Dorian Gray

The hall is unlit. The moonlight comes in through the window, causing shadows. The silence of the night somehow reminds me of the mansion Victoria had me staying in before.

"Elliot? Where are you?" I start walking down the hall. I see a huge sharp turn the corner at the far end of the hallway.

It looks like a person in armour. Could that be the owner of this mansion?

Lupin did say he was something of an eccentric character.

I quicken my pace to approach the corner and introduce myself. "Huh?" I turn the corner, but the huge shape is nowhere to be seen. Was I just seeing things? I look around, and notice an open door in the row along the wall.

Perhaps Elliot went in there?

I quietly approach, then enter.

It's a huge room. It's furnished, like the room I'm staying in. Could someone be staying in here as well? There are so many books. Bookcases line the walls, packed with countless books. In a way, they remind me of mother's bookshelves, and I quickly feel a connection with this room.

I look around, scanning the room, but there is no one here.

More importantly, Elliot isn't here either. Where could she have gone?

I turn back to the door, thinking that I should continue looking elsewhere, when..."

"Good evening, beautiful lady. What are you doing up so late at night?" I suddenly hear a voice from behind me.

I spin around in surprise, and see someone who appeared out of nowhere by the window.

A calm, androgynous-seeming blonde haired figure. The moonlight gives his skin bluish glow and gleams off him eyes. With the city lights sparkling outside behind him, he looks very beautiful.

"Who are you? And how did you...? I'm a boy." I say.

"Oh, did I startle you? I apologise. I do seem to go unnoticed at times. You must be the new tenant. Lupin has told me all about you. My name is Dorian Gray. For the moment I have the whimsical position as master of this estate. I warmly welcome you, Mr. Caleb." He smiles warmly. So this is the owner of this mansion. "Just call me Dorian. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Caleb. Your arrival has been tugging at the threads of fate for a long time."

"What? I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"Ahah. I'm terribly sorry to have confused you. In any case, I welcome you to my home. Let us enjoy our time together." He smiles. Perhaps it's the moonlight, or the lights from the city. I don't know why but even though her smile seems welcoming and friendly, I feel a bottomless cold. It's almost like looking at a smile on a painting, not on a real person. "By the way, Mr. Caleb, were you looking for something? What is the matter?"

"Um, I was looking for Elliot?"

"Elliot? The cute dog girl." Dorian says. "Lupin did tell me that the animal seemed to have warmed up to you. Are you going to be taking take of her?"

"I'd like to try to do what I can."

"Ahah, I see. I'm sure Nemo will be jealous." Dorian says. "But her, that is, Elliot's, whereabouts are unfortunately a mystery to me as well."

"I see. Maybe that shadow I saw has something to do with it."

"You saw a shadow?"

"I saw something in the hallway earlier. It looked like someone in armour."

"Armour. I have no tenants in my mansion like that." Dorian says. "And if you were to dress that way, I would think it would make a lot of noise. I haven't seen anyone like that."

"I suppose I was simply seeing things."

"Hmm... We can't be too cautious. I'm going to look around for a bit. Thank you for informing me of this."

As Dorian turns to leave, I speak up. "Um... Thank you for allowing me to stay here. I hope we get along."

Dorian turns back to me. "It is my pleasure. I'm sure we will be experiencing many things together from this point on. Such as your nudity." I scream and quickly cover up. I had forgotten that I completely naked. Dorian himself doesn't seem to mind. "We'll have a busy day tomorrow. Try to get some rest tonight. I wish you a peaceful sleep, and good dreams."

Even after Dorian leaves, I stay in the room, watching the city lights through the window. Maybe the air of mystery that he left behind is affecting me. When I return to the bedroom, Elliot is on the bed, breathing softly in her sleep.

"You came back." I sigh and lay down on the bed. Fatigue begins to set in, and I feel sleep beginning to overtake me. As I'm drifting away, I look out at the moon floating outside the window.

What will tomorrow bring? It will likely be filled with things that I can't possibly imagine right now.

I look back on everything that happened today, and I feel my world rapidly expanding. My sleep is comfortable, and deep.