the next
several hours searching the house. Not for anything in particular,
but instead, exploring. He took his time walking through every
room, every hallway, looking at all the décor and furnishings. Most
of which were very new to him, while others seemed almost familiar.
He took in as much as he could, feeding his curiosity with
everything the house had to offer.
He collected a few
pictures that had been framed of Fran and Saphora, thinking that it
would be a nice gesture of thanks to bring back something of value
to Saphora.
After having explored
Saphora’s room, he walked into Fran’s, which was only slightly
bigger, but much more formal-feeling. Everything was in its place,
unlike Saphora’s room, which had been left in the state following
Saphora’s levitation practices.
He stepped up to the
wardrobe that was against the right wall of the room. Opening it,
he was greeted by the clothing that was inhabited by the average
woman, as well as the average man. Fran had kept sparse clothing
from her late husband. Most of which were now out of
date.
Xander took out a couple
of things that looked as though they would fit him and held them to
his chest. He used the full-sized mirror that was attached to the
inside of the wardrobe’s left door to view himself. First viewing
himself with the clothing, and then without, in his own
attire.
He grumbled at the
significant difference. But the thought of being able to go out
into the local community to fix the problem excited him. He smiled,
setting the clothing back inside the wardrobe, closing the door
soon after.
“ Time to start my
research.”
Heads turned, photos were
taken, and mothers held their children a little closer as Xander
roamed the wide, populated hallways of the local mall. Xander’s
chin was high, ignoring most of the stares, as his eyes were on
other things.
Everything, to be exact.
His eyes passed the people, yes. But they were also on the floors,
the high ceilings, the stores – of all types, and the décor. He
took in the various scents of food. Spicy, sweet, organic, all
fusing together, and yet all distinct. He was watching their
fashion, as well. Some things catching his eye almost immediately,
while others darn near startled him.
Chapter 7
Nora panted, her lungs
struggling to catch up with her as she ran through the woods on the
outside of Clemming. Constantly, she’d look back behind her, seeing
how close Richard had gotten to catching up to her. And to her
dismay, she now saw a glimpse of him running behind her, his eyes
locked on her swiftly moving figure.
Nora whimpered as she
pushed her body to go faster, fearing capture. She pivoted and
looped around the trees she ran past, hoping the dense forest would
be enough to slow Richard down, or even discourage him from
continuing his pursuit. But to her dismay, Richard was anything but
ready to give up. He’d volunteered to go after her himself. And
he’d be damned if he was going to give up because of a little
nature.
Nora looked back again in
the mists of her running, and when she did, her foot caught beneath
an uprooted root, causing her to fall forward into the ground. She
landed with a thud and a loud grunt, her hands digging into the
ground to try and stop her skidding.
When she finally did stop,
she did everything she could to hurry to her feet and keep moving.
But when she looked up to run, her honey eyes met the crisp steel
ones of Richard, who was now standing in front of her – a smug grin
smearing his features.
Her body tensed as they
stared each other down, each expressing silent words. Of pleading.
Of power. Richard’s grin cracked into one of his infamous smiles as
he raised his hand slightly, as if to gesture.
“ You shouldn’t have left,
Nora,” he said condescendingly, with a slow shake of his head. Nora
frowned, her eyes darting around him before returning to his cold
eyes.
“ Richard, please,” she
begged.
“ You know I don’t make the
rules,” Richard
Learning to Kill: Stories