AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Huh?” Mariah asked as Nicholas spoke just as quickly.
“Nor me!”
“Oh, I suppose I have to!” Emile said waspishly.
Mariah felt like she was in a tennis match as the three dressed in period clothing swapped insults. What on earth was happening?
“Here, sit on this bench. We’ll explain what we can. It is going to sound far-fetched, but it is the truth. You need to believe what we’re about to tell you, or you can’t save Benedict from his wrongful fate,” Melisandre said as Emile shouted something about cheating on horses.
Blinking like an idiot, Mariah allowed Melisandre to lead her to a bench. And then, between them, Bea and Melisandre began explaining about the Rakehell Six and their stories.
???
An hour later, the three historical figures remained bickering but chipped in with information from time to time. Mariah thought she’d stepped into an alternative universe. Apparently, according to Melisandre, ghosts could get living women pregnant and return from the dead, zombies and ghouls existed, and murderers could live for centuries. Oh, let alone the pranks played on each warring couple, stately homes had their own personalities, and angels and God were real.
“What does this have to do with me?” Mariah finally asked as she sorted through the information overload she’d just received.
“Your friend Maggie has Lord Lucian Norton, the Earl of Castleton, imprisoned in her inn. Lucian claims he keeps a great evil locked up and can’t leave, or it will escape. Benedict is his third brother,” Melisandre spoke.
“So Maggie and I both have sibling ghosts haunting our inn?” Mariah asked.
“Yes. Has Benedict mentioned a great evil?” Emile urged, walking over, her skirts swishing.
“No, and he hasn’t shown himself to me. He just keeps yelling that I leave!” Mariah sounded insulted.
“Benedict has not said why?” Harcourt demanded.
“No, but I have some idea.”
Quickly Mariah recounted the conversation between herself, Hilary, Prudence, Edith, and Rose-Marie.
“So Benedict fought with something at his inn and then supposedly died,” Nicholas mused. “And afterwards was seen warning everyone away because a great evil resided here. And then had a priest raise an extra layer of protection to stop it from escaping?”
“What the hell did those blasted Nortons get involved with?” Harcourt demanded.
“Only one way to find out,” Emile replied, looking towards the inn.
“Lucian or Benedict? One of them will have to tell us what’s happening,” Melisandre asked.
“Well, we’re here. I’ll take Benedict!” Emile said.
“Darling, are you sure you want to battle Benedict?” Harcourt inquired.
“The Nortons never had a problem with the women of the Rakehell Six, apart from CeeCee, who was our rival. Out of my way, husband, I have a scoundrel to charm!” Emile retorted.
Mariah barely hid a smile as a scowl descended over Harcourt’s face as Emile charged towards the inn. Not wanting to miss out, Mariah chased after her. The others on her heels.
“Benedict Norton, show yourself at once!” Emile commanded in strident tones as she entered.
There was a moment’s silence, and then the purple-coloured ghost appeared.
“Get out of my blasted inn!” Benedict bellowed.
Emile’s eyes grew huge as she took in his appearance.
“Dear God, what happened to you?” Emile exclaimed in shock.
“Oh, I dyed him purple. Someone mentioned a blue ghost, so I dyed mine purple!” Mariah replied airily.
