In The Dark - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - Milo Marshwood

"Quiet and dark, was almost every night and every day. Seldom do I see the sun rise because of the thick clouds here at the foor of Everdark. Atop the mountain was a haunted fortress, surrounded by a dark and eerie forest. It seemed like it was almost forever when that castle stood there.

Living by the foot of Everdark do sound scary especially if your neighbors are blood-suckers. Yes, vampires! The castle atop Everdark was said to house vampires. Reports and cases of vampire attacks all around the town quite proves their existence. Maybe that is why, only few customers come by here, in our house, in our bar-inn, Marshwoods Inn named after our family line. Though customers are few, they pay extra high because most of customers I get are rich men and whores.

Of course I'm afraid of the night creatures! But this is where I grew up, where I lived, my home. I'd even stand up for my family if anything tries to break in. Ha Ha Ha! I even have a garlic garden surrounding my Inn and this crucifix, I know God watches and protects us.

Ah! I just remembered, there was this time when a stranger, if I remember correctly, he looked like a rich young man. He wore a dark-red cloak and he dressed in fine clothes. 'Blood--berry juice,' he said as he was hinding his pale white skin under his cloak as he reached for the bloodberry juice he ordered. He looked around the bar noticing my customers were few.

'That vile blodd-sucker!' I said, 'scaring away my customers!' as I held my crucifix at him. My children, Aster: the eldest, Dia and Milo Jr: my only son, named after me, Milo Marshwood, hugged me as I talked about the vampire.

Somehow, I was scared when I first saw him, that pale stranger, but when he smiled at my kids, I felt a little relieved. 'You should not worry, my friend,' I felt more relieved when he said these words, 'You are safe.'

I think he met up with the mayor's daughter, Estella Cassidy. She's one of my regular customers, along with different men every other time. A whore, my other customers say, but I don't think so. She's still too young and has many to learn, and I think she's just looking for the right man. I can see it in her eyes, her bright blue sad eyes. She and the stranger got a room at my inn, not too classy and big but that's all I could offer, a small comfy room with an arched window for a romantic morning. Mornings aren't usual here because of the thick fog and clouded skies but I guess that'll do.

It was almost midnight when some other regulars came and bought some ale and partied in the bar all night. I had already put to sleep my little ones, with their mother, they sleep in the inn's basement. I don't want to be told eavesdropping but by that time, I've heard Estella's moanings in the Morning Suite even though the laughs and shouts of the regulars were so loud. Ha ha! That wild girl is at it again! I think they did it the whole night and the whole day the next day. Since that day, I have never heard of Estella nor the stranger again. Some say she was killed by a blood-sucking creature of the night while others say she had just found out the love of her life. The nights that passed seemed more peaceful than ever, not a worry to be found.

'You are safe.... because you are of pure heart, my friend.' Those words have been etched in my heart, everytime I remember that strange incident. I soon realized that Estella was never killed by a vampire-- that stranger in the bar. But instead, had really found the love of her life, the Count of Everdark, a good man, of pure heart. These stories I now tell my children, truths that sometimes even those of dark pasts, do still have the hearts of gold."