The Dreamer, Her Angel and the Stars

by Linda S. North

  It was dark in her room, so Mysha couldn't see her very well on her IMP's vid screen, but she was able to hear the exhaustion and strain in Ariel's voice and asked whether she was okay. Ariel explained that the stress of the accusations against her mother, and not knowing what would happen, was getting to her. They talked a few minutes more--or rather, Mysha talked while Ariel listened. Mysha was excited about the upcoming awards ceremony and had written a speech. The event was being video recorded. Mysha would obtain a copy and show Ariel after arriving home. After the call, Ariel was wound too tight to return to sleep, so she reluctantly got up to start her day.

  Ariel heard Kiernan say, "Computer. Request music. Selection two." Right away, a song from a popular musical began to play over the car's stereo system.

  After traveling a few miles, they merged into I-75 and proceeded north until exiting onto US 64/74 east, passing through Cleveland. A couple of miles past Ocoee, they exited onto a road skirting the Ocoee River, continuing for a few more miles until veering onto a one lane road leading up a mountain.

  Kiernan ordered, "Computer, music off." The music stopped. "We're almost there." A pause and Kiernan said, "Ariel, you'll be meeting my staff, and I would appreciate it if you would show me some consideration and not be so distant."

  Ariel asked sharply, "What exactly do you want me to do--Ms. O'Shay?"

  Kiernan glanced at her with a frown, impatience in her tone. "Can you at least act cordial? And please call me Kiernan. I'm your fiancée."

  Ariel had a sudden impulse to give Kiernan a derisive laugh. Controlling it, she assumed a lackadaisical expression and voice. "I'll make an effort to do so--Kiernan."

  "Thank you," Kiernan replied brusquely, waiting a few seconds before adding, "I know this marriage is far from ideal for both of us, but it's necessary if I'm to reach my goals. Telecom on. Voice only. Crestview."

  Ariel ignored her, but inside she was seething. Kiernan O'Shay was a selfish bitch. Nothing and no one mattered except her goals and dreams. She didn't care who she hurt to achieve her ambitions.

  After three chimes, a voice over the telecom said, "Crestview, Mrs. Belfort speaking."

  "Mrs. Belfort, we should be there in five minutes."

  "Yes, ma'am. I'll inform the staff of your arrival."

  Ahead lay a guard station and by it a gate across the road. Kiernan said, "This is the main entrance. There are three unpaved roads, trails actually, leading up to the estate. The roads surrounding the property are patrolled day and night, so if you ever go out for a stroll outside the main estate grounds in the evening, please notify the guard station. I wouldn't want you accidentally stun-gunned."

  "Thanks for the warning."

  "Oh, we do have the occasional bear wander onto the grounds. They'll leave you alone if you leave them alone. If you walk after dark, it would be a good idea to carry pepper gas and an IMP with you, just in case."

  Ariel considered this for a moment. "I don't think I'll be taking any midnight strolls."

  Kiernan stopped the car in front of the gate. A guard in a tan suit exited the station as Kiernan ordered the computer to lower her window.

  He scanned her eyes with a retina identification device. "Ms. O'Shay, I see you have a guest. Do you wish her registered?"

  "Yes, Troy, I do. This is my fiancée, Ariel Thorsen."

  "Congratulations." He glanced over to the passenger side. "Ms. Thorsen, stay where you are and I'll walk around to you and do the scan."

  "Computer, lower passenger window." Kiernan said to Ariel, "A precaution. Everyone I know who comes here regularly, or works here, has a retina scan, including me. This prevents impostors."

  Ariel could well understand someone like Kiernan taking these precautions, especially in light of the kidnapping of the prime minister of France's two children in 2086, when an impostor had plastic surgery done to resemble the children's aunt, entered the prime minister's residence, and abducted them. They were never seen again after a ransom was paid. No one knew their fate.

  Troy arrived at the passenger window, holding out the retina scanner in front of Ariel's eyes. "Fix your eyes on the red light," he said, "and don't blink."

  Ariel did as instructed, and after a few seconds, Troy removed the device and said, "All scanned and on record. Have a nice day."

  Troy swiftly trotted back to the station and opened the electronic gate. Kiernan drove through, and after going some three hundred yards, she steered in between two gray and tan natural stone posts on either side of a one lane paved road. Spanning the posts at the top was a wrought iron arch with an elaborate design worked into it consisting of the words Crestview 2037.

  The house was hidden from view by the row of old hemlock trees lining the road. A few hundred yards down, the road made a sweeping curve, providing Ariel a good view of the grandeur of Crestview. She had researched and seen pictures online, but they didn't do the house justice. The house was crafted from native stone and Alabama steel forged especially for the house in an antique Birmingham mill. The sun glinted off the tinted picture windows dominating the edifice. The deeply pitched roof with wide overhanging eaves reminded her of pictures she had seen of Swiss chalets.

  Kiernan swung the car around the circular drive and parked it at the end of a flagstone walk. A wide set of steps led up to a broad veranda with stone railings.

  Waiting for them was Mr. Washington, Kiernan's chauffeur, and a young red-haired man. Both were dressed in outfits consisting of a gray coats, white shirts, pale pink ties, and gray pants. The young man opened Ariel's door and held out his hand. She took his hand and he assisted her out of the car. Mr. Washington opened Kiernan's door and helped her out. She joined Ariel on the flagstone walk and introduced her, "Ariel, you've already met David Washington. He's the senior chauffeur and manager of the garage."

  His deep voice conveyed warmth. "Welcome to Crestview, Ms. Thorsen."

  "Thank you, Mr. Washington."

  Next, Kiernan introduced her to the lanky redhead. "This is Michael McLeod. He's the junior chauffeur and David's assistant. He will be your chauffeur."

  "Welcome, Ms. Thorsen," he said shyly.

  "Thank you, Mr. McLeod." Ariel wanted to say, thanks but no thanks, I can drive myself, but now wasn't the time to argue the point.

  "Call me Michael, ma'am."

  "Michael," she acknowledged, smiling when he flushed beet red. She thought she could certainly relate to how he was feeling, as she too was cursed with the blush genes.

  David said, "I'll show you in, Ms. O'Shay. The staff is in the dining room waiting to meet Ms. Thorsen."

  "Very well, lead the way."

  They walked up the wide steps, onto the stone veranda, and up to a set of tan double doors. David opened the doors and moved aside, allowing Kiernan and Ariel to enter before he and Michael followed.

  Ariel trailed Kiernan into the foyer, hearing their footsteps resound on the polished, light gray stone floor. Kiernan ambled around the foyer wall and into an open and airy living room with golden oak floors. Right away, Ariel saw floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a breathtaking view of the Cherokee National Forest and mountains. She took in the massive fireplace with its light gray stone front and noted how it reached to the ceiling. Over the mantel of golden oak was an oil painting that from the distance appeared to be a waterfall. There were two dark blue overstuffed recliners she was sure were real leather, a love seat, and a sofa, done in matching and complementary fabrics of blue, pale blue, ivory, and gold stripes. Various carpets lay scattered about on the oak floor. A grandfather clock made of golden oak and burnished gold-toned metal stood against one wall.

  Kiernan led Ariel into a dining room where five people were gathered in front of a table. Kiernan introduced her to a solidly built middle-aged woman dressed in a white long sleeve shirt and black skirt. Her gray hair was gathered into a bun. "Ariel, this is Mrs. Marla Belfort. She's my steward and runs my household."

  "Welcome, Ms. Thorsen. We all welcome you to Crestvie
w," Mrs. Belfort said graciously.

  "Thank you."

  "This is Faye Lloyd," Kiernan said. "She's in charge of maintaining and programming the housekeeping robots, as well as troubleshooting any computer problems." Faye was a stout, middle-aged woman with faded red hair and a moon face.

  Faye gave a friendly nod.

  "This is Dora Valdez. She's Ms. Lloyd's assistant." Kiernan introduced a young, petite, caramel-skinned woman with dark hair and dark flashing eyes.

  Dora smiled shyly and Ariel returned her smile.

  Kiernan next introduced a man who appeared to be in his early thirties. "Ricardo Leon is my chef. I've had people try to steal him away from me, he's that good."

  Ricardo was of medium height and build. He wore his black hair cropped against his scalp, and his blue eyes were very noticeable in his tanned features. "And the reason I don't leave is that Ms. O'Shay has liked everything I've prepared and has never once complained." He winked and added, "And she pays very well."

  Kiernan laughed. "Ricardo, you're worth what I pay." She turned her attention to the handsome, slender dark-skinned man standing next to her chef, introducing him. "This is Robert Jones. He's Ricardo's assistant."

  "Hello, Ms. Thorsen." His voice was a rich tenor.

  Ariel said, "Hello to you too."

  Kiernan said to her steward, "Mrs. Belfort, I believe a toast is in order."

  "Yes, ma'am, a toast is definitely called for," Mrs. Belfort said. She indicated a bottle of champagne sitting in a silver ice bucket on the table. A number of crystal flutes were lined up in front. David and Michael had joined the group, and she addressed David. "Mr. Washington, please assist me."

  David took the bottle out of the ice bucket, and Ariel saw it was Dom Perignon. She drank very little alcohol, but knew the price for a bottle was astronomically expensive. David worked the cork off with a loud pop, and the bottle emitted a faint fog of gas, but the contents did not foam out. He filled the glasses, and Mrs. Belfort handed the first to Ariel, one to Kiernan, and distributed the rest of the glasses to the staff.

  Mrs. Belfort made the toast. "This is indeed a happy time for us here at Crestview. We welcome you, Ms. Thorsen, and eagerly anticipate having you here as the wife of our employer, Ms. O'Shay. We wish you and Ms. O'Shay all the happiness this life has to offer."

  All drank the toasts, but Ariel took only a sip of her drink.

  Kiernan's eyes twinkled. "I would like to propose a toast. David, let's have a refill."

  David filled everyone's glass, and Kiernan gazed at Ariel, saying solemnly, "I am indeed a fortunate woman to have you come into my life. I look forward to our life together as a married couple."

  The staff called out, "Hear, hear" and downed their drinks. It was all Ariel could do to take a sip. She pasted on a smile and tried to inflect some warmth into her tone. "Thank you, Kiernan." She couldn't force herself to say the same.

  "THE WEST WING houses the staff, laundry room, storage areas, and the air and heating facility. But first, I'll show you what's downstairs in the east wing, and then we'll go upstairs."

  Ariel followed Kiernan down a wide hall with various nature prints decorating the wall. Kiernan stopped at a door on the left and opened it, moving aside to let Ariel enter first. "This is the library. I have many first editions and you're welcome to read them, but there are special procedures you have to use in reading some of the more fragile books. Mrs. Belfort will tell you what they are." Ariel noticed the orderly shelves of books and the enclosed bookcases probably containing the more rare editions.

  She was next shown Kiernan's study, and from there they went to a recreation room complete with a pool table, EM, antique pinball machines, and a state-of-the-art interactive game room allowing one to feel as if they could step into the game and interact with the three-dimensional characters.

  Kiernan opened another door. "This room is yours to use for an office or anyway you see fit." The room contained a beautiful pecan wood desk with a polished surface holding a computer and telecom system. A matching bookcase stood against one wall.

  From there they walked to the far end of the hall to see a spacious gym area complete with all the latest exercise equipment and a sauna room.

  The tour of the downstairs completed, Kiernan led her upstairs and showed her four spacious guestrooms.

  Ariel followed her down the hall to another door which Kiernan opened. "This will be your suite of rooms. Come on in and I'll show you where everything is located." She entered into what was apparently a sitting room with a moderate-size fireplace. Light blue trim accented cream walls hung with various nature prints. A blue and cream sofa sat to one side of the fireplace. In front of the sofa was a coffee table of rich, tan wood that matched the end tables on each side of the sofa. An EM sat upon it. Across from the coffee table, a light blue recliner angled toward the fireplace. Against one wall was a half-moon console table with a wall mirror over it, and a door set to the left. On the opposite side were a bar and a desk with a computer and telecom.

  "You're free to change the décor and purchase whatever you want in the furniture line," Kiernan said.

  "No. It's very lovely."

  "Thank you. I chose the theme and the furniture."

  She led Ariel through another door. Ariel had never seen such a big bedroom except in magazine pictures.

  It was light and airy due to the view window on one wall. A queen-size bed with a headboard made from light-colored wood had been positioned close by the window. A patchwork quilt, in various colors, covered the bed. One corner of the room held a love seat upholstered in various shades of blue velvet. Against one wall sat a chest of drawers and a dresser in a color matching the headboard.

  Kiernan opened a door in one corner of the room. "This is your dressing room and closet." Ariel walked in and saw a vanity on the wall with a lighted mirror. On one side of the wall a full-length mirror was mounted. This room led to a walk-in closet with hangers and shelves on each side, as well as a shoe rack. The closet alone was almost as big as her bedroom at home. Ariel knew she could never fill a closet this size.

  They toured the spacious bathroom next and Ariel was impressed with the floor of sky blue marble swirled with lighter and darker colors of blue. An enormous sunken tub backdropped by a full-length window with a view of the mountains caught Ariel's attention. "Ah--no one can see in, can they?"

  "Not at all. The windows have a special tint allowing you to see out, but they're impossible to see through from outdoors. If you don't want a view of the outside, you can darken them. Computer, darken window."

  Ariel watched the window gradually darken. "Is the computer system active throughout the house?"

  "Yes, but don't worry, there are no hidden vid or audio devices to spy on you. I have the computer programmed to do ordinary things like turn lights and appliances off and on. It also controls the EM, which has emitters in every room, even in here so you can watch your favorite shows while relaxing in a hot tub or listen to your favorite music. EM on. Video on." A 3-D image appeared high on the wall, over the tub. "EM off. There is a separate intercom system on the night stand by your bed in case you need to contact Mrs. Belfort."

  They walked back out into the bedroom, and Ariel followed Kiernan over to the one remaining door. Kiernan opened the door and moved back to allow Ariel to peer in. "This is the nursery. Most of the furnishings are mine from when I was a baby, so we'll need to refurnish it with more modern items--when the time comes."

  Ariel swallowed hard, feeling her stomach flutter nervously. She didn't comment and noticed Kiernan was watching her.

  Kiernan must have seen her unease, because she closed the door behind her and headed back out into the sitting room. She opened another door next to the console table and Ariel followed her into a sitting room very similar to the one she was to have, except the colors were muted blues and grays.

  "This is my suite. The main entrance is next to yours out in the hall." Kiernan led her into the bedroom. Seei
ng the bed with its slender cherry wood pillars at each corner caused Ariel some embarrassment at being in such a personal place. The other furniture in the room matched the bed. "This bedroom suite is a family heirloom and dates from the beginning of the twentieth century."

  Kiernan had provided a commentary on every room they entered, much as she did on Celeste. Ariel couldn't imagine living in a house this grandiose, and she seriously doubted she would ever feel Crestview was home.

  THE MELLOW CHIMING of the grandfather clock downstairs in the living room marked the midday hour.

  Kiernan said, "I hope you're as hungry as I am."

  "Yes, I am," Ariel admitted, surprised that during such a stressful day she could even think of something as mundane as food.

  "We'll take lunch in the garden room."

  Once downstairs, Kiernan led Ariel through the dining room and into a light and airy room. A table sitting in front of a window provided a lovely view of the garden. Robert stood waiting by the table and pulled the chairs out for them to take their seats. Kiernan settled back into her chair, noticing Ariel observing the garden where two squat garden bots were attending to the profusion of various fall flowers.

  Robert waited a few seconds, before saying, "Ms. Thorsen, Ricardo has prepared seasoned chicken breast on a sourdough roll. To accompany this, there is a garden salad, and for dessert, homemade apple pie. May I inquire as to the condiments you would like on your sandwich and the dressing for your salad?"

  "Mayonnaise, please. For the salad, I'd like oil and vinegar."

  "Our selections of beverages are hot tea, iced sweet tea, white wine, various colas, or coffee."

  "Do you have milk?"

  "Yes, ma'am, we do. Skim milk and whole milk."

  Ariel appeared confused before asking, "You mean--dairy milk? From cows?"

  "Yes, ma'am, from cows."

  "I'll have a glass of whole dairy milk, please," she said, sounding a tad eager and wearing a pleased expression.