locket with a man's face looking out.

http://www.niki-go.de/bilder/carter.jpg

"He was an Egyptologst. Perhaps you heard of him? Jonathan Darcy? We spent our honeymoon traveling to Egypt and once we arrived he worked on several projects there as an adjunct to the British Museum." She put the photo away, and a cloud of sorrow crossed her face. "Our plan had been for him to gather practical experience and perhaps be on a large find before returning to England to raise a family, at which time he would teach at university. Instead he caught a fever and died. I, of course returned home. That was two years ago."

She handed him his cup. "Forgive me for being forward; but why do you think Plum bought this place and then invited us all, who were here before when Laura and the Duke disappeared?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Prof. Harold Plum

He stepped in, looking over at the couple of people already in the parlor. Just the two? He frowned, and sighed, he really didn't think many of them would come back, it would probably be a lot of bad memories.

"Well, I bought the place because it's a nice, roomy house on an island where I can be secluded, live in comfort, and have it generate enough money that I what family I have left might decide to spend some time with me so they can take over the old place."

He stretched, looking at the fire almost lovingly as the cat shot in, and, with the wonderful judgement that all cats have, immediately headed to the cat and the woman.

"I'm Harold Plum, owner. The reason I brought you here is you were guests ten years ago when I stopped by, and the only people I know who may have known the Duke and the old house. I wanted people's opinions on what I was doing with the place, especially people who had been here before. Might I ask which of the group you two are?"

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Lucy

If Lucy was startled or embarrassed she covered it well as she remained seated and accepted the attentions of the cat.

"Please to meet you again, Prof. Plum. You haven't changed much since I was saw you, but I guess I have." She smiled prettily with dimples in the corners of her cupids bow mouth. "I am Lucy Darcy, but you may recall me as Lucy Winterbourne of Nottingham. Tea?"

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Zoé Lépine

Zoé made her way down to the great hall as the rain continued to fustigate the large stained-glass windows. The storm intermittently illuminated the once familiar shape of the heavy wooden furniture, the wrought-iron fixtures. It was all so ghastly in that light, like a vision from the past.

She saw the elongated yellow flicker pouring from an open door, at the opposite side of the hall. It was the parlour, she recalled as she walked across to it. There were voices inside, people. When she reached the threshold, she froze and her mouth fell open. So, she thought, this is what it was all about: a little reunion. Pulling herself together quickly, Zoé smiled warmly to her fellow guests and host.

"Professor, dear Lucy, Jamie... what a pleasant surprise..."

 

[The GrandMage]

Prof. Plum

"Darcy? Oh, yes, you married Jonathan, didn't you? So sorry to hear about what happened, he was quite an up-and-coming Egyptologst."

He coughed, turning to see a woman in the threshold. His mind raced, and he tried to think who it was. Ten years brought a lot of changes on young people, and he really hadn't been that attentive when meeting them years ago.

Wait, his mind came clicking into place. He smiled. Now, he remembered her! "Zoé, good to see you,...."

If memory served him, her father was an inspector. Sent her to be with the Duke for a while. He'd had quite a time, talking towards her about mysteries throughout history, especially murders.

Whether or not she'd heard him was another thing. Few people pay any mind to an old man rattling on about old subjects. It didn't matter though, he talked mostly for his own voice. In fact, the only time he could recall ever trying to make sure people were listening to him was when he'd taught....

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Lucy

Eschewing the cat and the tea Lucy rose from her seat and crossed to Zoé, smiling warmly and took the other woman's hands into her own and pressed her cheek to Zoé's.

"It is so good to see you!" She pulled back and looked at her Parisian peer. "Your letters were such a comfort to me while in Egypt. Is your father well?"

 

[DarkTalon]

Lt. James Muster

He stood to greet the newcomer and the Professor. "Hello Professor. I am Lt. James Muster Jr. My father's sorry he couldn't make it . He sent me instead." he than turned towards the newcomer "Hello Malady"

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

The Parlour

http://www.castlemarne.com/images/parlour.jpg