Until the Autumn Dusk

The Arrival

Staring at the white stone mansion made my decision far more real than it had been weeks ago. A weight of doubt pressed onto my shoulders. Dozens of thoughts bubbled up of what's ifs. For a moment I allowed those thoughts to consume me. It was tempting to use the horseshoe drive to circle and head back home states away.

I indulged the apprehensions long enough to get it out of my system before I waved my hand in the air in the same motion I would to dismiss smoke because no matter how I felt now it was too late to change my mind. Once we finalized it weeks ago it was said and done. A contract was signed. I was legally obliged.

The coven couldn't afford the hit to our reputation if I broke this agreement. I had to at least attempt. We all have worked too hard to build up what we had. I refuse to be the one to knock down any bit of it. I owed them the world for giving me a chance.

Besides the payout would be worth it. Solve whatever the issue was at hand then be on my way. I can swallow my fear until then. They gave their word after all no harm would come to whoever came to their aid, but who wouldn't get cold feet at the thought of living among a Vampire while working under their roof?

Certainly anyone with common sense.

"You can do this, Char. It's one Vampire." A whispered pep talk in the pull-down mirror always did wonders. "During the day, even. You'll be fine."

A few unnecessary adjustments to the bun holding the mess of wavy chocolate hair up to spare a few more moments before driving the car toward the back as instructed. There was no turning back now.

There awaited a man somewhere in his fifties dressed in typical black and white butler attire because, of course, he had help. The man tucked the phone away he had been looking at. There was a warm smile on his face, one a grandfather would give to the neighborhood kids he adored as much as his grandchildren. He took a few steps to my car and opened the door for me.

"Greetings, Miss Sommer. Welcome to Ashleigh. I'm Arthur Louis Carter." He gave me his arm for me to take, discovering despite the gray hair and kind elder vibe he gave off he took care of himself. "Don't worry about your car or luggage, the staff will take care of it."

"Oh...I could have managed, Mister Carter. I don't want to trouble anyone." I said, uncomfortable being waited on.

"That's what we are here for." He said. It was clear it was not up for debate. This was how it was done here. It wasn't going to change because it wasn't in my tax bracket. I would have to adjust. Not the other way around. Hopefully, I wouldn't have to bend too much.

He led me up the small stone walkway that paved the way from the drive to the mansion. In the stone were carved phases of the moon for each step we took. There were enough stones for two full cycles. Each side of the path was filled with blooming flower beds. To the right were hedges standing all to conceal the back lawn until we reached the door.

There I was able to get a quick glimpse of a sizable green lawn, more flowerbeds, and a pool. There was certainly more but with the click of a door opening, I turned my attention back to Arthur knowing I would have time to explore later.

He encouraged me to go first through the dark wooded door with a small stained glass window depicting a pink upturned angel's trumpet surrounded by shades of green. We enter a mudroom with practical black and white titled flooring in a zig-zag pattern. The walls were white with cubby holes on one side with a bench built in front of them to make removing footwear easier. A sink with all you needed to quickly wash up along with a small step in a shower-like area with the same tile as the floor. The small platform holding bottles of shampoo served as a way to keep a dog from tracking mud around.

"If you don't mind, Miss Sommer, follow me to your room so you can have time to freshen up and settle before dinner with Mr. Throne." He passed through a swinging door with a round window in the center to ensure no one was bumped, which was likely more beneficial to those without super hearing like the resident vampires.

"Not at all," I spoke before trailing behind him like a shadow.