Renee hummed a little to herself thinking over how to answer Rihannon’s question as the people started to disperse from the room.
”Well, there are a couple of things I want to do with it. But the main thing is I’d be able to petition to get the school program I set up installed in other schools.” She sipped her drink and closed her eyes, then shook her head as if making up her mind. Renee opened her eyes and smiled slightly, she looked tired.
”It would be nice if I could get more than just my school to do it. If I could get the district to spread it to other schools, and from there maybe other districts.” She shrugged.
”Right now only my school is doing it. I doubt the district, without a seed fund, would be willing to do it at other schools until there is a proper study done or something. However, if I show up with the money to get it started at the other schools it’d be harder for them to say no.” ”Are you a teacher?” Rhiannon realized they didn't know much about Renee. Rhi had been trying to keep to themselves during this exchange, but the alcohol was weakening their resolve. It was a reminder why they shouldn't drink in the first place.
Renee blinked a little startled for a moment and realized Rhiannon hadn’t listened to the conversation earlier.
”Oh, yeah. I’m a preschool teacher. I started a program that teaches the kids how to cook. They learn a lot of skills and independence through the program.” Renee realized she didn’t know what Rhiannon did.
”What about you?” Rhiannon blinked.
”Isn't preschool a little young for kids to be cooking? Aren't they like four and five?” Rhiannon wasn't even allowed near the stove or the oven until they were 12.
”Oh, I'm a professional dancer. After this I'm flying out to go on a world tour.””There are a lot of safety measures we take. The knives aren’t sharp enough to hurt someone. It is also with a lot of supervision. But that’s the point. These kids are learning earlier than other children and showing signs of independence that their peers don’t have.” She smiled.
”Oh, that’s fantastic. I’ve only done a bit of dancing but nothing more than the basic stuff they taught in school. I enjoy watching professional dancers.” ”Hmm. Interesting.” Rhi didn't think a five year old needed independence in the sense of having to make themselves food. Seemed like a trauma session waiting to happen.
”Ya, it's fun but rather competitive. I would kill to have the lead dancer position but I never seem to get past second.””Why do you think that happens?” Renee had wrinkled her nose a bit at the mention of killing, but she said nothing about it.
”Looks, sex appeal, how much you suck up to the managers and artists? Take your pick,” Rhiannon said bitterly.
”I think you’re gorgeous but I can understand that recruiters are picky. I have a friend who wanted to be a model. Never got a single callback.” She shook her head. Renee then finished her drink.
”I don’t know about you but I don’t think I want to be in this room for a moment longer. Want to explore with me?” Rhiannon wasn't expecting a compliment but it was a wonderful surprise. They smiled brightly before the shock of being invited somewhere by someone took over.
”Oh, um, sure. Yes. Yes, that would be nice.” Rhiannon stood and moved to step away when they remembered Lena. This glanced at the woman with her head buried in the laptop. Rhi highly doubted they could get Lena to come along.
”Lena, any fun hidden places?””Not in the main house.” Lena said, without looking up from her laptop. “Unless you want to go into the attic and bother the maids.”
Renee raised an eyebrow as Rhiannon asked Lena for places to check out.
”I don’t want to bother the maids.” ”Hmm, and they did say a storm was coming, so we might be stuck inside. Unless you're feeling adventurous,” Rhi said, looking back at Renee.
”I’m not afraid of a little rain.” Renee shrugged.
“Then go check out the museum. There are some interesting things there. You passed the building on the road on your way here.”
”The museum it is then. Do you want to come?” Rhi offered.
”Sure.” Renee said, she stood and stretched a little. Lena snorted.
“Have fun, don’t get lost.” Lena didn’t move from her chair. Renee shrugged and started toward the front door of the house.
Rhiannon laughed when Lena declined their offer. They weren't surprised but it was amusing. Rhiannon followed Renee from the room and glanced up the stairs before looking at the door.
”Do you want to get our jackets first?” ”That is probably a good idea. Let’s poke our head out and see how bad it is. I have wellies and a raincoat if needed.” Renee went to the door and opened it. The weather was bad. It was pouring rain, lightning brightened up the sky and the sound crashed almost instantly after.
”Oh. That is intense.” The wind blew some of the rain in her direction.
”Definitely need the wellies.”Rhiannon had seen some wicked storms in their time. The west coast of Canada seemed tame, but the prairies and east coast could have some really intense ones. The flash of lightning brightened the foyer and Rhi’s eyes. They nodded.
”Definitely something a little more appropriate. Meet back here in five?””Yep.” Renee nodded and headed up the stairs to her room. Their rooms weren’t across from each other, they were near though. Both near the end of the hall of rooms. Renee went into her room and dug out of her bag the shoes and raincoat. She also changed her clothes from the dress into a pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt. After getting all geared up to be outside in that rain she headed back down to the front door to wait for Rhiannon.
Rhiannon walked down the hall with Renee. They glanced at the door she opened before heading to their own. Plum. Such a better colour than gold.
Rhi opened the door and was assaulted with the brilliance of the yellow shades. They sighed and combed through their clothes for a different shirt and jacket. Rhiannon didn't have rubber boots, but they had a good pair of sneakers that they slipped on. A flash of lightning lit up their room briefly before the rumbling of thunder followed. There was nothing like a good storm.
Rhi washed up a bit, taking the makeup off their face in the process to prevent the rain from washing it off, before leaving their room. Renee beat them back to the front door.
”Cute,” Rhi said, nodding to Renee's boots.
”Thank you.” Renee gave a little curtsy.
”Ready?” When Rhiannon gave an affirmation she opened the door and stepped out into the rain. Her hood almost blew off, but she quickly tightened the string to keep it from flying off. She shivered a little as another lightening struck somewhere off to the east.
”This is quite a storm.” Renee smiled, taking in a deep breath of air.
Rhiannon followed Renee out the door and quickly tightened their own jacket. They shivered from the electricity in the air and nodded in agreement.
”I haven't seen one like this in awhile. Do you like storms?” Rhi asked while they walked to the museum.
”I do. You don’t get lightning like this often though. It adds a nice thrill.” The road they walk down is not paved. It is gravel and puddles. Renee is thankful she packed the wellies. In a flash of light she sees the small building she thinks is the museum, but it will take them about ten minutes to walk to.
Rhiannon dodged puddles while they walked, having fun with the minor acrobatic moves.
”Plum seems like a better room colour than gold. All the shades of yellow and textures make my eyes go crossed,” Rhi said randomly.
”Plum is nice, though it is very dark. And no natural light in the room. I’ve got access to the lounge, but no windows or anything in my room. I suppose that could be nice, but imagine sitting at a window reading while this goes on.” She gestures to the pouring rain. The wind gusts for a moment, almost knocking them over but then settles back down.
Rhiannon nodded in agreement.
”I do like the view over the garden. But yellow? Ack,” Rhiannon shivered and wiggled, not from the cold or storm.
The high winds had Rhiannon stumbling a bit and moving closer to Renee.
”Yellow is the color of sunlight and flowers. Yellow is the color of laughter.” She smiles and offers her arm for Rhiannon to hold onto for the extra stability.
”So, what do you do other than dance? My mates, we all play board games and such together. Not a sports group.” Rhiannon stared at Renee while the pair of them walked through the wind and the rain.
”You really are a preschool teacher, aren't you?” Only a teacher of children would be that enthusiastic about the colour yellow and what it represents.
”Mmm, we've done karaoke nights. A bunch of my people in my dance troupe sing on stage and dance,” Rhi explained.
”I like baking, but that is more of a one person show.” ”Baking is good. Nice and tasty.” Renee grinned.
”I’m terrible at karaoke. Can’t sing a proper note to save my life. Maybe I can teach you some board games.” Finally they had reached the museum. It was a short building, only one story, with a heavily sloped roof. The lights weren’t on. Renee tried the door, it was locked.
”Of course.” She sighed and chewed her lip thinking. Then tried to lift one of the windows. It only took a little bit of force and it opened. There wasn’t any screen blocking it. One of them could climb through the window and open the door.
Rhiannon smiled, they actually liked the idea of learning board games a lot more than they thought they would. Dance had pretty much run Rhiannon's life, and then when the fire happened, well, they didn't have much of a need anymore.
Rhiannon watched Renee find an open window to the locked museum. Breaking and entering. Alright.
”You are just full of surprises.” They walked over to the open window and peered inside.
”Do you want a boost, or want me to jump in?” Rhi was comfortable with either. Not surprisingly, this wasn't their first time breaking and entering.
”I’ll boost you. I don’t think I can climb through the window.” Renee interlocked her fingers for a step up.
”Besides, we were ostensibly invited, right? Nothing illegal there.” Rhiannon conceded to that remark.
”True.” They stuck their right foot in Renee's cupped hands, grabbed onto the windowsill and pulled while Renee pushed. Rhi sat on the edge before twisting herself around, legs bent and jumped through on the other side. They landed on the balls of their feet and glanced around before making their way slowly to the front door.
Rhiannon found a light switch and flicked it on before opening the door.
”Easy as five, six, seven, eight.””I would have gotten stuck. I am not that flexible.” Renee grinned and entered the museum. Both of them dripped water. There was the hum of electric lights and the room smelled of hay and wine. There were several large photos along one wall. Each with detailed descriptions of what was happening at various points of the wine growing and making process. There was a photo in black and white of a young Vorace with his parents. There were old machines from various points in history, stretching back through the owning of the vineyard. There was also one section about the old Monastery that stood on this island.
Renee took off her raincoat and left it hanging hooked on the door, then she started looking around the museum.
”I wonder what Lena meant about there being a place to hide or whatever here.” Rhiannon grinned and bowed after Renee's compliment.
”Flexibility is easy. I can teach you while we play board games.” And Rhiannon actually found themself wanting to teach that.
The photos and descriptions of wine making was rather boring, but the old Monastery…now that sounded interesting. Rhiannon stood in front of the descriptions about that, reading them over several times.
”Maybe there's a secret wall or something like they used to have for the prohibition. Or maybe the nuns in the monastery had a secret life.””I think I like that idea quite a bit.” Renee smiled, she could feel warmth rising in her cheeks.
”I’m sure I can find a game other than Twister where that makes sense.” Renee wandered around the room ending up next to Rhiannon in front of the description of the Monastery.
”The Secret Life of Nuns sounds like a porno.” Renee paused,
”Honestly, I’d probably watch it out of curiosity. I’m sure I read somewhere about them being secretly lesbians or something. The only thing I can think of when it comes to hiding spots for monks is something horrific that puts the Cask of Amontillado to shame.” Rhiannon had their arms crossed and their head cocked while reading up on the monastery, they had just started to glance around the room, squinting to see if they could see any seams in the walls that suggested hidden doorways when Renee mentioned porn. Rhiannon wiped their head back and laughed. When was the last time they had had a proper laugh?
”I mean, there is a kink for everything these days. And the church has always been hypocritical, so I could see it.” Rhiannon turned around and surveyed the room.
”If you were a gay monk or lesbian nun, where would you hide the dead bodies?” Rhiannon jokes, sort of, and looked back at Renee.
”I mean I think I read that there was a graveyard. So probably there. Maybe a mausoleum. That’d be the perfect place. Ohh, we should go to the graveyard.” She was grinning.
”I don’t believe in the whole ghost thing, but what other night would there be one than tonight?” Rhiannon smiled.
”We just got here and now you want to go again?” Rhiannon shook their head with amusement.
”But it would be hilarious if we found a ghost before the two ghost hunters did,” they remarked.
”I have the heart of a child. Can’t keep me entertained with one thing for long.” Renee laughed.
”Honestly, if we found a ghost and the two actual ghost hunters didn’t I would be so proud. I’d like strut around the room like a peacock or something.” She shook her head.
”Okay, probably not. That is probably the gratuitous amount of wine I had during dinner talking.” Rhiannon laughed.
”Bragging rights for sure. Maybe even a better chance of winning. Let's give the museum one last look, see if we can't find that hidden room, then, and I can't believe I'm saying this, we can go ghost hunting.””I’ll knock on walls if you want me to. Does that even work? I’ve never done that before.” Renee walked up to the wall and knocked on it.
”Ow, uh. It is stone, not wood or like drywall.” She shook her hand.
”Maybe check the floors for scrape marks? Or maybe behind the pictures? I'll see if there are any trap doors,” Rhiannon said before scuttling around the room, an excited buzz following them as they went about the task of uncovering secrets.
The two spent probably twenty minutes looking around the room. Tragically, neither found any secrets. No doors or hatches or moving walls. When Renee finally gave up she hopped up onto the counter.
”Alright, if there is a hidden door in here it is really well hidden. The only thing I found interesting is a locked drawer, behind this counter. So unless you secretly have lockpicks in that nice suit of yours we are stuck with going to the graveyard.” Rhiannon gave a disappointed sigh, looking around the museum once more as they made their way to Renee.
”Sadly they are in my other nice suit,” Rhiannon confessed solemnly, although there was a twinkle in their eyes as they said it.
”Not hiding under anything? Ooh like a spy movie tapped into your thigh. Imagine you staring in a role of the hot Jamie Bond with their tools seductively pressed in place by a garter. Or something. Honestly, there is a reason I am not a movie writer. That would be a terrible script and somehow became a porn again.”Rhiannon stood in front of Renee, hands in their jacket pockets with the hood still up. They tilted their head to the side at Renee this time.
”I'm starting to notice a trend with you,” they teased.
”Have you ever watched a Kpop performance? It's basically soft porn on stage.”Renee’s eyes sparkled.
”What can I say? I’m a sexually repressed preschool teacher. I haven’t ever seen a Kpop performance. Is that what you do? I know about that one band, what are they BTS? But I can’t say I’ve seen anything on stage. I’d love a private show.” She grinned wiggling her eyebrows a little.
Rhiannon felt their ears warm from the bluntness of Renee. At the mention of BTS, they rolled their eyes. The boy band did help put Korea on the map for music, but god were they annoying.
Renee's last comment had Rhiannon's ears turning red again and their eyes twinkling.
”I’m sure I could accommodate. I need to practice anyways.” Rhiannon offered Renee their hand to help them off the counter.
”Shall we find that graveyard?”Renee took Rhiannon’s hand and hopped off the counter.
”Oh yes please. Dancing in the rain in a graveyard. That has been on my bucket list since I read about Mary Shelly.” Renee half dragged Rhiannon to the door where she grabbed her raincoat and put it back on.
”Whoa! Alright,” Rhiannon laughed and followed Renee back into the storm after she had her jacket on. Rhiannon hadn't meant dancing in the rain, but if she really wanted that soft porno experience, that was one way to achieve it.
”Alright, where do you think the graveyard is?” Lightning flashed across the sky. The thunder rumbled so closely and deeply they could feel it in their chests, they could feel the hairs on their arms raise and the scent of ozone filled the rain for a moment before the rain washed it away again. Renee giggled.
”Okay, maybe this is getting a little dangerous.” Rhiannon shivered, a pit forming in the bottom of their stomach. They licked their lips and nodded.
”Ya… wait, did you just giggle? You're insane,” Rhiannon informed Renee, but was smiling.
”Come on. We can watch the storm from my room, where it'll be at least a little safer than this.””Better than wandering fancy vineyards during a storm to find a graveyard that you have no idea where it is. And probably, but who isn’t these days,” she shrugged and picked up the pace to the house.
”Oh, the bar should still be open, and if not there is tons of booze in the guest lounge off of my room. What say you to a bottle or two of something really strong?” ”Mmm, Irish coffee maybe?” Rhi said before they could think better of it.
Renee nods.
”Perfect. Yes. That’ll add some caffeine so we don’t fall asleep.” After they made their way back into the house Renee took off her muddy wellies at the door and hung the jacket off the door handle.
”I hope the butler doesn’t get mad at me for this, but I feel like it is better than tracking it through the whole house.” Rhiannon raised her eyebrows when Renee spoke about not wanting to fall asleep. Hmm, it was early still, but there was something that told Rhiannon that Renee put a different meaning behind those words.
Once they were safely in the house, Rhiannon relaxed. They shrugged off their jacket and sweater, revealing just a black t-shirt since they had changed out of the suit jacket and silk shirt before going on their little adventure.
”I have a feeling they'll be cleaned and waiting for you in the morning,” Rhiannon said. They followed suit, slipping off their soaked shoes and socks.
”I'll check in with the bar, see if they can have drinks sent up to my room. Are you hungry?” ”Room service, love it yes. I am not hungry. Never hungry again. That was so much food.” She looked Rhiannon up and down smiling, then headed toward the bar.
Rhiannon smirked, hanging back while Renee walked ahead. If she could admire Rhi from the front, then they could admire Renee from behind. Maybe this weekend wouldn't entirely be a lost cause.
Rhiannon followed Renee back into the bar to have drinks sent up to the Gold room.
Renee ordered her drink. Lena still sat in the corner on her laptop. Blessfully the room lacked Lawrence.
”Tell me Leon, if I were to poison Lawrence’s usual drink would you pretend to not know?”Rhiannon snorted and shook their head.
”With the amount he drinks, I'm not sure it would make a difference.”The bartender looked a little uncomfortable. “I am sorry about what happened. I should have made sure he wasn’t here when you all came here. I apologize for that oversight.”
”Eh, I’m not mad at you. Lawrence is an adult and makes his own choices. I just really don’t want to be sober in any meaningful way. But I hate hitting on someone when I’m drunk because I don’t want them to think I only would if I were drunk and wouldn’t do that sober too.” She gestures to Rhiannon.
”I’m at least hoping that they are as interested as I am in them.” Rhiannon felt flush from Renee openly admitting she was flirting with them.
”Hmm, there were a few hints I picked up on. You could call.me interested,” Rhiannon said, being purposely vague.
”Should we get that bottle of wine, too?”Renee grinned brightly.
”Oh, please Mr. Sommelier.” “Of course. I’ll get your drinks made and send up them up with the bottle and some glasses. To the Gold room.” Leon nodded and started prepping their drinks.
”Thank you, Leon.” Rhiannon pulled back from the bar and motioned for Renee to go ahead of them. They followed next to Renee up the stairs.
”Do you want to change into something dry then meet in my room?””Yeah, dry clothes sounds good. Probably pjs. See you there in a few.” Renee headed off and up the stairs.
”See you soon,” Rhiannon said before continuing on to their room at the end of the hall.
Once inside, Rhiannon quickly moved their clothes off the bed and hung up some of their clothes before changing out of their black pants into a pair of darker grey sweatpants. Rhiannon was giving everything the once over and noticed the papers on their desk from earlier. Hurrying over, Rhiannon shoved the information about their old life into the desk drawers.
Renee, entering the Plum room pulled off her slightly damp socks, soaked pants off. She placed the pants over the side of the desk chair, hoping it it would dry. If not she would use a hair dryer to get it the rest of the way. From her bag she removed pj pants and an oversized old t-shirt. She finished changing and grabbed her slippers before heading the rest of the way down the hall to the gold room. She knocked gently. Wishing she had something to bring with her but didn’t even know where to start with that.
Rhiannon slammed the desk drawer shut just as a knock sounded on the door. Rhi glanced in a nearby mirror and adjusted their hair and shirt before opening the door.
”Well hello there.” Rhiannon opened the door wider and stepped out of the way for Renee to step in. There was a clear view of the balcony from the open door, revealing the raging storm still going on outside.
Renee grinned as Rhiannon opened the door.
”Hey there,” she says as she enters the room.
”Okay, maybe the yellow in here is a little extreme.” She laughs and walks over toward the balcony. Now that she is in dry clothing she is a little hesitant to step out into the rain. Though the wind does blow some of it into the room.
”I told you,” Rhiannon said. Leaving the door open for room service, Rhiannon walked over to join Renee by the balcony doors. A flash of lightning brightened the room briefly before a crack of thunder went off. Rhiannon scooted closer to Renee. They weren't afraid of thunderstorms per se but they were rather loud and unpredictable.
Renee wrapped her arm around Rhiannon’s shoulders.
”I still think yellow is a wonderful color. But I think they found every hue of it that is a sin against our eyeballs.” She giggled.
”If it weren’t for the balcony I’d just say let’s go back to my room, but the view is worth the searing eye pain.”Rhiannon leaned into Renee, wrapping an arm around her waist, smile on their face.
”Ya, the view isn't so bad,” Rhiannon said while looking at Renee.
The storm hadn’t let up. It was still pouring rain. The lightning still streaked across the sky. Renee needed to brush her teeth. She had wanted to before coming to Rhiannon’s room. However, she had thought that since she was still drinking she would wait. Renee pulled her pjs back on and slid her feet into her sandals.
Rhiannon watched Renee get dressed from the bed.
”Mmm, come back. You don’t need to leave,” Rhiannon stated. They reached out to try and grab Renee’s hand to bring them back to bed.
Renee held Rhiannon’s hand.
”Hey,” she smiled and kissed the hand.
”I really need to brush my teeth. They feel fuzzy and gross. I’ll see you. Go to sleep.” She kissed the hand again.
”Oh, fine,” Rhi said with a pout. They squeezed Renee’s hand before pulling back and buried themselves under the covers, a sleepy smile on their face as they dozed back off.
Renee stepped into the hallway. What happened next only she would ever know. Until her murder could be solved.
