Still Life Louise Penny Novels & Stories

POV: Aurora The limestone walls of our townhouse always smelled faintly of dead lilies and floor wax…the expensive, structural fragrance of a mausoleum built for two. I sat on the edge of the velvet chaise in my dressing room, unpinning my hair with slow, rhythmic movements. One by one, the heavy silver bobby pins dropped onto the marble vanity with a series of clean, metallic clinks. In the mirror, my reflection looked back at me with the pale, unblinking clarity of a creature that had lived underground for a very long time.

They were weapons. The only flowers were calla lilies. Thousands of them. White, funereal, and stark, their scent a cloying, chemical memory of a wedding that had never been. And in the center of it all, the pièce de résistance, the first thing the critics would see, was the "Phoenix Rising" collection. Her biography. Her confession. Her declaration of war. "They are animals," a voice, dry as paper, said from her side.

It wasn't Pauline. Penny stood at the foot of the bed. She had discarded her robe. She stood there completely exposed, her skin glowing in the dim lamplight. She moved toward me with a slow, predatory grace, her eyes locked on mine with a desperate hunger. "You're finally awake," she whispered, crawling onto the edge of the mattress. She reached up, her hands grasping her breasts, squeezing them until the nipples stood firm and dark against the pale skin. She let out a soft moan, watching my face for a reaction. I wanted to push her off, but my limbs felt like they were made of stone.

he explained "Deal with it"I said and walked away gingerly Guess the auction is about to start....men started coming but women we're much I climbed down the stairs and sat down on a couch I ran my eyes over the room and it caught sight of what... Penny! Penny POV I stared at the piece of paper in my hand and walked away I arrived at the manison and wore an oversized hoodie with a mini skirt "Will you be coming back tonight miss?"nanny asked "Of course Nanny"

She would have expected to see one there. Even more strange was the walking stick the blonde woman held to her chest. She was blind. Penny stepped back to observe the portrait with a practiced eye. It didn't look like a family portrait anymore rather it looked like a silent message; a quiet affair. The ticking of the clock brought her back to her senses. The van!

“Of course, sweetheart. You can pick any room you want.” That earned her a giggle before Vita ran off to explore, her little feet padding against the wooden floors. Across the room, Penelope was utterly mesmerized. The moment they’d entered, she had been drawn to the paintings, running her fingers over the canvases as if they could whisper their secrets to her. “These are incredible,” she murmured, her eyes gleaming with admiration. She stood before a massive portrait—a hauntingly beautiful piece of a woman standing by the Seine, her gaze distant, lost in thought.

**9:15Pm** Penelope stared at the pink Suzy brush in her hand and sighed. Confusion marred her beautiful features, deepening the furrow between her brows. The brush seemed identical to hers, but she knew it wasn’t. Hers wasn’t missing in the first place, and whatever story she had concocted about it being lost was just a ploy to distract Laura and her mother, an attempt to cover up the panic she felt after almost being caught snooping.

Oh, I am too early to even cuss him. He reached for my hand which made me freeze and place it over his thigh. “What would you like to eat, Hya?” He asked as he rubbed my sides. I felt uncomfortable with it since a lot were watching. But somehow, part of me was already used to it. “The fact that we aren’t at your wedding because it was rushed and we are out of the country surely breaks our heart…” Penny said as she reached her chest. All of them mimicked Penny. She had curly red hair and a round-shaped face… she was also voluptuous and gorgeous. I just can’t keep my eyes off those beautiful curves. Her lips were small but full… It was the shape of a heart.

She reminded herself to remain calm as her mind threatened to crumble into a panicked heap. She paced the room, hugging her elbows. The petrified eyes of the various carvings around her watched her every move. Everything in the room, down to the quilted sheets, bore homage to some kind of torture or sacrifice. Penny's blood ran cold whenever her eyes glimpsed the mural on the right side of the bed. It was the scene of a massacre. Half men, half beasts ripping women, children, and men apart. The realism was troubling. At night, Penny swore she heard them screaming.

Lily stands, smoothing her unruffled skirt, then her gaze lands on me. “Let me know before you leave, Aunty Angie.” I give a small nod, passing her an apologetic smile as she leaves the room. “You both act alike. I’m beginning to think you birthed her,” Marina says as the maids arrange the dishes on the long rectangular table, displaying everything nicely. “I’m not sure, but this looks lovely.” “See? Exactly alike.” I giggle. We fall into conversation as she hands me a plate, but my mind isn’t entirely here.