The Good Sister: Part One (14 page)

“But…”

“No but, no worries for you, my petit,” Jacqueline assured, taking my hand. “Alec,” she called over her shoulder.

A tall man with long wavy black hair and skin the color of cinnamon approached. He was wearing black from head to toe and walking with an easy confidence. He stood perfectly straight with wide shoulders that angled into a slim waist.

“You must be Trinity.” His accent sounded Spanish.

“Yes,” I said. My eyes met his beautiful white smile before I noticed the color of honey flickering within his eyes.

He kept his gaze upon my face. “Jacqueline was right. You are stunningly beautiful.”

I looked down. Alec reached out and lifted my chin, holding my gaze. “No, my beauty, you shall never feel anything less than the stunning woman you are. Do not look down. You will never look down again.”

I smiled. There was something compelling about this man just as there was something compelling in Jacqueline. I decided I liked him, unsure of why, but I felt safe around Alec.

“I will try,” I said.

Alec swept the back of his fingers over the surface of my cheek. “And I will remind you every day just how stunning you are,” he promised.

“Alec, I believe we are ready. Did you pick up the cake?” Jacqueline asked.

“Yes, my pet. Everything has been taken care of.”

Jacqueline gave the older man behind the counter a look, along with the flip of her hand. He sent out a younger man with red curls. He grinned at me, flipped a coat around his shoulders, picked up my bags, and carried them to the shiny black car that was parked in front of the hotel. It looked like a Mercedes. This man placed my bags in the trunk, shut the lid then said something to Jacqueline. He kissed Jacqueline’s hand then backed away as if she were royalty.

The ride to the chateau did not seem long but maybe this was possible since the passage of time seemed almost nonexistent due to my complete emersion gazing out the side window of the car. I was doing something I had never done before. I looked instead of cowering with my eyes closed.

For a moment I wondered at what I was doing. I was headed into the countryside of a foreign country with strangers. I should be panic stricken, but oddly I wasn’t. That little inner voice told me
you are naive, too trusting
but then I gazed over to see a large pastry box that was keeping me company in the backseat. I switched my gaze to the front where Alec was driving and Jacqueline was perched quite regally in the seat next to him. Jacqueline pulled a silver compact from her bag and began to swipe powder over her perfect nose. For some reason, I trusted Jacqueline.

I returned my attentions to the landscape that passed by outside the window. I wondered if I had walked into one of my picture postcards. I noticed a group of foxes scurry through the snow. They found a crop of trees. With the brush of their reddish tails they were gone, hiding from view. I’d never seen real foxes before, only images within the electronic world of my computer.

When I saw the chateau, it looked exactly like the picture Reid sent, only with more white, having the remnants of the recent snowstorm scattered about.

“We are home,” Jacqueline announced as the car pulled up to the front door.

It was the same arched door, painted in a deep shade of wine-colored burgundy. As soon as the car came to a stop, the front door flung open. Several beautiful women stood there, waiting, like my arrival was somehow news. Alec came around and opened the door, giving me a hand then Jacqueline.

“The cake,” I reminded.

“I shall send someone to get the cake,” Jacqueline assured.

Alec took my arm and escorted me inside. Once we stepped over the threshold, he started shooing the women with his hand, making room. I felt a little overwhelmed. My breath caught for a moment. I grabbed into Alec’s arm for support.

Jacqueline announced, “Everyone. This is our newest sister. Her name is Trinity.”

Several voices, all with different pitches and accents said, “Trinity, welcome.” Then the long individualized introductions began…

Standing on the bottom rung of the grand staircase was an exotic looking woman whose skin was perfection and encompassed the color of mahogany. She looked like a goddess, dressed in a sheer almost translucent gown. Her hair was beautiful. It showered down her body, flowing like strands of blackened silk. Her face, angel-like, complete with thick black lashes, and pouting red lips. Jacqueline pointed to this woman.

“Trinity. This is Tempest,” Jacqueline introduced.

“Hello,” I said.

Tempest nodded and smiled. “Hello, Trinity. Welcome home.”

Next to the staircase was another beautiful goddess-like creature with long golden hair falling down her back in a cascade, stopping inches from the floor. She wore a gold band in her hair with golden jewelry coiled around the tops of her arms like gilt snakes. She wore a long golden dress that allowed all of her curves to be seen, and then some. Her eyes were the color of vivid blue, like the summer sky. She had deep set dimples as she smiled.

Jacqueline held out her hand. “This is Serenity,” she announced. The golden goddess stepped forward.

“Welcome, Trinity,” Serenity said in a velvety voice.

“Thank you,” I replied.

I had the feeling I had just walked into a harem of stunningly beautiful creatures, and I knew there was no way I could ever be compared to any of these women. I wanted to look down, but Alec smiled as if he knew I was ready to tuck tail and run. He took his hand and softly lifted my chin before I could tuck it.

A brilliant redhead came from another room. She glided across the floor. Her long flowing dress billowed out and gave the illusion of floating. Her eyes caught the flicker of the light and were jade green. Her cheekbones set high and her face was perfect, but what I couldn’t keep from staring at was her flawless skin. Her skin glowed the color of peaches and cream.

“Hello, Trinity. I am Breeze. Welcome to our home.”

“Hello, Breeze,” I replied.

Two ladies approached. Holding hands. They were both wearing black dresses that clung to their perfect bodies. Large geometric shapes where cut out of the sides of the dress that highlighted their curves and seemed to accentuate the cut to their trim and tiny waistlines. They were tall, elegant, and looked like Victoria’s Secret runway models. They moved together like they were twins. Upon a closer look, they were, only one had hair the color of hazelnut while the other had strawberry blonde strands.

“We are Desiree and Domonique.” They spoke in unison as their voices blended into harmony. “We are glad you have come to join us.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Jacqueline spoke up again. This time she introduced another beauty named Scarlet. Scarlet walked forward, wearing something that looked like it came from the Roman baths. Her body was svelte and athletic looking beneath the low-cut frock. Her hair was cut short, adorned with what looked like sprigs of wildflowers; however, I didn’t know where the flowers would have come from since it was winter, and snowing. Scarlet had a brilliant smile. It lit up the room like a thousand watt bulb. But what I was drawn to were her eyes. They were painted dark blue, like the eyes of Cleopatra.

“Trinity. I am pleased to meet you,” Scarlet said.

“Thank you. I am pleased to meet you as well.”

“Where is Amelia?” Jacqueline asked.

Breeze spoke up. “She will be here soon. She had a visitor.”

“Ah,” Jacqueline replied then turned her attention to the beauty who stood by the large circular table in the middle of the foyer. “Ceclie, this is Trinity. Trinity, this is Ceclie,” Jacqueline introduced with the wave of a regal hand. We both nodded in acknowledgement of each other.

Ceclie was wearing a silver strapless dress and it was plastered to her body. She was heavy-chested with ample perfect cleavage, and skin bathed in silver flecks. Her hair was the color of caramel, highlighted with streaks of blonde. She had fingernails like claws, painted silver to match her dress. In her nose was a small diamond stud. It caught the light and twinkled. Ceclie was tall and blessed with long shapely legs.

I watched as yet another beauty came into view. An Asian queen approached, dressed in dark purple robes. Her hair was silken black. It was perfectly straight and long with the front pulled up onto the top of her head. A hair comb fanned out from the bundle of hair upon her head and dangled strands of what looked like cherry blossoms. Her lips were the shape of a perfect heart painted the perfect shade of cherry red. Her eyes were the color of brushed nickel and set her face into a startling beauty.

She bowed. “I am Ambre.”

“Hi, Ambre,” I replied then wondered if the plethora of beautiful women would ever stop coming.

“I am Amelia,” a sultry voice announced. Her voice floated down the stairs in a seduction of feminine power. “I am sorry I am late. Please, forgive me.”

I gazed up to see a Nubian princess with flawless skin the color and shine of patent leather, and eyes like the color of ash. She was shapely, and just as beautiful if not more beautiful than all the rest of the women.

“It’s fine, there is nothing to forgive,” I offered. Amelia smiled bright white. She came to hug me.

“Welcome, my sister,” Amelia said then gave me a light hug with a small kiss on the cheek. “You are quite beautiful, Trinity,” she said, and then she ran her fingers through some of my golden curls. “You shine like the sun.”

“Thank you, but I’m positive all of you are much more beautiful than I,” I said, assured.

Alec chimed in. “Trinity does not know her value or the depth of her beauty. I am sure with your help she will see her value soon.”

Voices rang out from every direction, “Yes,” they agreed.

Jacqueline touched my cheek. “Trinity, go with your sisters now, they will show you to your room, and help you prepare for our dinner party tonight.”

“Yes,” Amelia said, “we have a lot to do.”

“It’s okay,” Jacqueline assured. “I will be up to check on you momentarily. I have a few things to take care of with Alec and then we will begin our tutelage.”

“Come,” Amelia said, taking my hand. The other women closed in around us.

I was encircled by the most beautiful women I had ever seen as we floated up the stairs.

Amelia came to a door, opened it, and walked inside, still holding on to my hand. All the other women followed in behind. The room was large and open, with a canopy bed set prominently in the middle, adorned in white lace as the coverlet. Scattered about were small powder pink pillows edged in feathers. There was a floral chaise settee perched beside an antique hand painted vanity, and a whitewashed armoire beside the large shuttered window. The room was filled with fresh cut flowers. They were placed on the bedside tables, the vanity, the top of the wooden rolltop desk, and it smelled of springtime instead of winter.

“This is your new room,” Amelia announced. She let go of my hand and walked over to the armoire. “You can put your things here.” Amelia opened the doors to the beautiful piece of furniture before turning back to gaze at me then over to the other faces of the women in the room. “Go prepare the bath. Jacqueline will be up soon, and we need to help our new sister prepare for the festivities this evening.”

P
repare?

The other women all smiled, some giggled, but all listened. Without any further conversation they glided out of my room. Breeze, the last to go, closed the door behind them. I had the feeling if Jacqueline ran things then Amelia was her second in command, and Alec, well, Alec was somewhere in the mix.
Perhaps Alec was the guardian and muscle of Jacqueline’s realm?

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Amelia said.

An older woman entered with my bags. She set them down inside the door. Her graying hair was twisted up into a roll on the back of her neck. Her face, once beautiful, was marred. A scar started at the top of this woman’s hairline, ran down her right temple, across her right cheek, across her lips, and over the middle of her chin. I wondered if she’d suffered a horrible accident. Her eyes, hazel and tender, flashed and met my gaze.

“Lilli Anna,” Amelia greeted with a smile, “this is our newest sister, Trinity.” Lilli Anna nodded in acknowledgement. “Trinity,” Amelia continued, “this is Lilli Anna. She takes care of us. If you need anything, just ask. Lilli Anna will make sure you have anything you need.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Lilli Anna,” I replied.

Lilli Anna nodded but never spoke.

“Lilli Anna is mute,” Amelia offered.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Lilli Anna waived a hand as if to say it’s okay, and left the room.

“What happened?” I asked.

“She married a man who was not only possessive and jealous, but who was also abusive and drank. He would wander into town; stay away for days at a time before coming home drunk, mad and out of control. He’d beat her within an inch of her life while he accused her falsely of atrocities with other men. This went on for years. After two miscarriages along with several lengthy trips to the hospital, Lilli Anna decided to leave her husband. She made all the plans and waited until he was gone into town. She left. He found her.”