| General Fiction posted May 5, 2024 | Chapters: |
...13 14 -15- 16... 
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Victoria strikes back!
A chapter in the book The Unwilling Heir
The Unwilling Heir - Chap 15
by Begin Again
END OF CHAPTER 14
"Knowing your fear of the ones in the study, I took the shortcut. It's one bonus of being a ghost. I can travel wherever I want to go in a flash." Lorrie placed a teakettle on the stove and busied herself with the pastries. She nodded toward the back porch. "I believe a gentleman is waiting for you outside.
Still fearing the worst, Madeline frowned and glanced warily at the door. "Waiting for me?"
"There's nothing to fear, deary. Noah has asked me to serve you tea while the two of you chat." Lorrie grinned. "The way I see it, he'd like to resume the conversation you shared on the stairs before Victoria barged onto the scene."
Madeline's hand flew to her hair and then to her disheveled clothing. "But I —"
A loud chuckle burst from Lorrie's mouth, and her body shook with amusement. "He sees you through the eyes of love. You will always look beautiful and perfect to him. Now go! Even ghosts can tire of waiting."
*****
CHAPTER 15
"Damn you, William!" As Victoria's anger flared, the air in the room grew colder, and tendrils of icy droplets swirled around her ghostly form. Her voice echoed against the darkened walls, each word carrying the weight of centuries-old grudges. She'd been shunned as the mansion's mistress, and now, the forgiveness of Madeline's deceptions gnawed at her. She stopped brushing her hair and flung the silver hairbrush against the wall, the impact shattering the mirror into countless shards.
She strode across the room, the hem of her dress snagging on a protruding nail, as she leveled a fierce gaze at William. "How can you just sit there and let this happen?"
William's response was a chuckle, crackling like the rustle of parched pages, though it only served to incense Victoria further. He stroked his long white beard before speaking. "Too bad you can't bottle that hot air. It wouldn't cost so much to heat this monstrosity of a house."
A gust of wind swirled through the room, entering through the cracks in the walls. The candle flames flickered wildly, casting dancing shadows around the room, and a faint scent of roses lingered in the air. Victoria refused to cower before William, though she knew he was much more powerful than she was.
"How dare you speak to me that way after all I have tried to do for you?"
Her boot sailed past his head, followed by the other, which struck the side of his head. Her eyes widened as her glow faded, almost disappearing into the darkness, knowing she'd gone too far.
William's hand grabbed her arm, and his eyes glowed, much like the embers in the fireplace. His look was menacing, and his voice stern. "Your tantrum is unbecoming of a woman in your station. Would you prefer to join the ones grumbling deep below in the cellar? I'm positive any of those poor souls would be happy to trade places."
"You wouldn't!" Victoria challenged, but her scowl quickly turned to a seductive smile, and she batted her lashes at him. "Sweet William, you know how wicked Madeline has been. She never deserved to be with that simpleton, Noah, and now that he is dead, she deserves even less." She knelt beside him, softly running her hand along his arm. "I have no idea why he brought a woman from a bordello into the mansion. When I was the mistress, things were different. I knew how to provide a proper place for you and your associates. The women rushed to be seated at our dinner table or attend one of our lavish parties."
William's figure shifted from the overstuffed chair to the window, where he stared outside, lost in thought. "My love, have you forgotten how the women turned away whenever you approached them? After all, you were my mistress; nothing better than Madeline was to Noah."
Victoria clutched her handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes as if tears were forming in their hollow sockets. She turned her back to William, her voice barely audible. "I'm mortified by your tone, William." She paused and added, "You know she wants the treasure and doesn't care what it means to you and everyone else in this mansion. Forgive me, but I'm just thinking about you, my love."
Victoria could sense the drop in temperature as William spoke. "Leave the treasure to my grandson and his friends. They will do what is necessary to free all of us. Interfering or threatening Madeline will do no good. Let her be Noah's concern, not yours."
"I will not be silenced and will not allow Madeline to claim what is rightfully ours." Her scowl shifted to a smile, but it was a facade. "William, we must take action to remove her before it is too late. This is your last chance for redemption, and I so want that for you."
As Victoria and William quarreled, their voices reverberated through the vast halls of the mansion, awakening the spirits of the past. The portrait of the previous owner, a stern-looking man with a handlebar mustache, appeared to disapprove of their behavior from his place above the grand fireplace. Several figures dressed in tattered rags gathered outside the door, their translucent forms shimmering in anticipation, as they found enjoyment as the couple challenged each other. Exchanging eerie smiles and murmuring, they began weaving their plan, one that might gain them the treasures yet repay Victoria for all the snobbery she'd delivered on them.
*****
Madeline's heart fluttered like a butterfly as she stepped onto the porch. Her anticipation of Noah's arrival turned her cheeks a rosy hue. But her hope was swiftly extinguished as she discovered she was standing alone. She whispered, "Noah," expecting his response, only to be greeted with an eerie silence.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she made her way to the railing, her gaze fixed on the sky, questioning why the radiant sun failed to thaw the icy grip on her body.
"Your sorrow is a delight to my ears, deary." Victoria's ethereal form seemed to flicker in the sunlight, casting a spectral glow around her. Her once-beautiful features twisted into a cruel smirk, her eyes like shards of ice piercing through the air with an evil glimmer. The delicate lace of her Victorian gown billowed around her, but there was nothing graceful about her movements; each step she took on the porch seemed to echo with a haunting resonance, a heavy, dreadful sound. The surrounding air seemed to thicken with a chilling presence as if the mansion was holding its breath. Her voice grated on Madeline's spine like fingernails scratching on the chalkboard.
"Not by choice, but Noah had more pressing matters to attend to, my dear." Victoria's smile was a twisted mockery devoid of warmth. Her hand shot out, seizing Madeline's wrist in a painful grip. "You should heed what I say, or I promise you'll regret it. The treasure will never be yours, nor will Noah. If you value your mortal existence, flee this mansion. Otherwise, the next time we cross paths, I might forget my ladylike manners, which is more than I can say for you, and —" Victoria's breath, a chilling mist, touched her prey, "Well, let's just say —" Her grin a chilling promise as she concluded, "There are fates far worse than death, my dear."
Madeline's eyes widened in terror, her scream piercing the serene afternoon. She yanked her arm from Victoria's grip, the ghost's long fingernails leaving angry red marks on her skin as she stumbled and collapsed onto the creaking floorboards.
Lorrie's urgent voice cut through the air from within the house. "Madeline, what's wrong?" She appeared in the doorway, her eyes narrowing as she caught a glimpse of Victoria's retreating figure. "Victoria, you have not chosen your fight wisely," she muttered as she knelt beside Madeline, her voice low but filled with a steely resolve. "Behind this kindly face lurks a warrior's heart."
Victoria glanced back, a fleeting expression of irritation crossing her ethereal features before she vanished into the shadows, leaving a chill lingering in the air long after she was gone.
"Knowing your fear of the ones in the study, I took the shortcut. It's one bonus of being a ghost. I can travel wherever I want to go in a flash." Lorrie placed a teakettle on the stove and busied herself with the pastries. She nodded toward the back porch. "I believe a gentleman is waiting for you outside.
Still fearing the worst, Madeline frowned and glanced warily at the door. "Waiting for me?"
"There's nothing to fear, deary. Noah has asked me to serve you tea while the two of you chat." Lorrie grinned. "The way I see it, he'd like to resume the conversation you shared on the stairs before Victoria barged onto the scene."
Madeline's hand flew to her hair and then to her disheveled clothing. "But I —"
A loud chuckle burst from Lorrie's mouth, and her body shook with amusement. "He sees you through the eyes of love. You will always look beautiful and perfect to him. Now go! Even ghosts can tire of waiting."
*****
CHAPTER 15
"Damn you, William!" As Victoria's anger flared, the air in the room grew colder, and tendrils of icy droplets swirled around her ghostly form. Her voice echoed against the darkened walls, each word carrying the weight of centuries-old grudges. She'd been shunned as the mansion's mistress, and now, the forgiveness of Madeline's deceptions gnawed at her. She stopped brushing her hair and flung the silver hairbrush against the wall, the impact shattering the mirror into countless shards.
She strode across the room, the hem of her dress snagging on a protruding nail, as she leveled a fierce gaze at William. "How can you just sit there and let this happen?"
William's response was a chuckle, crackling like the rustle of parched pages, though it only served to incense Victoria further. He stroked his long white beard before speaking. "Too bad you can't bottle that hot air. It wouldn't cost so much to heat this monstrosity of a house."
A gust of wind swirled through the room, entering through the cracks in the walls. The candle flames flickered wildly, casting dancing shadows around the room, and a faint scent of roses lingered in the air. Victoria refused to cower before William, though she knew he was much more powerful than she was.
"How dare you speak to me that way after all I have tried to do for you?"
Her boot sailed past his head, followed by the other, which struck the side of his head. Her eyes widened as her glow faded, almost disappearing into the darkness, knowing she'd gone too far.
William's hand grabbed her arm, and his eyes glowed, much like the embers in the fireplace. His look was menacing, and his voice stern. "Your tantrum is unbecoming of a woman in your station. Would you prefer to join the ones grumbling deep below in the cellar? I'm positive any of those poor souls would be happy to trade places."
"You wouldn't!" Victoria challenged, but her scowl quickly turned to a seductive smile, and she batted her lashes at him. "Sweet William, you know how wicked Madeline has been. She never deserved to be with that simpleton, Noah, and now that he is dead, she deserves even less." She knelt beside him, softly running her hand along his arm. "I have no idea why he brought a woman from a bordello into the mansion. When I was the mistress, things were different. I knew how to provide a proper place for you and your associates. The women rushed to be seated at our dinner table or attend one of our lavish parties."
William's figure shifted from the overstuffed chair to the window, where he stared outside, lost in thought. "My love, have you forgotten how the women turned away whenever you approached them? After all, you were my mistress; nothing better than Madeline was to Noah."
Victoria clutched her handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes as if tears were forming in their hollow sockets. She turned her back to William, her voice barely audible. "I'm mortified by your tone, William." She paused and added, "You know she wants the treasure and doesn't care what it means to you and everyone else in this mansion. Forgive me, but I'm just thinking about you, my love."
Victoria could sense the drop in temperature as William spoke. "Leave the treasure to my grandson and his friends. They will do what is necessary to free all of us. Interfering or threatening Madeline will do no good. Let her be Noah's concern, not yours."
"I will not be silenced and will not allow Madeline to claim what is rightfully ours." Her scowl shifted to a smile, but it was a facade. "William, we must take action to remove her before it is too late. This is your last chance for redemption, and I so want that for you."
As Victoria and William quarreled, their voices reverberated through the vast halls of the mansion, awakening the spirits of the past. The portrait of the previous owner, a stern-looking man with a handlebar mustache, appeared to disapprove of their behavior from his place above the grand fireplace. Several figures dressed in tattered rags gathered outside the door, their translucent forms shimmering in anticipation, as they found enjoyment as the couple challenged each other. Exchanging eerie smiles and murmuring, they began weaving their plan, one that might gain them the treasures yet repay Victoria for all the snobbery she'd delivered on them.
*****
Madeline's heart fluttered like a butterfly as she stepped onto the porch. Her anticipation of Noah's arrival turned her cheeks a rosy hue. But her hope was swiftly extinguished as she discovered she was standing alone. She whispered, "Noah," expecting his response, only to be greeted with an eerie silence.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she made her way to the railing, her gaze fixed on the sky, questioning why the radiant sun failed to thaw the icy grip on her body.
"Your sorrow is a delight to my ears, deary." Victoria's ethereal form seemed to flicker in the sunlight, casting a spectral glow around her. Her once-beautiful features twisted into a cruel smirk, her eyes like shards of ice piercing through the air with an evil glimmer. The delicate lace of her Victorian gown billowed around her, but there was nothing graceful about her movements; each step she took on the porch seemed to echo with a haunting resonance, a heavy, dreadful sound. The surrounding air seemed to thicken with a chilling presence as if the mansion was holding its breath. Her voice grated on Madeline's spine like fingernails scratching on the chalkboard.
"Not by choice, but Noah had more pressing matters to attend to, my dear." Victoria's smile was a twisted mockery devoid of warmth. Her hand shot out, seizing Madeline's wrist in a painful grip. "You should heed what I say, or I promise you'll regret it. The treasure will never be yours, nor will Noah. If you value your mortal existence, flee this mansion. Otherwise, the next time we cross paths, I might forget my ladylike manners, which is more than I can say for you, and —" Victoria's breath, a chilling mist, touched her prey, "Well, let's just say —" Her grin a chilling promise as she concluded, "There are fates far worse than death, my dear."
Madeline's eyes widened in terror, her scream piercing the serene afternoon. She yanked her arm from Victoria's grip, the ghost's long fingernails leaving angry red marks on her skin as she stumbled and collapsed onto the creaking floorboards.
Lorrie's urgent voice cut through the air from within the house. "Madeline, what's wrong?" She appeared in the doorway, her eyes narrowing as she caught a glimpse of Victoria's retreating figure. "Victoria, you have not chosen your fight wisely," she muttered as she knelt beside Madeline, her voice low but filled with a steely resolve. "Behind this kindly face lurks a warrior's heart."
Victoria glanced back, a fleeting expression of irritation crossing her ethereal features before she vanished into the shadows, leaving a chill lingering in the air long after she was gone.
Sandra, James, and Tim rushed onto the porch. Sandra joined Lorrie's side as she tended to Madeline. James recognized the lingering scent of Victoria's cologne and muttered, "That woman, ghost or not, is determined to cause problems."
Lorrie raised her head to look at James. "She's declared war, James, and it will not be a pretty sight."
 Recognized |
Sandra Monroe - fledgling investigative reporter
Annie - Sandra's loyal assistant
Les - Sandra's boss
Detective Ryan Hamilton
Judge William Parker
Benny Gonzales - The Hitman
Lorrie - the housekeeper
James Matthews - writer living in the mansion's carriage house
Noah Wakefield - deceased
Madeline Wakefield - widow
Tim - The Familiar Stranger
Kitty, Maggie, Frank, Teresa - ghosts from Madeline's past
The sheriff - An evil man given one last chance to change his ways
Victoria - the ghostly FORMER mistress in the 1800s
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Annie - Sandra's loyal assistant
Les - Sandra's boss
Detective Ryan Hamilton
Judge William Parker
Benny Gonzales - The Hitman
Lorrie - the housekeeper
James Matthews - writer living in the mansion's carriage house
Noah Wakefield - deceased
Madeline Wakefield - widow
Tim - The Familiar Stranger
Kitty, Maggie, Frank, Teresa - ghosts from Madeline's past
The sheriff - An evil man given one last chance to change his ways
Victoria - the ghostly FORMER mistress in the 1800s
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