BLACK VELVET ROSES

by Marianne Spitzer

  Andrea was sitting on the floor wrapped in Cole’s arms. She was crying and didn’t see what had happened. Taylor stood in the middle of the room shaking her head. “How did you do that?”

  “I don’t know.” Kellie stared at her hand. She had felt the heat, but her hand wasn’t even pink.

  A loud banging on the front door caught their attention.

  “We’re not supposed to be here,” said Cole. “I hope it isn’t the police.”

  “Let me check,” Taylor said, “It might be Hunter.” She returned a few minutes later with Hunter. “I was right. He was locked out.”

  “Where are those ghosts when you need them?” Hunter asked.

  Right on cue, the five ghosts returned along with the ghost of Genevieve. “I’m sorry it took so long, miss. Genevieve was a little frightened.”

  “I understand.” Kellie said. “Hello, Genevieve. It’s nice to meet you. I’d like to help you get out of this house.”

  “Thank you, but the house won’t let me go. It has part of me. It has my blood and without it, I am trapped here. The house would be lonely alone. That is why it took Constance. It didn’t want Simon, but they were holding hands when it pulled them into the house. They both died and now their spirits are trapped in the attic.”

  “I’m not sure how we will get your blood back from the house, but I think we can free Constance. You said they are in the attic. Will you show me the way?”

  Genevieve smiled and walked toward the front staircase. Kellie, Hunter, and Taylor followed.

  Cole said, “Andrea is still a little shaky, we’ll be right here. If you need us just holler.”

  ########

  They walked to the second floor and were halfway to the third floor when blood began to run down the bannister. “Be careful. The house is trying to slow us down with slippery bannisters. Walk slowly and you won’t need to hold on.” Immediately, the blood began pouring down the stairs as if a fire hose had been opened at the top of the staircase.

  Kellie slipped and slid down the five stairs she had managed to climb. Hunter and Taylor jumped out of the way before the blood hit them. At the bottom of the stairs, the blood disappeared into thin air. Kellie sat at the bottom of the stairs covered from head to toe in blood.

  She stood and yelled, “This is disgusting house. Get rid of it before I burn you down.” The blood disappeared. “At least we know the house doesn’t like the idea of fire. Let’s see if it will let us up to the attic this time.” They continued their climb.

  Kellie opened the door to the attic and turned on the light. “Where are they, Genevieve?” Kellie walked to the middle of the room and turned around, but didn’t see any more ghosts.

  Genevieve’s ghost stepped forward and said, “Please come out. This lady is Miss Kellie. She helped June and Will into the light. She will help us, too.”

  Two misty figures appeared in front of Kellie. A beautiful young bride wearing a wedding gown and her new husband dressed in his finest suit.

  “Constance and Simon?”

  Both nodded.

  Kellie saw a glow begin to appear in the corner of the room. It was the same light she saw in the parlor. She had to convince them to walk into the light, but they had refused for many years. Finding out why would help her and them.

  “Please tell me why you won’t go into the light? It is there waiting for you.” Kellie took a step toward Constance and Simon.

  Both figures turned from mist to solid and Simon spoke. “I could go anytime, but the house is holding onto Constance. I will not allow her to remain here alone.”

  Constance’s soft voice answered him, “I have tried to have him enter, but he refuses. There is no reason he also must be trapped here.”

  Kellie said, “I feel part of the reason Simon is here is to protect you. He stays because he loves you and doesn’t want to be without you. The house is using that to keep you here. As long as Simon is here, you will not fight the house to leave. Simon you must go into the light first. Constance will follow soon, I promise.”

  “I refuse,” Simon’s voice boomed through the attic. “She is my wife, I cannot leave her.”

  “I promise it won’t be for long,” Kellie said. “When you leave, I will help Constance break the hold the house has on her and she will join you.”

  Constance pleaded with Simon. “This is our only chance. Please, I will be with you again soon.”

  Simon kissed his bride and nodded his head. He walked toward the light and turned before he entered. “I shall be waiting, my darling.” One more step and the light brightened. Simon was gone and the light disappeared.

  “No,” Constance screamed. “You promised. He is gone and so is the light. I shall remain here for eternity.” Tears streamed down her face.

  “You won’t. I’ll help you. The light is gone because you’re unable to leave and you don’t yet fully believe I can help you. Simon believed and he’s safe and at peace.”

  “What can you do?” Constance’s tears turned to sobs.

  “Please don’t cry, Constance,” Taylor said. “Kellie freed me from the grips of Thomas’ evil spirit, she will help you.” Taylor walked closer to Constance and stood next to Kellie.

  Cole and Andrea entered the attic. “Who are they?” Constance backed up and turned back to mist.

  “Please don’t be afraid. They are friends. We’ll all help.” Kellie’s cell vibrated in her pocket.

  “What’s that?” Constance’s eyes grew large with fear and she disappeared.

  “Now what?” Kellie mumbled as she answered the phone and wondered if Constance would return.

  “Hello, Claudia,” Kellie tapped her foot as she held the phone to her ear.

  “Don’t worry, she’ll be back.”

  “Who?” Kellie knitted her eyebrows.

  “Constance. I called to tell you Simon is safe and waiting. Also, when you help Constance it would be advisable to hold hands with your friends. Draw on their strength. You’ll need it. The house is strong.”

  “We just found out about the house, how did you …”

  “I know what you do when the spirits talk. June and Will are quite animated. I’m happy you could help them. Go, Constance will come back. All you have to do is ask her.”

  Kellie slipped her phone in her pocket and turned toward her friends.

  ########

  “That was Claudia. When we help Constance, we need to hold hands. She said we’ll be stronger.” Kellie shrugged.

  “That makes sense. Weren’t we stronger when we fought your grandfather,” Taylor said.

  “Yes, we were,” Hunter added. “He couldn’t fight all of us.”

  “Maybe,” said Kellie. “He was a human spirit, this is a house. It’s inanimate. Which would be stronger?” She paced the attic. Kellie called for Constance and continued pacing until Constance returned in mist form.

  “I’m happy you came back, Constance. We’ll help you, but I need to know a little more about you and why the house is holding you. You don’t have to remain a mist. We won’t hurt you.” Kellie stepped closer to her and Constance’s spirit became solid.

  “I was living here when Genevieve died. It was a tragic time for all. She was my baby sister. Simon and I married the summer after she died. I wanted to leave home as soon as possible. Genevieve’s memory surrounded me. Pictures, drawings my mother hung on the walls, the empty chair at the table my mother never allowed anyone to occupy, her room exactly the way she left it, and worst of all the sunroom my father insisted on building with the blood stained wood. I felt her all around me. My heart was breaking.”

  “I understand that. I have suffered great loss in my life, too. I don’t understand how you were brought into the attic and are still here.”

  “It was my wedding day. Simon and I were leaving directly after the reception. There was a flash of light and we were here in the attic. We couldn’t get out. We realized we could walk through furniture and other solid objects, but not the door. The house
never spoke to us, but we both had the feeling we knew it didn’t want me to leave. It felt it owned the family and those it loved it would keep. The white light appeared and Simon felt called, but he refused to go. It was then I saw Genevieve. I knew Simon and I were dead. Genevieve told me she was also trapped by the house. We have been here since that day.”

  The white light reappeared in the corner of the attic. Kellie said, “I think this is a sign, we can help Constance to go to the light. Everyone hold hands.”

  The house began to shake again. It groaned as if it were ready to collapse. Every object in the attic moved or slid across the floor. Doors could be heard slamming throughout the house. A strange unearthly wail could be heard echoing in the attic.

  Andrea said, “The house is angry.” She gripped Cole’s hand and Hunter’s. Hunter held Taylor’s hand and she in turn clutched Kellie’s.

  Kellie yelled at the house. “Stop, I meant what I said. I will burn you to the ground. You let Constance go now.” She held up her hand and the light from her palm lit a path on the floor directly to the bright light in the corner. “Hurry, Constance. Run on the path. Simon is waiting and you’ll be together and safe.”

  Constance did as she was told. She ran into the light. The light brightened and disappeared. The lit path and light in Kellie’s palm were gone. The attic was dark.

  Kellie felt small arms hug her. Genevieve said, “You did it. Constance is safe and free. Will you help the others?”

  “I’ll help all of you.” Genevieve’s hug grew tighter. “Let’s go find them,” Kellie said.

  ########

  Hunter opened the attic door and the five friends walked down to the third floor and then to the second. “Time for a second call to Randy,” Hunter said. His quick call assured Randy all was well and two more spirits had found their way home.

  Standing in the second floor hall, the friends were discussing what to do next. Dancing colored lights caught Taylor’s attention. She knew the rooms facing the front of the house had stained glass windows and she was curious about them. Drifting away from the group, she found herself in a beautiful bedroom. Two stained glass windows were causing the light to dance across the floor and furniture. She held out her hand and the colors danced on the back of her hand. She giggled at the beautiful colors. Stepping backward to take in all the beauty of the room she leaned against the wall and watched.

  In an instant, she was yanked by her hair and pulled backward. She watched the wall close in front of her and she was plunged into darkness. Her muffled scream reached her friends. “Taylor,” Hunter called.

  “Help me, help me,” she yelled. She began to sob. After her ordeal with Thomas, she was unable to face being trapped again. She dropped to her knees, “Please let me out.” Something pushed her and she rose to her feet. It pushed her again and she began to move in the darkness.

  “Taylor, where are you?” Hunter ran from room to room looking for her.

  “I don’t know, it’s dark and something is pushing me.”

  Cole yelled to her, “Use the flashlight I gave you.”

  Taylor flicked on the flashlight she had removed from her pocket. “I’m not sure where I am. It’s like a small hallway without finished walls.”

  Millie appeared and said, “She’s in the walls. There are many hidden staircases and walkways behind these walls. No one, except the first Mr. Gotz, knew where they were or how to open them.”

  “We have to find her if I have to tear down every wall in the house,” Hunter said.

  “Let me help,” Millie said. “I am able to walk through the walls. I’ll find her.” She walked toward the bedroom wall and everyone heard the thud her form made when it hit the wall. She turned and looked at Kellie, “This has never happened. It must be the house. It is stopping me.”

  “Let me try,” said Genevieve. “The house likes me.” She walked up to the wall and through it disappearing from view.

  Hunter, pacing and doubling his hands into fists, said, “We have to find her. She has to be terrified.”

  Taylor’s scream could be heard again. Millie said, “She’s somewhere downstairs.”

  They raced down the stairs to the first floor.

  ########

  Hunter ran into the parlor and Cole headed toward the library. Taylor’s muffled yells for help echoed through the house confusing everyone as to where she might be lost. For a few minutes, the manor house was quiet. Then Taylor’s blood curdling scream could be heard from inside all the walls. Pictures on the walls began to swing, the chandelier swung back and forth, chairs around the dining table fell over, and dishes flew out of the kitchen cabinet.

  Andrea repeated, “The house is angry. For some reason, it is growing angrier. Maybe it has to do with Genevieve trying to help Taylor.” She ran up to Cole when he returned from checking the library.

  “I can’t find out where she’s being held. Her voice seems to be coming from everywhere.” They heard her scream again and it sounded as if it was coming from the back of the house. They ran into the kitchen but didn’t hear a sound.

  Andrea walked toward the back door and looked outside. “I think it might storm.” She walked into the hall that led to the storage area. There was a big window at the other end of the hall and she wanted a better look. As she passed the small elevator, the door slid open, something grabbed her and pulled her in, she screamed as the door shut. The others could hear the elevator move upwards away from them.

  ########

  The elevator was made for one person, but it seemed smaller than expected to Andrea. Her heart pounded hard enough she could hear it. Pounding on the walls didn’t help. The sound seemed to dissipate into the walls. Her voice was gone. She couldn’t whisper much less scream. She could feel herself being lifted upward, but she didn’t feel the bugs crawling on the floor of the elevator. At least at first, until they were deep enough to tickle her legs over her boots.

  Soon they were up to her knees and tried as she might, she couldn’t get the elevator to stop or the doors to open. When she was thigh deep in every variety of bug and spider she had ever seen or imagined, she found her voice. She screamed. The bugs crawled up her back and into her hair. She lifted her arms above her head hoping to continue to pound on the doors. Neck high in bugs, Andrea was ready to drown in them. She couldn’t move and knew they would soon be in her nose and down her throat. She prayed and screamed again. The elevator jerked to a stop. Bugs were crawling up the walls and over her entire body. She was finally able to pound on the walls squishing bugs with each hit.

  Kellie and the others heard her on the third floor. Kellie pressed her palms against the door and summoned all her strength. The light appeared in her hands and against the door. It slid open and everyone saw a terrified Andrea up to her chin in bugs. For a moment no one moved, and then the bugs scattered out of the elevator in every direction climbing over each other to get away. Disappearing into the walls, the elevator was empty except for Andrea who collapsed to the floor. Cole picked her up and carried her down to one of the bedrooms on the second floor. He laid her carefully on the bed and she whispered, “Find Taylor. Who knows what’s happening to her.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Hunter stood in the hall. He could see Cole sitting on the bed with Andrea. His anger grew. Andrea was nearly smothered by bugs and the house was still hiding Taylor. He needed to find his wife. He yelled as loud as he could, “Listen to me house. You let my wife out of the walls. You’re a coward, why don’t you fight a man. You like to pick on women?”

  He heard a rattle and turned just in time to avoid being hit by the ax being held in the hand of the suit of armor.

  Maybe I should shut up, he thought as Genevieve appeared in front of him. “Hurry, please. The house let Taylor out of the walls in the dungeon. She collapsed on the floor after she screamed.”

  Hunter yelled as he headed down the stairs, “Taylor’s in the dungeon. She needs help.”

  Andrea climbed off the bed, “
I’ll be fine. We have to help Hunter.” Cole and Kellie followed Andrea.

  The four friends found their way to the dungeon door, but it was locked. Hunter could hear Taylor crying.

  “We have to get to her. She must be reliving the horror she went through down here. The door won’t open.” His fists were bloody from pounding on the metal door. “I’m here, Taylor, hang on.”

  Genevieve walked through the door. “I’ll stay with her, but she needs you.” Genevieve disappeared back into the dungeon.

  Kellie walked up to Hunter and said, “Look at your hands. You should have waited for me.” She touched the door and the light shot from her hand and the door swung open.

  They found Taylor curled in a fetal position in the corner. Genevieve was sitting next to her stroking her hair.

  Hunter rushed to her side and helped her to her feet. She did her best to walk upstairs. They returned to the parlor.

  Taylor related her ordeal behind the walls. Even with her flashlight, she couldn’t see what pushed her along. She was pushed through the path between walls and down stairs then through more passageways until a small door opened and she was pushed into the dungeon. The wall closed and Taylor couldn’t get it open. She couldn’t open the metal door. Seeing all the torture equipment brought back memories of Thomas’ actions and what he had planned for her. Genevieve helped keep her company, but fear consumed her and she collapsed in the corner. Genevieve said she’d get help and left. Taylor gave into her terror and began to scream and sob. When Genevieve returned with news that her friends were coming gave Taylor a bit of hope.

  She leaned on Hunter’s shoulder and cried.

  ########

  Hunter said, “I have to get Taylor out of here. She’s been through enough. You can’t expect her to help more than she has thus far.”

  Taylor said, “No, I need to stay. It’ll take all of us to fight the house. Genevieve stayed with me when I was in the walls and dungeon. I must help her get out of this house forever.” She looked deeply into Hunter’s eyes. “Please try and understand.”