Shadows Of The Past

Chapter Twenty One

"You sure, you don't want any more tea?" asked the woman who was sitting in front of Samantha, Kayla, Kate and Max

"We are good thank you. And thank you for allowing us to visit you Mrs. Whittemore."

Mrs. Regina Ward Whittemore looked elegant and sophisticated sitting on that easy chair in her patio. The lush green sycamore trees surrounded her house. Her backyard was very well kept and one could easily say that a lot of landscaping work was done. Dawning a loose blue blouse over a cream trousers and a straw hat, she looked still looked beautiful, though the signs of ageing could clearly be seen on her skin under her eyes and mouth. But still, even at the age of seventy six, she still looked youthful. Her golden almost white hair was evident from the tentacles of curls that framed her face and her bright green eyes still had that charm. Her hands were steady. They saw, when she was picking another set of herbs and planting it on the side trough. She was very polite. After spending forty five minutes with them, she still was ready to answer all her questions.

Max had kept the recorder on and Samantha continued with her chat with her.

"So Mrs. Whittemore you had been here since forty years?"

She chucked before she answered. "You might want to make that sixty actually. I was sixteen when I married and came to Windy Hills, Louisville. My first husband was also wealthy, he also came from the families of the original settlers. The Hales. Back then, I was married to Joseph Hale - Oh! What a fool I was. Only sixteen and already in love and thought I would be married with him forever. If I ever knew, that forever, never actually existed - wouldn't have married him."

"If I may ask you, what happened?"

"Oh the usual. In those days, serving the military was always considered to be a prima goal for every male in the county. It was a matter of pride and prejudice. It gave them - male the power. Joseph's father was domineering and wanted both his sons to serve the military and participate in war. When the war broke, Joseph left for the war and he never came back."

"Oh I am so sorry"

"Don't be. If he had been a martyr I would have moaned for the bastard. After waiting for him for almost an year. I came to know that he never went to the war. Instead, found a woman in Nashville - Paula was the name I think, she was a daughter of one prostitute - I checked the facts. She chased my husband - turned him into alcoholic and made him write off his share of property on her name. Again, my fate helped me, my mother in law was a kind woman and she transferred her shares on my name - very forward approach if you ask me especially in those days and helped me to pursue my education. I went to pursue my education from Winchestor University in Literature and that's when I met Adam Whittemore and the rest was history."

"What happened to your former husband?"

She was quiet for a while - this was the first time - she hesitated for a second before answering their questions.

"Joseph was found dead near the lake one night. He was pale and his eyes were wide - not closed as if his eyes were wide with fear."

"Animal attack?"

"That's what states in the police records, but no, people who have been here for a long time know - it wasn't just an animal attack"

"What do you mean?"

"When his body was found - it appeared that all the blood from his body drained out - his body didn't have an ounce of blood in it. His skin perished. Now what kind of animal would do that? Drinking all the blood and leaving the flesh. Not a single sign of claw marks were found on his body except for the two very delicate puncture marks near the carotid artery - just two tiny holes. Nothing else."

"I've never heard of something like that"

"You won't hear, but you need to understand and focus on what you actually are looking at. My grand mama used to tell me stories about the creatures of night when I was young - but never had I thought that I would ever witness something like that in my entire life. What happened with Joseph wasn't something normal. It was a nightmare. Even he didn't deserve that. No one does." she sighed

"Do you know what was it after all?" Kate asked 

"The creatures of Night" she whispered

She looked up. Her face void of any emotion. Her sea green eyes were still bright. She spoke slowly "You people are from the city - may not like what we see or tell, but since you are covering up a show here. I think I can answer that." she carefully placed another trough next to the red one and said "Vampire"

Kayla blinked for two minutes and asked "Vampire?"

"Do they exist? I mean - I have only watched them on Netflix and movies and read about them on books" said Kate

"Like I said you guys are from the city, won't understand the threats that loom places like this. Places that are old." she sighed "Vampire sightings have been mentioned in the old records of the county. All those which were hidden before the town fire which took place in the year 1880 were all found by the mayor and destroyed. Those records actually had the sightings dated till that day. Now, well, though the locals including the Sheriff know the kind of deaths happen in this area and nearby towns including Crestwood, Northfield or Windy Hills, no one can really do anything - officially that's why they never include it." She looked at Kayla for a minute and asked, "You guys are from Lexington - basically which place -  you see, sightings have been noted in the areas of  - Boumount and South Land not only of Vampires, but also Wolves."

"Wolves. Sure, a lot of incidents may happen - I mean considering the forest area." Kate said

"Nuh-nuh. Not because of woods 'Cher, not ordinary wolves - werewolves." she said

At that Max laughed, "Seriously, I was just trying to process my head with Vampires, but werewolves - Ghosh! Don't you think that's a bit extreme"

"My son! I don't expect you to believe everything that comes out of an Old Hag. But I am not someone sitting and wasting an hour of time to just tell you tales. My suggestion would be why don't you visit some other families. Maybe you will hear the same stories. Many among us have witnessed some of our greatest fears in the dark. My youngest - Kelvin while returning from a friend's place two years back, took a shortcut and came through the woods on a full moon and his jeep just gave up in the middle of the road. He heard bone cracking sound near the trims of the woods and a distant howl... He didn't see clearly, but saw a shadow of man first standing and then he was standing on four. He kicked started his jeep and thankfully made it on time but not before the beast following him - it almost caught him, but he took a sharp turn and it lost him. My son just got saved. He has a mark on his wrist still evident. When I came to know, my knees gave away. Adam was holding me - I remembered. He was fine, but I couldn't shake the fear."

"I am sorry Mrs. Whittemore - I didn't mean to - 

"That's fine. You are a young blood, haven't seen much. Don't blame you"

"But, you didn't tell me did you, where exactly are you guys staying here?"

"We are staying in the outskirts of Richmond, Lex - The Mystique Mansion." Samantha answered

She gasped. "The Mystique Manor? You are staying at the Millers' Estate?"

"Yes. What happened Mrs. Whittemore?"

"Good God! I really hope you guys wrap your work at the earliest and head back to your city life. You kids don't know where you have landed up."

"What? What do you mean?" Kayla asked

"That place - Mystique Manor is doomed. Darkness lurk there. I hope you be safe. I think you should head." she stood up from her chair and walked around the patio "I am serious. Heed this with caution. Get away as soon as you can"

They all stood up and just thanked her for her time. Their heads were reeling with thousands of thoughts and they just went away