•Ephemeral•

Chapter 3: Blackbriar Manor

Greetings people!!

Before you start this chapter I would like to give you a link to my Spotify playlist that perfectly fits this book(and represents the playlist that Jessica usually listens to in her car).

That's it, thank you for your attention ;)

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7pCs4PV7dQNgofusJlL3w8?si=Qn4e9MXyT_CK3o16tEtVCw&utm_source=copy-link

°°°

A snowstorm happened to hit Salem exactly when she left her home at 6:30 in the afternoon.

She thought it was such a strange hour for meetings, especially since it could've been held during the day.

That didn't matter then, though. She wasn't to question the means of posh, extravagant people. What did matter was reaching their Manor alive since the storm didn't seem to calm down.
She was driving for an hour now, with her GPS turned on, showing a remote location deep in the woods of Oregon.

She never had to drive more than an hour, but here she was, with her windshield wipers at full speed, trying to see something through the powerful wind that bought a worrying amount of snow with it.

Trying to focus as best as she could, through the terrible conditions (not to mention the darkness of the premature night surrounding her), she thought about the contract she couldn't wait to complete.
This was definitely a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She not only was promised a raise from her boss if she completed this transaction, but she got to explore that mysterious Manor of the Blackbriar family...maybe even get to know them better.

This was a dream come true.

Her life finally turned to an interesting path.

Now her only concern being the fact that she had to make this route two times every day since her job is completed...at night.

She tossed away the inconvenient thought in a deep dark corner of her mind and tried to appreciate that something is finally happening. No more every day routine and no one to hang out with.

Even if now she had to stay with some strange people that raised a lot of questions, she had the assurance that her boss and her mother knew where she was. The precise location, since she gave it to them. All and all, she was safe...for the most part.

The excruciating hours finally passed as she arrived to her destination, thanking the universe for making it safe and sound.

She took a left turn from the main road and was greeted by an alley hidden by tall noble firs covered entirely in snow.

The girl marveled at the length of those trees, that perfectly covered the alley, making her feel like she entered another world.

Driving slowly, she finally reached some large, black, iron gates that wrote "Blackbriar" above them, in a floral font.

It seemed scary but beautiful, reminding her of the gates that guarded the Addam's family house- a show she loved as a kid.

She loudly escaped a "Woah" as the black gates opened with a screeching sound(she thought they probably had a security system that did all the work), revealing the great rose-covered garden before the Manor.
They were obviously covered in snow, but she could easily distinguish the thorns that pierced through the white blanket.

She followed the road that took her to the side of the house, where she noticed a place where she could park her car.

The Manor itself was simply...grand.
Not only the size, but the quality of detailing and beautiful arched windows that branded the front of the house.
It was painted in a very dark shade of red, that seemed a bit corroded, probably because of the passing of time.