Chapter 20

ROSE

The sun was just starting to rise when we set foot in front of the small castle. It was a typical romantic French castle on top of a hill. The stones were light gray, covered in thick green vines.

There was a large garden surrounding the castle, scattered with trees and soft dew-covered grass. The autumn leaves were piled up in heaps next to the trees.

Flowing at the foot of the hill was a large lake that smelled full of fish and glistened in the moonlight.

I held Eleanor’s hand as we walked toward the castle’s large open doors. Inside, I spied a large welcoming hallway.

Demetrius, Aric, and the twins were carrying in their luggage, easily carried in one suitcase. Eleanor shuffled along with her suitcase trailing behind on wheels.

As we got closer, I smelled the barn a few hundred meters into the forest. Aric turned to smile at Eleanor.

“Tomorrow night, you can start learning to ride,” he told her with a wink.

She nodded enthusiastically. I watched her looking around with wide, sparkling eyes.

“Mother?” She tugged on my hand.

“Yes?”

“Can I go and touch the water?” she demanded. I peeled her hand from mine and nodded.

“Of course. But be inside before the sun comes out. I don’t want you being locked outside.”

I tried kissing the top of her head, but she squirmed out of my grip and raced off, leaving her suitcase at my feet. I picked it up and followed my family swiftly into the mansion.

Selene, Orion, and James were waiting in the hallway in front of two flights of stairs. Selene wrapped her arms around me tightly.

“Sister, it’s so good to see you again. I’m so glad. Allow me to show you around. We’ve closed all the blinds so I can show you around the castle before we have to go downstairs,” she told me.

I grinned back, and she nodded.

“Sounds wonderful. This place is really beautiful, Selene.” She nodded, smiling already as she led me away.

Demetrius followed behind me, casting glances around the rooms, though we could both tell we were the only ones inside.

“Where’s Eleanor?” Selene asked suddenly, then tilted her head to one side and smiled. “Playing in the lake, huh?”

I smiled and nodded. “She should come in soon,” I replied, casting a glance at the open doors behind me. I could hear Eleanor playing with her fingers in the cold water. I heard her giggles.

Orion smiled at us. “It’s good that you’ve come. We’re glad.”

I smiled back at him. “Thank you.”

“I agree, this place is wonderful,” Phoenix said, flipping her hair back and smiling.

“I love the paintings,” Venus added, gesturing to the numerous paintings of wealthy humans covering the walls.

“We bought the castle as it was. We only made the cells a little bigger,” James said, smiling.

“I should hope so,” Phoenix grinned back at him.

I watched as James led Aric and the twins around the corner, then downstairs. I hesitated in the hallway, listening as Eleanor scrambled up the bank and hurried into the hall.

I could feel the sun was almost up. Selene closed the doors behind Eleanor and locked them.

“We have a special room for you, Eleanor,” Selene said, smiling down at her.

“Really?” Eleanor wiped her wet hands on her jeans and followed Selene and me up the first flight of stairs.

“Yes. Come see. I hope you like it. It’s especially yours. And I’m sure it’ll make your mother feel much more comfortable when she sleeps.”

I smiled as Selene winked at me.

“Selene! We’re going to get something to drink!” Orion called up before he and Demetrius disappeared around a corner.

“In the morning?” I arched one brow at Selene.

“Hmm, yeah, we have a fridge of baggies too, you know, just in case someone got...,” she trailed off, rubbing Eleanor’s back.

I bit down on my bottom lip and wrapped my arms around Selene’s slight waist.

“Thank you.” She winked back at me. We arrived in a long corridor with different doors on each side, and I could tell they were all bedrooms.

“Here, we’re on the third floor, the highest floor, and this wing are all yours, Eleanor.” Selene ran her fingers through Eleanor’s long dark hair. Eleanor blinked up at her, grinning.

“But where will I sleep?” she asked in wonder.

“Up here, come. I picked out a room. It was my personal favorite.”

I took Eleanor’s hand and led her down the corridor to the last door. She pushed it open, grinning. The curtains were drawn, a small chandelier illuminated the large room.

I could feel the sun’s heat in the air. I glanced around the room quickly.

The walls were painted a creamy color, and there were a few portraits of young girl humans.

There was a large dark oak wardrobe, and in the center of the room was a light purple cherry oak double bed with light purple curtains surrounding it.

There was a large thick purple rug on the floor, a toy box at the foot of the bed, and two bedside tables with lamps.

There were two windows on each side of the room, and facing the bed was a balcony, though, with the curtains drawn, I couldn’t tell how big.

“Wow!” Eleanor gushed, rushing in. She immediately started touching things. She paused at one of the paintings.

“Do you like it?” Selene asked, leaning against the doorframe.

“Yup! Who’s this?” She pointed at the portrait.

“It’s Mademoiselle Charlotte something-or-other, two hundred years ago. These are the portraits of the girls who lived in the room before you.”

I noticed Eleanor looking more intently at the portraits. “I like them,” she admitted.

“I’m glad.” Selene smiled at me. “With the curtains drawn, she can sleep normally, I think, and you can be sure no one is going to try to attack her.

“I was also thinking you could go to sleep on time. She can close the curtains when she wants,” she whispered.

I intertwined my fingers with hers and leaned against her. “Thank you, Selene.”

She laughed freely.

“Mother, look at this!” Eleanor shrieked, pulling a small wooden easel. I grinned at her.

“Oh, yes, I remembered that you were an artist. Like this, you can get even better,” Selene insisted.

“This is just like my birthday!” Eleanor gushed. “I get a room and toys all in one day!” I laughed.

“Your birthday is in a few months,” I reminded her.

“I know.” She rolled her eyes at me.

I felt the sun get a little hotter and leaned away. I heard someone rushing up the stairs then Aric was in the room grinning.

“Hey, great room; smart too. Do you like it, Eleanor?” he asked.

“Yup! See, I got a painter’s thing!” She waved the easel at him.

“An easel. Cool. Hey, wanna see my music room?” He winked at me. “James showed it to me.”

He grabbed Eleanor’s hand and led her out of the scorching room. Selene and I followed them down one flight of stairs into another wing of business rooms.

Aric moved to one on the right and pushed it open. I smiled when I saw how he’d already set it up. His music was pinned up all over the walls like a tapestry.

There was a drum set, a glass cabinet with a clarinet, a flute, and a few other shiny instruments. In the middle of the room was a large shiny black piano facing the closed curtains.

“Do you like it?” Aric asked Eleanor, still grinning.

“Cool! Everything’s shiny,” she answered gaily.

“And it will get shinier during the day too, so right now, I’m going to bed.” He ruffled her hair. She batted his hand away and grinned.

“I agree. Everyone needs their rest. Tomorrow night, we’ll all get fully settled.” Selene smiled.