Room 515, Saturday after Detention

[anarchist_queen]

If Leda hadn't been so worn out from Detention, she might have been able to dodge the Gremlin that had been lying in wait. As it was, she wasn't.

My name is Valerie Autumns. From the moment I left New York, and set foot in Corinwood, the shadows of the past have loomed over me like the shadow of this great brooding home. Even the inhabitants of this strange and bizarre place hover uncertainly between amazement, confidence and fear.

Fear of the unknown, fear of the past. Fear of the future. Even fear of each other. From the young boy I've come to tutor, to the father he hates. From the mistress of the house who never leaves to the grounds keeper who's loyalty borders on the sinister. From the man who has returned, possibly with ulterior motives, to the girl who I have come to care for more than I ever thought possible.

The shadow of Corinwood even falls over the town below. It falls over the artist living in fear of his secrets. It falls over his daughter who cares for him and worries. It falls over the young man who just wants a future with his girl.

And now all I can do is try my best to make sense of it all. And try not to let their secrets and their deception deter me from my own search for the truth. I can't let the fear and darkness over come me, or I will become like them. Like everyone has warned me.

[Door and post are open. Leda has become Victoria Winters from the original Dark Shadows.]

Comments

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Valerie looked even more confused. "You're Carolyne Scoddard. We've been friends since I came here to look after your brother."

[glacial_queen]

"Right," Karla replied flatly. "I was hoping to hear you tell me of it. You know, your first impressions and all."

And hopefully something she would say would let Karla know how to fix this. Before her tempter broke and she punched Leda in face and hope that broke the spell.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Valerie scratched absently at her hand where the gremlin had bitten her. It was already healing, but still evident. "Carolyne are you sure you're alright?"

[glacial_queen]

Karla noticed the movement. "Le--ummm...dear friend," she said, trying to keep the sarcasm to a minimum. "What happened to your hand there? May I see it?"

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"What? Oh, I'm not sure." She held out her hand. "I think it must be a spider bite."

[glacial_queen]

It wasn't any kind of bite that Karla had ever seen, but it did remind her of all the warnings she'd gotten from other students. Leda was gremlin bit.

She relaxed. It was still odd, but it meant that she didn't have to worry about Leda's satefy any more. Everyone said these episodes passed, leaving the victim embarrassed, but unharmed. Which meant Karla could enjoy this without concern.

"So it appears," Karla said, releasing Leda's hand. "But it should be fine. So, how are my...brother's?...studies going?"

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"David's still getting over his resentment of me." Valerie sighed. "But I think I'm getting through to him."

[glacial_queen]

"Don't worry, dear," Karla said, "I'm sure he'll come around in time."

A truly horrible plan came to mind, and a wicked grin crossed her face.

She moved next to Leda. Very, very near. Invading her personal space near. "He just needs time," she whispered, breathily, in Leda's ear, bringing up her hand to caress the back of her neck. "Just a little time, I'm sure of it."

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Oh Leda would be unhappy she wasn't in her right mind at this point when she recovered. As it was, Valerie drew back in surprise. "Carolyne what are you doing?"

[glacial_queen]

"Oh nothing," Karla lied airly. "You just seemed tense. I thought a massage might be in order." She moved forward again, trailing her fingers up Leda's arm. "As a way to thank you for taking such diligent care of my brother."

Mother Night. It was hard to keep one's voice husky and suggestive when one was trying hard not to giggle.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Well...a massage might be nice. But... "Well things are a little stressful, what with David trying to kill your uncle and Burk Devlin trying to find out everyone's secrets." she said uncertainly. She supposed if Carolyne was doing what she thought she shouldn't be too surprised. After all Carolyne had expressed what sounded like romantic feelings for her uncle.

[glacial_queen]

Karla had no idea what Leda was going on about. "Precisely," she said, breath tickling Leda's ear. "I'm glad we understand one another."

She paused, concentrating, trying to remember a spell she'd read about. Phantom Hands, it was called. It could...riiiiiiiight.

Karla kept her hands on Leda's shoulder's, lightly running her nails down along her arm. The sensation of another set of hands, however, begand skimming up Leda's legs, above the knee, to mid-thigh, and then back down again.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Valerie let out a decidedly un-Leda like shriek and jumped in fright. "The ghost!"

[glacial_queen]

"...Ghost?" Karla asked, trying not to snicker at the squeal. Leda was never going to live this down. Ever.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"Something just touched my leg." she gasped. "A hand...it's here. Oh what does it want with me?"

[glacial_queen]

"You've been bothered by this ghost before?" Karla asked, barely bothering to hide her grin.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

"Carolyne I've told you before I can hear it weeping at night."

[glacial_queen]

"Riiiight. So you did. I must have forgotten. Have you figured out what the ghost wants?"

Karla was tempted--very tempted--to use the phantom hands again. But that might be too frightening for whatever was going on in Leda's mind right now. She wanted Leda chagrined when she came back to herself, not angry or embarrassed.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Valerie shook her head helplessly. "No, but I'm certain it has something to do with that locked room in the cellar. The one your mother is so adamant about no one entering."

Dark Shadows canon is fun

[glacial_queen]

"I have been meaning to tell you what is inside," Karla said, trying not to snicker again. "But I'm so terrified that if I do, you'll hate me forever!"

Karla was hamming it up for all she was worth. Somewhere, Geoffery Tennant was thinking about suicide and not sure why.

Never saw it.

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

Valerie looked torn for a moment, but then took a deep breath. "Please tell me. I promise I won't hate you."

Only recently was exposed to it.

[glacial_queen]

"..."

Karla was at a loss of what to say. What could she possibly say? She pondered that for a moment, hoping that Leda would think she was debating whether or not to tell her. "I don't know...it's, uh, horrible?"

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

So many secrets. Valerie sighed. "Well if you can't tell me I understand."

[glacial_queen]

Karla also sighed. That was not where she was hoping things would go. Uh-oh. The bad idea bear struck again.

"I can tell you, but only if I know I can completely trust you," she said, wicked smile blooming. "To prove it to me, I need...a kiss."

[anarchist-queen.livejournal.com]

At this, Valerie gaped, stunned. "But, what about Joe? He loves you!"