Everything was calm. Too calm perhaps. A creeping sense of unease. Building to a crescendo as your hand fell sharply on the brass knocker. BANG! BANG! BANG! A sound that reverberated through the crisp leaves and stout mortar.

Bumpa dumpa da. Bumpa dumpa da. Clumsy feet rushed towards the door. You could only assume that is what was happening. After all you could only see severe black paint staring down at you. Fidgeting with the cool leather handle of your suitcase, you wondered if this was sensible. House sitting in the middle of nowhere? Excellent idea!

Alarmed the panel flew open, revealing a wild haired woman. Coils of flaming rust bounced in every direction. Picking out emerald jewels with ease. Flashing brightly with every blink. Blocks of freshly cut ice dazzled you, when ruby lips were pulled back in greeting. “Ah hello! You must be the house sitter! Very good, come in,” each word rang clear like crystal glass.

Shuffling awkwardly past the tall wiry owner, you set your bag at the bottom of the stairs. Waiting for any further instruction; which there was not. She simply placed a lacy bonnet atop her wild birds nest and strolled out the door. Yelling, “If you ride, speak to my groom!”

With no clear boundaries you took a slow tour of the mansion. A typical English mansion. Severe, cold and detached. With no seeming logic in the decor. Towering ceilings fit for a giant, though the low hanging flashing chandelier might prove to be fatal. Exposed boards, carpet or tiles were found in various rooms, depending on their function. The overall lighting choice was gloomy, long shadows and secrets; artistically scattered across the dappled walls.

Shivering slightly, you stepped out of the airy drawing room. Absorbing the warm welcoming rays of liquid gold, you tilt your head up like a lizard. A slow smile graced your lips. Sweet, heady, strong; the scent of freedom.

Booted feet pushed you forwards, egging you on. “Excuse me? Are you the groom?” Words tumbled from your lips.

“That’s me,” a well dressed gentleman looked up, in his arms a well waxed saddled, “You want to take Raven for a ride? I heard you could ride.” Sincerity glowed in his chestnut eyes.

Nodding eagerly you grinned broadly, muscles aching at the movement. It never occurred to ask how he knew that you could ride. Something that looked like relief rippled across his brow. Following the pointed nod you entered a small well lit room. Jodhpurs, boots, warm coat and hat waited patiently.

Wrestling the items to bend to your will, you exited the space. A magnificent mare gazed at you from sloping almond eyes. Sculpted ears flickered- always listening. Powerful muscles defined under her liver coat that shone with every twitch. Lowering her arching neck she snuffled at your face. Blowing back you returned her greeting. Satisfied she allowed your gentle touch to smooth her velvety nose with a fleck of white.

Swiftly you stepped from the mounting block onto the powerful animal. Gathering the reins neatly you prepared to leave. “Beware of the water goblin in the lake!” A final warning ranging with the clatter of hooves.

Gravel crunched. Tack creaked and jangled. Rise and fall of steady trot. Each exhale caught by invisible hands, studying and turning before quashing the gossamer ball. You start a soft patter of commentary with Raven. Occasionally, she replied with a snort, nicker or bob of her graceful head. Reaching where the path faded into a track. A track of soft mud and grass.

Raven halted, pranced on her toes as if the ground was infected by nibbling beasts. Mouthing and playing with her bit, she shook and tossed her head. Kicking Raven on and with words of encouragement only seemed to make things worse. She bunched up, wheeling around desperate to flee. Deciding not to fight with the terrified creature, you let her take a narrower path just to the right.

At last content, her breathing evened out. Asking with the loosening of reins and swift kick, you let her go. Breaking into a rhythmic canter, her hooves drummed out. Calling to the critters that lived without borders. Clumps of dirt flew into the air. Ears pricked forward. Joy coursed through her every fibre. Standing slightly in the stirrups you gave her the freedom to stretch out. Flying through the rippling tunnel of trees, that flowed past like molten lava.

Spirit hands teased and rugged at your very being. Wind whipped across your bare skin; painful yet exhilarating. Bursting out into the open, your eyes latched onto the vast expanse of glittering slate. Sitting and reeling her back gently, you begged Raven with a stiff “Whoa!” to stop, by the grace of morning light she did. Skittering and cavorting she hopped to a halt.

Sidling forwards on anxious steps the water goblin loomed into view. Releasing a shrill dissonant scream Raven threw herself backwards, pawing the air with lashing hooves. Landing heavily, the jolt launched you clean out of the saddle. Desperately, you tried to snag the flapping reins but to no avail; Raven was gone with a flick of her tail.

Groaning you brushed yourself down. Edging closer to the lake edge, where curiously shy hands investigated the tacky shore. You observed the water goblin. There was nothing untoward, just the average garden feature. A hulking grey lump of stone, textured by a mottled camouflaged coat of flaking lichen. So why had the groom warned you about the water goblin? Why had Raven spooked?

That’s when you heard it. A great grinding groan. Growing into something horrifying. Somewhere between bones forcefully being broken and ricocheting dice. Spinning in an endless circle you tried to identify the sound. Only when a rough hand curled around your shoulder did you really see.

Dread inched through your veins, freezing your blood. Breathing hitched. Heart hammered. Limbs shivered. Teeth chattered. Salvia dried up. Nothing but leaping in trepidation remain.

Covering your mouth with a monstrous paw, the water goblin smirked. Jagged triangles glared down at you, gnashing in anticipation. Their conical head carved to terrifying proportions. Beads of pearly sweat ran in rivers from their hulking frame. Arms swayed like ancient tree trunks in a gale. Thick legs held up the mighty beast, barely quivering at the colossal weight; steady as pillars. Before dragging you backwards. From your domain to theirs.

The news the next was flooded with reports of a missing person. Last seen by a passerby entering the property of a highly respected woman, to house sit for a week. Last seen by the groom riding away into the estate. Last seen by dull dead eyes as it enjoyed its meal. No one suspected the water goblin perched on its pedestal. Only the groom had an inclination of what might have happened.

Several days later when a furious storm whipped the water into a fray. Howling and screaming with all its might. Did the water goblin rise again, through lashing whips of silver over the jade grass it strode. In its fist a human skull was clutched. As the mourning bells rang out across the valley, a skull was hurled at that stout black door. Repulsed the panel deflected the object, sending it smashing to the cold stone step.

Shards, splinters and flecks scattered; a gruesome discovery waiting to be made. All the while the water goblin escaped back to its lake, nothing changed except for a scowl turned upside down.