The inside of Abel’s fortress didn’t match the plain gray stone and basic shape of the exterior. I was hit by the scent of vanilla and spring roses as we entered the main foyer, the entire area bright, clean, and painted in muted purples and violets.

A large stone staircase forked to two separate wings of the house, and art in thick, intricate gold frames lined almost all of the wall space spanning two sweeping stories. I stifled a gasp as Abel shut the door behind us, ...