Phase

Collins- entry one Dad packed constantly now. He was ready to leave, yet I couldn't find myself letting go as easy. As soon as it happened he wanted out. Out of that house, out of this town, and out of everyone's life. I grew up here... With her. My mother that is. Matilda Graves, Loving Mother, and Wife. I feel numb now, the pain has not truly processed past my heart that is currently hardened in my chest. We will miss it, the funeral, but that is best. I am ready to say goodbye.. Dad is right, it is time to move on, there is nothing left for us here. I close my journal- the only thing that harbors my true emotions at this point. I keep on an unreadable face to keep all the emotions and heartbreak from surfacing in anything other than my written thoughts. That is one of the many things my mother passed to me, a hard demeanor when it comes to hiding how I feel, along with the long blonde locks that curl perfectly at the ends, and my catlike eyes that are described as hazel but glow a kind of gold when I feel any strong emotion. I am the spitting image of my mother, aside from the high cheekbones and sharp jaw I got from my father's Cherokee bloodline. Kids at my old high school used to pick on my strange eyes, but the beautiful face gained me popularity. Not that I care about any of that, but that is how high school seems to work. You are placed in the cast system based on money and looks, I happen to have both. Now I get to go to another school, a boarding school of all things and fake it till I make it once again. I grab the last box out of my room. Shoving the journal, my phone, and car keys in my purse and begin the long descent to the foyer. Dad and the moving crew are busily loading the last of our boxes and furniture into the moving truck. I unlocked the shiny black Escalade my father is truly too fond of and put my last box in the backseat. The last of my belongings in the house I grew up in, the house my mother and father built together and made a home, the house we had so many family dinners and game nights. I would miss it, so much, I would miss her. I had to look at the positives, however, or I would go mad. I had my father, the man I love the most in the world, and I get to live closer to my cousin Chloe. I have not seen her other than some Christmases and Thanksgivings we held at our home over the years. Yet, Chloe and I text constantly to keep up with one another and we finally get to hang out together- well every day. "Hey, pal you ready to go?" My dad yells at me as the men close the truck locking our things inside I manage a small smile and a cheery "of course" even though I feel the exact opposite of cheerful. I see him turn and speak to the men as they nod and start loading into the truck to follow us. My dad motions me over to say our last goodbyes to the house that holds too many memories. I look up at the towering dark stone and many windows with tears sparkling in my eyes. Dad locks his arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze. I hold onto the last anchor I have and hold back the tears. He kisses the top of my head and we turn to begin the tireless drive to our new home. Luna Falls. _______________ We drive through winding roads, hours later with nothing but water and trees for the last twenty minutes of the drive. I poke my head out the window letting the crisp almost autumn breeze flutter along my face. As much as I loved the city, not seeing skyscrapers and finally being able to truly see the blue sky was not disappointing, it was like a breath of fresh air. Like a picture straight out of a childhood fairytale, however, I did not believe a white knight would burst out of the trees to save me from my new reality. After what feels like forever we finally pull up to a gate and it whisks open to reveal a long cobblestone driveway. I look up and gasp at the beautiful house at the end of the winding drive. "Dad it is perfect," I say completely awestruck. The high arches and sweeping gardens pop out and seem to accentuate the white stoned house- or castle seems more accurate. It has a multitude of windows and black accents that make the house look like it belongs in a Better Home and Garden magazine. "I hoped you would like it, easy to find a beautiful home around here given the architecture of almost every house around these parts is perfectly crafted" he explains. I swing open the car door and just look up at the grandeur of the home and think of how my mother would have loved it just as much as I do. "Can I go in?" "Yes, honey of course the staff are already here stocking and cleaning so it should be unlocked." I walk up to the double wooden doors accentuated with black metal detailing. Pulling the nob I swish the doors open to reveal the foyer with its marble flooring and double staircase winding up to the second floor. My mouth just drops, he really outdid himself with this one. "Hello Miss" I hear an old Irish voice say from my left. I turn to him and smile my first real smile since my mother's death at Mr.Summers. He has been our 'house manager' since I was a child and has quickly become my favorite of the staff since then. I run to him and wrap him in a hug while finally bursting into tears. It felt so good to let go and finally cry it out. He rubs my hair and hands me a handkerchief to mop at my tears, letting out a soft "thank you" I take it. "I take it the journey went well?" he asks walking me around the house so I can get a lay of the land. "Long but not awful considering the house he chose" I continued gawking at everything and walking with Summers through the parlor, living space, and finally the kitchen. "I have to agree it is quite beautiful, your mother would have adored it" he smiles slightly while nodding at Ms.Rebecca the housekeeper, cook, and my old nanny once upon a time. Rebecca has pretty much done it all since the accident, trying to take care of me and my father. Rebecca and Summers quickly became family as soon as my parents hired them on, and we treat them as such. They live with us now since the move and I am thankful for the consistency. At least something is constant in my life these days. ______________________ After finally unloading everything the movers asked me which room to move my things into, I glanced at my father for the answer. "Head up and pick whichever one you want" he smiles at me while unloading family pictures and handing them off to Summers. I head up the stairs taking in the crystal chandelier casting rainbow hues all over the staircase, before finally hitting the landing and trying to decide which way to go first. I head to the right down a long corridor where light sprinkles through the multiple windows and casts an almost angelic glow on a bedroom door. I reach out for the handles and swing the double wooden doors open. My eyes widened at the room and I dropped my purse on the floor knowing this room was going to be it. The double glass doors framed by exposed wood gave a breathtaking view of the sparkling lake beyond our garden and pool area. I could not seem to help myself and pulled the doors open to take in the air and get a better look at the waters. Light bounced off the crystal blue waters, it was like nothing I had ever seen before. Turning you could see rolling hills and water for miles. I looked out and saw a towering mountain cliff with a glittering waterfall cascading down its rocks. On top of the cliff was a large estate that put ours to shame, it was truly a castle in its own grandeur. I would love to see it closer but from my view, I could barely make out any details on it. "The Winter's estate" I hear my father say from behind me. I turn, giving him a raised eyebrow waiting for him to further explain. "The family that founded Luna Falls lives there, Benjamin Winters, his wife Genevieve, their daughter Elizabeth, and their son Sebastian" when he finished with the boy's name a chill ran up my spine. For some reason, it seemed so familiar to me, so terrifyingly familiar. I shook it off and blamed it on the breeze. I stepped back into the room, closing the doors behind me. "How do you know so much about them?" I question, he shrugs, "Your aunt was telling me about this place a few days ago to get us better acquainted with the history of this town." I still have the chill rolling up my back and a sickening feeling twisting my stomach into knots. "Collins are you okay honey you look pale," he says coming over to feel my head for a fever. I brush his hand off "I am fine dad just tired from the drive I suppose." "I will ask the movers to go ahead and bring up your furniture so you can prepare your room and get some rest" he walks away to do just that. When he is gone I begin to survey the room before me, it gives me major Princess Diaries vibes. I open another set of doors to step into the massive closet and just stare in awe, which is what I seem to be doing with everything in this house. The closet is the size of a small bedroom with ornate paneled walls of a cream color with a small crystal chandelier casting more rainbows all over the multitude of drawers and hanging spaces. It even has an island in the middle for jewelry or other accessories I would assume. I do a full spin before opening the door across the room to find the bathroom, which mind you is even more spectacular than the closet. The whirlpool marble tub is tucked into a corner with windows surrounding it showing off the water yet again. Across is a fully glass and marble shower with shower heads tucked into walls and one handing down the middle for a waterfall effect. I run my hand down the concrete bathroom counters which is something I have never seen in a home before but added a beautiful touch. I hear men grunt and assume the movers are carrying my furniture up, followed by my dad carrying boxes. I run over to relieve him of the boxes and set them aside to be unpacked later. "So what do you think?" "I think it is perfect Dad" I smile giving him a small hug. "I know it will be hard without her kid, but we will be happy here I promise you that" I nod not really knowing if I believe that, I catch sight of the towering estate over the falls and shiver again. We will see just how welcoming this town will be.