Sharp
• Mansion •

Tony opens the door for me, same as he did with the car. Quite the gentleman.

Upon entering, my jaw flew open and eyes as wide as could be.

“Woah!” I scanned the room of it’s pure beauty.

The paintings on the wall were of family members, landscapes, or of large animals. They had similar boarders of dark wood with dark golden metal accents. The windows blocked with charcoal colored velvet curtains that hindered any light from seeping through. Underneath those were old thick beige tinged fabric, to fill any gaps that light could possibly expose through.

The wallpaper looked original from the making of the house, stained with dirt and dust. The wallpaper was black outlined diamonds with a rusty purple color. The color looked similarly to brown from how dusty the walls are, but the slight color of purple was still noticeable.

The chandlerie in the center of the front room wasn’t lit and had a few broken lamps. The shapes of the lamps curved at the tips to look just like a lit flame of a candle. The dark brass metal curved beautifully and a few small dusty crystals hung underneath each curved metal stick.

Furniture didn’t match one another but all had fabrics of dark burgundy, olive, and violet. They all looked as vintage as the house appeared. The coffee tables and end tables scattered precisely around the room looked to be stained with the same gray toned stain, creating unison within the space.

Lamps set on the tables were dusty as well and all had the same dark lamp shades that exposed nothing to the ceiling. Keeping the force of light downward. The shades also had small round tassels hung at the bottom, making shadows uneven.

The dark chateau rugs showed to have the least amount of dust and presented gorgeous patterns with roses and thorns, similar to a rose garden. The longest rug led to a hallway across from us. The hallway hung underneath a small round balcony on the second floor that connected to two curved dark wooden staircase on both sides to the main floor. The staircases looked like a bridge going up from one side and down on the other.

He began walking to a set of sofas grouped together with a large coffee table in the middle, which was to the left of the room. I followed closely behind, examining everything around us. The bookcases tall enough to meet the ceiling, against the two-story length walls. Filled with ancient books and some with different languages. Most of them carried no words on the bind of them. There also stood a built-in ladder to reach to the top most books, though it seemed like a dangerous ladder to climb.

I sat with Tony on an olive colored loveseat sofa and began looking around together.

“The paintings in this room are of my ancestors.” He pointed to a painting above the front double doors, a man in his late 20’s dressed in formal clothes. “That’s my grandfather, Anxillion Saltzman.” His name was on the small metal plaque at the bottom of the painting.

“He looks extremely young and good looking in that painting. What happened?” I chucked a little at my own joke, Tony did the same.

“Yeah, time got the best of him I suppose.” His smile showed clean pearl like teeth. His canine teeth looked sharper than all of his other teeth. Which made him look dangerously sexy when he smiled.

He pointed to a beautiful couple at a similar age. The lady with silk black hair and almond shaped eyes. What stood out about her was the dark cherry lipstick she had on her lips and the large ruby red necklace she wore against her black dress. The man to the left of her had dark brown wavy locks, styled with a black top hat. His attire was a tuxedo, similar to Anxillion’s, but wore a blood red bow tie. Similar color to the jewel on the neck of the lady beside him.

“That’s my parents, Andrew Saltzman and Marionette Sharp.”

He looked at peace looking at his parents. They’re close to one another in the portrait and looked very much in love.

“They’re stunning. I can see where you get your good looks from.” Tony’s facial expression looked like he could have been blushing, yet no rosy cheeks followed.

“Thanks, it’s most definitely my favorite painting in this room.” He pointed to a large painting of a mansion twice the size of the one they are currently in. “That’s the home in Tennessee. It’s much larger and has more arces of land. Since land is much cheaper out there.”

The mansion looked to have a more modern feel to it and had vegetation that looked very much alive, compared to this property here.

“It looks modern compared to this mansion.”

He laughed.

“It’s definitely much more modern. This home has been like this for years and my grandfather asks us to keep things the way they are. He grew up in this home as well and his father did before him.” He pointed to another couple and said they were his great grandparents. Though the painting wasn’t as well illustrated and didn’t carry a lot of details of what they looked like. Could only tell that they both had dark brown hair and light skin complexion. The dust covering the painting made for a difficult understand of what they looked like besides knowing where their facial features were placed on their face.

“The Tennessee Mansion is a home my parents picked and it’s not old and dark like it is here. The decor and furniture still are darker colors, but they don’t give off a old haunted Victorian vibe like this place does.”

“Do you not like it here?” Since he sounded unease about the characteristic of this mansion compared to the other.

“There’s things I do and don’t like about both places. Here, things are breaking all the time since my grandfather doesn’t upgrade everything. Over there, everything is being upgraded all the time with newer and better stuff which is nice. Here, there is history here. With the history tells amazing stories about the past and the character of this home is so unique. Over there, the home lacks. Home.” He gestured his hand towards the large bookcase beside us. “Many of these books are from my ancestors and are sometimes great to be able to read. I love reading and they tell the stories of their time and what happened back then.

“Right now, I’m reading of my ancestor Atticus Saltzman. Who was my great-great grandfather. It’s his old journal of when he was a doctor in a time where medicine and remedies weren’t as great as they are now. His story of it all so far is breathtaking and takes you back a little bit.”

“Wow, would I be able to read some? I am a bookworm as well and would love to dive in a biography of someone’s old journal.”

“I don’t see why not.”

Tony stood up and headed towards the bookcase. I sat still l, awaiting his pick and see what he had in store for me. His fingers slid against the binds of the books and journals, trying to select the right one.

“Here.” He took out a book of decent size with a dirty dull pink hardcover and held it in the air. With no words on it to identify its contents.

“Which one is that?”

“Lady Arielle Saltzman, born in 1695. Her experience during 1720, ‘The Great Plague of Marseille’. She lived in France at the time with her husband Art, whose full name was Artois Saltzman. France was the place where the plague originated as well. Tells of her story during that time where chaos was of all she knew. She had found she was with child and scared of becoming sick and dying, taking her unborn child with her. Then something happened, which you won’t know until you read it.” He walks over and places it on the coffee table table in front of the sofa.

He starts again and begins to look for another book which takes a few simple seconds and was further away from where I was.

“Victoria Sharp, her wicked life in 1720. During the same era as Arielle but lived a totally different life. A completely different storyline. She was fearless and over come many obstacles. She fancied men and sex but the plague gave a different environment to her hobbies.” The cover back was of brown leather with a string keeping it closed. Also seemed damaged and looked much older than the book he held prior. If I hadn’t gotten a summary I would have thought they were both different aged journals. “I want you to read both of them, if you can. I suggest ready Arielle’s journal before Victoria’s.”

“Okay. I will take your suggestion and ready Arielle’s first.”

He grabbed the first journal and placed it on top of the other journal and placed them both in my hands. I took the backpack off of my back and placed them gently inside where they would be safe. After zipping my backpack closed, I placed it back onto my back.

“Now let’s give you a bit of a tour of the place.” Holding out his hand to help me off the couch. “Shall we?” I grabbed his stron hand in eager to see what else the mansion had in store.

We travelled to the hallway and there was a small half bathroom in the hallway on the left. Flashing the light from the inside so I could see what the room was, then turning the lights back off. Just a toilet and a sink with a mirror small enough to only see you face and hair.

Proceeding down the hallway on the right and there was an office with a dark brown bookcase filled with encyclopedias and large desk facing the window to the side of the house. The desk chair was large and old, the cushion made of similar fabric of the olive colored sofa. Sitting next to the desk was a large antique globe with black metal frame holding it up.

Down the hallway was an open kitchen that had a breakfast table in the corner with windows to the backyard. Though the windows were covered with dark blue heavy curtains.

The kitchen’s main colors where a dark blue and black. With accents of dark gold mustard accessories. There was plenty of counter space that was spotless; excluding a toaster oven, some candles, a few books, and some cooking utensils in a large metal vase.

There was a plain black wooden door with a small square cages window that gave few of the backyard. As far as I saw there was a floral garden out in the back. To the very left there was a hidden stairs going downstairs behind a small arch.

Tony turned back down the hallway without introducing the stairs. Maybe he would show me later.

“Now time to go show you the upstairs portion. I did see that you say the downstairs but it’s not a good idea for you to go down there. I also won’t be able to take you to the third floor since that’s my grandfathers gallery. I’m not even allowed up there.”

As if he had read my mind. I was secretly hoping to get closer to those stained glass windows but I’m sure I can still admire them from the outside.

“Understandable.”

We proceeded down the hallways and went right when arriving back into the front room.

As we went up the stair case, every step creaked with every step. This was probably what he meant when he said things were falling apart. The noise made me shreak since the step did cave in just a little bit, making me think I was going to collapse in.

The stair railing also looked to have been carved but over the years of being used, it ruined much of the texture of the railing. At the top of the staircase at the small round balcony stood a large sculpture of a gargoyle. It’s wings were spread out, ready to fly.

At the stop of the stairs was an open floor with 5 separate doors. One of them was open as looked to bathroom, which was the room all the way to the right.

Tony led us to the exact room.

“This is my bedroom. In each bedroom there is a bathroom located inside each one. So my grandfather and I don’t have to share one. Though, mine is a bit messy so I would prefer you don’t see it today.”

Sounds alright to me.

The bedroom was bigger than my room, yet carried less furniture. The windows had yet to be clothed with curtains and the floor was bare without a rug. There sat in between two windows was a king size bed with a simple black duvet and black pillow, similar to how my bed was dressed. Nearly made, unlike my bed. On both sides of the bed was nightstands and two tall candle sticks on both sides. Standing in similar stands. To the right was a large desk, same size as the one in the office below us. Next to it was a large bookcase that was half full.

The room seemed like it had just been moved in since a few boxes were still waiting to be unpacked. The closet was opened and hangers were awaiting clothes.

The left side of the room was a closed door, assuming which had to be the bathroom.

He then led me out of his room and closed the door making it a short tour of that room.

We walked to the neighboring door. He tapped on the door with his knuckle.

“This is my parents old room. They still have their belonging in her and I would feel rude showing you their space without their permission.” I nodded and we proceeded to the next door. Which he knocked on the same way.

“This is my sister’s room. Whenever she decides to show her face again. Or if she decided to come here, this space is her’s.”

To the next door. This time he opened it.

The room was completely empty, no bookcase, no curtains, no bed, nothing. I didn’t walk inside since there wasn’t much to see.

“This room is just in case. A room that hasn’t been used for awhile.” He shut the door. “The next room is my grandfathers room that leads to the third floor. It’s the master bedroom on the place. So the space is much larger than any of the other rooms.”

“Larger? I think the rooms already are pretty big to begin with.”

He chuckled, “If you saw his room, you’d be amazed at how much larger it is than. We don’t need to to have another jaw dropping experience again today.”

My blood rushed to my cheeks in embarrassment.

“I’m sorry, this home of yours is incredible. I could only dream to live in a place like this. It has a haunting feel to it, but it makes me feel right at home. I’m always considered different with how I dress and what I look like. Even though that’s who I am. This place. It makes me feel, welcomed.”

“Well you’re always welcome to come here. Though I do have to break some news to you.”

“I am going to have to take you back home. You’re safe at home and I wouldn’t want your mother to worry about you.”

“But..”

“I just can’t have you run away. Not like how you wish to.” He took his hands to mine. They felt clammy and cold, “I do though, promise to protect you. I will do what it takes to make sure your safe. I do ask you a few favors though.”

My attention couldn’t be more focused on him, “What is it.”

“That you ask your mother if it’s alright to go on a date with me. Tomorrow.”

“I suppose I could do that.” My delightful smile made him grin with glee.

“And. You need to promise to go to school on Monday. No ditching.” While squeezing my hands a little tighter but not painfully, “I promise I will figure something out by then. And you will be safe to roam the halls without needing fear for you life. If I tell you that I haven’t figure something out, then disregard this promise. If I say nothing in regards to Monday, then I better have my lab partner back on Monday.” His swiftful wink made my heart skip a beat.

“Alright then. We have a deal.” He pulled me in for a large hug. His muscular body felt harder than I’d imagine it being. Felt like pure muscle. The grasp he had on me so intoxicating and left me wanting more when he let go of me.

“Let’s go settle in my room for a little,” he check his watch. “Oh dear, are hungry? It’s already 12 o’clock. I could have my grandfather go get food for you to eat.”

“I am a bit hungry, do you have anything here I can eat? Just do he doesn’t have to use his frail body more than he needs to.”

“Umm, not exactly. He had plans on grocery shopping today so we’re kind of out of food at the moment.”

“Oh, well that makes sense. If so, a prepare sandwich would do just fine. Maybe with a bag of chips.”

Tony grabbed the cellphone from within his pocket and began texting then glanced up, “Any preference on either?”

“Whatever looks good.” He snickers at my response, “What’s so funny.”

“What looks good can be different for other people.”

“True. Well, a turkey sandwich and classic chips will be good enough for me.”

He nods his head and finishes texting. Once he’s done he placed the phone back into his jacket.

We walk across the floor back to the side of his bedroom door, then grasps the knob and opens the door. Leading us to his bed to sit.

“Could we spend this time getting to know each other more? I would love to know more about your family, hobbies, interests, and you.” He sit facing me, awaiting my response.

“Okay.” I scoot further into the bed and lay on my side. The bed felt incredible, the mattress topper felt like a soft pillow and the duvet settled on top was a soft cotton. Unlike any I’ve felt before. “As long as it’s only getting to know one other.”

“There are many ways to get to know one another.” As he began to lie next to me

“Not involving our bodies.” I quickly added.

“Fair enough.” He took his hands behind his head as he laid on his back, “Anything you’d like to know about me?”