*The first story in my Monster Tales series, erotica with a horror flavour.
Although not as scary as they can be, but I plan to rewrite and deepen the stories in the series later since they're at least a year old and need it. ;-)
(and I'd like to try my hand at horror since no book has been able to scare me so far)
*
Prologue
As with so many personal accounts, this tale of mine may sound fantastic, but it's all true.
I did change all the names though, otherwise we'd be getting nothing but weird stares and whispering behind our backs from now on. The usual level of gossiping for a town in the country is enough.
Average, that was me when I grew up. I had no outstanding abilities, no striking features, finished school without an idea of what to become in the future, hadn't even had a serious boyfriend. During the summer after graduation I had a couple of temporary jobs filling in for other people, and I was just wondering one evening if my future was growing old working in retail or waiting tables, highlighted by a couple of marriages and divorces, when my mother came to me with a note.
'I just got off the phone with Jane.' she said, meaning Jane Finnegan, an elder lady she knew from a charity she sometimes volunteers at. 'She talked to a friend of hers today who said a writer living near their town was looking for someone to assist him in his work and around the house. Then she remembered I told her how you were looking around for something and suggested you. Her friend asked him if he would meet you if you were interested and he said okay. Here's the address if you're interested, he's at home this week so you could drop in at any day.'
I read the note she handed to me. Barry Richman. Not a name I recognised, but the town he lived near, let's call it Black Hill, was not too far away. I've passed it once when I did deliveries for an electronics shop in town for a couple of weeks.
'All right.' I said. 'Might just be fun. And if it falls through, I'll spend the afternoon reading at the river with my feet in it.'
'Since you like to read, maybe you're just the person he looks for.' my mother said and left me reading the driving instructions.
Chapter 01
I drove the next morning to Black Hill, arriving around ten at a house on the slope of a grassy hill, the forest edge several hundred meters behind it. It was one of those larger Victorian style houses, seemingly a requisite feature of the typical country image. I didn't mind though, I still think it has a certain charm.
I parked the car next to his, some model from late seventies or early eighties. I have no clue about cars, just that it seemed that old.
I took a minute to look at the scenery, the wide open space until the road at the bottom of the hill, where the forest started at the other side. It was still quite warm at this time of year, but out here there was enough wind to keep it comfortable.
I walked up the couple wooden steps in front and rang the doorbell. I heard nothing and saw no movement through the glass next to the door for a while and rang again. When all was still quiet I walked down the steps and went around the house.
Rounding the corner at the back I saw there was a greenhouse attached to the back of the house. Through the glass I saw someone sitting in a lounge chair, reading. The side door was open and I knocked carefully against it.
The person I saw was a young man, I guessed just a little over thirty, could be counted into good looking, and probably Barry. He put his book on the table and walked toward me.
'Excuse me, my name's Erin Mitchell.' I said, and remember, I said I changed names so no use looking me up. 'I got your name and address through friends who said you were looking for help.'
'Yes,' he said with a warm smile as we shook hands. 'you're the one who was asked if you could have it if you're interested in the job? I'm Barry.' He gestured at the chairs and table. 'Come in. Want some coffee or tea?'
'I'll have what you're having.' I said, taking a seat.
'Coffee it'll be then.' he said and pulled out a mug from a small cabinet underneath the table. 'No trouble finding this place?'
'No. The directions were clear.' I said.
He filled the mug, placed it in front of me and moved the cup with sugar closer. 'If you want, and there's milk if you'd like that too.'
I poured a little sugar in my mug. 'Thanks, sugar is enough.' I said and sat back into the chair.
'So,' he said and topped off his mug. 'you heard I need someone to assist me in my work as a writer, and do work around the house, right?'
I nodded.
'What I'd need you to do is keep a track on my agenda, set up appointments when needed, run errands like sending off manuscripts and articles to editors and translators, keep track of my business mail, things like that. Anything that would keep me concentrating on writing is appreciated.' he said, tapping on a notebook on the table. 'And the other part of the job is being the housekeeper. Which is somewhat obviously since that would distract me a lot from writing as well. So I hope you're able to cook at least a little bit.' he chuckled.
I had to laugh a little. 'I'm no gourmet, but I cook at home often enough.'
He sipped his coffee. 'Then there's one more thing, if possible I'd like you to live here as part of the pay. There's a couple of large rooms upstairs so one can be yours. Think you could accept this offer?'
I hadn't expected to start as a live in assistant and housekeeper and had to rethink what that would mean.
'It's not a major requirement, but it would make things easier for me, and I expect for you since some meetings and parties with publishers can run late. And I'd like you to join me when I need to travel as well.' he said.
"We have no special circumstances at home, so there's no need to be there." I thought. "And if I'd get a steady job I'd leave to live on my own anyway. It would also cut down on travel time a lot. It's just that it's almost like living together with a significant other."
'If you have any doubt, don't be afraid to say so.' he said. 'I do feel somewhat nervous asking it, also for having someone else around the house for the first time.'
I could see the concern in his face. It almost made him look like a teenager asking his crush out on a date and it made me chuckle. 'Sorry, I was thinking about how it would be a first for me and didn't think about it being a first for you as well.' I said.
He laughed, leaned back in his chair and said. 'I think there will be more firsts for me since I've lived alone until now.'
'Alone?' I asked.
'Yeah,' he said. 'I was raised by my grandparents after losing my parents at a young age. When they died, of old age so nothing bad, I lived at their house for a while before moving here.'
'Ah.' I said and felt comfortable enough to take the plunge into the deep. 'I think I can accept your offer. I've done several odd jobs in the last couple of years outside school so I think I can become an assistant and housekeeper.'