Peaceful Escapes
9075 Charming Lane
Detroit, MI, 48162

A secluded oasis to cater to the needs of those who are seeking to be revitalized. Contact Sera for an appointment.

The relationship between Mr. Jefferson and Sera was like a grandfather and granddaughter dynamic instead of a business one only.  Mr. Jefferson kept presenting her with properties that piqued her passions.

This particular property was brand new.  Mr. Jefferson sent the details by messenger.

Sera looks over the property specifics, and her eyes started to sparkle as an idea came to mind. 

Peaceful Escapes pop in her head instantly; she loves the sound of it. It was perfect and fit what she had in mind to a tee.

She calls her realtor Mister Jefferson and arranges to buy it and tour it asap.

The traffic was congested and messy. Sera was slowly getting a headache.  

But she was grateful that the directions given to her were reasonably straightforward. The closer Sera was getting to her destination, the tranquility she felt was surreal.

Finally making it to the spot Sera glanced down at the address yet again. She could pinch herself; how could she miss the apparent details on it having a private gate surrounding it, and there was a security booth at the entranceway.

The security guard on duty was friendly, and Sera had no problems gaining access.

Slowly driving up to the estate, it was a glorious, one-of-a-kind white manor with superb sights of the Detroit River and Belle Isle. The pictures did little justice to visiting it in person.

Sera giggles delightfully, Mister Jefferson was right, and it was money well spent.

It was the perfect place to put her gifts and talent to work. She loves making a positive impact; she knew how contagious it could be. It would be easier for her to be hands-on.

Parking in the front, Sera gets out of her vehicle and venture up the porch. A young lady opens the door before she can ring the doorbell, and Sera follow her inside.

Dino needed to get away from the sounds, sights and indeed, smells of Philly and he'd heard about a peaceful retreat in Detroit.  Although he foundn it hard to believe such a place could be found in Michigan he enquired within

'Hi, i'm interesting in a peaceful getaway but I tend to annoy other tourists with my spoon playing, will that be an issue?'

Sera was discussing renovation ideals over with Ryia when the doorbell ringing disrupts the two.

The two grow quiet immediately. Ryia broke the silence and asked if she would like her to get the door.

Sera decides she would answer it herself. She sends Ryla to the kitchen for some iced tea.

Getting off the sofa, Sera straighten the black and pink lotus kimono dress she was wearing.

Making her way to the door, she opens it.  

The man standing on the other side looked weary and stressed a little. It was apparent he needed some rest.

"Hello there, my name is Sera, and there should be no issues concerning that. Please come in."

Sera smiles and beckon for the fellow to come inside.

Almost two weeks later.

Sydni St Patrick was ecstatic to hear the update from Hakeem; she made a point to make preparations to go and try to meet up with Sera immediately in Detroit.  

Peaceful Escape was an incredible place to stay and visit while in Detroit. Playing it safe, Sydni calls and makes reservations for one of the unique suites on the 2nd floor.

Looking at her watch, she had time to visit one of her favorite boutiques she loves to shop at. She calls and tells the shopkeeper what she was looking for. She had Sera in mind.

Sydni was confident that she and Sera would be the best of friends.

Before she caught her Red-eye Flight to Detroit, Sydni reached out to Seth, who gave her a brief rundown on what was going on and how much progress was being made.

Sydni and Seth were very optimistic. Seth wishes her the best and makes plans to meet up for a drink before they hung up.

After the call, Sydni goes and finishes up last-minute errands.

The following day….

Sera decides to explore the manor more. There was a botanical garden on the grounds. It would be an ideal area to recharge quickly. Lately, she felt drained and slightly stressed from all the projects and stuff she was part of; she was learning so much information quickly. Little did she know, she was in matrix mode. It was a scarce phenomenon, and only a few have ever experienced it.

She stops and treats herself to a large strawberry Kool-Aid and coney dog from the kitchen before venturing outdoors into the oasis.

Strolling through the grounds, Sera was relieved that it was easier to memorize what was what, at least.

It's hard to believe this was all hers, and she could hike if she wanted to, and one day soon, Sera would explore the different hiking trails.

Finally reaching the manor's botanical garden, Sera finds a seat on a vacant bench near one of the different fountains in place.

Her eyes focus on the water of the fountain; slowly, she could feel the drain leaving.

The flight was reasonably smooth for Sydni. Hakeem surprise her by picking her up from the airport.

Together they would see what lies behind the gates of Peaceful Escape.

On the way to the private oasis, the two continue to shoot the breezes.

"Well, the security guard at the manor was replaced with Titus since the last mishap."

Sydni looking out the passenger window, admiring the passing scenery

"Titus is the right choice; he has been with CA for a very long time. So, who is on this particular post?"

"Ryla and Loreto is"

"So Lorento is back in the states."

"It seems for the time being"

"So back to Sera, how far along do you think she awakens?"

"Honestly, Sy, it hard to tell if you are focusing on her movements.  Otherwise, Sera's eyes tell a different story. One of the assistants reports back that her eyes have change colors."

"Right, and that is wonderful, soon the sleeping beauty within will awake."

"We have to stay on guard for (beep)

"Yeah, I am sure he is watching."

Sydni yawns, she was running on fumes for the last 24 hours, and her eyes were growing heavy and burning.

"I am going to take a catnap. Wake me when we arrive."

A few feet away was a hot spring. It was calling out to Sera in a seductive tone, beckoning her to come closer.

Sera gives in to temptation, and soon she is relaxing in the foggy steam of water. It was chilly yet sunny out.

It was the perfect time to meditate and examine her thoughts and feeling.

She slowly was putting the pieces together. She giggles, realizing she had an aggressive nature to herself. It felt natural but weird at the same time.

The next thing she realizes, she had fighting skills. The other day, she disarmed a pair of robbers attempting to rob a granny that was out and about with her grandchildren. She only used her bare hands and feet for weapons. When the police arrive, the pair was knocked out unconscious. It made her feel so good, and the gratitude showing was rewarding.

But the thing she realizes as time progresses was that she was neither good nor evil. Everything she did, was done accordingly. Darkness and Light…. Order and Chaos…. she didn’t know the how’s…it just was.

Another thing she realizes in her own way, she influences others.  It perplexes her because was there a league for a person like herself?
Sera slide underneath the bubbles.
 

Finally arriving at their destination, Sydni eyes flutter open as Hakeem talked to Loreto; the two conversed for a few minutes, trying to catch up for time lost.

Loreto, realizing Hakeem was not by himself, slowly opens the gate and invites Hakeem to come back after he got to settle in. He ways at Sydni, and she waves back.

The car is back, moving up the long curvy driveway—Sydni and Hakeem cruise in silence. Silently Sydni thinks of Soulshine, but the odds of Sera knowing of the place would be slim.

Speaking of Soulshine, sources say it disappeared, but how could something that big go poof.

She shakes it off; Sydni needed to stay alert and focus. The catnap helped a lot.

Waiting on the porch was Ryla, who was a miracle worker.  She was known to work magic in a snap of a finger.

Hakeem was a last-minute guest, but Ryla made the necessary adjustments and requests in an hour.

She quietly whisks them both in. At the same time, Igor parked the car and took their bags up to the Prehistoric Suite. It was big enough for the two to enjoy comfortably.

Ryla escorts them into the great room. Fresh cold drinks were sitting on the coffee table made of the finest marble.

She beckons them to have a seat while checking on the Lapskaus cooking in one of the many fireplaces on the grounds.
As they do so, Shadow, one of Sera’s puppies, comes out from under the sofa to greet the two.
 

Hakeem downs a glass of tea and plays with Shadow for a little bit. He excuses himself to talk to Lorento some more. Shadow barks and gives him puppy dog eyes. Hakeem chuckles and decides to take the little runt with him.

The two vanishes, leaving the two ladies alone.

If memory serves her right, Ryla spoke mostly Norwegian. Sydni smiles at her; it would give her a chance to find out how rusty she was.

“Hei, Ryla” Sydni clears her throat and continues. “Takk for varm gjestfrihet. Jeg er sikker på at elskerinnen Sera ville være godt fornøyd”

Ryla smiles and bring Sydni a bowl of Lapskaus. The smell was out of this world; sydni tummy growls as she takes a bite.

“Min glede fru Sydni. Elskerinne Sera er en fryd a være rundt og jobbe for.”

Ryla refills Sydni's glass as Sydni finishes her bowl quickly.

“Dette var deilig, Ryla. Jeg har aldri hatt det før”

“Vil du ha en ny bolle?”

"Jeg vil passere, for na, ma jeg se elskerinne Sera, hvor er hun for øyeblikket."

Ryla takes Sydni's empty bowl.

"Du finner henne i det botaniske hageområdet"  

Ryla takes her to the back porch and points her in the direction of the garden.  Sydni waste no time in heading off to the botanical garden.

Hours have passed, and Sera was surprised she stayed in the springs so long. She needed to get out, but she didn't want to.

Off in the distance, Sera sees a beautiful melanin lady walking toward her.  Instantly she grows intrigued by the guest.
 

The closer Sydni gets, the better the view she gets of Sera.

Sera calls out in her warm, soothing, yet softly voice.

“Well, hi there, what brings you to my neck of the woods?”

Sydni felt a comforting hug sensation engulfs her.

"Hi, there Miss, um, I came with Hakeem…"

“Oh, really now, he told me good things about you and Dom.”

Sydnii felt relief as she took a seat close to Sera. Sydni eyes are drawn to Sera like a magnet.

“Yeah, he is a sweetheart.”

“Indeed, he is, but anyways I read over your resume, and I need someone like you to be my head assistant and co-director with Hakeem.

Sera gets out of the hot springs and gets dressed fast.

“I can tell by your energy alone that you the right one.”

A gust of wind causes Sera to shivers.

“Let’s go back to the manor, so I can change and get something to eat.”

Sydni nods and smile, Sera extend a hand to help her up. The two head back to the manor. As they were walking, Sera feels like she gains another puzzle piece with Sydni.

Sydni was eating her second bowl of stew; she was pacing back and forth after hearing some of Detroit’s late-night news on the radio. Some things have not changed yet but have only gotten worse.

Sera finally re-enters the room, dressed in dark emerald green sweats; she had her hair pulled back in a ponytail, making her look like a cute cavewoman.

She makes her way to the stew pot, warming on the fireplace, and serves herself a bowl. Sera then goes sit Indian style in one of the oversized recliners.

Sera notices Sydni’s frustration as she ate a few bites of stew that sated her appetite, setting the bowl down.

Instead of her skin looking wrinkly and dry, it was just the opposite. Sera was glowing more and looking extra soft.

Ryla enters with a cup of hot lemon and honey tea. Sera thanks her and takes a small sip, not wanting to scorch her tongue.

Ryla cleans up the area and disappears again.

“Why forth do your heart seem trouble, Sydnii?”

Sydnii snaps out of her trance, and her mind went blank.

“I don’t know; I get like this every once in a while.”

“Ah, human nature perhaps. You must have some rough skin, so it is said proverbial.”

“That is true.”

“See, when I was younger, I didn’t do so well, but the more I went through the fire, the strong I became.”

Sydni sits and listens.

“I believe I know what troubles you, the heartlessness and coldness in the air.  But you must remember. It is only contagious if you allow it to be.”

Sydni can’t help but laugh; it was like she was the student and Sera were the teachers.

“I do what I love; if I don’t love it and only going to be halfhearted with it, then what’s the point?”

“I feel you on that.”

Sydni helps herself to another glass of tea for herself. Simultaneously, Sera makes herself more comfortable by stretching her legs out and reclining back in the recliner.