A/N: Hi Guys! Thanks so much for your reviews, favorites, and followings! I truly appreciate them! I hope you enjoy the new chapter! Keep leaving me some feedback and tell me what you think! P.S. - What are your thoughts on the new season? I think it's an interesting take with the documentary twist, but I'm starting to get a little impatient. I want my Evan Peters already!

Preparations

Lenore woke to the familiar tingle running down her next. Peaking over the comforter that she was cocooned in, she saw a portly woman in a maid's uniform with red hair. She was humming an unrecognizable tune under her breathe as she picked up Lenore's dirty clothes from the floor, where Lenore had left them; too tired to even care where she left it.

"Excuse me?" she said in a soft, still-half asleep voice.

The woman made an "oh!" in slight surprise before turning towards Lenore, where she now sat up in the large queen sized bed, staring at the ghostly woman with confusion, "What are you doing?"

"Good morning madam!" the woman said joyfully, a perky smile on her face, "Mr. March asked me to look after you today. I was simply collecting the laundry, and oh!"

Raising a finger, the woman quickly walked towards the door and opened it. From outside she pulled in a cart with a platter of food on top and a vase of lilies. Pushing back the covers, Lenore rose from the bed and approached the cart.

Hesitantly, Lenore reached out and touched one of the white petals and rubbed it gently between her fingers, "These are beautiful."

The maid held her hands on front of her as she smiled brightly, "Oh yes! Mr. March wanted you to have the very best! The flowers are a gift from Mr. March. My name is Ms. Evers, I'm the laundress here. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to let me know!"

Lenore smiled at Ms. Evers. It was hard not too. Lenore couldn't feel anything very threatening from the maid. She seemed to be happy that she was still around in the hotel, which was curious to her.

"Thank you for bringing me breakfast and for collecting my laundry, Ms. Evers. It's very sweet of you," Lenore complimented.

Ms. Evers waved her hand in dismissal of her comment but a slight look of gratitude flashed across her face for just a moment, "It's my job madam. Please, enjoy your breakfast! I'll return this afternoon before dinner."

With that, Ms. Evers left the room, leaving Lenore alone inside her room. Staring at the flowers, Lenore was unsure of how to feel. Nobody had ever given her flowers before. Yes, she had been in a...relationship; if you wanted to call it that, but he had never done anything like that before.

With a smile, Lenore lifted the vase of flowers and placed it in the window for the sunlight to shine down on the bundle of lilies. Bending down, she breathed in the scent of the flowers as she smiled slightly.

Turning towards the platter of food, she was surprised to see french toast. She loved french toast. Taking the plate from the cart, Lenore sat down at the table that was located in the suite's dining area. As she tucked into the food, she could hear the muffled sound of music playing. Looking up, she peered at the door and couldn't help but wonder if that was what James did here? Did he stay in that room all the time? Did he only haunt this floor? Or the whole hotel?

Shaking her head, Lenore quickly finished her breakfast and took a shower. She wanted to look around the hotel and see if she could get a feel for the building for the paintings Will wanted for the Cortez.

Liz leaned against the bar as their new owner's guest, the sweet looking woman-child with the pretty face, walked up the stairs to the bar. She seemed almost timid. Liz studied her as she walked over to look more closely at the hanging light fixtures from the balcony.

Looking at her outfit, Liz couldn't help but wince in agony. It was a long black skirt and she wore a long-sleeved, forest green shirt that had no business being on a pretty young girl. She wore boots on her feet that were somewhat decent looking.

Sighing, Liz moaned out, "That outfit is atrocious."

Lenore lifted her head from where she had been staring down at the lobby at the sound of Liz's voice. Hearing her comment, Lenore looked over at her hesitantly.

Liz straightened and waved her hand at Lenore, "Don't act as if you don't know! How can you wear that?"

Looking down at her clothes, Lenore momentarily drifted off before looking back at Liz and shrugged.

"Well, I think you would look fabulous if you wore something a little...tighter."

Liz laid an empty martini glass on top of the bar, "Would you like a drink?"

Unsure if she wanted to be served by a man...er...woman who just insulted her, Lenore said, "I don't really drink."

"Nonsense, have a seat. We'll chit chat," Liz said before giving a grin.

Hesitantly, Lenore approached the bar and sat down across from the flamboyant bartender. She poured an amber colored liquid into the glass and pushed it towards her. As she brought the glass to her lips, Lenore was surprised when a familiar taste spread across her taste buds and the same slight burn crept down her throat. She looked down at the glass with slight surprise, which didn't go unnoticed by Liz.

"Mr. March said you seemed to like the brandy he gave you last night," she said as she leaned forward on the bar, "I'm Liz Taylor by the way."

Blinking, Lenore placed the glass down and looked at Liz with mild shock, "Mr. March?"

"Mmm hmm," Liz hummed as she looked at Lenore with curiosity, "Is it true then?"

"Is what true?" Lenore asked softly, unsure if she wanted to answer the question.

"Can you really see ghosts?"

"Umm," Lenore looked down and began to play with the thin neck of the martini glass, trying to avoid Liz's gaze.

"Well!" Liz said impatiently, placing her hands on her hips.

Lenore didn't say anything. She merely looked up at Liz with a void expression as her eyes darted across Liz's face. Staring into the young woman's face, Liz's mouth fell open and she straightened. Pointing at her in amazement, she said, "You can!"

"I didn't say anything," Lenore said, furrowing her eyebrows.

Chuckling, Liz said, "Sweetheart, the look on your face says it all!"

Feeling extremely uncomfortable, Lenore attempted to leave as she pushed the glass towards Liz, "Thank you for the drink."

Waving her hand, Liz said, "Stop. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Look at who you're talking to."

Liz held out her hands as she looked up and down at herself before giving Lenore a smile, "We all have our...unique qualities."

Lenore felt a slight smile emerge as she grew more relaxed. Most people either didn't believe her her or thought she was crazy whenever the topic of ghosts came up. But Liz seemed to act as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.

"Now, Mr. March made it clear that you were to be treated like a queen and so I shall!" Liz declared before making her way around the bar.

Standing next to Lenore, Liz shook her head with a sigh, "Who taught you how to dress?"

Looking down at her outfit, Lenore said, "Nobody."

"That's what I thought," Liz said dryly.

Liz took hold of Lenore's arm and pulled her from the stool gently. She led her towards the stairs that led down to the lobby. Giving Liz an unsure look, Lenore asked, "Where are we going?"

"We're going to have a little girl time and get you ready for your date with Mr. March," Liz said with glee. She was looking forward to dressing up the young woman.

"It's not a date," Lenore said emphatically, her eyes wide with panic.

Looking down at the young woman, Liz couldn't help but chuckle and pat her cheek, "You are so adorable!"

Sally watched as the transgender pulled the object of March's affection into the elevator from where she stood at the bottom of the stairs. Taking a drag of her moist cigarette, she let out out a bellow of smoke before staring at Iris with a sneer.

"What's so special about her?"

Iris could hear the distain in the addict's voice from where she sat, working on her crossword. Looking up, she stared at Sally with uncertainty, "It doesn't matter. He'll probably end up killing her like he does all the rest."

A wicket grin crossed Sally's face as she titled her head back and looked at Iris, "Maybe I should steal this one."

"You'll do not such thing."

The sound of that Brahman accent caused ice to fill her veins. Twisting sharply, Sally was met with James standing right behind her. He looked at her with firm, angry eyes, "You will stay away from Lenore. Torment other residence if that is what you desire but you will not touch her."

Scoffing, Sally sneered, "And what if I don't?"

Iris watched the exchange with discomfort. She had never met James March before. She had seen him a few times but never talked to him. She felt uneasy as he walked calmly towards Sally. Tilting his head slightly, James asked, "Do you really want to try me, Sally?"

Sally merely smirked at him.

"Do you remember the last time you defied me?" he asked coldly.

The smirk fell from her face as the memory of her demon flashed in her mind. Glaring at him with hate, Sally said, "It'll never last! She'll see the monster you really are eventually. Then where will you be?"

"I suppose you'll never know, will you Sally? No. I think you best return to your room, don't you?"

She heard the warning in his voice and by the way his eyebrow hitched slightly. Saying nothing, Sally disappeared, leaving Iris alone in the lobby with James. Seeing the older woman, James gave a polite nod, "Good afternoon!" before he too disappeared into thin air.

"Oh that is perfect!"

Liz gushed as Lenore emerged from her bathroom. It had been a few hours and Liz had spent the afternoon shopping with the timid artist. With a budget from Mr. March of course. She didn't know how a ghost could have money but Liz didn't ask. Not when she was allowed to spend a little of it on herself as a reward for her efforts on Lenore.

Lenore stood uncomfortably rigid as she tugged slightly on the dress. It was a deep blue and was snug but not skin tight. Though to her, it might as well be. She wasn't used to showing her figure. Not with the marks on her body.

"I cant wear this..." she trailed off.

"Why not? You look stunning!" Liz questioned harshly.

Looking up at Liz, Lenore swallowed the lump in her throat before revealing her arms that she had been holding against her sides. Liz gasped at the sight. Thin scars ran up and down her arms. They varied in length and some were more prominent than others.

Reaching out, Liz touched one and asked gently, "What happened?"

Blinking the burning behind her eyes, Lenore pulled away from Liz and sat down on her bed. Twisting her fingers, she began to explain, "It used to be much worse when I was younger. Seeing ghosts. My mom, she never believed me when I told her I could see them. She thought, well, thinks, I'm crazy."

Liz sat down next to her and remained silent as she continued, "She sent me to this mental hospital. They drugged me up and it was just...horrible. I started cutting a few months after I got there. I was always able to get something to cut myself. My brother found out when he came to visit after able a year and he helped me stop. But..."

"Why did you do it?" Liz asked gently.

Biting her lip, Lenore hesitated before saying, "It was something I could control, I suppose. I was stupid to think that."

Liz patted her hand and said, "You're still beautiful."

Lenore looked down at her lap and was silent. No satisfied with this, Liz reached out and tilted her chin up to make Lenore look at her, "You are."

"Thank you," Lenore said softly.

Rising from the bed, Liz said, "Well, let's find you something with long sleeves then, shall we?"

Giving her a grateful smile, Lenore stood and nodded, "Thank you."

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