A Dark Crest Novel

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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

 A few weeks have passed, and Alora and I have been spending quite a bit of time together. It was strange at first; having someone else at the manor, but now it feels natural, like there was never a time before her, and I. Lately I've begun to feel strange around her. I couldn't quite pin down what this feeling was. I hadn't interacted with anyone for more than a few minutes in years. Whenever she's around me I get a strange tingly feeling in my gut, like all of my organs are swirling round. I've been trying to figure out what this is for nearly a weeks time. 


 I sat in the library, and read a new book; as I did everyday. An hour or two in, Alora busts in, causing me to jump. 


 "Everly!" Alora exclaims. "Would you like to have dinner outside this evening? It's beautiful out today!" 


 "I don't know if that would be very wise." I pause for a moment, thinking of an excuse. "It'll get dark, and who knows what'll be lurking about." 


 "Oh yes, I suppose that makes sense." Her tone has a swift change, from bubbly, energetic, to downturned. "I'll see you at dinner time then." 


 Alora opens the door to leave, and I know that I should let her, but a part of me just can't bear to see her like that. "Alora wait." 


 "It'll be too late to eat dinner outside, but I suppose having tea now couldn't hurt." 


 Alora's expression quickly brighten. "Ah really?!" 


 "Yes, I've reached the perfect stopping point in my novel-" I'm cut off by Alora hugging me. Caught off guard, I fall back. 


 I land on the hard wooden floors. I rub the back of my head in pain, and look up to see Alora over top of me, her face only inches from mine. Noticing our position she quickly jumps up. 


 "A-Ah, I'm sorry are you ok?" Alora asks, her face flushed. She holds out her hand to help me up, I take it. 


 "I'm quite alright." I give her a small encouraging smile as I rub the back of my head. 


 "Good, we should get going while it's still nice out." She adverts her eyes from mine, still blushing. "I'll meet you outside, I'll change into something more appropriate." 


 "Wait I-" Before I can finish Alors runs out of the room. "Like the dress you have on…" 


 Tea, I had never been very fond of it. Yet today it tasted oddly superlative. I suppose even the most wretched of things can be so with the right company. 


 "Yes?" She asks, still chewing on a cakey desert of sorts. 


 "I've been thinking about your name?" 


 "Since you're living here now, I was thinking that you could change it." 


 "I suppose I could, what did you have in mind?" 


 "Isn't that your last name?" Alors asks, her ears turning bright red. 


 "Well I suppose since we are living together it makes sense, but you mean to change my first name as well?" 


 "Yes, it's a very small change, but I believe it to be a fitting one." 


 After that we decided to have tea whenever the weather would allow. If only I knew then what I know now. Perhaps if I had I wouldn't have made such a grave error.


Chapter Eight