The lights of New York City always looked unreal. The orphanage was in downtown Brooklyn, right by the bridge where the views of lower Manhattan shattered my thoughts of the word; impossible. Tall structures of glass and stone, colorful lights in bloom under the moonlight, and the never-ending chatter and honking of the city folk.
As much as the thought of leaving the orphanage filled me with a sense of purpose, leaving the city was one of the toughest things I could have ever done. The manor was beautiful, and I've always found the forest magical, but nothing could beat living in the world's most diverse city.
The limo had parked somewhere in Chelsea, right in front of the Vemoure Fragrance's HQ. I'd never seen the building in person, father had a blueprint of the building in his room when I was little—most likely when it was under construction, he had helped Louis build a headquarters in America, expanding his branch.
The building was like any wide structure, its crystal glass windows hidden by metal curved pillars that went down into the mini gardens that had surrounded the entrance. A huge screen was placed on the metal, advertising fragrances like Dior, Channel, Gucci, and many other fragrance brands.
Sophia put on her sunglasses while exiting the limo. She blew me a kiss. "I have some business to attend to," she says. "Victor will drop you off at Vemoure Tower, and then join me in the evening. Hope to see you again!"
I don't bother matching her enthusiasm, our last conversation was still weighing heavily in my mind. "Fare well," I said dryly.
Sophia walks into the entrance, her six-foot heel leaving a clunking sound on the cement that reminded me of Luna. A part of me wishes Sophia would trip and fall from those damn heels, and become a laughing stock to all those around her, but she walks into the building like a model. Everything about her is starting to irritate the hell out of me.
"She's so perfect," I murmured, staring back at Victor.
I was surprised when he gave me a questionable smug. "Perfect is the last thing Sophia is," he says, checking his watch. "Like the city?"
I smile warmly as the limo starts to drive off into the street. "I'm surprised to have missed the noisy sounds, is that weird?"
Victor shakes his head, his eyes kind. "No, the city can be suffocating, but it's better than the silence that comes with solitude."
—
The limo had parked right in front of a building in the wall street district of Manhattan. The building was made of glass, it wasn't that tall—it was about twenty stories high—but it felt massive from the dizzying symmetrical patterns of the glass, shaping the building like a spiral.
"This feels so …"
"It's an illusion," Victor explained. "Welcome to the Golden Hour Jewel Center, also known as the Vemoure Tower. This is where the whole family lives."
I turned to Victor as maids dressed in red and black walked out the building entrance and towards the van, workers had started piling my luggage into thick golden holders. "The whole family lives here?" I questioned. "In this massive building?"
Victor clears his throat, moving me to the side so a maid could walk towards the truck. His grip was firm, even with his coat and undershirt, you could see the muscles bulking out underneath the fabric he wore. He quickly put his hands in his pockets when I noticed. "To be specific," he starts, "our entire underworld operations does. All of our operations are planned here, our assets are trained here, and business is dealt with here."
I shivered. "Great. A mafia evil lair, totally not a weird place to live in."
Victor gave me a weird look. He seemed like he was suppressing a smile.
"The first five floors are the Museum which our family owns, it's open to the public on weekends so we take a different entrance. Operation rooms, training rooms, gyms, and all the assets live on floors six to twelve. The Vemoure live at the suite that's located on floor eighteen to twenty."
"What about floors thirteen to seventeen?"
"They're all abandoned, but never go to floor seventeen, that's Louis' private office, he never goes there, but certain times he does. The whole family was warned not to go inside."
"Why? Is he hiding something?" I asked, curious.
"I don't know," Victor states, I follow him towards the entrance of the building, "And I simply don't care."
A butler in all black stood by the door, he opened it wide for us and I entered. The butler with gray hair and a mustache that reminded me of French folk I met during dinners in Paris, gave me a snobby look, and I couldn't help but be reminded of the head maid from the Eclipse manor.
When we entered the building, I was shocked to see the vast beauty and greenery that surrounded the museum. "Holy shit," I whispered. "This place is like the MET."
I look around at the paintings and artifacts being held in glass prisms, and the artwork hung on the walls as high as the fourth floor. Each floor swirled like glass, you could see the multitude of artwork being hung even from down here. "You live here," I scoffed. "You live in a museum!"
"Everything here is storage," Victor says. "Stuff my grandfather never wanted and stuff other rich men offered him."
"How much stuff did he have to create an entire museum?" I was astonished. I ran up to the rim of the entrance, just beside the staircase that took you to the sitting space in the heart of the museum. It was a shame I couldn't sleep here in the confines of so much art.
"My mother was the one that built the museum," Victor says suddenly.
I turned around, surprised to hear him mention her, it was the first time he ever mentioned her at all. I immediately think of Sophia and suddenly feel ill.
"She was an artist, she collected artwork from so many different places," he said, his eyes softening. "She organized this center, called it Golden Hour because of the frames of gold that would shine so bright during sunset. I … never knew much of her, but she loved art."
I walk forward. "Victor … "
"We should go, we're on schedule," he says, turning away, that one moment of warmness he expressed suddenly disappeared. "Right this way Isabella."
"You can just call me Isa," I reminded him.
He scoffed, it was harsh and rusty from his accent, so I stepped back. "With all due respect, we aren't in any shape or form close to refer to each other informally. Or at least we shouldn't be."
I looked at him stunned. Was he setting boundaries with me right now? I can't help but feel offended. "Right … sorry, it's just … never mind, let's go."
He leads me to the elevator, and we walk inside, silence shifting the space between us. Suddenly I feel cramped in the beautiful glass elevator. "So," I start, trying my best not to be awkward. "What part do you play in … your family's operation."
He sighs. "Field work, I'm in charge of a squad. We're usually backup for my grandfather whenever he goes on dangerous endeavors, we fight other underworld mobs, and sometimes, if we must, we sabotage different mobs."
"Sabotage?" I questioned. "Like what? You put expired milk in their lunchbox?"
He rolls his eyes. "We steal drugs from them, mess up their meth labs, fight their gangs, and all that type of stuff that you would see in a John Wick movie."
"I'd never seen John Wick."
"I should throw you out of this elevator."
"But seriously, is that all? You just do a John Wick and then leave?"
"Somewhat," he says. "I just try not to die."
Before I could ask any further, the elevator door opens, and my mouth hangs open at the vast black gymnasium in front of me. "What is this the Olympics?"
"Training rooms," Victor says.
I follow him out the elevator. Dozens of people in black shorts, tights, and fitness clothing train by the bars, weights, and even poles. A glass wall separates me from them. The wall is vast, reaching to the ceiling that felt over five stories high. I noticed other floors surrounding the gymnast from the high walls.
I look back at the training area, I watch two girls holding sticks fight each other on a mat. The girl with blonde hair uses her stick to wipe the girl off her feet, she hits her head hard on the mat. Ouch.
"What are we doing here?"
"Thought I'd show what the gangsters you were afraid of looked like."
"What are they soldiers?"
"The underworld is a battlefield Isabella, you need to know how to fight like a warrior in order to survive."
I saw two men fight each other in combat at the other end. The bulky guy with brown skin and strong muscles held the lean man in a headlock, dragging him down into unconsciousness as the other gangsters surrounding him on the mat cheered him on. When the guy taps his hand on the mat, the bulky guy screams out in victory.
"Who's that?" I ask, stunned by his barbarism.
"Thomas, he's on my squad."
Thomas gets up from the mat, his eyes locked on Victor, he smiles so brightly that a dimple appears on one side of his cheek. His eyes shine brown in the dim light of the mat. He walks towards us, exiting the gymnasium through the glass door that I hadn't noticed.
"Afternoon Sir," he says, his eyes glued to my face. "I didn't understand why you'd delayed your operation today after we'd spent a whole month prepping for it, now I get why." He gives me a flirtatious wink.
I cringe back in disgust.
Victor stares at him stone faced. "I need my bike outside in 30, I'll continue the operation before the gala."
"That's just in 3 hours, Vic. You know how much London and Chris can't stand last-minute operations," he argues.
"I know, I get it," Victor assures him, turning to me. "But Louis has had me handle some business Up-state."
"Is she the bussiness?"
"I have a name," I sneer.
"And what could that be, my dearest damsel?"
"Fall in a ditch."
Thomas' smile fades quickly.
Victor rolls his eyes, leaning in towards Thomas so he could hear clearer. "She's the daughter of the Eclipse Family, the one being wed."
Thomas's eyes go wide, for someone so bulky and tall he becomes so terrified so fast. "That's the girl marrying into the family?! What the hell Vic! Why am I hearing about this now?I thought her living here was a rumor."
"So did I," he mumbles.
Victor hands land on my shoulder, I look up at him confused. "I have something to do," he says to me "I'm gonna leave you in the suite without me, I'll be back in an hour, I expect you to get some sleep, can you do that?"
I nod. I want to ask him what the operation was about, what he was going do and why he was going to leave me alone. And yet I can't help but wonder if I even want to know, if I ever want to know how much blood he had on his hands. "Ok," I simply said.
Thomas's thick hands landed on Victor's shoulder. He whispered, "what's your business with her?"
Victor almost frowned. "I'm her bodyguard, by Louis's orders."
Thomas narrowed his eyes, a grin appearing on his lips. "Good luck with that bud."
Victor let out a sigh and grabbed my arm, dragging me away from Thomas who was chuckling smugly.
—
The suite of the Vemoure Tower was more beautiful than I had ever expected. It was like being in a two story gothic castle but with glass windows, silver frames, and marble lined counters. The glass windows showed the entire view of the wall street district, its silky gray drapes transparent enough to see the sun setting at the horizon. And then there was the boutique outdoor style balcony with a fireplace and warm built in wood. It reminded me so much of Jover's Lake Restaurant, of the dull lights, fire, and calming wood, but with greek pillars shaped like bats and swords, like the ones from Dracula's hotel.
I'd always thought the Eclipse manor was the most beautiful structure in the world. When I had moved in, I felt like a princess in a castle, but soon I felt trapped, a princess caged in a prison off the coast from the world. But here, it feels like a castle in the capital of the world, with glistening chandeliers and vast walls of silver and marble. This felt like a dream.
I twirled around the gigantic parlor that housed a massive piano, right in front of the balcony entrance. I twirled under the chandelier. A mirror was placed in front of the piano, frames of classic artwork surrounding it. I looked at my reflection, at the soft tan of my skin that glowed under the fire lights of the chandelier, the straight brown hair silked to my back,the messy bangs, the big nose, brown eyes, freckles and small pimples that never faded away after I hit puberty. I always thought I looked basic, in fact—besides the life of privilege I lived, the foods I've eaten, the places I've been—I might've looked like the most basic girl in the world.
Yet something about the lights, the gloom of this dark room, made me feel like an ancient princess, not trapped, but ready to rule.
But then I think again. I'm not free yet.
Victor walks towards me in the piano room, stone-faced as always. "Glad to see everything is to your liking."
"This suite is beautiful," I say, mesmerized by the chandelier.
A maid in red and black walks into the room, her hands clasped in front of her. She wore thick red lipstick, her hair was a deep black, and her jawline was as sharp as a sword. She was so tall, taller than any maid I've ever met. "This is Lily," Victor says. "She's your personal maid from now on, she and our Butler, Elvis, will tend to your needs."
Lily steps forward. "It's an honour to meet you Ms. Eclipse."
I shake my head, flustered. "Isabella is fine—or Isa, it's nice to meet you Lily."
Lily's neutral smile turned downwards, for a second I thought I offended her, but then she went back to her polite gesture. "Isabella it is then, I'll take you to your room, I'll also unpack your bags, is there anything you currently need?"
"My laptop, and a new set of clothing, maybe a sweater and a trouser."
Lily nods. "Not a problem, let me accompany you to your quarters."
I looked towards Victor, he seemed like he was waiting for me to leave. "I'll get settled in then, where is the rest of the family?"
"Work, travelling, at their own homes, depends, " he says. "You'll live on the first floor in the guest room, it's been decorated to accommodate your interest—a desk for your studies, a view of the district, and your own bathroom."
I was surprised to smile so warmly, I didn't think he could do that in such a short amount of time. "Thank you," I said.
He nods, and an awkward wave of silence entraps us both for a couple of seconds until he says, "I'll get going then."
I watched as the blonde man walked silently out of the room, his steps not making a sound. He walked towards the elevator we came from, it opened instantly, and in a few seconds, he was gone.
I might've stared too hard because Lily cleared her throat. I instantly turned to her, embarrassed. The tall woman gestured towards the door. "On we go Isabella."
I nodded. Something about her made me wary. I didn't know whether it was her height or how sharp all of her features were, but she seemed eerie, even in the way she walked.
Lily walked me down the hall, I passed by the massive wooden dining table that could house twenty people, and the massive living room with gray sofas, blankets draped at their sides. We passed through the spiral staircase, I caught a glimpse of the blue lining on the second floor. "Where do the other family members sleep?"
"A majority of the family—mostly youngsters—reside on the second floor," Lily says. "Third floor is the families library, parlors, bars, and where many of the adults sleep."
I nod my head. "What about my fiance,"I asked.
"He doesn't live here," she says. I stared at the back of her head, shocked. I stopped for a moment before catching up to her in the hallway. "Why," I ask.
"He likes his freedom," she simply says. "He has an apartment in SoHo."
I shouldn't be disappointed, because him not living here might've been the best thing ever, but I was too curious about him. I thought if he resided here then it'd be possible for me to uncover his mysteriousness.
Lily stops in front of a gray door, she opens it and I peer inside at what I suppose is my room. Victor had been right, everything was accommodating my style. Baby blue walls that matched the Eclipse family's color, and a big desk in front of the window that showed a pleasant view of the district, right under me was the entrance to the Tower. I leaned on the glass, I noticed motorcycles drive out of the garage next door, about five of them. I wondered if Victor was one of them.
"I will bring you your things," Lily said. "Please ring the sensory button in the bathroom if you need anything." And with that she leaves.
I let out a breath, and jumped onto the massive bed that took up a good percentage of the room. Once I got my laptop I should skype or email Sal, tell him I made it to the city safely.
Before I could think of anything I turned to my side and felt something sting my waist. I turned over in pain, wondering what the hell that was that had been lying on the bed, but all thought seemed to fade away when I saw a small rectangular box, a model of a phone on it.
I picked it up. I didn't know much about iphones, but this had to be the latest version. But it wasn't the phone that was baffling, but the yellow sticky note on it instead.
###-###-####
add my number once you open the phone,
Victor
I didn't know what it was. Maybe the kind gesture that I hadn't received in a long time, or maybe the pity that I had for him about his past. But I couldn't help but smile at his kindness. But it wasn't the way I smiled at his gesture that concerned me, nor was it my pity for him.
It was rather the way my heart fluttered.