Cover of darkness

"Miss Westing, have you made a decision?" Lionel asked as he took another sip of his tea. Without bothering to reply or sit down, she grabbed the pen from the hardwood table and began to sign on the lines on the document. Lionel grinned wide and when Vivienne was done she capped the pan and slid it and the document to Lionel. "I would love to stay and chat about this but I have guests to prepare for." Vivienne began to walk out of the room when Lionel called out. "Miss Westing, now that you are a member you are going to be required to come to the meeting which is tomorrow evening." Vivienne whipped around quickly on her heel to glare at the man. "Tomorrow evening?" Lionel smirked and stood, buttoning the top button on his suit coat. "Yes, tomorrow evening. I'll give all of the details to Oliver so that he can make sure you're prepared. You will be initiated. It's going to be a wonderful evening." Something in his words told her it wouldn't be as wonderful as he claimed. ��Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow evening." Vivienne said and exited the room.

Tomorrow evening? Was it not enough that they had come to disturb her today? What was the initiation all about? Was she going to have to endure hazing of some kind? It was starting to sound more and more like a cult or the way her sorority in college had taken in new sisters. She would have to ask Oliver about it later, she thought to herself.

Guests arrived in droves from the ceremony and filled up the beautiful manor. It somehow still felt empty to Vivienne. There must have been at least a hundred people here and yet she couldn't have felt more alone. She carefully balanced a glass of water in her hand while she spoke quietly to those that chose to approach her. Just as she had imagined it was a lot of them talking and her nodding her head, acknowledging their feelings and appreciating their attempts at condolences. There were so many people that had attended that were truly just here for show. That was what bothered her the most. People she had never even met before who had barely known her uncle but wanted to be a part of a moment in history. They came only for the delight of having something to gossip about at the next dinner. A feather in their societal hat to show that they were involved somehow even though Vivienne wouldn't recognize them from any other person on the street.

The night began to draw to a close and Vivienne had quite enough of entertaining the mourners when she herself really had no intention of doing so in the first place. She made her way slowly up the large stair case to retreat to her bedroom where no one would dare go to find her. She doubted any guest would be so bold as to leave the lower level where everyone was congregated. Hopefully when her absence was realized and all their emotional buckets filled, they would leave.

Vivienne closed the door to her room behind her and let out a loud sigh. It had been a long day and an even longer week. Her mind buzzed with questions, emotions, thoughts. She changed into her pajamas and climbed under the covers of her bed, hoping for sleep. She placed her hands on her chest over her sheets and stared at her ceiling for what felt like hours. Eventually her lids grew heavy and darkness came. As she drifted to sleep, all was silent and dark save for a pair of glowing eyes in the dark corner of her room.

Sunlight peeked from behind the curtains and birds were happily chirping from the trees outside. "It must be morning already." Thought Vivienne. With how restless her night was, she was disappointed the sun had decided to rise so early today. Blinking a few times, Vivienne fully opened her eyes and sat up in bed. She rubbed her eyes gently with her fists and yawned. Yesterday had been exhausting in every sense of the word. She struggled to remember bits and pieces as it all felt like a blur. The one thing that stood out was that meeting that had taken place and she remembered she needed to speak with Oliver.

She quickly got herself dressed and made her way downstairs to the dining room. Oliver, having almost a sixth sense, had just finished setting up for breakfast and had begun to pour her a cup of coffee. "Good morning, Miss Westing." Oliver greeted her pleasantly. "Oliver, good morning. Thank you." She replied as she sat down and began to add sugar to her coffee. "Oliver I have a few things to ask you." Vivienne wasted no time. Her mind was clouded with so many questions and thoughts that she didn't have a filter for pleasantries right now. Oliver didn't skip a beat, "Ask away." He nodded and stood by her chair patiently, having already an inclination to what she was going to be asking about.

"The council. The meeting is this evening?" She asked, looking up to him before taking a delicate sip of the coffee. "Yes, it should begin at 9pm." "Nine?!" Vivenne asked, shocked at such the late hour. "Why so late into the evening?" Now she was definitely disappointed with the quality and amount of sleep she had gotten. It appeared her long week was only getting longer. What on Earth could they need to do so late at night?

"There are some things that are best discussed in darkness, miss." Was all that Oliver replied before he bowed his head. "I'll have breakfast out in just a moment for you." Vivienne nodded quietly, her mouth still slightly open at this. This little club was only getting more questionable as time went on. "Oliver." Vivienne called out loud enough for him to hear her from the kitchen which was next to the dining room. Oliver appeared quickly. "Is there anything I need to know… I mean, how should I prepare for this … meeting?" Oliver nodded thoughtfully. "I don't believe you'll need to bring anything with you, Miss Westing." He had turned to leave the dining room before turning back to her. "But Miss Westing, I will caution you that it might be… intense." "Intense?" Vivienne asked, meeting Oliver's green eyes. Now she was sure this was some kind of a cult. Did she really know what she had gotten herself into? Oliver said nothing more, only nodded, before going back to retrieve her food from the kitchen.

Vivienne ate quietly, now only more worried about what was to come. No one had prepared her, no one had informed her about any of this. It was growing more and more annoying as time went on. Like some big secret that everyone else was in on. She supposed she too would be in on it soon enough.

Her day went by quietly as she waited for night fall. She had taken it leisurely today and tried not to occupy her thoughts too much. A good dose of reality tv, mindlessly scrolling through her phone, and taking a walk around the gardens outside had helped her to pass the time without letting her think too much. It was the beginning of autumn and the trees had just begun to change from green to yellow and orange hues. This time of year was her favorite. The sound of the leaves crunching under her feet, the crispness in the air, the colors. Her peaceful moment was soon interrupted.

"Miss Westing, your presence is requested at the laboratory." Vivienne turned to face Oliver who had silently snuck up behind her. The sun was beginning to set and had cast an orange hue over the gardens. "Oliver, I didn't even hear you.." She mumbled. "What do they need me for at the lab?" "There's a few things that you need to be informed on before the meeting this evening." Vivienne's brows furrowed. Informed on? What kinds of things? This was just getting even more strange as time went on. She felt foreign, like everything she knew was beginning to turn upside down although she wasn't sure why. "Alright… I suppose the sooner the better, then." Vivienne responded and started to head back to the house. Oliver bowed his head and followed behind her inside.