Chapter 2

Zane shot me a smile and I gave his hand a squeeze as we waited patiently to exit the boat. My mother gave the driver a wave and swung her legs over the edge and onto the platform, motioning for us to do the same. Zane jumped out first then locked his arms around my waist and lifted me up and out of the boat. I smiled gratefully as my feet touched the ground and Sierra hopped down next to me.
“Think she’s coming?” Sierra whispered in my ear as we both looked back at a statue looking Stephanie. Her thin arms clung to Lance as he stepped out first and gripped her stomach.
“It’s okay, on the count of three, okay?” he asked as he gave her a reassuring smile. “One, two…” he tightened his grip and lifted her up then set her gracefully back down.

“Is it over yet?” she asked, her eyelids still glued shut.

“Yep, you can open your eyes now,” Lance whispered as he planted a romantic kiss on her lips.

Stephanie smiled as she fluttered her eye lashes and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Wait, is this where we’re staying?” Sierra asked and for the first time, I turned around and took a look at my new home.

To say it was huge, would be an understatement, it made Kyle’s mansion look like a playhouse. The most incredible part of it was the immense detail and age the building itself held. I gasped and gave Zane’s arm a squeeze.

“Yes, this is where we’re staying, now follow me,” My mother said as she pushed the heavy wooden door open and walked over to a desk.

As I followed my mom in I surveyed the room around us, the walls were decorated heavily with traditional emblems and other artifacts. The floor was mainly wooden but had rugs covering most of it, and it was mostly empty except for a small woman sitting at the desk in front of us.

“Hello, we’re the Charard party; may we have our room key?” My mother asked as she dug into her purse then flashed the woman her ID card.

“Ah Charard, no chaive needed,” she said as she got up to greet us.

My mother’s face turned to confusion as she shook the woman’s hand. “Chaive, do you speak English?” my mother asked and a younger woman stepped out from around the corner.

“She speaks some, but not all. I can translate for you,” the woman replied as she shook my mother’s hand and shot us a smile. “I am Jasmine.”

My mother smiled and replied, “Well Jasmine, I’m Linda Charard, we need our room key please.”

Jasmine’s laugh sounded like wind chimes as she shook her head at my mother. “No, it seems you were booked as a private party, no room key, just a house-like one,” she said as she hand my mom a sturdy looking metal key.

“Wait, so we’re the only people staying here?” Stephanie asked and as Jasmine nodded she let out a shriek to match mine as we giggled happily.

“You fare il bagno?” The woman at the desk asked and Jasmine gave us an apologetic smile.

“No Aggie, you go water the plants,” Jasmine said and the woman nodded and walked out.

“My apologies’, that is Agnolla, the owner, she was asking if you wish to bathe,” Jasmine explained and Stephanie snorted.

“Show me the freaking way!” She yelled out as she picked her bag up off of Lance’s shoulder.

“This way, Miss,” Jasmine said as she walked off down a side hallway, Stephanie right on her heels.

“Want to go check out the rooms?” I whispered to Zane and he smiled.

“I think your mother might want to check them out with you,” he whispered back and I glanced over to see my mom’s heavy gaze on us. I sighed and gave his lips a quick kiss.

“Mom, I’m going to go check out the rooms, okay?” I said and Sierra leapt up from her perch on her luggage.

“I’ll go too,” she said as she swung her bags over her shoulder and walked over to my side.

“Have fun dear,” My mom called after us as we started up the long staircase.