saint Sebastian the Rose

by Glover, Michael W.

  The thing that changed the mood was the coming clouds that were now passing in front of the moon, making the shadows more eerie.

  “Do you think the ghosts know we are here so they won’t come out?” Jessica asked seriously.

  “I don’t think they will take us into consideration. Most ghosts are unaware of the people around them because they are caught in the memory of their time and are just reliving it. But some are just trapped souls who are bound to an area because of a traumatic event, and the tie is too strong for them to break. They are the ones that you have to worry about,” Jacob explained.

  “Didn’t Father Lemoine say that a lot of bad things happened in this room?” Jessica asked.

  “Yes, he did. That’s why we’re here,” Jacob smiled his wicked smile.

  They both listened intently to the silence that came with every night. Amongst the random creaking they heard something else, something more rhythmic and low.

  Jessica’s heart began to quicken and her grip matched her heart as she grasped her brother’s arm. Jacob felt his sister’s grip tighten and he sensed her anxiety, which made his go up a notch.

  The sound grew in volume to where there was no doubt it was not just their imaginations gone wild. They edged themselves fully into the shadow of the immense cabinet. The cadence grew with the volume.

  Jessica wanted to say something to her brother but she dared not for fear of whatever it was sensing their presence. Jacob breathed deep; this was why he wanted to come here tonight. He was exhilarated.

  Jacob and Jessica leaned back, trying to sink their bodies right into the wall as the sound approached. Their hearts were in their throats. The sound was upon them. They dared not blink, for their fear was tied to their curiosity.

  The pressure was almost too much for them as the sound reverberated in their heads. Though it was not especially loud, in the silence of the hall the sound seemed to have a force. They thought for sure the executioner himself was walking out of that doorway with the Black Axe to murder them both.

  As they were about to break and run, a darkened figure emerged striding towards them from the black hole that was the doorway nearest them, they were not sure if the figure was real or not. They stared, trying to ascertain any detail that might be able to tell them if it was a ghost.

  The twins noticed they were both visibly breathing hard. They relaxed as they looked at each other and knew that whatever it was had passed, and they were safe for the moment.

  “What the hell was that?” Jessica finally had the breath and the courage to ask her brother.

  “I don’t know. If that wasn’t one of the ghosts of the castle, then I really don’t want to meet a real ghost because I think it would scare the hell out of me,” Jacob said honestly.

  “If that wasn’t a ghost, then who would it be and why would they be up so late and on a mission?”

  ***

  Sebastian was making his way out of the castle now with only one place on his mind. He had to know more of who his mysterious Companion was, even if it put him in danger.

  He realized he’d been completely lost in his thoughts as he walked and knew that wasn’t smart. So he let his senses reach out as his mind relaxed. He became aware of everything around him--the sound of the snow as it crunched under his feet, the direction the wind was blowing, and the deer he frightened as he tromped through the woods.

  He came here frequently to be alone, but it was different now; someone had found him and had stolen his peace. That filled Sebastian with rage, and he marched right into the clearing without waiting to see if he was alone.

  He soon realized the stupidity that comes with rage. He calmed himself again as he started to pace. It was stupid to think he would show up again in the same spot at the same time, when he had been so blunt and quick to the point last time.

  Just as Sebastian finished the thought, he saw that his movements were being mirrored again by his Companion. It sent a shock of fear down his spine to know that his Companion had appeared without him noticing. They both stopped in unison.

  There was no recognition of the figure, only the dark outline and the piercing, unblinking red eyes that bore into him. There was only silence. Nothing stirred in the woods surrounding the two as they faced off.

  “Why have you returned?” Sebastian asked.

  “Why have you come back?” the Companion threw back at Sebastian.

  “I came back to know more of who you are!”

  “I have returned to make sure you did not,” the Companion stated.

  “Who are you?”

  “Who I am is of no importance. You did not pay any attention to my warning last night, so I am here to warn you again. Leave!”

  The Companion started to pace around the area again, making Sebastian feel threatened, and maybe that was the point of it. It was working; his inner alarms were on high alert.

  “Why am I to leave? This is my area. I have been here for a long time and you just show up and tell me to leave with no reason,” Sebastian said.

  “Your area?” the companion questioned. “Do not doubt there was always someone here before you, and they may come to claim it.” The words were ominous and sank deep into Sebastian.

  “I have been here for an age and I alone have kept it,” Sebastian reasoned in terms other vampires would understand.

  “You are but a child and the time you have had here is no longer than a holiday.”

  “Why are you warning me?” Sebastian asked, trying to determine if his companion was a friend or foe.

  “Am I warning you or am I telling you?” the companion said threateningly.

  “Are you the one coming to claim this area? Why are you so concerned over a clearing in the long-forgotten woods,” Sebastian asked.

  “The clearing in the woods is but a front porch, the entrance to a house the master will come knocking on,” the companion went on. “Or do the Brothers of the Word not understand the words?”

  The mention of that phrase sent Sebastian back on his heels. He was not sure how to respond. The mere fact that his companion knew of that told him he was well informed of secrets that not many knew.

  ***

  In the darkened Grand Staircase Hall the twins’ adrenaline had finally worn off, and they had all but passed out into a light sleep, resting up against each other.

  Jacob roused a little and panic washed over him, for he was not sure how long he had been asleep. He looked around the room to see if their visitor had returned. He nudged his sister. She immediately looked at her brother to see what was wrong.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” he said.

  Jacob had forgotten to wear his watch, so they had no idea of the time. Being on vacation, they did not want to be restricted by time schedules like when they were in school. Next time he would not be without.

  They sat and stared for what seemed like hours. They watched as the shadows rose and fell over the floor. Jessica’s eyes played tricks on her constantly as she followed the shadows as they formed and then broke apart.

  But then, one shadow did not fade away like all of the others, and Jessica held her breath. She kept watch on it to make sure it was more than a shadow, and then it moved. She grasped her brother’s arm again so tightly he wanted to let out a scream but he held it.

  Jacob glanced to where she was looking, and stared intently. There had been no sound, but it was there, something on the other side of the room just inside the doorway. They sat unmoving, only reassured that they were mostly hidden behind the large cabinet.

  The figure moved slightly into the room, staying close to the wall. It appeared no more than a shadow, but it moved with purpose. The twins held their breath and watched as the shadow made its way across the room to another doorway and was gone.

  “Ok, I think this is more than I bargained for,” Jessica whispered flatly.

  “This is exactly what we wanted.”

  “I didn’t expect to really see anything, and do we know
for sure these are ghosts? What if they aren’t? What the hell is happening? Do you really think this is normal?” Jessica asked with real concern.

  Her brother thought about what she said and wondered if his sister had thought this through more intelligently than he had.

  “Ok, I’ll give you this is not normal and I‘m not sure if these things are real. They sure do seem like it. I’m wondering if we are in the best spot anymore ‘cause the floor is seeing so much traffic,” Jacob said.

  “What are you suggesting?”

  “I think we should move to the top of the stairs to get a bird’s eye view. We will also have a better escape route if need be.”

  ***

  Sebastian took a minute to ponder the words of his Companion. They both stopped on separate sides of the clearing, their darkened forms standing out from the snow at their feet. Sebastian was coming to terms with the fact that his Companion knew much; now Sebastian must learn more.

  “What should I call you?” Sebastian asked.

  “Why does it matter? Pleasantries are of no importance.”

  “You seem to be quite knowledgeable of things about me, but I know nothing of you,” Sebastian said.

  “You know more than you are aware.”

  Sebastian was tired of the back and forth and started walking again, only to be mirrored by his Companion.

  “Is the Brotherhood your interest? You know it has not existed for a long time.” Sebastian said.

  “For creatures like us, it is very much our interest. The Brotherhood is, after all, responsible for the demise of many. And you say they are not in existence; that could soon be determined,” the Companion said. Sebastian had not liked a thing the Companion said from the first time he met him till now, and he had a feeling that would not change.

  “But it seems that for some of us, the Brotherhood is not a concern. They must be awakened if you are to survive!” the Companion said with authority.

  “Who are you to give me these warnings? What is going to happen? I must know more, and I must know who you are if I am to trust you. Why am I to leave?” Sebastian demanded.

  “You are all to leave if you wish to live. A darkness is coming few will live through. That should be enough. As far as I am concerned, I know more about you than you could imagine and that is for me to know,” the Companion said, animating his point with a hand.

  “We tend to be very curious about our own and make it our business to watch. You, of course, are the exception. You who hide blindly behind those walls pretending to be one of them while searching for truth in the books, searching for answers, answers you will never find and friends that will never understand who you truly are,” the Companion indicated Sebastian.

  “I have friends, true friends behind those walls. Are you my friend? I doubt it. Your kind is full of lies and treachery. The games they play are for their own amusement, and power rules their every thought. So I could not trust you if I wanted to,” Sebastian stated, anger welling up in him. He didn’t like the implication that he didn’t have any friends, although the question rose in his mind. He did often feel alone and knew no one there could really understand him.

  “I am more friend to you than you know; I have watched you for a long time now. I have seen you come and go. I know your routine. I know that you come here often, which is how I found you so easily. I have watched you sit here in thought, writing in that journal of yours and even watched you as you prayed on your knees. I thought about having mercy on you many times. I thought about killing you and taking away your misery.”

  “Why did you take such pity on me and spare my life? Surely you would have grown stronger from the taking of my life,” Sebastian asked. The Companion’s visage grew sterner even though Sebastian could only make out subtle features and those piercing red eyes.

  “Those are things that are for me to care about. You merely interest me. That is all. If you think I care for anything, then you are mistaken and you would be wise not to cross my path.”

  “Do you think I fear you? I do not. You say you are here to warn me and that you have watched me for a long time. I think you may just want us to leave so you can have the monastery for your own,” Sebastian concluded. “The monastery has been there for a long time, and I do not think the brothers would be so easily inclined to go.”

  “It was not always a monastery; most of that life it was something far different. And yes, there is someone wanting it, but not I. You will come to trust me one day, and if you don’t, it will be to your ruin. The secrets the Brotherhood holds will be given up one way or another. Either the monastery will be handed over or it will be taken from them.” Once again, the Companion indicated he knew much about the monastery, the monks, and Sebastian.

  Sebastian did not like the threat to his friends; he had grown tired of his Companion and wanted to test him. He stopped his pacing and changed direction, walking right toward him. Sebastian walked with determination, his shoulders squared and his pace quick, with his hands hidden inside his jacket.

  The Companion raised his head a bit from its downward stare and looked at Sebastian heading for him; his red eyes calculated the threat but appeared unconcerned. He moved his arms out to the sides and stepped back a little closer to the woods.

  Sebastian noted his move and increased his pace, determined to get a closer look and test his friend. After a few steps the Companion was closer to the edge of the woods and within the shadows of the trees. The red eyes flashed and he melted into the shadows without a sound.

  Sebastian looked all around. There was no sign of him anywhere, not a single footprint to show his departure, just the silence of this place. He was reassured somewhat that there was no confrontation, but he also knew his Companion was not to be tested. These new events worried him deeply that the monastery was under the gaze of one so powerful.

  ***

  Jacob and Jessica were still sitting right where they had been all night, fixed to the very spot. They planned to move to the top of the stairs for a better view, but had not come up with the necessary courage.

  “Maybe we should go soon.” Jacob said.

  “To our room?”

  “No, to the top of the stairs. It will offer us a much better view of our … whatevers.”

  “Maybe they are a just a couple of monks up for a late night snack?”

  “Maybe the first one, but he didn’t look like he was dressed for a late-night raid on the pantry. More like a late-night raid out on the moors,” Jacob thought aloud. “Maybe we actually got to see some ghost and we’re trying to explain it away?”

  “I know. I thought I was going to come out of my skin when the second one came through. The first one scared me but the second …”

  “Well, maybe we were just lucky our first night of ghost hunting. What luck!” Jacob said unconvincingly.

  The twins took one last look around the room, trying to see any more moving shadows. With nothing of that sort about they rose slowly and made their way to the stairs. They wound up and around several landings, going to the very top. The view never stopped amazing them at any point, day or night.

  They found a nice shadow of their own. Jacob cursed himself again for not wearing his watch. The night seemed like it would never come to an end.

  Just as he was thinking that, he felt a nudge. He looked at Jessica to see her intently staring. Just there next to the window was a shadow standing out of place, not moving. Jacob felt his heart quicken. Both pairs of eyes fixed on the source of their anxiety.

  Jessica had been so overwhelmed earlier when they had seen the “whatevers,” she was just now beginning to wonder if it was possible they might be noticeable to the ghost. Her worry grew.

  They stared for the longest time, wondering if it was just a figment of their wild imaginations. That is when it moved ever so slightly and without a sound. It just seemed to be here, then there, so subtly moving from one shadow to the other.

  The next move made the hair on both of their bodies
stand straight up. It had moved away from the wall and was in the center of the room near the base of the stairs. There was no doubt this person or ghost of a person was not a figment of their imagination.

  Suddenly, the figure was at the bottom of the stairs. This was either the greatest night of their lives or the absolute worst. The adrenaline pumping in their veins had them on the edge of running and screaming. But they were so afraid to draw any attention to themselves they would not move, unless it came closer. The thought of that brought on a wave of panic in Jessica.

  Jacob began thinking that instead of a watch he should have brought other things like holy water and a crucifix. His thoughts brought him back to the bottom of the stairs where the figure reached out for the banister. The hand reaching from the shadow was definitely that of a ghost from what he could see. The hand was as pale as any he had ever seen.

  It turned abruptly as if startled. After a pause, it moved to a shadow on the other side of the room. Jacob was astonished; not a single footfall could be heard. He actually wondered, What could startle a ghost?

  As if in answer to his question he heard a low sound building, again, something very faint. Then footfalls came in the same rhythmic cadence as before. This night was getting even more interesting.

  Their visitor disappeared from view as the footsteps drew closer. The twins could almost measure their heartbeats to the sounds coming down the hall. Then from the other side of the room came the figure they recognized from before, the strides measured and full of purpose. As quickly as it came, the figure crossed the room and was gone.

  They watched the room just like in one of those horror movies, where something always happens just when you think the story is over. From across the room the other shadow came. The movement was different this time. It, too, made its way across the room and disappeared.