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The toilet works fine and I’m able to wash my hands and face. Thank gods this place has running water—one less thing I’ll need to remodel. This room is so nice I’m having trouble deciding if later this should be a room for rent, or if I should keep it as my own on-site private residence.
Oh well, I’ll figure that out later.
I finger comb my long, dark hair and take out a tie from my pocket and pull it up into a ponytail. Then I head back into the bedroom and carefully make the bed. I smooth out the bedding, pleased with the bright blue cover and the green pillows. Then I sit on the edge of the bed and put on my shoes and slip into my jacket because it’s a chilly morning.
Then I shrug on my backpack and lift my tablet to take some pictures of the room to remind myself later of what I need to do here, or how it first looked when I arrived. I’m still getting no reception to allow me to connect with the outside world, but it is allowing me to take pictures and store them directly in my tablet. I have so many ideas for how to make this room more comfortable, I don’t want to forget.
I take out a protein bar and a jug of water and feel guilty. What does this man eat? How long has he been living here at the castle like this? He didn’t look like he was starving so he must’ve found a way to feed himself. And the castle has running water, so at least he’s able to remain clean and hydrated. I frown and make another note on the tablet to remind myself to bring back extra food and drink.
I head downstairs, eager for a sighting ofhim.
The narrow stairs aren’t as scary to traverse in the light of day. Not spooky at all. There are many windows that I never noticed last night.
I go down two flight and finally reach the base of the stairs.
I wander about the great hall for a moment, in awe of the majesty that remains after all this time. It’s two stories tall and either side of the ceiling is lined with flying buttresses. Rows of arched windows appear unbroken. There’s still an enormous banquet table at one end of the room with matching chairs. There’s actually a lot of art and furniture still left over in this domicile. It really surprises me because I’d thought everything would’ve been sold or stolen long ago. But not everything. Good. Later I’ll take an inventory.
I see movement in the corner of my eye and I swirl around, hoping to see my Hyrrokin, but there’s nothing. “Red Soldier?” I question.
The only answer I receive is echoing silence.
It’s true that he looks like a soldier. The pants he wore last night were the same serviceable pants with many pockets I’ve seen on other soldiers across the four sectors. Even his belt held open spaces for weapons. I can see how if other Gravians saw him they would think he was a soldier. The name they gave for him makes sense.
I swear I think I can see the shimmer of his outline and can smell his lingering scent. I smile because I think this “ghost” really is stalking me.
And why do I like it?
I walk allthe way back to the front gate because I need to give the locals an update on my progress, so they know I’m still alive and nothing terrible happened to me. I smile and wave at the crowd still milling about the front of the gate. It’s now much larger, with not only locals but lots of representatives from various news channels.
“You’re still alive?” someone exclaims.
“Of course I am,” I respond, trying to ignore the two vid drones that are now circling around me. “I’m perfectly fine. I had a really good night’s sleep.”
“B…but we heard you scream, two or three different times.”
“I thought you were gone for sure,” an elderly female whimpers.
I frown because if they thought I was in danger, why didn’t they alert the peacekeepers?
“Did you see the Red Soldier?” a well-dressed representative from one of the vid channels asks.
I think for a moment of keeping this from them, but then decide the best route is the truth. “Yes, I did. I saw the Red Soldier of Firebrook Castle last night.”
They let out a collective gasp of surprise.
“You saw him and lived to tell the tale? Where was he?”
“Well, I went inside the castle just like I said I would, and I walked up upstairs to the master bedroom at the top of the tower. I went inside and lit the fireplace and some candles.”
“Yes! We saw you standing at the window!”
“Well, after that I got the bed ready for myself and I went to lie down in the bed. Then I screamed because the Red Soldier was floating at the foot of my bed. And I could see right through him.”
A female covers her mouth. They all look truly frightened.
“It’s okay,” I tell them, deciding to keep to myself the part where he morphed into a solid being and held me in his arms, and we slept in the bed together, and I felt his erection against my ass. Maybe they don’t need to hear that part? TMI. “Nothing happened. He was there and then he left. And then I went to sleep and woke up this morning. I didn’t get bad vibes from him. I…I think he actually needs my help.”
“I can’t believe you stayed after you saw the ghost! How could you fall asleep knowing that monster was nearby?”
