Thank you all for tuning in! I'm just taking a short break from 320 State Street to write something spooky for halloween. I don't anticipate it to be very long. Hope you all enjoy.
—
Astrid pulled into the driveway with the lawyer. The trip from the US to Wales had been a long haul, and to say she was exhausted was an understatement.
"Is this it then?" She asked, stepping out from the car.
"Yes ma'am." The lawyer, Mala Throk replied, a briefcase and a set of keys in hand.
The castle was set upon a hill, and looked over a sizable town on one side, and a lake on the other. It was huge and looked to be mostly intact. Of course, Astrid knew this wasn't the case as she had visited the castle as a child on Holidays.
"Your Uncle left a very specific set of instructions on what he wanted you to do with the castle," the lawyer explained, being the one to draft the will. "The South Tower, the one we are going into now is to be used for guests, and they are not to venture farther than the ballroom on the western wall. This is the only part of the castle that is fully renovated for renting out."
The lawyer unlocked the front door with a skeleton key.
"Right," Astrid agreed. "When my uncle had my family visit for Christmas, he had us stay in the South and West Towers. The West Tower isn't as fancy, but it's still spacious and historic."
"And on that note," Mala pushed her way inside, stepping into the lavish, but dank smelling, lobby. "The West Tower is only for family and hired hands for events. It is renovated servants quarters."
Astrid twirled slowly in place, taking in the rich architecture and vivid tapestries. Directly in front, there was a long hallway lined with suits of armor that led to the ballroom, this Astrid remembered it from when the great Christmas tree sat in the corner, flooded with silver packages. It had a huge fireplace, big enough to sit in. It was the largest room in the house. On either side of the hall, a double staircase led to the dining hall. Iron statutes in the shape of people sat on the railings, baring torches. To the right and left of Astrid, two more halls lead down to the East and West Towers. A wrought iron chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling. "It's more beautiful then I remember."
"I apologize for the smell," Mala stated, going to a window. "I was instructed to have the castle shut up until you arrived. The power should be back up sometime during the night. Your uncle has dehumidifiers in the ceiling, so the air should smell better in the morning."
"It's not so bad. It beats city air at least." Astrid strolled the hall and opened another window, framed by rich mahogany and satin curtains. "I'm sorry I couldn't move in sooner, I was just so close to finishing my degree."
"I'm not concerned with it," Mala smiled. "The groundskeeper, a man named Eret, was left a hefty sum of money by your Uncle, and went on Holiday. I'm sure he appreciated the time off. Finishing your degree was a wise choice, especially if you want to continue your Uncle's work at restoring the castle."
"I've dreamed of it ever since I was a little girl." She grinned, "every Christmas I looked forward to coming to visit the castle. And my Uncle would take me to the library and tell me the history of the land. I'm eager to get to work."
Mala grinned. "I'm so glad to hear it." At this point, the duo headed back out to the car to get Astrid's luggage.
"Thanks again, for all your help getting me settled in. My parents aren't able to come until next week."
"Oh, it's no problem at all." Mala promised, "I love this castle. In the many times I visited Finn Hofferson, he gave me tour after tour, and told me the stories behind various art and rooms. Even on his death bed, he recounted things he spent years studying and writing down. His library is surely a wealth of knowledge…and his home…There's just something magical about it."
"If you believed my Uncle's stories, then yes, it's very magical."
Mala snickered, "Oh, you don't believe the castle is haunted?"
"I'm not sure I believe in ghosts…but I guess I'll find out living here, now won't I?" Astrid started heading to the West Tower, suitcase in hand. "If there are ghosts, maybe they can tell me more history about the castle."
"Oh, Astrid, your room is in the East Tower."
"Oh…" Said she in response.
"Unless you don't want to live over there…"
"Oh no, that's fine, I'm just so used to the West Tower."
"The East Tower is only for you and Eret. It's where the master bedroom is. Along with the Library."
"My Uncle's room, then?"
"Yes, precisely."
Astrid followed Mala down the long hallway, framed with gothic windows and vivid paintings.
"I don't think you ever mentioned the North Tower."
"Oh, you're right. It slipped my mind." Mala replied, continuing to the stairs. In the middle of the tower, a spiral staircase traveled up and down three flights each way. Astrid knew it was the same in the West Tower. All the doors to the other rooms were visible. Together they climbed to the top floor, slightly breathless.
"So the North Tower…" Astrid reminded, panting.
"Oh yes, the North Tower," Mala opened the bedroom door, coughing a bit at the dust that lied within. The room was indescribable. The windows on the far side of the room reached from ceiling to floor. The bed was directly across from the door. Large, buried with pillows; lush blood red sheets dressed the mattress. Ebony curtains hung by the windows and around the frame of the bed. On the North wall, a neat fireplace was tucked into the wall, encased with ornate marble carvings. Above the mantle hung a painting of an unknown man, wearing a fur pelt over his shoulder. He was not conventionally handsome, with a broad nose and tightly sealed lips. His hair, brown like chocolate with a copper tone, was swept back like a wave. But his expression was less then charming, like he was forced to sit for hours. He held an air of danger and roguish strength. His deep eyes held resentment and something else…longing? Astrid could not tell. She turned her attention from the bewitching portrait the the rest of the room. On each side of the fireplace was a door. One lead to a closet, the other to a bathroom.
"The North Tower is…a bit of a mystery to me actually." Mala explained as Astrid set her bags down. "Your Uncle explicitly stated that it is prohibited to everyone except the owner of the house. Which is you now, I suppose. He said within it lies 'disturbing truths'. When I pressed him about it, he refused to answer. It was the only time he would not elaborate on the History of the home."
Astrid rolled her eyes, "it's the whole ghost thing again."
"The haunted aspect is what gave the castle it's charm, and what brought the tourists in for events. Might I suggest keeping the stories alive?"
Astrid chuckled, "Just because I am skeptical doesn't mean I'm going to give up a tried and true money making scheme."
Mala smiled softly, "call it what you like, but I think there's more to this castle then there seems."
"I'm sure there is. The first thing I'm going to do is explore that North Tower for myself. Maybe I can use whatever I see to enhance my Uncle's stories."
"Splendid idea." Mala grinned, "but might I suggest we bring in the groceries? By time we get those in, I'm sure the moving truck will be here with your things."
"O-oh, right, of course." Astrid sheepishly glanced away. Before leaving the room, she gazed again at the painting at the wall. "Mala, do you know who that is?"
The older woman shook her head, "I'm afraid I don't. Your Uncle painted it, you know. Don't know why it would be hanging in his room though."
"That's my uncle's work?" Astrid stepped up closer to examine it. "He never had a steady hand when I knew him."
Mala stepped forward too, "it must be very old then."
"Look, the date," Astrid pointed. "1953, Uncle was around my age then. Here, help me take it down from the wall." The two women lifted it the large painting and then set it to lean against the bed frame.
The back only said one thing.
-Hiccup
"Hiccup?"
"I wonder what that could mean?" Mala mused.
"Maybe Uncle was commissioned and the model—or financier, didn't like it. That's why he has it."
"I'm surprised he didn't tell you about this painting."
"I never came into his room." She shrugged, "there's a lot to learn about here in the first place."
"Well, whoever this young man is, he's an old man now. Might even be dead."
"Too bad, he's kind of cute."
Mala only laughed as she headed back into the hall.
After about a half hour, the two had stocked the kitchen in the South Tower enough for Astrid to survive for a while. "Alright, the ice should keep the beef and milk cool enough, but try not to open the fridge as much as you can. At least until tomorrow."
"Right." Astrid nodded, "it's going to be a pain trying to get around in this place in the dark."
"Oh!" Mala snapped her fingers, "I knew that was going to be a problem, and I brought a LED flashlight for you. It's in my car."
"You are the best lawyer ever." Astrid praised.
By the time everything was said and done, and she was moved in, it was around 8 o'clock and everything was dark. Astrid gave up the idea of trying to unpack more with just a flashlight, and stumbled her way back to her room.
At night, the castle was extraordinary creepy. There was no moon to illuminate. Just pitch black. Her flashlight landed on statues and cast eerie shadows on the walls.
"Ghosts indeed," she muttered to herself.
After getting into the East Tower staircase, Astrid looked down to the bottom floor and paused at the unopened library. It wasn't nearly time for bed yet, and what a better way to pass the time then reading up on the History she was so excited about? It took a couple of turns to find the right key for the door, and for a moment she hesitated. All of the keys were a tarnished gold, except for one, which was pitch black.
"North Tower," she rolled her eyes.
Inside the Library, the flashlight ghosted over the various shelves as she took it all in. The library wrapped around the staircase, following it up three flights to the main floor. Books covered the inside walls, and two balconies allowed for access. The far wall directly in front of her was covered by a curtain, presumably over the windows, and Astrid made light work of opening them up. Not much light came in, but a sliver on the horizon, as the view was to the lake below and the mountains in the distance. Though, from this angle, the North Tower was within sight.
"Bah," she waved her hand at the offending building.
Turning her attention back to the library, she took note of the large mahogany desk that sat just to the side of the windows with a fireplace behind it. Above that, a huge portrait of another man hung. This time, the man looked older but had a fur pelt draped over his arm. He wore studded metal and had a wild beard.
"Hmm, young Santa," she mused. Though, the man in question did not look so holly-jolly. Much like the first painting, the model wore a sort of grimace and showed great sadness.
She had to admit, she was impressed.
Astrid stood on a chair to examine the corners. "Hmm, 1950. He did this one first."
On the bottom of the frame, a gold plaque laid into the wood.
-The Chief
"Curiouser and curiouser." Astrid shook her head. Not far from the desk, a shelf of books were covered by a grate and locked, supposedly to keep them private. "Here we go. Tell me your juicy secrets." Astrid flipped through the key ring until she found one that looked to fit. "Uncle really included every key to this house on this ring."
The grate rose, and inside sat several unmarked books. She plucked the oldest looking one out and reclined on the lounge chair.
Inside, she was greeted with handwriting. "It's a journal," she mused.
June 18, 1945.
A month ago, my father died. My younger brother was notified in America, and he's simply crushed. He wrote that he refuses to come back to Wales. My mother left shortly after, to get away from this blasted war. Therefore, I have inherited my childhood home. I am but a child myself, only just turned 18. Having an entire castle to myself just feels incredibly wrong. Though, I have allowed some displaced families to stay in the West and South towers. I make no money off of this venture, I only do it to because I am horrified of the children that sit in the train station with their masks. I have locked up the East Tower and the North remains shut.
My father once told me that disturbing truths lie within the North Tower, and that one day when I'm old, he'll take me there to see it for myself. I suppose since he is no longer here to guide me, I am old enough to traverse that tower alone. I have begun this journal to document what I find.
I have my hunches to what lies inside. After all, I have lived my entire life in this house. I know all the secret passage ways and can find my way even in the dark. I know something lives in the North Tower. Because I heard it breathing.
Every tower has multiple ways to get to it, and yet, every door to the North Tower, save for one, has been completely sealed shut. The East Tower, on the main floor has a door with a slide lock on it. Beyond that, the hall is unrecognizable to the rest of the house. There is nothing in it save for the locked door on the other end. Tomorrow, I will venture inside and see what I find.
-Finn
Astrid was full of apprehension just reading about it. She turned the page, but was distracted by something outside.
There was a light on in the North Tower.
