Jezebel wasn’t aware she had any family left until she received a call from a lawyer telling her they needed to meet as soon as possible. Her grandaunt has passed away and they needed to read her testament together.
To say she was startled was a euphemism to describe her feeling. Since childhood, she’d been dragged around foster homes, never staying long enough to get any friends or to know her foster family. She didn’t know anything about her real family, all that remained was her name, Jezebel Tannenbaum. Her parents must have been traditionalist religious fanatics, and she hated them for cursing her with that name.
The lawyer firm she entered was a lot more prestigious than she expected, with a coffee machine in the waiting room and plushy seats, the receptionist smiling and an incarnation of politeness when she told her Mr. Strongwill would be with her shortly.
“Aah, Mrs. Tannenbaum, I am so sorry for your loss.”
“… Thanks.” Jezebel slowly said, shaking his hand. He seemed like an easy-going man with a kind smile.
“I know this must be strange for you, but your grandaunt made a fortune for herself and never had any children, so everything she owed belong to you now. The last of the Tannenbaum family,” he explained to her some time later, installed in his beautifully-furnished office. Jezebel’s throat went dry.
“And what did I inherit exactly?” She managed to say after a few times, earning a chuckle from Mr. Strongwill. He pushed a document to her.
“Here is the full list. Read it all and don’t hesitate to ask if you have any question.”
It took her a few minutes to read the entirety of what had been her grandaunt’s belongings. The person who had to take the inventory was either a saint of very well paid.
“The property at 6784, Waterfall Street, Ferrishead… I have a house?”
“Oh, more than that. The property in question is a manor of great beauty, built in the 19th century. A couple is taking care of it for the moment, and they’re impatient to meet you.”
A manor. She had a manor, and so much more. It began as a chuckle, but soon Jezebel was laughing so hard tears was running down her face.
“I can’t believe this!” She said once she calmed down.
Mr. Strongwill smiled. “This is a lot to take in, but let’s establish a list of tasks you’ll have to complete, and then we’ll book you a flight for Ferrishead at once.”
Jezebel nodded, and they set to work. She didn’t have many possessions before, but she couldn’t unread the amount she had in her bank accounts from now on.
Time passed quickly as she made all the preparations needed to depart, helped by M. Strongwill. She took the plane for the first time a few days later. She was eager to see her new home. She’d have to break her lease of the moment, but it wasn’t really worrying her. Crazy how much confidence a lot of money could give you.
A simple backpack as her only baggage, she took a cab to 6789, Waterfall Street. The driver looked at her through the visor.
“Why would you want to go there?”
Jezebel frowned at his distrustful voice. “Why wouldn’t I?”
He shrugged. “It got a bad reputation, some say it’s haunted.”
“A tenant couple live there, they probably would move out if it really was haunted.”
The driver made a sound in the back of his throat, but didn’t say anything further. That didn’t begin well.
“Here we are.” Jezebel paid and stepped out the car, and it quickly drove away.
The gate was tall and imposing, surrounded by well-maintained bushes, the vines entwined on the pale bricks adding to the haunting beauty. A message was embed in the door’s arch, its meaning unknown to Jezebel. Marble statues seemed to look at her; through her, with their hard stares.
There was no speaker or buzzer to announce her presence. She gave a gentle push at the gate, and it gave way, opening for her. She walked into the front yard, full of flowers perfuming the air. She hummed in delight and slowly approached the manor.
Conatus 
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