A Choice

by Zachary Furr

Part 1

    The wall broke and shattered as Thomas Kline was in the middle of running away from the vampire. He had chased down lead after lead on where to find an unholy being so that he could cleanse it from existence. The castle which the beast had held itself up was dusty and dilapidated, old furniture and sheets were all over. There was a certain sense that someone had tried to rebuild it at one point and that is why the dry wall shattered so easy.

    Thomas did not waver from pain so easily, he got right back up and started running back to the hallway. A cloud of dust covered him as he slipped on his wet boots and crashed into another drywall; this one however was just in front of a stone wall, so of course it hurt a little bit more.

    The rain of the storm outside had found a hole in which to drip through and the water dripped onto his head as he laid on his back. As he opened his eyes, he saw a young strange looking girl simply looking down at him.

    “What are you doing down there on the floor?” Her voice was soft as silk and at the same time belied a threat. 

    Thomas wasn’t sure why he ran from her in the first place. He thought for sure that she was a vampire. Her pale skin and blood-red eyes that stared at him were supposed to be proof that she was a creature of the night.

    “I hit the wall and fell down.” Thomas answered. He found himself compelled to answer. 

    “What are you doing here breaking my walls and tracking water through my halls?” She asked again.

    “I thought that castle was abandoned. I was looking for a place to shelter from the weather.” He answered again and told the truth as much as he could, after all, who really likes walking in the rain.

    “Tell me the truth, funny-looking man, you wear the garb of a hunter. Is it really too much to ask to be left in peace? I bought this castle as well as the mountain that it sit on as a safe haven for me and my kind. I pay all the taxes as well. I want to live, even if I exile myself from the world. But it seems like every few years a hunter comes and tries to make a name for himself. So then I’ll leave it to you?”

    All the while she was talking, Thomas had gotten up and dusted himself off. As he beat his hat, he looked at her once again. Her red eyes actually complimented her starlight hair. Her eyes showed a pain of tiredness that Thomas had seen in hundreds of normal people. But her tiredness was more abundant, and it appeared that the slight figure of a person really did just want to be left alone. 

Thomas hadn’t really heard of any complaints from the nearby village. Just a lot of rumors and speculation, no missing persons. 

Thomas himself had really just come for the pursuit of adventure, nothing more. Then what harm could there be if the adventure was to stay here and perhaps learn from her and her experiences. 

“I won’t harm you.” Thomas said. “It appears that your pain is greater than my own.”

“It is.” She said in a softer tone, but no less wary. “I have been isolated for many years.” 

“I admit that I came here to hunt and kill, but I have been put off by your beauty. I find the pain of your eyes to be the intriguing feature. If you would allow me I would like to stay and learn about you. Perhaps with me staying here and learning about you, I can disway others from coming to hunt their fame.”

“And where would you stay, hunter? My house isn’t exactly the four seasons.”

“I would sleep on the floor of your entry hall. That would more comfortable than many other places that I have slept.”

“Could I trust you to stay there til morning?”

“I give you my word as a hunter. I know that it is not much to someone such as yourself, but to me it is everything.”

    “Leave me you weapons as well, then I will trust you for the night.” She said.

    “I have only two.” Thomas handed over a small carbine and a sheathe silver dagger that he had hidden under his cloak. “I feel like a mercenary with that little gun, but I would have it any other way.”

    “I suppose an introduction is in order for as long as you are staying here. As the visitor would you be the first.”

“Ah, yes. Here we are speaking like old chums and I forgot to introduce myself. I am Thomas Kline, I am a hunter and protector. I am currently between work and have been seeking a meaningful job for some time.” He said this with a flourish and a bow with taking his hat and throwing it in the air and catching it again.

She seemed to giggle a bit at his introduction. 

“And I am Mistress Sara. Vampiric shut-in and devotee to living with my blessing in the most calm way possible.” She bowed and kurtseed as she spoke. “You may call me Sara, as I am the only inhabitant in this castle.”

 

The castle entry way was cold and damp, but at least Sara had given him a blanket and a pillow to sleep on. She may have been considered unholy, but she was not without compassion. There was also a couch in the hall that was big enough for him to lay upon.

The hike up to the castle in the rain was not an easy one, so as soon as he got comfortable he was out. He fell asleep and felt safe enough to do so. His boots and cloak put aside and laid out to dry. He laid covered and slept peacefully. 

Sara watched him as he got ready for bed. She watched him sleep next to the door, and though it was raining, he seemed to sleep soundly. She felt comfort from seeing his comfort; and so she retired to her own quarters for the night.

 

The sun rose up over the mountains bringing with it a new morning. The castle received its first beams of light by mid morning. In the entryway, by the broken door, upon the couch, Thomas awoke to the light of the new day. The cool air filled his lungs and he breathed a sigh of relief. As he pulled back his cover, he saw that an extra two had been placed upon him and kept him warm throughout the night. 

Thomas arose and donned his boots, cloak, and hat. He began to search for his host, and to thank her. 

The castle was eerily quiet. The steps of his boots could be heard echoing throughout the castle halls. In the morning light, the roof appeared to have many holes, as spots of light could clearly be seen on all the walls, and the puddles on the floors. 

A racket was coming from the kitchen area. Pot and pans clattering, the smell of bacon and eggs became apparent the closer he got. He poked his head in through the doorway to see a most peculiar sight. There cooking a meal was Sara. She no longer wore the wispy robes that she had on the night before. Her work clothes were very unflattering but seemed to suit her more appropriately. 

Thomas stood in the doorway and simply admired her work ethic. Sara was cooking up some bacon, eggs and hashed potatoes.

“Well, how long are you going to stand in the door?” Sara said as she set two plates at the table. 

Thomas straightened himself and walked into the kitchen. He pulled a chair out for Sara. She looked at him for half a second before accepting his small kindness. He went around the table and sat across from her.

“Thank you for the meal.” Thomas said.

“I would make a poor host if I didn’t at least feed my guest.”

“That may be true, but I came in uninvited. I wouldn’t exactly say that I am a guest.”

“True, but I sleep much better when there is someone watching the front door. So, I guess you could call this my thanks to you for allowing me to sleep so well. “

“I have slept in worse before, but I have rarely awoken with an extra blanket.”

“Well you were shivering.”

“I am not accustomed to being treated so well. Most people treat me with disdain for being a hunter of people.”

“So you must live a lonely life as well then?”

“Yes,” Thomas said, reflecting upon his life. “I suppose so, and I barely make enough to get by. But I do get by.”

They both sat in a quiet reflection. Sara sipped some hot tea. Thomas munched on some dry bread.

“Well, I have a list of chores that need to be completed. No time to dawdle.” 

She got up and cleared the table and rinsed the plates. She smirked a little seeing that all the food had been eaten.

“Now if you will follow me, good sir, I will show you where to start.”

“Start?” Thomas said, a bit confused.

“This castle is not going to fix itself, especially after last night.” She tied her hair back into a ponytail. “Come I’ll show you where the spare planks are at.”

Thomas stood up and followed the lithe woman out the door to a path that led down a ways to the barnyard. The sky was cloudy gray, a perfect day for her kind. 

The barn, such as it was, was in as much disrepair as the castle. The roof needed to be rethatched with new straws. Some of the wooden pillars were rotted through and seemed like they could barely support any weight that was placed upon them. The stock was at least kept dry for the barn was built into the side of the mountain like the castle.

Sara went into the barn and began to pull out lumber and hay. She then brought out an iron hammer with iron nails. 

“Here.” Sara handed the tools to Thomas. “You look like you would be able to handle the repairs of the barn. Fix it and I consider that payment enough for the little indiscretion that we had last night.”

Thomas took off his coat and hat, picked up the hammer and set off to fix the roof on the barn. 

Sara began to feed the animals, cows, horses, and chickens. She then went on to milk the cows, and harvest the chickens’ eggs. By the time she had finished tending the animals, Thomas had finished thatching the barn roof and was moving down to reinforce a cracked wood pillar.

Thomas found a few wood planks and nailed them to the cracked pillar. Sara made her way to him and offered him a cup of water. He graciously received it. His shirt had noticeable sweat stains. 

    A light rain started and the clouds darkened the sky just a little bit more. Sara looked up and beckoned to Thomas.

    “Let us return to inside the castle again. The barn, I believe, will remain dry thanks to your hard work. Now, let us go and eat a midday meal.” 

    Thomas nodded, for his tongue was tied. He put on some finishing touches and gathered his things and followed Sara back to the castle.

    There stood Sara, outside of the kitchen entrance, next to a water pump. She had a bucket in hand and she was already in her undress. She poured out the water over her head and the water dripped and poured off of her. Her dress, soaked as it was, clung to her beautiful frame.  She appeared to be more like an angel than ever before.

    She refilled the bucket and added a few herbs that she had nearby. As Thomas came up to her, she took his things and handed him the bucket.

    “You stink of hard work. Rinse yourself off and come on inside. There are some towels to the right of the entrance. Clean yourself off and take some comfort in the kitchen. I will prepare lunch while you do so.”

    Thomas did as instructed and cleaned himself up. He dried himself off with a single gray towel, and entered the kitchen.