Chapter One - Part Two

a town like this, with a name like yours… I daresay you’ll find that quite useful as well… Good afternoon.”

And with a final, brief nod, Mr. Talbot was gone, leaving me alone to ponder all the possible depths of his offer.

*  *  *

At five p.m. sharp, my taxi was waiting. So with a full stomach and a buzzing brain, I departed from the restaurant against the polite arm of one of the doormen. Dinner had totaled to an astonishing $457.12 that the hostess from earlier had insisted was on the house. And despite her nasty attitude from before, I left her an eighty dollar tip, with a smiley face on a napkin.

And once I had reached the house on the hill again, the cabby also received a tip and the fare I had promised. With dollar signs for eyes, he took the money too, tipping his hat while blowing smoke from the side of his mouth.

“Man, I love this neighborhood.” he said, and I watched him drive away, suddenly feeling overwhelmed, and wondering if it wasn’t too late to call him back. But reason withheld, and I forced myself to watch his lights until they eventually disappeared.

So there I stood, in the shadow of the house on the hill, with my ratty suitcase, and feeling miserably out of place. With a sigh, I noticed that I could go no further than what the edge of the driveway allowed, deterred by the fact that the entrance to the property was secured by massive twin gates. They were wrought iron, black, twisted and curled into fancy shapes and designs. With a low whistle I looked to the left and then to the right, noting how the gates extended into a tall fence that lined the entire edge of the property. I also noticed that each bar ended in pointed spikes at the top – merely decorative of course, and not sharp enough to cut, but they would surely be lethal to land on.

I walked up to the gate, wrapping my hands around its cold metal, and peered up at the house. Lights were on now in some of the windows on the lowest floor of the house, letting me know that someone else had also anticipated my arrival. Looking down, I pressed the red button on the intercom by my hand, and spoke tentatively into the speaker.

“Um, hello? If anyone can hear this right now, my name is Naomi Noble. And I kind of live here now, I guess –”

“Miss Naomi, we were expecting you.” said an older, female voice, coming clearly through the speaker. “Please, come in.”

A moment later there was a loud buzzing sound, and then the click of a latch being unlocked as both halves of the giant gate swung soundlessly inwards. And with a grim smile, I picked up my suitcase and began the trek up the long, winding drive. It was steep from the get-go, starting on an incline that continued to rise steadily. But I was in shape, toned from years of ditching cops and misbehaving in the streets. So because of this, I was able to spend more time appreciating the scenery than watching my breathing.

As I walked, I let my eyes sweep across the rolling, green lawn. The thick grass was well-manicured, and cut with a precision that I knew was professional. Several rosebushes were planted in long rows against the sides of the house. The green of them remained vibrant in color, but the red of their remaining blooms was already fading, while the pecan and walnut trees stood at full blossom.

And although the month insisted that we were meant for dog days, a summer storm was quickly approaching. Above, the sky was already beginning to transform into the dark blue turmoil of night. Fat drops of rain were just beginning to splatter the sidewalk, and thunder was already growling in the distance when I reached the solid, oaken front entry. But I didn’t have time to even lay a hand on the knocker, before the door swung open to reveal a short, plump woman. Her long raven hair was swept up into a neat bun, with a few wisps left out to frame her makeup-less, round face. She was dressed in the manner of those who would specialize in professional housework: a long grey skirt, with a grey cardigan over a white dress-shirt, and sensible black shoes. She opened the door wider for me, and as I stepped gratefully into the warmth and the light, I saw that she had lines and wrinkles about her eyes and mouth. They gave her the look of a woman that was growing old but not unwise. And they also told me that she was strict, and liked to laugh – so she probably wasn’t harsh.

“Naomi Noble,” she said softly. “Well, I haven’t seen you in eighteen years – not since the day you were born…”

She said this, but I didn’t answer her. I couldn’t. I was too busy drooling.

The walls and floor of the mansion were all made of a highly polished marble that was decorated with a pattern of white and grey swirls. Ornamental mirrors with golden frames of various sizes and shapes hung along the walls, as well as the painted and photographed portraits of various, unfamiliar people.

The entire foyer was probably the span of half a football field, and remarkably empty for the most part, so that your voice actually echoed a little when you talked. But against the back wall, there were three cascading staircases that could lead you all the way up to the fifth floor if you had time for the walk. And the staircases conjoined, at intervals, to provide platforms onto every level of the house, spiraling upwards and on in Wilson Hall fashion. Gone faint with wonder, I followed their journey, craning my neck upwards to spot a massive chandelier at the very top, sparkling high above, like a diamond, on the ceiling of the fifth floor.

“This house…” I breathed.  “I can’t believe…”

“It is beautiful, isn’t it?” The woman said proudly, as if she, in fact, had been the one responsible for it all. “Mrs. Noble put a great deal of her late husband’s money into embellishing the manor. Pity that she had to leave…”

And although she put on a sympathetic face that seemed convincing, the twinkle in her dark eyes still belied her remorse.

“Naomi, my name is Mrs. Lucille Abigail Trentley, and I am currently employed as the butler of this manor. I work from breakfast to dinner, Mondays through Fridays, but am only obligated to morning hours on the weekends. I – as well as a few other select members of the staff – share a wing on the first floor, but I also have a home on Stoakely, which I use during my vacations and holidays. I’ll manage your affairs, keep the house cleanly, pay the bills, stock the fridges and keep the staff smiling, but I won’t wipe your ass or clean your nose. Are there any questions?”

“I have a butler?” I asked blankly.

“As well as eight maids, six gardeners, a chef, countless electricians, and a team of plumbers that I keep on speed dial. And I can promise you that the staff won’t quit again, provided that you keep signing our checks, and don’t behave like a tyrant.”

“You quit once? And why did you do that?” I asked, finally setting down my suitcase.

“Because the day after your father died, we all decided that we were no longer going to work for a tyrant like your mother.” she replied casually. “Not without your father around, anyway. Paris Noble might have worn the pants in her marriage, but it was your father who kept this place running.”

“Well, you and the others are back now, Mrs. Trentley. So what does that mean for me?”

“What it means, is that we’re here to give you a chance, Miss Noble. We feel we owe that to Jack. I cared for him very much – and I don’t say that often.”

“And I appreciate that.” I said, feeling the sudden urge to stand up straight without slouching. “But I think I can manage on my own. Besides, I’m more of the reclusive type anyway, so I think it might be best if you and the staff didn’t stay on, Mrs. Trentley. I’ll give you severance pay though, for your time.”

“What? That’s it then?” Mrs. Trentley asked, widening her eyes in mock astonishment. “That’s your version of the lone wolf speech?”

A few alarms went off at the stress that she placed on the word “wolf”, but I kept my cool. She was human. She knew nothing.

“Well, that would be the short version, yeah. Look, I don’t need handouts, Mrs. Trentley. I’m only eighteen but I haven’t been in a kid in a long time. I can take care of myself.”

Mrs. Trentley’s smile was benign enough, but the way in which she drew herself together suggested that she was not one who backed down to anyone, or anything, that easily.

“Miss Noble, you probably don’t know this, but most of the staff here has served your family for well over six generations. And throughout that time, many of us have come to view working here as more of a tradition that needs careful preserving, than an actual job. So I can assure you, we are very good at we do.”

“But you and your people don’t do anything that someone else couldn’t.” I said, as kindly as possible. Because I didn’t need Humans around. They were too jumpy, like jack rabbits almost.

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Mrs. Trentley replied innocently. “I wonder – how many more people in the world are there that wouldn’t have trouble keeping a secret like yours?”

“And just what do you mean by that, Trentley?” I said, with suspicions now that were significantly raised.

“What I mean, Naomi, is that you won’t find too many others that are willing to work for a wolf dressed in human’s clothing, so I’d think seriously before making such a permanent decision.”

And there it was – another skillfully veiled allusion of hers. But now I had grown completely sure that this conversation was not a coincidence.

“Look, you obviously know who I am, and apparently that doesn’t bother you.” I said quietly. “But do you know what I am too?”

“Yes. You are exactly the same as every other Noble in your family.” Mrs. Trentley replied, with cryptic patience. “Though I hope you won’t be needing a doggy door installed – ruins the wood.”

“I know that my mother is like me, and my father, Jack – he was one. Oh and my lawyer – I could smell it on him too. But you, Mrs. Trentley, and every other person in this house – you’re all human, I’m assuming. And now that my parents have left, you’ve been stuck with some punk kid off the streets who probably has a juvenile record. Now, doesn’t that make you scared?”

“No.” The old woman said, without missing a beat. “Because you’re young, inexperienced, and you’re also outnumbered. So let’s get going so I can have a cigar and watch my shows.”

Grinning, I followed her down a similarly ornamented hallway that was hidden between the staircases. I strolled along, fascinated by the darkly themed art, and the portraits. And everything begged to be either touched or examined. Taking interest in a life size suit of armor, I bopped its visor as we passed. Mrs. Trentley sighed and shook her head, but didn’t turn around when the armor responded with a loud, clanking sound. Yikes! said the expression on my face as I paused for a second, hoping that it wouldn’t topple from its perch on the wooden stand. But it didn’t, so we kept walking, and this time with my hands jammed firmly in their pockets.

“So,” I said, after several moments of silence had passed. “Since you know, it makes things easier. So I’d appreciate it if you did stay on. Cuz’ to be honest, I know that I wouldn’t really be able to maintain this place on my own mine. And plus, I would probably get lost in this place one day and end up starving to death, or something.”

“And your mother and father would have too, if it hadn’t been for your staff. Paris didn’t like us, however and we didn’t like her either. But your father made sure she kept each and every one of us, because he knew that our families are loyal, and extremely good at keeping this secret. You’ll find that out on your own soon enough…”

“How long before the others come looking for me, by the way?” I said. “Paris, my grandparents?”

“Well, dear, not to be cruel but I wouldn’t hold your breath.” she said kindly, over her shoulder. “You’ll pass out before that happens.”

But I didn’t ask her why that was. It was an answer to a question that I was perfectly willing to find out on my own.

“You don’t like the rest of my family, do you?” I said, but feeling neither insult, nor shame. Because the hard truth remained that I didn’t know the Noble family. So you couldn’t miss what you didn’t know. And you couldn’t love people you’d never met.

Except my father, of course. And I had his letters to help remind me that.

“Do I like the rest of your family?” Mrs. Trentley mused aloud. “Hmm. I suppose about as much as I’d like a piece of glass in my thumb – which is very little, in case you didn’t know.”

Appreciating her honesty, I continued following her until we reached an impasse. The short stretch off hallway that lay before us now ended in three doors that were all closed.

“To the left are the kitchens, where the chef and the other staff prefer to congregate in. But you’d do best to stay out of there, if you wouldn’t mind. I’ll bring out your snacks, drinks, meals, anything you like.”

“And why’s that? Why shouldn’t I just go in there myself?”

“Because the Nobles have amassed quite an imposing name for themselves in this town, Naomi.” Mrs. Trentley replied, in a carefully even tone. “And even though the staff work for you, they’re still only human. They don’t speak of what they see, and they won’t talk about what they know – and that’s their duty, but it scares them. And you just so happen to be a walking reminder of that.”

I decided to forego on another smartass reply, and settled for a wordless nod instead. Because not only did I know what she meant, but I also understood it. And to the people of this manor, I was still their childhood fairytales come to life. My light-hearted jokes and casual airs meant nothing to them.

“Now, for all our safety, we have cameras installed outside, on the property. They record a steady feed, which is saved and displayed on the monitors