Liam walked Selena to the mansion, holding her by the hand. The old gate creaked and made Selena shiver. 'What the hell is this place?'
Josephine gently pushed her from behind. "Come on, it's cold outside!" The mansion was surrounded by dense fog; dry leaves crunched underfoot. It was so cold that Selena could see her breath merging with the fog. A wooden sign hung on the porch: WELCOME TO HOTEL VALLE DELIRIA.
Selena wondered. 'Do they live in a hotel?' At the entrance, Selena turned around but could barely make out anything through the fog. It was as if the whole world had disappeared as soon as they left the city's main street.
Liam opened the door and waved gallantly towards the house. "Ladies, first."
Selena didn't even spare him a glance. She stepped inside. "Do you live here?" Selena looked around the hall with surprise.
Josephine took off her gloves, a little annoyed, and replied: "Yes, and so do you." She looked at Selena, shaking her head in displeasure. "You stained your dress while lying on the road. Change immediately."
"Right here?" Selena smirked. Liam coughed, and Josephine flushed. "Of course not! Go to your room!"
Selena sights. "And where is my room?" 'What's going on here?'
"Cut it out already will you?" Josephine looks like she'll explode at any second.
"I'll show you the way if you forgot." Liam offered.
"Please, take her. I'll make some herbal tea for now."
Liam went upstairs. Selena tried to calm her beating heart. Okay Okay. She didn't know what to do or how to react. She decided to go with the flow, so she followed Liam.
Selena stared at Liam's back, walking in front of her. He looks like a real aristocrat. His movements were smooth, almost feminine. Liam was glancing caringly every now and then at her, yet it seemed that his mind was entirely elsewhere. 'Maybe I'm being pranked, and they are all actors?But what is Amelie doing here? Is she playing along?' So many questions were rushing through her head, but there were no answers. 'Liam seems to be kind to me. Maybe he could help me.'
Selena knew that it was difficult to go through life without allies. She addressed the situation the same way she would any of her bridge projects scrupulously with a cold mind and a pinch of imagination. Finally, Liam stopped. "This is your room." He opened the door
Selena looked around the room and nodded. "It's very cozy here."
"Glad you like it. I go down to my sister. You change your clothes and come join us."
Selena couldn't help but stare at him strangely. "As you say, sir." Liam nodded, not catching the irony in her voice. Selena went to the closet and opened it. She looked skepticaly at the outfits. "Do I have to wear this?' One by one, she took out the outfits out of the closet and threw them on the bed. She made sure to pick a beautiful dress
Selena spun around in front of the mirror. "Surprisingly, it suits me." After changing clothes, she went out into the hallway. She was in no hurry to go downstairs. She went to the window and inspected the area. 'They have their own garden. How lovely...'
Someone was walking among the trees, but Selena couldn't see who it was because of the fog. The figure stopped and waved to Selena. She moved away from the window. This gesture seemed mechanical, neither welcoming nor threatening.
As if that someone knew who she was and how she got here. As if he was making fun of her. Selena looked out the window agan, but no one was there. Shivers ran down her spine. She straightened up and became more tense, feeling an impending threat.
Selena instinctively turned around as if she was expecting someone to appear from the dark corner of the hallway, But there was no one. She backed away from the darkness, 'What am I doing here? Why did I follow their lead so blindly? Entering this house was a terribly dumb mistake. You're such a fool, Selena.' She berated herself and yet she had nowhere to go. There was no safe place for her in that city. 'I need to get out of here.'
She pressed her back against the wall and began to move forward slowly. But the feeling of the omnipresent danger lurking in the darkness of the hallway made her run. The hallway seemed endless. It seemed that every door she opened took her deeper inside the house. She couldn't find the stairs. Selena got confused. Finally, she saw a light in the distance it showed her the way out of that labyrinth of fear.
On the stairs, Selena heard whispers. Sometimes turning into displeased shouts. It was Josephine trying to prove something to Liam. Selena stopped and took a breath. The trembling in her body gradually began to recede.
Selena chuckled-somewhat amused by how scared she had gotten. 'Whoa... I got scared of a little darkness. I need to calm down and pull myself together!' The voices from below caught her attention again. 'Maybe they'll say something that will help me understand what the hell is going on here?'
She eavesdropped on the conversation and at the same time tried to calm down.
Josephine put the teapot on the table with a bong. "Lilith is completely crazy!"
"Don't be silly." Liam's calm voice rang out.
Josephine bent over Liam, her fingers clenching the teapot handle "I'm not silly! She scares me. Who knows what she'll come up with this time?"
"Don't say that about her. Take her behavior as a little prank. Lilith isn't trying to be mean on purpose, you know that, right?"
Josephine laughed a little hysterically. "A little prank..." At that moment, she noticed Selena's reflection in the mirror. who was hiding at the very top of the stairs. She straightened up and exclaimed pretenciously. "Lilith, the tea is ready!" Selena went down and froze in the doorway. "That's not my name."
Liam stood up, held out his hands to her. "Of course, it is. You're Lilith, don't you remember? Come on sit down. Let's have a talk." Selena sat down on a chair. "Have a drink." He offered
Selena brought the cup to her mouth but stopped before taking a sip.' Who knows what they put in this tea? On the other hand, if none of this is real and I'm delirious, the tea won't hurt me.....' Selena finally put her cup down.
Josephine looked away resentfully. "I'm just trying to take care of you..."
"I'm not thirsty, but thanks for your concern."Selena made up her mind until she figure out what's going on here, she won't touch the food and water, essecially that of Josephine. 'I need to find out as much as possible from them. I'm used to negotiations in my line of work. This situation isn't much different. The Important thing is to control myself and not panic.'
Selena tried to keep her voice calm: "Now, can you explain how I got here."
Josephine pursed her lips in rage. "You're born in thus city! Do you need more details on how exactly?"
Selena clasped her hands together, straightened her back, and looked Josephine in the eyes. "I can't find an explanation on how I ended up here. I ask you questions, but you're not helping me in any way. You're talking nonsense. And if I believe it, it means I'm going crazy. I demand some sort of intelligible answer." Josephine stared at her in silence.
Selena clicked her tongue "I'm waiting
Liam intervened, trying to smooth things out with a smile. "I wouldn't lie to you. Never. What can I tell you to calm you down, Lilith? Tell me, and I'll do as you ask"
Selena turned to him. "Tell the truth."
Liam sights. "you don't seem to believe it."
Selena looked at him. She bowed her head and smiled.
"That's right." 'They won't tell me anything new. But is there anyone who can?'
"What year is it?"
Josephine impulsively waved her hand and rolled her eyes. Liam patiently replied: "It's 1838"