Music Man

~Avondale Manor: Mid-afternoon~

"Again! Put your soul into it Corinne! Your music needs passion; your audience must feel it, crave it, be driven to the edge through it!" Corinne frowned as she began to play once more, her thoughts a mass of confusion. How did she get here? She barely remembered the carriage ride with Morpheus and yet she felt a compelling need to please this man, whoever he was.


The man paced until he finally paused to chastise her, "Enough Corinne! You have no focus today. Your concert debut is in two weeks and you have lost your fire." Corinne rose and gazed at the man whose face she instantly recognized. She recoiled slightly, somewhat shocking him in the process. He returned the look with masked surprise, wondering what she had been up to these last few days.


In a more subdued tone he queried, "Corinne, I trust you are not still seeing the rock musician, that guitar player." His look was intense as he studied her for some sign of guilt. Of course he did not see any since Corinne had no idea to whom he referred.


"Of course not; I'm not seeing anyone," she stammered. His smile was relieved, "Good…good…you must focus. You are a concert pianist and the world will soon know it." He tentatively reached for her and Corinne could see something in his eyes that mirrored what she had seen before…desire.


Dropping his arms to his sides, he turned abruptly and spoke once more, "There is a storm coming; I'll have my man drive you back. Return tomorrow with a renewed passion in your music Corinne; there is much to prepare and your sudden lapse is a setback."


Without another word he left the room as a confused Corinne watched his back as he exited. She sighed in relief and turned, running straight into Morpheus.


Her eyes narrowed as she opened her mouth to speak. "Not here Corinne; do not question me now. We have to leave," his manner was different, edgy and ill at ease.


Corinne stared blankly out of the window of the SUV much too lost in thought to speak. Everything looked so familiar, so like her neighborhood. In fact, it was her neighborhood but when? "Where are we going?" she asked absently. "Home," was all Morpheus said.


Parking in the driveway, Morpheus turned off the ignition as Corinne exited the vehicle and stared in disbelief as he came to stand by her side. "This," she hesitated slightly, "is NOT my home," she gasped.

"It is today," he answered wryly.


As she slowly headed up the walkway, Corinne saw him in the shadows and her heart leaped. He looked the same, yet different and Corinne wondered why she even questioned the change at this point. She was growing accustomed to the bizarre twists and turns her life had been taking.


She smiled warmly as they reached the front door. "Marius," she breathed. He returned her gaze but she did not see the same fire and passion. He was distant, cold. "Hello Cori…Morpheus," he stood arms folded.


Morpheus reached for the door, "We have business to attend James; this isn't a good time." Glaring at the man, Marius replied, "It never is, is it..." Turning once more toward Corinne he spoke bluntly, "I came for my Martin. I left it here the last time I came for my stuff."


Corinne was rooted to her spot in the entrance. Why was he being so cold? She trembled slightly; something was off and she needed to question Morpheus. As much as she longed for him to stay, she needed to get rid of Marius…for now anyway. "Of course, the Martin, I'm sure you know where you left it," she answered vaguely.


Releasing an exasperated sigh, James Marius entered the house and disappeared up the staircase. Turning on her heels Corinne faced Morpheus and demanded, "What's going on here!?" "Patience love, the house echoes terribly," he remarked.


She glanced up the stairway as James returned, his guitar case slung casually over his shoulder.


Corinne held her breath as she waited for him to say something. His expression softened somewhat as he spoke, "I guess that's it then. If I forgot anything else…" James hesitated, looking pained, "I'll be seeing you Cori," his rich voice reverberating in her ears.


"You aren't coming to her debut?" Morpheus asked in a taunting voice. Throwing a venomous look his way, James left without saying another word.


"Gods, I thought he would never leave," Morpheus complained as he made his way to the bar and poured himself a drink. "Care for one my sweet?" he asked Corinne coyly. "Hardly," she answered, "Now are you going to tell me what's going on here?"


Morpheus tossed the liquor down his throat, its bite warming him and his eyes seemed to glow slightly. "Things are beginning to spiral Corinne. There are forces I did not anticipate at play here."


Lighting a fire, Morpheus prodded the logs and warmed himself further. Corinne wondered at this gesture as it was at least 85 degrees outside as near as she could tell. "You need to focus Corinne, on the box and the key. Find them and you are closer to getting the answers you seek. You must choose wisely however. As I said, things have taken an unexpected turn."


Morpheus approached her cautiously, "What do you remember of Vladimirov and Dunstan?" he questioned her. Corinne's cheeks flushed as she remembered her encounter in the alley. "Roman…" she purred as she hooded her eyes slightly.


"Yes, yes, Roman…what do you remember?" Morpheus demanded impatiently.


Coming back to her senses, she remembered plenty, Corinne related what she remembered of her feelings of desire, uncontrollable need, and something darker…fear. She surmised Roman was a vampire and wondered that she could feel so safe with Garrard and his family, with Edward, and yet not with him.


Dunstan had frightened her beyond belief and yet she felt drawn to him. Cori knew she would have succumbed had Marius not come for her. Then there was Mr. Drake, the sense of danger that she felt so drawn to. And what about Gabe who seemed to know so much about her and yet Cori was certain she had never met him before.


It was all too much. She did not understand what was expected, what she was to look for…a box, a key, the letter. Instead of answers Corinne was even more confused.


Downing another cocktail, Morpheus regarded her thoughtfully, "I must return to Dunstan before he grows concerned. Sleep well tonight Corinne. I can assure you that when you wake, you will still be here, in this time and place. There is much to be done at this juncture. I will call for you tomorrow. Dunstan will expect you to perform. Do not disappoint him."


Wheeling around to ask him what he meant by 'perform' Corinne was startled to see that Morpheus had simply vanished.


Wandering through the vast house, Corinne found herself in the bathroom with a very inviting tub. She stripped off her clothes after drawing the bath and settled in. Attempting to clear her head, she inhaled deeply allowing the vanilla and lavender to soothe her until the water became chilled and she reluctantly rose and patted herself dry.


Walking over to the large, inviting bed she wondered if she had shared it with James…Marius…whatever he was calling himself this time. Slipping under the cool sheets, Corinne soon found herself fast asleep.




~The Following Morning~



The next morning Corinne woke with a start. True to his word, she was still in the same bed in the same house. Quickly dressing, Corinne wandered into the kitchen where she found Morpheus preparing breakfast.


"Eat quickly my dear, Dunstan is waiting," he said as he passed a plate of food toward her. "So soon?" she mumbled between bites. "Really Corinne you need to develop some table manners," he chided.


"But I still don't know what I am looking for?" Corinne complained as she quickly finished the plate of food.


"I told you," Morpheus repeated impatiently, "the box and the key."

~Dunstan's Home: Early Afternoon~

Corinne entered Dunstan's home and looked around curiously for some clue. She felt certain the answers must be here. Perhaps that was what Morpheus meant by the key. An answer to a riddle. At least she felt confident that if she was expected to play the piano again, that she could do it with expertise. Nothing surprised her anymore in that regard. Hadn't she sung like a sultry chanteuse for Drake?


Aimlessly meandering through the cluttered room she spied a table she had not previously noticed. Resting on top was a simple box made of rosewood with an opening for a key that looked very old. Corinne reached cautiously for the box but pulled her hand back sharply as if stung when she heard Dunstan enter the room.


"Have you come prepared today Corinne?" his voice was sugary and warm but his eyes still sent a chill down her spine. "Yes, I'm ready to perform Dunstan," she breathed. Corinne started toward the piano when she found herself caught by Dunstan's hand as he reached around and drew her close.


He smelled of brandy and pipe tobacco as he gazed at her through lustful eyes. Odd considering it was still morning. "Corinne, you taunt me so," he agonized releasing her as abruptly as he had grabbed her. Shaken, Corinne stepped back and pulled herself together. As she studied him carefully she was immediately drawn to the thin cord suspended from his neck and rested against his chest. Corinne had not noticed it before but then she had never been in a position to notice.


At the end hung a key encased in metal.


Corinne's pulse raced as she felt the need to grasp it and run. If Dunstan had the key, was the rosewood box the one in question? And if so, why did he not use it, open it, if he was one of these so-called forces that Morpheus mentioned?


She needed to be sure, she needed a plan, and she needed to speak with Morpheus. Smiling slightly Corinne turned once more and feigned lightheadedness. "My dear, are you all right? Here, come sit on the couch." Dunstan worried over her as she pretended to gain her composure.


"I don't know what came over me! In my haste to please you this morning I rushed out of the house without eating," she lied. "Damn that Morpheus for not seeing to your needs!" he growled. "Don't blame Morpheus; I told him I had eaten already…and he had prepared a wonderful breakfast!" Corinne didn't know what power Dunstan may have over Morpheus but he was her only lifeline and she couldn't risk losing him.


Leaning on him, she seductively whispered in his ear, "Perhaps I should lie down for awhile." God she was behaving shamelessly. Promise him anything…and then find a way to get that key.


Carrying her adeptly to the bedroom Dunstan gently set her down. From the corner of her eye Corinne noticed a bottle and two glasses, one of which flashed subtly with a white light.


Smiling at Dunstan she walked over to the table and poured them each a drink, offering the glass to him. He took it from her and drank slowly as he watched her deliberately undress and come to him.


Gently urging him toward the bed he moaned against her mouth as they fell on the bed. In a matter of moments, he was out and Corinne slipped the key deftly from his neck and quickly dressed.


Smiling satisfactorily, she turned to look at him once more and then left. As she stood outside she began to place the cord around her neck when she felt an eerie chill causing her stomach to lurch unexpectedly. Her hands trembled as she tried in vain to slip it around her neck until she abandoned the effort.


"Oh no, not now, I'm not leaving yet!" she said through gritted teeth as she held her ground as the urge to fade away dwindled. Slipping the key in her pocket she hurried home.


At that same moment, Dunstan rose from the bed and scrutinized his reflection in the mirror, his mouth curved in a wicked smile.

~Corinne's Home~

Bursting through the door, Corinne anxiously called for Morpheus as she ran from room to room. "Show yourself; I know you can hear me!" Throwing open the double doors of the master bedroom she rushed in.


"Cori?" Stopping dead in her tracks Corinne gazed into the emerald green eyes of James Marius. "What are you doing here? Did you forget another guitar?" she asked him agitated. "I still have the key; it was my house too, remember?" Corinne fought the urge to cry out that she didn't remember, at least not this life.


His face was drawn tight and his jaw worked as he struggled to find words, "Anyway I guess I deserved that. Cori, I'm leaving tomorrow…going on tour. I had to see you without that creep dragging you off somewhere or you running off again. Damn it don't you know my feelings never changed? I love you Corinne, why can't you see that?"


James took her in his arms and kissed her deeply. It felt so right, perfect, in his arms as Corinne returned his kisses. Without saying a word they both undressed and began to make love, carefully, patiently, agonizingly slow and deliberate.


Corinne had never, ever felt like this. Closing her eyes and savoring each second with him, she arched her back and moaned softly as his kisses trailed down along her belly. Lifting himself once more, his eyes burned with a passion she had never before seen.


"Are you sure Cori?" his husky voice drew her back. As her eyes memorized every detail of his face the light from the bedroom window shone on him as she caught a flash and gasped. Around his neck a silver chain glittered in the light and suspended from it, a key.


Cori's heart pounded in her ears. "The key," she managed to gasp as his mouth devoured hers. "Hush…don't talk baby," he murmured as he slowly began to enter her.


"But the key…" she was drifting away, lost in his passionate embrace.


Cori turned her head barely able to open her eyes when she saw it on the chest. "The music box…" she whispered absently.


"Yes baby," he moaned softly as his movements quickened carrying her higher and higher, "the key to the music box. You gave it to me remember? On our anniversary."


Corinne was at the brink when she felt an unnatural pull come from somewhere in the shadows. "No, not yet, I'm not ready!" She tried to hold back, hold onto him. "Don't let me go!" she cried. "Cori…" his voice grew faint, almost garbled.




Within seconds James Marius was nothing more than a blur as Corinne felt herself being whisked away into darkness once more.

~Tagging...Beth~