Mirrors Chapter 1 part 1

Chapter 1: Alex Evesham

“Mr Lothian?”

          “Yes?” Neurin held the door open at length sheltered in the shadows around him.

          “Alex Evesham at your service. I believe this is the correct address for Mr N. Lothian?”

          “Yes. Come in. You can call me Neurin until it comes to payment or if we discover you are unable to assist me.”

          “Thank you. Most of my clients call me Alex.”

          Neurin looked Mr Evesham over. A little shorter than the average man maybe, brown hair, he wasn’t the fittest man either by the look of his physique. Not like the thin doctors or the heavier scientists I’ve met. Average and easily forgettable, at least in his details. I wouldn’t be able to describe you to someone shortly after meeting you at any rate. Neurin ran his hand down his chin and shook his head. I’m getting judgemental. Give him a chance Neurin, you fool. Returning to the company he had he nodded toward the door on their left. “Would you like a seat in the library?”

          “Please. It would seem an appropriate place to begin our meeting.”

          Neurin opened the door for Mr Evesham. The room wasn’t vast, small in comparison to many other libraries they both might have seen before. There was space on the shelves for more books to keep the others company. It was, perhaps, a little old in its style. A globe sat in a wooden cradle not far from the stairs leading to a second floor. There were two armchairs sat either side a table and another two tables set apart from that one. Only one of those tables had chairs beside it. That was the one Neurin directed the gentleman to. The chairs were hardbacked, suited for more business like affairs.

          “Would you like a drink, tea, coffee or perhaps something a little stronger?”

          “Tea would be very kind, thank you very much.”

          “Make yourself at home. Feel free to have a look around the library if you wish.” Neurin turned toward the door and muttered darkly on his way out, “everyone else did…without invitation.” He closed the door behind him and moved toward the stairs heading upward into the second floor of the house where his small kitchen lay. There was a second on the floor below but he didn’t use that one. Instead he had gone to the expense of having one installed above.

          The lower floor. Neurin mentally stopped himself from turning to the entrance to the room and looking.

          The kettle sat boiling on the hob. His coffee was brewing behind it. How many others had he seen? Five over the years, maybe even more. He smiled with derision and blew the emotion out through his nostrils. No it was more along the lines of seven, possibly even eight. Give this one a chance. He isn’t like the others. A different branch entirely Neurin. Neurin brought his mug over to the brewing coffee pot and poured the bitter velvety liquid within. He flavoured his coffee with a little bourbon. As he stirred Neurin thought of his past, his past with this house and of before he lived within its walls. Visually a few memories played themselves out. Most of them were of himself buried in his ancestors journals. Others he steered away from, aware that sending shivers up his spine wasn’t something he wished to entertain.

          He brought his coffee to his lips and took a sip. He looked at the dark liquid inside the mug slightly confused. A frown caught his features and held there. Mr Evesham. Somehow the man had slipped his mind. The gentleman wasn’t that forgettable.

          Neurin came out of the kitchen with both drinks in his hands. He made for the stairs and at the top he drew still. Pins crept into his muscles and pointed to the ceiling pulling him upright to his full height. Neurin directed his gaze forward and steadied his breaths. A cold swept over him, around him, it blew against his spine softly reminding him of breath against his skin. The hairs on the back of his neck raised up. Neurin resisted the urge to turn around despite a strange sensation that someone’s hand was guiding him that way. Then he swallowed and licked his lips. The sensation was gone but the cold was still there with him. Neurin looked down to the hot drinks in his hands. They were still steaming.