I remember (Excerpt from Love Beyond the Grave)

I remember... I remember on a cold November day how warm sunlight filtered through the sombre clouds. The storm was finally over and a light white sea brume covered the land like a veil. Faintly, a rainbow on the blue horizon stretched and disappeared beyond the mysterious depths of the sea. Its vibrant colours reflected on the dangerous waters against a charcoal sky.

The penetrating rain had soaked our clothes through to our skin, which made us both shiver. Yet I had never felt such warmth as she pressed herself against me.  Her delicate fingers trembled. But her eyes shone brightly as she smiled; she was still the same adventurous little girl I had always adored. Anne then took my hand as she ordered me to “Hurry!” She was still trembling though now perhaps more due to fear. I replied with my eyes and reassuringly smiled back hiding my concern.  “They won’t see us now if we hurry.”  She pulled on my coat with the anxiousness of a child and led me to the back of the Hall where she signalled me to wait.

As I stood there, in the cold, I was overcome with a feeling of dread. We were alone and yet, I had the undeniable feeling we were being watched.  But for all I looked, there was not another soul in sight. With the exception of course, of the stone eagles perched on the roof, which as daylight faded, looked more like gargoyles. Monsters in stone much like those of any nightmare, the finials had guarded the Hall and its secrets during centuries. Their features had been delicately carved and in the mist, resembled grotesque winged-demons.  

Anne then opened a service door and looked inside, with caution. She then turned around and to my surprise, grabbed my hand and pulled me in. “Hurry, please!” she said as I sensed her fear. I did as ordered and followed her in, closing the door quickly behind us. The damp-air threatened the arrival of night fall and with it, of something much darker.