Tale of Two Hearts

Chapter Two

Pulling up to the iron gates, Sophia's mouth dropped. Just beyond the iron gates stood a massive mansion, with at least two acres of land behind it. She was in total awe. Not only was it the largest she'd ever laid eyes on, but also the most beautiful. It was made of what looked like white marble, with Greek style pillars supporting balconies. A large, circular one way drive way dominated the front of the mansion. The drive way circulated around a water fountain. Sticking to the theme of marble, a sculpture in the shape of a mermaid was placed in the centre of the fountain, holding a vase at an angle which made it look like the water was flowing from the vase into the fountain. The limo was granted access to the estate, and it slowly rolled in as the gates were opened. As they curved to follow the gravelled drive, Sophia could see that behind the mansion and the vast stretch of garden they had behind it. Was that a lake?

"Seto... It's beautiful!" Sophia breathed in awe.
"I guess so." Seto replied darkly. Sophia looked over at him. A shadow had crossed over his face, a frown marring his brow. It disappeared as soon as it had appeared, and a small smile touched his lips. "It is a work of art really. Designed by a monster, but far from a monstrosity." Obviously talking about his late stepfather Gozaburo, Sophia looked at him sympathetically. She reached her hand out and grasped his hand in an affectionate squeeze, and as soon as she did so, she felt him tense up. She withdrew her hand. "I'm sorry." She muttered, looking at her hands she had just placed in her lap.
Silence came between them for a few seconds.
"Don't worry about it." he replied, patting her shoulder. The limo came to a stop. A moment passed, and the door was opened for Sophia. The driver, Rolland, offered her his hand. She smiled and took it. Climbing out of the car, she was surprised to see the trunk had been opened and maids and other household helpers were already unloading her things. She thanked them all as they walked past her. They ranged from their late twenties to their early forties. Sophia turned to Seto, who had gotten from the car and was making his way round to the side where she stood.

"Come on, lets help you find a room." he said, placing his hand on the small of her back and gently guided her up the steps into the house.

"I'm sure any room will be fine. I'm honeslty not fussy." Sophia laughed nervously.

"I don't care if you're not fussy. I'm not having my business partner's daughter in a cupboard. Follow me, I'll show you where all the rooms are."

Seto had opened the doors to what looked like heaven. The mansion opened into a large foyer with black stone floors. There was rosewood tables and end tables dotted here and there, with various plants and items of pottery on it. There was two winding staircases, both leading to opposite directions of the mansion. As the last of the help through the the door, it was shut behind the last one. They marched up the stairs, carrying her things. "Put them in my room for now, we'll wait until after dinner to move things around." Seto declared. The help, all fourteen maids and twelve manservants (call them butlers from now on!). Marched up the east set of stairs, carrying bags, boxes and odd bits and pieces. She saw one girl, about her early thirties, carrying her jewellery box on top of a few folded sheets, with a rather large stomach protruding under her uniform. Obviously she was about six months pregnant. She had brown, curly hair, with snapping blue eyes, eyes that were still young and shining. Seto motioned her to follow the line of maids and butlers, all carrying something of Sophia's. "I didn't think I brought so much with me." Sophia mumble to Seto.

"You didn't. Pegasasus, I mean, your dad, sent things he had bought for you especially." Seto informed her. Sophia smiled at this. Her dad had always been a sweet, generous man. Except when he was in possession of the eye, then he didnt bother talking to her at all. As they appoached the top of the stairs, Seto told her to pick any room, apart from the one on the far left, which belonged to him. There were at least six other rooms in the hallway. Sophia opened each door. The first three rooms where rather boring, with flat colours like brown, beige, and white as their carpet or wallpaper colours. The fourth room was a dark red colour, its bed covers and curtains black velvet. Shuddering, Sophia shut the door on this room. It was as if she was confined to a coffin. The fifth room was a washed out blue, with white linen. It reminded her of the fishing harbour that was near her grandmother's house in Italy.

That left the last room, the one directly opposite Seto's own. The door, unlike the others which were made with the same oak, was made of a polished dark wood. She opened the door, and a flowery fresh scent wafted into her lungs. The room itself was very large. The walls were a french rose (a shade of pink for all you uneducated peasants out there ;D I joke, I myself found out from Wikipedia!! ) which was a stark contrast to the masculinity of the other rooms. The bed itself was a double, and pushed to the middle of the room. The bed cloths were silk and black, as where the curtains. There was a wardrobe, with a full length mirror on the outside. The carpet was that of a fluffy white, with a soft pink rug on the floor. But what appealed to Sophia the most was the floor to ceiling windows that acted as a door to a balconey. The windows were covered by a see through white curtain. Walking into the room, the smell of flowers got stronger. She opened the curtains, and the already open windows gave her access to the balconey. Looking over the railing, she had an extraordinary view of the lake, and the flower gardens beneath it. Roses grew, honeysuckle climbed up the side of the house, and ivy grew along side the door. "I like this one!" Sophia felt giddy. She heard the smirk in Seto's voice when he said: "Then it's yours." Sophia whirled around and her smile grew wider. "Thank you!" She giggled. "You didn't have to do this you know!"
Seto's smirk shrunk into a small smile. "I did." Sophia looked puzzled. "This is your home, too."
With that, he signalled her to follow him, and he walked down the corridor.

This is going to interesting, Sophia thought, scurrying after him.