Chapter 1: Pure Imagination
A/N: I own nothing but my thoughts :)
PROMPT FILL: Your eccentric Great Uncle recently died and left you his estate, which includes a rather large house filled with doors that don't always lead where you'd expect.
Uncle Hebert's death was just as grand as his life, Quinn thought to herself as she watched the casket of her favorite family member was lowered into the frozen mid-January ground. Hundreds of people were gathered around the tiny cemetery plot, all trying to toss a crystalized Lady Slippers into the open grave. The whole place looked like something out of a fairy tale, with flowers, trees, moss, and bright colors everywhere. His casket was white marble with gold leafing throughout, the inside a rich purple velvet trimmed with white silk ribbon. His headstone was an ornate diamond encrusted granite, larger than any other in the cemetery. The inscription in fancy calligraphy read "Here I am. Hebert Fabray. Do not cry for I am dead. Smile because I lived a life of wonder and fantasy. And that one of the dragons did not kill me sooner." Quinn laughed to herself when she remembered the stunned look on all the guests faces once they observed the grandeur of the service. There would be no crying, no mourning the dead. No, Quinn theorized, Uncle Hebert would want everyone to remember the good times, and smile and giggle at his eccentricity.
The reception was being held at Loveland Castle, complete with horse-drawn carriages to bring the guests across the vast acreage to their final destination of the Gardens. Gingerly stepping out of her carriage, Quinn observed the majestic scenery. Tulips of all colors, vivid green grass, statues of mythological creatures, and motes surrounded them. She giggled looking at the food and beverages before them. Of course there would be an open bar. Quinn shook her head while walking towards the bar to get herself a beverage. Just as she was sitting down she was startled by a hand gently grasping her arm.
"Forgive me, Miss Fabray. I did not mean to startle you. I am Attorney Byron Willis. I handled your Great Uncle's estate. May we talk?" Byron sat down next to Quinn at her nod.
"Mr. Willis," Quinn began, "forgive me, but I thought Uncle Hebert put the rest of his fortune into this service?' Quinn looked at the aging man confused. Her uncle had told her that he wished to leave no money behind for people to fight over.
"You are correct, Miss Fabray. He did not leave any money, however his massive estate was willed to you."
Quinn looked at the attorney completely flabbergasted. "Me?", she shook her head automatically refusing to believe what she was being given. "Why me? Why not my father, or someone else?"
Attorney Willis simply shrugged nonchalantly, "I asked him the same thing, and he insisted. As of today, you are the proud owner of Green Dallas Estate and all the treasures inside of it."
…***...***...***
One Month Later
It had taken Quinn almost a month to acquire the deed to Uncle Hebert's Estate. Between legal red tape, and bickering family members, it had been an uphill battle. Now though, she had it. Currently she was in the kitchen of "The Divine House of Fantasy" as it was written in the Will. She still didn't quite understand the need to name everything, but she never questioned it before so she wasn't going to start now.
She was sitting on the floor going through box after box of the junk her uncle had amassed over the years. How does one man manage to have so much crap, Quinn wondered. There were hundreds if not thousands of papers, pictures, magazines and receipts shoved in dozens of boxes with seemingly no rhyme or reason. As she made it to the last box after hours of sorting, she sighed a breath of relief. At the bottom of the box that had thus far been filled with absolute garbage, (because really did the man need to keep receipts from 1992?) she found a strange looking box. It was small, tiny really, and encrusted with emeralds and black opals. She lifted the flame shaped latch and saw a glimmering key inside. As she gingerly lifted the key out of the box, a worn piece of paper fluttered out as well. She cautiously picked up the fragile paper and gasped at the words scrawled across "This is the key to your wildest fantasies and darkest fears". Getting off the floor quickly, she ran to a small door just inside the foyer. She had been trying to get this door open ever since she was small to no avail. Now, she wondered if she had the key to do so. With shaking hands, she put the key into the rusty lock and audibly gasped when she heard it unlock.
Slowly, she opened the heavy oak door and stepped inside the room. Taking in her surroundings, Quinn began to wonder who her uncle really was. Lining the walls were pictures of things she only imagined could exist outside of her childhood bedtime stories. There were mermaids, vampires, werewolves, fairies, and even dragons.
She was so lost in her own wonderment, that she didn't realize someone was in the room with her until she heard an old haggard voice croak out, "Well, well, who are you?"
Quinn looked up quickly and took a couple steps back at the sight of the grizzly looking woman before her. The lady was exactly as you would expect an evil witch to look. She was hunched over, had a wart on her nose, long greasy black hair, and snarled long fingernails. "I-I-I'm," Quinn stuttered out, "Hebert Fabray's niece. He left me his estate."
"Ahhh, yes. Quinn. He told us you would be coming and how pretty you were." The old hag stroked Quinn's hair and Quinn shuddered. "He also said that we were to be kind to you. Of course, I promised that no harm would come to you, but some of the others weren't so agreeable."
"What are you talking about? What was my uncle involved with?" Quinn was frightened, and she wanted to get out of the room now.
"Oh, deary, where do you think those fairy tales came from that he told you? They're all real. Based off things in this house. Feel free to explore, but be more cautious before you enter a locked room next time. They're locked for a reason." With that, the witch shoved Quinn out of the room and cackled loudly, "She's here everyone. Let the fun begin."
The door slammed shut on Quinn and she scampered towards the front door before she could think about what to do next.
A/N: So, this was going to be just a prompt fill, but this plot bunny is taking on a life of its own. Let me know what you think :)