"Are you okay?" she frowned.

"One doesn't inquire about such person matters," she waved a hand, and Barnett stepped between Diana and Marie. "I'm sure you want to talk to Jacob," she leaned forward, "but you will have to accept the deal first. Know, La Voison, I mean to protect my blood, my town, and I suffer no fools."

The doors opened, as the well-dressed man stepped towards Marie. She backed out of the room. No one was with her, silence filled the space. The smell of roses haunted the air. Ever since she was a little girl, the curse in the blood had hung over her. Inside of House Lance, the shadows were still, and the whispers were silent. Absence of the malady only made the mind search harder.

"You certainly are exotic in appearance," Alice said in a cool, even tone, with pale blonde hair down.

Marie jumped, whirled, "Where did you come from?"

"I live here," she replied, as if that should have been self-evident. "I'm usually restricted to the house and property," her words flowed at a dreamy pace, "and my interactions are also limited. Most days are filled with the same faces, same places, so this is a treat for me."

With a glance at the door, she smiled, "I've been lots of places, seen lots of faces, and I would love to talk to you."

The smirk flashed, "That is wonderful. Come to my room, so we can speak more privately."

Alice glided over the carpet in an eerie silence. Her bedroom was nearby, and Marie checked they were alone. The bedroom was neat, clean, but it had the feel of a hotel room never rented. Beautiful dolls, which had never been played with, watched from their posts. A large vanity was exquisite, make-up spaced an exact distance from each other. Inside of a tall suitcase, dresses of rich material and design hung on hangers. Scuff marks were another had rested, were nearly hidden by a carpet.

"I heard rumors of you, in school," Marie smiled, but felt an icy finger trail her neck.

"I had private tutors," she opened the tall suitcase of dresses, "and I received the best education."

"To do what…be locked away like a princess?"

The smirk flashed, "I could take you apart and put you back together, mentally or physically." Alice held a dress up to her, then another, "Your complexion is perfect, yet darker than mine, so the colors are less flattering."

"Uh, okay, I've always felt a little self-conscience of my eyes."

She lifted the make-up beside the Marie's face, "Your eyes are lovely."

"Thank you," she said though uncertain. "Do you know why your mother sent for me?"

"Yes," Alice touched her hair, impressed, "Jacob is in danger, and Mother needs someone that can move around unimpeded. La Voison women are extraordinary, unique."

"Is he innocent?"

Eyes pale as winter morning seized her lush green flecked with gold, "My brother abhors ugliness, and is very protective of me, and so do you expect me to declare anything but his innocence?"

"I suppose that is true."

"Unless," she replaced the dressed and make-up, "Your true intentions are to get me to talk, and then perhaps, I might say something that will unveil some truth to you." Another dress and more make-up were held up to Marie.

"You would be surprised how much people's memories can be opened with a little conversation."

"Where is your book? Anthropodermic bibliopegy is very interesting, binding books with human leather," she seized her again with the steady gaze.

"It…isn't here," Marie jerked.

A smirk flashed with a fast stroke, "The La Voison book has many names like Queen of Yellow, Rain of Hyades, or Dim Cassilda."

Different people had names for her family's tome, but the last name to pass her soft lips filled the room. She had stepped back from Alice, eyes wide, for she had guessed true. "Dim…it is just a book," she swallowed, "that is full of madness."

"Alice," a somber voice inquired, Barnett turned his head to Marie, though saw she was fine.

"I'll speak to her," Jacob said, and stepped around the well-dressed man. He was careful to leave Barnett untouched. "But, it'll be alone, in my room," his eyes went from him to Alice, their blue like the sky before a storm, "and I need no chaperone."

Marie followed him out with Barnett's smile, and Alice's smirk upon her. They stepped into his room, which was close. Though the chaos halted her for a moment, she found a place clear enough to stand. The sting of whiskey and the bite of beer clogged the stale air. Cluttered ruins of art and statue lacked the claustrophobic regiment that oppressed the other rooms. Air fresher in Jacob's room, though much dirtier. The thrum of his body was like a caged wolf, injured and manic.

"There are a lot of people looking for you," she said, careful to keep her tone even.

He whirled, "I'm more concerned with the Sheriff. He lost his son!" Jacob shook his head, threw up a hand, "Diana wants to use a…reporter. The rest of it is nonsense!"

"Jacob," she said to stop his pacing, "I am very accomplished at finding the truth." He paused, "I'm sure," Marie smiled, "your mother done her research."

"Diana always get what she wants," he sneered, "and there is no escaping her."

A technician knocked on the door, and set up a camera. Marie watched. Back and forth Jacob paced with a deep scowl at the security measure. Dirty blonde hair wild, eyes like the sky before a storm, flashed. He pulled a button open.

"Now, her eyes will always be on me," his head fell, "no matter how far I go."

"I know how it feels," she smiled, "I'm the daughter of the town freak."

"Hey," he stopped, "I know your mother had to deal with a lot, but people were awful to her. Besides, you became a talented, intelligent, and beautiful woman. Sorry to be so bold."

Marie's blush was almost hidden on her bronze skin, "After this is over, perhaps, you can leave."

"There is no escape, unless I just drink myself to death."

"What happened, Jacob?"

He sighed, glanced at a doll that resembled Alice. It was the only thing safe from his wrath. I was there," his eyes found hers, "but I didn't shoot anybody."

"There were two sets of gunfire."

"Who told you that," he blinked. "The sport of gossip never ends," he nudged a broken piece of statue, "no wonder they're after me." Jacob picked up a piece of marble, looked at Marie, "there was only one."

"Carol said you weren't there," she watched him shuffle, "and you dated to infuriate your parents."

"She was just trying to protect me," his eyes wondered over the room.

"Was there anyone else there?" she asked. "Was there anyone who saw you there," Marie smiled, "somebody that can speak on your behalf?"

He rubbed the piece of marble, "I went to see Carol, but I didn't know she had a new boyfriend. Jesse and Seth weren't even there, when I spoke to her."

"What about the gunfire?"

"That must have happened, after I left," he looked at the doll, rubbed the marble.

"There isn't much for me to go on," she nodded, but her eyes rose to him, "but I've worked with less."

"I'm sure Diana will use all her money and power to make sure, that I never see the inside of a jail cell. After slavery," he blushed at Marie, "we, uh, moved our fortunes. Being the largest land owners, in the world, we have bottomless reserves."

"Why have me investigate?" she asked the question again, for she felt they hid something from her.

"People of Hemlock Hurst are not above taking justice in their hands. No one thinks I'll end in jail," he sat on the edge of the bed. "The McWhorter and Gregory family have legitimate grievances," he blushed again, "ever since our families first clashed." He dropped the piece of marble, and covered his face, "For what Lance done, maybe I deserve whatever Rutger has planned, all because we will never let anything go free."