The sky was so dark, even though it was only one in the afternoon. The wind felt quite cold, much like the bad news circulating.
People were talking about an old castle and mentioning several victims who had been found, dried out from neck bite wounds.
A girl overheard the rumors spoken by the villagers, and that girl was Amelia Bridget. In fact, today was her mourning day, as it was the day of her grandmother's funeral.
"What are they talking about, Mom?" Amelia asked her mother.
"Don't listen to what they say, Amelia. After seven days of your grandmother's death, we will leave immediately," her mother said, sounding uneasy upon hearing the news.
They had already been warned by the local sheriff that the area was no longer safe, so they were advised to leave for their own safety.
"Why so quickly?" Amelia looked at her mother suspiciously.
"There's no reason for us to stay longer, and during this period, you're not allowed to go anywhere!" Her mother seemed to be hiding something Amelia wasn't supposed to know.
They had been away from New Orleans for 13 years, so they couldn't stay too long, especially with the troubling rumors circulating, which made her mother anxious.
"But they were talking about that old castle. What really happened?"
"Amelia!" Her mother turned around, her face serious.
"Remember the message I always told you. Never go past that castle, let alone enter it. Promise me you won't do it!"
"Why?" That message had always been said by her mother since she was little.
"Just do it!" Her mother walked away. She didn't want to discuss this further with her daughter.
Amelia kept listening to the gossip about the old castle. She was always curious, especially when her mother tried to stop her from hearing it.
She remembered there was indeed an old castle in the village. Since she was young, she had been forbidden to play near it or even get close to it.
The villagers didn't dare pass by the castle either. Rumor had it that a noble family lived inside, but no one had ever seen them.
They were mysterious, yet they controlled business in New Orleans. Only certain people could meet the nobles living inside the castle.
Many people said the nobles were the rulers of the night.
"Amelia!" Her mother returned and grabbed her hand, pulling her away. "Don't listen to all that gossip!" She was afraid her daughter would be influenced and become curious, but unfortunately, it was too late—curiosity had already taken root in Amelia's heart.
The rain began to pour, so the funeral was rushed. The mourners started leaving as the rain grew heavier. Only Amelia and her family remained.
They said their final goodbyes to her grandmother before leaving the cemetery.
The road home, which was supposed to be short, became longer because they took a detour to avoid passing by the old castle. This only fueled Amelia's curiosity.
For some reason, she felt compelled to go to the castle to find out if the rumors she had heard were true. She was willing to bet that no noble family lived there, unlike the gossip.
They arrived home around 6:00 PM. The rain was coming down even harder, and lightning and thunder began to strike above.
Amelia ran toward her grandmother's house. Her clothes were soaked.
"Cold!" Amelia hugged herself, her body shivering, especially with the chilly night wind.
"Go take a bath quickly. Mommy will make some hot soup, and then you can rest," her mother hurried inside with her father.
They weren't the only ones living in the house. Her uncle and aunt were also staying there. They would leave once the mourning period was over.
"Mom, can I…?"
"No, Amelia!" Her mother refused because she was afraid Amelia would be influenced by the bad gossip.
"I just want a glass of hot tea. Why can't I?"
"If it's for that, you can have it. But Mommy is worried you might ask about something you shouldn't, so forget everything you heard today!"
"I know!" Amelia walked away to her room. She quickly took a bath and, once done, stood by the window, drying her long hair.
Her gaze was fixed outside, where the rain still poured heavily. Just like the torrential rain that night, her curiosity was growing. Once the rain stopped, she would go. She didn't care about the rumors; she would see for herself and only then would she believe.
Amelia left her room to have dinner with her family. She really hoped the rain would stop because she wouldn't delay satisfying her curiosity.
She sat by the window, all prepared. She even fell asleep, only to wake up when thunder crashed loudly above.
A smile spread across her face as the rain stopped. Great. Now it was time for her to go. She grabbed her coat, making sure everything was in order.
With just a flashlight in hand, she walked through the dark streets. As if she had no fear at all, Amelia marched through the dark night, illuminated by lightning and thunder, heading toward the castle.
The place was dark, with no light at all, and there was no sign of life inside the castle.
"They're crazy. They must have made up those stories about nobles living here!" she said, breathing heavily.
Amelia shone the flashlight around. There was absolutely no light. She decided to enter. Maybe she would find something unexpected.
She had gone crazy from all the rumors, so she no longer remembered the warnings her mother had given.
The old castle was so gloomy, and there was nothing as she stepped inside, but then something unexpected happened. Suddenly, the lights turned on, illuminating the castle.
Amelia was startled. Everything had changed now, as the gloomy castle looked magnificent.
"What are you doing here?!" Amelia screamed when she heard the voice.
She turned around, shocked to see a man standing behind her.
Amelia stepped back. The man was very handsome, but he didn't look human—his face was pale, and his long hair was silver. His clothes also looked old-fashioned.
An unpleasant aura surrounded him, and the air was so cold. Who was this man, and where had he come from?