Penelope’s Diary – First entry

Penelope’s Diary

10/31/2014

Dear diary,

Today is my favorite day of the year. It is the one night of the year when all of our family comes to visit; from all corners of the world. My auntie gave me you so I can write about my life, dreams and special experiences. I say that because not everyone can see and do what we can. She is a witch and has placed a spell on this journal so only I can write in it and only those who can understand the old ways can read it. So, I will try to write a page a day, as that is another rule Auntie said before she gave you to me. I need to learn and practice magical words, and writing them down will help me remember them. I have a bunch of magical relatives, my grandma, my grandpa, my mama, my dad, my brother, my auntie, and my cousins. As well as quite a few I can’t remember at the moment. So, for the next year, I will focus on writing about anything and everything that happens that is different from the regular experiences that every average American family does. This night’s party was the same as it was every year, people arrived at different times, using various ways to get here. My favorite was the emerging from the swamp that my uncle and his two sons favored, how they came out with dry suits I can’t guess. In the great hall, everyone gathered as gifts were given. My Auntie who loves to showboat (her word) gave a long loving speech about how it was time I was made aware of how much magic there is in the world. And what better way then to write about it in my own words? A few family members nodded in agreement while some laughed or said “Yes!” Being the entertainer that she is, she glanced around at the gathering and waited for the idea to sink in before continuing. “So I have brought forth a journal that I personally oversaw the creation so that it’s magical integrity would remain. It is protected by a spell so that only she can write in it.” She looked for my brother, and pointed at him; “No matter how much she whines that she can’t write, you can not help her with this.” He smiled and nodded, because he often got that lecture about my homework. “And” she continued, “I also have a reading protection spell that only those who follow the old ways can understand what is written here.” Leaning towards me and said in a stage whisper, “that way if any non-magical people read it, they won’t understand the words written on these pages.” She slowly walked down to where I stood and handed my you in a gentle manner, being sure I had a flat hand to grasp the weight of you. The purple scarf wrapped around you is now draped across the top of my mirror.

After that, we all watched as everyone else got one gift from someone else, it varied every year, I am too young to bring a gift so I am not sure how it works.

As most of the gifts were magical, once it was given to someone, no one else really was allowed to touch it, to avoid rubbing their own energy onto the object. I guess the objects needed to meet and absorb the energy of their new owner. At least that’s what my brother Tomas says.

After the gift giving was the time for food and eats, which is always yummy and fun seeing the competition between everyone as to which food dish was best. I liked the sweet caramel potatoes the best this year. Though the apple fritter was a close second.

Then the best part of the evening, when the grandfathers would share a story from the old ones. I am not sure how old the old ones really are, I just know that I like the drum and firelight that surround the words spoken by first one grandfather than the next without a break in between. I wonder if they practice, they won’t tell me and I can’t ask, it would be rude. Tonight’s tale told of the beginnings of when our people gave up wandering for food and following the animals to staying in one place to grow our food, each animal had to give it’s blessing to our people and each did with a special rule we were to follow which is why we have so many that we follow now.

Of course, it was hard to keep my eyes open, I missed the end of the story. I awoke to dad pulling my blanket over me. He pointed to you and a pen that rested near you. So I am now trying to write what I can remember before I fall asleep again.

Good Night Diary.

Caroline Browning – Introduction 2016

Tags

afterlife, Afterlife Institutions, Browning Memorial Hospital, Caroline, death, Fiction, goth, horror, Knightshade, Knightshade Manor, Spirits, supernatural

Caroline Browning

Stepmother of Aaron and 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 does on the others of the Knightshade family. Her blonde hair, and milky white skin, and eyes of violet, entranced all who came into contact with her.

Having been married to Simon a few centuries earlier, she had taken on the role of the matriarch of the current generation of Knightshades. She is close to Alfred as he is the manager of her hospital and she trusts him implicitly as to who shall work and reside within her facility. The various staff members who work within the hospital are quite fond of her as she is genuinely concerned and easily approachable in regards to hospital issues.

During the course of her lifetime, she had been an administrator and had managed several successful organizations and facilities a few of which were hospitals and universities. It is with this background that when the afterlife institutions function were decided upon, she opted for a medical facility and preferably a teaching hospital. She spent several months deciding on the design and chose the flexibility of which the Manor is capable, adapting to the current needs of the patients and hospital staff.

During her lifetime, she has been a wife, hostess and mother to her children. As she was the matron of a large household, she spent every waking moment preparing for guests, and parties to support the Knightshade reputation. As well as volunteered on several community boards and administration staffs so that she could learn to run any corporation, which proved lucrative in her after-life.

Her after-life occupation began once she left Howard Place, she was nominated to be the Lead Administrator and owner of Browning Memorial Hospital. She can be found in all areas of the hospital; she returns to her chambers at Knightshade Manor when she desires to rest. Her office is located on the first floor of BMH and she relies heavily on Alfred and Jessica to keep her informed of new arrivals. She does go to crash sites to ascertain the changes she needs to create; in the hospital in regards to capacity and services required by current patients.

She is often quiet and observational, she can be firm as the need arises; and compassionate as well as flexible. With the goal of moving the patients on to the next institution they choose, she is ever diligent of clues as to where they desire to go.

Deep sultry voice befitting a tall woman, whose narrow waist and shoulders , Mother of Dena, she wore her blond hair short, her skin pale white piercing blue eyes, rigid posture, square shoulders, wore long dresses, Characteristic of Victorian Times.

She rode in a carriage on a stormy night, and the road was on a cliffside leading to their home in the mountains. The wheels locked and the horses and driver all were killed in the crash as well, she would often hear their screams in the night. The team of horses resided in the stable at the Manor, she would often bring them sweets and apples.

Interests include Art, Music, All the talents people use to remind themselves they are alive.

Knightshade Manor is where she resides; her chambers are found in the South end of the first floor. As it is furthest from the lobby, and keeps most of the staff and guests from disturbing her. As with all of the staff she can appear by thought and can go to any area within the Manor instantly.

Caroline can go to Kerringer Castle whenever one of her patients wishes to see her. Shje madkes it a point to often visit the children of parents who may want an jupdates as to how the children are faring in the afterlife. It gives her great delight to see the once sickly patienst full of energy and enjoying their afterlife.

She has no real business at the Justice Hall.

She is a patron of the Arts; she desires beauty over all else. She can be found walking through various galleries, sometimes alone, sometimes with a friend or two. It is due to her photographic memory that she knows where every thing is located within the Browning Memorial Hospital and she selects artwork based on color schemes and design already within the hospital. She had befriended Lord Byron several years before and would find herself outside at an outdoor cafe,where the two of them would exchange banter on witty sayings while eavesdropping on the people around them. She with her Chai Tea, and he with his preferred Cafe du Jour. The hours spent relaxing in the sun, helped clear her mind of the drudgeries of her past. When the Shelley’s came round the stories started and if it not for the oncoming of evening and a chill breeze, none of them would go home.

Whenever her duties called her to Howard Place she often found herself intrigued by the otherworldly creatures who helped maintain the fog and facilities of Howard Place. The ability to be invisible around the newly dead was an asset for this highly transitional abode. As she walked around the lobby seeking the ones that were going to be at Browning Memorial Hospital she loved to probe the memories of the one’s who were waiting in this way station of the after life Howard Place had appeared one day fully staffed without any preparation as it was staffed by paranormal palace denizens, the initial familial connection was lacking, as well as the psychic connections the other so relied upon.

At The Abbey, Caroline would visit with Sister Grace and discuss the elements of Catholicism that lacked in explaining the existence of the Afterlife Institutions. A shadowy alliance existed between the two women, as one refused to acknowledge the failings of the living world to prepare for the Afterlife Institutions, while the other was quite aware of those very failings, as her institution was overcrowded. The continued isolation of the Head Abbess contributed to her own inability to move onto the next incarnation.

In Paranormal Palace, reside the spirits that so fascinate Caroline, however due to the chaotic environment and the need to maintain human attributes, she has been advised never to go to that institution.

The need to visit Yarborough station arises when her stepsons, or ex-husband is in residence and she has to have a conversation with one of them. When Octavius was first returned from Dark Highways, was one such occasion.

In conclusion, Caroline like all of the other staff members is obligated to serve within her chosen afterlife institution for the duration of her continued disillusionment that she is not ready to face to prepare for relocation to her next lifetime.

Ariel – Introduction 2016

Tags

afterlife, death, Fiction, goth, horror, Knightshade Manor, spirit, Spirits, supernatural

Ariel

A 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, at Kerringer Castle, and the rest of her time guiding or losing souls through the fens of Northern Europe.

Her family had all gone on to their next lifetime, her memories of lives spent with the kindred spirits of whom she called brother were many, and she often used the games and stories to entertain the children with whom she played in the forests of Knightshade Manor grounds, and in Kerringer Castle on days that weather prevented egress. Having an elder sister had greatly affected her and she often talked to her sister via the dreams of the living girl.

Having died as a young schoolteacher due to an outbreak of smallpox epidemic of which eternally tied her to Dr. Geoffrey Shaw, M.D. She had spent a majority of her time with children, and still sought every opportunity to teach, and learn as this was her most familiar occupation.

As characteristic of any who transform into Banshees in their afterlife, her moods tend to switch at a moments notice, predominately she is soft-spoken and delightful, while other times she is screeching and enraged with no means of calming herself without disappearing from the area to collect her thoughts. Hence her habitation alone at the edge of the forest was a necessity that Aaron and Dena had determined when she had first arrived to the Manor.

Her Irish heritage reflected itself in her pale milky toned skin, and her flaming red hair which could be seen the most vibrant on cloudy brightly lit mornings. Her green eyes were alluring and saw through to one’s soul. Often with an expression of curiosity, or disbelief depending on who she was interacting with at the time. Her rage often showed a reddening of her cheeks and her eyes melted into a deep black color. Having lived during a time of minimal food available she had maintained a thin physique but a strength that developed from churning butter, and winnowing the fields during harvest time. She was of short height which enabled the children to be comfortable in her presence.

Her mistake in life that led to her death was the trusting of Dr, Geoffrey Shaw M.D, who had misdiagnosed a disease and sent a child to her classroom. It was in the recognizing the illness and her subsequent exposure as she carried the child back to the M.D.s office, that was the beginning of her end. Knowing that she was now going to die, she focused on caring for the sick as an impromptu nurse with minimal training from the Doctor, and memories of remedies taught to her by her holistic healing mother, who had learned from her mother.

Her interests in life, included science, biology, botany, technology, and she had tried to learn all that she could so that she was an excellent teacher. Her interests allowed her to conduct field trips and laboratory experiments in the after-life. Versed in several species of animal and plant, she had chosen to reside on the edge of the forest so she could observe and work with the animals who found themselves wandering through the coniferous forest that surrounded the Manor. The various plant species were of varieties that were not often found in the same ecosystem, but that didn’t surprise her, she knew it was part of her illusion and provided an excellent background for the animals and children to exist.

Ariel prefers to reside in Knightshade Manor Forest, she convinced the Marians to build her a cabin on the edge of the forest. Her front door leading to a path that ended at the manicured rolling fields of Knightshade Manor, Her back door led through her small plot of manicured lawn aligned with shrubs and gated area when her vegetable garden and flowers garden were lovingly cared for beyond the gates was leading to the forest were various earth paths winded through the ancient trees.

Marians she convinced them to take on the shape of Irishmen laborers so that one could feel more at home, while she told them how she wanted her house.

She rarely set foot in the Manor as her guests were often housed in tree houses and bungalows the children. While the animals roamed free through the forest, in manicured pastures or lived in barns equipped with fully-stocked climate-control stables.

Kerringer Castle is where she spent time when the weather turned foul, hours and hours of playing in the various chambers and halls of the castle, she loved to teach her words dress up by using their imaginations and seeing the paintings of the residents of the hall. She did have a home in the west tower. If she decided to stay.

Justice Hall was only visited by her when she sought a child who was incarcerated often she would breeze into the front lobby and demand the front desk to release her hold.

Howard Place As is often the case she would be enraged, so her red hair flying about her face, well her green molten eyes faded to shiny black and her pupils dilated. Her nails would grow into claws, and her feet would lift and disappear undo her green skirt, her white blouse, embroidered with red flowers.

Salisbury Town to bring her worlds to Salisbury Town was an exciting time, She loved to walk through the gallows, and teaching painting of the seaside to the children. She rarely was distraught in Salisbury Town she met many artists; authors, creative persons.

The Abbey she does not go to this institution.

Paranormal Palace is where many of her friends reside. Being half-human she can gain access that other may not. Her screeching can be heard as she competes with the were-monkeys and other such creatures. Her brother who had become a will o’ wisp would accompany her to the fens, they would take pleasure in confusing travelers late at night.

Yarborough station is not a place the she goes to, as she has no business there.

In conclusion, Ariel has no sense of time, she is very aware of the new arrivals and gets very excited to introduce new children and animals to the games. When a child was ready to move on, she also grew very excited, however she did become melancholy after they left, but never so they could see her. Dena who was aware of the effects of having a depressed banshee in the manor would send a Marion to retrieve Ariel’s brother so that he could draw her to the fens to keep her busy. Jessica was on lookout for new arrivals.

Knightshade Manor Grounds

Tags

Aaron, Darkness, Fiction, ghosts, goth, Knightshade, Knightshade Depot, Knightshade Manor, Raven Knightshade, Simon, Slurgh, Spirits, supernatural

This is the summary of the tales you will find in the upcoming book Knightshade Manor.  This is the directory with little tastes of the tales and the characters you will encounter once you leave this world and decide to take up residence in the afterlife institution Knightshade Manor, a psychiatric hospital for the dead disguised as a turn of the century mansion functioning as a bed and breakfast.

Staff members

Manor Grounds: Aaron’s Pond

Aaron hosts a garden party with variant guests from various afterlife institutions, and while standing with his cousin, he sees a beautiful guest.

Manor Grounds: Coniferous Forest

Is a place where children and animals live and play.  Ariel and Dr. Geoffrey oversee Forest maintenance and occupant activities.  Ariel was a schoolteacher who upon death became a Banshee at the Manor and became responsible for leading wayfaring travelers through the forest to the Manor.  Dr. Geoffrey was an M.D. who was unable to save Ariel’s life nor the lives of several children within the isolated colonial town situated in the Midwest.

Bungalow 9

Jeffery is a young boy who was one of a set of twin boys aged 8, and a victim of the plane crash, which brings Marie and Claire to the Manor.  A set of Siamese twins, the two women had counseled several children at the Manor, preparing them for return to life, or transition to Kerringer’s Castle, a heaven for children.

Manor Grounds: Serendipity Pond

Sam was always afraid of the water, he never wanted to be near that water.  His brothers always teased him about it, and would often throw him into the pond in the backfield.  They thought it was hilarious.  Until the one day, he was grabbed by something under the surface, the boys watched as he shot above the surface screamed once, and was pulled underneath, a fountain of red splashed into the air.

Manor Grounds – Knightshade Depot

Jessica finds herself stationed behind the reservation counter of a train station that appeared as the result of a phenomenal train wreck which involved an automobile and a locomotive on it’s daily route between Los Angeles and San Diego, California.  As with all major disasters, the less morose and lively looking staff members are pulled to the front to handle the newly arrived guests.  Caroline Knightshade has arrived to the Manor, she has taken over as the administration at the Manor due to Simon’s departure to locate his father Octavius, it is her first day working within the Manor.

Manor Grounds: Desert Sands

Elixir of life

The revenge of a small village that was encountered Mr. Smith, who had installed a water drainage system…drawing their water from their village, the women of the village gather around him and the means of which the company appeases the locals.

Netherworld wanderings

Mike found himself walking in a barren landscape, the oranges and yellows formed a haze blinding him.  His throat was dry, more dry than he had ever remembered it being.  The dunes formed before him as he reached the top of one, another formed.  In the arid desert time stands still.

Books for sale at these locations.

Tags

Books, fantasy, Fiction, lyrics, Novels, POEms, Sale, Shamanism, spiritual, Women, Women's Studies

Indian Voices

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You can purchase all of my previously released novels:

Following A Crow eBook  Paperback

Rhuba: Seeress of Archaya eBook  Paperback

Visions within my Mind eBook   Paperback

Exciting News!

With great anticipation, we here at YGFI (Your Girl Friday International) are proud to announce a collaboration with Black Rose Communications that we are going to release each volume of Knightshade Manor on these pages, as a reward to all of you patient fans who have anticipated the release of the Book.  Of course, we are also excited to look into the possibility of making each fanzine available in e-book and print versions for those who wish to possess their own copy!  As well as the book will be available on Raven’s Store, a link you can find Indian Voices Books

 

New Facebook Profiles

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Read up on the latest in the world of Knightshade Manor and otherworldly institutions created by Ms. Knightshade.

Abbey, The

An institution staffed by members of every known religious order whose own prejudices actually denied them access to their concept of heaven.  Their penance is to serve the souls that were killed by the extremist methods wrapped in the cloak of religious dogma.  Often, the perpetrators of the tortuous methods and ignorant persecution find themselves, at the receiving end of their zealous victims who are more than happy to return the favor of pain and death to those who wear the robes of the church.  As a result of centuries of religious persecution, there are guests from every region of the world, many of whom were killed during wars and crusades.

Simon has yet to locate Octavius, but has relinquished several of the victims who were still wandering the material plane, to the Abbey.  The accomplices of Octavius had been relocated to the seventh floor of Knightshade Manor, where Simon alone possesses the key to access, and they await his return.

The posts to this page will include the tales of the guests, employees and external affiliates who have a connection with the Abbey, these are there stories.

Black Rose Communications

Greetings my dears,

I am sure you appreciate the irony that I am now working with Black Rose Communications to publish my works.  It is an organization that focuses on Native American news, authors and artists.  I am in negotiation now as to what works I am willing to republish, and which are to be initially published by Black Rose Communications.  Keep checking back for developments.

 

Raven  

World of Raven Knightshade

Tags

Afterlife Institutions, death, demons, Fiction, ghosts, horror, Knightshade Manor, psychiatry, Raven, Raven Knightshade

Greetings to all,

As you peruse the links connected with this page, you will glimpse into my many literary worlds and imagination. How you will feel once you leave these pages, is of no consequence to the founders of Afterlife Institutions. It is through the urging of a former mate that a separate website be created with a focus on my creative works apart from the band, though I am a founding member of the Black Rose Society, all of the experiences and stories intertwine weaving an immense black widow’s web of which once you come into contact, you are forever changed in form. It is thought that in order to support the volume of creative works from Raven Knightshade, a separate section is required. It is currently in the works, and you should be able to access, Knightshade Manor, Afterlife Institutions, The Abbey, Howard Place, Dark Highways, Paranormal Palace, Yarborough Station, Justice Hall, Browning Memorial Hospital, and any further sites that are created personally by me. 

Each Journal is introduced by a letter outlining the poor souls who find themselves inhabiting one of the afterlife institutions.  The following excerpts are not for the faint of heart.  These are tales of horror and suspense.   

On behalf of all members of staff and demonic crew at Knightshade Manor we anxiously anticipate your arrival. My dears it seems that we have suffered a disruption in the processing of the promised monthly newsletter delineating the various cases and events that occur within the confines of this psychiatric hospital for the deceased.

Two agents were conspiring to block the public presentation of two case files that were the content of Knightshade Manor volume two.

It was during the submission of volume three that I received word that volume two was still awaiting editorial consideration. Apparently the files pertaining to this last submission were purposely locked into a demonic storage space, for through the demon Groeg, who for whatever reason accused his cousin? (It is very difficult to discern kin-groups amongst the resident population.) However, he accused his cousin Elisab of being a supporter and member of an illicit organization of flesh consuming demons. Whose crimes include but are not limited to: a large percentage of “unsolved disappearances” of any mortals that happen to cross their path. These demons have engaged in the consumption and vending of several hitchhikers that were last seen walking on the edge of various highways. These cases we were aware of, but the process of a hitchhiker luring a driver was never before linked to the same group of demons. Elisab showing unusual loyalty to her kinsmen, locked all files and paperwork connected to the events that transpired against the young man defined in volume two. Of course, she knew it was only a matter of time before the missing case files would be discovered. We have since fired her from the Manor and are conducting an investigation as to who within our staff are linked to this organization of flesh eaters and expelling them from the Manor. Unfortunately, before we were able to persecute the demons that were staffed at the Manor, a few of the guests were consumed. That in itself may encourage you to think before you commit an act that will lead you to the Knightshade Manor, for being hunted and consumed by demons is more of a mental duress than I care to explain in this letter. Please see attached document: Nightmare. It is a poem that was written by the last internal victim within the Manor. For since the guests are already dead, they find themselves once again in their rooms, with an undefinable fear. Lacking the ability to die, yet holding to the illusion of flesh the guests are preferable to young demons practicing their skills before unleashing their hunger upon mortals.

I now proceed to the second event that occurred to prevent the public exposure of illicit practices of staff members of the Manor. This transgression however was done by none other than my beloved cousin Aaron. He has a few pet guests that he keeps for his leisure, the management is aware of this, for we all have our favorites. Though it seems my dear Aaron has taken a step further and is actually preventing this guest from leaving the Manor. Due to capacity, and the volume of new arrivals this behavior is frowned upon by all of the staff who have released several of their favorites from within the confines of the manor. He apparently retrieved the file from the Editors desk and held it in his office personal files. If he had not angered another staff member who had taken it upon herself to find any transgression he had made against the staff he would not have been discovered. Suspicions would have risen, but no proof of his personal intervention. 

In both instances, it is interesting to note, that I was not silenced permanently for the knowledge that I had acquired while researching these cases. We here at Knightshade Manor apologize to anyone who may have been anticipating volume two and once it is available it will be submitted for your perusal.

Raven Knightshade