Chapter Two

Chapter Two


“A girl?!” He almost cried out.
The girl didn’t seem to hear luckily for him, as she went to smoldering two pieces of metal together.
He realized she was just in a white nightgown, and a red robe that seemed a bit big. Her long black curls looked almost purple in the pale light in her room.
Nicolas took a step away from the door, but tripped over a trunk that had been placed near the wall of the hallway, falling onto the floor.
This time she heard the noise.
She turned around, her hair fanning out around her shoulder. Her eyes were hidden behind a pair of goggles, which she quickly pulled off as her jaw dropped when she caught sight of him.
He didn’t know what to do. He considered running down the stairs and jumping out the window. But she moved before he could.
With the iron still in her hand, she moved towards him and beckoned him to come in as she glanced nervously up and down the hall. After a stunned moment when he didn’t move, she groaned and caught a hold of his sleeve, and dragged him into her room and shut the door quietly behind him.

Once it was close, she turned to him and starred at him in wonder.
“What? Who are you?” She asked, in a surprisingly calm tone. Which was more than he could say for himself.
“I - uh… I’m Nicolas Howler.” He said, bowing at the waist in a traditional fashion. Her cheeks flushed, though he could not figure out why. She pulled out the tips of her robe and dipped into a curtsy.
“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Howler. I’m Georgiana Smith. The only daughter of Orville and Louisa Smith.”
Well, so much for coming away empty handed. He thought to himself. Then she rose to her full height, which was just a couple inches shorted then Nicolas. Her eyebrows rose in curiosity as she looked him over, as he did her.
Mr. Howler was as one might except from a fifteen, sixteen, year old boy. He was tall, but evenly proportioned. Though she did notice he had some upper body build, even if it was hidden under a filthy shirt, and a tattered coat. What fascinated her most about the strange boy in her bedroom, was his face. She wouldn’t have been able to pick out just one thing about his face that attracted her most, but his face in a whole, was one she thought to be strange on a boy.
When he blinked, his thick lashes curled on his high cheekbones. He had an angular chin, and bright…golden eyes. She looked again to confirm that indeed, his eyes were a deep, rich, gold. Framed by dark brown curls that fell onto his sweaty forehead in wet clumps.

While she had been studying him, he had done the same to her. He judged she couldn’t be more than fifteen years old. She was slender, and tall for her age, but then so was he. She was of small build in every possible way, and her midnight purple hair was a tangled mess, but somehow, she looked beautiful anyways. Her bright green eyes, were a shade he had never seen before. So bright and vibrant that they seemed to imprint themselves behind his eyelids.

“So may I ask,” Georgiana said, slowly. “What exactly are you doing in my house?”
“Um… I’m - uh…I’m investigating.” He responded, instantly cursing himself for sounding like an idiot.
Her brow creased in confusion.
“Investigating what?”
“Um…” His eyes wandered the room, ‘til they found the source of the only light in the room. “Gas lamps. We’ve heard they’re acting up lately.”
She instantly glanced at the lamp on her work table.
“Gas lamps,” She echoed. “At this time of night? And why didn’t you let father know? And how did you even get in?”
Nicolas bit his lip.
“Ah…well…this is the only time I’m allowed to come up here.” He answered her first question. Hoping she wouldn’t notice that he had skirted around the others.
“’Up…here’?” Her eyes lit up as she suddenly realized what the statement meant.
“Wait a moment, you mean you’re a…you’re a…” She suddenly burst out laughing, followed by her jumping up and down like a little child on Christmas day.
“You’re a Junkie!”
Nicolas groaned and rubbed his forehead with a fist.
“I dislike that particular term…”
She could hardly keep her excitement in.
“I can’t believe I’ve actually met one! I mean it’s mostly just rumors up here. Most don’t want to believe you all exist. But now I’ve actually met one! Hahaha! I have so many questions to ask… and the first one is how did you get into my house again?”
Nico sighed, thankful she had come back to her sense. And he would have answered, if she hadn’t jumped to another question.
“Can you please empty your pockets for me?”
He drew in a deep breath.
“Do you always jump from one thought to another so rapidly?”
“Oh! Yes, yes I do. I’m sorry. It’s just the way my brain works. Always on the highest gear and never slowing down. Even when I sleep. It can be quiet irritable at times as well.” She replied, her eyes suddenly sad.
“Hmm…” He emptied out his trouser pockets, showing her that nothing was in it.
Then she pointed to his vest.
“And that one?”
Nico clenched his teeth, as the thought of her knowing what was in his pocket ran through his mind. She noticed the flash of fear in his eyes, which only made her more persistent.
“Nothing. There’s nothing in it.” He replied quickly.
She arched an elegant eyebrow, and placed her hands on her hips.
“If you don’t show me I’ll scream of my parents.” She threatened with a hard tone.
Nico gulped and with a shaky hand, pulled his treasured watch out of his pocket.
Georgiana gasped, her hands flew up at her mouth.
Nicolas’ eyes widened.
“I’ve seen this before…In my father’s journal.”
“Where is it?” Nicolas asked. His curiosity heightened, as he wondered why her father would have mentioned his pocket watch.
“In the library.” She responded, just before another crash echoed through the house.
Georgiana’s eyes slowly found Nico’s. The fear was evident and he suddenly wanted to do something to comfort her, but nothing came to mind.
“It’s coming from the library.” Georgiana stated, suddenly taking off out of her room and down the hall.
Nico was left standing there, in shock that she had gone first instead of him. The thought of a girl going into danger he wouldn’t face himself spurred him into movement as he raced after her.