Walking through the mansion’s interior again, Taryn’s feeling of nausea was all but gone now. Yet what the woman Yoko had said nagged at her. Why keep the fact that she understood and spoke Japanese a secret from those in the mansion?

What was the whole thing about a demon spiriting her away? Taryn knew that it was a warning, but for what? The people here seemed nice, at least with Sato and Mei. She had seen a few other workers, but they seemed to leave her well enough alone. Not wishing to speak with her besides offering a quick hello as they walked by, but that was it.

It was a bit of a contrast compared to those of the village or even the city of Tokyo itself, people stared at her, but here in the mansion, no one seemed to pay any mind. Almost like she was a ghost to them.

Taryn laughed at herself for that comparison, recalling what Rachael once said to her before looking down at her own body. She didn’t think that she was that thin, well mostly. But it was at that moment she realized that she had no idea where she was.

With a half-smile, she shook her head, figures. Whenever she was lost and thought, walking around aimlessly, she tended not to pay attention to where her feet carried her. A bad habit that she wasn’t sure where she picked it up from.

As she wondered where to go, something caught her ear; she could hear a song being played in the distance. Following it, she soon found herself in what looked to be a garden encompassed within the mansion with the sky now clearly above as a Japanese pine tree grew tall and firm with several stalks of bamboo. Surrounding this interior garden looked like a little stream, as a small footbridge had been constructed to go over it and back to the mansion.

There someone sat, playing the Koto, a wooden Japanese instrument laid flat on what looked to be a low stone bench. The song this person played sounded familiar but could recall the name of it. The piece was pleasant enough, yet somehow it almost sounded lonely. The person who played looked to be wearing a haori, a kimono overcoat. The colour of the haori was a faint green at the top before it became a soft cream that slowly faded into a bright orange, which turned into a dark red at the base with what looked to be white spider-lily flowers embroidered into the fabric. This person had long dark brown hair that seemed almost black, which stopped just at the waist, nearly touching the ground.

Was it a woman or a man? She couldn’t tell from the back.

Part of her didn’t wish to interrupt the person playing, but she also didn’t want to wander around a place she didn’t know. Taking in a deep breath, she spoke to the person in English. “Excuse me? I don’t mean to interrupt, but I’m kind of lost.” The person stopped playing right in the middle of the song but remained sitting where they were. “Would you mind telling me how to get to the front entrance?”

Then the person slowly stood and turned to face her. And Taryn soon found herself losing her voice; the person was a man. A tall man with rather striking green eyes resembling dark jade as a long singular silver earring dangling from his left ear. His kimono was an orange-red that turned into a dark forest green past the knee with an emblem peaking out from under the overcoat along the left side above his chest as the obi belt was completely black that matched what little black there was at the bottom of his kimono.

“Hello.” She said again with a friendly smile, this time clearing her throat. “Sorry for intruding on you while you’re playing. I don’t mean to be a bother.” But the man did not speak; he only continued to stare at her. “Um, hello? Sir?” Maybe he doesn’t speak English. The thought had just accrued to her since she knew not all Japanese knew English. I should probably talk in Japanese. But she hadn’t, for what Yoko had said still lingered in her mind. And for some reason or another, she had subconsciously listened.

“You’re one of the people who is staying in the mansion.” The man suddenly spoke in an even voice, saying in perfect English with no hint of his Japanese accent. “Your name is…?”

“Taryn,” she told him. “Taryn Lowell.”

“Taryn… Lowell.” He spoke her name softly. “So that is how you say it. There was a bit of a debate on speaking your name since it’s a rather uncommon one compared to the others in your group. At least, that is what I’m told.”

“It’s fine, not the first time I’ve had people wondering how to say my name.” there was a brief pause between the two; she noticed how he seemed to be staring at her, his eyes moving to look at her physical form before Taryn went and asked again. “So, about the entrance?”

This seemed to draw him out of his thoughts. “Ah, yes, you wish to know your way back. Forgive my silence, not many come to this area of the mansion, so I was a little surprised when a young woman such as yourself appeared before me.”

Appeared? “No, it’s alright. But about what I said before, would you please tell me where to go? That way, I can leave you in peace.”

“It would probably be better if I showed you,” he said as he walked past her and out of the small garden but not before stopping to look her way. “It would be terrible if you ended up lost again.”

“You’re probably right.” She admitted truthfully as she joined him to walk through the interior of the mansion. “This place is like a maze. I’m surprised there isn’t a map.”

“When one lives in a place long enough, you tend to know where to go.” He tells her as he kept a slow pace since he was rather tall for a Japanese man, possibly almost six-foot; he seemed accustomed to waiting for people. But with Taryn, he didn’t have to. Since her family was full of tall people, her mother, father, uncle, grandfather and brother, she was used to keeping up with those who had long strides. The man in question seemed a bit surprised by this but didn’t voice it. “How long do you plan on staying?” he asked.

“About a week and a half,” Taryn told him. “We were in Tokyo for about that much, but it might be a day or two longer.”

“You’re not in school? It’s around that time when people from your region continue their studies. Am I wrong in saying this?”

“No, you’re not. I was supposed to head to college this year, but some things happened, so I’m taking a break. Too much on my mind.”

He nodded in agreement. “That seems like a reasonable thing to do. I hope this trip eases your mind if it’s not done so already.”

“It’s getting there, but it’s funny. It feels like no time has passed, even though it’s already been well over a week. Maybe it’s just taken this long for it to sink in.” She glanced at him. “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your name?”

“Kitsutsuki, Kitsutsuki Toya, that is my name Lowell-san.”

“Toya Kitsutsuki, you have an interesting first and last name as well.” He merely gave a nod of thanks. “But your given name, Toya, is it the one which refers to ten nights?”

“It is, and a rather uncommon one much like your own given name, but now I have a question for you Lowell-san, your last name is a rather interesting one in itself. Where does it reside from, or do you not know?”

Taryn placed her hands into her pockets as she walked beside him. “My last name means Wolf, from what my uncle tells me it comes from both the word for ‘wolf’ in Middle English and Middle French. But that’s all I know of it.” She trailed off, soon recalling something that her uncle once told her four years ago.

“It’s a trait that some of us in our family have,” Gerald’s words echoed in the back of her mind. “There may come a day where you will have to protect those whom you care about. And when you do, do what you must, go for the throat.”

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

But you never mentioned how it would affect me when the person is already dead… she merely thought with a slight dower note.

“Then perhaps we should call you Ōkami-san then,” Toya spoke, rather enjoying the conversation and drawing out of her thoughts. “Since it means wolf in Japanese.”

“You don’t have to, Lowell is fine.”

“If you insist, it is a fascinating name, as is your given name.”

“I’ve been told that a few times.” but she said nothing further on the matter. Then found herself glancing back at him; he looked Japanese, and yet at the same time not. She has seen many people mixed with different races back in Canada, but somehow looking at this tall Asian man, with such striking dark jade green eyes felt off when it shouldn’t.

He glanced at her, noticing her stare and with a smile said. “What is it?”

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. It’s just your eyes.”

“You find them strange,” he stated.

“No. I know someone who has eyes like yours, though his eyes are like a forest green.”

“A family friend?” Toya inquired, and when Taryn nodded, he simply said. “Interesting, I have been told how rare green eyes can be, so knowing someone who knows of another with green eyes is impressive. I have been told that I share many characteristics with my late grandfather that look just like him. But I find it merely hearsay.”

It’s hereditary? “Well, I may have just met you, but I like your eyes. Though I bet it’s not much coming from a foreigner like myself.”

“Not so, regardless if you were or not. I am merely glad that you do not find my eyes strange, as several others do. It’s one of the reasons why I don’t leave this place.”

“So, you secluded yourself. But is that the only reason for it?” Taryn had only asked because she felt that there would be more to it. But even if there was, he did not voice it aloud. Making her instantly realize that she might have said something very intrusive. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. It was rude.”

“No harm done, Lowell-san.” He said simply. “You were simply wondering about my eyes, and I unintentionally changed the topic and made it uncomfortable. For that, I apologize.”

Taryn fell silent, finding that she couldn’t really think of anything else to say and now merely followed his lead.

“But,” he spoke, breaking through the silence. “I will say regardless of how this first conversation went. I am glad I met you,” he said with a smile as he stopped to look at Taryn.

She smiled back at him. “Same here, Kitsutsuki-san.”

“Taryn! Where’d you go?” it was a voice that Taryn recognized.

“Oh, that’s Rachael!” Taryn proclaimed before looking to Toya and giving a slight bow. “Thank you again for your help.” Then went off in the direction of where she heard her friend’s voice, who was just a bit further down the hallway. However, Toya did seem to follow, possibly to make sure that she made it to where her friend was, for Taryn could hear his footsteps from the groan and creek of the wooden floors as he walked.

“Rachael!” her friend merely looked at her with an unimpressed expression. “Yeah, yeah, I know. You don’t have to say it, I got lost. Were you just coming back from being in the mansion’s gardens? Or were you heading out?”

“It was my intention, but I figured I should try to find you first. That way, we wouldn’t have to send a search party on the first night.” She laughed when Taryn lightly nudge the woman with her shoulder. “The other was that I also wanted to take a look at this mansion’s interior, it’s gorgeous, and I’m sure the others are looking around too.”

She had a fair point.

“By the way, how did you find your way back?”

“I ran into someone; he was kind enough to help me back…” She looked back only to see no one else there. “I guess he had other things to take care of.”

Rachael looked at her with confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, nothing really, just thinking out loud.” Taryn then recalled what Toya said about his eyes and thought that might be the reason for it. What’s more, she knew nothing about him, yet the way he looked at her, eyes filled with such warmth and familiarity. Like he knew her somehow.

Nah, that’s not it. Taryn thought as she now followed her friend, with her hands in her jeans’ pockets. He was probably just being nice.

But she did find it a bit strange. Toya didn’t seem bothered by her, not at all. Besides Mei, who intended to be a nurse, being friendly with strangers made sense, while the rest of the staff seemed to leave her well enough alone. But with Toya, his words and actions didn’t mesh well. Talked about how he was secluding himself because of his green eyes, yet contradicting those words by helping not just a stranger, but someone not from his country at all.

Something felt off…

No! Taryn gave a quick shake of her head before lightly tapping both cheeks with her hands. Don’t be ridiculous Taryn, you’re only like that because of what you felt before. That’s the only reason. Give it time, and you’ll be fine, just like always. Give it time…

At least, that’s what she hoped for.

But much like everything, nothing would ever go to plan.

* * *

The four returned in the evening, and Sato informed them that they could eat in their rooms tonight. But, from tomorrow onwards, they would be dining in the main hall with the mansion owner, for it was a type of customary tradition done within the mansion itself whenever there were guests.

The food itself was good, traditional Japanese-style cuisine and the atmosphere felt relaxing. For once, Taryn didn’t have any issues with falling into a deep sleep. But it was within that sleep where the problem lay.

Images flashed at blinding speed, of her family as she grew up, of Roy and Isaac when they were boys, to her high school and graduation. Then, of the gun, of feeling her brother’s warmth that slowly turned to ice.

“Taryn!”

She bolted upright, her body drenched in a cold sweat as she remained sitting, the white and blue fabric of the robes that Taryn wore when she slept clung to every part of her body. Her heart hammered in her ears as her knuckles turned bleach-white from the grip she had on the covers. Taryn remained that way before the tension in her body slowly loosened to what it had been before. And with one final deep breath that she exhaled, she looked around the room.

Rachael was still fast asleep, completely unaware of anything else.

Grasping her chest, Taryn moved as quietly as possible and dug out two small puffers of her asthma medication. Taking two hits of each and inhaling deeply before exhaling through her nose. Her chest felt a little less tight now, but the feeling of anxiety had refused to dissipate, unlike her asthma.

“Shit…” she cursed under her breath, she had hoped, no, wished that perhaps here in this place where little to no modern buildings stood that she would not dream of those memories. But it seemed like always such thinking backfired. And if anything, her dreams have gotten worse in the past few days. Silently, she went over and picked up her phone, and scrolled through her contacts only to notice that there currently wasn’t a signal. Causing her to laugh at herself. “On the times I want to call you, it looks like I can’t Isaac…” her voice felt rough, as her eyes burned with the need to let tears fall only to merely shake her head and rub her eyes with the back of her hand. “Goddammit…”

Letting out another breath, she placed her phone back where she left it, for there was no point in trying it now. What she needed at that moment was to go and wash her face and clear her head. With it being the middle of the night, there were no lights on inside the mansion. But with the light of the moon, she didn’t need something like a flashlight.

After splashing cold water on her face, she realized she hadn’t seen any who worked within the mansion. It made sense that there would be no one around and no one to bother with how late it was. Better that way in the long run.

With no goal in mind, Taryn walked towards the front entrance, the light for the small office was on, but the door was closed. Not wanting to bother anyone who might be there, Taryn discreetly went and took her pair of sandals, so that if she went outside, she’d at least have something on her feet.

She glanced back at the door only to walk down the hall and soon found herself back in the same small interior garden. It was strange; she found it to be even lovelier at night. Perhaps it was due to the moon, or the simple fact that she could now look at it thoroughly without the thought of being lost. Even the Koto was still there.

Recalling the relatively brief interaction she had with Toya Kitsutsuki, he still had such a defining presence.

When she made her way back to the mansion’s engawa, she moved to sit down. Her feet rested atop a large stone as she looked out to one of the gardens, which she had seen before but thankfully further away from the red hydrangeas. As her eyes then drifted to the silver compact mirror that she carried with her. Which had now settled in the palm of her right hand. The fingers of her left hand traced the Celtic designs that were carefully etched into it.

“Keep this with you, always. Whenever you’re not sure of your surroundings. It will help when you need it the most.” Her mother’s words echoed in the back of Taryn’s mind, not long after the incident with all those other mirrors at her Aunt’s home. Her mother had given the compact mirror to her, believing that it would keep her daughter safe. For it had done so with other family members that fought in several wars or significant disasters in the past. The fact that her mother said this so seriously, Taryn knew that it was something that her mother full-heartedly believed. Taryn abided by those words, no matter where she went.

But now, she wasn’t sure if she should use it.

“Lowell-san?” she lifted her head when hearing a familiar voice, only to find herself staring up at the man she had met earlier in the day as concern filled Toya’s eyes. “What brings you to wander about this time of night? Are you lost again?”