The Transfer Student

The Transfer Student: Chapter Twenty

"Seriously?" I was thinking of something more modern when I heard what my family had been up to for the last thousand years...you know, a high-tech fortress with lasers and shit. Not this.

"Appearances," Shane said simply, getting out of his car. 

Opening the door I smelled water, moss, open air, and something that was altogether foreign. My stomach twisted. I already missed the summer smell of Louisiana, and my house, and my bed, but most of all my horse.

Swallowing hard I followed Shane up to the castle-like mansion. The place looked like Prince Charming's home, complete with a large garden overlooking a loch, and a stable at the edge of the estate. Horses of every color and size had their run of the fields surrounding the mansion and garden, kept in by a low stone wall. 

The whole thing was sickeningly picturesque.

As we strode up the gravel path-since Shane decided to leave his car parked outside the wrought-iron gate entrance-the heavy, oak front door of the castle opened.

A tall woman with auburn hair strode out, half turned around, talking to someone behind her. "...I don't care Bill, if Isabella doesn't arrive within the next two days I will skin Shane alive, and she had better not have a scratch on her." A man who could've played a warrior in any movie he chose followed the woman, who still had not turned around. "Kathrine, you know you would not have picked Shane to protect Isabella if you did not think he could do it."

Then they both noticed me, and stopped dead in their tracks.

Deja vu swamped me. The woman's hair, her voice...the man's eyes, the set of his mouth. I recognized these features, and my brain hurt that I could not remember why.

They walked toward me, but I sucked in a breath and stepped back, bumping into Shane. Edging behind him I heard the people say, "does she not recognize us?"

Shane glanced back at me, but I was staring at my shaking hands. "Well, not only was it a very long time ago, but I think whoever catpured her also drugged her." He sighed, "plus, the parents she had took very good care of her and loved her, she's not ready to just replace them with you two."

That was it. My vision blurred and the pain that I had been holding back rose up to my chest in full force. Forgetting that I didn't really trust or like him, I grabbed the back of Shane's jacket and pressed my face into his back, trying to smother my grief.

Shane stiffened, "Will you give her some time to herself?"

"Of course," my father said, though I could not see him. Their footsteps faded down the path that ran alongside the mansion to the garden.

"Don't cry, I know it's a lot to handle right now, but I promise things will sort themselves out." Shane didn't pull away, just stood their while I soaked his jacket.

Sniffing, I let go of him and rubbed my eyes, though the tears did not stop. "I know," I mumbled.

Turning, Shane leaned down a little so he could look me clearly in the eyes, "Come on, Princess, it looks like you could use some sleep."

I nodded. Putting an arm tentatively around my shoulders Shane led me into the mansion.