Page 94 of Eternal Obsession

“I’ll go by boat.” I hoped she didn’t ask more.

It hurt me more than I could ever admit—that I was lying to her, that I wouldn’t be leaving the island at all. Instead, I’d be slipping into some dark corner to hide. And for the first time in a long while, I felt conflicted about my existence.

“I don’t want to cause any trouble,” Ingrid said.

“No trouble. Come on, I’ll show you to your room,” I said.

I escorted her up the sweeping staircase and along the corridor to our father’s large bedroom.

“It’s another four-poster bed!” Ingrid said.

“So it is.” I smiled. “Alex and I have business in Marazion pretty much all day. Just a boring old art deal. How about we join you for dinner in the evening? Ingrid, you have the run of the castle.”

I held her hand to my chest and felt her human frailty. Her alluring presence threw me, and I felt an uncommon need to get close to her.

“You’re cold,” she said.

“I’m fine.” I closed my eyes, melting into the moment.

Ingrid seemed to sense what I needed and stood quietly. I leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Ingrid moved her mouth against mine and our lips touched. Her scent ignited my senses.

God, I wanted her.

Needed her.

Craved this beautiful, impossible creature with a longing that shook through me. Every part of her drew me in, exquisite in ways I could barely withstand. And still, I forced myself to hold back, reaching deep into the darkest corners of my heart, reminding myself that I was wrong for her in every way that mattered.

I wanted to stay, but with sunrise imminent, judging by the sting of my flesh, I had to pull away. “Later then?” I said, and stepped back.

“Hurry back,” Ingrid replied and glanced out the window. She took in the exquisite colors of the morning as a burst of light flooded the room. She turned to face me.

She was alone in the room.

Ingrid looked about for me. She stepped out of the room and peered both ways down the corridor. “Where did you go?”

From within my place of rest down in the lower depths of the castle, I telepathically followed Ingrid on her tour. She headed down the corridor, eager to begin her adventure. She strolled down the imposing hallways, retracing her steps from when she had first been guided to her room.

The dimly lit passageways provided meager light causing her to consider for a moment whether she should wait for my return before she ventured any further. Intrigue drove her on, and she descended the sweeping staircase, holding onto the carved banisters for support, admiring the many paintings hanging upon the walls of the stairway.

She stopped momentarily, distracted by a painting that caught her attention. It was of Alex and me, captured on canvas as boys. Ingrid admired how the artist had represented our features so perfectly, recognizing that familiar glint in Alex’s eye. But examining it more closely and reading the name of the painter in the lower right-hand corner of the portrait, she realized she must be wrong. It was dated 1791, the artist Sir Thomas Lawrence. Though surprised, she realized this must be a portrait of our ancestors and continued to walk down the stairs, pondering on its familiarity and marveling at how uncanny it was.

Perhaps had her visit not been spontaneous, I would have hidden those gems that could be found within this ancient stronghold.

She stood in the main foyer, looking in wonder at the chandelier again and considering which direction she should go. Turning right, she headed down yet another dimly lit corridor until she reached a grand oak door. Curious, she opened it and peered in at the huge library, admiring the large mahogany table in the center and the thousands of books that completely covered the four walls. Walking over to one of the shelves she noticed a book lying flat, not part of the perfectly placed collection. Ingrid appreciated how we had maintained this library in its original form. She picked up the timeworn book, blowing the dust away. On the first page she observed an inscription. She read the words written in italics:

To Lady Anna Beth Artimas, my darling wife, on the occasion of your twenty-first birthday.

The book’s subject focused on both British and foreign flowers with what appeared to be hand-drawn pictures. Turning to the next page, she read the date, and realizing it was over two hundred years old, she quickly placed it back upon the shelf. Ingrid took one more look at the room, deciding she would return here again later.

On entering the armory, she explored, carefully running her fingers along the ornate swords, avoiding their sharpened blades. She admired the fencing equipment, noticing how the weapons appeared like new and well cared for. Ingrid walked over to the extensive collection of antique guns in the corner. They looked strangely out of place, as if stored in a hurry and not in keeping with the organization of the rest of the armory. A large wooden chest pushed up against the far wall fascinated her.

She froze, wondering if she had heard someone outside in the corridor. Ingrid decided she should go and investigate, but before she left this room, she wanted to first take a peek inside the chest that reminded her of an old pirate’s trunk. Raising the heavy lid, she peered inside. It contained numerous silver cups and silver-plated awards. Taking one of the antiquated goblets out, she noticed its inscription. Brushing off the dust, she read the engraving:

Presented to Lord Jadeon Artimas—Cornwall’s Fencing Champion. The year of our Lord 1798.

“No bloody way!”

She assumed it was obviously one of my ancestors again. She closed the trunk and left the room to investigate the noise. Ingrid lingered outside the armory, listening. On hearing nothing, she decided to continue. She was peckish, and checking her watch, realized it was now 0830. Ingrid decided she would search for the kitchen. We had insisted she make herself at home, and she felt comfortable doing so. She soon discovered the old-fashioned kitchen, recently renovated in keeping with the castle’s history and style. Opening the fridge, she found nothing within it. Though, within the freezer, she found ice cream.