The police, or the Finger, had already surrounded the place by then. “Freeze, traitor,” one said when they spotted Lily. And then a ball of flame engulfed the Fingermen, a loud bang having directed it. V shhed Lily, and silently beckoned her to follow.
Lily was frozen in place 'what is going on?!' she wondered. Snapping out of her daze, she followed the beckoning figure as quiet as a mouse.
V crept up to a rooftop a few blocks down the road. He took out an old antique pocket watch. "It is almost midnight." he said. "Almost time. For the music. My music. You see, I am a conductor, of what shall be remembered as the greatest of orchestras." the mask turned towards Lily.
Lily studied the masked figure wondering what the madman behind the mask had to say to her
"Do you know what day it is?" November fourth, of course, but not for much longer. It was simply a question to bring forth something of an explanation to the girl, as she evidently had plenty of questions herself.
"Of course, it is November 4, just a bit before midnight."
"And so it begins," and with a grand sweep of his cloak, all lilly white yet dark as tar, without spot or pride, that did seem like silk and silver; but neither silk nor silver therein did appear, he brought them up to the edge of the roof. The chimes of midnight rang all about, and the library exploded, several towers were toppled by flame, and the streets were now in chaos. But then, sparkling fireworks of brilliant colours illuminated the streets, all in a V formation. "Ah, my music." he looked to the conundrum below, no expression on his face but pride in his tone.
"Why did you blow up the library?!" She asked, shock evident on her face
"I have a nicer one in my home. Would you like to see it?" he asked, holding out a hand.
"You…have a library?" She asked. She looked inside her bag at the few ripped papers of a few books she found.
"Why yes, of course. And you'll find much better books there than anywhere else around here, certainly. I'd be willing to show you, for a price." the mask gazed into Lily's eyes, her soul.
"And the price is what exactly?" She asked, crossing her arms and staring him down
"Tell me, what good is an actor that plays his part to an empty theatre? That, I yet do not know. That's why you are here. I need you. I need someone to listen. Will you listen to me, to my music?" he asked seriously.
She sighed and sat down, in the roof "I don't have anything better to do the run from the law." She mumbled
“Soon the laws of this wasteland will crumble and fade. Come, we don’t have much time until others come.” he nodded.
V had blindfolded Lily, lead her through a labyrinth of streets and stair, until they came to a stone chamber, and he eventually took off the blindfold after standing in the gloom for a few minutes. “We are here, my muse.” his voice came from one of the dark corners of the room, echoing through the space.
"Where exactly is here?" Lily asked, tilting her head
"It is my home. I call it," lights flickered on, and you could now see a lush, beautiful room fit for a palace, hundreds of books and paintings all about, with warm light illuminated from a chandelier, a plush stewed cherry carpet stretching across the floor. There was a grand brick fireplace and mahogany mantlepiece, as well as several comfortable chairs the same colour of the carpet. "the Shadow Gallery. There are many rooms in this place, none are restricted to you."
"Except your room of course." She smirked. Villains in most stories she remembered always said something along those lines. Them she frowned. 'was this dude a villain or a hero? He blew up a building but he also saved her.'
"I have no secrets to keep from you. You may access anything in my home." he repeated, "You don't need to consider the nature of our association."
"What are you?" She asked, sitting on the floor
“I’m just as human as you are, my muse. You my call me V.” he nodded to Lily.
"Well V why di you keep calling me your muse?" She asked
“But I hath found power in the mysteries of thought, exaltation in the changing of the Muses, I hath been versed in the reasonings of men, but Fate be the strongest thing I hath known in all my days.” it was strange, his voice seemed to shift and change, warped by the strange, smiling mask.
Lilly stared. "Ok, I'm going to explore now. Adios!" She fake smiled and turned the others way
He watched Lily walk off, then sat down in front of the now roaring fire and opening up The Count Of Monte Cristo. "Vi veri veniversum vivus vici. By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe." he looked at his pocket watch once more. "I don't have much time left. She'll learn, though, my muse shall surpass me soon enough." he sighed.
Lilly walked up stairs and looked around at the different objects she found.
There were even more bookshelves, along with paintings, musical instruments all around, and an old gramaphone. Everything seemed good as new and yet so ancient, with it's museum-esque decor and it's full-empty space, so deathly full of life.
