Demons and Diamonds

Chapter 4: Chandeliers and Champagne

I tucked the box under my arm as Elijah and Will led be across the room to one of the bookshelves. Elijah whispered some words that definitely weren't in English, and a portion of the bookshelf slid backwards and sideways, revealing what seemed to be a waterfall of rippling air where the wall should have been. I couldn't see to the other side, and I was seriously freaked.

"Ready?" Will asked, grabbing my hand.

"Ready for what?" I managed to get the words out before he leaped-dragging me behind him- into the shimmering air. It felt like being in a plane at take off- the stomach dropping feeling as you no longer had control; you were no longer on the ground. It was over in a split second, however, and when I managed to open my eyes, I realised we were in a strange house.

"Where are you taking me?" For the first time since meeting the two boys, I felt like I was in danger.

"Home." Elijah said, lighting some candles. The room was relatively dark before, and I couldn't make out much at all; but now, as the room gradually grew brighter, I noticed that it wasn't a house so much as a hotel. To be honest, it was the fanciest hotel I'd ever seen in my life; a huge chandelier hung overhead, glittering with gold and diamonds dripping like raindrops. As I watched, the candles on it lit up; the flames flickering brightly. Will chuckled behind me.

"How did you do that?" I asked in awe.

"Being Nephilim has its perks." He winked, walking on ahead of me. We were in the foyer of the hotel; that much was clear. The floor was pristine marble and seemed to flow upwards seamlessly into two marble staircases which each led up to a landing, which stretched on in either direction in hallways patched with doors and expensive artwork.

"What is this place?" I asked. What could have been a fancy hotel was a secret wonderland, lit only by candlelight. At either side of the foyer; plants, trees, vines and flowers of every type seemed to grow up out of the floor and cover the walls. Not in an overgrown way, kind of in a secret garden way. In the centre of the room was an incredible fountain which was filled with fish of every colour, their scales glittering in the candlelight.

"This is the Sanctuary. Kind of a halfway-house for supernatural beings." Elijah smiled, the dark chocolate of his eyes seeming to melt and become languid in the dim light. His black hair shone like the night sky. "Nobody's home at the moment."

"Would you like the grand tour?" Will appeared beside me.

"Um, I think I should probably be getting home..." I would have loved to stay in this magical place; but that was exactly what it was. It was something that didn't exist and this was all an elaborate practical joke.

"Cassie, this is your home. The house and Susan...they were a glamour. A trick of the mind. Really, Susan is a single woman who lives in an apartment block in town. If you were to go back now; that is what you'd find. She wouldn't even know who you are." Elijah said the words as lightly as he could.

"You're lying." I snapped. I turned around and noticed the doors behind me; which we must have come through. I opened the doors and walked outside, only to gasp. I was in my front yard. This was all so disorienting. I turned around and saw the hotel; a huge, Spanish themed hotel where my house used to be. Looking down the short street, I saw Abby's house, and the several other more expensive homes of Maple Grove; but where my 19th century-style two storey home was, there was now a hotel. It was too much to take in. I collapsed on the front step and put my head in my hands. I heard the door open behind me, but I didn't turn around.

"I'm sorry to drop all of this on you at once, but now that Delores is dead, we need you." Elijah put his hand on my shoulder, and I shrugged it off.

"Why do you need me? Why couldn't you just leave me alone?" I sobbed quietly. "I was happy. I had a family. Now I have no one."

"No, you have your real family. We'll find a way to get your memories back, Cassandra. I promise." He took my hand and helped me to my feet.

Will wandered out with a bottle of champagne in his hand, and took a swig. I held my hand out for it and he passed it to me with a crooked smile.

"Careful. Nephilim can still get drunk." Will warned.

"That's exactly the point." I took a long sip and swallowed. It burned the back of my throat. I'd never really liked alcohol, but some situations just called for it. This situation, for example.

"Come on," Will gestured for me to follow him. "I'll show you your room."

I followed him inside and up one of the staircases, guzzling the alcohol as I did so. By the time we reached 'my room', the bottle was half-empty.

This hallway had about a dozen doors leading off it, and each was decorated in its own way. I could see a Chinese themed door with a paper screen, a black door with metal studs framing it, a light pink door with a unicorn painted on it, and so on. My door was relatively simple; white framed with frosted glass windows. Hanging on the handle was a small silver bell; and as Will opened the door, the bell tinkled; the most beautiful sound in the world.

"It's enchanted," Elijah told me. "You did it yourself."

I chose not to ask questions and just accept it as we stepped into my room. It was decorated in a French style - a style I'd been obsessed with for as long as I could remember. There was an ornate fireplace on one wall, with a huge canopy bed in the centre of the room; a black and white douvet covered it, as well as a dozen throw pillows in black, white and red. The curtains were a sheer white material and there was a vanity, desk and wardrobe decorating the rest of the room; two vintage armchairs resting in front of the fireplace.There was another set of French doors leading into what I assumed was a bathroom. A huge chandelier hung from the ceiling, lighting the room with flickering candlelight.

"You never let anyone in here," Will said, sprawling over the bed. "It was your escape."

I shook my head, frowning. The champagne was clouding my thoughts. "So how long, exactly, have I been living with Susan?"

"Six months, to the day." Elijah replied, leaning against the door frame behind me.

"But...that's not possible. I can remember a whole life with her..."

"It was all part of the glamour, Cass. They made up a whole life for you, and imprinted it in your mind, as well as Susan's...and Abby's."

"Abby too?" I was beginning to think that this was less of an elaborate hoax and more of a cruel prank.

Elijah nodded.

"Great," I sighed, tipping back the rest of the champagne.

I'd never been able to hold my alcohol very well, so it was of no surprise that I swayed on my feet. Elijah led me over to the bed and laid me down on my side.

"Get some sleep." He told me as he and Will left the room. "We'll talk more later."

I was asleep before I heard the door close behind them.