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things-missing · 6 years ago

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The visitor

It was already late in the afternoon when I arrived in ‘The Golden Pheasant’. Upon sitting down and ordering light supper from the sweet young thing tending the bar I once again opened the letter that brought me here. Diligently studying the writing inviting me to that forgotten corner of the Earth I had noticed the innkeeper approaching with a pint of something that I guessed to be some sort of locally popular spirit.

‘It seems you came a long way to reach here, sir’ said he

‘Indeed, my good man’ I retaliated politely, glancing upon the rustic-looking pitcher, that the man placed in front of me

‘In need of a good rest, are you?’ continued he, slowly pushing the vessel towards me ‘Beer?’ I thought

‘Yes, quite so’ I answered aloud ‘However my journey is not yet finished I’m afraid, for I have quite some ways to go yet’

‘And pray tell, where will you stay? There’s nothing ahead for at least ten miles, and it is late already’ the innkeeper started to display a slight look of worry

‘Oh?’ said I with a slight smile upon my lips ‘But I received an invitation to a residence, not full two miles from here according to the written directions’

The innkeeper was virtually pale at this point. He leaned towards me confidentially, unaware that he soaked the ends of his neckerchief in the suspicious-looking drink he placed before me.

‘You do not, I hope, mean the old castle at the foot of the mountains?’ He said shakily

‘If I understood the letter I received correctly, then I believe I am’ said I, trying to look serious, since I believed an extensive jolliness on my part could embarrass or offend the poor soul.

‘Oh sir!’ he exclaimed ‘Please reconsider! And, if by the will of the heavens you absolutely must go to that dreadful place, at least do so by the light of the morning!’ ‘Ah yes’ I said to myself ‘and bring in some profit by spending a night in the inn’ But aloud I answered only

‘My good man, I’m quite moved by your concern, and to a complete stranger too, but I indeed absolutely must be there, and well before the morning, I’m afraid’

The old man shook his head in an amusing display of worry and murmured to himself some words I could not decipher. Finally he jerked his head, which was somehow even more amusing, and I had to cover my mouth as not to disrespect that genuine outburst of feeling by a mere display of good cheer, and said

‘Since I can’t stop you, sir, I urge you – take this with you’ he took out from somewhere in his attire a small silver cross on a chain. I flinched with surprise. After a brief moment of silence, I slowly leaned back in my chair and chuckled.

‘Oh, oh no, my good man! I won’t have a need for it’ and smiled genuinely, hoping, I did not offend the gentleman’s beliefs ‘I simply believe I won’t’

The innkeeper once again reached out his hand with a cross towards me, but I only leaned further back, making it known, that I would not take the gift. Once he hid it, and begun to rise from his sit I quickly added:

‘I do appreciate the sentiment, truly, I do’ but the man was silent and remained so even through bringing me my supper and later accepting my payment.

I collected my bag and stepped outside, heading for a stable building. The sun had just set, and only faint fiery red glow was seen on the clouds behind the peaks in the distance. It will soon be completely dark. That was when I first stopped to think of the reaction of the innkeeper and the others before him, who had learned of my destination.

The man that invited me was not very forthcoming regarding the details of our deal, however I hoped that once there, I would easily resolve the case in my favour. The letter said also that a carriage will come for me once I arrive at the inn and will be waiting at the crossroads a few yards from the stable building.

I looked around and soon saw, between the trees near the road, a dark shape of a vehicle with a hunched figure of a coachman upon it.

‘A rather old-fashioned ride, eh?’ I said to myself, and begun approaching the silhouette.

‘Good evening, my good fellow!’ I said cheerily, but with moderation. I supposed the gloomy and serious atmosphere is something of a local trait, and If they prefer to keep it that way, then who am I to question that.

‘Good evening.’ said the coachman with, just as I expected, a croaky voice.

I waited a moment but he did not express any desire to leave his post on top of the carriage to help me with my luggage, so I soon decided to enter the vehicle and put my bag next to me, there was enough space. As soon as I sat down, we started moving, slowly at first, gaining speed as we went.

The road was quite bumpy, but not as much as I’d expected it, to be truthful. After a while, when it was completely dark, aside from a faint lamplight on the side of a carriage, we abruptly stopped. Suddenly I heard a howl and a few dark nimble shapes sped past both windows. I sat up. I was quite sure I saw wolves.

‘Oh, there must be a lot of them in the mountains’ I tried to calm myself, but at this point I begun to feel quite uneasy.

Shortly, the coachman made the silent and invisible sign to the horses and they obeyed, resuming our journey.

I preferred not to think of the things I heard and saw along the way. ‘If I do’ I thought ‘I will not be able to get rid of the doubts’

The ride seemed longer than a mere two miles, but alas, we were in the mountains, so the distance on the map might not quite correspond to the hardships of a mountain road. When we finally reached the castle I became more animated. It indeed looked like a castle, Stone walls and dark tiny window arches glistened in the moonlight. ‘How delightful!’ I thought, and, ignoring my doubts one final time, I approached giant wooden door with a spring in my step.

I knocked.

I could hear the steps approaching from far within the castle.

I waited.

The handle moved.

The door opened.

‘Come in!’ I heard.

I jumped.

‘And when I thought I finally found a man foolish enough to invite me in!’ I jumped back and started laughing

‘And When I thought I finally found someone stupid enough to come here to the middle of nowhere!’ the man in front of me retaliated, also with a surprised laugh.

‘Well then, that is quite a coincidence, good sir’ I said grinning but, truthfully, a little disappointed

‘Quite so’ he answered ‘But my! I do have to admit, that the last thing I expected on my doorstep was.. another vampire!’ we both started laughing uncontrollably

‘It was true for me as well, but..’ I responded when I finally caught my breath ‘I think that at the end, I could as well have expected that. I guess I just didn’t want to give up my hopes to the very end… hopes for a tasty foregin meal’ I winked

‘Oh well, it looks like we will both have to pass on the dinner tonight’ he answered with a smile ‘But, say, since you’re already here it would be a shame if you wasted that long of a journey. I might not have that much to offer but do come in and feel at home, please’

‘In a castle like that? I quite certainly will.’

#short story I guess?

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