The Purple Mansion on Maple
CHAPTER SEVEN
Mykhail had been in the mansion with Louise for two nights, having taken the second room on the primary floor, yet Lou had seen him only once as he went out for materials. She went to work for four hours, and returned to find the fireplace in the foyer completely cleaned and prepped with cuts of wood. The brass bucket near it was even polished and filled with kindling, cut precisely and uniformly. The strange thing was, he was silent. Work would be completed, but Mykhail was absent for almost every moment of the day, save dinner. At 6pm, every night, Lou would put out whatever she’d concocted for herself, plus a duplicate dish for Mykhail at the table. He’d thank her, grab his plate or bowl, and remain in his room. The dishes would be returned, washed, dried, and put away the next morning.
