Alfred Knightshade: An Introduction

Tags

Alfred, Caroline, Fiction, horror, hospital, Introduction, Justin, Knightshade, Knightshade Manor, medical, paranormal, Raven Knightshade, Simon

He is cousin to Aaron, Jessica, Raven and the others at Knightshade Manor.  His mother is Caroline.  His uncle is Simon.  No one speaks of his father, for it throws Simon into a rage.  A product of his wife’s infidelity. Thus, no one speaks of him.

During his lifetime, he was an accomplished renaissance man who studied art, music, science and various academic pursuits.  Quite found of Salisbury Town, he can often be found within its multitude of art galleries. His role as general manager of the hospital is one that he adheres to slightly.  His interests lie in other directions hence leaving Jonathan Carter more or less in charge.

 A headstrong man, overweight smells of expensive cologne with a faint hint of sweat and cognac.  A purveyor of the fine things, his brown eyes surveying the room of which he had recently entered.  His skin ruddy from his life of excess.  His brown hair finely trimmed with a purposeful dishevelment.

He tends to shift his weight from foot to foot as he stood.  When he was hosting an event or conducting a meeting, he gave the sense of a large beast about to pounce.  His aggressive personality required that he hold everyone in suspicion until they proved otherwise.

His deep baritone was music to one’s ears.  He preferred to whisper to his family and friends when dealing with staff his voice could be heard throughout the corridors.

He is sexy, regardless of his weight.  He finds lovers easily, though his appetites were voracious.  He rarely pursued anyone for any significant length of time.  He has a crush on Aaron and Raven.  The three of them were inseparable.  They attended many events together, like in the tale Serendipity Pond in Knightshade Manor Book I.

He had been a doctor in life, and had conducted several procedures while deeply intoxicated.  The inevitable joke “what happened to my watch,” joke is attributed to an actual mistake Alfred had made.

His mother Caroline Browning was the heir to the hospital, she deeply trusted her son’s expertise, as he is the love child of Caroline and her brother-in-law, Justin; Alfred he had never been accepted by Simon, hence he avoided going to Knightshade Manor.

Alfred adores his mother, and loves working in the environment of which he is accustomed.  Often, he once again operated on those patients that he had killed while that patient came to terms with their death.  He experiences no remorse as he went through the actions that led up to the deaths of his patients.  Part of the reason he stills works as a surgeon.  His role as manager of the hospital requires a frequent interaction with administration from the various afterlife institutions.

Within Kerringer Castle, Alfred worked with Marina Kerringer when a pediatric patient was ready for release from Browning Memorial Hospital to the afterlife playground Kerringer Castle, where all one’s childhood dreams come true.  The staff from Kerringer Castle would visit the Hospital to determine whether the children were ready to leave.  Ariel would take them through the forest and play games while introducing them to the other residents of Kerringer Castle. Claire and Marie would observe as their counselors to determine their transitions to another afterlife institution or return to the living.  The twins would accompany the children to the castle or to the world of the living to show them where they could spend their afterlife.

As per agreement with the afterlife institution, Knightshade Manor, the caregivers, Aaron, and Dena would periodically visit the Hospital to determine whether any of the patients would be checking into the Manor after they had healed from their injuries.

The agreement with Justice Hall were that anyone whose life consisted of supporting or breaking the law of the living would eventually reside in Justice Hall.  Alfred worked exclusively with Chief Justice Jarod in transporting criminals back and forth between their institutions as if a spirit imagined an injury, they would be sent to the hospital via ambulance and healed.  After which, they would be returned back to the prison.

Alfred spent much of his leisure time as a supporter of the Arts,  his favorite citizen was Claude.  He often purchased artwork from the local artists to display in the corridors of the hospital.

At the Abbey, Alfred worked with Sister Grace, although they have an agreed upon hatred.  He preferred to meet with Ocean, as she was more eclectic and fitting to his tastes.  He had an off and on again relationship with Ocean and her spiritual and hippy ways allowed for his infidelity and allowed for stability when he sought it.

Howard Place Staff

Tags

Afterlife Institutions, Darkness, fantasy, Fiction, goth, horror, Howard Place, Raven, Raven Knightshade, supernatural

The afterlife institution of Howard Place consists of a large lobby with a variety of seating and end tables set up to provide a temporary resting area for the recently deceased.  The colors are neutral, and the entryways and exits are maintained by the Sylphs who manipulate the waves that surround the building to prevent escape of the guests until they are discharged.  As each guests can have a variance of time, there are areas that reflect each major chapter in mankind’s existence. The time spent at Howard Place can be short while, minutes perhaps.  However there are guests who have been awaiting centuries, they are not as of yet ready to be discharged.

 

Brett Stevens – used to be a shy introverted science geek.  In his life, he lived a medial existence, rarely taking risks.  His career choices involved the hospitality field.  He preferred jobs where he could be invisible and not be responsible for anything for which he needed to answer.  His affection for his scientific pursuits were never fully understood or appreciated in his lifetime.  In Howard Place his role was of primary liaison between the guests and the afterlife institution to which they would relocate.

 

Chet Brown  – a short man, his blond hair, greased into a pageboy style.  His piercing blue eyes assessing all that they see.  His face was often in a compassionate expression as he felt empathy for all that spirits that found themselves at Howard Place.  Part-time lover of Alfred Knightshade, the director of Browning Memorial Hospital.  His crush on Brett leads to an on again off again relationship that spans centuries.

 

Sara Swanson – her blond hair held up in a large bun, and her dark skin her mulatto blood evident in the shape of her eyes and the curvature of her lips.  Forced to dress in long flowing skirts and tight bodice whether it be rain or shine during her life, she had chosen to spend her afterlife attired in breeches and a loose shirt such as the fashion choice of the men in Victorian England.  Regardless of what she personally chose to look like, the guests at Howard Place illumined her attire into whatever familiar garb that suits their fancy.  Her experience of hostess of the finest hotels and residences in life prepared her for her afterlife of hosting the wayward guests of Howard Place.  A private person she never allows anyone to know her true personality.

 

Marilyn Peron – is an elderly Filipino woman who maintains the image of Howard Place.  Her personality was one of a wheeler and dealer.  The game of negotiation inspired most of her conversations, and her thoughts.

 

Marion/Marians – are elementals who are perceived by some as demons, while others sees them as angels.  They change as per the individual’s personal needs.  They act as housekeepers, porters, desk clerks, receptionists, and staff in all afterlife institutions they may be found.

 

Bradley – is a tall man whose youth is unable to be gauged by all who see him.  His role of guests’ relations director enables him to interact with everyone within Howard Place as well staff of other afterlife institutions.  It is his final decision as to where guests are to be relocated upon leaving Howard Place.

 

Lorenzo – is an elemental who maintains the grounds, and buildings of Howard Place.  It is his meticulous attention to detail that drove him to this task as caretaker with no recognition of his works.  His Latino features were handsome and his physique of one who had spent his lifetime in physical labor.  He was proud of his body and had kept the illusion in his afterlife.

 

Sofie – is the file keeper for this afterlife Institution.  Her horn-rimmed black frame glasses she peered at all of the guests, staff and visitors of Howard Place.  Her charming smile and short stature were her easiest identifiable traits.  Her death during childbirth gave her the maternal instincts required to draw confessions and stories from all she meets.  She has a propensity for loose skirts and flowing blouses.  Her Romanian ancestry evident in her features; her blue black hair curled around her pale white skin.  Her coral lips, and large green eyes provided an inspiration to many of the guests who left Howard Place to reside at Salisbury Town.

 

Sylphs – elementals who control water, all forms of water.  They have an elaborate system of water walls that contain boundaries and images to keep the guests of Howard Place unaware of any other existence.  The behaviors and desires of each guest are reflected on the walls.  It assists the staff in relocating the guests to another afterlife institution.  The sylphs have green skin, blue eyes and hair of shades of green to blond.    They are thin, and can change into any form based from water.

 

Rage

Tags

Darkness, emotion, goth, poetry, Raven, Raven Knightshade, spoken word

Rage

what DOES it mean
A taste of WORDS
EMOTIONS
So contrite
A RAGING EMOTION that NEEDS
to be expressed
my head is THROBbing
as IDEAS I suppRESS
Who ARE YOU who stares at me
have you NEVER SEEN a MAD woman before
fore THAT is what they say
When I am feeling this way
TEAR my way through the illusions
the tattered sheets ADD to my delusions
How do I confess, to make sense of this mess
ALL is turmoil I brace myself for the stormy sea
Don’t worry my dears
Suppress your fears
For a placid smile is all you see

Salisbury Town Residents

Tags

Afterlife Institutions, Art, Fiction, goth, Raven, Raven Knightshade, Salisbury Town

The Following is a list of a few of the residents of Salisbury Town.  Enjoy!  There are more to be included in the near future…

Salisbury Town Residents

Salisbury Town has been in existence for centuries.  A collective of artists, authors, musicians, actors, and their supporting staffs have taken up residence in this rural community fashioned by the desires of the residents.

 

 

Claire Monet – is the mayor of Salisbury Town.  She has green eyes, black hair and pale skin.  She wears clothing from the 18^th century and prefers a pale blue parasol hence most of her clothing tend to be in shades of blue.  Wearing a white wig and white powdered features was of the highest fashion during her lifetime.  She wears this attire when attending important events.  A wife of a lawyer during her lifetime, her husband went elsewhere as his interests and activities in life lead him to a different institution.  She spends her afterlife cultivating culture, the arts, music and theater.  

 

Heather Madison – is Ms. Monet’s assistant and public event coordinator.  She is small in stature, a little overweight.  Her glasses framed her rounded brown eyes.  Her hair frizzy and white and her skin with pink overtones.  Her attire is very colorful and loose.  She left life in the late 20^th century and tended to wear the fashion she wore in life.  Her temper was underlying each of her discussions.  Her husband still lives hence she is alone in Salisbury Town and is interested in supporting the residents in town to continue their artistic pursuits.

 

Brady Lawrence – A young man whose interests had always been in the arts.  His dark eyes and brown hair and Mediterranean coloring made him an excellent model.  He had trained under some of the great Renaissance artists in the techniques of sculpture, and oil painting.  His afterlife is dedicated to honing his skills and continuation of his lessons from his mentors.

 

Cassie Juneau – is the file keeper for this institution.  She is young, dynamic and her enthusiasm enables her to make friends and contacts easily.  Her easy manners allowed her to gain access to anyone and anywhere.  She spends a majority of her time reviewing the case files of each of the residents within the Town.  Whenever there are events she attends to ensure that the records are accurate.  She has light strawberry blond  hair freckles, and blue eyes.

 

Sylphs – are the spirits of water.  They are hard to differentiate between genders, each are fair.  They tend to have green hair, pale skin, and blue eyes.  Their skills with the element of water enable them to work with water, waterfalls, rivers, streams, oceans, and fountains.  At various life institutions they create a barrier using clouds, fog and waterways to prevent the escape of residents from their afterlife institutions.  Along the borders of Salisbury town is a large river which flows quickly forming multiple rapids inhibiting crossing the river.  If any of the residents feel the desire to cross and proceed to do so, the water flows and them back to the central pond in the center of town.  Filling the fog with images of their favorite artforms and imagery to remind them of why they are in Salisbury Town.

 

Fairies – are the spirits who through their presence alone act as inspiration to the artists who live in Salisbury Town.  Their images change for the need of the residents.  They also act as the busy workers who complete all tasks needed to keep the illusion of the afterlife institution.

 

Psychics – are individuals who are of the living world.  They are able to interact with the afterlife institution via their dreams, visions, feelings and cognitive abilities.  They appear to the dead as ghosts and are only able to exist in Salisbury Town for a short time wherein the residents are able to share their experiences with the living so that they are not forgotten.

 

 

Browning Memorial Hospital Staff

Tags

Fiction, goth, horror, medical, psychiatry

Staff of Browning Memorial Hospital

 

Caroline Knightshade – Mother of Aaron who has returned from a long duration of fieldwork, as she is the most human looking of all of the Knightshades, she chose to be the first point of contact for many, quite similar to the reason for using Jessica, the look of death didn’t appear as easily as it did on the others of the Knightshade family.  Her blonde hair, and milky white skin, and eyes of violet, entrance all who came into contact with her.

 

Alfred Knightshade – He is cousin to Aaron, Jessica, Raven and the others at Knightshade Manor.  His mother is Caroline.  His uncle is Simon.  No one is quite sure who his father is, no one speaks of him.   During his lifetime, he was an accomplished renaissance man who studied art, music, science and various academic pursuits.  Quite found of Salisbury Town, he can often be found within its multitude of art galleries. His role as general manager of the hospital is one that he adheres to slightly.  His interests lie in other directions hence leaving Jonathan Carter more or less in charge.

 

Jonathan Carter – Alfred’s administrative assistant with a flair for decorating, and drama Jonathan made himself indispensible to the medical staff at Browning.  His dandy manners acquired in life stayed with him after death.  Often seen wearing the height of fashion, he too could be found walking through Salisbury Town admiring the artwork or socializing with the artists and authors in town.

 

Stephanie – Head Nurse, she spent her entire life focused on nursing.  She carried this into her afterlife and as a result, she is an excellent nurse who runs a tight shift. Her hair in a tight bun, her uniform pristine, she had worked during the Pearl Harbor bombing and forced her whims on her patients and subordinate staff.

 

Megan – is the filekeeper for this particular afterlife institution.  Her shy nature lends itself to being able to work for months alone reading and typing up the notes developed by the medical staff at Browning Memorial Hospital. 

 

Joseph – Ambulance driver, his superstitions that failed him in life, acted as a strength in his afterlife.  His temperament was mellow throughout life and continues to be so in his afterlife.

 

Clara & Marie – Siamese twins of Asian descent who are joined at the hip; and are beautiful, because they have differing views they are an undeniable asset to the Manor.  Their expertise lies in the interpretation of the deaths of children, their investigation includes the events leading to their deaths as well as the illusions they withhold after death.  Their diagnosis is contingent on their observations as to whether the children are ready to move on, or if they desire to await their killers to exact their vengeance upon them.

 

Sallyn – Head of housekeeping demons, she keeps her own counsel.

 

Slurgh – primary demon, he supervises all of the demon workers within the manor.  He is an excellent resource for occurrences in the demon world as he is neutral due to an indiscretion within the demonic world and he holds multiple alliances, as true to his nature, it is all about self-preservation.

 

Dr. Geoffery Shaw M.D. Pediatrics – he was a doctor in a small town in Colonial America, and it was through his negligence that several of the townspeople died from smallpox.  He spent the first several years here trying to repay the victims of his practice.  He soon became responsible for every child, because he refused to assist in the afterlife; Simon decreed that he would have to assist with every child who arrived to the Manor.

 

Marion or Marian – housekeeping demons that assume the domestic duties and grounds upkeep of the Manor.  They were the only type of help that would stay at the Manor.  Since demons take on so many forms, and since gender was sometimes difficult they were all called Marion or Mary.  It is a name that they prefer, as the demons are myriad so are the tenants that inhabit or are employed at the Manor.

Clara & Marie

Tags

Darkness, goth, horror, Raven, Raven Knightshade

Siamese twins of Asian descent who are joined at the hip; and are beautiful, because they have differing views they are an undeniable asset to the Manor.  Their expertise lies in the interpretation of the deaths of children, their investigation includes the events leading to their deaths as well as the illusions they withhold after death.  Their diagnosis is contingent on their observations as to whether the children are ready to move on, or if they desire to await their killers to exact their vengeance upon them.  Staff at any of the institutions where their expertise in child psychology are needed.

Ariel

Tags

Ariel, Banshee, Fiction, goth, horror, Knightshade, Knightshade Manor

Banshee who resides within the caretakers cabin on the edge of the forest, it enables her to keep an eye on the creatures within the forest, as well as the temporary bungalows for the arriving children.  She spends part of her time at the Manor, and part of her time guiding souls through the fens of Northern Europe.  The animals that were killed before their time reside within the forest.  Ariel’s tales can be found in several of the Afterlife Institutions.  Knightshade Manor, Browning Memorial Hospital, Paranormal Palace, Dark Highways and Kerringer Castle.  Her blood red long hair frames her greenish pale skin as she shrieks to frighten those who do not belong in her forest.

Caroline Knightshade

Tags

death, Fiction, horror, Knightshade, Knightshade Manor

Mother of Aaron and ex-wife of Simon.  She has returned from a long duration of fieldwork, as she is the most human looking of all of the Knightshades, she chose to be the first point of contact for many, quite similar to the reason for using Jessica, the look of death didn’t appear as easily as it did on the others of the Knightshade family.  Her blonde hair, and milky white skin, and eyes of violet, entrance all who came into contact with her.  Her tales can be found in the following afterlife institutions; Knightshade Manor, Browning Memorial Hospital, and others.

Simon Knightshade

Tags

death, Fiction, History, Knightshade, Knightshade Manor, Military, Simon, Vampire, Veteran

Is the founder of the Manor.  He has staffed the hospital with capable members of his family and colleagues.  He is the eldest member of the staff, yet his vampire nature gives him handsome features as well as the air of a youth.  He is absent minded, yet a virtuoso, the sort of personality that one would expect from a genius.  Debonair, handsome in expensive suits complete with topcoats, and tails.  Has “lived” for centuries, he is a man about town, women adore him, he is a seducer of the body, mind and soul.  His black eyes, and dark hair, he prefers to be clean-shaven, I tell him it makes him look younger.   His tales can be found in Knightshade Manor, Dark Highways, Yarborough Station and others.

Aaron Knightshade – Introduction 2005

Tags

Aaron, Caretaker, death, Knightshade, Knightshade Manor, Vampire

He is the son of Simon, like father like son, although he was more passionate and quite aware of his social status.  He is distant, cool-headed, and possesses a sardonic wit.  He is in control of the limelight; problem is that due to his physical condition, daylight is not an option.  He remedies this by living the nightlife every night for the last three centuries.  His black eyes, black hair and pale skin attracted women and men.  His skin retains a reddish hue after he has indulged in carnal activity.   He is a caretaker for some of the guests at Knightshade Manor.  Often bored with his eternal damnation he toyed with the emotions and delusions of his wards.  His stories can be found throughout several of the afterlife institutions.