~~~ One okay rock - Taking off ~~~

"Shall we?" I nodded my head, pointing up. I stepped closer to her, grabbed her around her waist in order to lift her up, before she could even think of any word of stopping me. She understood and pulled the lever, leaving the door slowly opening itself, while I placed Chelsea safely back on her feet.

"You didn't want them to see?" She asked hesitantly. I shrugged my shoulders, not saying anything, but it was true, I didn't want anyone else apart of Chelsea, to meddle with my business. After the short time I know her, I already trusted her. Although it was quite understandable, as she was the only person in the world I could pour my trust into or perhaps it could be the feeling I had... like I know her more than just those few days. When I think about it, it sounds like the biggest cliché, but I couldn't stop the sensation from settling in my mind.

I indicated with my hand for her to go first. She didn't like my innate manners, but I wasn't about to stop being gentleman. I noticed her roll of eyes, but I let it pass, as she walked around me and started climbing up, while I followed her right behind.

"Damnit, I can't see anything," She complained rightfully, because the moment we reached the top, there was no sign of a daylight. Chelsea stopped moving and I ran into her.

"I'm sorry," I murmured apology and slipped passed her. "Here," I should have gone first, because I knew there were few flashlights in the basket on the table by the door. She stepped closer to me and narrowed her eyes, to where I was pointing at. She took one, switching it on and started to explore her surroundings, forgetting my presence, I could see curiosity in her face. Her eyes glided over old bits of furniture covered with dust, until they landed on the boxes in the corner of the room. Then she realized I didn't follow her on her exploration, turning back to me.

"What is in those?" She wondered. How could she know to go straight to them? She lowered herself on one of the sturdy boxes.

"Remains of my life," I sat next to her, watching her as she took out fragments from my past life.

~

I was sitting in the attic, staring at the photographs in my hands. Next to me was seated young lord, looking exactly like the man on the pictures.

"It's you," I breathed out. Picture was made in black and white. He was standing there typically with his one arm hidden behind his back, while the other, he used to lean on the window sill, gazing somewhere into the distance. The natural elegancy was radiating from his body, making me admire his posture even more. He looked stunning, while I studied his facial expression, it got me unprepared, to see slight smile and relaxed features. My breath got stuck in my throat and I had to force myself to peel my eyes from the picture and look at the real man – ghost beside me, which didn't really help my breathless situation. Something was very wrong with me and I didn't know how to stop the transformation, which was making me confused every new minute I spent in his presence.

I darted my eyes down again, to look at next the photo. There he was again, but this time accompanied by young lady. Quick thought, that I knew that face, raced through my mind, but I forgot about it almost immediately.

"That was Eleonor, my fiance," He answered my unspoken question. I already guessed who it was. They looked like match made in heaven. She was a pure beauty, equal to his own fine handsomeness. It made me think of my own lacking. 

That girl had jet black hair, lifted and made into sophisticated knot, while brightly smiling, but for some reason I had difficulty to believe the sincerity of that smile of hers. Her frame was slim, underlined by the corset, which was hugging her waist tightly. Damon next to her seemed to be undeniably happy and satisfied with his choice of future wife. He must have loved her a lot. Does he still?

"You were beautiful pair," I let out slowly, not wanting to sound as irritated as I felt. On the next photograph was Damon with another man. I was thinking for a while, who it can be, when I noticed the resemblance in their faces. Both were grinning happily, which made me do the same.

"Was it your brother?" I asked to confirm my theory.

"Yes. Younger one," He nodded. I glanced up at him. He was trying hard not to let me see the emotions, which were without doubt flooding his heart. I found his destiny cruel. He lost everyone in the matter of seconds, staying behind in this form between life and death, even after all his closest left this world. I held the urge to comfort him somehow. My hands were itching to sneak around him and provide him with warmt of my hug. But I was still hesitating, looking at his expressionless face, wondering if he would appreciate my act of compassion. Nothing from his expression could tell me, what to do.

At last I made up my mind, dropping the photographs in my hand on the floor and reaching towards him. I halt for a second once I was few millimetres away from his shoulder, then I took all my courage and wrapped my arms around him, pressing my body against his. I could feel the way his body stiffened, not moving, or breathing for a split of second, then he suddenly placed his hands on my lower back, letting me feel the change in temperature, as we kept holding one another. Weirdly enough I liked how his muscles twitched on his back, as he firmed his hold on to me.

"I like how your presence makes me feel like a human," he confessed, while his breath tickled on my neck, sending chills down my spine. Who would have thought that by this moving, I'd gain this extraordinary new friend?

"That would be probably because of fact, that I kind of turn you into one. Even though I sometimes still think I must have hit my head bad, to the point I went nuts," I shared my own thoughts, while we were having a moment of honesty.

"I know, when you arrived that you weren't very happy about your situation. That you met me is minor," what is this? Are we seriously telling each other what we think suddenly? But why not, right? "I realized that I should ask more to know about you, as I don't know anything, apart of what I heard from Ellen," He added, explaining himself. He pulled away, so he could examine my face.

"Well, what to say. My Gran with whom I lived with since my parents died, passed away. And I found out Ellen is my only living relative. It was either her or the orphanage," I shrugged my shoulders indifferently, looking away, avoiding his intense gaze. It was for the first time after a long time, since I talked to someone about my private issues. I couldn't count the little I share with Chris and Liz. Not even Ellen.

"I'm sorry," he let his hands slide off my back, just to feel his fingers on my chin moment later, forcing me to look up and meet his blue like sky eyes. "Only now I can understand, how unfortunate and annoying it must have been, when I appeared in front of you," he told me guiltily. It was partly true, but the time passed and my first-time impression of him along with it. I was glad for his presence now.

"It would be boring here without you. I can't be mad at you for making my life a bit more interesting. What would I do without you appearing suddenly in front of me, causing me heart attacks. Or without your weird talking, or all the odd stuff happening between us. Truth be told, it is not entirely your fault either. Ah I'm still dying to know what it is happening exactly," I was inspecting his face, when he lifted one of his eyebrows and looked rather thoughtful. Our hands were still joined together. It was strange, but I still wanted him to have healthy complexion in his features.

"I am as well...," he breathed out, then he continued, "I have something to ask of you...," I was waiting for him to say this sooner or later, but he stopped in the middle of sentence and darted his eyes on the floor, where I happened to drop the photographs before. He jumped up on his legs, which almost made me fall on the floor. What a hell? I was watching him, as he kept looking down on the ground, when he diverted his gaze on to me, then back on the pictures. He repeated his actions multiple times, until I lost my patience.

"Damon? What on earth is going on?" I exclaimed, he was scaring me. His facial expression full of emotions and eyes wide opened, gaping.

"It is not possible. How could I not see it?" He was studying my face, like he just saw me for the first time in his life. He stepped close to me, as he pointed with his forefinger on one of the pictures. I bent down and picked it up. "Look at it," he demanded, and I did as I was told.

I was studying the photo, not understanding what is happening. Because I was looking at myself on an old picture. It wouldn't be that bizarre, if I was not wearing ancient clothing and if not on top of all that, I wasn't standing right next to Eleonor.

"Holy crap!" I whispered. It wasn't me on that photograph, but another woman I was alarmingly similar to. She was wearing beautiful muslin gown with corset, which perfectly suited the period Damon used to live in.

Her long blonde hair was simply tied behind her head just by few strands, leaving the rest loose around her shoulders. Her lips were formed into soft smile, while holding hands with Eleonor. Oh goddamnit! Her face was freaking me out.

"How... how come...?" I stuttered paralyzed by shock. Damon kept watching me with wide open eyes, not being able to utter any word.

"She was Eleonor's step sister," He said at last. The whole attic started spin around me, so I had to close my eyes. Breath, girl! I advised myself in my head. How was it possible, that I looked so alike his fiancé's sister? Was she my relative? My ancestor? I couldn't bear to keep standing there, while my head was trying to sort this out. I had to sit back on the boxes.

"You are in shock. Just breathe calmly," Damon showed up next to me.

"Is she my ancestor?" I had to know.

"That is my wild guess. Elizabeth was her name and you indeed must be her descendant. There is no other logical explanation," I could see the sparks in his eyes, when he came out with his theory. I had to think, my brain was currently overwhelmed, trying to figure it out. It was too confusing.

"I guess it is not that outraging, that the only person who can see that face of yours, is me. This must have something to do with it. There is a reason, that it is me," I had to mouth my thoughts out loud. Surprisingly it sounded quiet rationally. If it's true and I am the descendant, he must have known the girl, if she was sister of his wife to be. But then, wasn't he supposed to meet descendant of Eleonor?

I was looking into his eyes, then I realized he wanted to tell me something, before this ascertainment.

"What did you want to say back then?" he bit his lower lip, hesitating to talk the moment I asked.

"I don't mean to cause you another shock. If I was in your shoes, I wouldn't want to have anything to do with me," he stated quietly. Nonsense. It was too late to take a step back now. I already knew I can't get out of this spider web. I didn't say anything, waiting for him to start.

"I know... well I think I know, how to come back. I mean as a human. At least for a while... I'd have to, ehh It's hard to explain," he frowned, his forehead wrinkly as he thought hard about how to tell me what he had on his mind. I haven't seen him being hesitant this much before.

"Wait a minute. You know how to become alive again? Why on earth you haven't done so, long time ago?" she looked at him with eye wide opened. Little part of me was hoping, he never wanted to do that before, because he didn't have a purpose. Gosh! I was cussing myself in my mind, for those ridiculous thoughts.

"The only person, who can do that, is you. And that is something I can't let you do," he muttered and I didn't understand. My mind let the memory of discovered photographs and everything connected to it slip away, while trying to figure out what he is saying. It was hard to squeeze all the information out of him, like he was ashamed of something.

"Tell me please, I don't like the feeling of confusion," I pleaded, wanting him to say  everything nice and clear.

"My father was a bit eccentric, he used to keep a diary. He believed in magic and other stuff. He wrote down everything he came across, during his travels, where he met many of people, with experience of supernatural. Don't get me wrong, he was excellent business man, respected man, but this was his odd hobby. I remember him telling me all about it and I know, there was a part, which now concerns me. Of course, back then I didn't believe any of it, but after many years in this state, I do. My father would be fascinated by me, if he knew...," he finally explained part of what was on his mind. I gobbled down all his words, believing them instantly. How could I not, after my own current experience of talking with creature of his character. There cannot be anything weirder than that, or the fact he can transform into a living man, after we touch.

"Diary, you say? Where is it, do you know? Or do we have to look for it?" I smiled at him encouragingly, but he was avoiding my eyes, for reason. His complexion looked puzzled, which was something I haven't witnessed on him, I realised again. I couldn't understand, he was the one who started this conversation, what was it that was stopping him now? There was something more to it.

"I know exactly where the book is," he confessed quietly.

"And? Damon, tell me finally!" I was losing last bits of my patience. I was staring at his lips intensely, until they started to move again.

"It is placed in our family tomb," he let out. A what? I yelled out in her mind. My mind went blank for a second and then I started freaking out internally. I'm not going there! Not on my own. Nothing will make me go there, not alone. He could come with... no, he could not. He cannot leave the house, obviously, otherwise he could have done that long time ago. I was the only who can do that for him.

"I knew you wouldn't fancy the idea," he bit his lower lip. I pitied him as he stood there limply, staring into the ground.

I gave it more thought, if I didn't die when meeting him for the first time, not even for the second time or not after all that what has happened between me and him, I most probably won't die going to adventurous trip to a tomb. Even though the image was giving me nightmares already, I was ready to do for it for him, while chasing away the pictures of me dying horribly somewhere in the middle of the cemetery. I need to prepare myself mentally for this.

"I will do it, I will go but if something happens to me, you will be the one to be blamed," I informed him at last, while pointing at him. He lifted his head up instantly, his face mirroring the shock he was going through, thanks to her courageous decision. It was not my braveness whatsoever that helped me to make a choice, more like the desire to help. I watched his eyes became all sparkly.

"But if you find what I need, the magic will not last long," he said slowly, the excitement not disappearing.

"How come? How long is it going to last?" I didn't have a clue that these magical thingies have expiration date.

"I can't remember it well, but I think it was something like this... The returned will be provided with fourteen days to find the true love," he recited the part of the poem and which has sounded like the biggest cliché ever. He must find a love? Why does all the spells need to be done with the love included somewhere in there.

Then I realised exactly what he said, and it made me mad from unidentified reason. So, I will simply comply my part of the job, finding the damned book and then I will just let him go run around to find some other girls to love? That's it? Was this the part he was afraid to tell me from the beginning? He probably sensed that I won't be jumping out of happiness when I learn about this part of the deal. But even though I knew I'm acting like mad woman, I could not help myself. I gasped for the air, blinking at him in disbelief.

"Awesome, so this is my part of job? Or is it expected from me to find you the right candidates for the role of your true love?" I growled. Ah really, my reaction was ridiculous, making him gape at me with his eyebrows lifted. I turned my head away from him, with uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I pulled away from him, standing up on my feet.

"Don't count with me," I spat out, giving him spiteful eye and then walked away like a little child throwing a tantrum. I almost slid down the latter, while climbing down in rush. I was aware I'm running away from him as always, to get rid of him.

What's gottent into me? I was about to start justifying my actions, but I was not finding the right arguments. I thought... I have no idea what. I wished for him to be grateful for what I would do for him? He wouldn't be, because the only thing he would be doing after he came back to the human realm, would be dating. How could I possibly be cross with him, when I am only a bridge between human world and the other side. That was it.

I should be getting used to it.

My reaction was over the top. Maybe I should start visiting some kind of course of self-control. I should have kept my face straight, instead I blew up like a timed bomb. He probably didn't even understand my outrage. He must think I am emotionally unstable human.

Damn...

I barged into the lounge in the ground level, where was Ellen having her peaceful moment. I took her by surprise, when I ended up falling into the soft chair by the fireplace, questioning my sanity.

~