After a few long minutes the woman, finished her religious observances and stood, before looking about herself and began walking slowly deeper into the memorial chapel proper, in a silent, unhurried way, examining the various memorials, memento mori that decorated the chapel, literally from floor to ceiling. Again, both the Chapel master and the Dean, caught a flash of luminous green eyes, as her gaze wandered about her surrounding, abruptly the whole chapel shook as a particularly violent roll of thunder crashed against the immense stony solidity of Schlossberg. The harsh glare and flicker flash of lightning illuminated the memorial chapel, through the open doors, which were always keep open to admit visitors regardless of the hour.
The woman suddenly grabbed both hands to her head as if suddenly stricken with terrible pain, her eyes blazed with an intense green light that engulfed the pupils, iris and sclera, in a searing illumination, before her eye lids snapped tighly shut with the next lightning flash. Both the Dean and Chapel master exchanged a quick glance, then rushed to the woman's assistance. She was in serious discomfort that was obvious. The Dean, quickly dragged shut the inner doors of the entrance way, to cut out the crashing flashes of light and noise that raged outside, a considerable winter storm was in the offing, falling snow mixed with the rattle of hail striking the Schlossberg, that too was obvious despite the pitch black night that reigned beyond the doors of the chapel. There would be other few visitors tonight, the Dean thought as he dogged the doors shut.
The Chapel master guided the woman towards one of the benches that stood nearest the Siege of Graz memorial. It had been donated to the Chapel a great many years ago, and many found it a particularly comfortable and restful spot to contemplate the memorial. It was certainly one of the finest pieces of ornate woodwork, he had ever seen, carved from the most beautiful and expensive African Ebony, with magnificent gold leaf decorations and plush, wine dark red velvet covered the seating and back rest. Even with massive doors closed tight, the woman reacted to every following rumble of thunder and lightning strike, as if they were physical blows, her arms curled tightly about her as she sat silently, her strained breathing being the only sound in the cavernous memorial chapel.
"Are you all right, Madam?" The Chapel master finally said, after watching her for several long minutes. Her harsh breathing seemed to have eased a bit, to both his and the Dean's surprise the woman, actually smiled, even laughed though her eyes were still closed shut.
"I am not in pain, thank you gentlemen. This just happens to me, when I am caught in storms..." she gave an unexpectedly soft, earthy chuckle before continuing. "In truth, I actually find it... bracing, even exciting. It reminds me I am still...Alive." She said, finally drawing aside her hood and face concealing scarf. A shock of soft hair, pure white shot with gold blonde streaks tumbled down around her neck and shoulders.
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