Fairytale Beginnings Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn’t go down to the dungeons at all. What if it put her off working with him altogether?
    She walked by his side, a determined look on her face. He had intrigued her with his evasiveness. He should have told her he didn’t have a key for it.
    He approached the door, slid back the giant bolt and unlocked it with a large black key that was hanging on the wall. He wondered if she thought it odd that he kept the door locked even though there were no prisoners down there. It was quite obvious that the idea wasn’t to keep people out, but to keep something in.
    He had been curious about the protection on the door when he had arrived. And although it was silly to keep up these measures, bearing in mind what was on the other side, he knew he slept better at night knowing the lock was firmly in place.
    He flicked the light on, thankful at least that someone had seen fit to install electricity in the dungeons, even if the light was sporadic and dim. He knew he would have to replace some of the bulbs at some point but prolonged time in the dungeon wasn’t fun so he had been putting off the job.
    He turned back to Milly, wondering which words he could use to explain, to warn her, but he had nothing. Instead, he took her hand and pulled her close to his side. He didn’t relinquish his hold on her as he walked down the cold dark stairs and he found her inching closer with every step he took.
    It stank down here, the smell of stagnant water somehow prevalent. A cold draught seemed to come from somewhere but he didn’t know where.
    As they reached the bottom step, she stepped in closer to him, the heat from her searing up his right side. A long tunnel stretched away from them into the darkness, the dim light glistening off the muddy puddles on the ground. There were cells either side, some with barred doors, some without.
    He would just make it quick. He’d go to the end of the tunnel that stretched underneath the castle into the large chamber that was directly under the banqueting hall and come back out. Hopefully no one would notice they were there.
    An ice cold blast blew past them and he sighed. Today was not going to be a quiet day.
    ‘Is it haunted?’ Milly whispered, her large eyes looking up at him in the semi darkness.
    He stared at her, wondering what to say, and eventually nodded.
    Her eyes widened in shock at this confirmation. ‘Are you serious?’
    He nodded again. ‘It seems they like to congregate down here.’
    ‘They?’
    ‘There’s one that I’ve seen. I think there may be more that don’t show themselves…’ he trailed off. She looked absolutely terrified. He put his arm around her. ‘We can go back up to the main castle. There really isn’t a lot to see down here. I can take any photos or samples you need for your survey.’
    She shook her head. ‘No. I want to see them.’
    He felt his eyebrows shoot up. She was going to continue to surprise him, he knew that.
    He stepped forward and he could feel her heart battering against her chest.
    ‘Had much experience with ghosts?’ he asked as they stepped past the first cell, which was open but empty.
    ‘A bit, a few shadowy figures, a few bumps and bangs in old castles or houses, sometimes just a feeling that someone is there. What have you seen?’
    ‘A woman, the Grey Lady, dressed in what I assume is a Victorian dress. I thought once that I saw a little boy up in the study, but I’m not sure. I’ve heard a child’s laughter down here though.’
    She stared up at him, wondering if he was serious. He wished he was joking. He had never believed in ghosts before, always thought the idea was ridiculous, until the moment he had walked down into the dungeon for the first time and seen the Grey Lady, almost as clearly as he could see Milly now. He wasn’t ashamed to admit that he’d run out screaming the first time he’d seen her, but he had made himself come back several times since, mainly to convince himself he wasn’t going mad.
    ‘Are they