Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” was blasting through the speaker, much to Teddy’s annoyance. He made the mistake of stating he listened to nothing but classical music, so I was trying to liven up his house with jazz. After all, they were very similar, so surely that would not upset his nerves. The long frown on his face informed me that I was wrong, but I danced to the music next to him anyways.

“Come on,” I taunted with an urgent wave of my hand for him to come over. “Dance with me.”

“Sela, I am cooking,” he sighed out with distress. His statement was true, for he was in fact busily working over the stove-top to prepare our dinner.

I childishly lifted up his dish towel and smacked him lightly in the arm. “Dance with me.”

“Afterwards.”

“Promise?”

Teddy grabbed a hold of the towel to tug me towards him. “Promise.” He pecked his lips over mine with a sudden urgency. “Now, have a seat.”

“It’s not ready yet,” I complained. “Why must I sit?”

“The answer is simple,” he reasoned with a raise of his hands. “You are a distraction.”

“A good one though?”

“Please, can I have my normal music back on? I must concentrate.”

I laid a hand over his solid back and leaned over to kiss him on the side of his neck. “Yes, Teddy,” I purred in a naughty way, and then quickly scampered off before he could kiss me back.

The stereo, of course, was in his music room. I walked down the hallway, and then began to skip as I approached the open doorway. My mood had lightened since Teddy and I made up, and now all I wanted was to be incredibly affectionate and near him all the time. He was the complete opposite this evening, but I knew there had to be a logical reason behind it. The music was switched back to his normal radio station, and then I turned the volume down since a commercial was currently playing.

Luna leapt off Teddy’s piano, energized enough from her long nap for her to join me. I lifted her off the ground with supreme happiness. Luna purred in my arms, snuggling her head upon my chest with her blue eyes wide open to take in the sight of me. I swayed her from side to side as I walked down the long hall, humming an unknown song to counteract the droning of a nonsensical commercial. I paused in front of the staircase, and found myself humming with tighter lips. There was an eerie feeling when I looked up at the staircase; a chill ran down my spine that was beyond explanation. I looked downwards at my bare feet, taking in the coldness of the floor. My mind suddenly recalled the first time I met Teddy, and his familiar voice wafting past an open window down to the gardens where I was currently waiting for him. Was he not speaking to someone that day?

I stepped forward quickly and entered the kitchen to ask Teddy about this bewildering scenario that happened some time ago. “Teddy,” I called out. He was too focused on stirring around the mashed potatoes to pay attention to me. I tapped him lightly on his upper arm, which was enough for him to turn to me. “Teddy.”

A warm smile spread across his face and he leaned forward to peck a kiss over my brow. “Yes, my dear.”

“I have a question.” His wooden spoon continued to stir around the silver pot, mixing in the butter and herbs that he had just added to give the mashed potatoes more flavour. I leaned against the side of the countertop and looked down at Luna for some extra strength. “Does anyone live here with you?”

“You know I live alone,” he calmly answered me.

“Always?”

“Yes, of course.”

“There is no other woman here then?” His hand froze for a moment, and then he darted his eyes in my direction for half a second. “Is there?”

“No, I live alone.”

“Alright,” I submitted, even though I did not fully believe him. I moved away from him to set Luna down on the ground. Her white fur was brushed off the front of my dress and then I moved over to the kitchen sink to wash my hands. “It’s only…”

He laid his wooden spoon down on the side of the pot. “What is it?” groaned Teddy with his posh accent sharper than ever.

“When I came here on Monday, I thought I heard you talking to a woman.”

“But that’s impossible.”

“Yes, I know that.” I blinked nervously in front of him. “No one lives upstairs with you?”

“I am all alone.” The spoon was taken up from the pot with a sharp movement of his wrist. “You must have heard me talking to myself.”

“It was just coffee,” I recited slowly to remind him. “Why would you say that to yourself?”

“Because I liked you from the very beginning.” He turned away from me to retrieve something from the fridge. I observed the way his hand tightened over the handle, the tenseness of his jaw. “And I felt guilty about entertaining the idea. You were supposed to work here, and that was all.” He came over to me with a carton of milk in his hand. “And I wanted more than that.”

I laid a hand over the side of his arm. “Yes, we both knew that from then.” My hand stroked the side of him softly, ruffling up his clean white dress shirt that he was still wearing. “I like the apron you put on. The stripes are nice.” He looked down at the sky-blue stripes that were incredibly thin across the white fabric. “You look handsome in it.”

“In an apron?” he asked with disbelief. The container was slowly poured over the piping hot potatoes to add to the creamy texture he had already crafted. “And you find me handsome? Good.”

I giggled beside him while doing my best not to roll my eyes. “Teddy, come here.” He lowered the milk carton and followed my lead. I stopped behind the back of a chair and leaned myself against it. “I want you to kiss me.”

“Kiss you?”

I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck. “Yes.”

“If I kiss you, I won’t be able to stop.”

“You know that’s not true.” My fingers dragged along the back of his neck. I could feel my eyes darkening before him, pupils dilating with desire. “Just one.”

He physically removed my arms from around the back of his neck. “After,” he whispered. Teddy turned back to the stovetop before I had time to respond, and took up the spoon to smash it hard into the pot. My right hand rubbed the back of my neck as I tasted defeat, wondering why Teddy did not want to kiss me just now. I looked over to my right, catching sight of the open doorway and wondered what could possibly be upstairs that he was so desperate to hide. If I was subtle enough I could find a way to sneak upstairs, but I did not want to ruin a perfectly good night.

Another time then, I decided, before I turned my gaze back to him.

A burst of heat was felt on the right side of me, as I laid there all snug and warm upon his couch. Tired limbs stretched themselves outwards, toes perked high enough for me to see the scarlet red nail polish I was currently wearing. I wiggled my toes tiredly, and then laid my weary head upon a plush pillow behind me. Ever so slowly my eyelids closed, while I attentively listened to the song that came from Teddy’s piano. He was seated on a slim black bench, his fingers pressing upon the keys in an elegant manner as he performed a song for me. When I opened my eyes I could see the tall white cafe styled mug resting on the top of his piano, light wavy lines of heat drifting over his hot chocolate. The window was open just a crack, enough for me to hear the ocean’s waves crashing against the cliffs.

The sound of a music sheet being turned struck the air, but it was not long before Teddy had his two hands upon the blanched white keys again. I watched his quick movements, the intense focus he demonstrated for anything that had to do with the arts. A small white coffee table was on the right of me, with a clear flute vase made out of glass at its center. A cluster of yellow irises rested inside of it; petals as bright as a midday sun blooming wondrously under the dark flavescent glow of the fading sunlight. Crimson skies hovered over the horizon for the sun was losing the last of its colour as we neared the end of the day. Teddy had promised me he would take me home before it became too dark, so I knew we had only a short time left before I would have to leave his place.

The music was slow and somber-like, though it was beautiful all the same. It reminded me of the still peacefulness you get when there is a light drizzle of rain. My imagination ran away with me, and I could picture glossy cobbled streets with darkened silhouettes of people stepping under a shower of rain. Teddy may have had the gift of painting imagery with a paintbrush and a good set of paints, but I had my imagination, and a vivid one at that.

Teddy had reached the end of the song. A long arm outstretched itself to grasp at the pure white mug. He drank his hot chocolate deeply before settling it down. I watched him turn an easy gaze towards the fire, observing the sunburnt orange flames flickering in the darkness. He suggested putting on a fire to make the room more cozy, assuring me that once the sun had fully set the house would descend into an uncomfortably cold temperature.

I rolled over the couch to lean onto my side, pulling a pillow downwards to place it comfortably against my head. It felt so easy to watch him, to take in this man that was so mysteriously alluring from the start.

“Nearly time to go.” Teddy lifted up a leg and straddled the sleek black bench completely. “Sela?”

“I heard you.”

“I enjoyed it,” he mentioned with a raise of his right hand.

“I enjoyed this evening too, Teddy.”

“We had a bit of a rough day, but things worked out in the end,” he wisely remarked. “And I think we should do it again sometime.”

I smiled at him, and then buried the front of my head into the pillow because my grin was becoming much too large for me to even fathom. There was a strange feeling at the bottom of my stomach, a wave of happiness that was beyond comprehension. I retained my position for a little bit, trying to compose myself in front of Teddy. I felt childish and girly, and this was not the kind of thing I would normally do.

“While you are laying there like that,” Teddy taunted with a cunning edge to his voice. “Would you like another cup of hot chocolate?”

I rolled over to my left, revealing my face to Teddy at last. My wavy chestnut hair had become wild and untamed after lounging so long upon his pillow. I brushed it back quickly, but I could feel my cheeks blazing with embarrassment from the look in his eyes. “No, I am alright.” I brought my hand downwards and stroked my bottom lip, remembering he had not kissed me since we had lunch together. I was dying to ask him to come over to the couch, but I thought that would only spell trouble.

“You’ve gone quiet,” he observed, while he continued to stare at my telling visage.

“Have I?”

“Yes, you have.”

I pursed my lips tightly; dark eyes darted to the ceiling as I tried to control my facial expressions. This would be a perfect time for a distraction, but unfortunately Luna was off somewhere fast asleep in Teddy’s house. I let out a yawn while covering my mouth. It was clear it was time for me to go to bed. “I think I should go.”

“It’s getting late,” he agreed with me.

“Thanks for letting me come here.”

He let out a small laugh that brightened his face. “Thank you for accepting my invitation,” he cleverly quipped. “And for joining me for dinner. I hope you liked it.”

“You’re a good cook.” He bowed his head in open approval. “And pianist.”

“And you are,” he began, as he did his best to get off the narrow bench. “A good gardener.”

“I get paid for it,” I taunted with a quick wink in his direction. “But thank you.”

He unconsciously licked his lips as he strode towards me. By the time he was standing in front of the couch, I could tell he was deliberating what he should do next.

I pulled my legs inwards, providing him enough room to take a seat as well. He stared at the spot for a moment, but the temptation was too strong for him, and soon enough he took a seat on the small spot I had left for him. An arm rested over the top of the couch, and then he relaxed his legs enough for it to be outstretched in front of him. I watched Teddy’s left hand stroke the bottom of his chin, while a thought seemed to overtake him. “When will I see you again?”

“I’m free tomorrow. Unless that is too soon.”

“Tomorrow will work for me.”

“What do you want to do?”

“It will be a nice day,” he sighed out in exhaustion. “I am sure we could go for a trail walk. Most of them naturally lead to the sea, so you will be able to walk along the sandy coastline. How does that sound?”

I leaned forward in my seat, drawing my arms around my bent legs. “That sounds nice.”

Teddy dragged the tip of his fingers along the front of his outstretched neck, and then let it rest over his bow-tie. “We should leave,” he declared aloud.

I looked past him to see the red sky darkening over the horizon, a shame really, for I should have liked to stay longer. My feet slid off the side of the couch and plummeted to the floor. My arms stretched themselves wide while I let out a short exhale in exhaustion. My body was crying out for sleep, so it was about time that I headed home.

Teddy rose from the comfortable couch first. A hand was offered to me in return, something I eagerly accepted so he could pull me back upon my feet. I stood in front of him now, recognizing the stark differences in our height when he was so close. He made no sound, but the earnest look in his dark brown eyes said it all. I lowered my gaze slightly, feeling shy when we were standing so close together. My hand was taken up, and then a delicate kiss was pressed to the back of it. In an extremely low drawl, he said: “Thank you for coming.”

I nodded my head timidly. Lips curled inwardly until my cheeks had small dimples in the center of them. An immense sexual tension filled the air, especially when he still had the back of my hand hovering just over his lips. The look in his eyes was unmistakable, but would he give in?

“We should go,” he uttered with some difficulty.

“Uh huh.”

It was unfortunate that neither of us were willing to move. My lips pursed together tightly, for the energy radiating from him was too much to bear.

The inside of his right cheek poked outward, for his tongue was jabbing the inside of it fiercely. I had never seen him so conflicted so before, so tortured by his inward thoughts. His jaw relaxed, and soon he opened his mouth only to find that no words would come. Distraught, he turned his eyes away and settled it over the fire.

“Do I make you happy, Teddy?” I asked in a light tone of voice.

“More than,” he stopped himself short. He nodded his head willingly, before uttering: “More than words can say.”

“If it helps, you make me happy too. I am glad I did not take other people’s advice.” He blinked quizzically. “To stay away from you.”

“And who told you that?” he asked with distrust.

“Daphne.”

“Daphne,” he repeated in a steely tone of voice. My hand was instantly lowered, and I found his hand recoiling from mine until it fell into his trouser pocket.

“I ignored her. I wanted to judge you…” I paused because the look in his eyes was quite dangerous. “Based on your own character.” Teddy’s jawline relaxed substantially to the point that the dangerous look in his eyes slowly ebbed away. “I don’t go down to the village for a reason. Besides, even if they told me the most horrible things about you,” I paused to lay a hand over the side of his arm. “I still wouldn’t believe it. I can tell that you are a good man, Teddy.”

“Even the purest of men have done wrong,” he countered. “But no, Sela, I have done nothing to cause such…” His eyebrows lowered over the hoods of his sockets. “Condemnation.”

“Then why do you fear going down there?”

The grandfather clock struck, sounding loudly enough to gather our attention. I looked down at the watch on Teddy’s wrist, surprised to see it was eight o’clock. In a matter of seconds he reached for my hand, and pulled me away from the comforts of his living room, determined to bring me into the hallway. “We have to go,” he urged. A finger was pointed to my sandals and tote bag next to the door. “Put it on.”

“Why the rush?”

“Please,” he begged, which was not his normal manner of speaking to me. “Do as I say.”

I walked away from him to slip on my sandals, deciding it was best to listen to Teddy’s instructions. I could hear him patting the front of his trouser pockets frantically, searching for something that was out of sight. “I need my keys,” he said with desperation. “And wallet!” The back of his hand dragged over his brow, while he closed his eyes profusely. “Where did I put it?”

“It could be somewhere in the kitchen,” I suggested.

“Stay here,” he commanded with a pointed finger directed to the floor. “And don’t move.”

To my surprise he jogged down the hallway, intent on getting to the kitchen as fast as he could. I stood there dumbstruck, wondering about the blatant fear that had suddenly crossed his eyes when he looked at me. I could hear his feet shuffling across the floor, hard and fast with staggered movements. “Where is it?” echoed down the hallway. “Where did I put it?”

I took a step forward, before I recalled his stern warning to stay in front of the door. I crossed my arms with impatience, and looked around the empty hallway where only the old grandfather clock stood. The dim silhouette of the staircase could barely be perceived, mostly because that part of the hallway was shrouded in darkness. The crackling of wood struck the air, coming from the fireplace that Teddy had left on. I thought it would be wise to put it out, so I disobeyed his orders and made my way back to his study room. The room had become uncommonly dark now, the sun’s rays were faint upon the smooth hardwood floor. From the open window, I could see the deathly pale crescent moon. Blinding stars of silvery white besieged the once blue skies, determined to blot out the last of the sunlight with their own source of illumination. I stepped forward a little more, noticing the creaking to the floorboard that wasn’t there before. The curtains billowed from the tiny crack of the window, gusting forward in the greatest effort to touch the corner of the piano. The flames were bright as ever; almost enchanting-like. I stepped forward more, while clutching the corner of my dress.

“Sela!” I heard Teddy call out. His feet were pounding against the hardwood floor, determined to get to the front door. “I thought I told you to stay where you are.” He stopped in front of the entrance way of the study room with his hands resting over his hips. “Why can’t you listen-?”

“-I was going to put out the fire,” I cut in. “You can’t let it stay like this when you are driving me home.”

“Right!” he shouted out with a fling of his hand upwards. “Just do it quickly. There is a poker over there. Yes, that one! Use it to spread out the embers.” Teddy turned around suddenly and yelled over his shoulder, “I’m going upstairs!”

I took his advice and lifted up the bronze hued poker, feeling the full weight of it in the palm of my hand. I was too busy admiring the tip of it, taking in the round hilt with an image of a full moon pressed on top. My thumb ran over the detailed engraving that was etched into the hard material. The curtains flapped higher, smacking together in a stronger fashion than before. There was no wind to carry it that way, but there it was, whipping higher as if it could reach me from whence I stood. The moon beams steamed through the coal black fabric, radiating the very room into an eerie glow. The house began to creak all around me, like a low moan of wind on a stormy day. I swallowed hard and clutched the poker for the fireplace tighter in my hand, extending it upwards so I could grip it with my left hand as well. I could feel my senses become more alert, noticing the way the hairs at the back of my neck perked upwards. The fire blazed higher than before, wood collapsing heavily to strike up flickering flames. I stepped backwards, feeling my bare feet shuffling over the cold floor. There was something not right about this room- this house.

A sharp hiss ignited in the air, and then a loud shrill that could have only come from Luna. I ran down the hallway, watching her paws pad hard across the floor to get to me. I bent down quickly, wanting to touch her, but she bypassed my hand and fled into the music room. I followed Teddy’s cat, unaware of how uncommonly silent he was upstairs when all of these events had occured. The poker rested loosely over my hand as I stepped into the room, observing the way Luna was shoving the front of her head desperately through the small crack of the window. I ran over to the window and thrust it wide open, startled to see her leap off the tiny ledge to get outside. Her pale white form pounced over the lush green grass, and before I knew it she was gone. “Luna!” I called out in hysterics, not wanting her to depart from me. “Luna!”

The curtains of the window flapped higher all around me. They twisted and contorted, scrapping over the sides of my body like long deathly tendrils, until I thought it was best to step away from the window with my poker armed high over my head. Luna had the good sense to get away from this house that had suddenly become alive, and so should I.

I stepped further away from the window, noticing the fact that the flames were flickering higher and higher to a dangerous level. It was beyond my control now, so I sprinted out of the room and entered the hallway instead. “Teddy!” I cried out, while gripping onto the poker with a deathly grip.

I stepped down the hallway at an incredibly slow pace, searching the long, narrow hallway that was mysteriously quiet. I held my breath after a time, fearful of the ongoing silence. There was a faint crackling of fire behind me, a sound generating from the uncontrollable fireplace that desperately needed to be put out by the owner of this house. Steadily I walked forward with the poker raised higher above my head like a baseball bat. There was something in my spirit that warned me of incoming danger, and it was worse than I could have possibly ever imagined.

As I approached the staircase, I could hear hush murmurings coming from upstairs. I peered into the darkness, wondering if I should sneak upstairs to find out the truth of the matter. Teddy’s voice was filled with agitation, sharp and controlling-like that sounded almost unnatural to him. I could not make out his words however, and I knew once I went up a step it would creak loud enough for him to hear. I stood there patiently, trying to make out his sentences that continued to be lost to me.

“That’s not true!” Teddy shrilled out sharply. “And you know it.”

I took another step forward, finding my bare foot pressed against the first step of the staircase.

“I have kept my word,” Teddy pleaded with his voice fraught with pain. “All this time, and I’ll continue to do so.”

The person that he was speaking too was not responding, and if they did, I could barely make it out. The sound of Teddy pacing was loud upstairs, creaking the floorboard beneath him.

“No,” he growled out threateningly. “I will not let you do that again.”

I took a step backwards, feeling terrified that he should be even speaking to someone up there. How many times had Teddy assured me that he was the only one in the house? How many times had he lied to me right to my face? I stepped away from the staircase with a lowered head. I tasted defeat as I acknowledged his sordid act of betrayal. All this time, everything that he had ever said was just a lie.

The palm of my hand leaned against the wooden door frame that was connected to the hallway and the kitchen. The heavy poker for the fireplace was lowered downwards until it rested over the side of my frame. There was no room for escape for me, his house was miles from anywhere else. Besides, he had the car keys, so there was no way for me to steal his car and have a quick elusion. I looked over to the kitchen, wondering if I would need a weapon that was better than the iron rod. For once in my life I did not trust Teddy, and as his house became more vile and malevolent, I found my only option was to leave as soon as I could. I stepped into the kitchen, desperate to find a knife in any of his drawers. I pushed them open with a heavy slam, trying to decipher anything long and sharp in the shadows. It would have been smarter to turn on the light, but time was running short and pretty soon he would come downstairs again. My heart was pounding so fast it was hard to focus. The curtains in the kitchen began to whip as well, frightening me to an unstable level as my fingers quickly brushed aside the cutlery to find a knife large enough to do some damage.

“We are finished here,” echoed above me, seeping through the floor that was right above my head. “I won’t let you.”

I found a knife while slicing the tip of my finger in the process. My hand recoiled backwards, bringing it up to my mouth to suck it dry. The sound of Teddy’s footsteps became louder, moving over to another part of the house that was away from the kitchen. It was clear he was speaking to someone, and he was not happy with what they had just said.

My hand dove downwards to snatch at the bread knife, knowing it wasn’t the best weapon to choose, but I could use it anyways. The next plan of action was a line of escape, so I leaned over the kitchen countertop and tried to pry at the windows. They were sealed shut, and not even the buttons that I used to unlatch them would prop it open. I lowered the knife down into the kitchen sink and tried multiple times to unlock the window, but to no avail. Trapped, I began to panic and grabbed a hold of the knife and poker with a defensive stance. It was just when the house fell into an eerie silence that I heard a ringing of a metal chain. My weapons were lowered as I turned my head to the right, realizing that sound could only come from one place - the chained up door to the cellar.