Aurora suppressed a high pitched interjection as what appeared to be a piece of solid wall of an old chimney built away from the attention of guests eyes opened in the shape of an old door, and as it fixtures that would prevent a door from existing there moved through invisible railings to allow selected people to come in and out unnoticed. Detective Sebastian Mortis appeared from this door, a bent figure that stretched as the six foot height of the staircase did not give his six foot six inches body enough place to stand; the man did not so much came out from the shadowy door as he emerged from the darkness accompanied by his trusty dog Cicero.
"Detective Morits, with five minutes to spare I see" stated Dawn as she offered her gin and tonic to Willsworth. Mortis saw how the butlers shifted as his mistress did, the Detective had noticed the butler assume a subtle battle stand, ready to fight the intruder. Mortis made a mental note about the butler, for he was dangerous.
"I like to be fashionably early, especially when it is a summoning from Tennessee's finest" stated the Detective as he removed his undertaker hat as a sign of respect for her host and moved away from the window.
"Grandmother, what is he doing here? I thought you would meet him somewhere else?" asked Dawn loosing her cool and shocked by the presence of the man in question.
"We are having a meeting dear" said Dawn to her granddaughter as if it was the most normal thing.
"Do not fret yourself Miss Aurora, I too was surprised when I handed your grandmother's instructions to the gentleman working at the maintenance room of the building nearby and he opened a King's Road for me towards this very building and this very room" stated Mortis.
Aurora turned to her grandmother in shock "There is a tunnel from here to the building across the street!? How? Why?"
"Oh dear it has been a family secret for generations. This house has a few secret passageways and rooms in order for the family to escape in case of emergency or to meet in secret, although not many know of their existence" explained Dawn.
"What!?" interjected the young woman.
"I am more amused that your family reworked part of the drain system as a safe passage, I assume the contract was granted to a family owned contractor firm?" asked Mortis.
"Only known by my family, trusted men under our employment like Willsworth, and the Department of Homeland security, although we are allowed to use them for our own convenience, that is how we connected them to this manor" explained Dawn.
"So he went all the way under into the building and now can go in and out at his own will?" pointed Aurora, trying to show the danger of Mortis knowing how to go in and out.
"Oh no, it is a labyrinth down there, without the right guide and the right key there is no way in or out for the common yenta" said Mortis.
"Couldn't have explained better myself my Good Detective. But were are my manners, would you like a refreshment Detective? I have tea, coffee, something stronger perhaps" offered Dawn as Willsworth waited ready to serve.
"Coffee, five sugars, cold cream or whole milk, thanks."
Willsworth took to prepare as Mrs Dawn Frigg took a seat behind the elegant carved desk near the large window.
"Please do take a seat detective" offered Dawn.
"Thanks but no thanks, I rather stay away from the window."
"Why? Afraid the sun will burn you?" asked Aurora with a condescending smug.
"No, because I do not want to be seen in case a drone of any other set of flying eyes peers in" said Mortis.
Dawn gave a soft elderly giggle as Willsworth gave Mortis his coffee and put a bowl of water for Cicero.
"Careful and paranoid, I like that in my business partners" said Dawn, further shocking her granddaughter.
"Business Partner? Him!" Aurora could not stop herself from shouting, which in turn evoked a smirk from Mortis and a scowl from her grandmother which caused Aurora to lower her head in shame.
"Aurora, it is not befitting of your to scream, leave the outburst to your uncle" reprimanded Dawn.
Aurora regained her composure and attempted a rebuttal as good as possible: "I am sorry grandmother, but how could HIM be your business partner?"
"Are you doubting my judgement dear?" the question was a powerful, brutal, and unfair, trapping Aurora in a situation where she had to take the willpower and position of her grandmother head on, and come out right without being disrespectful or emotional.
"I am not! I mean… He is just a private Detective! Sure he sits on some big money, but what can he offer that puts him to your level" stated Aurora. Mortis expected a no offence following, but it did not come, Aurora did not mind Mortis's feelings, which he found endearing in a cheeky sort of way, especially with such perfect peachy cheeks.
Dawn started at her granddaughter, it was an intense and uncomfortable stare. The Grand Dame put her elbows on her desk and stared to her granddaughter from behind her hands. The difference in experience and power between the two women was in full display. Dawn frowned with intent as Aurora began to sweat, much to Mortis's surprise.
"My dear granddaughter" began the elder woman with a voice firm and stern, but not rude, with hints of an anger born not out of hate but of the need to reprimand. "I do understand I have had to bring you into this side of the family business way too early, if tragedy would not have stricken it would be your late father and mother with me whilst you and your late brother would be enjoying the party downstairs. There is no one to blame when tragedy strikes, and it is why we must adapt. I am showing you all of this because I have tried to explain to you before many times, there are things that happen in this world that I did not want to believe are real, some of them happen in the shadows. Acts of conspiracy and malevolence that are but a demonic stain on creation and the stand of humanity upon the world: Human sacrifice, Slavery, Experimentation of live people, acts of science that spit on the face of God, Sex Parties with minors, the perpetuation of rituals of both power and privilege that bound those who commit them to eternal damnation. And then there is darkness within darkness, shadows within shadows, evil lurking in places where myth meets the fading memory of humanity, horrors once believed to be exorcised, still lingering, accumulating power in worlds people like you and I have been thankfully kept far away from. That, my dear granddaughter is where men like our good friend Sebastian Mortis come in, men who dwell in the darkness yet are not tainted by it; men who fight the Monsters in the dark and stare down the abyss so that others do not have to" Dawn stood up and paced towards her granddaughter with rigour, like a stern teacher, she got closer to drill the lessons upon the skull of her beloved granddaughter by staring her right in the eye, even though Dawn was shorter than Aurora the elder woman may have been twenty feet tall staring at a toddler, that was her presence, not of a Giant, but a Titan, nature personified. "I have not chosen to work with the good Detective out senility, but out of respect, so you should be thankful that Detective Mortis is on our side dear granddaughter, and should not undermine me or my decisions in his presence. Have I made myself clear?"
Aurora gave a defeated nod and a quiet "Yes grandmother."
Dawn barked back: "Louder you ungrateful child!"
"Yes grandmother!" shouted Aurora, barely containing her tears.
"Better! Now apologize to our guest" ordered Dawn.
Mortis tried to be diplomatic and began a "There is no need to…" which he stopped as soon as Dawn glared at him, shutting him up. The elder's orders were not up for debate.
Aurora walked towards Mortis, her eyes red at the reprimand and her spirit weakened by the humiliating lesson she had to endure. Yet despite all that she stared Mortis bravely in the eye and bowed her head gently with a very audible "I apologize for my behaviour towards you Mr. Mortis, you are a valuable partner in my grandmother's venture. I do hope you can oversee my unforgivable rudeness towards you and continue your business relationship with my family."
Mortis took a deep breath and said as gently as he could "All water under the bridge Miss Frigg."
"Thank you" said Aurora before stepping back and turning to her grandmother.
"Good, let's move on then" said Dawn as she took her place behind her desk again.
"May I be excused to go to the toilet" asked Aurora, the excess politeness a sign she was still shocked by the reprimand.
"Sure thing dear" said Dawn keeping her harden expression. Aurora stepped outside of the room leaving Mortis with Willsworth and Dawn. Once the door was closed behind Aurora Dawn broke her stern face and Willsworth was besides his mistress offering her a glass of warm water to calm herself.
"I apologize for being caught in family dynamics Detective, but my granddaughter needs to learn fast" stated Dawn following by an elegant sip of water.
Mortis waves his hand to indicate no hard feelings "It's fine, is not like I am anyone to judge what a proper family dynamic should be like."
"Still, it something that does not concern you" pointed Dawn as she lowered her glass into a coaster swiftly placed by Willsworth.
"Could be madam, but if we are to make this deal last it is better if I try to have a relationship as smooth as possible with the future head of the Frigg family" pointed Mortis.
Dawn Frigg smirked at the words, the man was cocky and had a vision, she liked that in her business partners.
"Speaking of which" Mortis pulled an item from his pocket and tossed it to Willsworth, who caught the small item with defensive skill and a scowl towards the Detective. "Easy there Alfred, I am just informing you about a little incident after meeting your carrier pigeon."
Willsworth opened his hand, surprised he showed the contents to Dawn who coked an eyebrow with curiosity.
"A memory card?"
"Yup! One containing pictures of your carrier pigeon as it came to make the delivery, and when it made the delivery" pointed Mortis as he took a long glug of coffee.
Dawn caught the code and asked accordingly: "Someone was tracking my pigeon?"
"Ding! Ding! Ding! All the way from the nest. Run the guy out of town, not before I scored some information about who hired him and why?"
Dawn shifted and asked a basic question for people partnering for personal interests: "What do you want in exchange for this information?"
Mortis shook his head negatively. "Consider it a good will gift, a token of our friendship."
Frigg leaned forward with interest and asked "What else can you tell me?"
"Not much from the source, but is clear it was tasked with following her from the nest, you do have a mole in your inner circle, or someone with brains in the outer rings" said Mortis.
"Spies?" enquired Dawn.
"Possibly. Microphones too" pointed Mortis.
The Detective did not see the woman flinch at the second statement, usually careful people would be worried at the idea of microphones but Dawn Frigg remained calm and composed.
"It appears that you have already taken microphones into consideration" pointed Mortis as he subtlety looked at Willsworth, the old butler gave a similar vibe to the man in the underground parking lot, both men dangerous, though Mortis's instinct told him that Willsworth was on a whole different level of dangerous.
"Indeed I have. Now, let us end the pleasantries and go back to business, partner" ordered the elderly woman.