Moonlight Lies

Chapter 1- Welcome Home

Cadence Evans sighed as she got out of her moms brand new red Lancer. She crossed her arms and looked at the peaceful little town of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. She blew a strand of dark blonde streaked hair out of her face when the wind blew and groaned inwardly. It was one of those cold mornings and when she looked up at the rising sun it looked almost red. She shivered slightly but didn’t know whether it was because of the cold or something else. Suddenly, her mother’s voice made her jump, “Cadence, be a dear and open the house doors and windows.”

Cadence looked at her mother and sighed again. Her once beautiful outgoing mother was now her beautiful tired mother. Ever since he died her mother wasn’t the same. She seemed to have lost her light that made her glow brilliantly. Her mother had Sarah’s same light brown hair but her eyes were hazel not dark chocolate brown. Cadence had her father’s eyes and more of his face, she often wondered if it hurt her mother to look at her. Cadence took the keys from her mother and said, “I didn’t think we’d be back here. Imagine it’s been five years.”

Cadence tried to keep her voice even but it was hard, very hard. She missed her dad also but she would have to be grown up about it. Her mother was in no condition to deal, so Cadence had to stay strong and positive. The mansion sized house was as big as she remembered. A fresh cold breeze blew through the house as she opened the last window. She jumped when she heard her mother’s voice again not realizing she was behind her,

“Cadence, dear? What’s wrong? Ever since we got here you’ve been skittish.” Cadence shook her head and smiled warmly at her mother before replying,

“Nothing Ma. Sorry I’m worrying you. The movers coming soon?” This always got her mother to cheer up, Cadence didn’t like to see her mother frown or worry over her. It was successful as a smile grew on to her mother’s face and she said,

“Oh Cadence! You’re going to love your room and all the new furniture I got you! When we set everything up the way we want, it’ll look spectacular! Now you have to promise to leave your room to me.”

Cadence just smiled at her mother and nodded listening to her as they walked through the house. “Oh! I forgot about the hotel!”

As though by psychic knowledge the phone rang. Low and behold it was the hotel her mother owned. Cadence sighed and walked out the room they had just entered, leaving her mother talking to the assistant manager. She went to the third floor and walked to the left all the way down the hall and to the room that would be hers. She looked around the room and its emptiness. It looked too big without anything in it and then she remembered the balcony. She walked over to the glass doors and opened them. She stepped out into the balcony and took a fresh breath. She leaned on the white marble railing and looked out into the trees with a small smile. She watched as a truck rolled in and parked infront of the house. She heard the doorbell ringing and the faint call of her mother for her. She got up from the balcony and descended down the staircase when she left her room backtracking.

Most of the move was done and easy. The livingroom was set as well as the family room, dinning room, entertainment room, and one of the guestrooms. As promised she left her room to her mother and as well as the kitchen, her mothers room, the bathrooms, and the last few guestrooms. Those her mother insisted on doing by herself with out Cadence. Cadence stayed outside and told the men where to take the goods. She looked around herself and sighed. She had lived here till she was twelve, then they meaning she and her parents had moved to Manhattan, New York so her mom’s and dad’s business would get better. And of course it had but when Cadence was fourteen her dad’s health had taken a turn for the worse. He had died leaving Cadence and her mother to suffer and try to cope. She was now seventeen and back here in their old home after five years.

Cadence sighed sadly again and was shocked when an unfamiliar voice said, “You keep sighing like that and all the happiness is going to slip away.

Cadence jumped and whirled around to face the owner of that voice. Infront of her stood a very blonde boy with the darkest blue-grey eyes she’d ever seen. He was beautiful but she could tell he was younger than her. He was her height if not an inch smaller. She gave him a light grin and said,

“You don’t honestly believe that, do you?” She crinkled her nose in mock disgust and got a laugh for it. The boy shook his head and laughed then smiled at her saying, “My names Aaron, Aaron Arrows. All my friends call me Aar. (Pronounced Air.) This is my twin sister Rose. Are you the new movers?”

Cadence hadn’t noticed the quiet girl from where she stood behind her brother. They looked exactly alike except for some small differences. The girl, Rose, had hair that was a bit longer than her brothers, meaning it was to her shoulders while his was to the nape of his neck. Her hair also had some light brown highlights in it and was a bit curly. Her face also had a more feminine look to it. Cadence noticed that like her brother, this girl was unnaturally beautiful. Cadence smiled warmly at them and said playfully,

“Who? Us? New? Ha! I wish. No, we’re just moving back. I was born and raised here most of my life.” Cadence felt a pang of pain in her chest but ignored it.

“By the way…My names Cadence, Cadence Evans. It’s a pleasure to meet the both of you.” Suddenly she realized the movers were leaving and as she suspected inside of the house, Cadence heard her mother calling for her. Cadence planted a smile on her face and said, “I’d better go. Maybe, I’ll see ya. Who knows, right?” She added the last part with a shrug before turning away and walking inside her old home. She felt a little uneasy at first then decided to ignore it. She walked around the house with her animated mother and pretended to gush over everything with her. However, when they got to Cadence’s room she had to admit that she was impressed and she loved the room. The room was painted a silvery color that seemed to glitter and glow in any kind of light.

It was beautiful and it matched the furniture her mother got her. Cadence’s mother knew how much she loved Victorian furniture and roses. She had each piece of Sarah’s furniture custom and hand-made. The bed was queen-sized and had a veil that if she wanted would cover all four sides of the bed. The head board and foot board for the bed was wood with carvings of vines and roses. The bed stands and lamp stands had the same design. Every piece of furniture Cadence had ever wanted was there in her new room and she was beyond happy. Cadence could feel the tears welling up in her eyes and tried to hold them back.

“I wanted to do something special for you, Cadence dear. You’re always helping me and being so brave. I felt as though I had to give you some gift.” Cadence felt all choked up and hugged her mother before saying, “Thank you so much mom.”

Cadence felt her mother shake her head before saying, “No. Thank you.”

Pushing Cadence gently away alittle, her mother said smiling warmly, “Go get some sleep on your new bed. Don’t sleep too long. Love you.”

Then her mother was out the door without another word. Cadence smiled happily to herself and realized she had been up all night anxious about when they got here. A yawn escaped her lips and tired limbs were not good if she was going to explore later. She walked over to her bed and sat on it, amazed at how soft it was. She fell backwards on it and rolled to the middle. There she curled up and gave a content sigh. She traced the dark vine pattern on the quilt until she dozed off content with the day so far.