The travels of An Amerikan Beauty

Little Linore · little princess

The travels of An Amerikan Beauty

Little Linore · little princess

"Is it cold where I'll be tonight? You should know, that I don't care at all Do I have a place to sleep at night?"

Looking back on that day as the train moved over the rails in the astounding speeds of 300 mph. The TGV raced through the tunnels and over bridges speeding to get to Italy. From there she was supposed to be dropped off by car to the home of multi-billionaire Gabriel Goldman. Who was this man? And what was he to her? Mysteries that plagued her on the days long journey between her Long Island home and Rome. She vowed to find out, whatever the cost. Though if Linore could known the answers she might have taken that vow back. Sometimes not knowing could save you a lot of heart ache.

As the train pulled in at the station in Rome Ito stood in the walkway to pull down her bags from the overhead compartment. The man was a shadow always near her. In his presence she knew no harm would come to her. Hands gripped the scrap book in her lap, careful with it as though it were the most precious thing she owned, and in her mind it was. With that precious commodity in hand she would leave the train, and her old life behind to see what Rome had to offer. More importantly, what mysteries might be revealed.

Italian voices filled in around her like long forgotten puzzle pieces falling into place. They reminded Linore of how far she had traveled in her life. The journey was not over, yet. There was still the ride to the Goldman estates and the mysteries she had yet to uncover about the Goldman family. Before that she had to find the man who was to take her there.

Raul was a tall man. Dressed in that black on black suit, the black gloves holding the brim of his black hat resting against his thigh. Only the white dress shirt underneath with the white buttons and the black tie perfect aligned to his torso, broke the black on black monochrome of his attire. He looked much like cookie cutter professional driver fo the rich and famous.

He walked towards Linore. His shoes not even making the slightest of sounds; expensive leather soles. She tilted her head up. The sun catching the pink tints of her sunglasses. The sort of glasses a child might wear playing dress up. The whole attire looked as if she was a kid playing dress up. Short in stature, with a black blazer jacket trimmed in a hot pink that matched her glasses as well at the Hello Kitty kid pumps on her feet. The fashion was new and stylish. The top underneath the jacket was a "vintage" rock and roll shirt with only the smallest details of sequins as decorations. Bottom was a pair of near metallic white shorts. Lips were bubble gum pink, make-up was minimal but expertly done.

Ito took her bags as Raul showed them the way to the car. A black Jaguar, pristine in appearance. The trunk was opened so Ito could place the bags in the back. Raul walked to the passenger side door opening it for Linore. She climbed inside the car, resting against the seat. Only when Ito joined her, did she finally relax enough to loosen the near death grip of her scrapbook.

Window between the back and the driver was kept up. Raul was now just a back of a head. One of the never ending heads that she had grew up around. However, even some of her drivers (the older ones) talked to her. Especially after school asking how she liked school that day. That was only when she was a child, a few years before Ito came into her life. after that it was Ito who followed her, took her to school and took her home.

Linore's eyes saw everything. The drive to the estate, the local shops, everything was taken into her memory soaking it up better than a dry sponge. This was to be her new home, and she would make sure to explore all of it in time. Learning the way to the estate would provide her with an assurance on how she could get back if she ever (and most likely would) escaped the confines.

The car pulled up to massive twin gates that led onto the property, the car rolled to a stop while a guard to checked the car over. The guard peered into the back seat, his eyes landing on Ito. The look on the guard's face was of distaste or distrust. However he waved them through, spite of his better instinct. The gates soon crawled open to allow passage onto the rambling estate. As they passed the gargoyles affixed to the gate posts seemed to glare down at the car and from in their stone heads mechanical eyes watched all who was come onto the property, recording every coming and going. The drive up to the main house itself took several minutes as it wound across the land and over a shady brook, but when the elm trees cleared the house itself rose from the darkness like a palace.

One thing Linore saw was the white stables. Horse standing around, their tails flicking back and forth in the cool spring breeze. The fences spread wide disappearing a mile or so down. Further than her straining neck to see. One dark horse did stand out. The color a little to pale to be her beloved Mephistopheles. She had wished she could have shipped him to the mansion like the rest of her belongings. The few things in the trunk of the Jaguar were a few dresses and some of her street clothes. Not even a sixth of what had been sent to the Goldman estates a few weeks prior.

The manor rolled into view it looked like something more from a faery tale than reality. Waiting at the massive front doors was one of the maids. The uniform gave her way completely. It was not the ones the movies used, though it still gave away the woman's station in the mansion. Ito was already out the car and at Linore's side opening her door before Raul could. The trunk was popped open once again. This time two other men came to take the bags. One offering to carry Linore's book. A shake of her head and holding the item close to her chest.

The maid whose name was name was Yuki Song, a small Asian woman that didn't seem to fit in the whole thing, and at the same time she moved as if this was all she's ever known. Yuki lead Linore to her new room. Giving a small tour of the room, showing that all of Linore's things were put away and hung up. all her shoes and clothes. The army trunk with her street clothes was set in the spare closet it. Untouched. The lock was still firmly in place. It was such an ugly thing. dingy green with stickers of the many owners before her. There was even duck tape on some of the corners and a sticker that had been ripped off that had been once of a naked woman.

Yuki bowed, leaving Linore alone in her room. Ito had been shown to his own room, and prior to talks, his would be adjacent to her own. Out her window she had the perfect view of the stables. The red roof of the barn and the horses playing along the white fence that kept them in. A few men working the stables and grooming the horses. It made her miss Blanca and Mephistopheles even more. Perhaps she could talk Ishmael into bringing them over.The thought of her brother had her moving away from the window to the closet. Linore took down a dress she had saved for this occasion and set about getting ready to meet him, when he called for her.

" I remember you... And I want you to say my name... remember you... And I want you to say my name "