| General Fiction posted June 9, 2024 | Chapters: |
...28 29 -30- 31... 
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A new discovery sets them on a dangerous journey
A chapter in the book The Unwilling Heir
The Unwilling Heir - Chap 30
by Begin Again
| Background I HAVE POSTED TWO CHAPTERS TODAY - 30 AND 31. THIS IS THE FIRST ONE SO THAT YOU DO NOT READ THEM OUT OF ORDER. ENJOY! |
THE ENDING OF CHAPTER 29
"I'm afraid you don't understand, James." Tim's translucent form moved closer to his daughter, emitting a radiant glow that grew brighter and brighter. "Though I've done my best to persuade her, she refuses to give up. She feels responsible for losing the book —"
"That was Victoria's doing, not hers. She couldn't have stopped her." James shook his head wearily. "Come, join us. Lorrie and Madeline have prepared a nice spread for us. It's not often that we can partake in a mortal meal."
Sandra instinctively moved closer to Madeline and wrapped her arm around her trembling shoulders. "You need my help, and I'm willing to stay, but neither Madeline nor I should be treated like outsiders. Either we do this together, or you can do it alone."
Benny's darkened form slowly changed to a softer glimmer as he rose from his chair. "I'm out of the habit of apologizing. I overstepped and shouldn't have said what I did."
Sandra looked at Madeline and then at Benny. "We've all made mistakes. Let's try to work as a team from now on. From what my father told me, we must stick together."
The sudden slamming of the back door and voices yelling turned everyone's attention toward the kitchen as Billy and Will burst into the room.
Breathless, Billy waved a moss-covered book in the air as he triumphantly yelled, "We found something!"
"I'm afraid you don't understand, James." Tim's translucent form moved closer to his daughter, emitting a radiant glow that grew brighter and brighter. "Though I've done my best to persuade her, she refuses to give up. She feels responsible for losing the book —"
"That was Victoria's doing, not hers. She couldn't have stopped her." James shook his head wearily. "Come, join us. Lorrie and Madeline have prepared a nice spread for us. It's not often that we can partake in a mortal meal."
Sandra instinctively moved closer to Madeline and wrapped her arm around her trembling shoulders. "You need my help, and I'm willing to stay, but neither Madeline nor I should be treated like outsiders. Either we do this together, or you can do it alone."
Benny's darkened form slowly changed to a softer glimmer as he rose from his chair. "I'm out of the habit of apologizing. I overstepped and shouldn't have said what I did."
Sandra looked at Madeline and then at Benny. "We've all made mistakes. Let's try to work as a team from now on. From what my father told me, we must stick together."
The sudden slamming of the back door and voices yelling turned everyone's attention toward the kitchen as Billy and Will burst into the room.
Breathless, Billy waved a moss-covered book in the air as he triumphantly yelled, "We found something!"
*****
CHAPTER 30
As Billy gently placed the book, its cover green with a layer of moss, on the table and opened it, a hush fell over the room. The pages, marked with drawings of stick people, animals, and other childish scribblings, seemed to hold a secret, their faded lines whisperings of days long ago.
"Is this —" Sandra leaned closer to look at the book. Her eyes were wide with curiosity as she stared at the pages.
"A copy of my grandfather's book? I think so, or at least a good part of it." Billy's voice was filled with excitement yet laced with sadness and memories of the past. The book was more than a collection of pages to him. It was a precious link to his family's history and lost moments with his grandfather.
"How did you find it?" Having searched the vast mansion for years, Madeline wondered where it had been hidden.
"When I was sitting with Grandfather, I thought he was trying to tell me something, but I couldn't make sense of his words. I thought he was telling me to go forth, you know, like to continue the search. But I finally figured it out when he mumbled words like fish and secret. He was trying to remind me about my childhood fort where he and I would go fishing." Billy's eyes softened as memories flooded his thoughts. "It was our secret spot, a hidden place that only we would go."
Understanding his son's emotional struggle, Will added, "It's been years since Billy had been there, and the landscape had changed drastically. We walked along the riverbank for hours before discovering the fort hidden in the undergrowth. He remembers sitting there for hours, amusing himself by drawing in the old book while my father fished."
James peered over Will's shoulder. "Are the pages legible?"
"I believe so. Many of the pages have been exposed to the elements, and green moss has crept between the pages on some of them, but for the most part, we can decipher what Grandfather wrote."
Relieved for the moment, James patted Billy on the back. "Good work. And if I'm not mistaken, I believe Esther has brought us what she thinks might be our first clue." Sighing, he lowered his lanky body into his chair. Relaxing, he took a large bite of one of Lorrie's sandwiches, clearly enjoying it. Little did he know, this clue was the beginning of a much bigger, more dangerous puzzle.
Billy turned eagerly to Esther and Sebastian. "Is that right? You might have a clue?"
Still wary of everyone, Esther stood behind Sebastian. When her grandson addressed her, she moved from Sebastian's shadow and faced Billy. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, they both understood the weight of the task ahead — the sense of family and not being alone washed over her.
Benny shouted, unable to let sleeping dogs lie, "Why'd you hide from us?"
Sebastian prevented Esther from replying by answering himself. "She wasn't hiding, Benny. She merely wanted to check on William, for which you and everyone else should be grateful. He opened his eyes and spoke to her."
A smile spread across Billy's face. "Is that true? Is Grandfather awake?"
Esther's face softened, and she smiled. "It was only a few words, but I understood he wanted me to bring you the clue."
Madeline pressed closer to her friend. "Don't be afraid. We're all in this together."
Esther's fading form brightened as she smiled at her mortal friend. "I hope you didn't think I deserted you."
"Never!" Madeline assured her.
Esther stretched out her hand, giving Madeline a scrap of paper. "You should read it to them."
"Are you sure? You're responsible for understanding what William was trying to say."
"I'm sure. It's because of you that I found William again. It's right that we share it."
Madeline took the paper, her hands trembling with anticipation, and read aloud, "Follow the bloodline to save future generations." The cryptic words hung in the air, their meaning yet to be fully understood.
Will's excitement showed in the brilliant glow surrounding his ethereal form. "Father was always talking to me about our ancestry. I remember he had a grandfather who fought in the Civil War. Could he be referring to him or one of our other ancestors?"
Sandra's eyes sparkled with curiosity and determination. "A military man! What better place to start." She turned to James. "Are there pictures or documents somewhere in the mansion? Mementos of the Parker ancestry, maybe."
"There are pictures in every room of the mansion, but I have no idea who they are. It will take months to research each one."
Gaining courage, Esther joined the conversation. "I saw one of William in Madeline's room." A soft glow glimmered and surrounded her form as she thought of William and how much she loved him.
Will's eyes lit up. "If father's grandfather is the one we are looking for, it shouldn't be too hard. He's a tall man dressed in a uniform. When my father spoke of him, he was always so proud, but what he remembered most was his funny mustache and a triangular hat he wore."
Excited, Billy said, "I remember Grandfather showing me that picture. He wore a long coat buttoned at his waist and a silk scarf around his neck." Billy laughed, his voice filled with fond memories. "He had this strange-looking white wig on his head. As a kid, I thought it was a mop."
Sandra's eyes widened. "I'm not sure, but I thought I saw a wall of pictures in the ballroom, and several were in uniforms." The memory of the dimly lit ballroom, with its soaring ceilings and ornate chandeliers, came flooding back to her. She shivered involuntarily at the thought of what they might find there. Icy fingers of fear strummed her spine as snippets of the evil spirits nagged in her memory. Lorrie's tea hadn't erased everything.
"In the ballroom? Where Victoria —" Madeline wailed, letting her voice trail off in fear.
All eyes turned to stare at James as Sandra gasped, "Oh, James, we can't return there."
CHAPTER 30
As Billy gently placed the book, its cover green with a layer of moss, on the table and opened it, a hush fell over the room. The pages, marked with drawings of stick people, animals, and other childish scribblings, seemed to hold a secret, their faded lines whisperings of days long ago.
"Is this —" Sandra leaned closer to look at the book. Her eyes were wide with curiosity as she stared at the pages.
"A copy of my grandfather's book? I think so, or at least a good part of it." Billy's voice was filled with excitement yet laced with sadness and memories of the past. The book was more than a collection of pages to him. It was a precious link to his family's history and lost moments with his grandfather.
"How did you find it?" Having searched the vast mansion for years, Madeline wondered where it had been hidden.
"When I was sitting with Grandfather, I thought he was trying to tell me something, but I couldn't make sense of his words. I thought he was telling me to go forth, you know, like to continue the search. But I finally figured it out when he mumbled words like fish and secret. He was trying to remind me about my childhood fort where he and I would go fishing." Billy's eyes softened as memories flooded his thoughts. "It was our secret spot, a hidden place that only we would go."
Understanding his son's emotional struggle, Will added, "It's been years since Billy had been there, and the landscape had changed drastically. We walked along the riverbank for hours before discovering the fort hidden in the undergrowth. He remembers sitting there for hours, amusing himself by drawing in the old book while my father fished."
James peered over Will's shoulder. "Are the pages legible?"
"I believe so. Many of the pages have been exposed to the elements, and green moss has crept between the pages on some of them, but for the most part, we can decipher what Grandfather wrote."
Relieved for the moment, James patted Billy on the back. "Good work. And if I'm not mistaken, I believe Esther has brought us what she thinks might be our first clue." Sighing, he lowered his lanky body into his chair. Relaxing, he took a large bite of one of Lorrie's sandwiches, clearly enjoying it. Little did he know, this clue was the beginning of a much bigger, more dangerous puzzle.
Billy turned eagerly to Esther and Sebastian. "Is that right? You might have a clue?"
Still wary of everyone, Esther stood behind Sebastian. When her grandson addressed her, she moved from Sebastian's shadow and faced Billy. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, they both understood the weight of the task ahead — the sense of family and not being alone washed over her.
Benny shouted, unable to let sleeping dogs lie, "Why'd you hide from us?"
Sebastian prevented Esther from replying by answering himself. "She wasn't hiding, Benny. She merely wanted to check on William, for which you and everyone else should be grateful. He opened his eyes and spoke to her."
A smile spread across Billy's face. "Is that true? Is Grandfather awake?"
Esther's face softened, and she smiled. "It was only a few words, but I understood he wanted me to bring you the clue."
Madeline pressed closer to her friend. "Don't be afraid. We're all in this together."
Esther's fading form brightened as she smiled at her mortal friend. "I hope you didn't think I deserted you."
"Never!" Madeline assured her.
Esther stretched out her hand, giving Madeline a scrap of paper. "You should read it to them."
"Are you sure? You're responsible for understanding what William was trying to say."
"I'm sure. It's because of you that I found William again. It's right that we share it."
Madeline took the paper, her hands trembling with anticipation, and read aloud, "Follow the bloodline to save future generations." The cryptic words hung in the air, their meaning yet to be fully understood.
Will's excitement showed in the brilliant glow surrounding his ethereal form. "Father was always talking to me about our ancestry. I remember he had a grandfather who fought in the Civil War. Could he be referring to him or one of our other ancestors?"
Sandra's eyes sparkled with curiosity and determination. "A military man! What better place to start." She turned to James. "Are there pictures or documents somewhere in the mansion? Mementos of the Parker ancestry, maybe."
"There are pictures in every room of the mansion, but I have no idea who they are. It will take months to research each one."
Gaining courage, Esther joined the conversation. "I saw one of William in Madeline's room." A soft glow glimmered and surrounded her form as she thought of William and how much she loved him.
Will's eyes lit up. "If father's grandfather is the one we are looking for, it shouldn't be too hard. He's a tall man dressed in a uniform. When my father spoke of him, he was always so proud, but what he remembered most was his funny mustache and a triangular hat he wore."
Excited, Billy said, "I remember Grandfather showing me that picture. He wore a long coat buttoned at his waist and a silk scarf around his neck." Billy laughed, his voice filled with fond memories. "He had this strange-looking white wig on his head. As a kid, I thought it was a mop."
Sandra's eyes widened. "I'm not sure, but I thought I saw a wall of pictures in the ballroom, and several were in uniforms." The memory of the dimly lit ballroom, with its soaring ceilings and ornate chandeliers, came flooding back to her. She shivered involuntarily at the thought of what they might find there. Icy fingers of fear strummed her spine as snippets of the evil spirits nagged in her memory. Lorrie's tea hadn't erased everything.
"In the ballroom? Where Victoria —" Madeline wailed, letting her voice trail off in fear.
All eyes turned to stare at James as Sandra gasped, "Oh, James, we can't return there."
He slowly returned his sandwich to his plate, his face a mask of dread, and stared at the table, his mind wrestling with the decision.
A few moments passed before James took a deep breath, his ghostly form shimmering with tension. "We have no choice. If the clue is there, we must face whatever lurks in the ballroom."
Madeline gripped Esther's hand, her resolve hardening despite her trembling body. "We go together. We need to stay united if we plan to face the demons, discover the treasure, and find your redemption."
Sebastian beamed, his celestial light casting a warm glow over the group. "I can protect you from the evil spirits, but my power will be short-lived. You must have a well-thought-out plan and act quickly. Most likely, they will be expecting you."
"Of course, you're right, Sebastian. The men will go, and the women can stay behind. It's safer, and they can look over the book for further clues." James leaned his head against the back of his chair. "No sense risking everyone's chances."
Believing he'd made the final decision, he pushed his chair back and stood, moving toward one of the more comfortable lounge chairs. "As Sebastian said, we need a well-thought-out plan. Do you men have any suggestions? I know there are serious risks, so think long and hard before joining the search. I don't expect any of you men to jeopardize yourselves if you don't feel you can follow through, knowing what happened to Victoria."
An eerie silence fell over the room as his words sank in. Lorrie's eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line as she busied her hands, twisting and untwisting her apron. Her short, stout body was trembling with indignation. She stepped out of the kitchen doorway, her ghostly form shimmering with anger.
"How dare you, James!" Her English accent added a sharp edge to her words as she approached him, waving her finger in his face. "For a hundred years, I 'ave stood by your side, facing whatever danger or trial came to the mansion, just as you 'ave. Just because you be wearin' the britches, you'll not be changing things because you deem it to be so."
James opened his mouth to protest, but Lorrie cut him off, her voice rising. "I'll not be treated like a delicate flower plucked from the rose garden. I 'ave as much right to see this through as any of you. And probably more than most."
Her eyes blazed with determination, and for a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath. Sandra stepped to Lorrie's side, wrapping her arm around Lorrie's shoulders.
"She's right, James. Isn't that why you hired me?"
"Now — wait — a minute," James stammered. "You were hired to figure out the clues and return the property if and when we found it. Not to be put at risk with the evil ones."
"You thought you hired a secretary?" Sandra's voice filled with anger. "I'm a crime investigator. I don't sit at a desk and mull over a stack of papers."
"I didn't mean —" James rolled his eyes, frustrated. "It's just that —"
"Save your breath, James." Tim's eyes were focused on his daughter as he spoke. "I warned you she wouldn't stand back idle if the going got tough."
"Regardless of how terrified I might be, I need to do this for Noah." Madeline's eyes shifted away from the others to a portrait of Noah and her hanging above the fireplace. "In some way, it might make amends for my past."
James looked at the three women, their combined determination making it clear that his plan would not be the one of choice. His resolve wavered, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation. "Anyone object to the women going to the ballroom with us?"
Billy turned and looked at his father, then addressed the group. "Entering the ballroom is like entering the devil's domain. It will be extremely dangerous, but I agree that everyone has the right to go or stay. It should be a personal decision, and no one should assume they have the right to make it for them."
Will nodded and added, "If my memory is correct, there's a line of portraits circling the ballroom. With enough people, we should be able to quickly check for a man in uniform and retreat, hopefully with the portrait in hand. How long do you think we will have Sebastian?"
"Five, six minutes at the most. You'll need to separate, each taking a portion of the room. You'll have to move fast because the demons will be seething and ready to attack."
Having remained quiet during their discussion, Esther finally found her voice and asked, "What about you, Sebastian? You said five or six minutes. What happens if you are protecting us and —" Her voice quivered, and she stopped, unable to put her thoughts into words.
Billy finished her sentence. "She's right. You're putting yourself at risk, and it's not your fight."
The glow surrounding Sebastian's celestial being shimmered brighter than ever before as he spoke, "The council chose me to guide you in this search. I do it with the faith that my Shepherd will protect me from the evil demons. I shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil, for He is with me. His rod and staff will comfort me."
Benny murmured softly, "Amen."
Lorrie nodded, her anger cooling but her resolve unshaken. "We do this together," she said firmly, still waving her finger for emphasis. "All of us."
"Alright, alright," he conceded, his tone softening. "You win. But we must all be careful. This might be our only chance."
A few moments passed before James took a deep breath, his ghostly form shimmering with tension. "We have no choice. If the clue is there, we must face whatever lurks in the ballroom."
Madeline gripped Esther's hand, her resolve hardening despite her trembling body. "We go together. We need to stay united if we plan to face the demons, discover the treasure, and find your redemption."
Sebastian beamed, his celestial light casting a warm glow over the group. "I can protect you from the evil spirits, but my power will be short-lived. You must have a well-thought-out plan and act quickly. Most likely, they will be expecting you."
"Of course, you're right, Sebastian. The men will go, and the women can stay behind. It's safer, and they can look over the book for further clues." James leaned his head against the back of his chair. "No sense risking everyone's chances."
Believing he'd made the final decision, he pushed his chair back and stood, moving toward one of the more comfortable lounge chairs. "As Sebastian said, we need a well-thought-out plan. Do you men have any suggestions? I know there are serious risks, so think long and hard before joining the search. I don't expect any of you men to jeopardize yourselves if you don't feel you can follow through, knowing what happened to Victoria."
An eerie silence fell over the room as his words sank in. Lorrie's eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line as she busied her hands, twisting and untwisting her apron. Her short, stout body was trembling with indignation. She stepped out of the kitchen doorway, her ghostly form shimmering with anger.
"How dare you, James!" Her English accent added a sharp edge to her words as she approached him, waving her finger in his face. "For a hundred years, I 'ave stood by your side, facing whatever danger or trial came to the mansion, just as you 'ave. Just because you be wearin' the britches, you'll not be changing things because you deem it to be so."
James opened his mouth to protest, but Lorrie cut him off, her voice rising. "I'll not be treated like a delicate flower plucked from the rose garden. I 'ave as much right to see this through as any of you. And probably more than most."
Her eyes blazed with determination, and for a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath. Sandra stepped to Lorrie's side, wrapping her arm around Lorrie's shoulders.
"She's right, James. Isn't that why you hired me?"
"Now — wait — a minute," James stammered. "You were hired to figure out the clues and return the property if and when we found it. Not to be put at risk with the evil ones."
"You thought you hired a secretary?" Sandra's voice filled with anger. "I'm a crime investigator. I don't sit at a desk and mull over a stack of papers."
"I didn't mean —" James rolled his eyes, frustrated. "It's just that —"
"Save your breath, James." Tim's eyes were focused on his daughter as he spoke. "I warned you she wouldn't stand back idle if the going got tough."
"Regardless of how terrified I might be, I need to do this for Noah." Madeline's eyes shifted away from the others to a portrait of Noah and her hanging above the fireplace. "In some way, it might make amends for my past."
James looked at the three women, their combined determination making it clear that his plan would not be the one of choice. His resolve wavered, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation. "Anyone object to the women going to the ballroom with us?"
Billy turned and looked at his father, then addressed the group. "Entering the ballroom is like entering the devil's domain. It will be extremely dangerous, but I agree that everyone has the right to go or stay. It should be a personal decision, and no one should assume they have the right to make it for them."
Will nodded and added, "If my memory is correct, there's a line of portraits circling the ballroom. With enough people, we should be able to quickly check for a man in uniform and retreat, hopefully with the portrait in hand. How long do you think we will have Sebastian?"
"Five, six minutes at the most. You'll need to separate, each taking a portion of the room. You'll have to move fast because the demons will be seething and ready to attack."
Having remained quiet during their discussion, Esther finally found her voice and asked, "What about you, Sebastian? You said five or six minutes. What happens if you are protecting us and —" Her voice quivered, and she stopped, unable to put her thoughts into words.
Billy finished her sentence. "She's right. You're putting yourself at risk, and it's not your fight."
The glow surrounding Sebastian's celestial being shimmered brighter than ever before as he spoke, "The council chose me to guide you in this search. I do it with the faith that my Shepherd will protect me from the evil demons. I shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil, for He is with me. His rod and staff will comfort me."
Benny murmured softly, "Amen."
Lorrie nodded, her anger cooling but her resolve unshaken. "We do this together," she said firmly, still waving her finger for emphasis. "All of us."
"Alright, alright," he conceded, his tone softening. "You win. But we must all be careful. This might be our only chance."
 Recognized |
Sandra Monroe - fledgling investigative reporter
Detective Ryan Hamilton - a ghost
Judge William Parker - the grandfather and ghost
Will Parker - the father and ghost
Judge William Parker (Billy) - the grandson and ghost
Benny Gonzales - The Hitman - a ghost
Lorrie - the housekeeper - a ghost
James Matthews - writer living in the mansion's carriage house - a ghost
Noah Wakefield - deceased
Madeline Wakefield - widow
Tim - Sandra's father and a ghost
Victoria - the ghostly FORMER mistress in the 1800s
Esther - a female ghost from the 1800s, hoping to reclaim what's rightfully hers
Sebastian - once a lover and friend of Victoria's but now a celestial being
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Detective Ryan Hamilton - a ghost
Judge William Parker - the grandfather and ghost
Will Parker - the father and ghost
Judge William Parker (Billy) - the grandson and ghost
Benny Gonzales - The Hitman - a ghost
Lorrie - the housekeeper - a ghost
James Matthews - writer living in the mansion's carriage house - a ghost
Noah Wakefield - deceased
Madeline Wakefield - widow
Tim - Sandra's father and a ghost
Victoria - the ghostly FORMER mistress in the 1800s
Esther - a female ghost from the 1800s, hoping to reclaim what's rightfully hers
Sebastian - once a lover and friend of Victoria's but now a celestial being
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