“Confused. Tired. So tired.” She drew a deep breath, raked her hand through her hair, pulled at a tangle. “What… Why am I here?”
It all came crashing in. The ambulance, Mitch, the apartment, the dreams, the creature in the car. Her father’s final moments. Katherine sat up clutching the chrome side rails. She took a deep breath and then another. The nurse reached out.
“No, no. Calm down, don’t breath so fast, you’ll pass out. Here…” She pushed a small cup of water into one hand, popped a pill in her open mouth with the other. “Swallow.” She helped Katherine put the cup to her lips. “That will help you stay calm, but won’t put you out or anything like that.”
Katherine collapsed, stared wide eyed at the ceiling. The nurse left and returned with the doctor who quickly, but gently rehashed the events of the evening.
“He was in some sort of hysteria when he came around. He may have been dreaming, or his mind may have fractured. The tests indicated that he may have been aware of what was going on around him, but just couldn’t respond. I know this is difficult. It’s especially hard to have seen it happen, for him to have died in your arms like that. But it happens.” He hesitated, “There were no indications as to what was going on with him until it was too late. I’m so very sorry, Ms. McKalister.” He removed a prescription pad from his pocket, tapped his pen on it. “I’m going to send a prescription up to the pharmacy. It’s a mild sedative. You need to take it and I’m going to include enough for the next few nights. It’s imperative that you get some rest. Okay?”
Katherine nodded dully.
“Okay, well, on your way out you need to stop by the security desk and let them know your license plate and make of car so it won’t get towed. Go home and come back when you have yourself together and not on the medication. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Is there someone we can call?”
Katherine considered this. “No, I suppose not.” Even if she hadn’t told Nigel to take a hike, she would not have called.
“Do you have cab fare?”
She looked around. “In my bag.” Panic seized her. “Where’re my things?” She sat up, looked around the room sharply. The crisp green hospital gown was twisted around her.
“I’m sorry, your clothes were soaked. One of the nurses has some things for you to wear.”
The nurse pointed to the chair beside the bed. “Your stuff’s there in the floor beside the chair.”
The doctor went on, ignoring their exchange. “I’m going to send this upstairs to be filled. I’ll send someone with it and forms for you to sign when you can go.” He turned and walked quickly away.
The grogginess was lifting and she began to gather her thoughts. As the curtain closed she sat on the edge of the bed.
“You’ve got to get it together.” She got up and went to the bag, pulled it open. There was a large Ziploc in the top. Inside were some of the photos and papers she had been looking at. They were all splattered with blood.
Katherine numbly picked up the clear plastic pouch. Blood. Her father’s blood. And now he was dead. Tears came fast and hot, pouring down her face. She let them come, let the pain flow. She stuffed the papers back inside the bag and zipped it. Taking tissues from the box beside the bed she sat on the edge, pulled her knees up to her chest. She sobbed, keeping as quiet as she could manage. Arrangements must be made. Then there would be the task of getting to the bottom of all of this. She had nothing now. Nothing to lose and nothing to fear.
‡
Checking out of the hospital she took a cab to the townhouse. Once there she collapsed on the couch and slept until the gentle light of early morning streamed through the windows. With a deep sigh she got up, leaned against the back of the couch and concentrated on what to do next. She carried the gym bag to the den upstairs and emptied it there, looking for a better mode of transport for the things inside. There was a plastic portable file box that the pictures fit into. The book would have to go in the suitcase.
Katherine sat down on the couch, the book weighing heavy on her knees. She ran her fingers over the smooth cover, opened it. The paper was old, but thick. The first page held a family crest with two parts. On one side was a man of strong, broad stature standing tall and proud. On the other side was the winged beast. On either side, holding the crest between them were other creatures. Each was distinct in its own way; all were mixed parts of man and beast. The name McKlannen was written in calligraphy under the crest.
The feeling of familiarity was almost unnerving as Katherine gently turned the pages. On the second was a faded drawing in colored pen and ink of the Victorian manor and the lake that she now understood to be her heritage. It was strange to know that her roots were not where she had always thought them to be. In an even more absurd way she had always known. She had felt drawn to leave, but never knew to where. Now the answer lay in her hands and the pull was stronger than anything she’d ever felt.
A loud ringing startled Katherine. She dropped the book on her feet, but barely felt the pain as she sat rigid, listening. The doorbell rang again. With recognition she relaxed. Now was not the time for visitors. Papers fluttered out from the book. She laid it aside to retrieve them. Gently she unfolded the fragile documents. The first one was the last will and testament of Grandville McKlannen. The second was newer. It was a deed, to a large parcel of property in Northern Maine. Seven hundred acres and a lake. The title stated very clearly: McKlannen Lake.
Chapter four
Days slipped by as Katherine set about the chore of final arrangements. The funeral was planned, the flowers bought, the coffin selected, the bill paid. The morning of the viewing she went to her apartment, taking care to see that Nigel was away, and packed her things. The moving van came, collected her boxes, and delivered them to the townhouse.
Katherine stood by the casket looking down into his pale, expressionless face. She hadn’t realized there was a part of this man she did not know. His past, certainly, but it was more than that. Things she couldn’t associate with the person she knew. Now she would never know why the funeral home was so empty. The only people in attendance were his lawyer and business associates – the closest thing he had to friends.
“What am I gonna do without you?” In her mind she could hear him answer.
“Get on with it. Live. Every moment is precious.”
Locked away in that coffin was a part of her existence. Her life stood half spent with no real accomplishments. Yes, she had a flourishing business, but no children, no real friends. Just like him. She thanked those who came. When the last left she spent a few final moments with her father.
“It must have been so lonely for you Dad. I never realized, never knew.” Katherine left, closing the door gently behind her.
She drove through the darkness, the tears coming easily as the cool night slipped in over the tops of cracked windows. A thought occurred to her as she looked into the rear view mirror.
“Were you alone? Or is this part of my inheritance? Were the monsters that now haunt me yours?”
The dreams had not come in the last few days. They were still there, burrowed deep into her subconscious, watching, waiting. She felt their shadows hiding in her own, felt their presence slipping along on dark streets.
She rushed from the car to the door, locked it behind her, leaned against it.
“What do I do? How do I end this, Dad?”
Going to the kitchen she fixed a sandwich, poured some tea, and then headed upstairs. It was time to visit this heritage – her lake. She packed several bags, threw the book in on top and placed them by the door. Returning to her father’s room she curled up with pillows that smelled like him, and studied the people in the old pictures. There were some that were not as old as the rest. Late fifties perhaps, of her father as a boy and a woman she did not know. This had to be her aunt. She stared long and hard at them, memor
izing their faces and features, fascinated by the past that she had not realized existed.
“I must’ve known. I mean, everyone has grandparents after all. I just never knew there were things left over from the fire. I just assumed that everything went with them.” She thought of the house. Was it really still there? Had they not died in a house fire like she had been led to believe?
Eventually she fell asleep and dreamed of the lake, the woods, the house. This time, however, she did not go to the house, but wandered the shores exploring, watching, learning the layout.
It was damp and musty in the forest around the lake. Katherine did not know how long she wandered there; only that it was cool, quiet and strangely comforting. It was as if she had come home. A dark, foreboding home, but protective, too. It wrapped around her like a blanket, enveloping, sheltering, hiding her in its endless folds. The lake had a different feel. It felt empty; the malevolence receded leaving a benign peacefulness. The water lapped gently nearby, the breeze was gentle, if a little cool. The scent of forest and water and earth was strong. From the decay of leaves sprung life eternal in the grand old trees whose limbs swayed in an unheard rhythm, and the saplings that joined in at the edges where the sunlight could reach them. It was late afternoon this time, and the dappled light gave a luminescence to this new world. Somewhere in the distance a bell tolled and Katherine stood stiffly and listened to it beckon.
The alarm clock rang loudly. She tumbled from sleep, tangling the covers first around her, then pulling them over her head. The buzz only grew louder until she crawled over and turned it off. She lay still, listening to the silence. The house was so still. Nothing stirred. There was nothing to stir.
She sat up on the edge of the bed, looked down at her feet, rubbed her swollen eyes. The lamp was still burning. Reaching over she turned it off, took a deep breath, then went to shower. Without looking into the mirror she brushed her teeth, then went to the den and dressed in the plain black dress she’d laid out the night before. She surveyed herself in the mirror. She looked almost gaunt, pale and her eyes sunken. Collecting makeup and a brush she did her best to cover the wraith-like appearance, gathered the photo that she had set aside to take and headed down stairs.
Katherine loaded her luggage in the car, then went back inside, checked to see that the water and lights were off and that the heat was turned down. Standing in the foyer she took a long look around. The home she had known was gone forever. It was time to go.
Pulling the door shut, she checked to see that it was locked. She stood by the Jeep, stared at her father’s home. It seemed empty now, even though everything was still there and in its place. There was movement at the bedroom window. She caught a glimpse of a face, only a fleeting glance. Whatever it was it wasn’t her father. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the car, started the engine and drove away.
There were not many people at the funeral home. Some of her father’s business associates, the manager that handled things, and a few faces she didn’t recognize. They all sat quietly as she entered and settled in the front row. The service was short, as he had requested many times over the years.
“Don’t waste time mourning me. Get on with living,” he would say. She took the words to heart as she thought of the suitcases in the back of the Jeep.
“Would you approve?” she wondered to herself. With an inward smile she decided he probably would not.
“Katherine, we’re all so sorry.” His business manager sat down beside her, hugged her lightly. “We’re so shocked, he was always so healthy.”
“Well, it was sudden.” She fought hard to control a weakening voice. They sat in silence while the casket was rolled forward and the procession to the parking lot began. The manager, Craig, followed close by, his face solemn and gray. Once they were outside she watched numbly as the casket was loaded into the hearse.
“So sudden,” she was only mumbling to herself, but Craig stepped forward and offered an arm.
“Where’s the limousine?”
“There isn’t one. I drove myself.”
“Oh, well, let me help you to the car.”
She didn’t take his arm, but turned to him instead. He seemed to be trying hard to be of some help, but Katherine was sure he was also worried, about those who depended on the business for their livelihoods. Until that moment she hadn’t considered any of the business decisions.
“Craig, can you do me a favor?”
“Sure Katherine, anything.”
“I have to go away on family business for a little while. Can you keep the business moving just the way it is while I’m gone?”
“Of course. But I don’t have the authority to do some things.”
“That’s okay. We’ll fix that before I leave. After the funeral meet me at the coffee shop across the street from George Marino’s office.” She turned and went to the Jeep.
The procession wound its way over crowded streets. People bustled by and continued about their normal, everyday routines. She wished she could be among them, far away from the pain and the sudden, horrifying changes that had taken place, unaware of the loved ones lost to people like her everyday. Never thinking about the actual event of death. There one day, gone the next. What of her own inevitable end? Would it be swift and sure? Or drawn out? What if? No, she couldn’t think that way. It wasn’t going to win.
She looked out the front window, at the back of the hearse. She had to know what she was fighting to succeed. What was hiding in the past, what was stalking her now, trying to make its way into the present?
The funeral procession finally reached the cemetery. It made its way past rows of grave stones. Passed above ground crypts that were showing hairline cracks like old age wrinkles. The cemetery was grand, well kept and very old. Black pavement wound its way like ribbon between the neat green lawns that rolled off to either side. The procession stopped across from a mortuary decked out in pillars and marble with winged angles resting atop shelves beneath an A frame roofline. They seemed to casually be watching. The casket was removed and bore to the graveside where the proceedings continued to be brief.
Katherine stood looking down at the casket. One small handful of dirt was scattered over the single white lily she had laid atop it. It moved slowly down lowering her father into his crypt. The few grave side mourners there were had left and now only the gravediggers remained. She turned and walked slowly back to the car. She looked more closely at the grand old mausoleum. Anything to take her mind off of the goodbyes already said. Drying her eyes she noticed how beautiful the marble work was leading into the majestic hall of the dead. It was aged, the stone gray and the crevices green.
Katherine studied the angels, as she stood there leaning on the Jeep. Their skin was smooth, their cherub faces round and childlike with mops of curly cascading hair carefully carved from the stone. Wings adorned them, and swaths of cloth covered all the right places as their smiles beamed to the heavens. But the eyes… The empty eyes stared into nothing. They seemed to reflect a coldness that chilled to the core. An emptiness filled by intent. She turned away, opened the door. Made herself look back.
“You can’t go through life like this.” She looked up, followed the line of the roof to the middle figure. There in their midst sat Greystone. The blank eyes of the angelic statues all turned to stare down as if in judgment. Her world had been reduced to a tight tunnel, surprise and repulsion racked her body. Grasping the door handle she stood erect and ready to bolt.
Greystone’s wings were full spread and he stood solid, one arm reaching dramatically toward the sky, the other toward the earth. He blended with the gray marble of the angels so well, that she nearly thought he was a statue himself. Some grotesque testament by a talented sculptor. This could explain it. She’d been here before, seen the statue and incorporated it into her dreams.
He moved. Slowly he turned, looked down at her and grimaced to show very real ra
zor sharp teeth.
Katherine scrambled to get the door open, jumped into the drivers seat. She glanced back at the mausoleum as she put the car in drive and pushed the gas. Nothing was there but the ancient angels with their blank stares aimed at the heavens. The tires squealed as the Jeep speed out of the cemetery.
There was one parking spot just in front of the lawyer’s office. Rushing across the street she entered the busy coffee shop, scanning the room. Craig stood as she approached.
“Are you okay? You’re white as a sheet!” Craig’s brow furrowed as he reached toward her arm, offering support.
“Yes, I’m fine. Just tired. I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“I can imagine. If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”
“No, I just need to get away for a while. You’re doing plenty by taking care of this.” She pulled out a chair and sat down. “Crystal, my manager for the flower shops’ will be here shortly, along with George. We’ll set you both up with the ability to pay the bills and make necessary decisions, sign papers and so on. George has arranged for an accountant to check over things every month until I can make some decisions. Is that okay?”
“Sure, we’re all just glad to still have a job. What do you think you’ll do? I mean for the long term?”
“I really haven’t thought about it. I’ve got to take care of family stuff first.” Katherine flagged down a waiter. “Can I get a hot chocolate with whipped cream?”
“Anything else?”
“Um, well,” she motioned to Craig. “Want anything? I’m buying.”
“A black coffee please.”
The waiter hurried off to get their order as they waited for the others. Once everyone was there - George, Craig, Crystal, and Katherine - they set to making arrangements for both businesses. With the details ironed out and papers signed the managers left. George turned to Katherine.
Soul Inheritance Page 5