Chapter Twenty

The Collado Mansion

"Christ on a cross… You live in a place like this?" Zach let his words spill out as he drove his little Volkswagen through the iron-wrought gate that lead into the driveway. Even from this far away they could tell that Naomi's home wasn't just a house. It was a mansion – a true Victorian era mansion that befit the Eastbourne architecture. Light grey bricks, dark stained windows, black spires jutting out into the sky; it was amazing to think that Naomi lived there. Just counting the windows from the front there had to be more than fifteen rooms there alone. Zach could count five floors up and that was even counting the various windows that poked out of the various towers.

"It is my home," Naomi said modestly as she peered up the driveway. "If you follow the road to the right you will come across a parking garage. We can place your car there."

Under Naomi's direction, Zach managed to make it to the parking garage without crashing his Volkswagen – which was an impressive feat as every little thing about the Collado mansion seemed to draw his attention; from the ten-foot tall hedge maze they passed to the brilliantly bright gardens that looked extremely well-tended. Naomi's family must have own Acres upon Acres of land.

The car finally trundled to a stop inside the parking garage which was big enough for four cars though Zach was displeased to learn her parents had taken the other two cars away. Even down in this dull light Zach's Volkswagen seemed like a peasant in a King's bedroom.

"Please, follow me," Naomi said as she got out of the car. She opened the door to let Lacey out, who seemed to be visibly shaking at the pressure. It seemed like even one brick cost more than her own home. When there was no movement from Lucas, Naomi frowned and peered at the passenger seat.

The boy was wearing a particularly strange expression on his face. It seemed to be a mixture of anger, want, and sadness.

"Lucas?"

The boy jumped suddenly as if shocked and quickly climbed out of the car. "Yes, I'm following," he said quickly though his eyes still seemed unfocused. He followed after Lacey and Naomi in a sort of haze. Zach quickly locked up the Polo and jogged to catch up to the trio.

Naomi led them up some stairs which opened out into yet another stunning sight – a stone pathway that lined the edge of a gleaming blue pond. Green plants dotted the pond and they could see fish pleasantly swimming through the waters and toads croaking on the sidelines. They could see past this pond led to what looked like a copse of trees, knitted tightly together to form a green wall.

Walking down the stoneway, Naomi explained, "This manor was built in between hills so the masters at that time could receive a wonderful breeze during summer days. While it was a good idea on paper, it does make the winters and autumns quite a chore. My grandfather installed an anti-flooding system about forty years ago but the snows still block up the pipes when winter comes around."

"H-How long has it been in your family?" Lacey asked timidly.

"As much as our library tells it, since before Eastbourne was even a town. My family have always owned it."

"A library… in a house…?" Lucas seemed like he couldn't believe his eyes as they started up some squat stone stairs.

"We also have a number of guest bedrooms, a home-made theatre, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a—" Upon seeing Lucas' incredulous expression Naomi quickly closed her mouth. "I am sorry. I do not mean to be insensitive."

"If you have it, flaunt it…" Lucas said with a slow shake of his head. "I always dreamed of living in a real home but I had always imagined something small, comfortable… this is… this is just too damn big…. How can you stand living here alone?"

"It had be hard at times, I will admit," Naomi said.

They moved down a gravel path which headed for the black double doors the led into the main foyer of the mansion. Naomi opened the door and let her three companions in.

Lucas could only shake his head in disbelief as he stared at the grand stairs that curled both left and right to an upper landing. Professionally painted portraits hung on the walls, all of male elderly men.

"These are the fathers of the family," Naomi informed them. She motioned to one portrait of a smallish man with a thin moustache. "This is my father… and his father before him… and his before him, all the way to Eduardo Collado, the first to take the name."

Almost too distracted by the surroundings, Zach did manage to notice a set of golden doors that seemed strangely out of place to the left base of the stairs. "What is that? Is that an elevator?" Naomi flinched but it seemed like no one noticed it. She was worried something like this might happen. She tried to motion to Zach to stop with her eyes but the poor boy was clueless. His approached the door and noticed a ramp leading up to the golden-plated doors and then his eyes drifted to a large silver button. "This almost seems like…"

"I was wheelchair bound… after my… accident…" Naomi managed to say through gritted teeth, one hand unconsciously going to her waist. "My father installed this using some of the inheritance left to him by his father, my grandfather. We never… never got rid of it…" Zach regretted his foolish words as Naomi's face was clearly filled with pain – whether from old pains flaring up or mental pain from remembering back to such a time. "Come, let me give you a tour of the downstairs."

Naomi wasn't kidding when she had started listing what accommodations the manor had. They poked their heads into the aforementioned theatre room, where twenty of the most comfortable looking seats you could imagine had been placed in front of a large professional looking screen; the indoor pool had been an addition from Naomi's grandmother, she told them; the workshop was filled with tools of every shape and size – from the smallest lug-nut to a massive saw that looked like it would need two people to use it; the library occupied nearly one quarter of the whole first floor and was covered head to two in books – leather-bound, paper-bound, even some rolled up paper that looked strangely like scrolls. Lacey seemed to have a particular in this room and even picked a book a random just to look at the title: 'The Life and Times of Christiano Collado; a tale of two sons, two murders, and one promise.'

"One of my grandmother's was a writer," Naomi informed Lacey as she glanced over her shoulder. "Hand-wrote many of these books. Just don't venture over there-" Naomi gestured to the corner of the room where a red velvet rope shut off a small collection of books. "My grandmother always looked for love and it… shows… in those books."

"Sounds like a bit of light reading for the night," Zach said with a grin, his eyes drifting over to the corner, wondering just what was written on those pieces of paper.

Lucas' head just craned around the library, his eyes darting from book to book in amazement. He had never seen so many books in his life, let alone in one room.

Naomi continued the tour; to a games room with twenty years' worth of consoles; a collection room created by her great-uncle, or was it aunt? Naomi found it hard to keep track of the vast history of the manor. The collection was filled carpet to ceiling with weapons ranging from Japanese katana's to sleek handguns.

Zach slowly put out a finger to the open blade of the katana and almost instantly pulled back with a sharp howl.

"Careful," Naomi said dryly. "Any blades in this room are perfectly sharpened and any firearms are still fully capable of shooting, even if we don't keep the ammo here."

"…But you have ammo?" Lucas asked in wide-eyed wonder as if he were a child at a sweet shop. He carefully slid his finger past the crevices of an ornate looking rifle.

"In the basement, yes. My great-uncle… aunt… whichever was banned from bringing life ammo to the collection ever since poor little Andrew Eric was shot in the foot." Naomi showed them the kitchen and paused, suddenly thinking to 2herself. "Come to think it, I have not offered you any food. You must be hungry, I am terribly sorry." Naomi suddenly looked sheepish as she trailed a hand across the spotless counter. "I… uh… will have to order something I, ah, can't really cook for myself and the cook we hired is on an extended holiday. Love-life stuff, I hear… So… what do you guys feel like?"

Lucas look around and was suddenly struck with a strange urge. "This may be odd… but… can I cook something for us?"

Naomi was surprised but nodded. "Certainly. You'll find all kinds of things in the fridges and the cupboards. It'll be nice to see it get some you."

"Lacey, want to help me out?" Lucas asked with a smile.

Lacey nodded and smiled back. "Y-Yes."

"Perfect!"

"While they are cooking, then, Zach, would you come upstairs with me and help them make their beds?

"Uhh… I mean… I guess… But I warn you, my bedmaking skills start and begin with: Are the pillows on the bed?"

"Well then this is the perfect time to learn to fold sheets. Come," Naomi started to stride off but quickly turned back to Lacey and Lucas. "I know that we should not be in danger unless Tanzi calls but please, be careful."

"I'll keep an eagle eye on Lacey, don't worry," Lucas gave a mock salute and watched Naomi and Zach leave. The moment the door shut behind door his shoulders suddenly slumped and he let a strenuous breath. Lacey immediately looked over at him, concerned.

"L-Lucas? Are-Are you…"

"Jesus Christ, Lacey, this… this is just so…" Lucas fruitlessly beckoned around him. "This couldn't be more different than how I live. I mean, I've slept on the streets more often than not! But this place… this manor… it's… it's like they're just throwing money away. Honestly this is overwhelming…"

Not quite sure what to say, Lacey held onto Lucas' arm. They stayed silent for a little while before Lucas finally shook his head. "Okay, okay, I'm not going to moan. I'm going to take advantage. In preparing for the dinner I made you before, I learned a little bit about cooking. Let's see what we can do."

"So… We tuck in this corner…"

"Wrong."

"So this corn—"

"Wrong…" Naomi smiled at Zach as he fruitlessly tried to put the sheet on the bed. "You really don't have much in the way of practical skills, do you?"

"Hey! I'll have you know I can kick a football quite well!" Zach protested.

"Well, who makes your bed at home?"

At this, Zach blushed slightly. "My mum does…"

"Do not be embarrassed," Naomi said quickly. "I live with my parents. It isn't so strange for people our age."

"I suppose… Aha, got it!" Proud of his small success, Zach managed to get the rest of the sheet on the bed. Naomi had given Lacey and Lucas the same room and Zach has his own room as well. The bedrooms were huge – all of them with double canopy beds and wide windows looking down on the grounds below. "So what's it like?"

"What is what like?" Naomi asked as such smoothed down a duvet on Lucas' bed.

"Living in a place like this. You have everything you need your fingertips. I'm surprised you didn't get home schooled."

"I did not want to be," Naomi informed Zach. "My parents respected my wishes. To me, it feels really sad to be taught alone without any peers."

"I can see that, I suppose."

"I like this house, I do. But it does tend to get… a bit on the lonely side more often than not."

"Are your parents out lots?"

Naomi nodded. "I care for the house as best I can but I am jealous of their adventures."

"Have they ever taken you out?"

"…No. Not since my… accident." Naomi glanced away and Zach watched her light brown skin carefully. It was quite clear that Naomi had no urge to talk about what happened to her. While Zach though Naomi quite beautiful any way she looked extra pretty as the evening sun glowed down on her face, lighting up her complex features.

A sharp ringing suddenly broke Zach's concentration and Naomi's hand quickly shot to her mobile. "I put a specific ringtone for Tanzi and Ruby," Naomi said as she put the phone to ear and answered. "This is Naomi."

"Naomi, it is Jeremiah Jebediah!" The man sounded out of breath. "Tanzi had a vision – well, really, it's quite like it is two visions. She's barely moving but she said that it was both of them."

"Both of them?" Naomi cocked her head. "What do you mean?"

"We think that Death is going to try and claim Zachary and Lacey at the same time!" Suddenly Jeremiah's voice grew quieter as he pulled away from the phone. "…the police…" His voice was barely audible. "…hide h.. I'll…" Jeremiah's voice suddenly grew louder. "I have to go. I've already contacted Ruby but she is busy. Look, I don't know when it is going to happen but you have to keep your eye on the two of them, okay, because Death is going to go after them sooner or later and I fear it is the former."