Possession of Souls Read Online Free Page B

definitely in control of it.”
    “I gathered that much,” I replied with a sigh, leaning against his shoulder, and Vance reached up absently to pat me. 
    “Come on.  Let’s go check this out and see if we can get cleaned up.”
    “I’m afraid to.  What if it’s some kind of trap? Just another way for him to toy with us?”
    “Well then, I guess we’ll see, won’t we?” He raised his eyebrow in challenge before he extended his hand to me.
    Deciding to brave it, I placed mine in his and allowed him to pull me off the bed.  He didn’t let go as we walked across the room until we faced the door.  Then he released me and reached for the knob.
    “Wait!” I called out, grabbing him by the arm, and he glanced at me.  “If it’s a trap I’ll be useless to you, since my powers are bound.  Do whatever you have to, just make sure to not worry about me and save yourself.  I’ll survive no matter what.  You’re the important one.”
    “Oh, Portia.  What did I ever do to deserve you?”  He kissed me gently, before leaning his forehead against mine.  “Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more important to me than you.”
    I opened my mouth to argue, but he placed a finger over it, silencing me.
    “No more talking,” he said, lifting his head away and shaking it.  “It’s time to find out what’s behind door number one.”
    He turned and slowly opened it, pushing slightly, before peering inside. 
    “What do you see?” I asked from behind him, almost afraid to look.
    “A bathroom, just like he said it would be,” Vance answered, grabbing my hand and pulling me after him.
    It turn out that the word bathroom was a bit of an understatement.  It was opulent, exactly the way everything about Damien was.  The walls and the floors had the same appearance as the rest of the cave only there was a deep, sunken area in the floor which was filled with steaming water.  Tall candelabras with dripping pillar candles lit the spacious area, giving it a very relaxing feel. 
    There was wash basin set into a cabinet with a marble top, with a recessed mirror hanging over it.  Next to it was a regular looking toilet, which I was surprised to find in a cave.  A stand of large wooden shelves holding plush looking, oversized, towels ran along the same wall, as well as a couple of hooks with some robes on them.  There was another door beyond the shelves, and Vance went over to open it, revealing a large closet area.
    “What is this?” I said in wonder, stepping inside of it to find a long dressing table with a bench, mirror, and several toiletry items for both male and female organized on each end of it, lit once again with candles.
    “I feel like I just stepped into the personal grotto of the Phantom of the Opera,” I said, reaching out to finger some of the crystal prisms hanging from the base of one of the pillars.
    “Looks like he’s planning on having us stay for a while,” Vance mumbled after he opened a sliding door to reveal a closet full of men’s clothing and shoes.  “Just my size,” he added upon further examination before moving to the other side of the closet and revealing more clothing that was suitable for me.
    “Well, I guess the good thing about this is it means he doesn’t have plans to kill us.  At least not right away,” I said, trying to put a positive light on our situation.
    Vance let out something that sound like a “harrumph” before walking past me, back into the bathroom.  “Let’s get cleaned up.  I feel positively grungy.”
    “Yeah, me too,” I replied, following after him.
    He paused in the middle of the space before looking around, and then walked over to one of the rocky walls. He placed his hands against it, and I could see a magical current ripple out from them.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Testing the structure,” he replied without looking up.
    “And?”
    “It seems pretty solid to me.” He removed his hands.  “I don’t think it’s a glamour.  For