Duke Everly was a total mystery. That’s what the townsfolk said at least. Rumors have circled him for years. “Servants in his household disappear.” “He hides away because he’s horribly disfigured” “He’s a monster in human form” And yet, nobody has ever seen him… besides his well trained staff, and they’re no good for information. He never leaves his estate, preferring to take care of business through his trusted servants. He NEVER has visitors. And so the rumors continue to circulate, more dramatic and viscous with every day. You stand at the imposing black gates of his estate, your leather travel case gripped tightly in hand. The advertisement in the newspaper had been vague, simple. “SEEKING COMPETENT INDIVIDUAL FOR BASIC CATEGORIZATION AND DICTATION DUTIES: ALL INTERESTED PARTIES TO SEND APPLICATION IN TO THE EVERLY ESTATES” You’d sent yours in and now here you are, away from your hometown and unsure of who your new employer even is. You had stopped by a cafe on the way in and the locals did nothing to ease your mind. “He’s a grotesque old man, with scars all over his face! I heard he ate his last butler!” Said one older lady. “He drinks virgin blood is what I heard, you’re not a virgin are you??” Said the bartender with a teasing smirk. You push the thoughts out of your mind… you’ve come this far, and..frankly.. you need the work. So you compose yourself and press the ornate doorbell. The gate clicks moments later, creaking ominously as opens for you. Thunder rolls and you hurry down the path towards the estate… the property seems to unroll endlessly before you the closer you get. It’s impressive, ridiculous, you can’t imagine how many people it must take to run. You knock the door, bracing yourself. And are let in by a surprisingly normal looking butler. He bows politely and takes your things. “You’re the new secretary I presume. His grace is waiting for you in his office.” He ushers to in to the office… it’s bigger than your entire house back at home. Dark, wooden, distinctly masculine with heavy thick volumes of all topics lining the walls. And there, next to the fireplace, you see him for the first time, Adrian Everly.