The Night of the Storm

By Helen Stevens

Evie was looking forward to a quiet life, so moving to the edge of a small village on the Cornish Coast seemed the perfect choice.

It was all she had hoped for until the strange odours appeared to seep through the cliffs. Strange dreams began haunting the residents, and it was soon followed by even stranger behaviour.

Some speak of myths, legends, and ghosts; but a chosen few speak of the sleeping dragon. Whatever was happening, it was going to take more than Evie to get to the bottom of it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jun 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728389189

Helen Stevens

Helen Stevens works in retail in the seaside town of Poole. Her love of the countryside, coastlines and castles inspired her to put pen to paper so that she could achieve her ambition to become a writer. Other books by Helen Stevens are Within The Castle Walls and The Local’s Call It Charlie’s Cove.

Book preview

Chapter 1

In-coming! Evie shouted as she threw the last bin bag of clothes into the living room, narrowingly missing her sisters’ head.

Ellie ducked and laughed as the pile had now toppled over onto the stack of boxes by the window.

How many more? she asked.

That’s it, the bedroom is now empty.

What’s left in the bathroom?

A toilet roll, soap and a hand towel, I thought I’d grab them when we’re ready to leave.

Evie looked around the room. Are you ready to start loading the van?

Yeah, I managed to park right outside.

Great, let’s do this. Evie said while picking up a box marked kitchen.

Where did I put the keys? Evie smiled nervously as she stood up.

I don’t remember seeing you with them Ellie replied.

Evie began scrambling around looking everywhere she may have left them. Evie, still holding the box managed to move the net curtain and squinted.

You idiot, you left them in the van door!

What!?

I can see them from here Evie laughed.

No way, what was I thinking. She joined her sister by the window.

Let’s get down there before someone helps themselves to it.

Picking up the nearest box to her they quickly made their way down the stairs and to the van.

Oh look, keys Evie joked.

Leaving the box on the floor Evie walked away to get more leaving Ellie to do the stacking. The van was three quarters full when Evie announced that was everything.

Are you sure?

Yep all empty except for the couple of bits in the bathroom so if you need the loo before we go I suggest you go now.

Will you miss this place?

A little, but a new adventure lies ahead. Evie said with an unsure grin.

Evie did a final check of all the other rooms to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. Ellie appeared in the doorway holding a toilet roll and a hand towel.

I’ve got these. She said holding them aloft.

You could have left the loo roll for the next owner. Evie giggled.

I’m tight, you know that. She replied.

Right let’s make a move then.

After an hour or so driving Ellie wanted to know what the plan was when they arrived.

We are staying in a B&B for a week or so, until I can move into my new home. When we get there we should get lunch and have a walk around. After that we can go to the house and see what works been done then see the estate agent to pick up the keys.

Sounds like a good plan to me, what time are meeting the estate agent?

Evie pulled out her diary and flicked through the pages.

4pm.

You do know that you are the only person I know that still uses a diary, these days we have great invention called a phone, it has a diary, internet, and loads of other things built in.

Evie laughed.

I like using a diary, if I lose my phone I lose everything, I generally only use my phone for making calls and sending texts.

What about downloading music? Ellie asked.

Phones can do that, I still have a walk man? Evie announced.

Ellie burst out laughing as she was used to her sisters’ fear of technology.

The next couple of hours flew by as they laughed and chatted. As they now lived even further away from each other they always made a conscience effort to make the most of the time they spent together. London to Tintagel was an even greater distance but that’s just the way life turns out.

Ellie slowed down as they hit the country roads and as they passed Boscastle they knew they were nearly there.

There it is. Evie said as she pointed to a 14th century inn.

That’s where we’re staying for the next few days.

I like it. Ellie added.

Ellie pulled into a small carpark hidden behind a shop and got out. Stretching their legs after a long journey felt great. They walked around the shop and onto the main high street. People were busy going in and out of the souvenir stores, some were eating pasties as they strolled around admiring the many old buildings of the village.

Good morning, I have a reservation. Evie stated to the lady standing behind the bar.

"Hello, can I take your name? she said smiling.

Evie and Ellie. She answered.

Ah yes, you have the twin room. She reached below the counter and held out a set of keys.

Thankyou Evie took the keys.

I’ll show you up, if you’d like to follow me.

The room was lovely and bright. 2 small windows looked out over the village and in the distance the fields rolled out and stopped at the church which perched on the cliff overlooking the sea.

I get the double bed Ellie shouted while jumping on the bed as if conquering it.

Don’t you always? Evie sighed.

They headed back to the van to collect the things they would need for the week ahead.

By lunchtime they found themselves walking down the hill heading toward the castle with a Cornish pasty in their hands.

You are so lucky to be living here, I’m so jealous.

I know it’s perfect.

Eventually the cliff opened up and the castle appeared high up to their left.

Wow? Ellie exclaimed.

You said it.

They began to walk a little faster as Ellie was determined to make the most of every minute she was there.

They came to rest at the bottom of the hill. The castle rose above to them to their left silhouetted by the afternoon sun. The sea was blue except for the white foam which bobbed along with the tide. Sitting on the grassy bank they finished their lunch.

That looks like a dragons head Ellie said as she pointed to a large rock formation of cliff which protruded into the haven to their right.

No it doesn’t.

Yes it does, look, there is the head and the rest of his body is still inside the cliff. Using her hand to try and point it out.

Nope, I still can’t see it.

Look again she said her voice a little louder.

No, I can’t see it.

How can you not, look move to where I’m sitting and you’ll see it. Standing