Summary: Long before the truth emerged, two girls lived in the Goode Manor. One – born with a plain appearance – is intelligent, bold, and misunderstood. The other girl is popular, beautiful, and searching for her place in the world. But these two unlikely women find that being opposites can bring to the surface untold secrets that lead those who practice goode to wickedness.
Chapter One
All the grandchildren gathered into the tattered room. The carpet had been worn out leaving a faded red shade behind. The walls had long since needed to be repainted, but this was all overlooked. It was a quaint space for the most part, being that it had been in the family for some time and showed its many years of service.
The adults casually filed in after all the young kids were safely sitting on the floor. It had been a long day for all. Activities had ranged from pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey to the blowing out of birthday candles to playing tag in the backyard. By this time everyone was glad for the cool air conditioning the house provided, for at long last, the time had come for the last event: a grand tale from Abuelo (spanish for grandfather).
The evening was nearly approaching, as the children became content on the mere thought of another one of their grandfather's wonderful tales of heart warming, action-packed, climatic stories of adventure and mystery. It was a tradition to end any family gathering with one.
The adults were however not excited to hear another tiresome, far-fetched, and untrue account of Abuelo's unrealistic past. They had heard too many as it was, but they didn't dare spoil the children's fun by ending it too soon, no matter how annoying it really was.
In the center of the room, Abuelo sat in his usual, comfortable rocking chair. He was an older man by now with hair that was more white and gray than anything else and more wrinkles than he ever imagined in his later years. His once steady legs were slowly withering as the years crept by. But this never stopped his odd sense of humor or his quirky way of making all around him feel as though they were special in every way, no matter how great or small. It was his way of giving back to the world for all that God blessed him with throughout his life.
But the one precious item that meant more than any amount of wealth, was one of his beautiful daughters. So much of his time had belonged to himself that it was absolutely shocking to become so unselfish and put his daughter's needs before his own.
In a way, it opened his heart to those less fortunate than his own social standing and begin to give back. But that wasn't what his expectant family wanted to hear. They knew just how indebted he really was for all he had and for what he didn't. The children wanted something that he'd never told them before and he would deliver just that.
"Ready for the story?" He asked in a raspy voice. He missed the way it used to sound when he was young and healthy.
Unanimous nods came from all directions at the sound of his suggestion.
"What one will you tell?" Young Ford asked. He was a small boy for his age of seven, now that they had celebrated his birthday, but he sure was clever just like his father. Content brown orbs that never altered studied his grandfather, patiently waiting for a response.
"I haven't decided," Abuelo finally aid. He pondered on his options. Usually each story was already formed in his mind; however, this occasion was different. It seemed as though all his normal possibilities had simply evaporated.
He gazed over the anxious crowd of familiar faces, when his countenance stopped on one rather attractive adult sitting opposite him. There was never a time that he never disliked her magnificent brunet locks. Suddenly, an idea came to him.
"I, s'pose I've never told you of Wicked Manor," He asked, a sly grin crossing his face. "Have I?"
It was really a rhetorical question, but worthy all the same.
"Nope," One of the other dozen children supplied.
There was one last shuffle of positions as they prepared for another legendary story.
"Back then it was called Goode Manor. And it was just that. It was grand, larger than anything else I'd ever seen, with vines growing down the sides in the most peculiar places. It was like a castle, with its many windows and intertwining halls. Oh, the doctor took such good care of it too. There were ground keepers for the outside and maids for the inside. It was beautiful."
Abuelo took a deep breath. It had been so long since he had talked about this particular place, that he could hardly contain his excitement.
"In the home, lived the Goode family. It was only the doctor and his only lovely daughter Galina. They were such nice people and so kind and generous too.
"Doctor Goode also had a butler. The butler had a wife and two wonderful daughters as well; the oldest was Galina's age. But like all stories, this is where ours really begins . . ."
TBC . . .