Love and Memories

Chapter16

Daria woke up feeling nicholas body behind her spooning her like a protective shield.

She couldn't help but smile happily, her imaginations her coming through.

She's running a successful business with HR family and she has the best man in the world by her side.

Slowly she wriggled out of his embrace and got out of bed, tip toeing she quietly left the room to explore the remaining part of the mansion she was yet to see.

Daria was mesmerized by the exquisite details of the wall paintings, the frame of each door, the reflect floor tiles and the golden chandeliers that hung in every hallway.

As she passed by she met a few helpers, that bowed on seeing her, acknowledging her presence, which she replied with a subtle bow.

Heading towards the north side of the mansion she began to notice that there where fewer helpers and less paintings.

It gave off an eerie and desolated vibe, but it was beautiful just like the other side's of the mansion she had seen.

Her eyes caught the only door in sight, and was to open it, "excuse me ma'am" the butler stopped her drawing her attention to him.

Daria turned to the direction of the voice to see an old man in his late sixty, but he looked poised and neat.

"Good morning" "I...I'm just looking around" Daria said nervously.

"Good morning to you too" he replied with a smile. Daria was taken aback by his polite response.

"Let me tour you around, I know this place better than anyone" he continued ushering her away from the hallway.

"I'm sorry, I was just looking around" Daria apologized again.

"There's no need to be sorry" he said warmly, "your master Nicholas guest, not so?" He asked as they walked down the stairs.

"Yes, we came together" she replied, "I see, I am Donald, you can call me butler" he said warmly with a bow.

"Your young" she blurted out without realizing, "sorry" she apologized embarrassed.

"It's okay, I have been with the family for 30 years, I was here when master Nicholas was born" he said proudly.

"Woww" Daria exclaimed, excited by the information, "the mansion is an ancient one, passed down since four generations" he said taking her to the gallery.

"Master Nicholas is the fifth generation" he added point towards a self portrait of Nicholas.

Daria, fascinated, stared at each picture carefully, depicting the resemblance in each family member.

"Let me take you to the music room" he offered, with a smile.

"Okay" Daria agreed taking one lady look at the picture of the man sitting beside Nicholas.

In the music room.

"We have all kinds of instruments here" he said, "from drums to the piano and even the harp" he added proudly.

"This is incredible" Daria said as she picked up a violin and played a little tune.

"You play?" Donald smiled, pleased by the melody, "yes I used to play when I was younger" Daria replied, carefully placing the violin back in place.

"Why are there so much instruments" she asked "they look barely used" she added picking up dirt with her fingers.

"They haven't been used in a while, well not since after the incident" he replied.

"What incident?" she asked curious about Nicholas family.

"I am not allowed to say, but the Raceanus used to throw a massive party, and all these instruments where used for it" he said reminiscing.

"Let's go to the library then" he said lightening the mood, just then Daria's stomach growled.

"You seem hungry I'll go check on breakfast" Donald led her out, of the music room.

"Can I come with" Daria requested, "I would like to see the kitchen" she continued with her request.

"Oh no, I can't do that, your a guest" Donald refused politely.

"But I..." Daria was interrupted by Nicholas, "let him go, I don't want my woman to stress over kitchen work" Nicholas interrupted drawing their attention towards him.

"Good morning master" Donald bowed as he greeted him.

"I woke up to an empty bed, Daria" Nicholas said to Daria as Donald walked away.

"I just wanted to tour the house, and I'm impressed" Daria replied falling into his already wide arms.

"Is that so?" Nicholas asked raising an eyebrow, Daria nodded in response savoring the sweet smell of his afterbath.

"You should have told me" he said with a slight frown. "Stop being jealous, I Donald was a good guide" Daria replied pulling away.

"So he's better than me" Nicholas asked, faking an upset expression. "No I didn't say that, I didn't want to wake you up, that's all".

"Breakfast is ready, master" Donald informed them before quickly turning away.

"Let's get you fed" Nicholas suddenly smiled, arching his hand for Daria to take, which she gladly took.

Nicholas and Daria were welcomed with the aroma of a freshly prepared meal.

"Smells wonderful" Daria muttered silently to herself. "Here" Nicholas said pulling out the sit for Daria

On cue the maids began to serve the meal, Daria slowly salivated at the sight of the meal.

"It looks delicious, thank you Donald" Daria said to Donald, who responded with a bow.

"Come on, let's eat" Nicholas cut in, cutting up her meal for her "I can eat myself" Daria chuckled embarrassed by the presence of the maids.

"If it's them, then your going to have to get used to them" Nicholas replied signaling for her to open up which she complied to after a few minutes of eating Daria broke the silence "can I ask you something".

"Go ahead" Nicholas replied placing more food on her plate. "What happened, why did you stop throwing the parties like you used to" she asked, unsure of his response.

Nicholas shot Donald a threatening look, but he didn't flinch. "its nothing, eat up" Nicholas replied, "it can't be nothing, for you to stop.." Daria pressed on but Nicholas stopped.

"I said it's nothing so leave it at that" Nicholas replied as the tone of his voice increased causing Daria to fret. Nicholas stood up abruptly and stormed away, "Nicholas I am sorry" Daria called out to him as she got up after him but Donald held her back.

Turning back to look at Donald who quickly retracted his hand. "Allow him cool off", Daria wanted to ignore it and go after Nicholas but listened to Donald and sat down back.

After her meal which she barely ate, Daria walked back to the bedroom. On entering she noticed that Nicholas wasn't in the room. Quickly she went out to look for him, on her way she asked the maid on sight, who informed her of Nicholas whereabouts.

"Master Nicholas is in the garden area" she informed her.

So she ran out to back, suddenly she heard a gunshot and Daria eyes shot wide open, covering her ears in fear 'how did they get here' she asked herself as another shot was fired.

'Nicholas' Daria screamed in her head, running towards the direction of the noise, as she approached the garden another shot was fired scaring her even more.

Daria quickened up her pace, on seeing Nicholas standing with his back to her she saw another man pointing a shotgun at him. Daria threw caution into the air and ran to shield Nicholas from the bullet

"No please don't kill him" Daria pleased enveloping Nicholas in a hug with her back to the other man. Everyone pressent including Nicholas were shocked by Daria's sudden appearance.

"Momma, what's wrong" Nicholas asked stroking Daria's back, "why is he trying to kill you" Daria pulled away taking a look at the man with the gun and back at Nicholas.

That was when she noticed the targets that were set, and she realized that they set up a pitch, "momma".