by Jennise K
My eyes widened in surprise. Grandma Liz was coming to Berlin? Was she forced into doing this? Because then I’d believe it.
“Are you sure that’s Grandma Liz we’re talking about? We’re not mistaking this for another person who goes by the same name, right?”
Prue grinned and picked Lolette from my arms, nestling the angel against her chest. “Oh yes, it’s her. I was also shocked when she suddenly called me up while I was at work yesterday and told me that she was visiting.”
I was shocked, too. In our family, it was no secret that Grandma Liz avoided our family home in Berlin like the plague. Her mother—my great grandmother Diana—was initially from Berlin, and it was here that my grandmother had spent most of her childhood and teenage years, but then, one night, when she had been eighteen, something happened and the very next day, Grandma upped and left for York, to her father’s parents’ home. After that, she’d never set foot again on Berlin.
“Well, it’s a good thing anyway—her coming back. Maybe now she’ll be able to tell us what happened that night many years ago,” I mumbled thoughtfully as I stole a glance towards my wrist watch.
Prue seemed to catch that. “Excited much?”
I grinned. “Very.”
Michael’s scared face floated in my mind then, but I shook it off. Although he had been very agitated at the beginning of knowing my assignment, by the time he had gotten out of the car, the kid had been better, but he still talked about the castle; apparently his sister still worked there.
Surely no one would want to stay in a place after seeing a murderous ghost and losing her voice?
“When are Jaydin and Aby coming here?” Prue asked as she checked the temperature of Letty’s milk and slowly waited for Letty to bring the rubber into her mouth. Both Prue and I smiled when she did, quickly gulping down milk, her eyes already starting to close.
“They said they’ll be here by—” Just then, a loud car’s horn blasted from outside, and I rolled my eyes before I continued, “Three.”
“Well, looks like they are on time! We better go. The drive’s an hour and a half, isn’t it?”
I let out a sigh. “Yep.” I hugged Prue and placed a kiss on Lolette’s forehead, slowly moving towards the door.
“They expect me there at four thirty—sharp. The man I had talked to who happens to be the castle’s manager, Mr. Swish, told me that the ‘lord of the house’ will welcome me personally.” I rolled my eyes as I made air quotes with my fingers at ‘lord of the house’.
Behind me, Prue let out a bark of a laughter and abruptly stopped when Letty began to wail.
“Oh crud,” she whispered.
Grinning to myself, I opened the door and was met by a frantic-looking Jaydin who rushed into the house and sprinted towards Letty, snatching her softly from Prue’s arms and cradling her lovingly, cooing and singing words of a nursery rhyme.
When Letty giggled and began playing with Jaydin’s nose, everyone let out a breath of relief.
“Think I’ll fall in love with the idiot if I keep seeing him with Letty,” Abigail whispered under her breath beside me.
Turning towards her, I smirked, “What did you say?”
“I-I-I didn’t say anything!” she sputtered and quickly turned around, hiding her face behind her hair.
At this moment, I was sure of two things: Jaydin’s romantic pursuits are starting to pay off, and I was smirking like a moron now.
~
“Oh, hell no, let’s just turn around while we can, guys!”
Another round of “Shut up, Jaydin!” sounded around the car, but I stayed silent.
The drive to the castle had been short; an hour and a half seemed to pass by so seamlessly fasts. It had taken me by surprise when I discovered how close to the village the castle was, nestled between the highest points of the mountains just on the edge of the town.
Despite having been built for over a century, the castle still stood proud in all of its glory as if time had not touched any corner. Each tower dazzled in the setting sun, flowering vines framed the windows, and each brick shone golden. I watched, entranced by the trees that surrounded the castle, their trunks large and strong as if protecting it from the outside world.
I couldn’t help but wonder how something that looked so beautiful could hold such a dark history.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” Abigail said out as she drove through the long brick-lined driveway.
“It’s a bummer we cannot get a tour,” Prue mumbled from the back of the car, Letty fast asleep in her arms.
“Oh, they do let in tour troops every Friday and Saturday. Nine to twelve and four to seven. It’s strange, though. Each tour troop is accounted for in the books, but none of them are charged; it’s completely free,” I said, unbuckling my seat belt as my car finally came to a stop.
In the distance, a tall, broad-shouldered man stood, his white shirt glowing yellow from the setting sun and his white hair casting a halo-like glow over his head.
I got out of the car and frowned when I noticed, as he made his way towards me, that despite his white hair, the man seemed to look quite young.
Was this Mr. Naight?
“I see you are well guarded. Quite a crowd came to drop you off.” The man smiled before extending his hand. “I’m sorry. Introductions are needed, I suppose. I am Orik Michinghon, the eyes and ears of Oakfield Castle. I do apologise on behalf of Mr. Naight for his absence. An emergency came up in America, and he had to fly off as soon as possible.”
“Wait, I thought the lord of the castle was Naightuitem?” River suddenly spoke up, drawing out the last two syllables of the lord’s supposed name in deliberate emphasis. I frowned. A change in the surname. That was a bit of information I had not been able to acquire.
“A change brought about by Mr. Naight’s great grandfather…in hopes of peace. Rather unfortunate. Anyway, should I assume you will bid your family goodbye, now?” Mr. Orik quickly inquired, and at my soft reply of “yes,” nodded and enthusiastically announced, “I shall wait by the door then!”
“Even the butler’s weird,” Jaydin grumbled as he moved to pull me in for a hug. Smacking his bicep, I shook my head and hugged him back.
“It’s not like I’m not going to see you all. I will, whenever I want to, you know.” I chuckled when it came to Prue’s turn.
“But the castle is still going to be your home for the next three months,” Prue whispered back, a hint of amusement in her tone.
My eyes roamed the long tall brown brick columns of the castle and landed on a dark eerie window. I would have dismissed it as nothing, but suddenly—my breath hitching and my heart beating crazily—I noticed something move behind the window. In a flash, it was gone, but I was sure I saw something there.
My heart still hammering in my chest, I gulped down my fear as my arms tightened around Prue and I hugged her close. “I guess you’re right. I guess it will be home…for now.”
This was going to be the longest three months of my life.
~
“So, Mr. Naight seems to be a busy man,” I said, clearly a lame attempt of initiating a conversation with a stranger. As the doors closed behind us, Orik, who stood beside me, chuckled before pulling two of my luggage bags.
“There was an emergency. Mr. Naight’s best friend called, and off he went!”
I smiled. So, when he mentioned America, he meant the lord’s best friend? “Oh. He must really care for him.”
I stopped walking when I realised Orik was not moving anymore. I turned around, and he gave me a large grin. “Not him, Miss Olivia, her. His best friend is a she.”
I felt my mouth hang wide open and close like a fish’s.
Chuckling, he continued, “Let’s move on now.”
Mortified with embarrassment, I quickly let my head drop with a slow nod.
“And here we are, Miss,” Orik declared proudly as he opened the door, dragging my luggage in the centre of the room and turning around with an exaggerated s
weep of his hand.
I couldn’t blame him. The room was beautiful.
I couldn’t help but gape at the beauty in the simplicity of the room. The modern architectural improvements were a fresh breath to the foreboding look of the castle, let alone the stories. These improvements were proof of the care that had been taken to ensure the preservation of Romanov’s family home. It was as much as a prized heirloom as it was a treasured property.
The walk towards reaching this destination had only been ten minutes. But with all the stairs I had to climb during those ten minutes carrying my luggage, I could no longer feel my feet. Even so, at the sight of the fluffy bed, I couldn’t stop myself as my feet carried me towards the promise of respite.
A loud sigh left my lips as I sunk down on the bed as soon as I reached it. My arse felt like it had just touched heaven.
“I’ll let you to rest then, Olivia,” Mr. Orik said, blatantly amused.
The sound of opening the large carved and golden plated oak door echoed around the room.
“Oh, and Olivia, dinner will be ready in twenty.”
And then the door shut close.
Chapter 7
The bedroom was the epitome of grandeur but in the simplest of forms possible. It was large and very spacious. The bed sat situated between two pillars that extended towards the ceiling. A large circular light was screwed in the middle of it, giving a full illumination to the whole room.
My gaze turned to the wide balcony door to the right, the large glass extending from the ceiling to the floors, its cream and mint green curtains shadowing the view outside.
It was unlike anything that what I was used to. Nothing the likes of which I ever had the chance to live in. But now I would for the next three months. Well, at least it was warm.
My gaze flickered to the balcony door again, and I smiled as I found myself walking towards it. Slowly moving the curtain aside, I was struck with wonder at the view of tiny brick homes scattered for miles until the shore’s end.
A tiny flick and the balcony’s door gave way. Sliding it open, I, slowly but surely, edged out onto it. The night smelled like the sea. In the quiet of the night, the sounds of the shore—though so far away—still reached all the way to the castle.
The night was soothing.
A sweep of chilly breeze smacked me across my face, and I shuddered, my grip on the knot of my towel tightening as I felt goose bumps popping around everywhere.
Be best if you got dressed, moron. You just recovered from a cold a few weeks ago.
Groaning because Jiminy was right, I turned around and quickly rushed back into the room, leaving the balcony door open, the long, light curtains swaying in the wind behind me.
Moving over to my luggage, I quickly fished out a pair of bed clothes and a pair of clothing that seemed suitable to wear for dinner here in the palace. I wondered who would be entertaining me. The prospect of anyone even doing so seemed nil, considering the owner was in America.
I couldn’t help but look around the large room again. In the northern corner of the room sat a large flat screen. Beside which baskets lined containing what seemed to be DVDs. I knew how to pass my night after dinner here. My first night here seemed to be promising.
A soft sigh left my lips as I picked up the clothes and began to walk towards a closet. A small twist of the knob and the door flung open. My eyes widened at the view inside.
The closet was already stocked up.
Dresses, jeans, shoes—anything, and everything. All arranged meticulously in order.
Does someone else—oh my God—does the owner keep his girlfriends here?
I shuddered with disgust, and jumping away from the door, slammed it close.
Wrinkly old owner keeping live-in girlfriends—
I shuddered again and got back to business.
I hope they at least changed the bedsheets.
“Dinner’s ready, Miss.”
A sweet voice echoed from the other side of the door just as I was running my hairbrush through my hair for the hundredth time. It was a habit I had acquired from Grandma Primrose, or Grandma Liz as she was usually called.
Primrose Elizabeth.
That had not been the name she was born with. That was the name she had given herself when she went away to England. Why she did so was something I had always asked her, growing up. But all she ever told me in return was that it was a long tale, one that she would eventually tell me one day.
I was still waiting for that day to come.
Putting down the hairbrush, my hair now flowing freely down my shoulder, I ran my hand over my dress before walking over to the bedroom’s door.
“I’m ready, thank you.” I smiled at a casually dressed Orik, closing the door behind me. I followed the smiling man as we made our way around the brightly lit hallways.
“I apologise, but it seems you may have your dinner alone tonight,” Orik mumbled as I stepped a stair down, my hand gripping the banister, since the stairway was a little steep.
“It’s all right, I guess. How about you? Have you had dinner?” I asked tentatively. I suppose I just didn’t want to be alone, especially in a castle where a killer ghost and a sad banshee came out to play.
Now at the bottom of the stairs, Orik turned to give me a soft sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry, Olivia. I have a date tonight. You need not worry though. Lady Edika only attacks the Q—I mean…the brides.”
Q?
With slowly narrowing eyes, I regarded Mr. Orik who had lost all composure and now looked frazzled. “Whatever you say,” I muttered blandly, tilting my head so that my hair fell on my right shoulder, just like how I liked it.
Instantly, Orik’s eyes widened, and the colour from his face drained faster than I could blink. I felt a chill run up my chest when he took a sudden step forward.
“How did you get that?” Orik suddenly hissed at me while his eyes frantically roamed around the walls of the dining hall.
Huh?
“What do you mean?” I blurted, my mouth ajar as I watched Orik run his fingers through his hair in utter frustration.
“How did you get that?” Orik hissed again, his eyes now fixed on my neck.
Oh…
Rome’s mark. Think!
My heart drumming in my chest, I tried my best to give out the most natural sigh possible. “I had a car accident two months ago. When I woke up, I already had this. A man saved me. That’s the last thing I remember.”
“So, you don’t know your m—the man who saved you?”
I frowned.
He knows something. Deny it.
I shook my head and faked a laugh. “Unfortunately, no. I don’t even know how he looks.”
Orik’s shoulders visibly dropped, and my eyebrows lifted in surprise at this. “Oh, okay. Well, it’s healed nicely. But can I just say it looks so much like a bite? Maybe it’s just an accident scar, after all. I should go then, late for the date,” Orik said and laughed awkwardly as he waved me goodbye and turned towards the door.
I waved back at the man before a thought that had been going in my head ever since I had found out that I’d gotten Oakenfield Castle jumped into my mind. I rushed to stop him. “Mr. Orik!”
Orik froze before he turned around.
Honestly curious, I took a deep breath and blurted out my question “What’s the first name of Oakenfield’s owner? You know, for project purposes.”
Orik seemed to hesitate for a minute, his expression clearly conflicted. The minute passed, and he finally turned around, hidden defeat jading his eyes.
“Romanov Naight.”
Ro…ma…nov…Roman…Rom…Rome.
Everything stood still. Everything but my heart.
My heart fell of my chest while I just stood there frozen.
A wave of something foreign bubbled in my chest, erupting into a bundling mess of fury and dread and confusion.
Standing there like that, I didn’t even think I could breathe anymore.
What were th
e odds?
What were the odds that the owner of this huge castle was not an old, ancient Romanov but my mysterious, nonhuman Rome?
Sensing Orik’s silent exit out of the grand dining hall, I took a step to my left and dropped down on a chair, taking in a deep breath.
What was happening in my life? Everything…just seemed so…confusing.
Groaning, I leaned forward and dropped my head onto the table, the edge of the cold cream plate touching my suddenly hot and damp forehead.
Somewhere, something dropped.
A gasp ripped out of my throat, and I immediately shot up to my feet, turning towards the dimly lit corner. My eyes narrowed to make out if someone was still there.
Seconds passed, and when I could still see no one, I sighed before beginning to turn around.
Maybe it was nothi—“Aaahh!”
A loud scream left my lips as I stared at the woman who stood only a step away from me, her wild black hair parted in the middle to reveal bright, blue eyes staring back at me and flushed cheeks.
Suddenly, she looked down, and my eyes followed. In her hand was a platter decorated with roasted chicken. It was then when my eyes focused on the uniform she seemed to be wearing. I let out a loud sigh of relief.
“Oh my God! I thought you were—” I stopped, looking at the wide-eyed girl who looked as alarmed as I was. I gathered myself and smiled. “Err…well…hello! I’m Olivia! The university student assigned here.”
A small flicker of amusement flickered in the girl’s eyes, and she almost smiled before turning around, placing the platter on the table. When she was done, she turned back to me.
“Hello. I’m Sophia,” she said through sign language.
My smile brightened. It made no difference that she was mute. I knew sign language.
Growing up, both my mother and my father had decided to teach me two languages other than English. My father had always thought that it would be a skill of aid if I decided to help in the business. And while Dad decided on Mandarin, my ever soft and kind mum picked sign language. I’d always liked Mum’s choice better. That skill helped me make a wider circle of friends in elementary school. That, besides the fact that Mandarin was awfully hard to learn.