She woke the following morning eager to get started. She brushed her teeth and washed her face with a bottle of water that she had brought with her before changing into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She had yet to travel into the village since she never journeyed too far from the castle during her previous stays. This visit, though, was work and she needed to interview the locals.
There were two villages within walking distance and, wishing to avoid another encounter with Derek, Quinn opted to walk to the village where he wasn't staying. The walk was a bit over two miles but the views were positively gorgeous and when she reached the heart of the town she was struck with how quaint it seemed. There were no paved streets and the buildings looked like the thatched cottages that one would see dotting the landscape in Ireland. There were no electric street lights or stop lights and no cars. The center of the village was rather small but there was a grocery store, which she planned on visiting to stock up on nonperishable items.
Across the street from the grocery store was a small pub and already she could hear the voices carrying out into the street. She entered and all heads turned in her direction curious about the newcomer, no doubt. She smiled absently as she made her way to a stool at the bar. A large man, built like a linebacker with a shock of red hair and wearing a white apron, stopped just before her.
"What can I get you, lass?" the giant asked.
"Scrambled eggs, a side of rashers and a cup of coffee please."
"Sure thing. You the one looking at the old place down the road?"
"The castle, yes. I'm Quinn and my organization is researching the history of the place."
"Jack O'Shea. Quinn, nice Irish name that."
A smile curved her lips before she added, "Quinn Shaughnessy."
At that announcement the man pulled his head back as his laughter echoed around the pub.
"I don't suppose you have any stories about the castle?" Quinn inquired.
Jack rubbed his chin before answering, "That I might. Let me call your order in Quinn Shaughnessy and then I'll tell you what I know."
"Great, thanks."
Jack returned shortly later with her breakfast. He set it in front of her and grabbed the coffee pot, pouring them each a mug, before he settled back against the far counter and crossed his thickly muscled arms over his massive chest.
"So, you're looking into that accursed place are you?" he wondered aloud, "Alone?"
"Yes, well, no I did have a partner but upon first inspection of the castle he was completely uninterested." Quinn took a quick bite of her eggs and couldn't stifle the moan of pleasure at their creamy, herb flavor.
"These are delicious," she offered.
"My secret recipe."
She took another bite of eggs giving Jack the opportunity to share with her what he knew.
"I've always been told the place was cursed."
Quinn was surprised to hear that. "Why?"
"The people in this village don't move much so many of the families living here now had ancestors then and the stories passed down say that the owner and his family met with foul play but the odd thing is no one knows how exactly. Whatever happened it was bad enough to have the people of the time fearing the place so much that it was abandoned almost immediately and left, forever, in an incomplete state. In fact, some of our more colorful residents have hinted to rumors of magic and witchcraft surrounding the castle and that's what has kept the place empty and forgotten, turning it into our own haunted castle of sorts."
She could certainly attest to it being forgotten, remembering the first time she had seen it standing majestically on its little patch of the world untouched by time or people. Jack continued on.
"In truth, no one really knows what specifically happened and, what I've always found strange is, no one knows the name of the family that lived there. How could their deaths be rumored about and yet not their names? It's all very creepy and I think it's the inconsistencies, more than anything, that has fueled the rumors about the place being cursed and what has, ultimately, kept people away."
Quinn had been staying in the castle on and off over the past seven years and, besides feeling a deep sadness for an unrealized dream, she hadn't felt anything sinister or dark. She had to agree with Jack, about the oddity of the story, since she knew first hand that there were no documented records at all on the castle. How was that possible? It was incredibly odd that such a physically prominent piece of the area's history was not only left abandoned but actually forgotten, and that no one was interested in studying the secrets the castle held. Regardless of what had happened there, the castle was a link to the past and its stories could help form a more clear understanding of life back then. The lack of interest and neglect was so contrary to her own way of thinking that she found it very hard to understand.
Quinn finished with breakfast, Jack coming over in between waiting on people to chat. He leaned over and whispered to her just as she was preparing to leave.
"There is someone in the village that can tell you more. Her name's Maude and she lives right outside of town in a cottage in the woods." He stopped for a moment and looked a bit nervous before he continued.
"She's an odd one and the things she knows, well, it's a bit creepy but she's harmless, I think."
Quinn covered his large hand with her own.
"Thank you." And then she tilted her head and studied him as a red flush covered his cheeks. Realizing he was blushing, Jack stood up and growled. "Go on, get out of here." But he wasn't able to keep the smile from his lips.