“We are the unforeseen circumstances, now open the gate.” Aurora snapped and the poor woman fumbled enough she dropped her radio before scrambling to pick it up and open the gate.
“Uh…I am sorry I was told the owner was coming, a Mr…”
“A Mr Draven yes, we are here in his stead.” Aurora snapped out as she walked past without sparing a glance at the poor woman.
“Oh…oh, right ok, can I give you a tour or would you like two of our audio guides?” the lady asked having to shout the last bit up at Aurora as she walked ahead. I stopped by the nice woman who wore a pale grey shirt with a logo I couldn’t make out and a pair of dark grey trousers.
She was looking very dejected by Aurora’s rude behaviour, so I patted her on the back and said,
“Feel sorry for me, I have had to deal with the Bitch all day.” Then I gave her a wink and walked on, leaving her smiling again.
I walked up the sand coloured gravel forecourt in utter awe.
“Draven owns this?” I asked myself and instead of Aurora answering me she just turned her head and snapped,
“Are you coming?” I ignored her and didn’t even have it in me to growl under my breath, because nothing the cow bag said would spoil this moment for me.
Witley court was a shell of the stunning show of wealth and riches dating back from hundreds of years ago. What welcomed you was the impressive sight of a stone building now lacking a roof and the glass in what were too many windows to count. The building was in a U shape with the two wings of the house either side of an impressive entrance, which was made even more so by the twin towers situated either side of the grand steps.
These steps led up to the imposing front that was made up of six massive, classic Grecian style columns that curled like rams horns at the top. The whole building looked to be made from the iconic Bath stone that was pale but seemed to age beautifully. The roof was long gone and all that remained was the stone balustrades that stood along only one wing, the tops of the towers and the entrance.
I saw Aurora’s behind sway up the steps, taking each one like a lady just helped out of a carriage and for a second I was assaulted with images from the past; tall hats and suit jackets with tails, lavish dresses sweeping along the floor and the butlers and footmen hurrying to assist the wealthy guests.
Horses getting impatient to be freed from the burdens they pulled, and the whole place being lit up from open windows, filling the summer night with the sounds of the party in full swing. But curiously amongst these strange flashbacks were the sight of two huge bronze lion sculptures standing guard on either side of the entrance door.
And then it was gone with the disappearing sight of Aurora. I shook my head and followed her footsteps feeling myself being drawn to the place. It was easy to see this place in history being one of splendour and luxury but more importantly a status symbol of the wealth you had acquired through business or if you were lucky enough, through inheritance. But either way this was the place you threw the grand parties.
This was the place you invited royalty.
Or this would have been the case if I didn’t now know who its real owner was. For now all I wondered about was what they could have used this place for and more importantly, why did it look like it had all but the stone burnt down?
These questions bombarded me with every step I took up to the entrance. I passed through the columns and turned to look back, taking in the breathtaking view of the grounds and the stunning countryside of Worcester beyond it. There was a massive lake surround by woodland and trees that looked older than the building itself.
I heard a cough of impatience behind me and it broke the moment of appreciation for this part of the country I now found myself in. So I turned, looked up at the arched main doorway that was decorated with an almost Celtic design carved into the stone. But instead of Celtic knots found in the borders they were in fact Tudor roses, carved with very skilled workmanship as most still looked perfect even to this day.
I looked both left and right before walking through to see the two towers either side and exposed part of the red brick from where you could see the roof to the entrance would have been attached to the towers. So this building must have once been red brick but at some point changed during no doubt one of its many alterations.
“Would you like a tour or would you like to save Dom’s life?!” Aurora shouted back to me as I could just see her stood on the other side waiting for me. I wanted to shout some clever and sarcastic comment back but to be honest she had a point. So I swallowed the insult and hurried my ass up trying not to lose focus.
The rest of the inside that I could see was like the outside only less preserved. It was still a shell of its former glory, but one made even more so by the obvious fact that it had at one time been stripped of everything. The walls were bare brick with a few sections still with what was once elaborate plaster work attached to them. There were a few exposed beams and the ones not weathered through years of exposure to the elements, had so much fire damage they were black strips sandwiched between red brick.
It just seemed to be room after room of open space and you were left with only your imagination to connect the dots. I knew these grand houses were filled with salons, drawing rooms, saloons and sitting rooms although in most of them I wasn’t actually sure what the difference was, other than in the ballrooms and dining rooms of course.
I walked through what I presumed was once a grand entrance hall and onwards to what could have been any one of these rooms from my list. I looked up to the first floor to see what must have been a bedroom at one time as there was a part of a cast iron fireplace still fitted there.
I would have loved to have gone exploring in all the different rooms and read all the history plaques they had dotted around the place. But Aurora was still waiting and I knew time was of the essence.
I walked down the centre and out of another highly decorated door, one that was done in the same style as the front entrance. The only difference was that there was a half-moon shape carved into the top of the arch that was filled with what could have been a grape vine. Well that would have been fitting considering the amount of entertaining these walls would have seen throughout the years… and no doubt the amount of wine consumed.
But what the view beyond opened up to was nothing short of incredible!
“Wow.” I said in awe, one Aurora merely scoffed at before dropping a bombshell.
“Well it is certainly better situated than the next place he chose for our council meetings that I will agree with you.” She said in all her snobbery.
“What do you mean…no, this couldn’t have been…”
“The first to be named Afterlife? Yes, it was indeed, that was until the battle.”
“Battle?!” I shouted now looking around and understanding more about why it stood the way it did today.
“Come on, we have only two minutes until it starts.” She said ignoring my one worded question after moving her leather glove to one side to look at her designer watch.
“Until what starts?” I asked not surprised when she started walking down the many steps in front of us and thus continuing to ignore me. Of course why should she stop now when she had the art form so perfected? Oh but to have the power of laser beams from my eye balls, I thought bitterly whilst scowling at her back.
I thought for a moment what she had said and looking round at this grand place I could understand why Draven would have picked it. I remember him once telling me that not all the meetings he held were at the Afterlife I knew and for as many years as Draven has been in charge, there must have been quite a few properties Draven owned. I decided to put it from my mind for the moment before I got too lost in my thoughts. No, once again I had to remind myself that I needed to stay focused, especially when it came to Aurora.
I stood on what I knew was named a portico due to all the Greek mythology books I read as a child. It was a sort of columned porch leading to an entrance, like the one at the front of the
house I had come through. But it could also refer to the walkway of many columns that was connected with a roof, like the one I now stood in, the one that lead on to this beautiful sight in front of me.
If I had thought the front of the house was impressive then this was taking it up another level! I felt dwarfed by the Roman style pillars looming over me. But as I stepped out from their shadows into the warm sun, there I was greeted by a vast landscape of green carpets perfectly maintained. The beautiful flower gardens interlinked by their sandstone gravel pathways, framed the setting seamlessly. And what held centre stage in all this magnificence was the awe inspiring central fountain.
I had to walk closer to make out exactly what it was but from here I could just make out the figure sat upon a winged horse rearing up. The nearer I got to the dark figures the more I could make out that it looked like the tale of Perseus and Andromeda. I knew my history and this one was a favourite of mine, as I used to watch the 80’s movie Clash of the Titans. However unlike the movie and more to the original story, the sea monster in the statue looked more like a dragon being slain by Perseus, as hesat upon his winged steed Pegasus.
I saw Aurora was now stood not far from the small stone wall that surrounded the large body of water the fountain sat in. She was facing it like she was waiting for something and after her ‘two minute’ comment I guess she was. I made it down to her and waited, thankfully not having to wait too long, God forbid considering her preferences on being made to wait.
The sound of the water fountain starting up filled the quiet and peaceful countryside and before long the amount of pressure built up sending powerful jets of water high into the air. I could feel the light mist of water whenever the breeze changed direction and it felt blissful against my skin in this summer heat.
Around the base of the fountain were sea creatures with curling fish tales and their heads thrown back with their mouths open so jets of water could erupt out. Each was covered in a thick blanket of moss depending on where the water drenched them the most.
“Was this what we were waiting for?” I asked over the sound of crashing water, one made louder the higher the main water jet travelled. It was the one coming from the beast’s mouth as now I could see Perseus thrusting his mighty spear into the creature. I had to restrain myself from giggling out loud as that thought transformed into something quite rude and I blamed it on the half-naked Andromeda stood there playing helpless damsel.
“Now you will see why Dominic owns this place.” She said producing an old coin from her suit jacket. She flashed it up at me held there between her fingers and I could see it was solid gold with a face on each side.
I wondered if it was the face of Cronus seeing as he was the King of the Titans or was it this Janus God? Whoever it was I didn’t get to find out as the next thing I knew she had thrown it into the fountain’s pool. The murky water wasn’t deep and you could see all the other coins tourists had no doubt thrown into the fountain over the years hoping their wishes to be granted. Well I could only hope that coin had double the strength, for my wish needed to be lifesaving.
I looked back at the grand structure expecting something to happen at the house when my head shot back round as a rumbling started. The water started to ripple and wave as if the floor was moving underneath and I wasn’t wrong. Suddenly large stepping stones emerged. Coming up one by one they all led to the immortal legends glistening in the water raining down on them.
Aurora barely waited for the last stone to appear before she was balancing her ridiculous shoes on the wet and no doubt slippery stone. I mean I was wearing converse high tops and even I was worried. But just as she stepped out she pulled at the umbrella hooked on her elbow, held it at arm’s length and then pressed a button, releasing it at just the right time. She held it up over her so she wouldn’t get wet and not giving two hoots about me as I was left to follow, getting soaked as I went.
“You know I am sure if you would have mentioned this bit, I would have brought an umbrella too.” I said shaking thanks to the unexpected cold shower.
“Um, it must have slipped my mind.”
“Yeah right.” I said behind her knowing that she was about as honest as a peeping tom saying he was only there to check out her curtains!
The spray from the fountain battered down on her umbrella but the power of the fountain was almost deafening and I wouldn’t have heard her if I hadn’t been stood directly behind. Although come to think of it, not being able to hear her wouldn’t have been a bad thing given that everything she’d said to me so far hadn’t been worth hearing.
I knew we were waiting for something else so I didn’t bother asking this time. Rather that or this was her idea of a joke and if that was the case then at least I had enough water around to drown her in. Thankfully I wasn’t allowed too much time for my temper to rally up so I didn’t have to elbow her in the water just yet, because what appeared next was what I assumed was the appearance of the Janus gate.
All around the base in between the sea creatures were massive upturned clam shells to collect the water in until it overflowed from the gaps. The one directly in front of us started to fold upwards which pulled and stretched the moss, snapping it free from the stone. There was a grinding sound before it created enough space that a hidden doorway materialised.
“After you.” I said over her shoulder looking down at the dark and damp passageway, one there was no telling how far it went down. All I could think about was ‘Christ but I hope we didn’t have to walk our way down to Hell, because no amount of sessions on a stairmaster or hours at the gym would prepare someone for that climb’…and I was about as unfit as they came!
“Thanks.” She answered dryly and this wasn’t just in her tone thanks to that damn umbrella, which she now cast aside before stepping through the doorway.
So this was it…
My doorway to Hell.
Chapter 60
Down the Rabbit Hole, Where the Bunnies Bite!
“Do you have to continue with that infuriating sound?” This ‘infuriating sound’ Aurora was speaking about was my teeth chattering due to it not only being freezing down here but also that fact that I was soaked through to my bra! I felt as though my nipples could have cut glass and I was half surprised they hadn’t poked holes through my t shirt they were that erect.
“Well I’m human and some spiteful brat didn’t tell me about the waterworks so I could bring my waterproofs, so excuse me for making a sound, but hey, here’s an idea, why don’t you take off those ridiculous heels and ram them in your ears…I will help if you like.” I snapped after having quite enough of her shit.
“You know, I don’t know what he sees in you and that vile humour of yours.” She said smoothing down her perfectly dry hair and looked over her shoulder at me, like some spoilt little rich kid. I just laughed which echoed through the tunnel we were walking down.
“Yes, well I like to think he was temporarily insane when he was with you, so I guess we’re even.”
“We loved each once but you wouldn’t understand.” At this I lost even more of my cool.
“Oh I understand alright but it sure as Hell wasn’t love, so let’s call it for what it was and not bullshit each other shall we? He thought you were beautiful until he got to know that beauty didn’t reach your heart and you loved the power being with him gave you!” At this she whipped round and hissed at me, making me take a step back. Not because I was scared but more because I was taken aback by her losing her calm and collected demeanour.
“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?! But you have no idea what it was like living in the shadow of this great ‘Chosen One’ he was really meant to be with!” She shouted and got closer and closer the deeper in her rage she lost herself to.
“Can you imagine what that would feel like, to love a man and know that no matter what you do, that he will one day leave you without a second thought for another woman?” My back hit the side of the tunnel and if my back wasn’t wet already it woul
d have been from the dripping bare rock.
“No, you couldn’t possibly. And you wonder why I am the way I am, why I am bitter. You can’t know what is in my heart. Truthfully it is the love I have for my King that has stopped me from killing you and saving him the heartache, I myself have had a taste of.” As I listened to all this, my mind was split between feeling sorry for her and not trusting anything she said to be real.
Yes her words were powerful and she knew just the right thing to say to get many on her side but I wasn’t dumb. I had been fooled by her kind before and was immune to such behaviour after dealing with my cousin Hilary for so long. So I did the only thing I knew to do and that was not to bullshit her with fake sympathy. But to merely nod, giving her the time to calm down again before saying,
“Well I guess then I should say thanks for not trying to kill me.”
“Don’t thank me yet…” She said turning away from me making my eyes grow wide before she added,
“I am taking you into Hell after all.” And then she continued down the stone steps.
The light from the opening only offered us so much before the deeper we went, the more I had to rely on the sides for guidance. Aurora was using her phone screen to light the floor in front of her but for me being at the back of her, it was about as helpful as a chocolate teapot was to a diabetic.
I was tempted when we finally came to the end to shout three Hail Mary’s I was both that exhausted and was happy to report we weren’t walking all the way to Hell. No, we came to a door that Aurora pushed with little effort before it swung open, allowing us both entrance.
“But I thought the door at the fountain had been the Janus gate?” I asked looking round in utter amazement.
“This is the Temple of Janus, where all the doors and portals to each realm of Heaven and Hell lead too.” She said having a change of heart after her outburst and answering one of my questions. I looked around and if I lived to be a hundred I didn’t think I could have counted all the doors this place held.
The Pentagram Child: Part 2 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) Page 17