Hi everyone! I'm Cherry Topping and I'm new to (Writing anyway). So this my first fanfic based on the Professor Layton series. I welcome criticism on how to improve and I hope my writing improves overtime. Well, enjoy and happy reading! :)

The Vampire Within the Castle

Chapter 1 – The Sleepy Settlement and the Mystery of the Castle

I was always told to never go near the old castle. It seemed that everyone was afraid of the foreboding structure in the small, quiet town I had called home all my life. Many say that it belonged to a rich baron long ago before it was abandoned and left to crumble, others say a king. But whatever anyone said there was no doubt that the castle had been atop that lonely hill for many centuries.

It was only in the past century that rumours started to spread about that castle.

People said they were waking up with clear bite marks on their necks. Not bites from a bug as the weather was never warm enough for things like mosquitoes. Panic occurred more often from the people when some blood was left behind on the victims. The people of the town had been living with fear creeping up their backs for 100 years because these tension-filled events.

So obviously, everyone associated the weird incidents with the looming castle with some even saying that some blood-thirsty monster lived there and left bite marks as a warning to never enter the building or you'd meet a terrible fate.

Eventually these ended up as stories to scare children from keeping away from the castle though the adults knew full well the actual dangers of the place. However, I was less scared by the stories that my parents told me as a child and more interested. But if I ever showed too much intrigue I would be scolded and told that "Curiosity always leads to the downfall of someone, even if it may lead to something worthwhile in your mind".

But I couldn't help it that I was so interested about it. I was curious. I was interested as why the bites occurred and how as a young child I nor any other child experienced the bites. My intrigue continued onward to young adulthood and a incredible part of my life started when I was left alone at home one night.

I had got back to my house rather late that night after working long hours at the knitted wool shop. This was at the other side of town so I had to try my best to get home in the cold November weather. Thankfully working at wool shop meant that I had plenty of scarves to keep my pale neck warm.

As soon I got into the small upstairs room I plopped myself on my bed to doze off into slumber, exhausted. And yet as I drifted off into unconsciousness I swear I saw a silhouette of a tall figure in-front of my window...

The next morning I awoke giving myself a good stretch before rubbing my neck as usual when I was taken aback as I felt something different. Quickly I picked up a mirror to find two distinct marks on the line of my pulse.

What caught my attention the most though was that there was clearly a fresh steaming pot of tea with a cup up upon my mantelpiece.