***********************************
Rain.
The rain falls like nails from the dreary sky. The rapid hammer tap tap of water on cobblestone.
Your coach creaks along in the dark. Up ahead, you can make out the faint torchlight of your estate. You pull your coat close around you to ward away the cold, the wet, and the dark.
The driver brings the coach to a stop. Your butler emerges from the front door and holds open your umbrella. You exit the coach and head inside, stomping your boots on the way.
"Sir," your butler says as soon as you're inside, "a letter came for you."
"A letter?" you ask, raising one eyebrow.
"Yes sir. Just a few hours ago." He holds out a folded envelope. "It came by messenger."
You take it, irritated. You wonder what sort of fool would deliver a letter by hand in this weather. But your irritation quickly vanishes when you see the seal on the envelope.
You stare at the design for a long moment, then turn to inspect your butler. Sensing something, he fidgets nervously.
"Who did you say delivered this?" you ask, your tone flat.
"I..." your butler gulps. "I didn't get a good look at him. It was dark, and he was wearing some sort of... cloak. It obscured his features."
You keep your face impassive. Reaching into your pocket for your knife, you slice open the envelope and extract the letter inside. It isn't long.
Dear Sir,
I trust you are of an inquisitive mind. And we both know that men of our stature, inquisitive men, have the desire to stay informed. If you are indeed such a man, I invite you to attend a gathering of like-minded individuals on the 20th of this month of March, at the abandoned Castle Ainav atop Mt. Wolfgang which overlooks our great city. I assure you, the party shall be... most informative.
With sincerest regards,
- V. T.
P.S. I look forward with the... warmest expectations to your arrival. RSVP in this very thread.
P. P. S. Leave the dogs and cat at home.
Slowly, you finish reading the letter and crumple it in your hand.
"Sir?" asks your butler. "Is everything all right?"
Some of you turn to him. "It is just as I feared. Quickly, bring me my tools." Crystal Ball. Whip. Wolfsbane. The ancient tools of fighting evil. The time has come once again for Light and Dark to meet. And no man knows who will emerge the victor.
Some others also turn to him. And smile. With a strange gleam in eye and tooth. "Dogs?" you say quietly. "Dogs? Leave them at home. Indeed. I see our old enemy jests. Well, if it's a game he desires..." The butler is unable to follow your movements. Before he knows he has died, his head is rolling on the ground. "The moon grows full."
And one of you also smiles. With a faint gleam of yellow in your eye.
***********************************
Author
Topic: A Mysterious Invitation (Read 4138 times)