I quietly walked into my aunts little cottage with Sybil close behind me. It was a cute cottage that was closer to the cemetery and for some reason was quite open with very few houses nearby. The cottage was two floors, with windows almost every 5 centimeters, and beautiful flowers that lined the walk way and house. It was so bright and beautiful, I could honestly say I am surprised.
I felt Sybil brush past me and lead me into the living room. There was a fireplace in front of the couch and a coffee table in between. Aunt Elly was perched on the couch with a pillow under one leg and a pillow propped behind her back. Her salt and pepper hair was pulled back into a tight pony tale, while her glasses sat on the edge of her nose.
"Hello Elly. I brought someone for you."
Sybil's voice caused my aunt to look up from the book she was reading and glance in my direction. I could see her eyeing me up and down and assessing me, what there was to assess I'm not quite sure. I tried to smile but it came out as a tight lipped grimace, not a good first impression.
"Hmm, not much to look at," my aunt said, "but, I suppose in my condition I will have to take what I can get."
I winced slightly at that. I didn't know my aunt very well but it seemed we were already off to a rough start. She seemed very strict and stern, like those mean librarians you see in movies that is constantly telling everyone to be quiet.
"What's your name?"
"Alexis."
My answers were short and to the point since I was such a quiet person. My aunt seemed like someone who would appreciate that. Something caught my eye when she finally lowered the book to her lap so she could continue to study me. Hanging around her neck was a cross. It was small and dark in color, almost black, and it looked like it may have been made from some kind of wood. It hung low on a long chain and reached down to the belt of her bath robe.
"I see you have taken an interest in my crucifix."
My eyes instantly snapped back up to hers, a blush creeping across my cheeks at being caught.
"This was a gift from a dear old friend of mine. He was a minister and had received this from his father who was a minister as well. This crucifix had been handed down through his family for generations, but my friend had never married and therefore no one to give this to. We had always been close even when I was a child. When he suddenly fell ill he new his time was up and our Father was calling him home. So, he asked me to guard it saying I was someone he felt he could trust, someone who thought the same way he did."
Her story began to feel more like a warning that she was directing at me, but maybe I was feeling that way because I didn't know her that well.
"Do you know what this crucifix is said to do?"
Her eyes felt like they were piercing right into my soul, assessing every aspect of my life, judging me for every wrong thing I had ever done.
I slowly shook my head no before deciding to look at the floor, unable to handle her intense stare any longer.
"Hmm. Well as the story goes, this crucifix is said to have magical powers that allow the wearer control other beings. Beings that are not of this world. Of course those are just stories."
All I knew to do was nod my head again. It scared me, the way she spoke and continued to look at me. I lifted my head to look at her. She seemed to know something that no one else knew, a secret that seemed to be..shaking these thoughts from my head I looked back at the floor. I was going crazy.
"You don't talk much do you?"
I shook my head no while continuing to stand there.
"Alright Elly. You are scaring the poor girl, she is your niece and your not making a great first impression," Sybil said.
"Sybil. Will you please show my niece to her room?"
The way she emphasized 'my niece' sent a shiver of fear down my spine. It seemed like she already didn't like me and I couldn't understand why. Something was going on, just a few months here and I can go home.
"Follow me dear," Sybil spoke.
She led me up a set of stairs to a hallway that had three doors.
"The door on your left is your aunt's room, some nights she sleeps in there other nights she stays in the living room. The door to your right is your room. You have your own bathroom and television in there," Sybil explained before opening the door.
My room was large but not overly so. There was a bed in the middle of the room and the far wall was actually a bunch of windows that went from the floor to the ceiling. There was a long window seat that was littered with pillows and a couple throw blankets. The television was directly in front of the bed and underneath of it was a fireplace. Beside the fire place was a door that led to a small walk in closet and beside the bed was the bathroom, it was beautiful.
"Sybil? Where does the third door go?"
"I am not sure sweetheart. I think its a library with the amount your aunt loves to read, but I cannot be certain. What I can tell you is do not go in there! You don't want to infuriate your aunt."
I nodded before saying, "She doesn't like me very much does she?"
Sybil took a moment before she answered.
"Your aunt is a complicated woman. She is very strict and stuck in old ways and is very superstitious. I don't think she dislikes you, she is just very independent and can't stand having help. Just do what you can to maker her comfortable and do what she asks of you. If you ever need anything I am right next door."
After that conversation, Sybil left me to unpack my clothes and get settled in. Once I was finished I went back downstairs to make some dinner for Aunt Elly and I, before calling mom and hitting the hay.