Seven Devils and a Rose - Chapter 2
Seven Devils and a Rose
Pre-Order Seven Devils and a RoseApple BooksGoogle PlayAmazon (coming soon)Chapter 2The Magic of the Aurora LightIt was nearly five by the time I got back to St. James Manor, which was also Mom’s base for her Writer’s Retreatbusiness, and of course, my new home for the next couple of months. The estate sat back and hidden from the main road of the small town. The elegant building itself was securely tucked amongst the many tall trees, wildflowers, and flora and fauna that were unique to this island. Behind it sat a grand, lush forested mountain that acted as a protective barrier for the house, which never ceased to fascinate me.To say the place was mysterious and magical was an understatement. I was never the type to believe in supernatural things, but from the moment I had first stepped foot onto the estate a couple of days ago when I arrived, I had felt something different about this place, as though there was some sort of magical energy coursing through the earth which made a connection with me; which oddly enough, made me feel breathless, in a good way. It was like, when a heroine described how she felt when she was being kissed by the hero, which of course, I had never had the experience myself, since I never had a serious boyfriend and had only gone out on casual dates with guys in high school a couple of times. I was simply making a comparison, and thought that that type of description fit perfectly. It was thatsort of thrilling sensation that was gently coursing through every nerve of my being when I first stepped onto the premises of St. James Manor.I strolled along the gentle curve of the driveway toward the stately building, while my eyes feasted on the sight of my surroundings. Bright, colorful wildflowers grew amongst the thick groves of pine, maple, and cherry blossom trees that adorned the house; a charming two story building that had stood for over four hundred years, with its thick, dark gray stone walls, and many glass windows. It was a picture-perfect setting that’d make any photographer eager to take a snapshot.When I came to the courtyard at the main entrance of the house a few moments later, I saw Mom loitering about with a basket of fresh vegetables in her arms. She must have been busy picking them while I was away for my beauty treatment.“Mom!” I called out to her.Slender and beautiful, Elizabeth Nakamura, my mother, turned and smiled brightly at me, her blue eyes twinkling, as per usual. As I came close, she said, “Oh, you’re more Alfiethan ever.”Her pun on words, eh? How cute.I turned my head this way and that as if I was a model and asked cheekily, “You like it? I look like a boy elf now.”She laughed. “You’re going to make your father’s heart swell with joy.”“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” I asked.She nodded as we both entered the house into the grand foyer. “Just as long as he stops short of making you wear one of those elf costumes, then that’s fine.”I chuckled. “I don’t mind wearing them, though. I like cosplay.”After I closed the door behind me, we walked along the hallway toward the back and then headed over to the kitchen. There, Mom placed the basket of fresh vegetables on the benchtop and proceeded to make dinner for the guests, as well as for us. I decided that I’d be her kitchenhand again today, which I could tell pleased her, as I knew she had missed me and wanted to spend as much time as possible with me during my short stay.It wasn’t long before Anna and Margret, two St. James’s native women in their mid-forties Mom had hired to help with running the business, turned up.“What have you got planned for the guests tonight, Elizabeth?” Anna asked enthusiastically, checking out the neatly chopped vegetables in the various bowls.“And you’ve got your little kitchen helper with you again, I see,” Margaret said in amusement, looking at me. “You had your hair cut, sweeties?”I nodded my head. “Today,” I said.“Looks good on you.”“Thanks,” I said, grinning.It wasn’t long until dinner was ready and the four of us started setting up the tables for the five guests we currently had on the premises. They were all writers, here on their special retreat to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and just relax, let their imagination run wild, and of course, get some words written for their next books.Once the guests were nearly done with their evening meal and were now on to their very delicious dessert, it was our turn to chill and have our dinner.I was just finished setting up the table when Dad, Touma Nakamura, turned up. I noted that once again, his dark hair was a mess and his glasses were haphazardly sitting on the tip of his nose, threatening to fall off if he wasn’t careful.Without a word, he pulled me into his arms and chuckled. “Alfie, you’re so cute with that haircut. You look just like an elf character in the current book I’m working on.”I chuckled as I kissed him on the cheek. I said, “Don’t make it sound so weird, Dad.”He pulled back and frowned as he looked at me, “How is that weird. You and you alone have inspired me to write some of my best books since the day you came to us all those years ago, in your angelic form.” Then he cocked his head to one side. “But now you look more like a son than a daughter.”I laughed. I couldn’t help myself. “Then I can be your son until my hair grows long again.”He thought about this for a moment and then nodded in agreement. “From today onward, I have a son named Alfie Yuki Nakamura. Perfect. Just perfect.”Behind him, I noted Mom looking heavenward while Anna and Margaret were chuckling. As for the guests at the other end of the room, I had no doubt that they must have found Dad rather an odd-ball, though an entertaining sort nonetheless, especially with his intelligence and creativity.Once we had had our dinner, Dad joined the guests, who could no longer hold themselves back from begging him for writing tips. After all, they chose this retreat mainly because the advertisement poster had Dad’s name on it, a prolific and famous fantasy writer and manga artist with millions of followers around the world, and that his wife was running the place. They wanted the opportunity to ask him for guidance on how to improve on their own written material.Everyone, including me, sat around in the living area with hot drinks in our hands while we listened to Dad telling us of his many trials and tribulations before finally reaching the road of success as a writer. Now and again, Mom’s name would pop up, since she held a special place in his life, not only in being his wife, but as his number one fan and supporter as well. Every writer needs their number one fan and supporter, he’d emphasize, and his was Mom.Apparently, they—Mom and Dad—had met many years ago during one of those Comiket in Tokyo when Mom had been a transfer student in Japan. Dad had been an unknown fantasy manga artist and writer at the time, selling his doujin, or self-published work, here and there and at the biannual convention to make some money. Mom had told me that it was love at first sight when she had first picked up Dad’s manga and made eye contact with him. Once Dad, with his broken English, had asked her out, everything else was history and they had been together ever since.When Dad finally finished his tale of love and success, which I had heard several times, I finally brought up the subject that apparently still intrigued me to no end.“Dad, what do you think about another realm? Does it really exist? If so, is it even possible for people from earth to be transported there? I’m asking because today I was reading an article about it in a magazine; about an elderly couple who visited a castle in Europe and got transported to another realm or something.”The moment that topic came up, the guests were captivated and avidly turned their undivided attention once again to Dad, eager to hear his thoughts on the subject.Dad cocked his head to one side and then said, “Well, Alfie, one can’t simply rule something out just because it seems impossible in reality and scientifically. For all we know, there might be another realm or dimension right here on Earth, with people living amongst us. Or there might be doors that can lead us to another world? Who knows? As for me? Well, I won’t be ruling the possibility out.” He chuckled. “Anything is possible, Alfie, if you put your imagination and creativity to it.”Mom said from the other side of the room, “He speaks just like a true fantasy author. His mind is always up in the clouds with ideas.”The guests laughed, and Dad winked at me.One of the guests asked, “And what about you, Alfie, what do you think about the existence of this other realm?”I shrugged my shoulders, my cheeks turning hot in response, because I was suddenly the center of the guests’ attention.I said, “Well, I think it’d be great if another realm really does exist. I mean, it’d be wonderful because we get to visit it, right? I’m sure it’d be completely different from Earth where cultures, languages, and ways of living are concerned. I wouldn’t mind visiting the realm and enjoying the place, especially the sights, the people, and the food.”Another guest said, “You sound like an adventurer, Alfie.”I laughed. “Maybe I do have this adventurous side in me, and I wonder who I got it from.” I turned to Dad, who once again winked at me.Despite the fact that the man seemed to be an introvert and indoor type, Dad actually had a very adventurous spirit. I remembered that by the time I had turned sixteen, we had been traveling all over the world, from Africa to Europe to Asia to the Middle East, and even around all of North, and some parts of South, America. Mom had told me that it had been Dad’s idea, as he wanted his little family to experience life to the fullest; and to be honest, I appreciated that as I had enjoyed the time tremendously. Of course, I planned to do more traveling once I graduated from university.It was about ten that night when the guests started to retire to their rooms, and I was about to set off as well when Dad said, “Alfie, I thought you might want to be the first to try out the bathhouse. It’s done.”My eyes brightened up suddenly.When I had arrived two days ago, Dad had enthusiastically shown me the bathhouse, which was a charming little building that was separate from the main house and located to the north of the estate, nearer to the mountain. The reason Dad had been so excited was that this one could be converted into a hot spring, the type he was so fond of, which was popular in Japan. He had told me that he and a couple of guys had been working on it for over half a year now, to install some sort of mechanics that would turn the place into a hot pool like those in an onsen.“Really? Today?” I asked, not able to hide my excitement. After all, I was fond of hot springs, too.He nodded, grinning. “Why don’t you try it out. I was just checking it and turning it on before dinner. It works like a charm.”“Then I’ll be the first to take a dip,” I said, giggling in delight. “Aren’t I lucky?”Without further ado, I gave Dad a peck on the cheek and then turned on my heels to leave. As I was going up the stairs to get my things, Mom said, “Don’t forget to take a torch. It’s dark out there.”I replied over my shoulder, “Okay.”* * *READ CHAPTER 3 IN THE NEXT BLOG POST HEREPre-Order Seven Devils and a RoseApple BooksGoogle PlayAmazon (coming soon)
Pre-Order Seven Devils and a RoseApple BooksGoogle PlayAmazon (coming soon)Chapter 2The Magic of the Aurora LightIt was nearly five by the time I got back to St. James Manor, which was also Mom’s base for her Writer’s Retreatbusiness, and of course, my new home for the next couple of months. The estate sat back and hidden from the main road of the small town. The elegant building itself was securely tucked amongst the many tall trees, wildflowers, and flora and fauna that were unique to this island. Behind it sat a grand, lush forested mountain that acted as a protective barrier for the house, which never ceased to fascinate me.To say the place was mysterious and magical was an understatement. I was never the type to believe in supernatural things, but from the moment I had first stepped foot onto the estate a couple of days ago when I arrived, I had felt something different about this place, as though there was some sort of magical energy coursing through the earth which made a connection with me; which oddly enough, made me feel breathless, in a good way. It was like, when a heroine described how she felt when she was being kissed by the hero, which of course, I had never had the experience myself, since I never had a serious boyfriend and had only gone out on casual dates with guys in high school a couple of times. I was simply making a comparison, and thought that that type of description fit perfectly. It was thatsort of thrilling sensation that was gently coursing through every nerve of my being when I first stepped onto the premises of St. James Manor.I strolled along the gentle curve of the driveway toward the stately building, while my eyes feasted on the sight of my surroundings. Bright, colorful wildflowers grew amongst the thick groves of pine, maple, and cherry blossom trees that adorned the house; a charming two story building that had stood for over four hundred years, with its thick, dark gray stone walls, and many glass windows. It was a picture-perfect setting that’d make any photographer eager to take a snapshot.When I came to the courtyard at the main entrance of the house a few moments later, I saw Mom loitering about with a basket of fresh vegetables in her arms. She must have been busy picking them while I was away for my beauty treatment.“Mom!” I called out to her.Slender and beautiful, Elizabeth Nakamura, my mother, turned and smiled brightly at me, her blue eyes twinkling, as per usual. As I came close, she said, “Oh, you’re more Alfiethan ever.”Her pun on words, eh? How cute.I turned my head this way and that as if I was a model and asked cheekily, “You like it? I look like a boy elf now.”She laughed. “You’re going to make your father’s heart swell with joy.”“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” I asked.She nodded as we both entered the house into the grand foyer. “Just as long as he stops short of making you wear one of those elf costumes, then that’s fine.”I chuckled. “I don’t mind wearing them, though. I like cosplay.”After I closed the door behind me, we walked along the hallway toward the back and then headed over to the kitchen. There, Mom placed the basket of fresh vegetables on the benchtop and proceeded to make dinner for the guests, as well as for us. I decided that I’d be her kitchenhand again today, which I could tell pleased her, as I knew she had missed me and wanted to spend as much time as possible with me during my short stay.It wasn’t long before Anna and Margret, two St. James’s native women in their mid-forties Mom had hired to help with running the business, turned up.“What have you got planned for the guests tonight, Elizabeth?” Anna asked enthusiastically, checking out the neatly chopped vegetables in the various bowls.“And you’ve got your little kitchen helper with you again, I see,” Margaret said in amusement, looking at me. “You had your hair cut, sweeties?”I nodded my head. “Today,” I said.“Looks good on you.”“Thanks,” I said, grinning.It wasn’t long until dinner was ready and the four of us started setting up the tables for the five guests we currently had on the premises. They were all writers, here on their special retreat to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and just relax, let their imagination run wild, and of course, get some words written for their next books.Once the guests were nearly done with their evening meal and were now on to their very delicious dessert, it was our turn to chill and have our dinner.I was just finished setting up the table when Dad, Touma Nakamura, turned up. I noted that once again, his dark hair was a mess and his glasses were haphazardly sitting on the tip of his nose, threatening to fall off if he wasn’t careful.Without a word, he pulled me into his arms and chuckled. “Alfie, you’re so cute with that haircut. You look just like an elf character in the current book I’m working on.”I chuckled as I kissed him on the cheek. I said, “Don’t make it sound so weird, Dad.”He pulled back and frowned as he looked at me, “How is that weird. You and you alone have inspired me to write some of my best books since the day you came to us all those years ago, in your angelic form.” Then he cocked his head to one side. “But now you look more like a son than a daughter.”I laughed. I couldn’t help myself. “Then I can be your son until my hair grows long again.”He thought about this for a moment and then nodded in agreement. “From today onward, I have a son named Alfie Yuki Nakamura. Perfect. Just perfect.”Behind him, I noted Mom looking heavenward while Anna and Margaret were chuckling. As for the guests at the other end of the room, I had no doubt that they must have found Dad rather an odd-ball, though an entertaining sort nonetheless, especially with his intelligence and creativity.Once we had had our dinner, Dad joined the guests, who could no longer hold themselves back from begging him for writing tips. After all, they chose this retreat mainly because the advertisement poster had Dad’s name on it, a prolific and famous fantasy writer and manga artist with millions of followers around the world, and that his wife was running the place. They wanted the opportunity to ask him for guidance on how to improve on their own written material.Everyone, including me, sat around in the living area with hot drinks in our hands while we listened to Dad telling us of his many trials and tribulations before finally reaching the road of success as a writer. Now and again, Mom’s name would pop up, since she held a special place in his life, not only in being his wife, but as his number one fan and supporter as well. Every writer needs their number one fan and supporter, he’d emphasize, and his was Mom.Apparently, they—Mom and Dad—had met many years ago during one of those Comiket in Tokyo when Mom had been a transfer student in Japan. Dad had been an unknown fantasy manga artist and writer at the time, selling his doujin, or self-published work, here and there and at the biannual convention to make some money. Mom had told me that it was love at first sight when she had first picked up Dad’s manga and made eye contact with him. Once Dad, with his broken English, had asked her out, everything else was history and they had been together ever since.When Dad finally finished his tale of love and success, which I had heard several times, I finally brought up the subject that apparently still intrigued me to no end.“Dad, what do you think about another realm? Does it really exist? If so, is it even possible for people from earth to be transported there? I’m asking because today I was reading an article about it in a magazine; about an elderly couple who visited a castle in Europe and got transported to another realm or something.”The moment that topic came up, the guests were captivated and avidly turned their undivided attention once again to Dad, eager to hear his thoughts on the subject.Dad cocked his head to one side and then said, “Well, Alfie, one can’t simply rule something out just because it seems impossible in reality and scientifically. For all we know, there might be another realm or dimension right here on Earth, with people living amongst us. Or there might be doors that can lead us to another world? Who knows? As for me? Well, I won’t be ruling the possibility out.” He chuckled. “Anything is possible, Alfie, if you put your imagination and creativity to it.”Mom said from the other side of the room, “He speaks just like a true fantasy author. His mind is always up in the clouds with ideas.”The guests laughed, and Dad winked at me.One of the guests asked, “And what about you, Alfie, what do you think about the existence of this other realm?”I shrugged my shoulders, my cheeks turning hot in response, because I was suddenly the center of the guests’ attention.I said, “Well, I think it’d be great if another realm really does exist. I mean, it’d be wonderful because we get to visit it, right? I’m sure it’d be completely different from Earth where cultures, languages, and ways of living are concerned. I wouldn’t mind visiting the realm and enjoying the place, especially the sights, the people, and the food.”Another guest said, “You sound like an adventurer, Alfie.”I laughed. “Maybe I do have this adventurous side in me, and I wonder who I got it from.” I turned to Dad, who once again winked at me.Despite the fact that the man seemed to be an introvert and indoor type, Dad actually had a very adventurous spirit. I remembered that by the time I had turned sixteen, we had been traveling all over the world, from Africa to Europe to Asia to the Middle East, and even around all of North, and some parts of South, America. Mom had told me that it had been Dad’s idea, as he wanted his little family to experience life to the fullest; and to be honest, I appreciated that as I had enjoyed the time tremendously. Of course, I planned to do more traveling once I graduated from university.It was about ten that night when the guests started to retire to their rooms, and I was about to set off as well when Dad said, “Alfie, I thought you might want to be the first to try out the bathhouse. It’s done.”My eyes brightened up suddenly.When I had arrived two days ago, Dad had enthusiastically shown me the bathhouse, which was a charming little building that was separate from the main house and located to the north of the estate, nearer to the mountain. The reason Dad had been so excited was that this one could be converted into a hot spring, the type he was so fond of, which was popular in Japan. He had told me that he and a couple of guys had been working on it for over half a year now, to install some sort of mechanics that would turn the place into a hot pool like those in an onsen.“Really? Today?” I asked, not able to hide my excitement. After all, I was fond of hot springs, too.He nodded, grinning. “Why don’t you try it out. I was just checking it and turning it on before dinner. It works like a charm.”“Then I’ll be the first to take a dip,” I said, giggling in delight. “Aren’t I lucky?”Without further ado, I gave Dad a peck on the cheek and then turned on my heels to leave. As I was going up the stairs to get my things, Mom said, “Don’t forget to take a torch. It’s dark out there.”I replied over my shoulder, “Okay.”* * *READ CHAPTER 3 IN THE NEXT BLOG POST HEREPre-Order Seven Devils and a RoseApple BooksGoogle PlayAmazon (coming soon)
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