Chapter 2 AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE

The moment the gate fling open, my heart skipped, I was scared of the fact that he might ask me to leave the premises. I had no way of knowing the exact time, but I could tell it was really late. At that moment, I began to consider if I should go back home but remembering how much abuse I would have to face both physically, mentally, and emotionally, I became reluctant to even consider the thought.

" Why are you still here?" He ask the moment the gate open, he was wearing a night robe, water still dripping from his head down to his shoulder.

" Please sir! Once it morning, I will leave, I promise!!"

" You mean you intend spending the whole night here, are you not feeling cold?"

" It okay sir, am use to it"

He looks at me from head to toe like he was considering what to do with me, he heaved a sigh and spoke

" Come inside! "

" What?!!" I ask not sure of what I heard

" Come inside, it too cold out here!"

I quickly followed him before he gets a second thought, entering into the mansion, A big house, the kind in which most American kids dreamed of growing up. Secluded among trees on one of new York most exclusive streets, it had turrets, gables, dormers, balconies, a screened-in front porch, a free-standing garage, a gazebo, a pool, formal gradients, calm but I could also feel it loneliness ranging from the trees, flowers and even the rocks.

" Do you stay alone?" I ask but there was no reply from him.

The moment we walked into the living room, stood a middle age woman supposedly in her fifties, she was wearing a uniform that identify her as a maid and an apron was tied around her neck down to her shoulder. As she stood there, I could tell she was obviously waiting for us.

" What would you like to have Miss?" She ask and I was obviously surprise by the warm gesture.

" Anything at all" I obviously would appreciate anything at that moment cause I was extremely famished.

Within few minutes, I was serve a plate of steak with a mouth watering sauce, this woman must be a magician, how on Earth did she know my favorite was steak.

Without thinking twice, I began to prey upon the innocent steak while the young man walked upstairs without saying a word to me.

" Am Mrs. Lucy, but you can call me Lucy, what your name?" The middle age woman who has been watching me eat ask . Her look was domineering, and her aura was an intimidating one.

" Am Elena"

"You are welcome Elena, once you are done here, I will take you upstairs to the guest room, where you take a warm bath before you can finally rest"

" Okay, thank you ma'am".

The moment I was done with the meal, I followed her away from the kitchen into the main hallway to the right, is a large sitting room. The fire place, situated on the wall facing east, it has a tall mantel of Birchwood with turned spindles flanking a rectangular mirror supporting a tapered good. The hearth is set with dark patterned tiles design with light blue and white floral tiles surrounding the firebox. The cushions are made with rare leather and fiber materials. The ceiling is painted pressed metal with a curved crown molding. Walking down the hallway to the stairs, there is a center arch columns and molding with ornamental keystone designs. The haunch of the arch is angular rather than curved. She halt at the second floor right before a door by the left and gradually turn to face me.

" This is the guest room, if you need anything, do not hesitate to contact me, or any of the maids, there is a landline inside, you can always make use of it"

" Okay. Thank you ma'am!" I spoke and without another word, she walks away, I fling open the door and as I walked in, I was greeted by the sweet fragrance that spread through the entire room, the sweet design of the walls was beauty to behold, as I walked in, I jumped on the sofa, it was so soft and inviting, rushing into the bathroom, I couldn't be more excited, I dive into the bathroom, the fragrance of the bubble smells fresh and nice, it was definitely strawberry.

I lay there for hours in the bathroom, it was nearly two weeks I took a real bath, and I couldn't be more grateful for these.

After I finally came out of the bathroom, I hung a bath rope around my shoulder and fell on the bed.

I was fast asleep when I heard sounds coming from the next room, I got up, gaze at the clock on the wall, it was 2: am, that was definitely whimpering and it sounded like the gentle man's voice. I got up, got out of the room and walk towards the room where the sound was Coming from, the door was open, I gradually walked in, he was having a nightmare.

" Sir! Are you okay!!" I spoke definitely not expecting an answer, he was sweating restlessly, I could see trace of tears dripping from his eyes and I knew instantly that he had a traumatic past. I took his left arm, place it on top of mine, I gently stroke it and quietly began to sing him a song. Slowly his temperature began to cool down and in few minutes, he fell asleep.

AUSTIN'S POV.........

As I open my eyes, it was morning already, I couldn't believe that after two years of sleepless nights, I finally had a night of rest. Unable to grasp the mystery behind my new development, I got up from the bed and was so surprise beyond imagination to see the strange girl sleeping beside my bed.

" Hey!! Get up!! Why are you here?!!"

" Sorry sir!" She spoke as she struggles to stand up, I got to take a close look at her, she seems weak, but despite it all, she was the true definition of beauty.

" Why are you in my room?" I ask her again the moment she was fully awake.

" Sorry sir! I haven't slept for days, I needed a good sleep but you were crying in your sleep......."

" So? How is that any of your business?" I ask

" I taught I needed to calm you down before I can get a good sleep.......so I was trying to calm you down, I didn't know when I fell asleep"

" I see.... You can leave now, like you promised just for the night"

" Sure! I will just take a shower and be out of your skin before you know it" She spoke and was about walking out of my room but then I realize I don't even know the name of this angel who helped me through the night.

" Hey! What your name?" I ask her.

" Elena!"

" Nice to meet you Elena, am Austin"

" Thanks a lot Austin for letting me spend the night here, I will leave you to rest now" her smile reminder me so much of Maya, I felt like that was Maya standing before me.

After I dressed up and was heading downstairs, I could hear the maids whispering to their self.

" It was a huge shock to me when I walked past Mr. Austin's room and I couldn't hear any sound, so I taught to myself, is he dead......"

" Why would you even think such!!" Amira exclaim

" You can't blame me, since two years ago I started working here, there hasn't been a single day Mr. Austin slept peaceful without making strange sounds but yesterday was a miracle, I had to peep in other to be sure he was alive and to my greatest amusement, it was miss Elena, lying beside him singing him a song"

" A SONG?!!" Amira and Margret ask in chorus.

" Why would she sing him a song, is she a mermaid?" Margret ask and they all laugh together.

I walked into the kitchen and immediately there was total silence.

" Is breakfast ready?" I ask, sat down at the dinning table facing the kitchen.

" Yes sir"

As Lucy dished out the meal, I was constantly looking at the hallway, I couldn't hold it any longer and decided to ask.

" Where is Elena? Go tell her breakfast is ready"

" Am sorry sir but she left"

" She left? Why didn't you inform me that she was leaving?"

" Sorry sir..... we taught you were aware"

" How long has it been?" I ask, stood up and without Waiting for a reply, I ran towards the gate.

I ran for few miles through the street of Pennsylvania but there wasn't any trace of her, why am I suddenly angry, why am I feeling this way towards a stranger I know nothing about her, besides I was the one that asked her to leave but here am I foolishly searching for shadows.