Dashiell paced back and forth, his mind was racing, he was at a loss of what to do.
'Walk with me,' he commanded and began to wander off before Annika had time to even open her mouth. She jumped up to catch up with him.
As they strolled through the garden, Annika began to shiver; she had not bargained it would be this cold.
'Here.' Dashiell smiled, taking off his long black cape, and placing it over Annika's shoulders. Annika turned in surprise, he was being kind and caring, but only moments ago he had been so abrupt! Either way, she was grateful for his cape. ‘Perhaps you do travel too lightly, Miss Acklin,’ he mused. Her eyes went wide. The count had not even been present when she had said that to the servants—how did he know? Annika was about to ask him, when she looked down and saw a ghastly wound on his hand. It looked quite deep and seemed to be a cluttered mess of blood and fur caught beneath his skin. His hand looked infected, and it had been sewn up roughly, with tatted stitches jutting out between the scabs and puss.
'How did you get that?' Annika gasped, she hadn't meant to be rude, but his hand looked as though it were only a day from being removed!
Dashiell looked at her in horror, realising he had let down his guard, but his unyielding nature made him stand his ground. 'I was injured in a hunting accident in the woods the other day' he lied, 'and it being the Ever Frost, and it still being somewhat old fashioned in this part of the world, I regret that no doctor was available on this day, so Renaud stitched it up for me. I do have my own private doctor, but he was actually away visiting his family that day.'
'How…unfortunate,' Annika grimaced, surprised by such a barbaric act.
'There are many strange and dangerous things in this part of the world you may not understand, Miss. Acklin,' the count said, looking sternly into Annika's eyes.
'You make it sound so archaic, and mysterious,' Annika replied, her voice strange for the count's words had sent a chill running down her spine.
'It may look like a faraway land from the ancient tales, Miss. Acklin, but deep in the mountain caves and the dark, unforgiving woods you may find the stuff that nightmares are made of.'
The intense look in his eyes and the certainty with which he spoke the words made Annika shiver, this time, a shiver that radiated deep from within her soul. Suddenly, for the first time, she felt concerned, really concerned for her safety. Perhaps, she had not done the right thing in coming here after all.
As they walked, she took in the beautiful scenery, despite the awful name of the castle, its beauty and majesty drew Annika in, and she wondered what amazing or terrifying adventures might befall her here. The fields of snow seemed to sweep on forever, finally stopping at the foot of tall, dark mountains somewhere far off in the distance. Annika and the Count continued to walk down a long, straight path lined with dead, spindly trees that looked like wretched skeletons, dappled in snow, piercing the serene night sky.
As they reached the end of the path, they came to a clearing where a giant stone structure broke the white lines of the horizon. It was an old, decrepit building, with massive stone doors. A wolf’s head was used as the giant, black, iron knocker. It was covered in snow, and from behind the walls, Annika could see dried, forgotten limbs of the once cherished foliage that hid behind the stone blanket.
'That's the Forbidden Garden,' Dashiell warned. Annika sensed that her question would be unwelcome, but she was struggling not to ask exactly why it was forbidden. Dashiell could see this, and so he tried to cull her desire, 'Some things are too painful to stay in our memories. So instead of finding a way to live with it, we simply bury it deep within us, or we simply shut it out. Please, don't ask me again. I should not have bought you this far down the path.'
Annika suddenly got goosebumps on the back of her neck; there was a chilliness to the count's words that scared her. 'Come.' The count gestured. ‘We must be heading back.'
'You could ask me instead of ordering me!' Annika snapped. 'I'm not a dog that obeys orders, dear count.'
'I am sorry, Miss Acklin. I am not accustomed to guests here; perhaps my manners are somewhat rusty. Please, call me Dashiell.'
'Thank you, Dashiell, please call me Annika.'
The count realised that this petite, blonde little creature was perhaps more like him than he had thought. Her demeanour was cool and calm, but in her eyes, he saw a passion and a determination he knew would not make things run smoothly as he would have liked.
After their walk in the gardens, the air had begun to change. It was now bitterly cold, and light snowflakes began to flitter on the world.
‘Come Annika…I mean, would you like to come and meet the rest of my family, Annika?' the count asked.
Chapter Six: The Baertschi Family
The count had shown Annika to a guestroom high up on the second floor. It was at the far end of a hallway, and as they had walked down the ornately furnished hall, Annika couldn't help but wonder what was hidden behind the other doors. She imagined the ghosts of long-gone relatives, dressed in elaborative party gowns, dancing to a long-forgotten melody when the residents of the castle were asleep.
The lights were dimmed, with only a few small lamplights punctuating the long hallway with their orange hue, a slight ray of comfort for Annika amidst this intimidating and mysterious world. Dark shadows cast mysterious shapes against the walls, as Annika tried not to let her imagination give in to fear. The moody atmosphere only perpetuated the mystery of this castle though for its young guest. They arrived at her room, and Dashiell opened the door.
'Welcome,' he said and smiled; his manner seemed more relaxed now. 'I hope you like your room.'
Annika breathed a sigh of awe. 'It's beautiful!' The room was painted in royal red and golden accents like much of the castle set off by black and white vertical stripes on a feature wall. The colours were a little bold for Annika, but the golden four-poster bed in the middle of the room, made with plush velvet cushions and a soft eiderdown made up for that.
There was a loveseat in the corner of the room under some bay windows. Annika wondered if anyone had ever felt the sweet caress of love in this house.
The heavy black velvet drapes reached the top of the ceiling to the bottom of the floor when Annika's cast her eyes down, she saw that the carpet she was standing on was plush and rich in texture. She wanted to rip her shoes off and run her toes through it; her feet were so tired and aching!
'I'll leave you to get dressed for dinner,' Dashiell said, Annika turned to ask him how formal she needed to dress, but he had already shut the door behind him.
As she rummaged through her suitcase for something appropriate, she went over the day's events in her mind. Before she had arrived, she had been worried sick and scared of the people she may encounter. Although the count had been aloof, she couldn't help but feel in awe of his enigmatic personality.
Annika finally decided on what to wear; a simple black dress over thick black stockings with her best coat. Annika hadn't had a lot of clothing over the years, but what she had, she had looked after. She had received an allowance for clothing every year, and always spent all of it because she wanted to fit in with all the other girls. Florina always gave her clothes that she no longer wanted when her parents gave her a new wardrobe, but Annika was careful about how she wore these. She knew if the girls knew she was wearing Florina's old wears, she would be teased mercilessly. So, she would often wear them under coats or with something of her own to make them look different.
The coat she was slipping on was a rich burgundy with a lace-up back, a rounded collar with black trimmings. It had come from the village of Kirea, where many excellent tailors lived. Annika had spent most of her allowance on the coat this year but didn't care, as it had been a cold Ever Frost, and she knew she would get a lot of wear out it.
She wanted to look impressive to the rest of the family, and as much as she hated to admit it, she wanted the count's silent approval too. Annika checked herself in the mirror after she had dressed and too
k a deep breath.
'Just breathe,' she told herself. ‘They can't eat you alive…well maybe they can….’
As Annika ascended the stairs for dinner, she could hear the laughter of children and the clicking of wine glasses. As she reached the top of the stairwell, she caught Dashiell's eye.
He was standing there waiting for her. 'I didn't want to leave you to your own devices, Miss Acklin.' He smiled, holding out his hand for her to take and enter the dining room by his side. He was dressed in an elegant dinner suit, with his shoulder-length hair neatly combed. With his broad shoulders and long legs, he towered above Annika.
Dashiell smiled politely, not showing in his face how lovely Annika looked.
'Are you ready to meet the rest of my family?'
'Yes,' she breathed, silently praying to Saint Medalia, that she wasn't dinner.
The dining room was ostentatious, to say the least. The walls were a golden hue, broken up by large windows that reached the ceilings. Lush velvet drapes framed the windows, drawn back to reveal a view that would have rivalled any painting. Although the sun was setting, and it was hard to see out, Annika could still see the dim light of the orange hew that bathed the snowy fields in its dying warmth.
Annika managed to avert her eyes from the view to the Baertschi's.
'This is my mother, Countess Vivien Baertschi,' Dashiell introduced, gesturing at a regal, stoic creature. She was dressed in a royal purple velvet gown, with a heavily laden jewel-encrusted necklace at her throat. Her hair was pulled back severely, save a few wisps of hair that feel around her forehead. Sticking out from behind her head were several large, ostentatious feathers that she had pinned into her bun, this took her countenance from austere to the ridiculous and Annika forced herself to hold in a giggle.
'Hello, Miss Acklin,' Vivien sneered. 'I'm surprised you dared to take the journey here. I'm sure this is quite a change for you. I know about your history as an orphan. You graduated on a scholarship, did you?'
'It wasn't an easy decision,' Annika assured her, trying not to let the sting of her words shake her confidence. 'But the job offer was too good to refuse. Since you know about my past, Countess Vivien, you would remember that my parents, may their souls rest in the After Realm, left me an endowment, which helped to fund my education, and will go towards helping to fund my future. I luckily actually haven't needed a scholarship. I actually won an internship in the land of Epp for my academic merit, and yes, while it does have a scholarship attached, it was never my main concern or priority. I simply wish to work in the land of Epp and fulfil my potential and greatest dreams.' Annika finished her statement with a big smile; she wouldn't let Vivien's condescension win.
Dashiell quickly motioned to two young girls sitting next to each other on the other side of the table. 'These are my nieces Ellowyn, who is fifteen and Adelia, who is six.'
The younger of the two smiled at Annika, her cute little face brought welcomed warmth to the whole experience. 'Hello Ann-ick-ca,' she said with a lisp. The little girl was small and plump, her flaxen hair in pigtails. Annika cast her eyes at the other girl, who hadn't even bothered to look up. Her mop of black hair hid her face; she was dressed in a black velvet dress, accented by purple lace, and a corseted coat with full drooping sleeves.
'Ellowyn!' Vivien snapped.
Finally, she lifted her head to reveal a face pale and eyes lined with thick black eyeliner.
'Hi,' she spat. Annika half-smiled, wondering what caused such intense hatred in the girl's eyes.
Dashiell pulled out a chair so that Annika would be seated next to him. As the butler and the servants bought out the lavish trays of food, Annika was breath taken. Never had she seen dishes like this before! The food at the Sacred Sisters had never been extravagant, Sunday had been Roast Day, and that had been the height of culinary delight for Annika for many years.
First came an entrée of duck and prawns. Then for dinner, there was grilled turkey, pork, chicken and beef. For dessert, a platter of cheese, nuts, berries, and more sweets than Annika had ever eaten in her life!
Annika reached over and lifted up a small dish that was blue and red. As she lifted, it wobbled on her plate, almost falling to the table. She giggled, Adelia laughed, and Ellowyn rolled her eyes.
'That is pixie dust jelly. The finest jelly you can get,' the count informed her. ‘When the pixies are sleeping, the hunters raid their trees for their dust and turn it into this dessert.'
'I've always heard of Pixie Dust Jelly!' Annika squealed. 'I read that only royalty eats such things! Do you eat like this every night?' Annika laughed.
'Of course, not!' Vivien snapped. 'Do we look overweight?'
'I didn't mean to offend…' Annika stammered.
Dashiell quickly interjected, 'This dinner was specially prepared in honour of our guest, you, Annika. I hope you enjoy it.' As everyone began to eat, Annika awkwardly stared at the array of cutlery laid out before. ‘Start from the outside in,’ the count whispered. Annika decided she would mimic Vivien who was sitting across the table from her, as her hand hovered above each utensil throughout the night.
'Did you hear about the attack in the village?' Ellowyn asked, changing the subject; a relief for Annika, but just an excuse to gossip for Ellowyn. 'They say it was a wolf…or, was it a bear? No, I think they said wolf.' Ellowyn's eyes were now shining, as they darted back from her grandmother to Annika, she clearly wanted a reaction.
'Wolves have been extinct in this part of Talir Faye for over a century,' Ellowyn went on. 'Did you know that Annika? They have slowly made their way back, though, coming in from bordering countries.'
Vivien fidgeted nervously.
'Perhaps,' Ellowyn began. 'It was one of them…you know the creature that everyone's been seeing around here for the last few centuries…they haven't been extinct!’ She looked at Annika for a dramatic impact.
Adelia began to cry. 'Don't let it come and get me!'
'That's enough!' Vivien snapped.
Annika remembered Dashiell's words from earlier, what exactly had he meant? Was he talking about his own kind if the rumours were true, or was there something even more sinister she should be fearful of? Perhaps she was about to find out? 'What creature would that be?' she asked, trying to sound nonchalant. Vivien cast her a look that could have pierced straight through her. 'Forgive me,' Annika began, 'It's just that I have been warned about certain dangers, even by the count himself, and yet I do not know what I am supposed to be afraid of!'
Dashiell cut in, 'Yes, it is true that wolves had been extinct for some time, so many people do not fear them, but they have begun to repopulate, and some people say,' here he laughed a little too nervously, ‘that the new breed of wolf that is coming into the country is a stronger, fiercer type of creature, more blood thirsty.'
Annika waved the comment aside, 'Oh, well, that wouldn't surprise me, if the creature was dying off; it probably had to learn to survive. With all the artificially modified food these days, how do we know what we're really eating? I was dead against it when Spyro announced he would be changing the way some of our foods are grown, he seems to think he's done the right thing, but I'm not so sure. The man is a genius, but I don't agree with everything he does. So now, the food structure has changed somewhat, and I recently read an article about how some of the wildlife is getting sick because the birds and grass dwelling creatures are eating the modified foods, then the meat-eating animals are eating them. You know it's a cycle. Perhaps the wolves are looking for more nutrition. If the wolves natural food source has diminished, then they're probably eating things they shouldn't, and …it's probably making them more aggressive,' Annika trailed off, as she noticed the tense looks on faces of Dashiell and Vivien and Ellowyn had to hide her sniggering under her mass of hair. She had begun that sentence, hoping they would agree with her, but she knew there was something more sinister at play here.
'Yes, yes, of course.' Dashiell nodded. 'Just take care, we did not mean to scare you.'
> Ellowyn sang, 'But...'
But she was silenced by her grandmother's scathing eyes.
Ellowyn suddenly leapt up from the seat. 'This is rubbish!' she spat.
'Sit down now, Ellowyn! We have company!'
'Damn the company! Damn this whole rancorous mess!' she screamed, storming off, suddenly she stopped in the doorway, turned to Annika and said in a low, warning voice, 'Beware of the night, dear guest.'
With that, she stormed off up the stairs to her room.
'She's not having a very good day…,' Vivien laughed nervously, her cheeks bright red, her hand fluttering around her necklace.
'I feel as though the night has come to a natural end, 'Dashiell began. 'We must put little Adelia to bed.' He smiled, tapping her on the nose.
'Ellowyn's a naughty girl, isn't she uncle Dash-ill.' She nodded.
'Yes, Heidi-Boo.' She smiled, picking the little girl up in his arms. 'Goodnight, Annika.'
'Yes, excuse us,' Vivien said standing. 'I'm sure tomorrow will be less dramatic.' Despite their words, she drew little comfort from them.
Annika was relieved to be able to retire to her room. Now she felt sad and homesick, she wanted to cry. Had she done the right thing, by leaving her school early, jumping on a train to this foreign land? Where else would she have gone? To Epp, perhaps, if this didn’t work out, she’d beg Spyro to just let her start this year, even though she had applied to postpone the internship. Annika sighed deeply, tears welling behind her eyes, but she forced them not to come. As she stood alone in the dining room, Annika closed her eyes and wished for tomorrow to get to the bottom of this strange business.
Chapter Seven: Baertschi Family Secrets
Dashiell looked around at the pink walls of Adelia's bedroom. It had been designed by her mother just after she was born. The painters and designers had worked day and night to have the room ready for the newborn bub.
It was the only pink room in the mansion, made even more feminine by cream accents and frilly pink curtains, it was a room fit for a princess. Theodore-Dashiell’s brother- had never wanted to remove a single touch of his beloved wife's décor and so pictures of small woodland creatures and babyish pastel pictures still adorned the walls.
The Count of Wolf Blood Castle Page 4
