Chapter 1: The Stepping Stone

Raine begins my moving into Falinmore Mansion, where she is greeted by the mansions caretaker and family lawyer.

As she was arriving at the mansion, a feeling of relief filled Raine. True, reading her journal had consumed most of the time aboard the carriage, but she was not ready to face reality yet. The mansion would prove to be a great distraction for her. She would deal with her hardships at a later date but she knew getting to one of the mansion’s many bedrooms to rest would not be easy. She already saw two men who would hinder her progress.

The carriage made its way in their direction. The first man looked like a gentleman of sorts.  He held a cane in his right hand but did not use it as support. Even upon leaving the side of the other man, he did not rely on it. The man was a living time machine, but she supposed most people dressed this way in Syleem. 

He appeared to be in his late thirties, was of average build, and without a speck of hair on his face.  He wore a dress shirt and tie under a jacket she assumed was made for him. A small chain left his breast pocket, draped over and attached to the inside of his jacket. Of the two men, he was the taller.

Closer still, the cold stare she had sensed originated from him. It was a stare that pierced the flesh and concentrated on the soul. She could see his wrinkled face and blue eyes in full detail now.

“Miss?”

She didn’t even realize he had opened the door and was ready to help her out. Her head remained down even after leaving the carriage. The two men may have misconstrued this as an act of embarrassment, but she had always had trouble making eye contact. To manage the unavoidable introductions, she headed straight for the closest man. There was no need for her to look up. Earth turned to brick as she continued towards the pair. She now found herself staring at his feet.

Then the blue-eyed man said,”Good afternoon, Miss.”

She swore she heard a snake. She looked up, but not at him. She studied the mansion in all of its vileness. It was tall as a large tree, and wider than she imagined. Even with no knowledge of architecture, she knew that elements of the mansion’s entrance were exaggerated to draw people in.

“Was your travel here pleasant?  Your carriage was a bit late, was it not?” the man continued.

Ivy grew around the windows like a mask. She had never seen so much of it before. She only imagined the other sides of the home shared the same appearance. She tried to imagine what it looked like when first constructed, but failed.

“My name is Harold Claver.”

Most of the windows were cracked but all were caked with dirt and grime. It was no surprise to her that one of the large pillars before the door had fallen. What unseen presence was holding this mansion up?

“The caretaker is clearly as dumb as he is blind,” she blurted without thinking.

“I am the caretaker.”

It was then that their eyes met. Had she been thinking, she would have realized that one of the men must be the caretaker. She didn’t care for the feelings of either of them but she did not wish to insult them.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir,” said Raine.

“We had almost lost hope of your ever coming. We would understand if you still needed time to weigh your options,” said Claver.

“Now, now, Mr. Claver, we shouldn’t, umm…,” the other man chimed in, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief; “…we shouldn’t dismiss Ms. Falinmore so quickly. I’m sure she understands the level of responsibility involved.”

The other man was overweight and seemed unable to keep still. His hands would enter his pockets, only to emerge seconds later. He also appeared to be careful of his surroundings with the constant swivel of his head. Maybe he is more accustomed to the atmosphere in town, she thought. He reminded her of The White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. She could not help but smile after thinking this. He probably did not anticipate the humidity after the rain shower and wore far too many layers of clothing.

Unlike the taller man, he wore a vest under his brown jacket that matched his pants. Above his mustache and circular glasses he wore a small brimmed bowler hat that suited him. He did not mean to be comical but she saw him as just that.

Raine was unfazed by the heat, though she was dressed in more layers. She wore a beret and a black buttoned jacket that was slightly larger than it should have been. The remainder of the clothing she had brought was under the care of the driver. She’d matched her hat and jacket to the color of her hair. Reaching the age of eighteen, she now stood at five-two and was considered petite.

Her characteristics, including her captivating eyes, she’d heard were striking and yet she was a ghost in her former hometown. Her complexion was light but stood out against her pitch-black hair parted down the middle and running down her back. She had brought more formal clothing with her but it would undoubtedly collect dust.

The larger man adjusted his glasses and looked at his papers as Raine asked, “Are you a caretaker as well?”

Still looking at his papers, the man answered, “No, Miss. I am both friend and lawyer to the Falinmore family. My name is Vernon Borrester. I will be…handling the…odds and ends of the mansion I’m sure you will be proud to call home.” Finishing with a nod, he further added, “I will also be…overseeing the funds allotted to you along with ensuring you become well acquainted with your new home.”

“Will I be seeing you after today?” Raine asked.

“Oh yes, yes, expect numerous visits from both of us,” Vernon stated. “I will be insuring your comfort and safety in the mansion and Mr. Claver will be looking after the house itself.”

“However, I will be the only one visiting after you leave,” Claver added in a cold tone.

She turned in his direction and said, “I understand owning a mansion at my age may seem out of the ordinary, but I have no intention of returning to my foster parents, Mr. Claver.  I will make do with what little I have.”

As if to break the tension, Vernon interjected, “Well, Mr. Claver, I am sure she is still, umm…still in a bit of shock, eh?  News like this is hardly easy to hear. I would like to express how sorry I am for your great loss.”

“Thank you, Mr. Borrester. As their friend it must have come as quite a shock to you as well. I will see to it that their memory lives on.” Raine stated what the man wanted to hear.

“You seem quite resolved in the matter. But how long can that determination continue?” asked Claver.

She knew she could no longer take anything the man said as truth. For one reason or another he did not like the idea of her owning this estate. His tales of the forbidden Falinmore Mansion would have to wait.

“Ms. Falinmore has seen enough of the entrance,” Vernon stated with a false smile. “Shall we proceed to the main hall Mr. Claver? Ms. Falinmore?”

“I’ll take my leave now, thank you,” said Claver. 

She turned to give him the decency of a goodbye only to see his departure. He lifted himself into his carriage and left the mansion grounds. Turning back, she was surprised to see Mr. Borrester already fiddling with his keys at the door. It was as if they were the ones with the fortune and she was the caretaker. The door opened and he entered with her. She thought it would take longer with those shaking hands of his. He only seemed to relax once he felt the cool air within.

“You’ll have to forgive Mr. Claver, my dear. I do not think he has much patience with children.”

“He seemed nervous. I’m sure it was not my doing,” Raine responded.

“Yes, well, he is the nervous type.”

“You seem nervous.”

If she had looked away, she would have missed the pause in his actions. He was in the process of bending down to get her bags when he turned to her to say, “Would you believe an old man like me is afraid of ghosts?”

She smiled but he did not. That was the last straw. With Mr. Claver gone, she’d thought the stories would end. Did they think she was so naive as to believe whatever they told her? If this did not end soon she would be forced to send him away.

He sat up with a bag in each hand. “To your room, then. It is on the second floor, the second room on the right. Feel free, however, to, umm…to change rooms. I do feel a tour is in order.”

“I plan to sleep, Sir. Can you return tomorrow?” Raine stated quicker than she intended.  It was as if she had planned those words before their meeting.

Instead of looking at her, his eyes darted left to right. Maybe he was afraid the ghosts of Falinmore would take him into its darkest depths. She could not make sense of it. It did relax her to see that she was not the only one afraid, however.

“I suppose…yes, maybe after my lunch appointment I could come by.  Is that all right, Miss?”

“Thank you. Good night, Mr. Borrester.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Falinmore.”

She dragged the heaviest of the three bags to one side of her bed once Mr. Borrester was out of sight. Now that she was inside she could do as she pleased. She dressed herself in the first article of sleepwear she could find, removed the covers, and slid into her bed. Her bed. It was good to own something. More than dolls or clothing, Falinmore brought her a sense of accomplishment. It now belonged to her along with everything in it.

Raine had tried to calm herself as she pondered her feelings. She thought back to her trip to Falinmore when one of the wheels of her carriage took a dip into a pothole. Many a transport had probably fallen victim to it. During her trip, she examined her emotions but realized anger was what she felt the most. Fear lurked in the back of her mind as well.

Was it fear of being the next to die or fear of everything that would lead up to her death? Perhaps she was afraid of sharing the same fate as her late parents. Her death could happen easily here.  She would be by herself in Falinmore Mansion until the end.

Raine thought back to when she had looked past the confines of the carriage through her window with mild curiosity. All she had seen were trees on either side, with the exception of the town they passed. She had grown tired of the monotonous scenery and had lost track of how long the ride to the mansion was. It would have been easier if she had not counted the hours, she thought.

She remembered feeling the sun’s warmth against her cheeks. The blue sky had made her smile for the first time in days. Raine was uncertain of what awaited her, but she would continue search for happiness.

Returning to her foster parents was one possibility. If she begged hard enough, they may excuse her gift. She knew they were not bad people, but they themselves had to live with fear as well. They acted in the best interests of everyone…except her. So, she wondered, who should she hate? Where did the blame lie? Should she blame her parents, for killing themselves in that crypt of a mansion? Her foster parents perhaps, for only seeing the negative side of her gift?

“No,” she said aloud, “I hate myself.”

A thud outside her door opened her eyes. Footsteps trailed off and she assumed it was Mr. Borrester dropping the rest of her bags in front of her door. What followed was sleep.

To read the story in its entirety, visit: Smashwords

Reviews

[Lisa Ring]

Very well written. You raise the important questions then slowly reveal information to lead the reader into the story. Your characters are developing nicely and your dialogue is believable. I don't like when writers are overly-descriptive, and you are not, but I think a little more detail of surroundings(like in her room) would enhance the story. Great job.

[Jamal]

wow this was long but very nice first chapter, i love the descriptions you gave, they were short but to the point. you write like a professional. well done