on the glass door softly. Too softly. I was about to knock again with a bit more emphasis when a deep voice erupted from inside.
"Come in!"
Pushing the door open, I found myself in a cramped office, filled from wall to wall with bookshelves, leaving only space for a small window looking out into the street, casting a little light into the room.
Batten himself looked like he had been behind a desk for a little too long. He might have been in his thirties, although it was really difficult to put any kind of actual number to it. His skin was tanned, like he'd just come back from a beach vacation, and his hair was neatly slicked back, showing the perfect mix of salt and pepper. His warm brown eyes were covered by a pair of thick glasses, and he smiled when he saw me, displaying a perfect row of pearly whites.
"Ms. Kane, of course." He motioned for me to take a seat in one of the chairs across the desk from him. "I'm sorry, things have been a little hectic around here, and this place is a little messy. I really do appreciate you being able to come in on such short notice. Your aunt retained the services of my firm to execute her final will and testament. There were a handful of other items that needed to be passed on, but the entirety of her vineyard in Transylvania was left to you."
I blinked a few times, wondering if the man was joking. "I'm sorry, did you say... her vineyard?"
"Yes."
"In Transylvania?"
He narrowed his eyes at me, letting me come to terms with it all at my own pace.
"The Transylvania?"
"If you mean the location most well-known for its involvement in popular culture, yes, that Transylvania. But it’s in a remote area some call Fiend’s Peak." He pulled a handful of papers from his desk. "It's lovely country out there. I do really recommend a visit, if you're interested. You should know that the estate passed on to you includes the resources required to purchase passage to and from the location, should you wish it."
"I'm not... why would I want a vineyard in... where even is it?"
"Romania," Batten reminded me, putting the papers in front of me. "You will need to visit the location in person to take ownership. Failure to do so after three months will see the estate passed off to the local government."
I shook my head, taking in a deep breath. The headache was still there, throbbing in the back of my consciousness, putting a foul taste in my mouth. "I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with something like that in the first place."
"You could always sell it. Although, again, if you were to take ownership, you would have to visit the location in person."
"This is just... so bizarre," I whispered, leaning back in my seat, completely lost for words.
"I imagine that it must be quite a bit for you to take in all at once. I most heartily recommend that you take a few days to think your decision over. I would appreciate a call from you once you make your mind up so we can move the paperwork along, one way or the other."
It was a little much, and I was barely aware that he was putting the papers into a file and handing it to me. Then I was saying goodbye and being ushered out of the office and back into the bustle and activity of the firm.
I needed to get back home. A drink felt like the right idea, but just the thought of it made my stomach revolt. Maybe some fast food instead.
What just happened?
My mind was churning.
I needed to consider, digest everything that had happened to me in the past forty-eight hours. Once that was done, I would be able to put something out that wasn't complete and utter trash. There was no point in telling people about what was happening with my life if I didn't know what was happening myself, right?
Staring up at the ceiling felt like it was going to be my night. Kels had left by the time I got back, although she had been nice enough to refill the bacon that she'd used, along with restocking the fridge with a few items that she thought I'd need.
I left her a message thanking her for the effort, even though I wasn't even sure if I would be in town long enough to use the stuff. Maybe I