The carriage hit another pothole, sending us both lurching to the side. 'A bumpy ride, don't you think?' the elderly woman beside me asked, her voice laced with a hint of mischief. She popped a small, mysterious pill into her mouth, her eyes glinting with a knowing spark. I wondered if it was more than just medicine for the cold.
'Well Yes, but I'm afraid I won't be finding any comfort soon,' I replied, trying to sound nonchalant despite the growing unease in my chest. 'Ashwood is still a ways away.'
The woman's gaze turned piercing, her weak eyes seeming to bore into my soul. 'What business could a young man like you possibly have in Ashwood?' she asked, her tone dripping with curiosity.
I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. 'Just some... trade negotiations,' I said finally, trying to sound vague.
The elderly woman snorted, adjusting her glasses as she leaned in closer. 'Be careful, boy,' she whispered, her voice taking on a spooky tone. 'Don't go near the lost mansion on the mountain side. I've seen him with my own eyes – the vampire who lives there. He's not to be trifled with.'"
"Understood Ma'am!" I answered before turning towards the window.
Winter's grip had tightened around My town. Our forest, once a bounty of game, had become a deadly trap, claiming some our hunters each week. Desperation forced my hand.
I had sought aid from three neighboring towns, but their stores were bare. The closest town, willing to trade wood for food, warned me their charity would soon run dry. Their people would go hungry, and mine would starve.
It was then that an old friend from Ashwood arrived, bearing a glimmer of hope after I told him all. 'Write to Lord Valitis,' he urged. 'He holds the land, and perhaps, the key to your people's survival.' But his words came with a warning: 'Beware, for Lord Valitis is no man, but a beast.
Undeterred, I penned a letter, pleading for refuge on his land until winter's end. The messenger took three days and two nights to deliver it. On the fifth day, an unsettling postman arrived with a letter and a box containing a gruesome gift; A human heart and a rose.
Yet, the letter itself was gracious. Lord Valitis granted us permission to stay, gifting us land beside the frozen lake bed, fertile in summer and abundant with snowberries and willow trees during the winter. But his generosity came with a condition: he demanded my presence.
Immediately, I embarked on the journey and in the inn which I stayed, I sent word of my arrival, and Lord Valitis responded with uncanny swiftness. 'Stand on the bridge,' he instructed, 'and a black carriage will convey you to my mansion.'
As I bid farewell to the elderly woman and disembarked, I sought directions to the bridge from the townspeople. After three tries, an old man gave me the directions, however, his mind, surely was filled with questions he had to guess.
Soon The town's lively chatter faded into the background as I approached the bridge, shrouded in mist. Before me stood the black carriage, its four horses snorting in discontent.
'Are you here to take me to Lord Valitis' Mansion?' I asked the henchman, who regarded me with an unyielding gaze before turning away. I repeated the question, but he remained silent, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
With a deep breath, I stepped into the carriage, and it lurched forward, bearing me toward the mansion.
***
As the carriage halted before the mansion, an eerie feeling crept over me, immediately after stepping down.
Snow-covered stairs led to the door, and withered leaves clung to the bare trees. The fountain, once a symbol of life, now lay frozen and still.
Just before entering, I caught a glimpse of a girl on the second floor. She scribbled a message on the glass, her eyes locking onto mine. But before she finished, a shadowy figure dragged her away.
Confused, yet, Taking a deep breath, I knocked once, and the door creaked open. An elderly butler with wire-rimmed glasses and sparse white hair greeted me.
"Lord Valitis, please," I said, my smile faltering.
The butler's coarse voice sent shivers down my spine. "You're the one who wrote regarding the land agreement?"
I nodded, still bewildered, as he allowed my entrance.
I followed the butler through the dark hallway, adorned with indiscernible pictures, one which I couldn't understand. Soon, he led me to a door on the end of the hallway and remained outside.
I however entered a grand, candlelit room, its size rivaling a ballroom. Brown tiles and curtains framed the space. Towards the right side, A silver-haired man's skillful fingers danced across the piano keys, while a young lady sobbed beside him. Her red hair was all I could see, since she backed the door.
The music ceased, and Lord Valitis spoke, his voice dripping with an unsettling elegance. "Good afternoon, Mister."
"Good afternoon, Lord Valitis," I replied.
He reached for the girl, who flinched, before redirecting his attention to a nearby goblet. "You're just as I imagined – a middle-aged man devoted to his people."
His words sent shivers down my spine.
"I approve your people's stay," he said, "but I require something in return."
"My town has rare stones," I offered.
Lord Valitis again replied, "I possess riches beyond your comprehension, Mister."
Moments of silence passed before he spoke again, his voice commanding attention. "When you bring your people, we'll discuss further. You may leave now; the carriage will take you back to the bridge."
I gulped, relieved to have secured a land for my people, and bowed before departing. As I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Lord Valitis dragging the girl towards him, his fingers tracing her neck. Her eyes met mine, filled with fear and pain, before the butler closed the door.
Confused and uneasy, the butler led me outside, and I looked up towards the second floor before entering the carriage, my mind racing. Had I just led my people into unknown danger?
As I settled into the carriage, the girl's message on the windowpane became clear in my mind – "HELP."