The Casket of Amontillado

I took Montressor's arm. It felt warm against my cold touch. He secured his cloak tightly around him and rushed me to his palazzo. I looked around only to find that nobody was there. Montressor took two torches and gave one to me. The scent of ash filled my lungs and the heat of the torch warmed my hand. We passed several suites, all decorated in some way. We came upon an archway that led into the vaults. I looked back at the building. It was indeed grand but not as beautiful as my own. I followed Montressor down a large winding staircase. Our footsteps echoed through the air. Montressor cautioned me to be careful for the damp made the stairs slippery. We had come to the bottom. As I walked, the bells on my hate jingled. The sound pierced the air and I began to fidget.

"The bottle?" I asked. I was eager to have the Amontillado. I had not tasted such fine wine in quite a while.

Montressor told me that it would be farther on. I observed the white substance that gleamed on the walls.

"Nitre?" I asked curiously.

"Nitre. How long have you had that cough?" he asked.

My nose began to tingle and my throat had a strange scratchy feeling. Some coughs escaped my mouth.

"It is nothing."

Montressor shot me a concerned look. I sighed mentally as he continued to talk about my health and fussed over me.

"Enough. The cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough." I waved my hand at him.

Montressor gave me another concerned look, "True—true, and, indeed, I had no intention of alarming you unnecessarily; but you should use all proper caution. A decanter of this Medoc will defend us from the damps."

Montressor handed me a bottle and I eagerly took it from him. I heard the crisp sound of a cap being taken off a bottle. The sweet scent of alchohol filled the air. I took a sip of Medoc. It stung my throat just slightly.

"I drink," I told him, "to the buried that repose around us."

"And I to your long life."

"These vaults are extensive."

"The Montressor's were a great and numerous family."

I looked around me, "I forget your arms."

Montressor gave me a smirk, "A huge human foot d'or, in a field of azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel."

"And the motto?" I asked.

He grinned at me with a glin in his eye, "Nemo me impune lacessit."

I gave you him a cheerful smile, "Good!"

AN: Originally written as a school assignment