venusderubens

Part 1 The Manor house would have seemed more at home on a Louisiana plantation than outside a California suburb. The tall pillars out front and the garden full of viney plants seemed out of place under the hot coastal sun. Julia was a tall woman in her 30s with a plush frame that clashed with her cold demeanor. She led Catherine through room after room giving the younger woman instructions. “There’s food in the kitchen that you can help yourself to, and, if you’d like, you can have any of the wine from the bottom shelf in the cellar. All I ask is that you stay awake until morning and make sure that there aren’t any children trying to vandalize the property.” Halloween had been effectively canceled, but apparently, Julia was still hesitant to leave the huge building unattended overnight. Cat, meanwhile, was doing her best to pay attention to her host and patron rather than marvel at the mansion’s expanse and decor. Whatever she does for a living sure does pay off, she mused with