Charlie came up behind me, concern crossing her face as my face drained of color. “What happened?”
I shook my head, “I could’ve sworn I saw someone.”
I could tell she was trying to hold back a laugh. She went into the kitchen from the formal dining room we were standing in, and I willed my heart to stop racing. I was convinced that the resident ghost really was watching us. A cork popped in the other room, the sound of stemmed glasses quietly set against the granite countertops.
I called for Beau, whose tail was wagging lazily. “Come find us when you’re ready, Charlie.”
We went back upstairs. Beau once again pointed to the photo of me. I didn’t believe in coincidences. He was trying to tell me something about this picture. I touched the wall surrounding the picture, and lo and behold, my nail caught on an invisible latch. There was a secret passageway. Before I decided to go exploring, I snuck back to Charlie’s room and finally put pants on. I didn’t want to be stuck in some sort of emergency without first having on pants. I wasn’t even sure if Charlie knew there was a secret passage in this house, but my curiosity got the best of me.
I pushed into the secret latch on the wall. A click, then a crack in the wall opened up to a dark stairwell. It was likely servants’ quarters when the home was first built. I left the passageway open, turned on the flashlight app, then crept my way down the stairs, heart hammering. It smelled like old wood and dust, so I lifted my shirt above my nose to keep from coughing again.
The stairs led to a single room. It was an old office, but I couldn’t tell where in the house it was. It was centralized, but there wasn’t any indication if the room was in the basement or on the main floor. Atop the desk against the wall was paper and a few pens, and an old lamp still plugged into an outlet. I walked over to click it on, but the bulb seemed long burnt out. As I went to read the paper, Charlie called for me.
“Down here,” I shouted, before cringing. It didn’t seem right to disturb the quiet in this space.
The light from Charlie’s phone shone down the stairs, but her feet quickly came into view. Her face was ashen as she stepped foot into the space. “How did I miss this?” she asked, almost to herself.
“Beau found it, honestly,” I replied.
“It’s a time capsule. I wonder where this is in relation to the house?” she said.
“I was just thinking the same thing. I think I’m going to go try to find other rooms. I was going to read the note on the desk, but it’s your house. I think you should do the honors.” I kissed her cheek, taking Beau with me to find out if there were any other cool spots to check out.
CHAPTER 09: CHARLIE
The room was covered in cobwebs. There was nothing in here that made me believe that this room was on the blueprints. I’d studied them so frequently before I started renovations that I knew I’d have caught on to secret passageways. The walls in here were down to the studs. Other than the single electrical outlet, there was nothing else but the desk and chair.
I carefully sat down on the chair. It creaked, but it didn’t immediately break, so I focused on the note on the desk. Scared to touch it for fear that the paper was too delicate for the oils on my hands, I pulled the sleeve of my hoodie down to pull it toward me.
Charlie,
I know this is going to come as a shock to you, and for that I’m very sorry. You will find this letter when you’re ready to hear it.
I consulted the cards, then took the opportunity to find someone who could help me learn about you. I’m writing this long before you’ve even graced this earth, but I know who you are. You’re meant to be here, and so is she. Don’t believe me yet? The horse and the shoot on the bluffs today was an entrance into a new life.
When this home was built, I imbued it with magic. See, the first woman who lived here, Mareile, was a dear friend of mine. She was taken from her homelands and brought here, and her husband built her this home as a way to try and bring her some joy. The trees outside, the pond that may no longer exist in your time, and even this room were all created so that she could feel more at ease.
My magic finds broken people and helps them mend. Your pain from losing Shana crossed timelines. Please take care of this place, as much as you take this second chance seriously. I know you will succeed.
Sincerely,
Hecate
I jerked back from the letter so the tears running down my face wouldn’t damage the paper. I laid my head against the back of the chair, taking deep lungfuls of air. If I’d read this even five years ago, I wouldn’t have believed it was real.
“You should tell her,” someone said behind me. I nearly shrieked.
I moved too quickly, and I went down as the chair finally collapsed underneath me. I’d have to fix it later. An ethereal flicker of a woman with long blonde hair stood in front of me.
“You’re—" I couldn’t even form words.
Her demeanor shifted. I couldn’t tell how I knew she was amused since I couldn’t make out facial features, but she crouched down and held her hand out to me. I took it, and she helped me up. It was surreal. I couldn’t feel her hand. It was as if her hand was both air and corporeal enough to help lift me off the floor.
“Yes,” she told me. “When you and Shana started coming around, I watched from your bedroom window. I saw myself in you. When you were attacked in the glen, I knew that this had to be yours. This home protected me when nothing else would. It was yours as soon as I was gone. I didn’t cross over because I needed to know that you were safe here.”
“I don’t know what to say. Thank you?” I replied awkwardly.
She chuckled. “Your skills in the trades paid off, Charlie. I can’t wait to see what you do with the place. I’ll be out of your hair soon, I presume.”
