Ashes in the Rose Garden (Completed)

2

Day Two -

Dark Crimson Wine

——

8:00 PM — The Garden

She was swinging beneath a tree whose leaves had completely withered and fallen, forming a pile of brittle brown leaves beneath the swing.

"Hello, stranger."

The Stranger smiled at the mysterious woman.

"Hello."

The woman gracefully leapt from the swing as it reached its highest point.

"Before you depart, allow me to offer you a drink."

"If you would."

The Stranger followed the woman to a table placed near the rose garden. A bottle of crimson wine and two glasses had already been set upon it, as though she had prepared them for his arrival in advance.

After handing him his glass, she took a small sip from her own. She then pulled a black bottle from the sleeve of her long black dress. She poured some of its contents into one of the glasses, then moved to pour the remainder into the other.

But the Stranger stopped her.

"Thank you, but I do not want blood in my drink."

The woman merely shrugged.

"As you wish."

"My man does not like adding blood to his drink either. He says it alters the taste."

"Then this castle has a lord."

"Indeed. A lord and a lady."

The Stranger smiled calmly as he took a sip of the wine.

"An excellent vintage. I would place its age at around seventy years."

The woman smiled in return.

"You are close. Eighty years."

The woman drank what remained in her glass, then brought out the black bottle once more and drank the rest of its contents. She sighed in satisfaction.

"The taste of children is the finest."

She turned toward the pale man before her.

"Then, what has brought you to this secluded province?"

The Stranger took another small sip of his drink, then ran his tongue over his dry lips.

"I seek what I have long been searching for."

"And what is that?"

"Something precious."

"Then, have you come close to finding it?"

"I believe I have found it."

The woman did not flinch as the Stranger looked at her with dark crimson eyes.

"If you would permit me to remain while I attend to my affairs..."

The woman smiled, her fangs emerging.

"As you wish, stranger."