I just want to thank everyone for the support I have gotten on this story! Thank you so so so much for all of your kind words, please continue to tell me what you think!

Please enjoy, there's more Liz in this chapter, for all of you that love her.

Chapter Five: Surveying the Staff

"Thank you for throwing me that party, it was really unnecessary," Violet said as James walked her out of the room.

"It was completely necessary!" he insisted. "A woman's eighteenth birthday is among the most important days of her life. I could not let that go un-celebrated." The pair walked down the hallway towards her own room, when James hung a sharp left, pulling her with him. Violet was confused where they were going, but didn't let it show. She didn't want him to know that she was weary about traveling through his hotel with him (he probably knew anyways, so showing him he was right would only inflate his ego), and honestly, she was curious. The hotel was dark. She wanted to figure out why.

As they stepped down the carpeted hall, she couldn't help but notice as the end seemed to stretch further away, and how the red carpet spilled towards the walls, the pattern moving back and forth, as if the ground was like some liquid, a brilliant blood-colored liquid. Violet gave herself a shake and focused on what was important: the mysterious place James was taking her.

They came up on an elevator, which surprised Violet because she had assumed that the only elevator was the golden one in the center of the hotel. As if reading her mind, or at least her questioning face, James answered, "This lift is not accessible to the general public."

Not even daring to ask why, Violet stared straight ahead, paying close attention to the feeling of James's arm on her own, and the creaky sound of the elevator carrying them up. She could almost feel his eyes on her, they were warm on her porcelain neck. Her eyes fluttered over to look at his hands, which were large and strong. There was a cut trailing down one of his hands, and it disappeared under his pinstriped suit. She wondered where someone like him, a businessman, could get a cut like that. It was certainly no papercut.

The elevator stopped, pulling Violet out of her daze. The doors opened to an extravagant floor, decorated with red and gold. James stepped out of the elevator, tugging slightly on Violet, whose feet were frozen in their spot.

Not wanting to let him know she was taken off guard, she followed him out, letting him pull her to the large window that let her overlook the city. The pair sat on a comfortable bench in silence. Violet turned slightly, looking at her companion out of the corner of her eye. She watched his own eyes, which were near black in color, but filled with some type of melancholy.

"This city has changed since I originally moved here."

"Everything changes," Violet answered.

"Yes, but seemingly so quickly. It is beautiful to see people evolve, but it is upsetting at times. Had you been here before, I think you would quite like it," James told her, his eyes locked on the cars that travelled the streets below.

"What has changed that you enjoy?"

Violet watched as the corners of James's mouth turned up slightly as he answered, "The people. They are very different."

"How do you mean?"

The owner of the grand hotel lifted his gaze from the streets to the beautiful woman sitting next to him, the lights from the city causing her skin to glow softly. "What they deem respectable has changed. It is refreshing."

After another moment of silence, Violet quietly ventured, "How do you know the Countess?"

His black eyes growing darker at the mention of the blonde woman's name, James gruffly answered, "She has been a resident here for quite a long time."

"She's very pretty."

"Oh quite beautiful, yes," James mused, "Though I fear that vanity is often a cover for a deeper evil."

"Ah," Violet said, not really sure what else to say. She turned to face the city below and thought about her parents, who were probably out there fighting about whose fault it was that she left. She felt only slightly bad about that, now maybe her mom would finally leave her dad. Not that it mattered to her anymore, as they were not her family.

"You seem awfully quiet, my dear," James said. "Do you mind me questioning what is happening in that appallingly bright mind of yours?"

Not even thinking before she asked, Violet's head jerked towards him as she said, "Do you have a family?"

Taken aback, James thought for a moment before cautiously answering, "I have not had a family for a long while."

"Does it ever bother you?"

"Not particularly."

"Do you get lonely?"

James shifted, inching slightly closer to Violet. "I suppose at times, but I do try to keep busy with hobbies."

"Like what?"

A small laugh came from the older man, a smirk plastered to his face, "I had wondered why you had stopped being so inquisitive for a small time there, now I question whether I should take back my wish." He hopped to his feet, pulling Violet's hands so she came up with him. "If you so wish, you may join me in my hobbies at a later date. But for now, I do believe it is time to turn in."

Violet nodded and headed towards the elevator. James stood still, his hands knitting behind his back. Taking note that James would not be travelling back with her (and casually thanking the heavens for some alone time), Violet hit the golden button on the wall of the elevator, watching as the doors closed on her new friend as he turned towards the corner of the room swiftly, as if someone was there.

Not letting it sit on her mind, Violet exited the elevator and tried to find her way back to her own room. Somehow, she found the bar again, where Liz was sitting with her heels propped up, martini in hand. Her head turned, and noticing the girl there, she sat up straight, nodding her head in a gesture to invite Violet over to her.

"How was your party?" Liz asked, placing a fresh martini on the bar for the girl.

Sitting down, Violet answered, "Confusing."

"Oh yeah? Why is that?"

"There were some weird people there."

"There are some weird people all around us, honey. That's an important thing to remember if you're gonna be living here."

"I know, it's just bizarre to actually meet people weirder than you are used to. I used to think that I was weird. To be surrounded by other weird people, it's kinda nice. It's like we're all one big freakshow. I'm not the only one. Do you get what I'm saying?"

Liz smiled widely, "Perfectly. I think that's why I'm so at home here, too. I was accepted here where I wasn't at home, and now this has become my home. This is my family."

"Interesting way of looking at it," Violet said, staring off into her drink.

"What about you, darling? Your family was too much to handle?"

"They didn't like each other. Hell, they didn't like me. I did them a right favor by leaving."

"I can drink to that. I had a wife once, and a son. But I couldn't be a good dad or husband, knowing who I really am."

"I think you still can be," Violet disagreed. "Just because you're a woman doesn't mean you can't be good to your kids."

"Well, I think it's too late now. My son's all grown up."

"I really don't think it's ever too late."

"Says the girl that just left her family," Liz said, a quizzical eyebrow nudging Violet on.

The birthday girl shrugged, "You left too. Doesn't mean you can't go back. I can go back, but I think it's best for them if they work everything out without me there. Just like I'm sure your wife and son did when you left. It's just how life works. The key is getting back when they're ready. And when you're ready."

A brilliant smile lit up Liz's face. "I can see why he likes you."

"Who?"

"Oh don't 'who' me," Liz grinned, shaking another martini for herself. "You and I both know that in the day that you have been here, Mr. March has already taken to you."

"Yeah, you said that earlier, but I don't see it. I think he's just being kind."

Liz laughed, "He isn't just kind to people, Violet. That's not what he's like."

Getting really quiet, Violet wondered aloud, "What is he like, then?"

Giving a skeptical look as she answered, Liz said, "He's just a very interesting person. Really, I can't be the person to tell you what he's like. You have to find out on your own."

Pouting slightly, Violet brought up another question, "Who is the Countess?"

Liz's body froze, and she turned towards the new resident. "Oh, sweetheart. You have quite the adventure ahead of you."