The gargoyle and the willow

Not even after ten minutes since I had given my directions, Mrs. Jinx’s car, an old Ford, appeared out of the night with the old woman jumping like Flash from her driver’s seat. She helped me into the car and soon she had me bathed, bandaged and fed. And I had to tell that even into my shock the granny could drive like a maniac.

“Oh, Claire.” She patted my cheek as she sat an hour later on the bed’s side while soft, warm blankets were covering my body. I hadn’t realized that I had a split lip and scratches on my knees but only after she had me stripped bare.

She had also noticed them, but Mrs. Jinx didn’t say anything to me. If I had to be honest, I really wanted to cry but my experience had showed me that nothing could be achieved with tears. As for the strange dog, monster, thing that had surely killed the men, I never mentioned.

“Sleep, I will stay with you.” She spoke softly like the grandmother I never knew and I nodded.

“Thank you.”

Jinx smiled. “I have no idea what happened, but we’ll discuss it tomorrow. Okay?”

I nodded again and closed my eyes.

The next day, I was sitting on the table, eating pancakes while Mrs. Jinx was pouring coffee on my mug. She walked slowly yet when I had offered to help her she had glared at me. “Now, if you want to speak about yesterday, I am all ears.” She said as she sat across me.

Knowing that I wouldn’t be able to leave town now and even worse that I was being followed, I could only make sure that a hideout would provide me settler. “Mrs. Jinx, the job you offered me yesterday…is it safe?”

Her eyes widened but she nodded. ‘The residents are good people, deep down, and the house is armed like a fortress. There’s also the ground floor which can be used as a home for the doorkeeper.” She leaned closer to me. “What’s hunting you Claire?”

I gripped the mug tightly, feeling the hotness on my skin. I could speak to her but that would make the old lady vulnerable. I couldn’t stand yet another loss. I had already lost so many. After taking a sip from the coffee I set the mug down and took a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter. But I want the job.”

“So it’s that hard to get a word from you.” She sighed. “Very well, let’s clean up and I’ll take you to see the house.”

“Is it far from here?” I asked as we placed the plates into the washbasin.

“Half an hour with the car. The residents respect quiet and they like the countryside too.”

I stared at her. She was driving to them every day in her age? That seemed crazy! Jinx maybe noticed my reaction because she smiled. “I have been working with them almost all my life.”

I dried the plates quickly and placed them into a pile. ‘Don’t you have a family Mrs. Jinx?”

She stilled for a moment, her gaze blank. Surely she was remembering something. Turning around she headed to the living room and pulled on her coat. After taking her cane again she threw the car keys at me. “I used to have a lover. It never worked.”

“I am sorry.” I murmured seeing her sad expression.

“Don’t be Claire. I was quite a chick on my time.” She laughed and I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Let’s go.” She opened the door and with pride she stepped out.

We passed through trees on our way to the ‘mansion’ as Mrs. Jinx liked to call the place she worked on and I had to admit that the silence of the forest was relieving. Running nonstop for a whole year, always having to watch my back had turned to be really tiring and cost money.

I didn’t have the second and after my run in yesterday, I was beginning to doubt the first. As for the creature which apparently liked to play with human bones, I prayed that I would be its tooth stick.

“Here it is.” Mrs. Jinx spoke from the passenger seat after I took the last turn and gasped at the sight.

The so called mansion was a big house, at least three floors. There were arcs, pointy at the sides which reminded me quite of the Tudor style homes. Although I preferred something modern the colors of this house, deep brown, black and grey was stunning. The iron fence opened automatically as I neared and I couldn’t help but notice that the whole placed screamed ‘money’. While I drove I noticed the gardens on the left and right, how the iron fence was covering a wide distance around the house as also the way the old woman’s lips parted into an earnest smile. It felt like she was returning home.

After I parked and we pulled out the shopping bags with Mrs Jinx we walked towards the staircase, which led at the double wooden doors. When we reached them Mrs. Jinx turned to the right and…patted a statue.

“Hello Fred.” She said to the still marble statue which was sitting on its haunches, its body angled towards the road.

It had the body of a man, but the head of a lion with sharp teeth showing from its open mouth as if it was ready to chop your head off. There were also horns at the top of its head and pointy ears. Long demon bat wings were curled on its sides, giving to the statue a demonic presence.

“That’s quite a statue.”

“Not a statue. A gargoyle.” Mrs. Jinx said correcting me. “Legends say that they are placed into homes in order to keep their residents safe.”

I smiled at her. “Has it worked?”

She looked at me with a serious expression. “Yes.” Was her only answer before taking out a key string with many different keys attached into it. She unlocked the door and threw the bags at the couch on our left.

“Boys I’m home!” she shouted at the empty hall. It was quite decorated with wooden desks and mirrors on the walls, while there were also paintings everywhere. From which era, I had no fucking clue.

There were pictures of naked women after all.

When there was no answer to her call Mrs. Jinx began showing me the house. The wide common room on our right, equipped with the last technology on TV and games, the dining table and the fireplace at the left corner while the double glass doors were leading into the back. Shoving the curtains back, I saw the pool and melted on the spot.

I always liked pools; it would give me the sense of owning a part of the water just for me. Letting the curtains fall, I followed Mrs. Jinx to the other side of the hall where the kitchen was. “They can prepare their own food and there is a truck which comes with supplies on Friday. I have the notes and the phones all written down for you.”

I slid my palm on the white counter marveling at the beauty. It felt warm to be in big kitchen like this. I could make endless trays of brownies in here. “Did you plan on retiring Mrs. Jinx?”

She continued walking, her cane making a soft sound, showing me the store room with all the cleaning equipment until she reached the closed door at the end of the hall. On our left was the start of a big curving staircase, which led upstairs. A small panel with golden letters was placed on the wall at the left of the staircase. The following initials were written: ‘T.M., E.L., J.N.’

“These are the first letters of this mansion’s residents. Each one occupies a floor, while your room will be this one.” She said and unlocked the door, opening the way for me.

The room’s walls were midnight blue. A striking choice but I liked it very much. I could stick some glow stars and create the night sky if I wanted. The bed was wooden and queen sized with white soft on the touch sheets and fluffy pillows. On the other side were a body mirror, a wardrobe and a small table with a smaller mirror attached to it. An empty bookcase close to the nightstand was completing it.

“Mrs. Inx, it’s wonderful.” I turned at her and smiled.

Her green eyes softened and for a reason I wanted to hug her. She had no gain by helping me, yet she risked getting hurt that night she came and helped me.

“I am retiring Claire.” She spoke softly and sat on the edge of the bed. “My feet are too old to keep up with them and I am sure that at least you’ll be safe here.”

“Did you know the residents here long?”

“Yes, they are good people, if you give them the chance to know you.” She patted my knee and got up.

“Let me show you the gardens.” She moved slowly and we got outside again.

The gardens were vast with a small pond on our right and a big willow tree. Its branches were falling close to the water surface sending small ripples with the wind. It was really chilly. Although there were no flowers and the grass was brownish in some parts, I could tell that the gardens would look amazing on spring.

“Never even go close to the willow.” Mrs. Jinx said suddenly and I looked at her puzzled.

“Why? It’s just a tree.”

“She is a bitch; never go near her. That will be your only rule.”

Either she hadn’t taken her medication or she had really lost it. I nodded solemnly and she headed to the car. Before she opened the door, she threw me the string with the keys and hugged me tightly. “Protect them and they’ll protect you in return. Do not fear Claire.”

I nodded and thanked her. She stepped back and tears appeared on her eyes as she looked at the house behind me. “I will really miss it. And them.” She murmured and got into the car. Soon the iron gates closed behind me and I was left standing, alone with the October wind hitting my face.

Very Hitchcock like.

I climbed the stairs and looked at Fred. The gargoyle’s eyes were pinned to the iron gates and something wet was on his face. Was it going to rain? I looked at the sky and slowly I cleaned the water streaks from the stone muzzle of the statue. “My name is Claire. Mrs. Jinx really liked you, didn’t she?”

Annnnd I was mumbling to a gargoyle. Shaking my head, I got back into the house and closed the door. I checked on the keys. Some were opening the iron gates, others were used on the store room, the garage on the back, while there were three shiny silver keys, with no name tag on them. I wondered where they were used on.

“Hello? Can you hear me?” I shouted from the edge of the stairs. “My name is Claire and I am the new doorkeeper. If you need anything I’ll be down.”

I walked into the kitchen, not in hurry to meet the residents and made a sandwich. Eating quietly after a long time on my run I was relieved to simply sit and enjoy the food. After I rinsed the plate, I headed to my room and unpacked the bag pack. I never carried many clothes and the need to buy at some point more overcame me.

The wardrobe wasn’t even half full when I was done. Placing the bag under the bed, I rushed into the bathroom for a quick shower. The hot water was soothing and my body relaxed. After getting out, I pulled a pair of yoga pants and a white tank top. The living room was quiet, go figure, as I stepped in and for once I jumped on the couch and pulled the quilt which was neatly folded on the pillow.

It smelled like pine and cinnamon and I smiled at the feeling. Whoever had cleaned it was a master on the washing machine. Slowly my breathing evened and I found myself falling deeply to sleep.

“You shall never escape.”

“No! Let her go!”

“Why? She is weak after all!”

“No!”

The silver fell.

Blood spilled.

I woke up with a jolt, breathing fast. My arms itched and I rubbed the quickly trying to let the bad feeling go. I couldn’t stop dreaming about that night. And a sick, small part of me wanted to go back.

Something crashed, like glass had fallen and I got up. The sound had come from the kitchen. I walked slowly, eager to meet the residents. When I turned and came into the entrance of the kitchen I stopped dead. What I noticed first was the hair. Long falling to his shoulder blades and they had…the color of the rainbow on them?

He had the fridge open and his head was tilted back, as if he was drinking from the bottle. Surely that was rude. “Ahh!” he moaned and turned around. Our eyes locked and I struggled a scream. His eyes were shining a mix between ruby and violet and his lips were.

“Blood.” I squeaked and made a step back.

“I know how this looks like but I am really, really harmless see?” he smiled and a nice pair of canines appeared.

Yup, definitely safe.

I bolted around and ran towards the door. The man shouted behind me but I was way too busy trying to escape. In what crazy place had Mrs. Jinx brought me into? I jumped the stairs and headed towards the iron gates. I would climb the and never come back. The rain had already started to fall and the darkness was deep.

Suddenly I was on the ground my hands covered with mud but luckily I hadn’t hit my head. A screeching noise sounded and when I turned around, I screamed. The willow’s branches were glowing, the green shiny like precious stones. The wind was making them swing left and right and slowly the two branched which had caught my ankles started to pull me towards it.

I shouted and cursed, trying to push my way back, but the damn branches were strong, even after I tried to cut them. When the branched pulled away showing the trunk, I stopped breathing; on the tree’s trunk the image of a woman was curved, to the last detail. Her hands were outstretched commanding the branches while her eyes looked furious even from the wood.

“Let me go!” I screamed.

She smiled and shivers passed through my spine.

Something roared and the branches stopped glowing. A mass of blackness cut my bindings and hauled me up. I felt the coldness and looked at my savior. Amber eyes, glowing like fire stared at the willow and then at me.

“You are safe mademoiselle.” Fred’s lion mouth moved into a smile and I did the most logical thing.

I fainted.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Second chapter and we are on! Slowly the residents will be revealed, while for now enjoy Fred on your right! Don't forget to keep voting on "Three ghosts for Anastasia" for 'young writers prize"!! ^_^