Liang Jian Amal looked in the room that had once been his mother's favorite, straight ahead lay the garden she had loved. Closer to the intricate relief than the center of the room was the bed, cut as a niche into the wall; where he had placed Chang early this morning. The covers were still disturbed from her. To the door to the right and saw that it was open, and hesaw that she had already found the restroom. He looked to the other side but found that she had not found the hidden doorway on the opposite wall. There was only a faint shadow showing that it was there though, if you weren't looking for it, you wouldn't find it along the expansive smooth white wall with the blush of blue from overhead. He reached out and smoothly pushed open the door to what was once Amira's sleeping and dressing quarters. Though he had been told by his grandfather that she had generally only used the one that he had laid Chang to rest on, that she had loved to be near to her garden.

The first room was a sitting room with a chandelier and several skylights that lit up the room brightly. It was opulently furnished with a large intricate cream colored rug with a ma.s.sive flower mosaic woven across it in deep burgundy and gold and emerald. The walls were painted a deep gold while the several plush chairs and couches and chaise lounges were a dark crimson, standing out in contrast. A few gla.s.s table with ornate delicate metal legs sat here and there near the sitting furniture. Against the walls were several huge mahogany bookshelves filled with books.

Chang would have loved to stay to explore more but Jian led her further inside to another doorway on the opposing wall. Inside was Amira's bedchamber was a large plush bed furthest from the doorway, a large mirrored vanity sat near it and several wardrobes, that presumed would hold the clothing, were lining the long wall to Chang's right.

On the left Chang saw a stunning portrait of a incredibly gorgeous young woman. She sat in the portrait with an erect posture in a plush chair her hands folded neatly on her lap. She wore a long deep purple dress with gold embroidery that ran along the front of it, growing more concentrated in detail towards the hem. On her head was a light orchid colored veil with gold beading on it holding back the majority of her hair. The woman in the portrait had long thick dark bronze hair, thicker than Chang's, flowing parially over one shoulder, from under the orchid veil on her head, down to her waist. What stood out the most besides her ethereal beauty was her haughty but tempered gaze, as if she could level mountains, but chose not to. The deep dark eyes that held flecks of gold in them, and full shapely lips that seemed to always hold a ghost of a smile. At the bottom of the portrait there were two words, Amira, 18. She looked so much like Jian.

"My mother." He answered as if reading her thoughts.

"She's beautiful."

He gave her a small smile, "was."

Chang knew that his mother had died, but realized she had never probed further into the matter. There was much she did not know about Jian, and she wanted to know more.

"What happened to her?" Chang searched inside to find a way to broach the topic.

"I told you that she pa.s.sed away long ago, but I guess I never really told you too much about her or where she came from, did I?"

"No, can you tell me about her a little?"

"I can only tell you what I know of her from what I've learned from my Jid, and my two uncles. My father very rarely spoke of her.

She was the youngest child of my Jid, his only daughter after 3 boys. She was spoiled to no end by my Jid as a result and was far bolder than any other women, and would even go so far as to beat up her three older brothers.

When my father came to visit the Republic of Lahat, to initiate a business deal as reward for a service he did for my Jid, she fell for him. Not that I could see what she ever saw in him. My father completed the business deal establis.h.i.+ng Liang International, but was also forced to marry my mother as a condition that was added.

A couple of years later I came, but at the cost of my mother's life. I've spent every summer here since I can remember in the country where my mother came from. I learn a little more every time, so I'm sorry if there is not much I can tell you."