Strange Awakenings
folder
Paranormal/Supernatural › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
5
Views:
3,282
Reviews:
10
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Paranormal/Supernatural › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
5
Views:
3,282
Reviews:
10
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Strange Awakenings
Julianne closed her eyes in despair. The rocking of the coach and clip-clop of horses hooves on cobblestones reminding her with each sway and each snap that her dreams were over. Father had made his decision. The wedding was over, and she was on her way to her new home, groom happily seated beside her.
The dark night enveloped the carriage like the hopelessness sweeping over her soul. There were no sounds from the forest around them. The leaves did not rustle. The wind did not blow. Only the squeak of the conveyance springs and the slap of horseshoes broke the silence.
She glanced over at her new husband. James Throgan. He was tall and lean with wide shoulders that stretched his suit coat tight. His strong, thick fingers gripped the reins with ease. His black hair was pulled neatly back in a queue. It shone darkly in the moonlight. His eyes were a piercingly pale blue; so light they looked white against the backdrop of night. The coach swayed and her arm brushed his. She felt uneasy and used her hands to slide away slightly, hoping he would not notice.
The trees pressed around them in thick menacing walls. The massive trunks towered above them in dark shadows, creating the tunnel they traveled. The breeze finally began to brush her skin in cooling waves. Julianne sighed. Her underskirts had molded to her legs in damp discomfort during the sweltering ride. She had almost relaxed when she noticed the eerie dance of the trees. Her stomach clenched in fear.
The leaves rustled quietly like voices whispering frantically of secrets. Thunder rumbled in the distance like a monster grumbling. A lonely how shattered the night and Julianne startled, clutching the seat in a white knuckled embrace. James chuckled softly and pried one of her hands free in the darkness to hold it lightly in his cool hand.
"Julianne, it is only a wolf. Nothing at all to fear." His smile was calm and soft, caressing her with smoothness.
Julianne wanted to snatch that hand away from his touch. Her body wanted to recoil and flee. She swallowed thickly and stayed where she was. She couldn't explain her fear of James. He had been a perfect gentleman. He had never shown an untoward emotion. Something deep within her feared him.
The trees parted before them like a great curtain. The horses led them into a meadow, thick with grass. Then Julianne realized it wasn't a meadow. It was the front yard of the estate. The fountain in front of the porch steps was overrun with brambles. The stones that lead to the doorway were cracked and uneven. The windows were dark. The castle towered above them like a great empty tomb. A lone light shown high in the north tower.
They glided to a stop at the massive oak doors. No one scrambled to take the horses. The door did not open welcomingly. James was a wealthy man. Where were all his servants? Where were his grooms? Every light should have been shining brightly. People should be waiting to greet them.
"Richard..." James grumbled as he stepped down. He assisted her to the ground and marched to the front door. He flung the heavy oak aside like it was a drape blowing in the wind. Julianne followed slowly, cautiously.
"Maria!" James bellowed into the darkness. Julianne could hear scrambling in the darkness. Something crashed and a light flared.
"Yes, Mr. James. We didn't expect you home, sir." A short, plump woman scrambled into view. Her nightgown flapped in her hurried wake. Her hair was covered with a nightcap. She curtsied hurriedly and lit the candelabra.
The foyer slowly brightened with each flame. Then Maria lit the gas lamps and the house exploded from the darkness. James was scolding the housekeeper, but Julianne's eyes were only for the house. It was fantastic!
Beautiful marble floors shone in the hallway and led to a massive staircase that led to each side of the upper floor in graceful arches. The stairs were carpeted in dark blue velvet that shimmered as she approached. The chandeliers were larger than her bedroom at home. Gold and jewels glittered fancily. The ceiling rose to ten feet above the second floor, open and inviting. It was very warm and welcoming.
Julianne turned back to James to remark on the wonder of his home. His hand was raised as if to strike the small woman, who cowered away from him.
The dark night enveloped the carriage like the hopelessness sweeping over her soul. There were no sounds from the forest around them. The leaves did not rustle. The wind did not blow. Only the squeak of the conveyance springs and the slap of horseshoes broke the silence.
She glanced over at her new husband. James Throgan. He was tall and lean with wide shoulders that stretched his suit coat tight. His strong, thick fingers gripped the reins with ease. His black hair was pulled neatly back in a queue. It shone darkly in the moonlight. His eyes were a piercingly pale blue; so light they looked white against the backdrop of night. The coach swayed and her arm brushed his. She felt uneasy and used her hands to slide away slightly, hoping he would not notice.
The trees pressed around them in thick menacing walls. The massive trunks towered above them in dark shadows, creating the tunnel they traveled. The breeze finally began to brush her skin in cooling waves. Julianne sighed. Her underskirts had molded to her legs in damp discomfort during the sweltering ride. She had almost relaxed when she noticed the eerie dance of the trees. Her stomach clenched in fear.
The leaves rustled quietly like voices whispering frantically of secrets. Thunder rumbled in the distance like a monster grumbling. A lonely how shattered the night and Julianne startled, clutching the seat in a white knuckled embrace. James chuckled softly and pried one of her hands free in the darkness to hold it lightly in his cool hand.
"Julianne, it is only a wolf. Nothing at all to fear." His smile was calm and soft, caressing her with smoothness.
Julianne wanted to snatch that hand away from his touch. Her body wanted to recoil and flee. She swallowed thickly and stayed where she was. She couldn't explain her fear of James. He had been a perfect gentleman. He had never shown an untoward emotion. Something deep within her feared him.
The trees parted before them like a great curtain. The horses led them into a meadow, thick with grass. Then Julianne realized it wasn't a meadow. It was the front yard of the estate. The fountain in front of the porch steps was overrun with brambles. The stones that lead to the doorway were cracked and uneven. The windows were dark. The castle towered above them like a great empty tomb. A lone light shown high in the north tower.
They glided to a stop at the massive oak doors. No one scrambled to take the horses. The door did not open welcomingly. James was a wealthy man. Where were all his servants? Where were his grooms? Every light should have been shining brightly. People should be waiting to greet them.
"Richard..." James grumbled as he stepped down. He assisted her to the ground and marched to the front door. He flung the heavy oak aside like it was a drape blowing in the wind. Julianne followed slowly, cautiously.
"Maria!" James bellowed into the darkness. Julianne could hear scrambling in the darkness. Something crashed and a light flared.
"Yes, Mr. James. We didn't expect you home, sir." A short, plump woman scrambled into view. Her nightgown flapped in her hurried wake. Her hair was covered with a nightcap. She curtsied hurriedly and lit the candelabra.
The foyer slowly brightened with each flame. Then Maria lit the gas lamps and the house exploded from the darkness. James was scolding the housekeeper, but Julianne's eyes were only for the house. It was fantastic!
Beautiful marble floors shone in the hallway and led to a massive staircase that led to each side of the upper floor in graceful arches. The stairs were carpeted in dark blue velvet that shimmered as she approached. The chandeliers were larger than her bedroom at home. Gold and jewels glittered fancily. The ceiling rose to ten feet above the second floor, open and inviting. It was very warm and welcoming.
Julianne turned back to James to remark on the wonder of his home. His hand was raised as if to strike the small woman, who cowered away from him.