CHAPTER1

Lisa stared up the long drive, speechless. She could just make out the outline of a massive building, which was mostly hidden from view by the massive trees that lined the gravel road.

Is this all there is to it? She was certain she had the correct address, but she was now seriously doubting herself. She double-checked her phone and couldn't find any errors, but this couldn't be right. How is that possible?

Part of her wanted to turn around and go to a coffee shop or somewhere and figure it out from there, but she knew that was her cowardly side. The running part, the part she'd let rule her life for the most part, and where had it gotten her? There is nowhere but misery.

But not any longer.

Not right now.

Everything had changed now. She was unique. And she'd be damned if she went back to being the same old Lisa. She was now a different Lisa, a better Lisa. She had options now, and they were good ones, and she was finally going to live.

She brushed her hair out of her face and noticed the sign, which was partially obscured by overgrown weeds. The Martri Hall. The taxi had taken her to the correct location.

She came to a halt again as she walked up past the wrought iron gates, this time looking across what had once been immaculately cut grass to a run-down looking ornamental garden and lake that had clearly seen better days.

She exhaled deeply and shook her head in disbelief at the absurdity of her situation. She was trapped in a boarding school she despised two months ago, surrounded by bullies who loved nothing more than to torment her about her deceased family. What made matters worse was that her only living relative, a distant uncle she'd never met, was the one who had put her there in the first place and had shown no desire to do anything but pretend she didn't exist.

But she was now free. Free from the school and the bullies. And, truth be told, she's also free of her uncle. Another family member has passed away. So she was the only one left.

This woman and this house. She shook her head again before picking up her massive bag. She decided it was time to find out what this house was all about.

As she walked up the drive, the trees gradually revealed the contours of the architecture, until the entire place appeared in front of her like a giant mirage, giving her goosebumps.

The place was massive, gothic, and almost otherworldly. Both side wings were finished with large towers, and the imposing set of stairs up to the entrance gave the impression that the entire place was staring down at you.

“Martri.” She said it aloud for the first time, as if she wanted to hear how the words sounded.

She shivered at the name.

“Hello? "Can I assist you?"

Lisa jumped and nearly twisted her ankle as she turned to face the voice behind her.

“Hi. "My name is Lisa." She said this while looking at the man, but she saw no recognition in his face when she mentioned her name. "Edward, Lisa."

"Edward hasn't been here in over a decade." He responded almost crossly to her, and he puffed himself up a little.

"Well, I..."

"Hello there." A woman called out to her as she walked up behind her. "You must be Lisa..."

Lisa spun around again, almost feeling outnumbered by the two of them.

"Er, yes, yes, my name is Lisa." With a smile, she responded.

"Greetings from Martri. I'm Mary, the housekeeper." According to the woman. "And this is our groundskeeper, John." She pointed to the man, who was still scowling and muttering. "Please allow me to show you around the house." She said quickly, steering Lisa away from John and towards it.

"How did you find your journey?" "How long did it take?" As they walked up the stone steps, she inquired politely.

"It was fine, thanks," Lisa replied, still perplexed by the entire exchange.

"Don't be concerned about John. He's getting a little forgetful these days. Give him some time, and he'll think you've been here your entire life."

"He replied, 'No, Edward has been here for twenty years.'" "Didn't my Uncle live here?" Lisa inquired.

"No, he used to be here all the time, but after his wife disappeared, he preferred to stay away."

"Did she vanish?"

"Do you have no idea?" Mary gave her a perplexed look.

"No, I wasn't really close with the family," Lisa simply replied.

"Yes, I see. Actually, there isn't much to it. And we must not speak ill of the deceased."

“No.” Lisa replied because she couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Okay, so this is the main entrance. There is a side entrance behind the East Wing that leads directly to the kitchens, but I'll show you that later."

Lisa stared around, holding her breath in awe. The entrance hall featured a double-height ceiling with ornate paneling that culminated in a massive crystal chandelier that cast rainbow shadows across the sweeping staircase below. Doors to the left and right revealed glimpses of painted faces peering down on any visitors below.

"It's a beautiful piece of neogothic architecture." Next to her, Mary said.

"It's lovely." Lisa exhaled, feeling even more stunned than when she first saw the outside.

"First, let me take you to your rooms. Then we'll take you on a grand tour."

Lisa nodded, not daring to imagine how her rooms might look. The entire house was hers. This entire ridiculously furnished and extravagant house was hers. She'd never had anything in her entire life, and now she felt like she'd struck gold.

Mary led her up the main staircase and through the gallery, which was lined on either side with portraits of lisa's ancestors. She followed mutely, trying to mentally capture everything because she was half convinced that she'd wake up back at school and it'd all been a dream.