Chapter 22

It’s now the weekend. Rather going out and finding a bistro where I can drink and have fun, I am moving into the gatekeepers house. I stare at the empty-looking 2-story house and try not to look at the expansive estate in the background. I turn off the moving truck and jump out of the drivers seat.

“Well Katie, welcome to your hell” I mumble to myself out loud. There’s an odd presence in the air. It feels like it’s coming from the mansions sprawling property. Maybe it’s because there’s not many of a soul around here, everything is either open fields or wooded areas. I am getting a tingling sensation; something is once again nagging at me. I can sense energy, and I feel a presence lurking around me. Yet, as I look around, there’s no one here. Could the wolves still be here? Is there someone lurking on the abandoned property? I feel like eyes are watching me?

I look around one last time without drawing attention to myself, it’s my like a brief glance at the sprawling land. I walk inside the cottage. I look around, I am praising my lucky stars, it isn’t like completely hopeless. I know my father insisted on upkeeping the place when I was young. I remember, he had told her that if any of us were going to stay here for a visit, he’s not going to live out here like a caveman. So, he installed top choice electricity, internet access and cable hook up. I can see his touch on this place. How much had he been coming here over the years without me knowing? The kitchen looked vintage but, well kept, the fireplace was in good order, there is an extra bathroom added. I walked through the place seeing all of the updates I never realized. The upstairs had a full-service bathroom with a hot tub. My grandmothers room had been expanded, with a walk-in closet the size of the bathroom. Why did dad do all this? Didn’t he know that the house couldn’t be sold? It looked like he was sprucing it up to try and sell it?

I am so enterally grateful for his efforts. I don’t need to worry about doing any upkeeps now. This was still not my ideal choice but, I wouldn’t feel isolated from society so much, now that I see it looks fairly decent. After taking a walk through, I start the treacherous task of unloading the truck. I wish someone were here to help me.

After a few hours of handling everything, my back is cursing at me. I again wish  someone could magically appear to help.

“Hello?” I hear someone speak.

“Hello?” I respond. I am knee deep in the truck trying to haul everything. I am almost buried a live at this point.

“I saw someone moving into this old place, I thought only the elderly widow lived here?

“Yes, she did, she was my grandmother.”

“Oh, my condolences. She’s been here alone so long, I wasn’t aware she had family.” He said in a pleasant tone. His eyes were saying, I wasn’t sure what. I got the strangest feeling that he was either lying or phishing for information.

“We lived in America; she didn’t want to leave when dad moved over to stay.”

“Makes sense, I’m Conrad.” He said, offering a handshake. I just waved. “Katherine, nice to meet you.” He waved back. Looking a bit irritated that I didn’t accept his hand.

“You likewise.” He said politely. I caught a glint in his eye. Something was screaming at me to walk away from him. Why I don’t know.

“Please don’t take it wrong, just my family is not very touchy.”

“Don’t know what you mean? I heard your grandmother was a hugging person?”

“Maybe, my father wasn’t though, he tried so hard to blend with my mothers family. I fear that side died, he was cold and indifferent. Loving, but strict, while domineering. He would give me a light kiss on the forehead but, never hugged or shook hands.”

“Is that right?” he asked.

‘Yeah, I think he was trying to fit in with my mothers family. Sometimes I think, if I was vampire, I would cull them.”

“That’s pretty intense resentment”

“Well, you don’t know them. They don’t know about my family here. If they did, they would exploit this place, restore it but, bulldozing it and building something modern that screams ‘I’m a billionaire’ in it’s place. They see only rich people. No one else matters. You could be a worker at a Starbucks who comes from two parents that have really good incomes, you’re still a homeless leech unless you come from money like this” I pointed to the mansion in back of me. He listened to me with sharp attention “Unless your family are royalty, and live a life of billionaires, you’re just slim under their shoes.”

“Yeah, sounds like a vampire should cull them. Humanity can be bad enough without adding in humans who could be real life death eaters.”

“Exactly. I love everyone, and I try my best to be good to everyone. Any time I talk to them, they treat me like a parasite. I’m supposed to be their granddaughter.”

“No, you don’t do that to family”

“Well, tell that to them. They said they’ll acknowledge me when I stop living like a beggar. I just choose to work and build my own way in life. I don’t want to be a spoiled billion-dollar princess.”

“Nice talking to you, I should probably get back to work.” I say to him while climbing down from the truck with items.

“Do you need a hand with that?” He asked

“Yes. If you’ll be kind enough to set the boxes by the door, I’ll move them in.”

“If you give permission, I can bring them inside for you?” again, something was screaming at me to stay away.

“No, just set them by the door on the outside, I can handle it.” his eyes clenched. Why did that piss him off? Being denied permission inside? That was weird.

“As you wish” he said in a flat tone.

I shrugged it off and continued unloading. It felt nice to have a little bit of help. I also took a look around. Where did he come from? I didn’t hear a car pull up? There’s no other house around. Closest one is possibly a mile away.

I continue working on unloading the truck. Once everything is removed. I start hauling inside the house. He’s standing there staring at me. It’s keeping me out. Why don’t I help you bring it inside? He asks again, “I get a feeling in my head like some invisible force is pushing on my brain. What the fuck.

“No, I said that I have it,  thank you for the help.”

“Let me help you inside” he says it more firmly. I feel like I am getting a headache.

“Listen, I am trying to be friendly, I already said I can handle it.”

“I asked to come in and help you!” he says in an angry tone.

“Okay, you can fuck off! I am done being nice, you’re not going to push your fucking way into my house. Buh bye fucker!”

“Is it your house?” he says with an evil smirk. It’s starting to give me chills.

“Yes, my house bitch, fuck off, you’re not welcome here, now get the fuck off my property!” I screamed at him as  slammed the door. When the door shut, something bazaar happened. Huge gust of wind also slammed it shut, like it was locking me inside for safety.

“We’ll see how long your last princess! See you soon!” he said with a growl. I felt the house shudder for a second then there was nothing I looked out the window and he was gone as if he vanished into thin air.  What the fuck was that?