A Dark Crest Novel

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You can now find this novel on Amazon!



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Everly is the next "bride of the beast," she is taken up the manor, and expects to be sacrificed, she survives, but meets a much worse fate the she had ever imagined.

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A wild beast had begun to attack our town, once every full moon, after it had its fill, it would calmly walk back up the hill, to the infamous Whitlock manor. It was rumored to be haunted. No one quite knew who had started the rumor, and no one had bothered to ask. It had been known forever, and everyone treated it as fact. Anyone ventured up to the manor, we’re said to be cursed. So no one in town dared to step foot inside, the seemingly empty manor. 


 One night, the town had agreed to try and stop the attacks. The beast would come down, and hunt soon, but what if we brought the hunt to the beast? What if we brought it a bride? A midnight snack? Would that quench its thirst? Would it still come down from Whitlock Manor? Those questions ran through all of our minds, as Ophelia Drillscoll, the first bride, was forced up the mountain by a few curious villagers, and left bound, at the foot of the manor. The village was not attacked that night. 

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The Beast Of Whitlock Manor

 Over the years I've learned to pass the time. The first few weeks of my confinement were spent exploring the manor. During those first few weeks I memorized the layout of the manor, once I was done with that I took up a few hobbies. I tried painting, sewing, singing, dancing but all of that got tiring so fast, with no one else around. So I took up reading and writing. I knew the basics prior to my arrival, so I picked it up quickly. The manor's library was enormous, but I had plenty of time, and there was always something new to read. As time passed new books would appear, with new places, trends, people. No matter how many decades, meliniums, pasted, I never lost count of time. But as time passed I quickly realized, I was no longer human. I no longer aged, changed, or grew. Decades passed, but I stayed the same. The library was the only thing that kept me sane. 


 The day started off normal, I was finishing up a novel in the library when I sensed a presence nearby; this was alarming since none of the villagers dared to come up on the hill, but I pushed it to the back of my mind, and chalked it up to someone just passing by. Then it got closer, and closer. Till it was unignorable, the presence was right on my doorstep! 


 A million sirens went off in my head, as I slammed my book shut, ran out the library, and opened the door to reveal a woman calsposed on my doorstep. 


 A small smile pursed my lips. "Well, well, well, someone left a treat on my doorstep. How kind." 


 Her dark mousy brown locks sprawled across the pillow. Her eyes shut tight, and her chest heaved up and down, in rhythm, signaling she was still alive. Bandages littered her petite frame. Her eyelids slowly opened to reveal her walnut-colored eyes. She goes in and out of consciousness for a few minutes, before fully opening. Upon noticing her unfamiliar surroundings, she quickly sits up. Her long tightly curled hair falls into place, covering her rounded ears. It sets perfectly around her acorn-like face; in both shape, and color. Her body begins to shake in fear. Finally taking notice of me, she opens her mouth to say something, "Where am I?" 


 From fear springs up curiosity. "Whitlock Manor? Do you live here all alone? Where are the brides? And the…" 


 "Do not ask questions, if you can not handle the weight of the answer." 


 I stand up from my seat. "Get some rest, we'll talk more in the morning. I tended to your wounds the best I could, if you need to rewrap them I'll leave some bandages on the table." I set down the bandages, and walk over to the door. 


 I don't respond. I walk out of the room, and slam the door shut. I walk across the hall to my room. Once the door is shut, and secured, I let out a deep, long-needed sigh, "What should I do with her?..."


Chapter Five