The air that rushed in from the open door did indeed feel cooler, and a bit musty even. Something else filled the dark room beyond, activating an internal chill that put me immediately on alert. Okay … something was in there. Nancy reached in behind the wall to turn the light on. When she looked back and saw the expression on my face she involuntarily took a step back.
Though the lighting in the next room was much brighter than the room with the wine, it made me no less cautious. As soon as I stepped over the threshold, I felt panic race through me. I immediately recognized that those feelings were not my own. It was probably residual energy from the locked in lovers of a few nights before. Ignoring the panic, I glanced about the room. Shelving filled with canning jars containing all sorts of different foods lined the walls. A large bin and several barrels sat scattered about as well. The bin contained potatoes. I had no idea what was in the barrels. Canning supplies and gardening tools also vied for space. It was a bit cluttered but in an organized sort of way. I walked to the center of the room and closed my eyes.
Almost immediately I felt a sense of someone watching me. Not Nancy, though she was watching me closely from the open door. No, this was someone else. Someone with darkness in their soul. I opened my eyes and looked carefully around the room. There was no place for anyone to hide so I could only surmise that the watchful someone was in spirit. A shiver raced through me and I rubbed my arms. It was easy to understand why Rena and Peter had been frightened. The sense of danger was quite potent. But why?
“You feel something don’t you?” Nancy whispered.
I turned and looked at her. “How do you feel, Nancy?”
“Apprehensive. I’ve been down here many times and have always been a bit jittery but now … now I feel like I want to get out of here.”
“I assure you, though I feel something that puts me a bit on edge, I do not feel as if I am in danger.” I walked to a short stairwell that led to a set of double doors. “Are those doors locked?”
“They shouldn’t be. After Jack let Peter and Rena out, he left it unlocked and instructed Hank and Ray to do so as well.” Nancy reluctantly entered the room and rushed to my side.
“Let’s go out and walk around a bit,” I suggested.
Nancy glanced behind her, chewed nervously on her lip. “I should turn the lights out and shut that door.”
Since she made no move to do so, I crossed the room into the next and turned off the light. Then I re-entered the outer cellar, shut the door behind me and motioned for Nancy to go up the stairs. “Go ahead and open those doors to let some light in.” As soon as Nancy did so, I turned the lights off and rushed across to the stairs. Nancy was already waiting for me outside. As soon as I joined her, she shut the doors and shivered noticeably. “I really am not one to get spooked but I was getting the willies down there for some reason.”
I glanced around and realized that we were standing in a garden at the side of the house. Raymond and Hank were standing a short distance away and glanced at us in surprise. They walked over to us, concern flooding Hank’s craggy features and curiosity lighting Raymond’s.
“Everything okay?” Raymond asked.
Nancy gave a weak, unconvincing smile and waved a dismissive hand. “We’re fine. I was just giving Tess a little tour.”
Hank’s expression turned a bit grave. He touched my arm briefly to convey his concern. “We had a couple locked in down there a few nights ago … you best be careful, little lady. We don’t want you getting frightened off.”
I wanted to laugh because if there was anyone who was not frightened of ghosts, it was me. But Hank didn’t know about that and I didn’t want to enlighten him.
“What are you doing out this way?” Nancy asked.
Hank adjusted his Red Sox ball cap on his head and fell into step beside me as we headed for the back gardens where the beautiful dolphin fountain was located. He looked like he was about to answer Nancy’s question when Raymond cut in. Hank glanced at him in annoyance and pursed his lips.
“Just checking the sprinklers. It’s supposed to be hot and dry the next few days so we’ll have to water the plants I suspect.”
We stopped next to the fountain and Ray pulled Nancy aside to talk to her quietly. Figuring they wanted some privacy, I stepped away and turned to Hank. He nodded toward the tool shed. “I need to get going. You have a good night.” He walked away before I could reply and I wondered if he and Raymond were at odds with each other?
Nancy and Raymond finished their conversation with a hug. Raymond sent a wave my way as he rushed off toward the back entrance. She watched him until he was out of sight and then turned to me, her voice low. “I think it’s best we keep your … gift between us for now. Raymond would probably bug you to death about it and I’m not sure how Hank would react.”
I didn’t have a chance to answer because Kade showed up just then. “Hey, Nancy, want to come with me to see that painting now?”
I waved her along. “I’d like to go back to the house and look around a bit if you don’t mind, Nancy. You have such a beautiful home and I haven’t really taken the time to look at it.”
“Okay. Jack is inside if you have any questions. The rooms not opened to the public are marked as PRIVATE on the entryways. I can take you through our private rooms another time if you like.” Nancy looked at Kade and waved her hand. “Lead on, I can’t wait to see what you’ve created this time.”
As soon as I entered the house, I headed for the stairs. The Rosens’ room was on the second floor and I could hear the faint sound of a television as I walked down the hallway. A sitting room at the end of the hall overlooked the garden. I turned and walked toward the opposite end, stopping at a door that didn’t have a room number attached to it. Since it was not marked as private, I opened the door to a spiral stairway. This had to lead to the turret on the west end of the house. Excitement raced through me as I started up the narrow stairwell. It opened to a small sitting room. A window looked out over the water and the small island. I could see part of the shoreline and all three cottages. An old rocking chair, probably antique, sat near the window. Beside it was a small round end table covered in a crocheted lace doily and a pretty hurricane lamp. A round braided rug covered the wooden floor and sea prints hung on the walls. There was an old loveseat against the wall facing the window. It was covered in what used to be red velvet but was now faded to a pale rose. The room had a very cozy feel to it and no sign of the entity that I was sure hung out here from time to time. I sank onto the rocking chair and immediately a chill went through me.
Going still, I allowed the feelings the chair evoked to wash over me. I was overcome by an incredible sadness and had to blink away the responding tears. Resting my hands on the rocking chair’s worn wooden arms, I began to rock and as I did so, a sense of despair began to grow to an overwhelming proportion. My cold hands rubbed the smooth, worn wood and I felt as though I were mimicking the actions of someone else. Someone who also shared this seat with me.
She was a sad person full of heartache. When I turned my head and looked out the window, I felt as if I were seeing from her eyes instead of my own. Gone was the calm ocean of only moments before. It was much darker outside than I remembered it being and the water roiled with agitation. Waves crashed forcefully against the rocks and made a roaring sound as they broke into a shower of white spray. I stood and knew as I did so that she was standing as well. We walked across the room to a door that I hadn’t noticed earlier. I opened the door and stepped out into the cold night air. The wind was strong and blew my hair wildly about my face, which was strange because my hair was supposed to be tied in a braid behind me. When had it come loose? A curious phenomenon to be sure, but for now I’d concentrate on my surroundings.
The roof top balcony area wasn’t very big. To the left of me was a sharply sloped roof. About ten feet across from me was a wall about five feet high and six feet wide, formed by another room that did not have access to the balcony where I stood. I
figured it was probably a bedroom and wondered why there was no door to the balcony? A short cement parapet of about three feet high ran from the turret wall to the one opposite. I walked to the edge and braced my legs against the parapet while I looked at the view before me. Instinctively, I reached to pull a shawl about me and realized I was not wearing one. Instead I crossed my arms and hugged myself in an effort to ward off the chill. Then I looked down and immediately regretted doing so. It was a long drop. Without question, I knew I was standing at the very sight where the girl mentioned in the magazine article jumped to her death.
A sharp stab of danger pricked the skin of my back and I quickly spun around. Of course no one was there. Still, I felt an urgency to move away from the parapet and quickly did so. Blinding anger rose within me and made me want to scream. I actually opened my mouth to do so but quickly stifled the sounds rumbling in my throat. That’s all I needed to do was alert everyone with my screaming and have them come running with alarmed concern. Trying hard to achieve calm and not let her emotions flood my own, I did my best to let her know that she could talk to me if she wished to do so. Almost immediately I felt a voice scream in my head. “Run!” Without hesitation I turned and ran back into the turret room. The door slammed shut behind me and I swung around to stare at it. My heart pounding wildly, I fought to control my rapid breathing. She was so afraid, so angry, and so very, very sad. Having just shed such feelings of my own, I felt better equipped to now deal with hers.
“What do you want?” I spoke the words softly and waited for an answer. Instead, I heard footsteps coming rapidly up the stairs. Nancy and Kade both rushed into the room.
“Tess? Oh God, are you okay? We saw you from the cottage. I thought for sure you were going to fall!” Nancy’s face was ashen in color as if all the blood there had drained away.
“Why did you think I was going to fall?” I gave Nancy a reassuring hug. Her body shook with tremors as she clung to me.
“You looked like you were struggling against the wind. Like it was going to blow you over the wall,” Kade said. He, too, looked a bit pale beneath his tan.
I drew back from Nancy and looked from one to the other. “I was not aware that I struggled with the wind. The breeze is a little strong but certainly not enough to blow me over the edge.”
“What are you doing up here, Tess?” Nancy asked.
“I told you I was going to look around. I didn’t see anything to tell me this was off limits.”
“We usually keep the door downstairs locked,” Nancy said. “I don’t know who could have opened it. I thought I had the only key and I keep that in Jack’s office.” As if struck suddenly with a thought, she headed for the stairs. “I’m going to check the office.”
“We’ll meet you back down in the living room,” Kade told her.
As soon as Nancy was out of sight, Kade turned to me. “You frightened her half to death you know.”
I walked to the stairway, Kade following close behind. “I can’t imagine why. I was never in any danger of falling. I assure you.” We started down the winding staircase.
“This is my second year coming to Sea Willow and I’ve never been up here. They’ve kept this area locked to the public and though I once requested a quick look, Nancy wouldn’t allow it.”
We stepped into the hallway and Kade shut the door. Our walk to the living room was done in mutual silence. Thankfully, no one was about when we got there. Kade motioned toward a chair and after realizing he was waiting for me to sit so that he might also, I sat. “Why is the turret room off limits? It’s a charming little room. If they don’t want people going out to the balcony, they could lock that door instead.”
Kade gave me a look that said he was considering something. He glanced at the door then changed seats, coming to sit beside me on the sofa. “From what I gather, something happened up there with one of their twin daughters. They’ve kept it locked ever since. Nancy and Jack are pretty tight lipped about it so I have no idea what the story is.” I wondered why he would confide that to me. I was, after all, a stranger and he seemed to be more like a friend to the McKeons than a paying guest. “Nancy told me about your secret. I thought you should know, though she was going to tell you herself.”
He couldn’t have said anything more surprising. But, in retrospect, it made sense that she would confide in him, having just determined that he was their trusted friend. It made sense that Nancy would want to discuss such things with him. “I see.”
Kade shook his head. “I don’t think you do. She told me about your … ability ... after I showed her my painting.”
His hesitation over the word “ability” told me I had a skeptic on my hands. No surprise there. “Why would you showing her a painting have her spilling my secret?”
“Because of what I painted.” He gave a weary sigh and rubbed at his face. “She said I should show it to you … see what you could make of it.”
“The key is still where I left it.” Nancy came back into the room and began pacing restlessly about. “How did that door get unlocked?”
“Put a padlock on the door, Nancy, if you are that concerned about it,” I told her. “Honestly, though, I’d put a padlock on the door to the balcony and let guests go up to the sitting room. There is a great view from the window and it’s a cute little room.”
Nancy shook her head firmly. “No.” She glanced at Kade and then back at me.
The look Nancy gave me told me she would explain later. Wondering why Kade was not to hear her reasons, I let the subject drop. “So you told Kade about my talking to the dead, huh?”
Nancy bit at her bottom lip. “Are you mad?”
I had to laugh at her contrite expression. “No, of course not. I wouldn’t like it if you told every person staying at Sea Willow but it wouldn’t make me angry with you.”
Relieved, Nancy smiled back. Then her eyes widened with remembrance. “Tess, go to Kade’s cottage with him and check out his painting. As soon as I saw it, I knew he should show it to you, and I had to explain about your gift so he would agree.”
I looked at Kade and found him watching me carefully. He was trying to figure me out, determine if I were to be trusted. “You don’t believe in stuff like that do you, Kade?”
He shrugged. “Not sure what I believe. It isn’t something I’ve ever encountered before.” He flashed me a grin and it changed his whole appearance. Suddenly he looked younger and engaging. He really was a good-looking man and oh how I wished I was as unaffected by him as I was with Raymond. “You are my first medium.”
“I don’t like to call myself that.” Ever since that show called Medium had begun to air on television, I found myself reluctant to use that tag.
“But isn’t that what a medium is, someone who talks to the dead?” Kade sat back against the sofa, his arms folded across his chest. He quirked a brow and waited for me to explain myself.
“I am sensitive to … energies (really, I didn’t know how else to describe it) around me, be they from the physical world or the spirit world. I don’t see dead people any more than a … normal person would see them. Many people, even skeptics, see those who have passed on–or angels– and not even realize it. The only difference is, I can usually tell.” I met Kade’s eyes and held the gaze. I wanted him to see that I had nothing to hide, that I was being open and honest.
“So, do you hold séances and stuff like that?” Kade’s gaze continued to hold mine. He wasn’t going to back down or let up.
“Although I have conducted a few séances, I do not do them very often.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t need to. I am not in this for theatrics or kicks, Kade. As I go about my life, situations often arise that bring me into contact with those in the Tri-State.”
“Tri-State?” Kade’s dark brow rose higher.
“That’s what I call the place between life, heaven, and hell where people who have passed over and haven’t moved on to another life or existence elsewhere reside.�
�� I braced myself for his continued skepticism.
“So you believe in heaven and hell then?”
Surprised by his question, it was my turn to raise a brow. “Why wouldn’t I?” Before he could answer, I hastened to add, “Though my concept of heaven and hell is probably vastly different from yours.”
“Meaning?”
“Hell to me is a state of existence that we create for ourselves because we think we deserve it. Heaven is the state we achieve when we become one with God again. Life is something our souls experience for various reasons and the place between all that is the Tri-State … a place our souls are aware of and accept while figuring out what is to happen next.” I watched Kade’s expression, expecting it to close up and reject what I was saying. Instead, he listened carefully and grew thoughtful.
“So ghosts are actually people in the Tri-State?” Nancy asked.
I turned and looked at Nancy having forgotten she was even in the room. “Not really. Most of what we call ghosts is nothing more than residual energy. That’s why the ghost stories you hear are always the same thing happening over and over again. Interactions with that type of ghost are difficult. One must connect with their spirit, not the repetitious energy, to help them break free of whatever holds their energy here.”
“And do you think there is a ghost here at Sea Willow?” Kade asked.
“If you are wondering about the voice from last night, that is residual energy. Whether or not there are spirits here … well, I’m still trying to figure that all out.”
“And when you were up in the turret room? Did you feel any … energy there?” Nancy asked.
Again I looked at Nancy and could see she was still worried about the unlocked door. “Yes actually. I did sense residual energy in the room. But, residual energy cannot open a door if that is what you are wondering.”
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