Authors: Sarah Vistica
Whisper (9 page)
Daycation
Late at night I heard the sounds of a girl weeping. I had been hearing the noise practically each night I have been sleeping here. Unable to stand it any longer I carefully creep out of my room. I walk toward the main hallway and notice a girl walking by. She stops turning her hair to me. Her hair is hung at her sides. She wears a white gown.
“Who are you?” I say to her. Instead she continues to walk forward weeping. I follow her until we reach the second floor stopping at a door she checks to see if I am with her. Pointing toward the door, I am about to enter when Livia rushes out holding a bowl with a cloth. “Miss you cannot be here. If Miss Brantshire finds you she’ll have a fit for sure.”
Shaking my head I shove my way into the room. There next to the bed the girl looks down at herself. Taken aback I realize this is my cousin Becca. She lies in the bed unmoving. Cascading light from a window floods into the room. Fading purple bruises are under her eyes and her dark hair washes out her fair complexion.
“Becca…” I whisper. The girl perks her head up before she faded.
Livia grabs me by the shoulders ushering me into another room. “She can’t see you.” Miss Brantshire entered the room as soon as I am tucked away in a secret passageway leading to a room filled with sheets covered over furniture. Poking my head out the door, I rush to the stairs.
A hand covers my mouth. I try to scream I am pulled into hidden section of wall. Luken has his hand on my mouth, using his finger to tell me to be quiet. Inches apart from each other, if he had a heartbeat I would hear it beating.
There is a strange sound. I can see the tip of a gray faded dress. Luken turns me away. My name is whispered, “A…vay…a.” Pulling myself closer to him, I try to wish her away. As her voice disappears I hear a menacing giggle, a haunting laughter.
Luken checks out my door. “What is going on?” He holds a hand to me.
“Nothing, it is someone looking for me.” He starts muttering to himself. “She shouldn’t even be here.”
“Luken I’m scared what is wrong?”
He turns to me, “Avaya your life is in greater danger than before. I can’t explain now, but for now I have to keep you safe.”
A sharp pain pierced me. He grabbed me, “I just had the weirdest image come to my mind.”
Luken brushes the side of my face, laying me on the bed. “A dream…I was at the beach. I think it was you, warning me my life is in danger.” He gazes at me. Concern ebbed at the corner of his intense blue eyes.
“Promise me you will stay in my sight at all times tomorrow.”
Nodding I say, “I will I promise.” Luken leans his forehead against mine holding my face. Closing my eyes, the feel of his smooth lips touch my forehead. He disappeared before I opened my eyes. He is still in my room, his presence is too energetic.
Early in the morning, Bethanne stood over my bed shoving me until I acknowledged her. My Uncle James sent her to get me. I was leaving the mansion with him. Where we were going I was not sure. Bethanne’s orders were to get me up.
Bundling my coat, I went to the car where my Uncle James waited with his driver Dennis, his gold plated nametag reads.
We stopped at a restaurant to eat breakfast before my uncle took me to the unknown destination. Dennis drove through a wrought iron gate. It is a cemetery I realize through the tinted windows. A mausoleum with name Caulder over the front door loomed isolated.
“This is your Aunt Dana. Staying at the mansion is not easy for me. I often come here. I have a home in those hills there.” He points toward a small area close by with a few houses.
I walk inside and understand what my Aunt meant by my uncle is visiting her in the wrong place. She isn’t really here. My uncle walks into the mausoleum and lights a candle. Several roses lay in front of a photo of her. His grief is cluttered within his tired eyes.
We stayed for a long while. I was sent to the train station when he decided to be alone with his pain. A lady sat down next to me. I tried not to notice her she didn’t fit in with the modern passengers. She wore a poofed out dress with a wide brimmed hat matching the bodice of her dress.
When I walked into the mansion it is already dark. Miss Brantshire greets me with a stern expression. Grabbing me by the arm she pulls me toward the stairs. It is not forceful, not in the way she would have wanted. “You should have been back an hour ago.” I rub my arm where her hand surely left a mark.
“Master Caulder has called twice checking to make sure you returned safely, now I must go call your uncle to calm his nerves. Dinner is passed for the evening, it is best for you to settle yourself back into your room.” She says icily. Instead of reciprocating I breathe a puff of air, retreating to my room. Opening the door an unexpected surprise is sitting on the bed.
Unknown
“Luken!”
The way he sat alarms me. He glances up with piercing blue daggers beneath glorious lashes. A glare so intense and menacing I want to run from the room. Luken gets to his feet carefully coming toward me. I broke my promise.
“Hello, Avaya. I have been wondering if you were all right. I saw you leave with James.”
Remaining silent I nod, staring as Luken staggers to me. Moving to the other side of the room I evade him not wanting to get too close. Staring at the floor to keep from tripping, he follows my movement.
“He took me to visit my aunt Dana at her burial site.”
“How lovely, did the living creature from a week ago meet up with you?”
“Xavier? No he didn’t contact me. I thought we were passed the whole jealousy thing.” Luken is electrically charged.
Jealousy crept into the shadows of Luken’s eyes. I realized where this is coming from. The strong electrical surge coursing through my body whenever he is near doesn’t help in this situation.
He follows me cautiously to the couch leaning back composed. Luken sits straight and stiff. A thin straight line shapes his lips. Not even a smirk for me.
“Are you and this Xavier courting?”
“I told you, we are only ever going to be friends, he and I. Are you jealous of him because he can take me out on a date and you cannot?”
Luken smirks darkly, “who says, I cannot take you on a date?”
His glare freezes me in place. Luken floats around my room barely touching the wooden floor pacing. Both his hands are clasped behind his back, elegant and graceful in his posture. I couldn’t handle the distance any longer.
I walk up to Luken inches from his blue lips. They weren’t blue before. I can feel his frozen cool breath on my face; barely touching him I say “he isn’t you, you’re the only one I want to go on a date with.”
Right before we have a chance to seal the kiss, there is a knock at the door. Luken disappears from sight. He didn’t stay with me. Bethanne and Livia haul a cart into my room full of freshly cleaned linens.
Livia walks around to the other side of the bed to help Bethanne dissemble the bedding placing the linens in a laundry bin. “Were you talking to someone in here?” Livia asks. They fluff the pillows stuffing them into the new pillow cases and shams. My new bed linens are green and black. “No. It’s just me.”
Bethanne shrugs, signaling to Livia to let it go.
In the morning I watch the sun rising from my bedroom window. The shadow lingered again. “Mind if I join you?”
A male voice asks. Too caught up in watching the strange shadow at the edge of the woods, two eyes stare right at me. My heart pounds rapidly in my chest. Chills crawl up my spine in eerie waves.
“Avaya are you all right darling?”
Luken rushes to my side “No!” He grabs me spinning me around to face him. Luken searches my eyes hysterically. “Stay away from the window.”
“I’m not used to seeing you in the morning.” His smile creases at the edge of his mouth. “I want to make sure you were okay. Please tell me what caused such fear to be displayed in those beautiful hazel eyes.”
Taking a deep breath I gaze up at him. “There is a shadow at the edge of the woods. I sometimes see it there from time to time. This is the first time I have seen eyes. Is it a person I have been seeing? Luken it terrifies me.”
Luken grimaces, “you should be.”
He curses, which I had not heard before now. I had always pictured him with proper manners. Luken walks to my window pulling the blinds closed before coming to my side with a glass of water to drink.
“Do not go near the edge of the woods again. It is not safe Avaya. Only go to the garden if I am with you, I have to protect you as much as I can.” Luken places his hand immediately on my cheek, “I could not bear it if I lost you. I would go insane for sure now that I have you here with me.”
I gaze at the curtains. “What is that shadow?”
“Something dark and dangerous, I may already be too late in protecting you.”
“Luken, what kind of danger am I in?” He places his cool hands on my shoulders. This is surreal. Scary thoughts of a maniac wanting to take me away from Luken cloud my vision.
Frustrated he turns to me, “I do not know. Listen darling, that thing out there may use you to get to me. The last thing I remember before I disappeared was the sounds of my own musical piece calling to me in the air. Next thing I know I am dead. I found out I died when nobody could see me standing next to them or hear me talking. Whatever is out there, it must be waiting for me.” Goosebumps rose on my flesh with the chilled air.
Awake
For a week I grew restless from the silence. Loneliness protrudes through my heart. When I am not staying awake, I toss and turn. I haven’t seen Luken, he has vanished from sight. A part of me wonders if he is trying to protect me by staying away. The absence leaves my heart aching for a glimpse of the composer who created a piece of music so strongly it speaks directly to me.
Last night I heard a commotion. “Master Caulder, Master Caulder you must come quickly.” I could hear the voice of a nurse bellowing down the hall. Thinking it is urgent I run down the hall to the second floor to find out what is wrong. My uncle stops at the door to my cousin Becca’s room. Miss Brantshire turned away fading down the hallway. I rush to see what is wrong.
“This is not of concern to you, leave.” The chamber maid exclaims.
I push past her. My cousin is holding my uncle’s hand. I watch as she barely smiles. Becca came out of the coma. My breath catches and everyone turns in my direction. Several eyes gaze at me. “Get her out of here.” Miss Brantshire demands from behind me. I thought she left, but I am mistaken.
“No she can stay.” My uncle says. Becca has bruising under eyes. Her dark hair is stringy, faded to a blondish-brown.
A few days later, I went to visit Becca. Technically my uncle did not specify permission. He simply mentioned another visit can be arranged, so I made one occur. She pushes herself up in the bed, pulling pillows behind her.
Becca winces trying to adjust her pillow. I help her move it to the side allowing free range to lean back against her headrest. She tries to smile in
appreciation. I started to think about Luken while I watched her snuggling against the covers.
“My father told me what happened, at least his version about the accident. I’m still having trouble with a few words. If it takes me a little longer to talk with you I apologize. Sorry about your parents by the way, I’m sure that isn’t easy. My mom being gone is still sinking in I don’t think I will ever get used to that.” A stray tear fell down her cheek.
“I’m sorry your mom can’t be here with you as well.”
We sit in silence for a moment… “Becca I have to ask you something.”
Sighing I try to figure out the best way to phrase the question. I don’t want to offend her or cause added stress in her weakened condition. If it is possible for her to fall back into a coma, the last thing I want is to be responsible.
“It must be important, what is it?” She asks waiting.
“Do you know any information about the Vandersen family?”
Becca’s eye became two frightened saucers. She glances in all directions to avoid contact with me. Becca takes a few deep breaths before she nods and says more on the matter. “What do you want to know? My memory is still a bit hazy.”
“Have you seen…?” She starts nodding before I am able to finish.
“So, you have seen him.” It isn’t a question.
“Yes, I have seen him.” I answer.
I felt the jealous shadow cross my eyes. Swallowing any ill words, I smile to avoid saying the wrong thing. Becca stared at me with a long expressionless gaze, understanding my thoughts she spoke. “You are attracted to him. I can see it. Avaya he isn’t alive.”
Sighing, I fall into a sitting position on her bed, “I know Becca. That is what makes it so crazy. It may seem unreal and impossible I don’t know…I can’t explain it. He thinks well we agree I am the girl from his dreams.”
Becca sits up straighter, stuttering a little. “You…you’re the girl he’s been waiting for?”
We both went into awkward silence.
Realizations
Becca and I didn’t visit for long. It was awkward being in the presence of another family member I barely know. I felt like an intruder. Back in my room, I stared at the sky. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Luken. He walked toward the extended rock, sat down in a relaxed position. He has one arm draped over his knee, staring out at the direction the sun had set. I wanted to join him instead I gazed at him from my window.
Startled I glanced up when Luken stood before me, “you look sad Avaya.”
I nod. “My cousin Becca she woke up from her coma.”
“I know it is refreshing to see her recovering. I suppose your sorrow is caused by other matters.” I shake my head.
“There was this man on the highway. That night Xavier brought me back. I pissed him off. Making him so angry he tried to attack me. He thinks the highway is his land, it scared me. Luken he is so not like you. He has this blue glow and can turn into a large blue orb of light.
“An old man, are you sure?”
“Yes. Have you seen him before? I mean he won’t cause me real harm, will he?”
Luken shakes his head, “I have not left the mansion in 127 years with the exception of you.” I paused, “the beach that was a dream right?” Luken doesn’t answer. I think about how long he has been stuck here and I thought my being here was bad.
“I felt sorry for him. He can’t find his son.”
“What lovely words made him so angry?”
Cringing I look at Luken, “that he has been dead for a long time and maybe his son is somewhere else and he no longer owns the land.”
Luken drops his head shaking it back and forth. He lifts his eyes to meet mine laughing at me. His smirk went to a sweet laugh only it is directed at me. I was really frightened in the moment. Xavier was right I really know how to piss off a spirit. Even Luken has become angered at my doing.
“What did he look like?”
I don’t know why it took me so long to realize it. Luken’s father, it must be him. “An elderly man in his sixties or seventies maybe, with eerie blue eyes and he wears a coat like yours.”
“Maybe it is my father,” Luken whispers. “It would have to be him. Last time I saw my own father he laid on his death bed here in the mansion. He was waiting to see me again only I wasn’t there when he actually passed on. My father used to search for me in the woods, he must still be there. I know him Avaya, he won’t hurt you.”
Luken stood moving toward the door. “Stay with me tonight?” I asked. He stares off in the distance, away from my gaze. “Please.”
“Not tonight, Becca should have some company. It is better she doesn’t know what happened the night…it doesn’t matter now.” I take in a sharp breath water fills up in my eyes without spilling over. “She needs my company tonight.”
Nodding, I wanted him to myself. I try to understand his purpose for going to see her. Holding back tears I don’t want to come. With one last effort to keep him with me, I ask, “will you come back when you are finished visiting with her?”
“We’ll see.” Luken kisses my forehead before he leaves. The emptiness lingers, black void in the room.
The library is quiet this time of night. I leaned my head against the window watching the far off lights in the distance as little by little they each went out. It wasn’t long before I had company. “How tragic, where is your Luken at tonight?” I roll my eyes, “Celia I’m really not in the mood.”
She sits on the couch crossing her smooth legs. Celia’s heel dangles. “I hear Becca Caulder is up and about now. Guess Luken will forget about you. They’re close you know. Even I can’t break through that bond. Before the accident, we were sure a romance was starting between the two of them. I guess while she was out his eyes wandered.”
Celia watched me, gauging my reaction. “Now that Becca is back, Luken won’t have time for his Avaya. Do you really believe you’re the girl he has been waiting centuries to be with? We all know it’s her.”
She had a way of crawling under my skin. I couldn’t handle her accusations or cruel comments. “It doesn’t matter Celia. Besides who are you here? The three of us have status here, what’s yours?” I got up to leave to find her standing in front of me. “I used to live here. I died here. Looks like four of us have status here. You don’t want to be on my bad side Avaya, play nice.” Right before my eyes I could not see her any longer.
I crawl under the covers in my room. Staring at the ceiling I waited for Luken. My eyelids grew too heavy and droopy to remain open. Sometime in the night I felt the cold touch on my cheek, smiling I turned to the icy coolness and snuggled in closer.
