Submission novel Chapter 4

Sansa felt as if someone had punched her. She couldn't breathe and her stomach had tightened into a knot. The picture before her was the most awe-inspiring view she had ever seen.

The car stopped in front of a large snow coated steel gate that was opening slowly, parting arduously against the thick snow on the ground. Sansa heard one of the men make a comment about shoveling the snow, but she wasn't really listening. All of her attention was now focused on what lay before her. Beyond the sturdy gates were sprawling powder-covered fields bordered by a wall of thick evergreens. Right in the middle of it all was the largest log home that she had ever seen. It was truly magnificent against the falling snow. It had numerous windows, almost every one illuminated. A large wrap around porch seemed to circle most of the building, only stopping once it reached a pair of oak doors. A stairway cascaded downward, jutting out from the doors and rolling onto the ground, flowing forward until the final steps were drowned in the white snow that covered the earth. The vehicle rolled past the open gates, gradually proceeding along an unseen driveway until they were parked just out of reach of the long steps. Lexer slid from his seat into the cold snow, extending his arm out to Sansa as she hesitantly scooted over to him. She looked down at his hand and reluctantly took it, bracing herself against his arms as she slipped into the snow.-

The white fluff came up to her knees and she shivered when she realized that she was barefoot save for soft socks that covered her feet. She fleetingly wondered where the socks had come from, but the cold overpowered any questions that she might have had. She followed Lexer as he led her to the stairs and climbed up after him with mixed emotions. She didn't want to trust him, but right now she had no choice.

"I told you that it would be cold.” He said as he opened one of the heavy oak doors.

She smiled nervously and stepped inside, immediately embraced by the inviting warmth of the home. Her eyes took in her surroundings and she saw that the interior was even more spectacular than the outside. A big living room with wood floors greeted her, and dark hallways led away from it in all four corners. In the center of the wall to her right was a large fireplace that warmed the room. She looked to the left. The kitchen lay just beyond the living room, separated only by a long marble countertop. She looked past the kitchen along the hallway that vanished into darkness. She gasped as another woman materialized from one of the four hallways and was suddenly beside her. She was pretty, with an easy smile, short-cropped dark hair and deep-set blue eyes that sparkled vibrantly. She was slightly shorter than Sansa, with a medium build and pale skin. Her face was sprightly and lively, and everything about her suggested that she was comfortable with strangers. Sansa couldn't help but smile in return, the girl was so welcoming that it made her feel instantly relaxed and strangely at home.

"This is where I leave you.” Lexer said as he turned to Sansa, “This is Tala. She will tell you everything you need to know. If you have questions she's the one to ask. She will show you to your room, help get you settled in, show you around the house, and introduce you to everyone."

Sansa glanced at the woman, who raised her eyebrows and bit her lip, then nodded in agreement.

"I'd introduce you, but I still didn't get your name.” Lexer waited for her to reply, but when Sansa didn't respond he simply shook his head and smiled as he turned to Tala. “Make sure you teach her proper etiquette, she's no good to us dead."

His final comment seemed to confuse Tala, who frowned and watched him go; her lips parted slightly as if she had wanted to say something but stopped herself. To her credit she recovered quickly and turned back to Sansa, the smile had returned to her lips.

"Come with me. I'm sure you're anxious to freshen up and relax. You're probably half starved, too."