Come into my parlour... (closed for Ravvyn)

DeathsKnight

Harmless Teddybear
Joined
May 22, 2008
Posts
8,620
For years the old mansion stood on the hill outside of town, recently it was bought, but no body had met or even seen the new owner. For months repair and renovations was being made, but the crews said that they never saw anybody but the cook and three maids. Even the personnel didn't know who they worked for, it was almost like there wasn't anybody, but they had their definite orders each morning.

It was in the same month that the disappearances started, always people who loved to camp in the woods or hike through the countryside. This caused people to stay in the town limits, but then people started to disappear in the town and no traces could be found and not even the Police could find any trace of anybody or any suspicious persons. The only person that could not be found for questioning was the owner of the mansion on the hill outside of town...
 
Kate arrived in town early in the morning and didn't waste time tracking down leads. Her first stop was the police but they couldn't offer any information that wasn't already posted in the news. She then went to a place she knew she would get gossip from, the local coffee shop. From all accounts it seemed the one thing out of place was a creepy mansion on the outskirts of town.

This was already turning out to be a great story, the national acclaim she would get from this would surely vault her into a high paying job with a newspaper or maybe even television. She got directions to the house and was not disappointed when the mansion was as creepy as it was described to be. The front gates were locked by a chain but she could maneuver it just enough for her to slip through. Coming up to the front door she knocked, hoping someone was home.
 
The door creaked open and an old man stood there. He frowned at the young lady standing in front of him.

"I thought the gate was locked, why are you here? This is private property I would let you know"
 
"Yes, I know. Sorry but I have just a few questions. Are... are you the owner?" She asked, trying to hide the off-putting appearance of the man. She wouldn't be satisfied until her questions were answered.
 
"Young lady, the master is busy and not to be disturbed. So no I am not the owner, you can not speak with him and no you can not come in without an invitation. I would ask you kindly to leave or extreme measures in the form of boarhounds will be used to help you vacate the premises. Have a nice day ma'am"

He moved to close the door
 
"No... wait please." Her hand reached up to block the door from shutting completely.

"It will only take a few minutes. I just want to ask him what he thinks of the random disappearances." A stroke of guile struck her.

"That is unless he has something to hide. I understand why someone involved with these disappearances would not want it coming to light. If he won't speak to me then I guess I will have to write my article on the assumption that he may be involved." She hoped this pressure would allow her a few minutes with the owner, not that she really suspected him of any involvement.
 
The butler sighed and opened the door a little bit further

"Like I said he is a very busy man, he is not here. We only see him when he comes in from a project he is working on. If you want to presume that he is involved, then I can tell you that you are wasting your time"

He gave her a grin that made his face look more like a skull

"And that article would break you and not make you"

The door got slammed so hard close that for a moment it seemed that it would fall on her and then there was an urgent pssst from one corner of the house and a feminine hand motioned Kate closer
 
Before she could object to the man the door was slammed in her face, she flinched and took a couple steps back as the door, heck the house looked like it might collapse on her. Sighing her shoulders dropped and her hands fell to her hips as she considered her options. Then she heard someone call her attention, she turned to see a woman standing at one corner of the house. She gave one last look to the door before moving towards the woman.

"Hi, do you live here?"
 
"Yes...yes I do"

The girl replied

"Don't let old Gregor put you down like that, he is just a bit grumpy as it seems like the master have disappeared, only showing up every night. I actually saw him one night as he left papers and blueprints on a desk and the next day we had to file it all"

She smiled

"I can assure you that the master of the house really is a very busy man, but what he does I can not tell you"
 
"Okay maybe you can't tell me what he does, but what about who he is? Does he have a name? Why is he so secretive? Is it just a coincidence that there have been disappearances recently that have come around the same time as the purchase of this manor?" She took pen to pad writing down details from Gregor to this oriental woman. The mention of blueprints suggested possibly construction but that could merely be for renovations. Regardless she was already making headway.
 
The maid looked shocked

"Surely you don't believe that the master has anything to do with it? He is not secretive, he is just a very private person. He rarely sees anybody, over the weekends he is in his room, sleeping most of the time, during the week he works until very late and leaves very early, like somebody who has to travel far to get to their working place"

The maid frowned

"Come to think of it...I never saw or heard what his name is...maybe you will find that out from the Realtor? They have to write that down when somebody buys a home from them"

There was a tingle of a bell and the maid looked over her shoulder

"I am needed, I have to go"

With that the maid turned and rushed back into the house, closing the door behind her.
 
"Surely you don't believe that the master has anything to do with it? He is not secretive, he is just a very private person. He rarely sees anybody, over the weekends he is in his room, sleeping most of the time, during the week he works until very late and leaves very early, like somebody who has to travel far to get to their working place"

'Or like somebody who had some extra-curricular activities on the side.' She noted internally, noting that she would need to talk to the Realtor. It was a start, not much but a lot more than the friendly neighborhood Gregor had offered. Unable to resist she slipped into the back yard to see if she could dig up some skeletons, figuratively speaking but found that other than being as creepy as the rest of the lot, there was nothing obviously out of place.

She had seen the Realty office on the way into town and remembered the number, dialing it up she was disappointed that her phone had no reception. It'd have to be done the old fashioned way with footwork.

She made her way back out front and towards the front gate, turning to look once more at the mansion she could have sworn she saw someone looking out at her from a second floor window and it didn't look like the skeletal figure of Gregor.

With bull-headed determination that only a reporter possessed she returned to the front door and knocked again with gumption.
 
For a long time there was no response, the silence so deafening that when the gonging of a clock starting to strike it shattered the silence. Then the door creaked open and a face peeked around it.

"Please ma'am, the hounds..."

There is a loud howl from the left side of the house, followed by the barking of what sounds like six dogs.

"Please hurry, they will rip you apart..."

The door closed suddenly
 
Yet another new face but she couldn't argue with the not so friendly sound of those dogs. She reluctantly backed away from the door and began sprinting to the gate, sparing another look at the second floor window this time there was nobody standing there, staring. She slipped through the gate and immediately sighed in relief at not becoming dog kibble.

Getting into her car she made her way to the realty office and tracked down the one responsible for the deed to the house. After some convincing she managed to get the name Vlad Drake from him, a creepy moniker if ever there was one.

As it grew darker she knew she would need to find a room for the night and managed to track down a sleazy looking motel. After a look at the room and the sound coming from the one beside her she opted to sleep in her clothes, lest she contract some disease or possibly get impregnated by the sheets. Too tired to be picky however she collapsed on the bed. There would be a lot more footwork tomorrow.
 
Vlad Drake

So this was the best she could find? He looked around the room, he had seen much better in his life. He looked at her form as she slept, she looked like she would be fun. He had watch her leave in a hurry, pity that Gregor was so...quick to remove what he saw as a threat. He walked to the edge of the bed, the needle slid into her skin effortlessly, the plunger sent the tranquilizer into her bloodstream. He smiled as he watched her falling deeper into sleep, he was going to have so much fun with her, just the thought of having her at his total mercy had his hands trembling with excitement. A dark figure crept into the room and picked up her limp form, two clearly female figures slipped into the room and started to remove Kate's belongings, making the room appear as untouched as before. He smiled to himself, it was strange how much proficiency cost, but it was worth it all. He followed them, pulling the door close, with the key still dangling on the inside.
 
Her sleep felt like it lasted longer than she intended it to. At first her mind was swimming and her surroundings didn't become apparent. Her vision was blurred and impossible to focus. It was only when she moved to wipe them that she realized she was tied to a chair. She pulled at the restraints but all it did was cause discomfort and there was no wiggle room at all. She tried to blink her eyes clear, tried to shake the cobwebs out of her head but neither was to any avail. Her heart began to pound, the darkened room was clearly not the one she had gone to sleep in. She tried to kick her legs and pull her arms free in a futile effort to escape, failing that she resorted to the last possible recourse available to her.

"HELP!! Somebody!! Help me!!! Hellppppp!!!" Her shrill scream surely escaped through the door. Somebody would hear her, she just hoped it was someone to help. The sinking feeling in her gut however reminded her of why she had come to this town to begin with. The strange disappearances, now she was one of them. Her breathing increased as her panic and a new-found claustrophobia took hold. Nobody knew she was here, nobody that would be coming to look for her. She prayed that someone heard her screams for help, someone who could get her out of this situation.
 
Vlad Drake

"You don't have to scream, I am not deaf"

His voice echoed slightly in the chamber as he stepped into the light, his long black hair tied back, revealing his features, he smiled sarcastically at her.

"I heard that you wanted a few moments of my time..."

He leaned forward his face mere inches from hers

"Now you have my attention. Ask your questions, but be warned...each answer comes with a price that I decide"
 
He startled her when he first spoke, she hadn't realized she wasn't alone. His smile menacing as his tone as he stepped into the light for the first time. She was probably for the first time at a loss for words. His veiled threat of the price of her questions led her mind to go to the darkest of places, places which if he was the one behind the disappearances would pale in comparison to what horrors he might subject her to. She had so many questions but she was so afraid.

Where am I? Locked in hell.

Why did you take me? Because I was going to expose you.

You were behind the disappearances weren't you? Yes.

What are you going to do to me? Pamper and worship obviously.

Let me go. No.


These questions didn't need to be asked, the answers had been written in every horror movie ever made. Her vision still came in and out of focus a side-effect she was certain of whatever drug he'd used on her to transport her. Finally settling on a first question she drew in breath, bordering on abandoning the question but managed to find the voice to ask.

"Why? Why did you take those people?" Certain of his guilt the journalist in her broke past the fear just enough to ask. Her hands trembling, her muscles tensing as she leaned back in the chair as far from him as she could manage.
 
Vlad Drake

"Hmmmm..."

He pulled a hard rubber mallet from the back of his pants and expertly slapped it in the palm of his hand.

"Did you ever look into their past? Ah you didn't did you? All of them got away with murder, but certain loop holes, sexual favors and money helped them to achieve their freedom. I just settled the tab on behalf of the victims of their deeds"

Without preamble or warning he swung the mallet and drove it hard into the shinbone just underneath her knee disc.

"Next question?"
 
His supposed reasoning made her think this guy had seen too many episodes of Dexter but the likening of the situation never got a chance to come to fruition in her mind as the mallet cracked into her shinbone. She screamed out in horrendous pain, her shin writhing as the pain reverberated up and down her leg. She didn't know if it was broken but if she was to put money on it she would bet that something was. Tears escaped the corners of her eyes as she exhaled pain-filled moans. He asked her for another question but the price of the first one made her think twice. If he was telling the truth, that he was restoring balance, then maybe he could be reasoned with. After all it wasn't like she'd murdered anyone, maybe he would let her go if she dropped the story.

"I.. I understand what you did. Bu..t.. please I haven't hurt anyone. You can let me go. I promise I will never speak of you to anyone. I promise." Her pleading came through gritted teeth as she tried to stomach the immense pain.
 
Vlad Drake

"Actually...no I can't let you go. You know what my name is, you know where I live"

He looked thoughtful for a moment

"And you do know that a request is a question in it's own right"

He swung the mallet again, this time driving it just above her left wrist, the wood making a dull sound as her arm gets driven into it by force.

"Now then, next question. If you have asked every question you wanted to ask me, you may go. That I promise you"
 
"Actually...no I can't let you go. You know what my name is, you know where I live"

"The Realtor in town... he.. he told me. A name and an address doesn't mean anything. Nobody will know. I promise."


"And you do know that a request is a question in it's own right"

Her eyes widened as she struggled in her restraints, watching him wind up before squeezing them shut as the mallet came down again, this time on her wrist. She cried out louder this time, tears flowing freely as she knew her wrist had been shattered even though she hadn't opened her eyes she could tell by the feel. The burning pain, intensified with each slight movement. When finally opening her eyes she saw a large, red, purple and black mark where the mallet had struck.

"Now then, next question. If you have asked every question you wanted to ask me, you may go. That I promise you."

She vehemently shook her head to indicate she had no more. She just wanted to go, she wanted out of these restraints, she wanted to be back at the newspaper covering a boring fashion show for her sexist boss.

"No more... no more questions." She managed through her whimpers of pain.
 
Vlad Drake

"You know that if you lie to me, you will make me angry and when I get angry I tend to be less compassionate. Up until now I haven't broken anything yet, oh of course your knee and wrist will complain and disagree with me. But I know what I am doing. I do not believe that you would have came all the way from the city and the big shot newspaper, just to come ask me why I kidnapped those people"

He leaned closer, but remained out of striking distance

"Go ahead and ask your questions or must I make up some for you?"
 
How did he know this about her? There's no way he could have known she was coming. How long had she been out for? She tried to calculate answers but the pain pervaded her thoughts, mingling with the grogginess she was already feeling.

"No don't. I don't want trouble I just want to go." She begged, her voice shivering from the tears and her fear of the man and what he might do.

"I don't know how you know who I am, nobody knew I was coming here. Nobody will find out about you I swear."
 
Vlad Drake

"Like I told you, I do my homework. You have written quite interesting stories, maybe you can write on about me"

He tossed the mallet to one side

"Pity that you don't want ask your questions now

He looked past her

"And she had such a beautiful face"

He held his hand out and a black gloved hand rested a wickedly sharp knife in his palm. He tested the balance and then stepped towards her

"Last chance Kate, ask me or I will carve my family history into your flesh so that you know my story"

He rested the edge against her cheek, the blade digging into her skin, drawing blood almost immediately.

"This knife was designed by my great-great grandfather, Devonus Dracula"

He grinned

"Yes THAT Dracula, but no we are not vampires, but as history tells you he had children and I am one of his descendants. Through the years, we actually became more and more adept at hiding ourselves and our true nature. Yet I found a way for it to get out and that is when I can bring an end to the wicked in this world"

He leaned closer, the blade digging a bit deeper

"You're not wicked are you Kate?"

He knew the answer, but he wanted to hear her say it
 
Back
Top