Grayson's Veil

Chapter 36

Eleanor stared out the window as the carriage followed the twists and turns on the rocky path up the mountain.

Her stomach churned from all the motion, making her hug her stomach and whimper from time to time.

Eilif's arm that was wrapped around her squeezed her waist, trying to assure her that they were almost to their destination.

At the gesture, Eleanor turned toward him, hoping her face could show him how urgent it was to reach the place.

Eilif instantly pounded on the roof. "Hurry!"

The carriage launched forward, making Eleanor cover her mouth before lunch flew out.

Eilif gently rubbed her back, trying to soothe her nausea away. Every few moments he would say how close they were and to hold on, but Eleanor was barely paying attention to his cooing. It took every ounce of willpower not to vomit in his carriage.

Finally, after what felt like hours but really was only minutes, the carriage stopped. Eleanor flung open the door before one of the servants could, stumbled down the steps and projectile vomited by the back wheel.

Eleanor gripped the wheel, waiting for the pain and faintness to go away. She heaved up every bit of food that was in her stomach, then she dry heaved until her entire midsection cramped. She flinched when she felt Eilif's hand touch her back, not used to comfort when she was sick.

Looking over her shoulder, she saw Eilif instruct his servants to clean the mess before the mistress sees.

Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion, Eleanor looked up to see they had arrived. She gasped in shock. The Castle was immeasurable.

Built into the mountain, there was no way to penetrate it without going through the front gates. The entire castle was dark, the steeples were sharp and reached high into the sky. There were numerous windows, but dark heavy curtains covered the majority of them. The ones that were not covered, held a single lit candle, giving off an eerie glow. Stone gargoyles sat on either side of the door as well as randomly amongst the castle.

Eleanor took Eilif's arm as they stood up, her gaze watching the vultures that circled the steeples.

There was something on the steeples.

Not being able to make it out, Eleanor squinted her eyes focusing on one of them. The wind picked up and caused the thing to move with it, giving her an idea of what it was. The smell that followed confirmed it.

Eleanor screeched. She buried her face into Eilif's chest, "Why are there people up there?" She choked on a sob while gripping Eilif's jacket harder.

Eilif sighed, wrapping his arms around her and gently urging her to walk. "Do not look, just keep your eyes closed."

Nodding, Eleanor allowed him to guide her into the castle.

Upon entering the castle, Eleanor noted that there was not a single person around. This and the breeze from the front door added to the cold she was feeling from the strange place.

The entire structure was made from stone with candelabras and chandeliers placed everywhere in order to provide little heat and as much light as possible. The floors were covered in a long, red rug with gold trim that disappeared down the two hallways on either side of the door. In front of them was a gigantic staircase leading up to the next floor. The stairs were also covered in a red rug but were thick so it could cover the width of the stairs.

At the top of the staircase before it turned and split into two separate stairs that go up to the next floor, was a large painting. It was unlike most paintings where it was of the man or woman of the house. Instead, it was a grotesque painting of wolves ripping into naked humans. The teeth of the wolves held bits of flesh as the humans screamed in agony at being eaten alive.