(There has been an update to the beginning of Chapter 1 as of September 9, 2016.)
Chapter 2 - A Little Tour
Despite my father's best guesses, the carriage was three hours to the estate. The storm clouds were moving in, and in Louisiana, you can often expect the water to rise around you like quicksand. Each plantation we passed, my father spoke of the injustice of slavery and it's barbaric act against mankind. Like most young women, I held high respect for my father. He was a well mannered, and level head, with strong intentions to make sure his daughters married men of the same high strung stature.
It was late afternoon when we arrived at the mansion. I expected each of the guests to be in shambles, mourning the loss of my grandfather. But the mansion never took the time to mourn, not even for the living.
"Is that it," asked Meena looking out the carriage window.
George turned around in his seat and looked out. Lina stared down at her book, with little care.
"That it would be," said George turning back around.
Ruth leaned forward and grabbed on of his hands. Lina glanced over to see her mother hold her father's hand tight.
"Will you be alright," asked Ruth to him.
"I'm fine, dear. It's only for a few days," George replied smiling at her.
Lina finally glanced away from her book and out the window. She saw the mansion through the trees. It was like an oasis in the swamp, decorated with a lavish green garden out front, surrounded by a pointed rod iron fence.
The estate seemed unlike any other plantation along the trip. It was a large white house, with green shutters on each window. The tower of the attic raised up from the ceiling, topped with a metal ship shaped weather vane. Each of the two stories of the erie home was lined with a balcony, lined with french green cast iron railings. The entrance reminded Lina of the white house she once visited in Washington. A roof, fitted with four white columns and a balcony to look down over and greet the arriving guests.
"Lina," asked her father.
Lina turned her eyes away from the mansion to her father.
"What do you think?"
Her mind was empty. She didn't know what to think. Almost like the mansion's own presents had started to pull at her subconscious.
"It's haunting," Lina replied.
"In a way, I suppose," said George.
"I think it looks beautiful," Meena added.
The carriage pulled through the brickle lined gates. Lina read the metal plate near the gate.
Gracey Estate
A top the metal sigh was a cheerful face, smiling to those who entered. The carriage rounded the green grass garden and stopped out front.
The driver hopped down from his seat, and opened the back door to the carriage. George grabbed his cane, and was the first to step out. Ruth waited, checking her dark brown curls in her hair to make sure she still looked presentable. She clasped George's hand, and stepped out of the carriage.
"Welcome, Mr. Gracey," said a rather deep, slow, and menacing voice, coming from the front red brick steps.
Meena stepped out and adjusted her dress. Lina closed her book, and made her arrival to the mansion known. She looked towards the mansion entrance. The crickets and chirped in the grass all around, then fell silent as the voice approached.
A man walked over to them, with long blonde and grey hair, and a sharply pointed nose, wearing a green velvet jacket, lined with a red collar and cuffs, a faded green waist coat, and fine dark green pants.
"Pleasure to meet you..." said George, reaching out to shake hands, wondering the man's name.
"Call me Mr. Reed. I was your father's butler," the man replied the man in his low creepy voice.
"A pleasure. Good to see my father was in good hands," said George.
"One could say he was my favorite guest," added Mr. Reed.
"I'm sorry," questioned George.
"I have been with the house for many years. I remained a servant to you father upon his arrival to the mansion."
"You'll have to excuse me in that case. My father never spoke of you in his letters," George replied.
"Think nothing of it, sir. I only hope your stay with us will be a delightful one," said Mr. Reed.
He reached over and took Ruth by the hand. "And Mrs. Gracey. Tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Ruth smiled to him, thankful to finally come across a man with high manners in their travels.
Lina looked up at the mansion. She faintly recalled the words of Madame Leota in her mind. Mr. Reed walked over to her and Meena.
"Ahhh... And you must be Lina and Meena," he said to them
Lina looked at him, distracted by his gaze. Mr. Reed's right eye dominated over his left, smiling at both of them. He took Meena by the hand and kissed the her wrist. He reached out to take Lina's hand. She turned away. His very presence made her skin crawl.
He peered up at her, smiling as he stood up right.
"I understand my presents can be somewhat unsettling to some, but I can assure you, you will be well taken care of," said Mr. Reed.
Lina clutched her book, and smiled at him.
"Now, shall I escort you into the mansion," asked Mr. Reed turning back to George.
"Please," George replied pointing his cane to the front door.
Mr. Reed looked back to Lina, and grinned. He kept his hands clasped behind his back, making his way towards the Mansion.
Meena, Ruth, and George trailed behind him up the brick stairs. Lina gave a heavy sigh, and took her first step ready to follow.
A pile of dirt landed at the base of her dress. She looked down seeing her shoes were covered in wet dirt. Searching around her, she saw a dark colored man digging in the grass just passed the carriage. A small mound of dirt rested at the wheel of the carriage, dug from the man working on his hole.
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as he continued to dig. Lina walked over, ready to confront him about the mess he had made of her appearance.
She lifted her finger, ready to point down at her shoe, with her lips parted for an argument.
Approaching the hole, a shimmer in the dirt caught her attention. She stopped.
The man continued to dig, not taking notice. She reached down into the mound of dirt, and picked up the shining object.
It was a necklace. An gold necklace, shaped like a dragonfly, with vibrant, jade green stones lining the center, with white pearls branching from the center across the wings. Lina rubbed the dirt off of it, and gazed down at the trinket in her hand, no bigger than a silver dollar.
"Lina, come on dear," hollered her mother from the front of the mansion.
Lina placed the necklace between the pages of her book, checking to make sure the gardener wouldn't pay any mind if she took it.
She turned around, and hurried towards the others, clasping her book tightly shut.
The gardener watched Lina scuttle away, resting his shovel in the dirt for a moment to catch his breath. He wiped his brow and bald head with his handkerchief, and tucked it back into the chest pocket of his overalls.
Lina walked up the brick steps. Mr. Reed held the front door open for her, with the rest of the family waiting inside.
Approaching the doorway, Lina felt a gentle wisp of the frigid air from mansions damp, old, musty smell could be taken in from the outside.
Mr. Reed waited for Lina to step inside, before closing the door behind her.
"I do say, you manage to keep it rather cold in here, Mr. Reed," commented George.
"Yes… The mansion always has been rather chilling. We keep the shades drawn to help keep out the heat," he replied.
The entrance hall was dim and dark. The chandelier hanging over the entrance offered little light, despite it's vast assortment of candles. Each of the walls was decorated with light wood trim, intricate wall paper, and curling iron candle sconces. With her back to the door, Lina saw two double doorways to her right and left, and a set of double stairs in the center, stretching out from the balcony overlooking the entryway. At both sides of each set of stairs was another set of double doors. Between each of the stairs was grandfather clock, loudly ticking away.
"George," shouted a voice from above the stairs.
Everyone looked up. In the faint darkness, a man, with a thick dark brown beard and bald head, wearing a red waistcoat and black over coat, stood on the balcony.
"Ah, Gordon," George replied grinning up at him.
Gordon made his way down the stairs as George went over to greet him. The two of them shook hands.
"Been far too long," said Gordon.
"Indeed it has. It is good to see you again, despite not be under better circumstances."
"Rubbish old man. Your father made a strict request before he parted that there be no mourning of his death."
"He may have to excuse me in that case," replied George. "Gordon, I'd like you to meet my wife Ruth."
Gordon reached out, and took Ruth by the hand. He leaned forward and kissed the back of her hand.
"Tis an honor to meet you," Gordon replied.
"And these are my daughters, Lina and Meena."
Meena and Lina both curtsied.
"A lovely family you have, Geroge. Tis good to see life has treated you kindly since we last shared a drink."
"Undoubtedly," George replied.
"Well, I'm sure you are all rather tired from your journey. George, there is a meeting to be held after the funeral. As your father's lawyer, there are a few things we will need to address."
"Of course," George replied.
"Wonderful. Feel free to come join me for a drink in the parlor once you're settled in. Now, Mr. Reed, if you wouldn't mind, please show them where they will be staying?"
"Would be my pleasure," said Mr. Reed bowing to Gordon.
Gordon opened the doorway to Lina's right, unveiling the parlor beyond. Mr. Reed led the Gracey family across the hall to the double doors next to the stairs on the left. He opened both of them and stepped aside. In the center of a large ballroom sized dining room was a long, dark wood dining table, made to sit sixteen people. Built into the back wall above were four windows, with a single set of stairs leading to the wrapping balcony above them. A pipe organ sat tucked into the wall to Lina's left, next to the stairs, surrounded by four pale white decorative chairs.
Meena stepped into the ballroom, and admired the balcony overhanging the entry.
"This is the ballroom. Each of your meals will be hosted in here, along with the other guests," said Mr. Reed standing in the door while they all wandered in.
"This house is ginormous," said Meena.
"Has my sister, and brothers arrived yet," asked George.
"You are the first, sir."
Ruth walked in and inspected the table, admiring the fine china plates and silver.
"You never told me your father had such exquisite taste George," said Ruth.
"Master Gracey's mistress, Isabella, collected most of the decorative intricacies throughout the mansion," said Mr. Reed. "Now if you all would kindly follow me up to the main hallway, I'll show you to your rooms."
Exiting the ballroom, Mr. Reed took the golden candelabra off the table next to the far stairs, and began to march his way up. Meena glanced over at the other set of double doors across the main hall.
"What's through there," asked Meena pointing to the doors.
Mr. Reed stopped on the steps, and looked back down at her.
"That room is currently under renovation. The Master requested it be changed before he died."
Mr. Reed turned back around and walked up the stairs.
Lina looked over at the doors, curiously wanting to know what lied beyond them.
Following his every foot step down the green painted hall, lined with dark wood borders, Lina gazed at the collection of paintings hung on the wall.
The first was of a women with long light brown hair, standing in a vaulted corridor with columns.
"And this would be the lady Isabella herself," said Mr. Reed.
"She's very beautiful," said Ruth looking at the painting.
"Yes. One could say she had looks that could turn a man to stone with a single glance," said Mr. Reed with a smug grin.
"What happened to her," asked Lina.
"She died sadly, not long ago," he replied.
Stepping further down the hall, the next painting was of a woman laying on a red sofa, dressed in black.
"And this would be the masters second wife, Charlotte. She had a fond love for her cats," commented Mr. Reed.
"And further down the hall, we have a painting of the mansions founder. Sir Thomas Keres, and his ship over to the New World, the Pastradonage."
A man mounted on a horse, wielding his sword, stared back at Lina with a crazed look in his eyes. Along with the painting next to it of a ship sailing through choppy seas.
"And finally, the Master himself," said Mr. Reed standing next to the final painting.
Meena and Leena had never laid eyes on their grandfather before, and especially in such youthful spirit. In the painting was a handsome man, with dark hair, dressed in a blue waistcoat and bow tie, holding the collar of his jacket.
"I recall this being painted when I was your age Lina," said George. "I'm glad he kept it."
"It was his prized painting. He made me dust and look after it often. I'm honored he trusted me with it even after his death."
Turning the corner at the end of the long art hall, lined with windows, the family noticed the series of doors which stretched the length of the hallway. The faint purple decorative wallpaper looked like eyes watching and staring at Lina as she walked down the hall. The flickering of the candles shifting in the breeze gave off the impression they were blinking at her.
Mr. Reed stopped and opened a door to their right using his key.
"This will be the young ladies room," said Mr. Reed stepping aside.
Lina walked over and peered into the room. It was white, with two large full sized beds next to each other at one end, two white painted wardrobes and dressers, and a single desk resting near the window.
"I get the desk," said Lina walking into the room.
Meena sighed and followed her in. Mr. Reed walked across the hall, and unlocked the door on the opposite side.
Byond it was another room, painted in blushing brown and golden yellow, with a single king size bed and dark brown furniture. Ruth and George stepped inside, and admired the room.
"Dinner will be served at seven," said Mr. Reed.
"Thank you very much Mr. Reed," said George from his room.
"My pleasure, sir," he replied. "I hope you all will enjoy your stay."
Mr. Reed turned around and wandered back down the hall with a calm laugh following him.
Lina shut the door, and looked over at Meena. "I already want to go home."
Meena slumped back on the bed, and looked up at the vaulted ceiling.
"I like it here. It's much more exciting then back home," she replied.
"Excitement isn't in my repertoire. Some of us are not circus animals such as you."
Lina watched Meena blissfully kick her feet at she laid back on the bed. She shook her head and walked over to the desk. It wasn't her pink marble one back home, but it would do for now.
Gazing up, she caught glimpse of an alarming sight. She stared out the window, her eyes unable to look away.
"Meena," muttered Lina.
"What?"
Lina pointed out the window. Meena got up from the bed and walked over to see.
"I take it back. I wanna go home too," said Meena looking out the window, just as alarmed.
Out through the window, down a winding stone path, lined with trees, rested a series of stone tombs and crypts. The crows flew across the small graveyard, landing on the roof of each tomb. At the far end of the graveyard, perched on a hill, was the entrance to a catacomb.
The graveyard was just the first of a long list of things that made me unsettled during my stay. It was the only time Meena ever shared my sympathies to go home as well. I often wish for that same sister to come back, instead of the women the mansion transformed her into. The same way it transformed everybody. Regrettably, we never spent much time together as sisters from that day on. Leaving me to think back on all the short times we had and wish for the chance to relive them, reminding her of how much I loved her, despite my inability to say so.
