#anywhere

*****

Binghamton has few trods and the one that leads to Widderwind directly is secretive.

And, perhaps, not needed. The winter afternoon is not overly bright, the air is crisp, and there are crows in the bare trees.

Silas Shiver enjoys the cold, even here in apples. And for Zara? Each season is an old friend, though she might prefer bold Summer at night. Now, it is Winter, and the snow is thick. One would think the two would have trouble, but they near to walk OVER the snow so light do they move

"Crows, a good sign" He says. Others might disagree, but the others aren't sluagh

"Aye. A full murder."

And then, the shadows start to lengthen, and go just a BIT to the left... and it comes into view. .Widdershins... the fountain in the yard shaped like a spider is frozen at this time, making it look like it is spinning crystal webs. At the hold itself, the door knob on the wrong side of the door. Zara well remembers the flipped victorian style. The cobblestone side walk which approaches the wrong wandering way, is hard to find save for the keenly aware, under that snow. The hedges which are cut to look like horrible murder enactments now look as if Winter is hiding the evidence. Trying to look through the windows instead causes glimpses of chimerical faces, like ghosts tapping on the panes from the other world as before, but this time, the ice makes them seem like they're trapped on the wrong side of a pond's surface.

Silas jaw drops, open mouths are considered rude ("We are not a codfish") but one can hardly blame the boy

"Welcome to Widderwinds, young sir."

He pulls his toothless mouth closed, "It is ... perfect" He says

"Ah, naught is perfect. And that is a delight, too." She steps up to knock on the door.

the iced up knocker sheds its casing with almost calculated melodrama, and then the door opens.

And it is as if history was replaying... for it is the same boy as she met over six years ago...who greets her. Only, he is not nine, but neither is he fifteen. He has decided not to age fully perhaps? The balefire allows it. He looks closer to twelve. His shirt is now a button up, but still has inexplicable chew marks (How does that happen with no teeth?) "Greetings, do you.. dost though wish to visit us again ? Mister Godfrey and Miss Demona ARE in."

"Ah, I see thou art closer to death. You look unwell." She splays a hand over her chest and dips into a small bow. "I do wish to visit, aye."

The youth smiles at that "Thank you, please, come in. I shant close the door in your face this time. With my deterioration into age, I have fewer excuses"

Silas makes a greeting gesture himself, "Thank you, sir."

To be fair - Zara's physical age is likely not where it should be, either. Between freeholds and the dreaming, she's taking a long path to cronedom.

And the youth leads Zara and Silas inside...

Waiting for them, at the end of the hallway, are the twins! Spindly and thin as Zara, but not as pale, Godfrey is dressed a full century out of date as before. His sister is wearing a lovely Victorian dress with a knife hole in the back. She also wears a token of some mystery paramour, a tarnished silver necklace with an Almandine stone.

Zara can't help but smile, though propriety demands decorum. "Miss Demona, Mister Godfrey."

"Miss Zara, once I quoted Stoker to greet you, now perhaps, I should simply say the most precious antiques are old friends." Godfrey says

Demona nods, "How fares Earthrunes?" As if she does not slip to visit every new moon or the like already.

"Oh, terribly domestic. But the library grows and thrives."

"Our own hold has lurched forward, thanks to the return of she who was stolen," Demona replies, "Now, if one may ask, who is this silent lurker beside you, who seems ready to pass out from the cold?"

Silas puffs up with pleasure at the idea he might pass out just like that. Perhaps from a rare diesase the cold masks

"Ah - now that is something of a story."

"Ah, stories are best had over a cup of tea, so I hear," Godfrey says "If you will indulge us?"

"Tea would be lovely, thank you."

"Yes, thank you kindly?" Silas remarks, then adds, "Your hold is like the very stuff of my sweetest nightmares"

"Why, this one will be a worm tongued charmer" Demona observes, approvingly, and they are lead up rickety steps meant for left handed folk. A door opened, a small room bypassed... and once more for her, but the first time for Silas: they come to a grand parlor where a antique phonograph plays soft music, Toccata and Fugue in D Minor . A ring of candles dangles as a chandelier, casting eerie shadows, and magic ones as well, for the candle flames are the balefire, oh not so strong compared to many she's been at, but the glamour here is rich with the strange and forgotten, with the macabre air of dragon's breath and the first fog of autumn entwined.

Should she be wearing a coat, or hat, something lURCHES for her, and turns out to be a coat/hat rack offering itself to hold a garment for her. No doubt a non sluagh would be freaked out by that.

And the tea kettle shrieks oh so quietly, like a victim of some terror who will never ever get the help she needs

She offers her moth-eaten coat with a murmur of praise for the clever thing!

Silas whispers "Capital" Then looks around

And nearly starts to see Sadie, "Welcome to the left leaning house, where the flames twist sinister. I am Sadie. " A smile "Did you notice me in the corner, Miss Zara?" the girl looks only a bit older. Must be the balefire that she, in anolther life, helped found

"Why, no!"

"Greetings and salutations, Miss Sadie. I have brought a cousin to meet you all, Young Master SIlas Shiver."

Silas Shiver greets her formally, "Hello. I am Silas Shiver," And perhaps hoping to impress, tries to be mysterious, "I am he who winter spawned, yet knew trouble for spawning winter. I am he whos rescue was maid, through inconsequential means. I have found wisdom in a mountain's shadow, and in the place a murder is prohibited by fright." He clearly worked hard on this introduction before he came here.

Sadie fights a smile of delight "An intelligent boy. How novel. "

"Sadie," Demona tuts.

Sadie looks a BIT contrite, "Yes, Miss Demona." Then she says to Silas, "That WAS very intriguing, Silas."

"Thank you, " Silas says "It will all make sense when you learn more, the best puzzles fit in the end."

"Just so" Sadie says, then takes Zara's hand "You should sit next to me for tea, Miss Zara. Mister Shiver can sit on the other side"

"That sounds meet."

Tea is served, as soon as all are seated, of course. Miss Demona insists on pouring. Oh how lovely, clumpy cream as an option