Enchanted Heart

By Adrien and Jenny Wilson

A/N: This has been a collaboration between the two of us… Kind of a writer’s block breaker. We apologize for the long first chapter, but there was no way to really break it up. Please read and Review.

Chapter 1

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am very much serious, Lynea. I’ve run these types of tests for twenty years now and it is definitely in the last stage of lung cancer. Listen, Lynea, the chemo doesn’t always take and I am truly sorry that you had to be one of those percentages.”

“How long, doc?” Lynea interrupted the beginnings of a sincere conversation and moved straight for the hard to hear words.

“… Two to three months. My advice to you is to take the next couple of weeks and say your goodbyes before you are bedridden.”

“Thanks, doc, I’ll keep that in mind.” The elderly woman who thought she still had a few years left in her stood to leave the room, not making eye contact with the man that had taken such good care of her.

Stepping from the doctor’s office and into the streets of Italy, a man leaning against a black vehicle stood and smiled at her… only she didn’t return it. There was no reason in her heart to tell him about her welfare. Arthur Wayland was her lawyer and not paid to question.

“I got that picture you asked for.” Pulling out a portfolio from beneath his arm, he opened that black bound leather book and handed it to her.

Studying the photo for a moment more than she should have, Lynea handed it back to Wayland and informed him that the woman in the picture was the one she sought.

“So what would you like me to do now, ma’am?” Wayland questioned, even though he already knew the answer.

“You know what to do, Wayland. Go and get started on it. I need to get back home and take care of details requiring my attention.”

The persistent ringing of the telephone awoke Revara O’connor from a sound sleep. Growling in irritation, she sat up, pushing a hand through her honey colored hair and looked at the incandescent digital alarm clock. Three hours before she needed to get up and get ready for another night as a waitress at the Dew Drop Inn.

“What?” She practically barked into the phone.

“Is this… Revara O’Connor of… 1422 South Grey Lane Apartment d-22?” The man’s voice sounded scripted or tired as if reading from a slightly out of focused cue card.

“Yeah.” She said tiredly, muffling the phone with her hand as she yawned.

“My name is Arthur Wayland.” She rolled her eyes. Why do telemarketers always tell you their name? She wondered. “I am… or rather was, your Aunt’s legal advisor.”

“I don’t have any Aunts.” Revara said quickly, hoping she might return to her sleep within a few minutes.

“Forgive me, your Great-Aunt Lynea O’connor; daughter of Eadoin and Carlyn O’connor, sister to Sullivan O’connor, your grandfather.” The litany of names caught her attention.

“I…” She paused and wondered what to say to this man. “I’m sorry she fired you?” She said uncertainly. Dead silence as the man on the other end of the line fought to understand her words.

“No, Miss O’connor, I wasn’t fired.” He said, sounding amused, then his voice grew somber as he continued. “Your aunt passed away yesterday.” He said sadly.

“Uh,” Revara shook her head. “I’m sorry to hear that.” She said, her voice showing her confusion.

“You were named her heir.” Arthur Wayland added, perhaps hoping to ease her confusion.

Revara’s mind tilted dangerously, struggling to comprehend this information. Because nothing good could come of this, she decided on the worst case scenario.

“Uhm, listen,” She said, trying to sound dignified even as she fought to hide her embarrassment. “I don’t really have much money, I can’t afford some dead person’s bills and funeral stuff. I mean, I know she’s family and all, but…”

“You don’t seem to understand, Miss O’connor.” He interrupted her. “Your aunt was a very wealthy woman, she left everything to you.”

“Huh?”

“You were named her sole heir.” He said, slowly annunciating every syllable as if she were a bit shy in the brain department.

“… What exactly are we talking about here, sir?” Revara’s mind strained to understand and hopefully make out that this was a crazy mistake.

“Your Great Aunt, Lynea O’Connor named you sole benefactor of her estate.” Revara tried to stifle the annoyance she felt at his generic answer, after all, her father had been a lawyer and she knew that most lawyers simply couldn’t help talking as if they had a legal brief stuck up their ass.

Taking her tone from Arthur Wayland, she returned. “What is the extent of her estate?” She asked, knowing that this tone would have caused her father to laugh at her when he realized that he had fallen into his work habits so easily.

“The combined assets equal 133 million dollars.” Revara held the phone away from her ear checking to make sure it was her phone and not some sort of camera. “There is one stipulation.” He added delicately. And here's the punch line. Revara thought irritably. “Your aunt insisted you take over her residence.”

“That’s all?” Revara asked suspiciously.

“It’s in Italy, outside of Berlome actually.” Revara sank to her bed, barely hearing his continued listing of Lynea’s Estate or the instructions to his American based firm to receive the inheritance.

A bright gust of wind caressed the olive skin of a young woman as she walked out of The Dew Drop Inn for the last time. Even though she knew she would miss her customers and co-workers, Revara could not deny her excitement for the extraordinary circumstances that would take her to her new home. Juggling two boxes filled with presents from her going away party, she released a deep breath and walked down the ramp to her car. The rustlings of fall leaves were beginning to announce the closeness of winter, she noted the change in season absently as turned to the bar for a last sentimental look.

“So, all packed up for your little adventure, huh?” The young man startled Revara from her silent musings.

“Casey.” She responded delightedly, quickly handing the gangly young man one of her boxes. “I’m glad you came.”

“Sure, just so you could get me to do your dirty work.” He chuckled, taking both boxes from the petite woman and leading her to his car.

“No, I am glad to see you.” She refuted. “I didn’t think I would get the chance to say good-bye before I left.”

“Hmph, as if.” He responded lightly. “Do you really think my mother would let you get away from us that easily?” He demanded as he set the boxes down by the trunk of his car.

She had just realized what he was doing and frowned in annoyance. “I have my own car.” She said, motioning to the aging Oldsmobile three stalls away.

“It’s a bit of a stretch, calling that POS a car.” Casey said as he fished his keys out of his pocket. “Besides, in the unlikely event your vehicle actually arrived at the airport tomorrow…” His words faded in his throat as she frowned and looked over at the rusted vehicle. He raised in hands in surrender.

“I still have a lot to do.” She said, bending over to pick up the boxes.

“Come on; don’t make this harder than it has to be.” He pleaded. She just looked at him, offering no quarter.

“Let me guess?” She demanded, placing her hands on her hips. “Diane Lasek and the rest of you heathens are trying to get me over to your place for a surprise going away party?”

Casey didn’t answer as he retrieved her boxes from the ground. “And they sent you because…” She waited for him to answer.

“Because of your soft spot for me?” He said hopefully. She just rolled her eyes before giving him ‘the look.’ “Because I am so good at bull shitting.” He said in defeat.

“Okay, you win.” She said with a bright smile. His face lit up at her smile, and flipping her golden locks out of her face, she added. She leaned in and gave him a brief hug, pleased when he eagerly returned it. Dizziness set in as she inhaled his cologne and she reluctantly broke the contact. She knew there was no way he could think of her as anything but a sister and with her leaving the country, she didn’t need to burden him with her silly infatuation.

“But only because you’re holding my presents hostage.” She said to cover her awkwardness. It was the right thing to say, his laugh followed her as she flounced away and got into her car.

Sighing deeply as she started the car, she told herself, once again, that moving away from Casey and his confusing signals, was the best thing for her. Besides, even if she weren’t leaving, she would never do anything to endanger her relationship with Casey’s family.

The Laseks were, in Revara’s mind perfect. She and the twins, Casey and Alanna, had been friends since the day Revara, desperately tired of the name calling and the continuous chases around the playground, stood up to Alanna.

Even now, fifteen years later, Revara could still recall every detail of that occurrence. It was the second Wednesday of the month, Spaghetti, Revara’s favorite, was always served the second Wednesday of the month. She had just taken her seat directly across from the quiet boy with startlingly blue eyes when Alanna passed behind young Casey. She winked at Revara, who only scowled in return, and reached over to yank Casey’s pony tail. She didn’t let go, even when he stood up, trying to get away.

“Look at the silly little faggot!” Alanna had called everybody’s attention to the squirming boy and they all laughed. All except Revara. Something snapped and picking up her tray, she flung the contents across the table, watching in fascination as the spaghetti glooped down the young girl’s face.

The laughing stopped, Alanna dropped her hold on her brother. Casey could only stare in horror at the mess. She reached up and wiped a bit of the sauce from her face. Dead silence in the normally loud cafeteria as everyone waited for the swift vengeance.

The vengeance never came, Alanna laughed. Revara had imagined her short life at an end, instead an unbreakable bond formed between the three children.

The twin’s parents, Diane and Edward, practically adopted Revara, offering her an unconditional acceptance, not found with her mother. She chuckled as she recalled her surrogate family’s reaction to her news.

“You’re shitting me.” Alanna’s spoken thought echoed the faces of her family, all staring agape at Revara’s news.

“Alanna!” Mrs. Lasek said sharply, her eyes darting to the privacy fence of the back yard where children’s shout rang out as they play.

“Sorry mother.” Alanna said without sincerity. “So, my best friend is a millionaire?” She asked, her voice oddly subdued.

“And moving to Italy?” Casey spoke up, his face pale, as if he had suffered a mortal wound. Revara wondered at his reaction, she had expected shock, but not this all-encompassing pain on his face.

Reaching up, she laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, missing the aqua eyes of his twin sister flashing in irritation. Casey noticed his sister’s narrowed stare and shifted uncomfortably.

The moment of hope gone, Revara removed her hand and looked at Mrs. Lasek.

“It’s the chance of a lifetime.” She explained. “And you can all come and stay with me whenever you want.”

“Well,” Mrs. Lasek said, her aqua colored eyes twinkling at the byplay of her children. “I for on am happy for you. Getting to go to Italy and all… how exciting and yet romantic at the same time!” Her eyes glazed over as she considered the possibilities.

Diane had always been a hopeless romantic that couldn’t help day dreaming any time a new idea sprouted into her scattered thoughts. When Diane had turned, eighteen and fell in love with her husband, Dimitri, she found her passion for writing. Publishing three novels of luscious goodness, the woman wasn’t happy unless she shared her fantasies with others.

“Uh oh, I know that look.” Mr. Lasek said, his eyes glittering in anticipation.

“Great.” Casey grumbled. “Please don’t be too explicit in your new book.” He pleaded.

“Yeah, the last thing I need to imagine is you going at it with dad while reading your work, mom,” Alynna said sarcastically. She found it disgusting to know that her mother’s fantasies were always about her father. Mrs. Lasek blushed and bowed her head.

Deciding to lay off their mother, Casey turned to Alanna. “I bet you daydream about being in her stories, sis,” Casey intervened with a smirk on his soft face.

“Yeah, and you’re the villain I kill in each of them too… Cassy.” This always flustered Casey when his sister called him that considering it was in the feminine sense of his nickname.

A brief struggle ensued, ending when Alanna knocked her brother to the ground and then pulled him back up by the pony tail he insisted on keeping.

“You two are hopeless,” Revara shook her head at their antics, secretly loving the gentle rivalry over who had the bigger brawn… and Casey would always lose to his twin.

“I can’t believe you’re both adults.” Mr. Lasek admonished, his eyes twinkling at their play. “You should stop acting like children.”

Alanna shrugged and sank onto one of the lounge chairs, Casey, meanwhile, sat next to Revara on the small bench.

“So, Revara, what does your mother think of all of this?” Diane asked when Revara leaned up against Casey on the bench and allowed him to place his arm protectively over her. Just as a thoughtful brother would do, she reminded herself.

“She doesn’t know yet, Mrs. Lasek… and I’m avoiding telling her just yet.” She saw Diane’s scowl, wondering if Diane meant the look for her, or for her dear mother.

“You really need to tell her, dear. It’ll break her heart if you don’t.” Mrs. Lasek said softly.

“Actually,” Revara said with a tight smile to cover her guilt at Diane’s words. “The only thing that’ll break her heart is losing one of her minions, she does so hate doing her ‘dastardly deeds’ on her own.” The words had the intended affect of relieving the tension in the room. Casey had long ago dubbed Constantine O’conner’s various self appointed tasks, ‘dastardly deeds.’

“But you’re right.” She said, standing up, already missing the warmth of Casey’s arm on her shoulder. “I’ll call her as soon as I get home.” She promised.

True to her word, Revara had called her mother the moment she entered her small apartment. Brevity was the best thing about the conversation that followed.

“What do you want?” Revara suppressed a grimace. At least she answered the phone. She thought as she launched into an explanation.

Her mother sighed once she finished telling her that she would be moving to Italy. “Well, good luck.” She said after an awkward silence.

“Thank you, Mother.” Revara hoped her voice didn’t betray the hurt she felt at her mother’s callous attitude. Still, it took all of Alanna’s disparaging remarks about her mother to make her laugh.

“God damn it.” Alanna said for the tenth time as she anxiously peered out of the front room window. “Where the hell are they?”

With a deep sigh, Diane Lasek looked at the clock on the wall. “They still have ten minutes, Lanna.” She reminded her impatient daughter. Alanna tore herself away from the window and sank onto the chair. Diane mouthed her daughter’s next words as she said them.

“You should have let me pick her up from work.”

“You shouldn’t be so redundant, dear.” Her mother said with a smile to soften the insult.

“Thank you, mother.” Alanna replied sarcastically. “Maybe, in the future, when my best friend is moving half way around the world, you could let me go see her on her last night in my life.”

Diane rolled her eyes at her daughter’s dramatic words. “I think Casey will have more luck with her.” She said with a slight smile.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alanna asked, sitting up straighter, her hands balled into fists.

Diane declined to comment verbally, only offering a knowing shrug. Why couldn’t her daughter have let Casey and Revara grow into the feelings they obviously shared?

The answer was already apparent to Diane, as much as she hated to admit it. Her daughter was selfish. Alanna had to come first in the lives of everyone she deemed ‘hers.’ The very idea of Casey and Revara choosing each other over her, obviously drove the young woman to distraction.

“You never did like playing second fiddle with anyone.” Diane said softly, almost hoping her daughter wouldn’t hear. Unfortunately, she did.

“Thank you, mother. If you’ll excuse me.” She stood up without waiting for a response, leaving an exasperated woman in her wake.

Sighing, Diane wondered if Casey would be going with Revara if Alanna could have kept her jealousy in check.

Alanna lounged on the front steps as both cars pulled up in front of the house. Standing up with a sigh, she walked over to Revara’s car, conflicting emotions once again hidden behind a cold mask.

“Remind me why you still drive that… car around?” Alanna asked lightly as she opened the driver’s side door for her friend.

Revara rolled her eyes at the words and stepped out of the car. “I like it.” She said simply, knowing her friends would only scoff if she told them she couldn’t bear to part with the only thing of her father she had left.

“Hey Lanna!” Her brother called out as he exited his car. “Is everything set up inside, or should we take Revara around the block to give mom more time?”

“No, it was set up thirty minutes ago… when you were supposed to get here.” She added snidely. She turned back to Revara, grabbing the shorter girl’s arm.

“Come on, it’s your last night as an impoverished student.” She said with a broad wink, glad when her friend offered a show of resistance and refused to give ground.

Retrieving her arm from the tight grip, Revara walked up the lawn to the front door, smiling as it opened and Mr. and Mrs. Lasek beamed down at her.

“Come in, get comfortable.” Mr. Lasek suggested. Offering her his hand as she climbed the steps.

“I really can’t stay long.” She said, offering both of them a strong hug. “I’m going to have a long flight tomorrow.”

“You can stay as long as you want.” Mrs. Lasek said sharply. “Casey told me of your plans to stay in a hotel alone on your last night in the states.”

“Yeah, what do you have to do that’s so important anyways?” Casey asked, coming up behind her.

“Just wanted to get to bed early, ya’ know.” She shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to tell them how hard it had been to say good-bye to them the week before. She didn’t want them to worry about her when her doubt finally broke through her excitement and she began crying over things that might have been. But most of all, she didn’t want her last hours in the States to be full of wishing that Casey could return her feelings.

“You just didn’t want to say good-bye to us again.” Casey said softly, he raised his hand, as if he were going to put it on her shoulder, but intercepting the scowl from his sister, allowed the appendage to fall gracelessly back to his side. “I understand.”

It only took one glance to know that he truly did understand. He smiled at her, letting her know that he felt the same. That he didn’t want to say good-bye again either.

“Too bad your little plan to leave us high and dry failed.” Alanna remarked casually, pushing past her brother and her parents to enter the house. Casey frowned at his sister’s back, the honest displeasure with his sister surprising Revara.

“You cancelled her reservation, didn’t you?” Alanna froze in the doorway at her brother’s words. Turning back, Alanna grinned widely before continuing into the house. Revara didn’t know whether to be angry or amused by Alanna’s underhanded tactics.

“You really shouldn’t be alone, dear.” Diane said quietly as she pulled Revara into a deep embrace. “You need people you love around you.”

Revara was exhausted. It was her own fault, she decided. She had stayed up all night with the Lasek twins, Casey and Alanna, reminiscing about their childhoods, then the twins, in an ultimate act of self-sacrifice, at least that was how they put it, agreed to baby sit her damn car as long as she promised to come visit.

This morning, after a hearty meal of Mrs. Lasek’s biscuits and gravy, the entire clan had driven her to the airport. Standing amidst the family, all wearing varying expressions of sadness, Revara felt a small glimmer of homesickness. She wasn’t even surprised that her mother didn’t come to bid her farewell, though she couldn’t fully suppress the hurt.

After a few parting words from Mr. and Mrs. Lasek, Alanna looked at her and shrugged with a cold demeanor that belied the tears in her eyes. “So, don’t go drinking up all the wine you produce or you’ll be begging on the streets of Florence to get fare back home. I know I certainly wouldn’t help you out.” Her light words brought a smile to Revara’s lips and she reached out to hug the taller woman fiercely. And that had only left Casey.

“Take care of yourself.” He said, his voice oddly stressed.

“Don’t worry about me.” She said brightly. “I’ll send for you and Lanna just as soon as I get settled.” She promised. He tried to smile but it looked more like a grimace as he watched her turn to leave.

Standing outside the gate of Vento Di Dolore, Revara tried to summon the courage to push open the heavy wrought iron gate barring her entry. She suppressed a shudder of fear as she looked up at the deep forest before her. A small path led deeper into the winding grandeur of wooden limbs seeming to reach for her. Getting back into her rental car, Revara slid her materialistic safety net into drive, and with only minimal misgivings, headed for the Villa.

His car following inappropriately close, Arthur Wayland kept her from turning back. As she rounded her way through the narrow drive, the suns last rays slipped over the western edge, instantaneously plunging the path into darkness. Small ground lamps lit up the dirt road almost instantly, nonetheless a severe guttural feeling pulled at her navel urging her to turn back and say “Screw it all.” But the excitement and curiosity of her spirit pushed the black pedal down. When the villa finally came into view, Revara’s mouth slowly opened and closed a few times before ultimately deciding to stay open to express her amazement. Stopping twenty feet away from the front door, she jumped out of her car to view the multi-tiered home that started off as two levels and grew to three as it dipped deeper down into the side of the hill.

The Villa, for no one could simply call it a house upon seeing the grandeur, rose three levels above her. It fell into asymmetrical but graceful lines, one side coming up to only one story. The nasally voice behind her informed her that this was the wine room and then chuckled at her confused expression.

The west side of the house rose only a fraction higher than the entry way and curved back before forming a simple 'L' shape. Revara could see that the small addition nestled between the two wings was something of a mix between a conservatory and a library and something deep within her assured her that this had been her Aunt's favorite room.

“Your Aunt thoroughly enjoyed her privacy. The first couple of years she lived here, she would walk through these woods to find barren spots to plant more fauna,” Arthur placed a hand on her shoulder to signal he was there, it was indeed well for she had nearly forgotten the very existence of the short, slightly balding man beside her.

“Shall we take a look inside?” Arthur tried ushering her forward, only to meet an invisible barrier as she stood still.

“Is there someone in the house?” Revara inquired as she saw a glimpse of a figure walking past one of the windows.

“No, I’m sure the caretaker we hired after your aunt passed away is back at the village, it was probably just the moon rising and reflecting off the window.” Wayland reassured her.

Shrugging off the awkward feeling that Wayland was holding something back, she looked carefully at the window in the conservatory before moving forward to enter the tall oak door that had odd engravings on it.

“What are those?” Revara ran her fingers over the markings, feeling a tingle in her spine when the word ‘Runes’ became the answer.

“This room that we are in is one of the gallery rooms. The circular staircase here leads up to the first and second story of the estate.” He chuckled at her wry expression. “That’s the second and third level to a mid-westerner. “There are a total of five bedrooms including two suites, four bathrooms, a study, a great room, a family room and a den all spread out throughout the house.”

Revara peered at every inch she possibly could from the angle she stood from. Covering everything of value, pale sheets drifted vaguely in the breeze from the open doorway, only adding to the sense of mystery that was climbing Revara’s spine. Arthur pulled her through most of the house by half dragging considering she wanted to dig… her curiosity was forming like a volcano just waiting to erupt. Each room had almost a different personality. The one room that she really wanted to go back and look at was the great room. It had everything: a stage, screen, seating even a small orchestra pit.

“So can I stay here tonight?” Revara finally asked as they headed back towards the front door.

“I don’t see why not. Everything is functional for you. We do have a few legal things to take care of, but we can do all of that tomorrow. “You know, your Aunt had almost everything taken care of for you. You could live several lifetimes and never have to worry about money problems again. You’ll live comfortably for the rest of your life.” Revara was nodding, trying to contain the glee she felt and cover it with a properly somber look at the mention of her dead aunt.

“Also, I will be not only your legal advisor but also your financial advisor. If there is anything you need, just give me a call. Enjoy your night, Miss Revara, and don’t get into too much mischief,” Arthur knew that look in the woman’s eyes before him. It was the look of a child in a candy store without the restraint of a responsible party.

In her mind there was no such thing as too much mischief considering she would be spending the next couple of weeks disheveling every room in the house from top to bottom to see what secrets she could find.

“First things first.” Revara decided with a practical air inherited from her father. She lugged her several suitcases into the room she had already chosen as hers, liking the bright colors and the window facing east.

She knew she should unpack, but along with her practical sense, came one of adventure and ignoring the exhaustion that called her to the bed, she began her first search of the house.

As she wandered, she began to get a sense of her aunt, a woman who placed no differing value on the various treasures she had collected. Indeed, it brought a smile to the young woman’s lips when she found a signed photo from Winston Churchill, sitting casually on a bureau in the hall, while placed with obvious care was a picture of some small boy proudly holding the reigns of a mustang.

“Why didn’t I get to meet you?” She asked the deceased woman. “I’m sure we would have gotten along.” She expected no answer and wandered along, occasionally touching objects with reverence, a feeling of contentment rising in her like a slow tide.

Finally she wandered into the conservatory, noticing that this room was full of pictures, some in frames, others tossed negligently on tables alongside well cared for and exotic plants, there were even a few old paintings, one in particular caught her eye for a moment, but when she went to examine it closer, she saw a small black and white snapshot sitting on a stack of leather bound books.

Frowning in curiosity, she picked it up and turned it over to look at the faded wording etched on the back of the picture. Revara practically squealed in delight when she discovered Lynea’s name. Flipping over the picture, she delightedly studied the features of the woman her aunt had been in her youth. Lynea had been tall with a graceful slender figure, almost the complete opposite of Revara in that respect who could only be described as petite and, in her own mind, boyish, though the Lasek twins assured her that her figure was more athletic.

Other than the difference in figure, however, the woman in the black and white snap shot could have been Revara’s sister. The hair appeared to be a light color, it was hard to tell with the black and white, but Revara could well imagine that it was a golden wheat color; the eyes seemed as dark as storm clouds and Revara wondered with a slight thrill if the eyes were the same shade as her own. The other features on the woman’s face, the high cheekbones, the almond shaped eyes and the ‘pugnacious’ chin, were an exact match to her own. Revara felt at last that she had found a familial connection.

Setting the picture back where she had found it, Revara wandered around the conservatory, looking at other snapshots hung haphazardly throughout the room. Stifling a yawn, she looked longingly at the two overstuffed armchairs facing each other.

“That’s odd.” She said aloud. “I thought Aunt Lynea was a recluse, why would there be two of them?” Stretching luxuriously, she wandered over to the chairs and sank into the one facing away from the window. A small table sat beside her, a forgotten tea cup waiting for a woman who would never return.

Revara looked closer at the cup, her tired mind drawing parallels between the waiting cup and her aunt’s work. She reached out and picked it up, admiring the graceful porcelain and thinking that maybe a cup of tea was in order.

She stood and stretched, humming a mindless tune as she turned to the door. “Wonder what that tune is?” She asked aloud.

It only took a few minutes to boil the water, and Revara was sinking into the chair opposite the one she had previously occupied.

She hummed to herself, the same tune as before. “No, that’s not right.” She decided. Sinking back into the armchair she was just about to doze off when her own tune began humming in her ears, so gently that she didn’t even realize she was not the one humming.

Still clutching her tea cup in her fingers, she stood, determined to find the source of this humming, her logic assuring her that some electronic device manufactured the sound, similar to the empty drone of silence that surrounds a neon light, and that her tired senses only added the lyrical quality.

She listened carefully, moving to the ancient painting that dominated the west wall of the conservatory. She thought it sounded like the humming was coming from the painting. ‘More likely, there is something on the other side of the wall.’ She rationalized in her mind, not daring to voice the opinion audibly for fear her voice would eradicate her tenuous link to the humming.

Studying the painting closely, she recognized its age from the worn corners of the canvas as they pulled back from their moorings, showing a bit of the wood backing.

The woman pictured in the painting seemed familiar, as if Revara had known her in childhood, a beloved aunt perhaps. A gown cut in the ‘princess style’ swooped off of her shoulders, the fine iridescent blue and palest red velvet seemed to shimmer slightly as the storm grey eyes beheld the painting. The woman’s silver eyes seemed somnolent, as if she had seen enough horror in her sheltered life to last an eternity, her ebony hair cascaded over her shoulders, surprising Revara as most pieces from this period cad women’s hair either tightly coiffed or covered altogether. Her cheek bones, high with only the slightest hint of pink graced pale translucent skin and mahogany lips completed the visage, this woman was nothing short of beautiful.

Staring at the lifelike painting for what felt an eternity, Revara realized that the humming had stopped, shaking her head to clear her weary mind, she leaned over and placed her ear over the bosom of the painting.

“Would you kindly remove your head from my bosom?” Revara took a step back, somehow managing to stay on her feet, perhaps aided by the sturdy chair to which she now clung, the delicate cup, forgotten in her search for the source of the auditory emanations, slipped from her fingers, tinkling musically as it broke into nearly microscopic slivers.

Revara commanded herself to open her eyes and look at the painting. Where before the woman in the painting had seemed sad, her expression now showed humor overlaid with concern and she was looking right at Revara.

Her tired mind swirled to make sense of this madness, but nothing could explain away the animated picture, which had just raised her hand to smooth a wrinkle in her dress. A multitude of varying signals cascaded in her brain, and Revara mercifully succumbed to oblivion.

“Here we go again,” the woman chuckled as Revara went down with a thud, leaving the house silent once again.