I AM SO SORRY FOR MY HIATUS

It was partially due to me being busy, partially due to me not being sure how I wanted this to go, and partially due to me wanting to finish the season just to make sure I didn't mess up an important part in any of the characters' roles.

I will be back to writing now! I have a pretty good idea of where I want this story to go, so bear with me and let me know what you think!

Chapter Four: Meeting the Neighbors

They walked down the long, dark hallway, the red carpet's pattern swirling under their feet, the yellow lights flickering, and the hall stretching, seemingly continuing forever. The hotel became blacker and blacker as they swaggered on, forcing Violet to rely on James's swift arm to guide her, something she did not very much enjoy.

James glanced down at the black-clad beauty on his arm. After feeling her cling to his arm more as they walked, he had hoped to see some sort of fear in her eyes, but he came up empty handed. It appeared that she only held him as a guide in the darkness, not because she was frightened. It seemed that it was impossible for this girl to be scared at all—and James ate it right up.

"Please enlighten me," she spoke up, "Who is attending my party? Surely no one that I know, which doesn't make it much of a party, if you ask me."

"Dear, parties are made to socialize people. If you were to know everyone here, it would be quite boring, wouldn't you agree?" he paused as they reached the end of the hallway, turning towards her as he pulled a key from one of his many pockets. "Besides, I didn't ask you."

He pushed open the gold-encrusted door, opening Violet to a bizarre scene. There weren't a lot of people present, but at first glance, the room appeared to be filled. But the strange part was not the number of people, but the difference in them.

When looking around the room and surveying them as a whole, one might note that there were many people there, all happy and having a great time. But when you looked at each person individually, you could see that they were all dressed for different eras. There was one woman in a feathered dress, adorned by pearls. Another woman had on a slick jacket, but the shoulders looked like the jacket was meant for a man. There was a man in a very ugly patterned shirt, and another whose bright vest clashed with the shirt he wore underneath. Who were these people and where were they from?

The answer to that question would not be answered so easily, as before Violet could even ask it, James had ushered her over to a large table piled high with food. After James left to settle an issue with the wait staff, Violet peered over the selection. Reaching for a small hors d'oeuvre, she accidentally bumped into a tall man who she hadn't noticed the moment before.

She looked up at him and took in his perfectly combed hair, his strong cheekbones, and his piercing eyes. He flashed a dangerous smile and offered his hand, "You must be the birthday girl. I'm Donovan."

"Do you live here?" she asked, shaking his hand.

"Yes, I do. And I hear you live here too, now."

"I suppose I do. Do you like it here?"

"Yes," he smiled, the dim lights hitting his teeth perfectly to make them glisten, "I have a good deal of fun here. Though I do have some disputes with—"

"Mr. Bomer, my good man," James smiled, coming over to shake Donovan's hand. "I see you have met Miss Harmon."

"Why yes, we were just beginning to discuss our liking to this hotel. Not that we could say anything bad in front of the owner," Donovan laughed.

"Well I should hope not, though I do appreciate constructive criticism at times," James smiled. The three engaged in small talk for a short while before Violet excused herself to the ladies' room.

She looked in the mirror and let out a deep breath. Violet simply could not believe that she had done all of this in only a day. She had left her parents, and suddenly, there was a birthday party being thrown in her honor by the owner of the hotel she was now living in. The whole situation was absolutely mental.

Reaching down towards the golden sink, Violet let her hands become damp before placing them on her neck, cooling herself down. She reached to the left to grab a towel that was rolled neatly for her, when she looked up into the mirror and found that she wasn't alone.

Shocked but unflinching, amazed by the woman whose reflection she was staring at. Bleach blonde hair, gorgeous porcelain skin, and a sparkly black dress that plunged straight down to her belly button were not the first things Violet noticed. The first thing she noticed was the woman's eyes, which held some emotion that Violet couldn't name. It wasn't a good emotion, that's all she knew.

The woman gave a bright smile, "Happy Birthday. I'm sorry that I did not get to meet you earlier."

Violet turned towards the woman and smiled. She was quite weary of the blonde, but for a reason she couldn't place. "Thank you, this is all so overwhelming."

"Ah, yes. James does like to make a big deal of everything."

"Do you know him well?"

"Once I knew him. I don't see him so often anymore. We aren't exactly the most compatible pair."

Violet's eyebrows knitted together, "Is there something wrong with him?"

Stepping closer to the young girl, the woman said, "My dear, one day you will grow and learn that there is something wrong with everybody." The woman turned quickly, her dress billowing around her feet.

Grabbing the counter, Violet stopped to reflect on the bizarre exchange. She never did find out who the woman was.

"That is the Countess," said a voice from the corner of the bathroom, causing Violet to be caught off guard once again. The birthday girl turned to the voice that answered her silent question, and found a redheaded woman in an old fashioned maid's outfit, scrubbing the floor of the bathroom.

"Hello, Miss Evers," Violet said, recognizing the woman from before. "Who is the Countess?"

"It is not my place to say," the maid answered.

"How long have you worked here?"

"Long enough," Miss Evers responded. "Dear, why don't you head back to the party? Mr. March is probably expecting you."

Nodding, Violet stepped back to the party, despite the fact that she had more questions about the Countess. As soon as she stepped out the door, she saw James, who was headed straight towards her with a happy expression on his face. He handed her a green drink and said, "Happy Birthday, my dear," and dropped back a glass.

Violet looked down, not sure if she should ask, before quietly saying, "Who is the Countess?"

James's face froze, his mouth fixed permanently in a scowl. "Why do you ask?"

"I met her."

The 18 year old watched as his face grew visibly angrier. "When?"

"In the bathroom."

"She was not invited here."

"Why no—"

"She knows her place, and she knows it is not here," James answered, his scowl worrying Violet slightly, causing her to wonder why this woman was a problem.

But then, as sneakily as she had done it before, the Countess creeped up behind James, a small smirk on her face as she traced a gloved hand over James's shoulders. "Why is it a problem for me to be here, James? I heard that every resident was invited today."

"You know why you were not. You know our arrangement."

"Ah, yes. Well I should be getting back to my new husband anyways," she said, glaring directly into James's eyes. She turned to Violet and said, "Happy Birthday. Enjoy it before you realize who you are spending it with," and then gave a grand exit.

'Who am I spending it with?' Violet thought.