Sacrifice [Radiosuitcase] x [AutumnRaven]

[RadioSuitcase]

On a chilly day in the beginning of December, when the trees were bare and the animals asleep, Morgan Manner looked exceptionally dreary. Maybe it was the imposing, metal gate at the start of a long and twisting drive that caused people to turn away. Or maybe it was the intimidating facade one was met with, before entering the house. More than likely, it was the obvious lack of residence, the depressing lack of life. There was a family residing here, a powerful and old one, but they seemed to be quite alone. Normally, for a building this large, and for a family this rich, there would be a plethora of people about. Gardeners and cooks, maids and butlers, stable hands, coachmen, and everything else. But not here.

It wasn't always this empty, the house did indeed have many people living behind its walls at some point. It was only recently that people began quitting without notice. There was but a single cook left, one coachman, one stable hand, and a few maids and butlers who had been working for the family for many, many years.

Why they left was unknown to any outsiders, but those who made Morgan Manner their home knew very well why people ran.

She did not know. Jane Reade was currently standing before that great facade, blowing on her hands to try and keep warm, as the coachman fetched her bag. She was a young woman, petite, maybe a bit too short, with long golden hair, and dark brown eyes. She was nothing extraordinary, she was not born from noble blood, her mother and father were not known outside the tiny village she grew up in. She was not worldly, she had no amazing stories to tell.

Jane was a maid, and had been since she was but a girl. It was not glamorous work, and it didn't pay much, but it was the best someone of her stature could hope for. Cleaning was a simple task, and it allowed her mind to wander, to escape...

Someone cleared their throat, giving Jane a start. One of the massive doors had been opened, and a nicely dressed man stood on the threshold, looking impatiently at the girl.

"Ms. Jane Reade?"

She nodded, accepting the bag the coachman now handed to her. This was it. This was the wealthiest family she had ever worked for, the largest home she had ever seen. Jane needed to impress; finding a job at a place like this was so rare, she could hardly believe her eyes when she spotted the ad just a week ago.

Gravel crunched beneath her shoes as she walked towards the open door, her hands tightening around the handle of her bags, and her heart racing. This would be wonderful, a much needed new start. Jane would do better here, she was sure.

[AutumnRaven]

The fresh powder of snow lay thick Over every last inch of the Morgan Estate, Making everything look fresh, clean, and significantly peaceful. It was on occasions such as these that the tension Receded out of shoulders, Smiles were able to turn up the corners of mouths, And life seemed right in the world. This at least seemed to be the case of the man that rode Smoothly on the sleek back Of a large black Stallion, If one were to go by the slight smile that twitched at the corners of his lips.

He Was a young man, Barely broken over the threshold of his twenties, And had a strong, beautiful, and graceful build to his body. His hair was thick, straight, And a silvery blonde in color, cut just short enough to not fall into his eyes. Below similarly light eyebrows, a pair of vivid blue eyes Observe the world around them with intense curiosity and a hint of something that could be described as apprehension. A dusting of freckles provided a minimal contrast to his pale Face as they scattered across the bridge of his nose and followed the line of his cheeks. In short, he was handsome and the quintessential example of what any Morgan Should be.

With a loud snort that created a fog Of white, his stallion tossed His black head and came to an abrupt halt, Nostrils flared and ears Forward. On his back, Edward Morgan's Head tilted slightly and a puzzled expression blossomed onto his face. For a moment, he attempted to gently coax his horse To continue forward, clicking his tongue and squeezing his legs. But when he continued to receive only short whickers In response and a very evident prancing backwards, He held still and let his gaze Flicker around uncertainly.

The gardens were quiet, blanketed in soft silence and white snow and nothing immediately seemed to be amiss. Following the line his horse's nose Created, he found himself studying a cluster of leafless trees that stood near the middle of the estate, bordering the large pond. He Stiffened, for something very large and very dark appeared to be standing among the trees, silently observing the Stallion and his rider. Everything seemed to freeze, even the air around him so that it became hard to take a breath. But when he blinked, It was no longer there.

Fighting down the bubble of panic, Edward sternly reminded himself that he was a Morgan and that nothing ever happened to a Morgan. But that didn't stop the tremble in his hands as he quickly tugged at the reins, Guiding his horse to turn. The black animal went willingly, All but galloping away from the trees and towards the manor house that stood dark and lonely in the white landscape. It seemed as if he had just blinked and the house was suddenly upon him, looming overhead like a hunched Gargoyle. Breath coming out in puffs of fog, Edward quickly dismounted from his steed And stood breathing hard and trembling all over for a moment. His Hands quickly went to his stallion's neck rubbing At the sinewy muscles and whispering comforting words that were unintelligible.

When he was able to calm The pounding of his heart, controlled the race of his breathing, and keep his body from shaking, he Quietly padded the horse's flank, Sending it off to the stables By itself before he himself turned towards the front doors. With only a handful of long strides, He was through the large doors And stepping into the marble entryway.

And it was about that moment that he almost ran headlong into a young woman standing just inside of the door. With a soft gasp, He caught himself just-in-time and made a slightly undignified halt, long Hands reaching out to steady The woman, though he had never actually run Into her. "My apologies Miss, My brain has a tendency to wander from me when I go out riding." He said in a voice that was deep and smooth, Looking down to meet the dark brown eyes. His expression immediately became curious. "And my apologies again, have we met before? I do not know your face."

[RadioSuitcase]

Consequently, Jane knew absolutely nothing of the Morgan family. She did not know how many sons and daughters there were, how old they were, or if they were married. She did not know how old Mr. Morgan and his wife were, or what they were like. The only knowledge Jane really had of the family, was that they were very rich, had been around for many generations, and were in need of hired help.

And here she was, standing in a grand, marble entryway, that was just a little too dark. There appeared to be many windows along one wall, the sort that let in so much sunshine, one would feel they were still outside. But here the windows were covered, only one or two allowed to have its curtains pulled away. Other than that, there were candles. Several, all lit, all looking just a little dreary.

The door closing smoothly behind her, Jane stood still, gazing up at the high ceilings of the room, showing perhaps just a little too much curiosity. She vaguely wondered if the family was in mourning; It may explain the dark and unwelcoming foyer.

"Mrs. Martin is finishing up some business. She will be the one to give the tour." The butler spoke in an eerily calm and even voice, giving Jane something of a despairing look. He didn't think the new maid would last here very long; the last one they hired stayed for only a month, before packing her bags and leaving with no explanation.

Jane smiled brightly at the butler, "Mrs. Martin is the head housekeeper, correct?"

The butler had just opened his mouth to reply in the positive, when the front doors opened, and Edward strode in. He didn't seem at all concerned with the new maid being nearly run over, and simply bowed, "Mr. Morgan."

Dark eyes blinking quickly, Jane found herself looking into the face of a very handsome, and young-- She immediately put a stop to that line of thought as soon as the butler announced the man's name. A member of the family! She had not expected to meet one so soon.

"Oh, no need to apologize." Jane took a polite step backwards, giving a tiny bow while still holding onto her bag, "My- my name is Jane Reade, Sir. Ah, I answered the inquiry for a new maid, and..." A blush had spread across her cheeks, as she stumbled over her words. What was she doing? She wasn't supposed to speak to him, right? Jane had never worked for such a prestigious family, and some of the common courtesies were still new to her. Inside her mind, she was panicking, while the butler simply looked amused.

"Ms. Reade is the new maid working under Mrs. Martin, Sir."

[AutumnRaven]

The butler had been there since the day he had been born, Therefore Edward didn't even bat an eye At his nonchalant Behavior. He had Spent many a day under those unimpressed eyes, Scrutinizing his every move with seeming disinterest. In the face of this, Edward had just one simple reaction: grinning. He did so now, despite the unsettled feeling writhing around in his stomach.

"Well, Ms. Reed, I am indeed delighted to hear that you are interested in taking up a position within our Manor. We have been shorthanded for quite sometime now and it would put me at ease if there were another set of hands to help. I wish you the best of luck in achieving the position." His voice was light and encouraging, hoping to put that scared rabbit in front of a fox look out Of her eyes. But before he could really calculate whether he had done any good or not, a voice made a Soft tsk Of annoyance. His heart sank at that sound and he turned his head just-in-time to see a woman that looked remarkably like himself strolling towards the small group.

She was tall, but not quite as tall as her son, With the same silvery blond to her hair and the beauty in her slim body. The only real difference seemed to be the lack of freckles and the glass green of her eyes. These were scrutinizing the group with an air Of snobbishness as she tilted her chin upwards. "Come now Edward, you shouldn't be socializing with those below your status." She said coldly, Adjusting the silky shawl on her shoulders as she came to a stop several feet from them.

Edward stiffened noticeably and he appeared to have several things that he wanted to say at that moment, but he held his tongue. His shoulders squared a moment before he turned away, staring out of one of the only open windows. The woman, Mrs. Morgan Herself, acted ruffled and affronted, voice choking out a small squawk of indignation. She fumbled for a moment before turning sharply towards Butler and the potential made, "Get on with your duties then."She snapped quickly before turning on her heel and walking away, head held high. There was no doubt in the way she held herself that The master of the house would be hearing about her son's obstinant behavior the Very moment that she reached him.

[RadioSuitcase]

Several rooms away, behind closed double doors, was the grand family library. It was a room impressively furnished, beautifully decorated, and filled to the brim with every type of book imaginable. The fireplace was lit, a warm fire burning cheerfully, while Benjamin Morgan sat nearby, and looked depressed. This room was his sanctuary, his place to get away. He spent most of his time at home in this room, sitting behind his desk, writing, reading, talking with friends. He was the master of this house, and while he wasn't so old, he certainly looked it. In the last few months, Mr. Morgan's hair had begun to grey, his eyes become weary, and his body tired and spent.

He was deeply troubled, things had not been going well lately. It was becoming too demanding, too bold. It whispered to him, even now, he could hear its voice faint and amused. Things had been going smoothly for years, decades, generation after generation! Why, why was everything going amiss now?

-

Jane stood completely still when Mrs. Morgan entered the foyer in that oh-so-friendly manner. At the older woman's cold words to her son, Jane felt devastated and embarrassed, near ready to run from the house in shame. How could have even thought for a moment that such rich people would be friendly towards someone like her? As a housemaid, she was no one. She was a figure in the background that could easily be sent away on a whim.

It was at his ignoring his mother that forced Jane to stare in astonishment at the young man. Keeping her mouth tightly shut, she gave the woman a tiny nod at her command, watching as Mrs. Morgan exited the room in a huff. As soon as she was gone, Jane's shoulders relaxed, her eyes closing as she silently hoped she would not find herself without a job this evening.

"I'm very sorry." She managed but those three words, unable to look towards Edward.

In all of this, the butler, most known by the name 'Robert', said nothing. He knew that it was best not to speak when Mrs. Morgan entered the room, "Sir, if you do not mind, I believe I should show Ms. Reade where she will be staying." He was on a schedule, and that schedule was slowly but surely being interrupted.

[AutumnRaven]

Like a small very controlled storm, Mrs. Morgan stormed down the hallway of the manor House, cheeks flushed with color And lips pursed tightly. She knew where her husband would be, where he could usually be found, and she quickly made her way in that direction. How dare her own son Ignore her in such a manner! She finally slowed her steps as she reached the library door, lifting her hand and knocking on it. Without waiting for an answer, she slipped inside and almost instantly spotted her husband.

"Do you know what that son of yours has just done?" She asked venomously, not aware of the bloodless pallor to his face nor the troubled Vacancy of his eyes. She was far too upset to notice much past the end of her nose.
-------------------------

It was only when Robert spoke That Edward seemed to finally be able to turn around again, quite sure that his mother had gone. He had always been one to do something that his mother didn't see fit for him to do, always told to not do something To talk with specific people, do specific tasks. He had to admit that he had lost his temper slightly, but it didn't seem to matter so much in that moment. After several seconds, he side rather heavily.

"It is no fault of yours Miss Jane. No need to apologize for something someone else has done." He said, voice slightly tight with anxiety and the irritation from moments before. His blue eyes were hard, but quickly softened as he looked at the woman. He then looked towards the Butler and tilted his head slightly. "You don't mind if I tag along, do you Robert?" He asked softly, a gentle humor in the tenor of his voice now.

[RadioSuitcase]

Mr. Morgan rubbed at his eyes the second he heard the knock at the door, knowing very well who it was. His wife had a certain way of storming down the hallways that was quite different from the soft steps of the servants. He didn't look up from his desk as she walked in, listening to her complaint only partially, "My love, you know how Edward is." He mumbled, lifting his eyes to look into the angry face of Mrs. Morgan, "Shut the door, we have something important to discuss." His voice low, his expression became more alive in its seriousness, "It wants another sacrifice by the end of the week."

-

"If you wish." Robert answered with a slight bow, not unused to such requests from the young master. He didn't mind, so long as Edward didn't keep him from completing his mental list of necessary tasks.

A smile tugged at Jane's lips, though she was now even more nervous than before. He wanted to tag along? Oh dear, that didn't seem proper at all. Surely he had better things to do, than hang about those of a lower social class. Still, she found Edward very pleasant thus far, and had no objections. So long as Mrs. Morgan didn't come along again.

Leading the way out of the dark foyer, Robert opened a nondescript door at the end of the room. It opened to a long, plain hallway, which would eventually lead to the servants quarters. As it was in all manors, this section of the building was not decorated. The walls were plain, the windows plain, and the rooms much smaller. But it was 'home' to everyone employed by the Morgans.

"You are free to go anywhere in this part of the house," Robert began, "There are several areas of the main building that are forbidden, however. You will learn where these are in time."

Jane followed behind the butler quietly, curiously glancing into each open room they passed. There were quite a few bedrooms that looked very empty... At Roberts mention of forbidden areas, Jane found herself looking towards Edward. He didn't seem like the type who would punish someone for getting lost, which Jane was prone to do, but who knew? His nice act now may all be a lie.

[AutumnRaven]

A slightly horrified expression blossomed onto her face After the door shut behind her With a soft click, Mrs. Morgan's Already paleface Turning a shade more white. She stumbled over to the closest chair and sat down heavily,gaze Growing quite distant for a moment before she seemed to regain a little of her ability to focus once more. When she spoke, her voice came out in a tremble, quite unlike her snide tones from earlier. "Why has it suddenly changed its routine? We have already made a sacrifice this year.... What is it demanding this time?" Something appeared to be caught in her throat, because her voice suddenly choked off at the end And genuine fear lit her eyes.

~~~~~

In a quiet tread, Edward followed after the Butler and the potential made, His extreme relief at being in an area of the house that his Mother would never go somewhat overpowering and intoxicating. He simply relished in the fact that he was out of her grasp for a few moments, Thoughts trailing off into serene silence. But at the comment of forbidden locations, he found himself being drawn into the conversation going on just feet from him. His light blue eyes Flickered from each person in front of him, to the empty rooms, And finally focusing on Jane specifically. The corner of his mouth quirked And it opened as if to say something.

It was at that moment that an eerie Sound akin to moaning Floated down the hallway, Sighing past the three humans With a gentle rustle of wind. It settled into complete silence for a moment before it sounded as if a very distant dog were growling, Snarling, and then cutting off in a sharp whimper Edward quietly closed his mouth as The silence seemed to be lasting, glancing quickly around with a slightly perturbed And almost frightened expression on his face. "Old houses such as these tend to make the strangest sounds."He said softly, clearing his throat and giving his head a slight shake. "As for places you aren't Not to go, I'll give you a heads up if you are heading in any direction that is forbidden.."

[RadioSuitcase]

Mr. Morgan shook his head, remembering the last sacrifice very well. He had been such a nice boy, so trusting, not finding it strange at all when Mr. Morgan requested him to go down the stairs in the forbidden western wing...

"I do not know. It has not asked for anything specifically... It has simply requested 'more'." He sighed, leaning back in his chair, "And I do not even know who we can possibly give it. Everyone has left, besides a handful of servants. This house can not run without them." He was very aware of his wife's dislike for those deemed lower than her, but even she must admit the truth in his statement. Mrs. Morgan was certainly not going to do laundry, or light the fireplaces, or serve dinner.

-

A sound, accompanied by the slightest rush of cool air, and a dog... Jane had frozen mid-step, her eyes widening as she peered around the butler in front of her, expecting to see an open window, or something that would explain such an odd phenomenon. There was nothing, of course. At Edward's speaking, her shoulders relaxed, and she attempted to smile his way, "Are there many forbidden areas? I- I have never been in a house this large, you see. I feel as though I will get lost all the time." She was blushing, unable to stop the flow of words once they started. What was she doing, telling her employer that she would get lost? That could not possibly make her look good.

"Here is your room." Roger had taken no notice of the sound, simply pausing as the other two had. He had heard, and seen, so many things in this house that couldn't be explained, that he simply began to ignore them. So what if candles blew out by themselves, or doors opened and shut for no reason? It was all a part of daily life.

Jane stopped at the open doorway of her new bedroom. It was sparsely furnished, but tidy, and comfortable looking. And much larger than any bedroom she had ever had before.

"I will go ahead and find Mrs. Martin. Please, make yourself at home." Roger bowed to the both of them, before turning and continuing down the hallway.

[AutumnRaven]

Twisting at a handkerchief she had produced From somewhere inside of her dress, Elizabeth Morgan Looked distracted and worried. Her own thoughts had turned Towards the young boy Who she and her husband had selected together, Though she couldn't remember specifically what his name Or position in the house had been. It had been hard, but she didn't want to be the one that died If the demands couldn't be met.

Her thoughts turned towards what little staff They had remaining to them and instinctively blanched at the idea of doing any of their jobs herself. Her thoughts scattered towards the different possibilities before them And her voice came out stuttering. "Wh-what If we found some unwanted urchin? We could give it some poor unwanted soul that would be better off dead."

------------------------------------------------

As the footsteps of the Butler faded away, Edward found himself standing with his hands clasped behind his back And facing the inner area of the bedroom that she had been given He nodded in approval at the accommodations Believing that human Beings deserved adequate space to call their own. He watched as Jane inspected the room And apparently was to her liking. He found it made him smile somewhat.

"The western wing of the house Is the only area that I know to be strictly forbidden to anyone." He finally said, answering her question From a moment before.