The Pastry Chef and the Ancient Master

The old green Subaru rattled down a winding, wooded road, the GPS signal fading. Autumn Milford, a home baker used to crafting whimsical cakes, gripped the steering wheel, her nerves frayed. Her sixteen-year-old daughter, Jordyn, peered out the window at the dense woods, a sense of unease settling over them.

They were headed to Ashford Estate, a secluded mansion deep in the Massachusetts woods. Autumn had won a mysterious catering contract for an exclusive event, a job found through a bizarre online ad requesting baked goods incorporating blood. This was her chance to earn enough money to finally open her own storefront, a dream she'd clung to for years.

As they crossed a rickety old bridge and rounded a bend, the magnificent three-story mansion finally came into view, perched majestically by a lake. It was grand and imposing, a stark contrast to their humble life. After navigating a massive iron gate flanked by stone owls, they pulled into the courtyard, feeling completely out of place. This was far more than she had ever anticipated, and the weight of expectation settled heavily on Autumn's shoulders.