Jaud of the River

Chapter 2

Centuries Later


August 16th, 2011.


New York City, USA





         "The weather in New York today is hot, Hot, HOT!. We're getting hit by the biggest heatwave in the East Coast, with tempertures rising in the higher nineties. We recommend light clothing, plenty of sunblock and clear fluids..more on the weekly forecast.." the weather dude when on but she tuned it out standing straight under the powerful stream of cool shower water.





         Water ran down her back soothing her skin and senses. The air conditioning was full power and yet it reported a mere 78f degrees. At seven in the morning. It was promising to be a bitch of a day. She pulled on a pair of destroyed jeans, a white tank top, and briefly debated between wearing her converse or her flip flops and decided on both. Sneaks now, flip flops for later. Her dark blonde hair pulled back into a scrunchie, it swung down her back as she ran downstairs.





         She gasped out loud. Seriously it felt like getting slammed in the face something fierce. Gulping it down she wrapped her face behind huge black sunglasses and did what most New Yorkers did under similar circumstances: She stuck her finger out.





         Cassandra O'Connell was a beauty. Exotic and eccentric, as a child she was often looked after for her charismatic enthusiasm in everything she put her mind to. Like a burst of early sunshine she brought that energy with her wherever she went. Often her mother, Krissoula Stapoulous, would wander their street to discover her sitting at the old timers stoop listening to stories of ol' Greece. That she'd inherited from her.





         Her looks came specifically from her father, Douglas, whose ancestors were throughbred highlanders Scots. Many of her girlfriends still thought he was a total hottie with his beach bum looks slash the artiste. When he was in the "zone" he looked like a fierce warrior. Slicing and dashing away at canvas and creating a world of color from places he'd seen as a child.





         Cassie, her family pet-name for her, felt just as home in her native city as she felt in the family manor surrounded by nothing but the wildly untamed beauty of the mountains. Even more so than when she visited her other side of the family in Athens and enjoyed the warmth of a generous people. She had taken lots of pictures to last her a lifetime ..but she could always use more. New York had a string so close to home she had a hard time breaking away when all she held dear was right at the heart of it. The family gallerie and antique shop was her life. Not only did it combined the arts of both her parents her Dad's paintings were re-owned all over the world, her mother was a distinguished curator sought after for her expertise in medieval artifacts and a number of dialects and manuscripts she had up her sleeve.





         It was only natural that their child would have a sense of artistr. To their utter delight not only did she prove to be excellent at everything she was put to task for. Once graduated from art school in Italy she decided to take extra courses in New York to prove that her loyalties were balanced. When the itch to discover her true passion and calling arose they were ready to let her go. She didn't stay away long. Everything she wanted was back home and so she settled like a bad habit and worked at the "shop" like they called it in private. Whenever something came around that caught her attention she would always be free to pursue and carry out the need to see and experience something special. To capture very often a once in a lifetime moment.





         Stepping out of the cab she crossed the street and into the "shop" and one look at her mother smiling from ear to ear told her today was gonna be one of those rare special days.