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Mariah glowered, gathered her courage and scoured the inn. On finding no man hidden, a niggle of doubt poked at her. But Mariah decided it had been a recording, and it was easy to miss a small microphone. Instead, she began moving her stuff into the apartment. When she came back, Fluffers was yowling and staring at a spot. Mariah picked up the cat carrier with the Smokey Blue Persian and carried him into his new home. No sooner than she let Fluffers out than he stared at a corner of the living room, his fur raised, his hackles up; Fluffers let out a terrible yowl. He spat and hissed at something that Mariah simply couldn’t see.
Casually, shrugging and leaving the irate cat to cuss whatever had upset set him, Mariah continued bringing her boxes in. Fluffers was sitting in front of the fireplace licking his paw when she returned with the last few. She placed them on the ground and looked around. It was quite sad that her entire life fitted into her car. But this was giving her a new start thanks to her best friend Maggie’s generosity. Maggie had won millions on the lottery and immediately purchased her friends their dream of owning period inns.
Maggie treated Mariah to The Black Cat, Stephanie fought for The Crown, Callie bought The White Witch, and Cole fell in love with The Green Man. And Tilly refused to consider anything other than The Rose, and Maggie herself got The Jekyll and Hyde. They were moving in at the same time. Maggie had moved into the Jekyll and Hyde a day ago. Mariah and Cole today. Stephanie and Tilly were due to arrive at the end of this week with Callie on Sunday. They were incredibly lucky their friend was so generous.
Maggie’d had a sad time lately. Her mum dying recently had compounded that. Then Maggie’s friends, who were employed at the same hotel, were made redundant. Mariah and Maggie’s buddies had been overjoyed that some good luck had finally come Maggie’s way. Of course, none expected Maggie to share it, but Maggie had gone merrily on her own way, bought them their dream inns, and given them all money to renovate. She was such a lovely woman, Mariah mused, a genuine friend to those who loved her.
Lost in her thoughts, she carried her items upstairs to the master bedroom, just placing the suitcases on the floor. She stared at them for a few minutes before cursing her ex-boyfriend and cousin.
“Go to hell, both of you. I hope her insides shrivel up and his manhood falls off. Cheaters never stop cheating! And you’re both cheaters!” Mariah hissed and stormed downstairs. Angrily picking up the last few boxes from her car, she locked it and stomped back towards the Black Cat. For a few moments, Mariah thought she saw a man standing at the entrance and, with a loud cry, started running at speed. She rushed in, dumped her boxes and searched all over again. Frustrated, she found nobody and began cursing Thomas, who’d undoubtedly played with her imagination.
Diligently locking the door tightly, Mariah made her way to the exit that led to the gardens and bolted that before gathering her last boxes and moving to the apartment. The door between them also locked and bolted, so she did that and moved through the tiny space between the inn and her apartment and shut her front door too. She flicked the switch, and the hallway lit up with bright wall lamps.
“I love the décor in this place,” Mariah said as Fluffers raced towards her. He wound himself around her ankles, purring loudly as he followed her to the kitchen. Mariah quickly dished him up his treat of tuna before setting up his cat litter and bedding in a small cupboard. It had no door and clearly was used to store coats and wellies. It would do for Fluffers.
Finally, finishing moving the boxes to their designated room, Mariah collapsed into a comfortable leather armchair and made a food order. Surprisingly, the first two were rejected. Unsure if it was very busy tonight, Mariah tried someone a little further out, and she was accepted. She informed them to come to the rear of the inn and knock at the apartment door. Thirty minutes later, she took command of her pizza and cheesy garlic bread and wandered to the living room.
The silence should have bothered her, but it didn’t. Although she’d grown up in a busy town like the others, Mariah had always been a country girl at heart. Here, wrapped in the cosiness of her living room and the darkness outside held at bay, Mariah felt at peace. All the anxiety over whether or not her boyfriend had been cheating on her had faded today. Being busy and knowing what an exciting journey she was about to start had made her pity her ex and cousin. One would no doubt cheat on the other and serve them right!
After tidying her mess, she picked up Fluffers and checked everything was locked before making her way upstairs. To her surprise, her belongings were all placed outside the master bedroom. Someone was in her home! Mariah grabbed a piece of wood to protect herself and then began searching the apartment. She found no one. Maybe they’d snuck in when she was eating, done that, and left again.
Mariah didn’t care. She’d never considered herself overly stubborn, but the Black Cat was certainly bringing it out of her! Mariah grabbed her suitcases and yanked them back in, leaving the boxes outside for now. She walked into the bathroom and eyed the bath before stripping, pulling on her nightdress, and running to bed. As she climbed inside the sheets and heavy blankets, she smelt sandalwood and smiled. Her grandfather used to wear that all the time. Still smiling, Mariah drifted to sleep with Fluffers purring in her ear.
Benedict
He was beside himself in outrage as the woman got into his bed. He ignored the pang of interest at seeing her bare legs and bristled as she sniffed his pillow before hugging it. Of course, it wasn’t the first time he’d had a lady in his bed, but at least they’d been invited! This cheeky minx was certainly not; she was invading his personal space. Benedict began grumbling under his breath. Insulted and irate. If this… this… wench honestly thought she could stay, she had another thing coming!
Benedict hadn’t protected the world from the evil he’d trapped here to allow an insignificant woman to burst into his home and release it. And somehow, deep down, Benedict knew she would be the catalyst for the evil he kept asleep and locked up.
Damn this invasion.
A soft hiss caught his attention. His head twisted, and he saw the cat watching him. Benedict had been surprised when Fluffers, a ridiculous name for a cat, had spotted him and began hissing. He’d never been seen unless he had chosen to be. And a stupid, brainless cat was observing him. So rude!
Mariah
Happily, smiling as she opened the kitchen door to feed Fluffers, Mariah hummed to herself as she pulled out the leftover pizza and ate it for breakfast. Mariah needed groceries badly, and the internet wasn’t switched on yet. Which meant a shopping trip to the local town. Maybe she’d meet some nice people. Fluffers had food for a week, but Mariah liked to keep a stack for the month.
“Leave,” a voice hissed, and Mariah sighed, her good mood evaporating.
“Take a hike!” Mariah replied firmly.
“Your death…” the voice spoke, fading off.
“Look. Why don’t you go back to your boss, that Klaus idiot, and tell him the Black Cat is not for sale, nor will I be bullied into selling it? Do us both a favour and stop wasting your time trying to frighten me. This is my dream, my inn, and I’ll find where you put the microphones. And then I’ll shove them up Klaus’s tight backside!” Mariah said calmly.
The threat seemed more dreadful, Mariah had discovered, when uttered in a calm voice.
“Violent chit!” The man sounded surprised.
“You’ve no idea. So please, politely, stop the silly scare tactics and report back they won’t work!”
“Leave!” came the reply.
“On your head be it!” Mariah promised.
Fluffers had stopped eating and was now hissing at the empty doorway. A sliver of doubt crept into Mariah’s mind before she shrugged it off. Ghosts do not exist!
Chapter Two.
