Chapter 9 Wives are swallowed by the house

Selene was left alone on the balcony because her thoughts would not stop. Vivienne Blackwood, Isadora, Damien's caution. She had to learn everything. She had to go inside, the storm outside continued to rage, the wind roaring against the windows and the enormous estate rattling like a beast trying to break in. There was nobody in the hallway. With one exception, though. Vivienne Blackwood's portrait. However, it was no longer in its room. It was present. Directly outside her door. Selene stumbled backward. How? Who moved it? She sensed someone observing.

Then- A whisper against her ear, cold and soft. "Go." Selene turned around- However, nobody was present. Only shadows and cold air. She ran to get Damien, but by the time they got there the painting was no longer there. "You're seeing things Selene." Said Damien walking away, leaving her so puzzled.

Selene was unable to sleep. She was still in bed till dawn, gazing up at the ceiling and trying to convince herself that it had all been in her head. She was certain she hadn't. Nevertheless, she pushed herself to her feet, put on a robe, and strode directly to the dining room. Mrs. Hawthorne had already arrived and was preparing breakfast. Selene made a snap decision. "Vivienne Blackwood?" Mrs Hawthorne froze. The teacup shuddered in her grasp. The older woman remained silent for a long time. Then she muttered, "She was the first," in a voice so low Selene could almost hear it. Selene's breathing became laboured. "What was the first?" Mrs. Hawthorne, however, would not look at her. And she turned and walked away without responding. At breakfast, Selene sat by herself, thinking.

The first? As she put things together, her fingers drummed on the table. She had looked just like Vivienne. Damien had something to conceal. Mrs. Hawthorne felt frightened. Moreover, the portrait had been relocated outside her door. Selene inhaled deeply. She had had enough of waiting for responses. She would discover the truth on her own if Damien refused to tell it to her. Hours had been spent searching the manor by Selene. However, all the rooms were securely locked. Every door, hallway, every dreadful passageway was blocked. Until she came to this one. A room at the west wing's very end. The door was open. She had a profound, instinctive feeling that Damien didn't want her to witness this. She opened the door with a push. And stopped.

The space was a bedroom. Not just any bedroom, though. She owned it. The furnishings, The artwork, It was just like her own room. But older. Dustier. As if it had lain fallow for years. Then she looked at the bedside table. A hairbrush made of silver, with the name of Vivienne Blackwood engraved on it. Selene felt her heart race. This space... It had been Vivienne's. It had been anticipating her arrival. There was a noise behind her. Selene spun around- Damien was standing in the doorway. He had deadly silver eyes. "Why are you here?" He spoke softly. Risky. Selene stood up. "Seeking the truth."

With a short exhale, Damien ran a hand over his hair. "You never pay attention," he said. Selene squeezed her fingers. "Because you never tell me the truth" His eyes grew gloomy. They stood for a long time, the quiet between them heavy. Then, suddenly, Damien walked forward. Selene stepped back. Her back struck the wall, and Damien was right there, so there was nowhere to go. Looming over her. On either side of her head, his hands braced. He said, "You don't know what you're getting yourself into." Selene felt her heart race. "Then explain things to me." He clenched his jaw. His eyes fell-to her mouth. And for a second, just a second, she believed he was going to kiss her.

Then he pushed away, just as abruptly. "Selene, get out of here." Then, without warning, he vanished. She now has more questions than before. She had decided on something. Damien was not a reliable source of information for her. She was also aware that nobody in the house would be honest with her. So she waited. She spent the entire evening in her room, acting like she was submissive and reading. She stirred when midnight struck on the grandfather clock in the hallway. Silently. With caution. After getting out of bed, she put on a jacket and slithered over to the window. The ground was still damp, but the rain had ceased. She was indifferent. She descended. Her heart thumping, she fell into the darkness. She had freedom. At least, for now.

Selene was completely soaked by the time she got to Ava's. Wide-eyed, Ava opened the door. "Selene? What the devil-" Selene shoved her way in. "I need your help." Ava sighed after staring at her. "This is what you always do," she whispered. "Sneaking out as if you were in a spy film." Selene was not grinning. Because it was serious this time. Ava sobered when she noticed the expression on her face. "All right," she said. "Speak." Selene gave a detailed explanation. Vivienne Blackwood, The cautions, Damien's eyes were filled with horror, The moving portrait. Ava was pale by the time she was done. Slowly, she murmured, "Selene, this... This sounds like a serious situation." Selene combed her wet hair with her hand. "I understand." Ava nibbled on her lip. "All right. What then do we do?"

Selene's heart was racing. "I must discover Vivienne's identity. What became of her?" Ava paused. She then reached for her laptop. "We'll find a story if there is one," she replied. Hours were spent searching. The history of the Blackwoods proved hard to find. The files were sealed. There were no records. As if they had been wiped. Finally, though, they discovered something. An article from over ten years ago on old society. It was read aloud by Ava. According to reports, Damien Blackwood's adored wife, Vivienne Blackwood, has disappeared. Family members say she departed voluntarily, and no official investigation has been announced. Selene tensed. voluntarily?

So why wouldn't Damien discuss her? As she read the final line, Ava's voice faltered. "There was never a body discovered." A shiver went down Selene's back. And she knew-in that instant. It was still Vivienne Blackwood. She was no longer alive. Additionally, Blackwood Manor was concealing her identity. Selene's heart pounded as she gazed at the television. "There was never a body discovered." She could not get the words out of her head. Vivienne had not simply departed. She was no longer there. Ava chewed on her lip as she leaned back. "This is strange." Selene took a swallow. "More is required." After letting out a breath, Ava entered the search bar. Manor of Blackwood. The findings took a while to load. However, when they did- The breath escaped Selene's body. Ava's eyes got bigger. "Oh, sh*t."

Because there were whispers all over the internet. Dozens of posts were made. on outdated discussion boards, on personal blogs. Discussions about Blackwood Manor. And there was one phrase that kept coming up. "Wives are swallowed by the house." The blood in Selene ran cold. Leaning forward, she looked over the text on the screen. "No woman ever leaves the Blackwood family after marrying into it." The first wife vanished. The second didn't exist. "They claim that she is still there." Ava turned to speak softly to her. She whispered, "What if she's haunting it, Selene?" Selene balled her hands into fists. "I must know why, if she is," she muttered. Ava continued to scroll. The posts grew stranger the deeper they went. There were some crazy conspiracies. Others seemed too specific to be lies.

However, one statement caught my attention. It was posted years ago, so it was ancient. And it stated: "Vivienne Blackwood remains in that location. Don't mention her name, though. The home pays attention." Selene shuddered. Ava scowled. "That's a little unsettling." Selene's heart was racing. "Try looking up her entire name." After hesitating, Ava entered it. The screen then became black. Ava swore. She pressed the keyboard. The mouse was clicked. Nothing. The laptop died. Selene felt a knot in her stomach. "Did it crash?" Ava attempted to restart it. A loading bar showed up, but a message flashed across the screen before the home screen could load. Just one sentence. QUIT YOUR SEARCH. The words vanished after blinking once. The laptop appeared to have resumed without any issues. Ava went pale. Selene's hands were freezing. They were being observed by someone.

Selene got to her feet. She reached for her coat. "We must leave." Ava gave her a disbelieving glance. "Go? Where?" Selene's thoughts whirled. The Blackwoods were powerful. Cash has an impact. This secret has been kept hidden for years. She couldn't discover the truth on the internet if she wanted to. She needed to get to a place they couldn't destroy. She said, "The library." "The office of records." Somewhere there are tangible documents. After a moment of hesitation, Ava nodded. She picked up her keys and stood up. However, when they turned to go- A silhouette passed by the window. The heart stopped in Selene. There was a person outside, observing. And when their gazes locked- The figure disappeared.