Chapter One

Germany, 1933

Eleanore Elizabeth Vogel walked forward, moving with the large crowd of people, making sure to keep up with the person in front of her. She held her luggage tightly to her body, accidentally wrinkling her light gray dress. It had only been a few weeks earlier that she and her family had been through the "Long Beach Earthquake" that had devastated her home in California. Tragically, she lost her entire family in the accident. The police had contacted her grandmother in Germany who, upon hearing the news, offered to take Eleanore in immediately. Once Eleanore escaped the rush of people around her, she sat quietly on a wooden bench.

"Fräulein Vogel?" A deep male's voice drew her attention to his face. She stood, straightening her dress before nodding. The man was thin with light blonde hair and blue eyes, his skin: pale white. He took her hand, kissing the back of it.

"Herr Klum," she replied, knowing her mediocrity pronunciation would be evident. The thin German laughed and grabbed her luggage for her, easily sweeping it from the floor.

"Would speaking in English be easier for you, Fräulein?" He asked in a jolly tone, his teeth shining.

"Yes, sir," she replied in a quiet voice, smiling up at him. Eleanore followed him out to the waiting black car, talking about what she could expect at her new home. She learned of her grandmother's reputation as being fair and thoughtful in all that she does. Eleanore had many questions for her grandmother's driver, making sure to ask them all before arriving at her new home.

In less than an hour, Eleanore arrived at her grandmother's home. It was much bigger than any home she'd ever seen. When the car stopped, Eleanore hopped out and followed Mr. Klum to the door of the home. He rang the door bell and a beautiful middle aged woman opened the door, scooping Eleanore up in her arms.

"Let me have a good look at you," she said through her thick German accent. Her hair was a dark shade of brown and curly, like Eleanore's. She had dark eyes and expertly applied make-up, her red lips painted on perfectly. Eleanore estimated she could not have been more than fifty years old. The dress she wore was ornate, an obvious sign of her wealth. Although the Great Depression was evident in some neighborhoods they had passed though, it didn't seem to have any effect on her grandmother at all. "You are as beautiful as your mother," she said dearly, kissing the girl's pallid cheek.

"Thank you," Eleanore whispered, trying not to think of her beautiful face.

"Let me show you around," Her grandmother suggested, allowing Eleanore to take her arm as they walked through the home. After touring the splendid house, Eleanore's grandmother took her outside, showing her the garden and eventually they walked in the direction of their closest neighbor.

"I would like you meet my neighbors. They are very nice people and the youngest grandson has offered to teach you German," Eleanore's grandmother told her, excitement evident on her face. They reached the porch and her grandmother rang the doorbell. The door opened to a equally beautiful woman who looked to be a few years older than Eleanore's own grandmother.

"This is Frau Stiglitz," she introduced, as Frau Stiglitz hugged Eleanore.

"You are very beautiful," Frau Stiglitz said, "as beautiful as your mother. I remember her very well." She smiled and invited them in. Their home was just as nice as her grandmother's, magnificent in every way. "Make yourself comfortable, I will grab my grandson." Frau Stiglitz ascended up the staircase, her grace was evident in her strides.

"We were actually here when I met your father," Eleanore's grandmother recalled, a smile stretching across her face. "Your mother brought him over for dinner, a handsome American soldier." She laughed quietly and patted the back of Eleanore's hand. "If he had asked me, even I would have run off to America to be with him."

Eleanore smiled as a small tear rolled down her cheek, which her grandmother was quick to wipe away.

"You are strong, Eleanore, just like your mother." She held her cheek for a moment before hearing footsteps come down the wooden staircase. They both stood and watched as Frau Stiglitz reappeared with a handsome boy at her side. He was taller than her and looked to be around seventeen years old. He had short dirty blonde hair paired with piercing gray-blue eyes.

"This is my grandson, Hugo Stiglitz."

The sturdy boy stepped forward and grabbed her right hand quickly. His lips were soft as they brushed the back of her hand, his eyes not once breaking contact with her own.

" Fräulein Vogel." His voice was deep, her name sounding smooth on his tongue. He easily let her hand go to take it's normal position at her side.

"Hugo has agreed to teach you German!" Frau Stiglitz smiled, as Hugo nodded.

"Why don't you two go upstairs and study while me and Hedda catch up?" Frau Stiglitz offered.

Hugo escorted Eleanore upstairs, leading her to the study while she took in the beautiful paintings they passed. With her arm around his, they made it to the study. Hugo pulled out a large chair for her before taking his own seat beside her.

"Let's begin."