Vampire Assassin League Bundle Five - Loneliness by Jackie Ivie Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jackie Ivie
was made from very heavy paper. Embossed. Sealed. And it had been resting on a bed of what looked like rose petals.
Rachel broke the seal, lifted the flap, pulled out a page, and unfolded it to reveal the most incredible script. Her eyes widened. She’d seen this kind of calligraphy in books, but she’d never really envisioned receiving anything written in it. Her hand trembled.
“Well? What does it say?” Eleanor asked.
“I’m being invited to the castle.”
“Oh, sweet! Holy sh—! I mean ...crap. This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. Is this classy, or what?”
“The invitation is extended to my friend, as well. You.”
“Well. Hell. What are we waiting for?” Eleanor stood up, wobbled, and immediately slapped both hands on the tabletop to keep from falling.
“You want to wait a bit?” Rachel asked.
“Oh, hell no. Give me your arm. I’ll be fine. Better than fine. I only wish I’d charged my phone so I could film some of this. Berne...we’re going to a castle !”
The butler guy didn’t change expression at Munson’s words. That was impressive. Rachel tucked the bundle of her headdress and veil under one arm and walked around the table to offer the other one to Munson.
They made a weird procession through the crowd and out onto the grounds. The castle seemed to be a long way away. Or something. It also got quieter, a lot colder, and a lot dimmer, the further they walked from the faire. Not that it was overly dark. There was a full moon in the sky, sending silver tones onto everything. It glinted off a layer of frosted mist attempting to obscure the cobblestone path they walked, sent illumination onto the three-story-high walls they walked beside. It framed the high, arched gateway they walked beneath.
The first view of the castle was electrifying. Moonlight enveloped it in silvery hues. Everything that had felt dull and lifeless in Rachel went instantly alert and aware. Or something. Castle Crecy was jaw dropping. Breathtaking. Stunning. An enormous edifice of impenetrable stone. Lights gleamed through some of the slits in the second story, as well as what looked like a round tower at one end. Rachel felt a chill cross her exposed chest and neck. It crept along her spine, worrying her. It was akin to the sixth sense that kept her out of all kinds of trouble.
Stifling it wasn’t easy.
A wooden double-door marked the entrance, set in a recessed arch. It was at the top of a wide staircase of ten stone steps. Rachel tightened her grip on the hennin bundle in order to lift her skirts. Then she started climbing, pausing for Eleanor at each step. The butler waited for them at the doorway, holding one side open. They were probably on the second floor. Maybe. Rachel wasn’t a castle junkie, nor was she a history buff, but this looked pretty damned impressive. And authentic.
The landing was even more impressive. Rachel stopped just inside the door, trying to take it all in, while Eleanor swayed at her side. She’d never seen such space, except maybe in a cathedral. The foyer area looked really high. There were window slits all about the upper roof edge, sending moonlight onto what looked like a series of banners hanging in rows, infusing the area with color.
“I am so hanging with you, Berne. From now on. You...and me. You need a companion on your next vacation...you call me. You hear?”
“What?” Rachel looked down at Munson.
“I mean...look at this. Just look.” Eleanor’s voice carried the awe Rachel was feeling. “We’re in a real castle! And holy shit. Have you ever seen anything like this? I mean...outside of history books?”
“If you ladies would follow me, please?”
The butler had traversed the area, and stood patiently waiting for them at the opposite end. The door he held open led to a lighted space. It sent an off-kilter, rectangular chunk of light onto the polished stone floor. That served to make the shadows of the foyer suddenly look dark and
Rachel broke the seal, lifted the flap, pulled out a page, and unfolded it to reveal the most incredible script. Her eyes widened. She’d seen this kind of calligraphy in books, but she’d never really envisioned receiving anything written in it. Her hand trembled.
“Well? What does it say?” Eleanor asked.
“I’m being invited to the castle.”
“Oh, sweet! Holy sh—! I mean ...crap. This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. Is this classy, or what?”
“The invitation is extended to my friend, as well. You.”
“Well. Hell. What are we waiting for?” Eleanor stood up, wobbled, and immediately slapped both hands on the tabletop to keep from falling.
“You want to wait a bit?” Rachel asked.
“Oh, hell no. Give me your arm. I’ll be fine. Better than fine. I only wish I’d charged my phone so I could film some of this. Berne...we’re going to a castle !”
The butler guy didn’t change expression at Munson’s words. That was impressive. Rachel tucked the bundle of her headdress and veil under one arm and walked around the table to offer the other one to Munson.
They made a weird procession through the crowd and out onto the grounds. The castle seemed to be a long way away. Or something. It also got quieter, a lot colder, and a lot dimmer, the further they walked from the faire. Not that it was overly dark. There was a full moon in the sky, sending silver tones onto everything. It glinted off a layer of frosted mist attempting to obscure the cobblestone path they walked, sent illumination onto the three-story-high walls they walked beside. It framed the high, arched gateway they walked beneath.
The first view of the castle was electrifying. Moonlight enveloped it in silvery hues. Everything that had felt dull and lifeless in Rachel went instantly alert and aware. Or something. Castle Crecy was jaw dropping. Breathtaking. Stunning. An enormous edifice of impenetrable stone. Lights gleamed through some of the slits in the second story, as well as what looked like a round tower at one end. Rachel felt a chill cross her exposed chest and neck. It crept along her spine, worrying her. It was akin to the sixth sense that kept her out of all kinds of trouble.
Stifling it wasn’t easy.
A wooden double-door marked the entrance, set in a recessed arch. It was at the top of a wide staircase of ten stone steps. Rachel tightened her grip on the hennin bundle in order to lift her skirts. Then she started climbing, pausing for Eleanor at each step. The butler waited for them at the doorway, holding one side open. They were probably on the second floor. Maybe. Rachel wasn’t a castle junkie, nor was she a history buff, but this looked pretty damned impressive. And authentic.
The landing was even more impressive. Rachel stopped just inside the door, trying to take it all in, while Eleanor swayed at her side. She’d never seen such space, except maybe in a cathedral. The foyer area looked really high. There were window slits all about the upper roof edge, sending moonlight onto what looked like a series of banners hanging in rows, infusing the area with color.
“I am so hanging with you, Berne. From now on. You...and me. You need a companion on your next vacation...you call me. You hear?”
“What?” Rachel looked down at Munson.
“I mean...look at this. Just look.” Eleanor’s voice carried the awe Rachel was feeling. “We’re in a real castle! And holy shit. Have you ever seen anything like this? I mean...outside of history books?”
“If you ladies would follow me, please?”
The butler had traversed the area, and stood patiently waiting for them at the opposite end. The door he held open led to a lighted space. It sent an off-kilter, rectangular chunk of light onto the polished stone floor. That served to make the shadows of the foyer suddenly look dark and