The cool night air blew through the open window of the car as it sped down the dark highway. Thick forests surrounded either side of the road, my headlights barely cutting through the thick fog. The road was as flat as any plain but I still couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of me. The music was turned up loud and I sang along with the song, trying to distract my mind from the last few days. Despite my best efforts, my mind would not abandon the image that had become permanently etched into my memory.
The sheet wrapped around her neck. Her face was begging for air.
An explosion shook the quiet night, jolting me out of my dark thoughts. My car began to vibrate and shake as it began swerving across the road and the tires squealed against the pavement as I fought to keep it on the road. Easing the brake to the floorboard, I heard the tire slap the ground, like an open palm had struck someone’s cheek.
Shit. It’s flat and I’m stuck in the middle of the dark road surrounded by forests.
I clambered out of the car, grabbing a flashlight from the glovebox. I knew for a fact that I didn’t have a spare. I had to make room for something else. Sighing in exasperated frustration, I put the car in neutral and pushed it to the side of the road, my muscles protesting the exertion. Making sure I locked the doors and the windows were up, I slammed the door shut, with a little more force than intended and the noise crashed through the peaceful night, startling me for a moment.
Scanning my surroundings, shining my little light around, I couldn’t see much through the trees or the fog for that matter, but I thought I could see smoke rising from the forest. Was that a house in the middle of nowhere? Who would possibly live here? My wonderful brain came up with all sorts of sinister answers, but were any options worse than what I had done? Now wasn’t the time for that though. I forced myself down the side of the road, shining the feeble light on the ground a few feet ahead of me so I didn’t trip.
I couldn’t help but notice how eerily dark it was, even with the assistance of my flashlight. I couldn't hear the noises of the crickets or the hooting of owls, like one should at night. My imagination began to run wild. The full moon hung high but the light was not able to penetrate the thick forest, the darkness swallowing everything it could.
I came to a spot in the trees that seemed to arch up into a makeshift doorway, a small flagstone path leading through the middle of it, allowing a person to venture to the source of the smoke. The fog collected above the stone like dry ice, obscuring the stone in its mist. Someone surely lived here but who would be up at this hour? I could feel a little bit of fear rising at the thought of walking along this path but what options were left to me?
Hopefully, I won’t be murdered and made into some kind of chili. Not that I had anything to go back to now.
I pulled my hooded sweatshirt as close as I could and stepped down the stone path, my boots thumping against the stone, sounding unnaturally loud against the quiet. As I slowly crept along the path, the trees seemed to draw ever closer to me. The hairs on the back of my neck begin to rise with fear. The hood of my shirt snagged on something but when I turned, nothing was there. The trees began to collapse around me and I took off at a full sprint now. Whispers came from the darkness, barely audible at first then increasing until they sounded next to my ear, beckoning me to step off the path. My heart tried to tear through my chest and escape without me. The darkness began to surround me, my flashlight provided as much light as a glowstick but that didn’t stop my feet. The darkness swallowed everything around me. The whispers turned to illegible shouts and maniacal laughter. The tree’s loomed high above me now, threatening to rip me from the path.
I burst into a grassy clearing, sweat pouring down my face. The darkness subsided, replaced by vivid blue moonlight that coated the surrounding area in a shimmering light. My pulse still raced as I put my hands on my knees, attempting to catch my breath. I could no longer hear the whispers, the silence returning so I stood up, looking back toward the path but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The tree’s sat along the path, harmless, my light cutting through the dark with ease.
What the hell? Was that my imagination?
I surveyed my current surroundings, hoping to find the source of the smoke and found a great Victorian mansion standing in the opening, clouds of smoke puffing out from one of four stone chimneys attached to the roof. Large arched windows lined the front of the building, painted light blue in the moonlight. A domed tower sat on one corner of the estate, made entirely of glass. An observation deck? I could see several balconies that were attached to the higher levels. A gigantic clock tower stood in the center of the house, towering high above the ground with its domed roof being topped off by a spiral shaped finial that appeared razor sharp in the moonlight The massive clock marked the hour at a quarter past one.
The clock must be guarding the house for all time.
This thought provided a little humor, making me chuckle and relax just a bit. A pitch black triad speared fence ran the length of the clearing, discouraging any would-be trespassers, the large iron gate bore a circular crest in the center with the silhouette of a bat filling the crest.
A sense of dread started to take hold the longer I stared at the Mansion. Maybe I shouldn’t be here. As I turned back toward the way I had just come, I began to hear the slight whisper of a voice again. A female voice attempted to lure me back into the darkness, begging for permission to wrap me into the warmth of the black void. I felt the goosebumps creep across my skin forcing my fight or flight response to practically carry me toward the gate and I placed my right hand reluctantly against the metal gate, the cold metal seeping into my bones. Whoever lived in this mansion surely couldn’t be as bad as whatever lived in that forest.
I pushed the gate lightly at first but the metal hinges did not budge so I put my shoulder into it and the gate began to move. The groaning of the metal erupted into the night air, the gate’s scream sounded as if it were trying to wake the dead and as quickly as it started, it ceased its squalling and the night grew quiet yet again.
Two large hedges ran along a stone cobbled path and with my feeble light leading the way, I followed the stones to another clearing that housed a magnificent stone fountain with three tiers. A stone gargoyle sat upon a marble pedestal in the middle of the highest basin, spitting water from his mouth. The fountain led to a modest porch with four steps. A rocking chair and a small table sat here but without any occupants.
I made my way around the fountain and climbed the stairs up to a large door. A gruesome gargoyle head was attached to the wooden door, holding a golden ring in between sharp, dagger-like fangs. Its grotesque features portraying the displeasure at this post. Two horns sprung from the head, making the gargoyle look rather evil. A large ball had been attached to the bottom of the ring, for maximum sound so I grasped the metal knocker in my fist and pulled it back, letting the momentum carry it back to the door.
BOOM!
The metal crashed into the door with a thunderous clap that made me jump out of my skin. My heart began pounding in my chest again, demanding this madness to stop. The echo flew over the quiet forest and I froze where I stood, hearing a low rumbling coming from within the house somewhere. It grew steadily into a roar that sounded like a freight train would come through the wall any second and I dove for the ground, sending my flashlight sailing through the air. Right into the fountain. The tinge of blue electricity shot out from the lowest basin and the light shorted out.
A colony of bats poured out of the top of the clocktower, their lively chattering and chirping filling the night air with their noise. I realized that I was laying on the porch and picked myself up, dusting my clothes off and the bats flew off into the forest and the night quieted once more.
The sounds of footsteps could be heard and then the door swung inside the house, revealing a small hunched man holding a candle, the light illuminating his gruesome features. His lumpy and misshapen head seemed too large for his small body and the right eye was far larger than the left. His skin looked too thin, clinging to his body for dear life. Blue blood vessels stood out on his near naked scalp and a few struggling hairs poked from the top of his pink, fleshy head, standing proudly in isolation. A bulbous nose that lay crooked on his face hung above his scowling mouth.He must have only been a meter in height but the sight of him frightened me and a scream escaped my mouth, echoing into the night. The little man’s expression grew from agitation to full on fury.
“You knock on my master’s door in the middle of the night only to scream in my face!?” His voice was laced with malice.
I’m…I’m-” I stammered as I attempted to apologize. “You just startled me. This place is rather creepy.”
“It’s isolated for a reason. What do you want?” The small man’s foot began tapping against the floor, the candlelight dancing on his face. For the first time, I noticed the man was wearing a nightgown that was slightly too large for him. The material was a warm orange color adorned with yellow ducklings. I felt the stirrings of a smile creep into the corner of my mouth. Surely no one wearing baby ducks would hurt anyone! As I opened my mouth to speak, the door came flying at my face, slamming into the frame with a click. He obviously didn’t like being gawked at. I rapped on the wooden door with my knuckles this time and the door opened once again.
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“WHAT DO YOU WANT!” Spit flew from his mouth.
“My tire blew out and I need a little help.” I wasted no time with my answer. “Do you have a telephone or something I could use?” He must have found this amusing because he began laughing hysterically in the door, his tiny frame shaking. He slammed the door and once again I found myself face to face with the door.
“Magpyr, don’t be rude!” A new voice rose from behind the door. “We very rarely ever get guests!”
“But Master…”
“Now, Magpyr!” The deep voice demanded obedience.
The door swung open again and Magpyr held his hand out, welcoming me into the house, rather begrudgingly. I stepped into the foyer where I saw a coat rack attached to the wall holding several fur coats. The entrance ran into a massive hall with elegant white marble floors, a grand staircase led higher into the house, branching off to each floor. A majestic golden chandelier hung from the very top of the ceiling, the wax candles melting in their cup. Crystal chains ran from the canopy to the arms, sparkling like diamonds from the flames. Large wooden doors led to various rooms.
“Thanks, Magpyr! Sorry I shouted at you.” My voice echoed across the room but he didn’t even turn around, just waddled into a hallway to the right of the stairs.
A tall, muscular man stood in the middle of the hall, his dark hair had been tied behind his head. His pale blue eyes sat in a bone white face. Dark stubble ran the length of his jaw but he wore no mustache. His red lips curved into a slight smile. His arms were crossed but I could see his nails were painted black, curved into sharp points. When he opened his mouth, I could see his canines looked to be chiseled, shaped like daggers.
As I stepped out of the foyer and into the hall, his blue eyes locked with mine and all my fear seeped away in an instant. Something in those eyes caused me to relax and forget most of my problems, but I couldn’t forget about the business in the trunk of my car. The man’s hand swung up as a sign of greetings and I could see he was wearing a white dress shirt covered by a black vest, buttoned to the bottom, and black slacks. A small tie was neatly tucked under the vest. What weird attire for the middle of the night.
“I couldn’t help but hear your plight.” The man began, his booming voice sweeping over the hall, sounding jovial considering the hour. “I’m sure you noticed the lack of any telephone poles along your way but I do believe I can be of assistance nonetheless!”
“Oh, thank you! I’m so sorry for disturbing you this late in the mid—-” He raised his hand to quiet me.
“It’s quite alright. My groundskeeper can repair your tire first thing in the morning but that’s still a few hours off. You’re welcome to stay the night here if you’d like!” He waved his hand around invitingly.
“That does sound nice but I’m in a little bit of a hurry.” My voice came out in a whisper, suddenly remembering why I had come this way in the first place.
“You’re among friends. You’ll be safe here, besides Draven gets a tad grumpy if you interrupt his rest.” A strange sensation swept over my body as I locked onto his pale blue eyes. My body began to relax a little, a nagging warning tried to fight against the fog that was settling over me but the signal was too faint for me to fully grasp it. “Let’s move to the lounge, shall we?”
Was that a request or a command?
I followed the man through an arched doorway into a room on the left side of the hall, passing a small metal table beside the door with several books laying on it. The windows lined the far wall, being draped by dark black curtains, absorbing any light that might invade the room. Two wingback chairs in front a fireplace with a circular metal table in between them, the glass top reflecting the orange flames. I followed the man to the fireplace, he gestured for me to sit in the chair on the left as he sat in the opposite chair. I sank into the softness of the cushion, unexpectedly. This is the most comfortable chair I have ever sat in!
Magpyr suddenly came creeping through the door carrying two ceramic cups sitting on white saucers. He walked past me and set one saucer in front of his master first and then put mine on the glass table, looking at me with his grotesque eyes as menacing as he could but the effect was ruined as he was still wearing his nightgown.
“That’ll be all, Maggy.” The man commanded the manservant. Magpyr bowed at the master, making sure to cast one last glare in my direction. “I’d like to introduce myself properly. I am Nicholai Draghici. Welcome to my quiet estate!”
“I’m Jordan.” I said, not really sure if I should give him my surname or not. “I really appreciate your generosity! I’d be more than happy to pay for the repairs.” He raised his hand in dismissal at this.
“That’s quite unnecessary. My people will take care of everything. We get so few visitors out here, it’s nice to have some fresh conversation once in a while.” His eyes were studying me as if they were trying to dissect me like a science project. My mind shouted at me but I was mesmerized by his pale blue eyes. They were the color of ice in the Arctic. The pupils, slashing vertically through the iris, resemble more feline than human. I’ve never seen eyes like that.
I began to sink into the cushion further, the chair practically swallowing me. My muscles started relaxing as the tension began seeping out of my body. My thoughts become sluggish and even the warnings in the back of my mind are gone. Time began to slow, the fire became motionless and the room began to fade into nothingness. Now I’m alone with Nicholai in a black void, locked into each other’s gaze. A sea of nothingness surrounds us. I try to open my mouth but the muscles refuse. I have lost control over my body and Nicholai stands up and steps toward me. One step. Now Another.
BONG! BONG! BONG!
The clocktower came to life, marking the hour. I bolted up in the chair, sitting upright, like a bolt of lightning. Wasn’t it just a little after one? What the hell is going on? My eyes only revealed Nicholai sitting in his chair with his legs crossed with only a hint of irritation on his face but the alarms in my head began to scream with panic.
I must be more tired than I thought. I had been driving all night after all.
“Please forgive that noisy, archaic contraption” Nicholai began, seeing the confusion written on my face. “Sometimes I wonder if it could wake the dead.” He chuckled at this.
“I’m so sorry! I forgot the ti-” He raised his hand in dismissal and Magpyr hobbled through the door.
“Please prepare a room for our guest. He’ll be staying the night.” Nicholai commanded and the little man’s grotesque features brightened. I swear he even bounced a little as he crossed the room this time.
“Thanks Maggy!” I shouted as he passed through the door and a red book came flying at my head, narrowly missing and landed near the fireplace. I picked the cup up from the metal table and took a drink of the liquid, grateful for the warmth it provided.
***
My muscles groaned as I climbed the wooden steps of the grand staircase and as I cleared the first landing, I came face to face with a large oil painting hanging on the wall. An ornate wooden frame that looked like it was made by giants encased a painting of Nicholai with his legs spread, arms crossed, and wearing an arrogant smirk. The moon had been painted behind him, exaggerated in its size, taking up the entire background. A large crimson gash cut the celestial body in half, appearing as an angry red lightning bolt, fracturing and splintering into smaller paths. A blood-like liquid looked to be creeping out of the gash, crawling and tainting the purity of the pale moon,
I felt dread return to the pit of my stomach and I rushed up the stairs on the right, coming to a dark hallway with a singular window at the end. Doors lined the hall, all but one remained closed. Nicholai said the first room on the left. As I slowly made my way to the open door, I felt eyes carefully watching me, boring a hole in the back of my head but when I turned to check, I found no one. The hair on the back of my neck prickled again and the dread grew deeper.
I stepped through the threshold and found a large room, lit by candles hanging from sconces on the walls. A large four poster bed lay against one wall with a cream colored comforter that had been neatly placed on the bed with several pillows against the headboard. The bed rose to my waist and I could see the free space under the bed, which sent my anxiety running wild with all the things that could fit under it. I really hope Magpyr doesn’t hold a grudge. French doors led to a balcony and the moonlight spilled into the room, painting the room with a pale light.
I took my shoes off, pulled the bedding back and crawled in, pulling the blanket to my chin. A soft wax candle caught my eye and I found myself watching the soft flame flicker upon the wick in a mesmerizing dance andI felt the tension leave my muscles immediately as I drifted off into sleep almost immediately.
***
I was transported to a quiet cul-de-sac, surrounded by four houses. The full moon hung high in the night sky as the small town slept. I knew this scene. The familiarity threatened to strangle me with a flood of emotions. I knew what was going to happen and I couldn’t stop it. This time felt different though. It felt too real. A light flipped on in the first floor window. Fear gripped me and I tried to scream but my mouth would not work. I must watch.
The cul-de-sac melted away and now I’m in my bed. I hear the crash of something heavy hitting the wall. I am forced to watch as my body bolts up, puts on pajama pants and a white tank, and my legs carry me down the narrow stairwell. A scream rips through the quiet house and I clear the landing, running through the dining area into the living room. I can see the light spilling under her door and now I hear a man yelling. I turn the knob but the door is locked. I bang my fist, shouting to be let in. The house goes silent and now my fear turns to panic.
I take a step back and put my bare foot into the door as hard as I can and the wooden blockade explodes into the room, revealing a gruesome scene. The bed lay on the right, missing its bedding. A wooden nightstand sat in the middle of the floor, the legs lay in jagged spikes and wooden splinters littering the brown carpet. A body lay in the corner next to the closed door of the bathroom. The misplaced sheets had been wrapped around the frail woman’s neck. Her face had been locked in terror, turning a blue-gray color, gasping for air. Her blue eyes open but lacking the spark of life.
“MOM!” I hear myself shout as I rush to her body, scooping her into my arms, her slender arms falling to the ground. I untangle the sheet from her throat and her blonde hair. Tears now began running down my cheek as I stared at her face, my mind running wild with emotion, threatening to drown me.
“She should have shut up and listened!” A male voice spits with hate. The bathroom door now stands open and a man stands in the frame wearing a white bathrobe. His gray hair reflects the light above his head. His wrinkled, puffy face made him look pouty but his eyes were full of anger. The folds around his cheeks drooped, making him look like a cartoon dog. His hands were clenched into fists.
I couldn’t stop myself.
I laid the lifeless body of my dead mother on the bed as carefully as I could and grabbed a shattered table leg from the floor and flew at the man in a blood rage. I had been possessed by a god of war and my makeshift hammer whistled through the air, connecting with his skull. The wood shatters on impact, splintering into a thousand pieces and the sound echoes off of the bathroom walls. I stab down with the long, jagged remnants of my weapon, lodging the wood in his neck and the man’s eyes turn to shock as he falls into the counter, banging his head. His body slid to the floor and the blood pours from his cracked head, staining the linoleum tiles.
The scene melts away again and now I’m wrapping her body in a sheet and lowering her into the grave I managed to dig. I plan to dump him in the middle of the woods. He doesn’t deserve to be buried next to her. Here she can rest eternally. I finish my work and I fall to the ground, putting my head between my legs and finally succumb to despair.
***
The dream changes but this time the dream is different. I find myself back in the guest room where I fell asleep. My eyes are open but my limbs don’t work. The moon makes the room glow with an otherworldly aura. I hear the french door latch click open and Nicholai appears hovering above me in mid air, those pale blue eyes staring into my soul. I feel a new fear rise in my brain but my body is paralyzed. He begins to lower himself until he is pressed against me. His body doesn’t give off any heat. He gently turns my head to the right and he presses his lips to my bare skin and I feel his warm breath against my exposed neck. His teeth puncture my skin, warm blood drips down my neck.
Ecstasy.
***
My eyes flutter open in the darkness of the tight space. I can feel the others also waking around me due to our circadian rhythm. I hear the noisy chatter of my brethren ordering the pack into the night air. I pump my newly acquired wings and rocket toward the sky, following the others out of the opening and into the cool night air. The new moon greets the colony as we soar toward the forest. There is plenty of wildlife around here to feast upon to feed the family, but if lady luck is on our side, another unfortunate soul will wander into our domain.