by HR Mason
Leaving her suitcase at the top of the stairs, she crept down the hallway, around the corridors, and into the west wing. As she passed the doorway leading to Easton and Camille’s room, she stopped abruptly. Her heart leaped inside her chest when she heard Camille’s shrill voice from inside the room.
Apparently Chase hadn’t bothered to tell her that his parents were back. Runa had believed she was alone. That meant Easton and Camille had been in the house for the entirety of Tawney’s visit. Had they seen her break down on the front steps? Had they heard the things she’d said to Tawney? Did they hear Chase scream at her and storm out of the house?
She was about to turn and run from the west wing when the door to the Everwines’ bedroom opened. Not wanting a confrontation with Camille, she sprinted down the hall and ducked inside the entryway to the third floor. The ancient door creaked on its hinges as it opened. She prayed Camille didn’t hear.
Plastering herself against the shabbily papered wall, Runa tried to slow her breathing. She listened for sounds in the hallway, calming a bit when she heard Camille’s voice begin to fade away, indicating her departure.
She waited a few minutes to make sure Camille didn’t return, then decided it was time to grab her suitcase and get out of there. Knowing the Everwines were back made her want to leave Everwine Manor even more.
Just as she was about to turn the knob and open the door, she heard the creaking of floorboards above her head. The unmistakable sound of a door closing above the staircase reverberated in her ears, spurring her into action.
Runa scurried behind the stairwell in order to remain hidden. She crouched in the darkness, listening as heavy footsteps pressed on the groaning stairway above her head. She peeked from her hiding place, her eyes widening as Easton descended the stairs. He opened and shut the door quickly, leaving her behind as he returned to the hallway.
A million thoughts raced through her head. She remembered the sounds she’d heard before, the light she’d seen in the turret the previous night. Why did everyone keep saying no one went up to the third floor when that clearly wasn’t the truth?
Ignoring the warning bells inside her mind, Runa decided she was going upstairs. Pausing at the bottom of the rickety staircase, she reminded herself that if the structure was strong enough to support Easton’s weight, it could support hers. Before she second-guessed herself, she sprinted up the stairs.
Chase was correct when he said the third floor was immense. At the top of the stairway, one giant landing area led to five different hallways. Not sure where to begin, Runa stared down each one. It was dark, so much so that she could barely see her hand in front of her face. The shades were drawn over all of the windows in the landing area, so little outdoor light filtered through.
All at once she spotted a faint light peeking from beneath a door down one of the long hallways. As she walked toward it, Runa’s heart pounded. Once she reached it, she tried to turn the doorknob but discovered it was locked. Rattling the knob, she tried to pry it open, to no avail. Placing her ear against the splintered wooden door, she waited quietly, listening intently. The hairs on the back of her arms stood on end as the sound of hushed voices floated through the door. Then she heard a child crying.
Spooked beyond reason, Runa ran from the third floor, down the rickety staircase, through the entryway, and out of the west wing. Grabbing her suitcase, she scurried down the stairs and out the front door. Sprinting to her car, she jumped inside, placed the key in the ignition, and sped out of the circular driveway and down the winding road leading away from the estate.
As she drove, she tried not to hyperventilate. She had no idea what was happening to her, but she had to get as far away from Everwine Manor as she could. Each moment she stayed caused her sanity to slip a bit further from her grasp.
Were the voices real? Had she actually heard a child crying on the third floor? What was Easton doing up there?
Maybe Everwine Manor was haunted.
Or maybe Chase was right and she was losing her mind.
Thirty-Four
Departure Cove, Oregon, 1903
Mrs. Stevens arranged Brynja’s flaxen hair into an expertly crafted French twist. Pulling her mistress to her feet, she slid a plain ivory dress over Brynja’s slim body, grimacing as she noticed the bones jutting from her thin frame. A slip of a woman to begin with, months of not eating had taken a toll on Brynja. She was alarmingly thin, barely eating enough to stay alive.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do, ma’am? It’s not too late to call it off,” Mrs. Stevens probed.
“Of course I don’t want to. I have to,” Brynja answered woodenly. “There’s no other choice.”
“We always have a choice, ma’am.”
“You’re wrong. Women like me rarely have a choice,” Brynja insisted.
Buttoning up the back of Brynja’s wedding dress, Mrs. Stevens frowned, marveling at the stark differences between this wedding and when Brynja married Thomas. There were no similarities to be found.
“You’re sure, then? The minister is here and ready to proceed whenever you are.”
Nodding numbly, Brynja followed Mrs. Stevens from her room, through the hall, and down the stairs toward the parlor. She caught a glimpse of her image in the large mirror in the hallway and barely recognized herself. Hollow eyes and sunken cheeks set in a ghostly pale face made her look like a stranger.
No one should be forced into the choice she’d had to make. She’d wrestled with the decision for weeks, finally realizing there had never been a choice at all. Lucas Everwine had guaranteed she would do exactly as he said or else. Their angry conversation the day before played over again in her mind.
“You understand, Brynja, that if you refuse me, you’ll live to regret it,” Lucas had said with a sneer.
“I already regret any dealings I’ve had with you, Lucas. You’ve tarnished my name, convinced the people of Departure Cove that I’m a danger to them, and threatened to fabricate proof of the fact that I had something to do with the sinking of Thomas’s ship.”
“Darling, how can you think I was a part of any of that? On the contrary, I’ve told everyone in town what an incredible woman you are.”
“You’re wrong, Lucas. I know the rumor mill has been fed by your lies,” Brynja insisted. “What I don’t understand is why you want to marry me so badly.”
“I’ve wanted you since the first day I laid eyes on you. You should have married me from the start, not Thomas Calais.”
“I can never love you, Lucas. Why would you want to marry a woman who isn’t capable of love?”
“It’ll come. You’ll see.”
“No it won’t.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’ll belong to me, and that will be enough.” Lucas shrugged.
“I belong to no one,” Brynja answered defiantly.
“Legally you will be mine. And so will this house.” Lucas gestured around the room, his hungry eyes taking in the opulence of Angelica House. “I should have the grandest home around. And now I will.”
“Or else?”
“Or else I’ll produce proof of your dabbling in the dark arts.”
“You have no idea who I am or what I do.”
“Maybe not, but a woman who is a confirmed witch, or at least a woman who thinks she is, isn’t mentally stable. Therefore, she can’t properly care for a child, now can she?”
Brynja’s body began to tremble. Lucas was threatening her daughter.
“You leave my child alone.”
“I have no desire to hurt you or your daughter. In fact, I intend to take care of you both.”
At the mention of Ingrid, Brynja’s resolve crumbled. She would do anything to protect her daughter, including marrying Lucas Everwine.
“Very well. I’ll marry you.”
“See? I knew you’d come around. Let me love you, Brynja.”
Lucas stepped forward and kissed her on the cheek, lingering far longer than she would have preferred. His touch made
her blood run cold, but nothing mattered except Ingrid’s safety.
Fighting back tears, Brynja shook the memories from her head as she entered the parlor. Like it or not, it was her wedding day. Soon she, Ingrid, and Angelica House would be in the hands of Lucas Everwine. She didn’t even see it as making the right or wrong choice. The reality was she’d had no choice at all. If she wanted to keep her daughter, she would become Lucas’s wife.
The minister stood in the parlor, Bible in hand, glaring at Brynja as she walked into the room. Lucas stood next to him, looking dashingly handsome and self-satisfied. His face burst into a large smile as his eyes met his bride’s. Brynja’s stomach lurched, and she pushed down the need to vomit.
Lucas was so sure she would grow to love him, but she knew the truth. She could never love a man who had no soul.
Thirty-Five
Runa took a deep breath and knocked on Asta’s door. She’d driven for two hours, never stopping once. The desire to flee Everwine Manor had been overwhelming. Now that she had some space and perspective, she started to think of Chase and all she’d left behind.
What would he think when he arrived home and she was gone? Would he care? Ever the optimist, she still held out hope that they could sort things out. She very much wanted her marriage to work.
On the third knock, Asta opened the door, surprise spreading across her lovely face.
“Runa, what are you doing here? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise.”
Runa forced a smile. She didn’t want Asta to know about her marital problems.
“Surprise is an understatement. Come inside, love.”
Asta hugged her tightly and grabbed the suitcase from her hands, ushering her into the foyer.
“Thanks, Mom.”
Runa tried to keep her voice light, hoping her all-too-astute mother wouldn’t look too closely.
“Let’s go have some tea. You must be tired from the drive.”
Asta dropped Runa’s suitcase at the bottom of the stairs and followed her daughter into the kitchen, where she put the kettle on the stove to boil. While they waited, Asta took the seat across from Runa.
“So tell me why you’re really here, Runa. I know you too well. You’re not just here to surprise me.”
“What do you mean?” Runa feigned ignorance.
“I know something is going on with you. I’ve known it for some time,” Asta stated matter-of-factly.
“How do you know?”
“A mother knows these things. I’ve also been having dreams, premonitions, visions.”
“Mom—”
“Look, I know you don’t believe in any of it, but that doesn’t make it any less true.”
Runa swallowed hard. “Tell me what you’ve seen, Mom.”
Asta frowned, scrutinizing Runa’s face for a couple of moments before speaking.
“What’s changed? Something is different with you. You’re not calling my visions a bunch of hocus-pocus anymore?”
“No I’m not.”
“Runa, tell me what’s happening,” Asta begged.
“I will.” She took a giant breath and blew it out quickly. “You’re right. Something has changed, although I have no explanation for it. Will you tell me what you’ve seen first?”
“Very well. At first the dreams were sporadic, only happening at night when I fell asleep. Then they began happening all the time, even during the day,” Asta explained.
“What do you see in them?”
“I see you. You’re trapped in some sort of cage. I keep trying to find you, to help you, but I can’t get there.”
Runa’s eyes filled with tears, and as hard as she tried to hold them back, it was no use. One by one they began to fall.
“You’re right, Mom. I do feel trapped.”
Reaching across the table, Asta clasped Runa’s hands in her own, squeezing them tightly. “I’ve known all along, but I don’t know how to help you.”
“You can help me by telling me the truth. My marriage, your past, it all fits together somehow. I need to know everything about the Everwines, your history with them, and my father. That’s how you can help me, Mom,” Runa implored.
“Anything but that.” Asta sighed heavily.
“But that’s what I need.”
Asta rose from the table, turned off the whistling tea kettle, and prepared two mugs of herbal tea. Placing one in front of Runa, she sat back down with her own. She drummed her fingertips on the tabletop for a few minutes, and Runa felt her hope slipping away. Just when she believed her mother would remain silent forever, she spoke.
“The first thing you should know is that your father and I loved each other very much. I’ve never loved another man in my life, and I never will.”
Runa watched Asta’s face take on a faraway look, as if she were seeing herself as the young, optimistic girl she’d once been. Even though Tawney had already told Runa the truth, she needed to hear the story from her mother’s lips. It was well past time.
“Garrett Brewster was a force of nature. He had a smile that could light up a room, and he swept me off of my feet in an instant. We fell fast and hard, and it wasn’t long before we had our whole lives mapped out. We were too young and naïve to understand that things never work out the way you plan,” Asta began.
Runa held her breath, not moving a muscle for fear of breaking the spell that had come over her mother. She had waited her entire life to hear the story about her father.
“Garrett and Easton were best friends, inseparable really. Soon Garrett and I were spending all of our time together, and it didn’t take long for Easton’s jealous streak to show. At first I thought he was just bent out of shape because I was taking too much of Garrett’s time. But then I figured out it was much deeper.”
Asta swallowed hard and took a sip of her tea. Runa waited with bated breath.
“One night we were all at a party. Garrett went to get us a drink, and Easton came on to me. He told me that he’d been in love with me for years, that I was too good for Garrett, and that I should be with him.”
“What did you do?”
Runa remembered how Easton had cornered her in the rose garden, calling her by her mother’s name.
“I laughed it off at first, telling him he’d had too much to drink and didn’t know what he was saying. I told Garrett about it, and he said the same thing. He couldn’t bring himself to see the bad in his friend.”
“And then what?”
“It wasn’t long before I understood the depth of Easton’s feelings. He became twisted, obsessed, focused only on winning my affection. He sent me expensive gifts, hinting at what my life would be like with him in it. He called me nearly every night, begging me to love him. By that point, I knew better than to tell Garrett.”
“Why didn’t you tell him? He might have understood. Maybe he could have helped you,” Runa reasoned.
“No. Things were too far gone.”
“Oh, Mom, you must have been so confused.” Runa squeezed Asta’s hand.
“I was terrified of Easton. He had a look in his eyes that I can’t really explain, but it scared me.”
“You don’t have to explain. I’ve seen it,” Runa confessed.
“Has Easton hurt you?”
“No, Mom,” Runa lied. “Just tell your story.”
“After graduation, I found out I was pregnant. Needless to say, I was shocked and afraid. I told Garrett. I was certain we were in it together, but I was wrong. His parents threatened to disinherit him if he married me, and he was young. I honestly don’t blame him. I never did.”
“But you were young, too, Mom. And you did the right thing,” Runa insisted.
“It was different for me. Yes, I was scared, but the minute I knew about you, that was all I ever wanted. I had a terrible relationship with my mother. She and I didn’t see eye to eye on anything, and I swore things would be different with my own daughter.”
“You were right.�
� Runa smiled.
Asta returned a small smile of her own. “I was. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“What about my father?”
“After Garrett broke things off, Easton came to see me. He vowed to marry me, take care of me and my child. He assured me we would never want for anything.”
“Easton proposed to you?”
“Yes, and I’m ashamed to admit that for a split second, I considered it. I actually thought about marrying him. But I couldn’t. When I refused, he flew into a rage, threatening to hurt Garrett. The crazy look in his eyes told me he was capable of anything. I decided the only choice was to leave Departure Cove. If I wasn’t around, Easton would have no reason to hurt the man I loved.”
“So you left to protect Garrett?”
“I did. But it didn’t matter. He and Easton had started a business together, and a few days after I left, your father died in an accident that was later ruled a suicide.”
“Do you believe Garrett killed himself?”
“No, Runa, I never believed that. And I honestly believe that Garrett would have come after me once he had time to process everything. I don’t know what happened, but I’ve always known Easton had something to do with it.”
“That’s why you don’t trust the Everwines?”
“Yes. They’re dangerous. All of them.”
“I’m having a hard time believing that about my husband. He’s not his parents, Mom,” Runa insisted.
“Are you telling me you’ve never seen anything in Chase to make you question him?” Asta raised one eyebrow at her daughter.
Runa didn’t answer because she understood it wasn’t necessary. Her mother already knew the truth.
“I have another question, Mom,” she diverted.
“It seems to be the day for them. What is it?”
“What can you tell me about our family history?”
“Family history? That’s an odd request.”
“Not really. What do you know about where our family came from?”
“My mother, Celine, never spoke about her family. The only thing she ever said was that we had Norwegian heritage. Celine’s mother and grandmother lived in England, but somehow Celine ended up in Departure Cove. She always said it was fate, that she was supposed to be there, which seemed like an odd statement from a woman who had nothing but disdain for the supernatural.”