Unknown POV

Swiftly, I allow my molecules and atoms to shift apart, to become as shadow mist, once again. Retaining the memories and ability to change back into Tina if I so choose. Changing from form to form will be much easier now That I have most of the human genome in me. All I would have to do is fly through a person to merge with their cells temporarily. Copy completed, and I fly out, with them none the wiser. At least it should work that way now.

As I levitate above the sidewalk, I make myself invisible to human eyes and fly off down toward this country's Southern region. The icy cold air filters through my atoms, but to me, it is warm in comparison to the cold of deep space where I had been living.

Powering up the small black hole that is the core of my being, time and space become relative things as I speed off. When I finally do slow down, it's over the State of Louisiana. The sun rose a few hours ago, and the countryside where I find myself. The scent of the moist earth surrounds me as I take in the sights. It is incredibly green and lush, from green plots of land to the green types of brush surrounding the trees. I pass by farming communities, small cities, and towns looking for a place to stay. To slowly observe and learn more about the human species in my own time, so I can know how to emulate being a human without having to rely on the memories of others.

While moving past a schoolyard, I overhear some young children in a deep discussion about an old haunted mansion. So I stopped to listen. A young dirty boy at about the age of ten spoke up. He was in torn jeans and what used to be a clean white t-shirt. A talker toughie more than anything, his voice rang out with a bully's authority. "Old man Farrell went up there two weeks ago. He said he had found the bodies of three hitchhikers strung up by their ankles. Two girls and one guy, all with their throats cut." He shifted from foot to foot and shoved his hands in his pockets.

A young girl about the same age flipped her blonde hair and rested her fists on the waistband of her black skirt. "Well, my Daddy says that Old man Farrell is nothing but the town drunk and should keep his lies to himself. Pulling at the sleeve of her white shirt, she turned to the other girl present. "Come on, let's go..." the timid girl in the brown jumpsuit looked from one to the other and quickly followed after the blonde. She knew that if she didn't, the girl would make her life hell. But then, so could the bully.

The dirty boy stood alone as all others had left him. Silently, I moved toward the boy and allowed a tendril of my molecules to pass between those of scalp and skull to his and enter into his mind. Sifting through his mind, I found the location of this haunted house; Calhoun Mansion was the name. It was perfect for what I needed. Gently, I let the boy g and took off toward Black Lake, thanks to the directions found in his little brain. Just a bit north of Natchitoches. What better place to go to, where visitors are not very frequent. I may have found my home.
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Richard Weston POV

Leaves and short branches snagged at my boots and blue jeans as I walked through all the trees and bushes. I was moving in a different direction than what I usually take to get home. But if it means I have a camp for the night, so be it. This is my vacation,n after all. A short way ahead is Calhoun Manor. I have stayed there before, a few years back, I could always stay there again. The big kitchens in that place will be great for storing and gutting the black bass that I carry in a burlap sack inside a hefty bag over my shoulder. I look up towards the sky and see that it's later than I thought.

Branches move aside, and I can see the enormous manor. I can see why everyone thinks it's haunted. It looks as if the treeline is trying to swallow the house up whole. Bushes crowd along its sides, and moss fairly drips down over the half-destroyed rooftop, enveloping the walls of the structure so much that its former splendor can no longer be seen. As I get closer, I see that vines and ivy are there holding some of the moss in place. Stepping up the marble stair,s I reach the door and push inward.

As I do, the old world crumbles and collapses, sending up a great deal of dust straight into my face. With closed eyes, I cough and sputter. Reaching into my back pocket, I pull out a red and white bandana to wipe my eyes and clear my face of dust. Taking a step forward as I clear my eyes, I could swear I saw the naked form of a beautiful blonde woman go running across the top of the four attached grand staircases on the second floor of the house. After doing a double-take and seeing nothing, I shook my head to mentally clear my head. I know I must have been seeing things. No one would be out here, would they?

As I looked around, it amazed me how much of the outside growth had gotten into to mansion. Oh yeah, kids would definitely see this place as haunted... Moss and climbing ivy had come in through the great, circular broken glass window and from the ceiling above at one end of the great hall. It was coating everything in various vibrant shades of green vegetation. It looked sad and neglected to me. The entire lower floor was devoid of furniture, but at least I should have a bed to sleep in for tonight in one of the bedrooms like I did last time I was here. Straight down the upper right hallway and directly to the big double boors at the end. Picking up the front doors one by one, I leaned them against the door frame.

Turning back, my boots squeaked against the old parquet flooring above the dead debris, which covered the tiles where I walked. Heading directly beneath the four attached grand staircases, I stayed straight and passed the doorframe leading into the old kitchens. It was a huge kitchen, about thirty feet by twenty feet, with three double doors for access.

Everything was white, at least it used to be. It was partly yellowed by age, partly due to the dust and greenery caused by the 'exposure' from the roof in the main entrance hall. The long butcher's block and counter still stood, as did the sin,k which I re-anchored a few years back. My shoulder ache,d and I groaned a bit as I swung the bag full of fish off of my shoulder and into the sink, filling it. Stretching with my arms above my head, I looked at the ceiling where there was watermarking due to the heavy rain and humidity in these parts. Finally lowering my arms, I set my hands on the butcher's block, and jumped up onto it, and swung my legs up too. Seeing that there was no better place to rest a while that was close by, I laid down on my back and closed my eyes. Folding my fingers together over my blue t-shirt and flannel. Within moments I dozed off.

The long-legged blonde woman stood at the top of the grand staircase, looking down at me as I stood below, gazing at the stunning beauty before me. Her nakedness didn't seem to bother her at all, but oh yeah, I won't lie, I wanted to take her back up to that bedroom badly. Slowly I began to climb the stairs toward her, knowing damned well my arousal could be seen in the tightness of my jeans. Raising a hand with palm facing her, I spoke soothingly, "Hello, my name is Richard Weston. Who are you?" I took another slow step as her head tilted at me like she was confused. Stopping three steps away from her, I could almost smell her scent. It was sweet like honeysuckle. Never have I felt such a strong desire to take a woman and lavish her for a prolonged period of time. I'm more of a love 'em, then they leave the next day kind of guy. But this one, with her pouty lips, damn, they made you want to kiss them for hours... I realize I am starting rudely when she suddenly walks past me and fades from sight. Turning my body around, there is no one and my body aches for her.

As I open my eyes, they grow wide with shock as she is right there, leaning over me with a blank expression on her face. "Uh..hello. I am-" she cuts me off but finishes for me.

"Richard Weston, yes I know." her cornflower blue eyes study me from head to toe as I slowly sit upright.

Reaching out a hand, her fingertips grasp a piece of my flannel shirt, and she rubs it between her fingers. "What is your name, if I might ask?"

Dropping the flannel, her fingertips graze the jean material at my knee. Oh yeah, I'm hard again, damnit. She looks back up at me, and I find this emotionless expression on her face a bit disturbing. I mean, what is going on with this woman? I had to know. "I have no name. One was never necessary where I come from." Checking out her gorgeous body, my eyes came to rest on her extraordinary curves. This woman was heaven-sent. If I had my choice of all shapes and sizes, I would pick hers in a heartbeat.

With my mindset on her being heavenly, I knew that for us to talk, it would be easier if she had a name. "Of all the most beautiful types of music a person could sing, it would be an aria. How would you like that as a name? The name of Aria." It fit her. It fit her very well.

Pausing as she thought about it, she softly rubbed her hand on my knee. It wasn't meant to be a turn on but.. "Aria...I like it. Hello Richard, my name is Aria." Maybe a temptress after all. I looked into her eyes and smiled. To my surprise, she smiled in return.