by Yirak, Laura
“We hire in at the weekends, when we are busy, but we try not to do that too much, I figure we could ease you in to cooking once you got the routine down.” He looked at her; she suddenly had a big smile on her face.
“Yes of course.” She knew then she had him.
“I will discuss everything with Alesta and she will call you to let you know if you’ve got the job. Would you like a quick tour?” Patrick asked.
“Oh I would love it,” She said. “Can we ring a taxi, before, that way I won’t have to wait?”
“Sure,” he said.
They both got up from the table and went back out to the front desk. She picked up the phone and dialed, the taxi would be there in twenty minutes. At the opposite side to the Great Hall was the main living room where the guests could sit and relax on plush leather chairs in front of the fire. She looked over and there was a grand piano in the corner, it was chocolate brown. She walked over to it and let her hands feel its smoothness. They had a large patio out from that with the view of the loch. Judy was in awe, she had always dreamed of living in such a place. It was so cozy she thought. They circled through to the very large kitchen. It had everything, the newest appliances, mixers, she pictured herself buzzing around, making pastries. That was her favorite.
Patrick then led her upstairs, the guest rooms were above the Great Hall with the boarding rooms above the living room, all facing the loch. There was even a library, she would love it there. Judy hoped Alesta would say yes. She thought back to her youth and the hotel, pressing the linens, dusting, and cleaning. Judy kept things in order at her own home. She was a perfectionist.
“It is a lovely place,” Judy said as they came back down the stairs. She put on her coat.
“Well thank you, I like it here. Oh I forgot to ask you if you had any questions before you left.” Patrick took his seat behind the front desk and flipped on the green lamp.
“Ah yes, what days would I have off if I were to be hired?” She turned and looked behind her; she thought she heard a car coming up the gravel drive.
“That depends on my schedule at the university, but we are very flexible if you had something you needed to do,” Patrick said.
“Rightee oh then, well I think my taxi is here. Thank you very much Patrick. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” She closed the door behind her with a jingle and Patrick listened as they drove off.
He was feeling tired and hungry; it was time for some tea and a bite to eat. He fixed up a quick cheese sandwich in the kitchen and took that and a cup of tea up to his room. The stairs creaked as he went up. Patrick’s room was on the corner directly across from the library and he could see Alesta’s house and the loch from his corner window.
He sat by the window and placed tea upon the table. The weather didn’t look good. There were dark clouds rolling in on the horizon. A big fat crow was sitting on the roof of Alesta’s house. Trees blocked half the view of her place but he could observe her bedroom on the top floor and the kitchen on the bottom. Her curtains were pulled. He cracked open the window. The crow cawed at him.
Alesta loved to sleep all day; she had been on a nightshift schedule ever since he had known her. It was good for him though, he could get a break at night from the guests on her off days.
He pulled out his black journal. He loved to write and sketch. He was working on a sketch of Alesta. He used oil pastels and charcoal occasionally. Bright colors were his preference. He had set a scene with her sitting wearing an elaborate green gown playing the grand piano. Her dark hair cascaded over her sleek, curvy body. It was almost finished, perfect he thought. Once framed, it would be a gift for her birthday in a few weeks; she had been planning a private ball. There was still some planning to be done but he’d deal with that next week.
After finishing up, Patrick decided to check the guest room to make sure it was ready for the gentleman coming that evening. He placed plenty of clean towels, vacuumed and dusted quickly. All was in order and then it was time for a quick nap. He went back to his room and lay down on the soft white bed. The room was simple, just a few landscape pictures on the walls, his private collection of books, study materials, with no television.
“Ahhhh, peace and quiet,” he said out loud and dozed off.
The telephone rang loudly. Patrick opened his eyes. He had been having a dream that he was taking a math exam and he didn’t know the answers to the questions. He rubbed his eyes, and picked it up.
“Hello, uh, McKenzie Manor House.” The main line was connected to his room; he also had his own private cell phone. It was another customer calling for a room for the weekend. He took the portable phone and walked downstairs. They were booked solid starting Friday. Maybe Judy would be able to start tomorrow he thought. It was a question to be asked when Alesta arose for the evening. He finished up on the phone and the grocery lad, Jim, opened the front door with a jingle. The youngster was blonde and very thin.
“Go on through and load up in the kitchen.” Patrick pointed behind him. “I’ve got some stuff to finish up and then I’ll be in.”
“Right,” said Jim and went back out the door to open up the back of his van. He grabbed a few shopping bags and brought them back in. He passed by the front desk and through a swinging door that led directly to the kitchen. Patrick followed in after him.
“I brought you a paper as well.” Jim tossed it on the metal kitchen counter and went to get the rest.
“Oh thanks,” Patrick replied. He picked it up and removed the plastic from it.
The headlines read in big bold letters, “Baby Snatcher at Mercy Hospital.” Patrick put it back down, and signed the receipt of delivery.
“Cheerio Jim, see you next week.”
The food was put away into the large refrigerators. He decided to prep dinner and pulled out one of the fresh hams, rubbed it over with salt, pepper, cinnamon and plopped it in a large glass dish then placed in the oven. He mixed up a pineapple glaze and set it aside. The rest would be completed later, he thought.
Patrick went back out to the front desk to see a tall fit gentleman standing. He was dripping water onto the hard wood floors from his black trench coat. He was an older man, chiseled chin, dark eyes. He removed his hat to reveal, salt and pepper hair.
“Welcome to the Manor Mr. Abernethy,” Patrick said. “May I bring in your bags?”
“Call me Allister please and no need to, I travel lightly.” His English accent was tired. “It was a long train ride. I would like to just check in and go to my room.”
“Of course, if you could sign our guest book, I will show you up, here is your key.” Patrick handed it to him and led him up the wooden stairs. The hall ahead was dark. Patrick turned on the lights.
“You will be staying in the Blue room to your request.” Patrick opened up the door and showed him in. The walls were painted a dark blue, with a four post bed. The wood was dark and the sheets made of the finest white linens. Allister tossed his bag onto the floor and hung up his wet coat in the closet. He was slightly hunched over as if he had been sitting at a desk for many years.
Patrick stood in the doorway, “Dinner is served at 6:30, and we are having a ham, just dial zero if you need anything.” He pointed to the phone by the bed.
“Thank you,” Allister replied. He picked up his bag and placed it on the bed. Patrick closed the door and went into the library.
Patrick stood by the window, the glow of the moon showed his attractive features. He saw a light turn on in the kitchen through the trees at Alesta’s house. She never opened her curtains. He smiled to himself and waited.
Alesta padded barefoot in the kitchen, it was cold, and she always made sure Mitsy had enough food and water when she got up for the night. She turned off the light and made her way up to her bedroom. There was one spare room on the top floor which Monica used sometimes, if they had been out too late but the entire floor was hers. The room was magnificent; she had a very large ornate canopied bed, blanketed in plum satin, the walls were a soft va
nilla color, lined with Victorian furniture. She picked up the phone and dialed zero.
“Hello this is Patrick.” Patrick put down the book he was reading.
“Oh, Patrick, do we have any guests?” Alesta asked as she stepped into her closet. She flipped through her formal attire.
“As a matter of fact we do, a gentleman up from London. I put a ham on for dinner. I figure the leftovers would be good for breakfast and sandwiches tomorrow. We are booked for the weekend.” He got up from the comfortable chair and headed down the stairs towards the kitchen.
“Brilliant, I’ll come over and relieve you for the night.” She hung up.
Alesta enjoyed dressing the part of Lady of the Manor. She put on a dark blue Victorian bustle dress. It was tight at the waist and pearl buttons lead the way all the way up covering the skin of her neck. She carefully pinned her hair up in a French twist, securing it with a silver and pearl comb. She went into her bathroom and stood in front of the mirror. Fabulous she thought as she applied red lipstick and jet black mascara. She sprayed a hint of lavender on her wrists and made her way to the main house. I wonder who is here, hopefully someone interesting she thought.
She peeked into the kitchen. Patrick was preparing spinach and turnips. She opened the door and he looked up.
“I didn’t hear you come in, dinner is almost finished.” He rinsed a large knife under the tap.
“How was the interview?” She pulled out some serving plates from the closet and placed them on the counter.
“Great, Judy has good experience; she’s very kind and polite and seems trustworthy. I would recommend her for hire. She would fit in here better than the others.” He watched her move around the kitchen, sometimes it looked as though she wasn’t even walking. Was it was just the dress?
“Wonderful, I will call her this evening,” Alesta said.
“Oh and can you ask if she can come in tomorrow to start training?” Patrick was hesitant.
“So soon, well yes maybe she’ll watch the place tomorrow night. Monica wants us all to go out and enjoy ourselves. Do you think Judy could handle the place for a few hours, does she seem like a quick learner?” Alesta asked.
“She does have experience. We could chain her to the front desk.” They both laughed. “I’m sure she’d be fine and anyways Claire will be here too taking care of the meals,” he said. “Next! Oh glaze…..I’ve got to warm up this up. Mmmm.”
“Right then, if she agrees, all three of us will go out, otherwise you’re stuck Patrick.” Alesta poked him on the arm and stepped out to the front.
She called Judy’s references and after hearing only good comments found Judy’s number in her notebook and dialed. Alesta was just about to hang up when Judy answered.
“Hello,” Judy said, she was out of breath.
“Oh hello. This is Alesta,” she said.
Judy was excited. “Oh hi, I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”
“Well Patrick had only good things to say about you and I would like to hire you.” Alesta maintained a professional tone. “You can move in as soon as you’d like.”
“Oh! Thank you, I won’t be able to move in this weekend but probably the next.”
“How soon can you start?” Alesta asked. She tapped her pen against the desk.
“Tomorrow maybe, is that too soon?” Judy asked.
“Oh no, it would be perfect, we are booked for the weekend, but sleep in, check in is not until 3, so come about 2, and Patrick will be training you, do you have any questions?”
“What is the dress code?” Judy asked.
“Well wear a dress for now, green or cream if you have one, till we get you fitted for your work attire. The staff here dresses in tartan. The customers like it,” Alesta said.
“Lovely, thank you. I will see you tomorrow,” Judy said.
“Patrick will show you your room and you are welcome to spend the night here. That way you can get acquainted with the place.” Alesta smiled to herself.
“Oh yes, I might do that. See you tomorrow Alesta. Cheerio!” Judy hung up and went to fix herself a cup of tea and call a few of her friends. She was ecstatic.
The fireplace was usually slow to start; it had a mind of its own. Alesta put a log on and crumpled up some old newspaper, struck a match and lit it. After blowing a few times and waiting patiently, the fire began to crackle. Once it got going Alesta sat in a big leather chair and watched the flames flicker, it was peaceful. She looked up at the painting of William above the fire place, black hair and his stern and arrogant face, all the old visions of him.
Alesta awoke, it was dark and damp. She could hear the dripping of water nearby. Her head was pounding and her legs felt like dead weight. She looked down, and could smell the stench of old dried blood. The ground was unforgiving and freezing; she pulled herself up and sat against the wall. She peered out through the black and saw the iron bars ahead. He had locked her in again. She was filled with fury, he was always the jealous type, and if she even looked at a man the wrong way he went into a rage. She her fist against the wall, then smiled. She had however deserved it this time.
The teasing had been going on for months, that was after all the best part of it. He was the newest stable help. His name was Ian. It was his dark hair; she loved the dark haired ones. When William left for a meeting with the neighboring lord, she figured that was her chance; she was a young and naive vampire. She had asked Ian to help her move some furniture up in her bedroom. She claimed that it was too heavy to move alone. She smiled as he came into the room. He had nice broad shoulders and a neck to die for. He drove her wild, months of watching him, every evening, with the horses, and working outside.
Ian was pushing the heavy wooden bed against the opposite wall when she bit her finger. Alesta cried out in supposed pain and claimed she’d cut it on a piece of sharp wood. She sat down on the bed and he left to get her a cloth to wrap it in. Ian sat down next to her and took her hand in his. His hands were big and strong. He wrapped her finger, and then lifted his head up. She caught his gaze. Ian put his hands around her waist and pulled her in for a soft kiss. His lips were tender and slightly chapped from being out in the cold a lot. Alesta lost all control and pushed him down on the bed. She kissed his neck softly before sinking her sharp white fangs into his smooth neck. He let out a quiet gasp as his blood pulsed into her mouth.
Unfortunately William had lied. He had been watching the whole time from a secret peep hole in the wall. She didn’t figure this out till many years later when she had remodeled after William’s passing. She was enjoying herself. Ian just lay there in absolute pleasure, arms relaxed, and head back. He was mesmerized by her beauty and he wasn’t quite sure what she was doing to him, but it felt so good, her lavender scented hair spread over his face.
All Alesta felt next was a sudden rush of air, a crash and thud. Her fangs ripped out of Ian’s neck. Pain rushed through her body. Somehow she had been thrown out the top floor window. She had shards of glass sticking out of her legs, blood covering her white dress. She lay there and looked up at the sky, the grey clouds danced above her and the icy wind slammed against her body. Crashing sounded above her and then she felt a pull on her hair as she was being dragged across the muddy slick grass. That was the last thing she remembered as she sat in her dark cell all alone.
Many days passed and she was becoming weaker and weaker, she had dined on the odd spider, but that was all that came through her small prison. Alesta had managed to pull out the pieces of glass on her legs and although she had not eaten she was healing slowly. She had attempted to break through the bars when she had had more energy, but William had done something to them, ordinarily she would have been able to rip them apart. But she could not figure out his secret. She heard footsteps nearing, getting closer and closer. She lifted up her heavy head to see a dark figure standing before her. It was her husband.
“I knew you would get up to trouble if I left,” William said angrily. “Have you had enough yet, gu
ess how long you’ve been in here?” he asked with a nasty smirk on his face.
“William I don’t know, I’m sorry for my behavior, now please let me out, have you not had a sufficient amount of fun torturing me?” Alesta laid her head back down, she was so tired, and she could have cared less right then.
He bent over grabbed her damp rotten hair and pulled her up to the bars, “It’s been almost two weeks, but I think you have learned your lesson this time; I guess the last time I did not leave you in here long enough. I am missing your beauty around the Manor, even if you were bad. I forgive you this time, but heavens Alesta if you anger me so again, even God can’t save you.”
“William we’re both damned, God will never be there, ever,” she sighed. “What did you do with Ian?” she asked meekly.
“Ah your new little toy, I thought about killing him and saving his head for you, but it was not his fault. I blame everything on you. Anyways, he’s good with the horses; I paid quite a bit for him. I knocked him out and left him in the horse pasture. I made it look like he had fallen off one of the horses. He has no recollection of the events and I told him you were visiting cousins up north. But, if I even catch you looking at him, you know what will happen, he will have the same fate as the last. Remember Alesta; do not eat the help, it’s bad manners. I will be choosing who you will be feeding on, from now on, till you can gain back my trust.” He picked her up and carried her in his arms. She let him.
Remorsefully Alesta sat staring at the hot flames. Patrick came into the living room, and stood beside her and leaned up against her chair.
“Thanks for putting the fire on, I probably would have forgotten. It has been a while. I’m sure Allister will enjoy it,” Patrick said.
“Don’t be daft; you are always on top of everything,” Alesta said.
Patrick smiled, “Dinner is ready to be served. He’ll be down at 6:30. Will you be all right; I’m going up to study? If you need me, you know where I am.”