The Captain of the Manor (4 page)

Searching throughout the manor and asking various employees where Edmund was hiding and getting nowhere, Aiden stomped back into his room. He yanked off his sweater and tossed it across the room in a fit. Dropping in a chair with a plop, he huffed out a breath and leaned his head back, contemplating staring at the ceiling.

His laptop beeped several times, alerting him to either messages or emails.

Grumbling, knowing none of it would be good news, he shoved up and walked to the table. Bracing one hand on the wooden surface, he used his free hand to move across the pad, click, and enter the programs. He plopped hard in a chair when he saw an email about one of the several job apps he sent in over the last few days. Clicking it open, he fixed his glasses, and shoved a hand through his hair, grasping the back of his neck.

It was good.

It was damn good.

They wanted him to call to interview him.

Bad news. The opening was in Boston, not back home in Orlando, Florida, or even here by the manor.

"Boston? Snow?" Aiden shook his head. "Job, it's a job. You need a job to pay the damn bills. Suck it up." He scrambled to find his phone and dialed the number. When it connected, he swallowed, fixed his glasses, and said, "Hello, this is Doctor Aiden Joseph, I'm calling about an interest in my application."

Speaking with the right person for the last hour, Aiden felt things went well when he looked up as Edmund appeared in his room and changing to his corporeal form.

"Thank you, Mr Stevens, for your interest and time. I look forward to hearing from you within the next few days concerning my application. If you prefer a face-to-face interview, I would be happy to travel to Boston to meet with you," Aiden said and saw Edmund stop and lift an eyebrow. "Yes, sir. Goodbye." He clicked off his phone. "Well, where have you been?"

"Are you leaving the manor?"

"I can't stay here taking up a room forever. I need to either return home to Florida or find somewhere I can earn a living," Aiden said as he set the phone on the desk.

"Somewhere like Boston."

"It's the first company who expressed an interest in one of my job applications. At this point, I don't care where it's located. I'll relocate if I must."

"You could relocate here to the manor."

Aiden fixed his glasses. "And do what, Edmund? Live on your good graces."

"You are a researcher, correct?"

"In basic terms, yes."

"You could finish research about my family and past and create a book."

"There have been six other books written and never published about you, the curse, and the manor."

"None of those writers wrote the truth. They were filled with falsehoods and misstatements. I wouldn't let such trash be produced."

"Is this the same reason why you don't let ghost hunters within your home though it would draw more of a crowd and earning?"

"I don't believe in such science. I prefer to protect my family, the name, and the manor's reputation than let some of those people traipse throughout my home, creating disaster and falsehoods so they can get ratings."

"Yet you would allow me to dig through all of your stories, documents, and other items to write such work you never wanted done before."

"I trust you."

"You barely know me."

"The curse allows you to see me, hear me, touch me, and it accepted you at the gateway to the epicenter of my prison." Edmund stepped forward. "How could I not trust you when it has never done such a thing to another person in my lifetime?"

Aiden fixed his glasses again and leaned back in the chair, crossing one ankle across his knee. "You certainly didn't believe in all this when it was happening."

"I was in a bit of shock."

"You told me to get the hell out."

"I don't believe I put it quite like that."

"It came close." Aiden shoved a hand through his hair. "Look, Edmund, I don't know what is happening around here. If you need me to help break this curse, I'll stay and help. After I'll leave and return to my life and you can live out yours. I'm not the type to shove myself down anyone's pants."

Edmund took another step forward and settled in a chair. "I don't understand what you're saying. Other than the part of you helping me."

Aiden waved a hand. "Doesn't matter. I don't understand myself half the time." He massaged his forehead.

"Are you not feeling well?"

"I have a headache."

"Have you taken medication for it?"

Aiden shook his head.

"Do you wish me to leave?"

Aiden shook his head again.

"What do wish for me to do?"

He looked at the other man, saw the slight flickering around the edges as if Edmund lost his concentration with his concern and worry, and lowered his gaze.

"Okay. The priestess came to me when I left the manor."

"You said you couldn't leave."

"Only to appear within the lighthouse. These are the only two places I'm confined too."

"Oh. Did you see the priestess or her shadow?"

"She appeared in full view and spoke to me. I called her out about what happened and what she wanted from me. I didn't expect an answer from the woman."

"And?"

"The choice is mine to accept or leave. Either my curse will be finished or I will slip away from this world."

"What about me?"

"The curse will do no harm to you. If you leave, your life is your own."

"Seems odd I won't be connected to things."

"I made her promise and swear you would be left alone whatever I decide."

"What did you decide?"

Edmund kept silent as he stared at Aiden. Neither one moving for long moments. The silence grew between them.

"I haven't decided what to do as of this moment," Edmund admitted after long minutes of pregnant silence filled the space between them. "Please, may we sit and discuss what is happening? Perhaps over in the sitting area."

Wanting answers himself, Aiden stood and led the other male to the small sitting area in the far corner of the generous suite. He settled in one of the armchairs, kicked off his shoes, and pulled his legs up to one side. He rested an elbow on the arm and leaned his head on his raised hand.

Edmund followed and chose the opposite armchair, turning it a little to face Aiden. He leaned back, folded his fingers together across his lap. "I… I find myself at a loss of words. I have no idea what to say."

"You're not the only one. Quite a predicament we're in together. This definitely was not on the list of what to expect on my first trip with a ghost hunter team."

"To find an actual ghost cursed by a voodoo priestess over three hundred years ago to live a half life except during the autumn."

"There is all that…"

"What else?"

"Loss of a job. Loss of income. A gorgeous suite given to me for free within an ancient manor set along the Carolina coast." Aiden paused, tilted his head against his hand. "A man I find myself attracted too."

"I'm grateful to hear you're attracted to me. For I'm the same with you, the moment I saw you outside the window the day you arrived. I almost forgot about the paranormal hunters at the sight of you."

Aiden felt a flush creep up his neck.

"Since I was the cause of your job loss by my refusal to allow them in my home, I felt responsible for offering a suite. When there was a bit of trouble with your card, I decided to cover the cost of the suite."

"Trouble with my card?"

"There weren't enough funds to cover a single night in our smallest room," Edmund admitted.

Aiden groaned and lowered his face in his palm.

Edmund reached out and covered Aiden's knee with his hand. "Please… Do not trouble yourself…"

"I have too. I have no money, no job, and no way to cover rent or bills or anything. I have a doctorate and several masters with the loans to match and none of them are doing me any good."

"Please wait here a moment." Edmund disappeared from the room before Aiden couldn't blink.

"Sometimes I wish I could learn that trick," Aiden muttered.

"No, you don't for it comes with a serious mess of other problems," Edmund said as he reappeared next to Aiden's chair.

Aiden pressed a hand to his chest and jumped. "Jeepers, you scared the crap out of me."

With a chuckle, Edmund shrugged. "I thought you would prefer to hear the issues with my little disappearing trick."

Aiden's gaze narrowed in on the books. "What are those?"

Edmund carried several large leather-bound books and a medium-size trunk in his arms. He placed everything on the floor next to Aiden. "These are books, maps, logs, and journals for my entire family line and history. In addition to what little research I did into my curse."

Aiden reached down and picked up one large book as Edmund returned to his chair. He took extra care with the old leather and musty paper. He loved the smell of old books and what they hid from the world. "I feel like I need cotton gloves or something to protect the pages."

"Oh. I have some," Edmund said as he performed the same disappearing act.

Shaking his head, Aiden brushed away some dust from the cover.
Carslyle – A History of a Sailing Family
was engraved into a simple copper plate.

"Some gloves for you. The pages don't react to my hands since I'm not completely human," Edmund said as he held out a pair of white cotton gloves.

Aiden looked away from the book and nodded. "Thank you," he said as he pulled on the gloves to protect the delicate pages from the oils on his hands. "This is your family history?"

"Hmm. It includes the old generations in Great Britain, when one side of the family immigrated to the New World, and continues from there. One of my distant nieces or nephews is working on another edition of the newer lines and descendants." Edmund moved to sit, but stopped. "Do you require anything else before I sit?"

"Not yet," Aiden said as he grinned.

"Perhaps I'll stay seated for longer than a minute this time."

"Perhaps…"

Edmund sat down and crossed his legs at the ankles.

"Well, there was…" Aiden started and broke into chuckles when Edmund raised a single eyebrow. "Kidding. I'm kidding."

Edmund shook his head.

"Please, tell me everything about your conversation with the priestess, if you can," Aiden said as he changed books, opened the trunk, and found a delicate journal dated the time Edmund disappeared and in strong, decisive writing. "Is this yours?"

"Hmm. A chronicle of my last voyage, details of the curse, and after reappearing within my home, lost and uncertain of what happened. I included notes about how I learned to manipulate items, energy, and other things. There are also details about my first autumn experience after the curse."

Sitting back with the journal on his lap, Aiden flipped through the pages, some yellowed with age, others stained from time and wear, and smudges of the fountain pen and ink. "Please, could you tell me what happened with the priestess?"

With a nod, Edmund settled back against the chair and recounted his words with the priestess to Aiden, who listened, nodded at times, stunned at others, and twitching to write notes. During the telling, Edmund retrieved a pad and pen for Aiden, who grinned and wrote copious notes. He repeated various sections, striving for the details Aiden yearned for to understand.

When it was done after several takes, they both noticed the windows were darker as the sun finished setting.

"Are you hungry? I could call down for dinner?"

"I would love something," Aiden said as he kept his attention on the notes.

With a nod, Edmund rose and went to the phone. He dialed to the kitchen and ordered dinner for two to be delivered to the suite.

Their talks lasted through dinner and hours of research before Aiden collapsed on the bed in a deep sleep. When he woke, he saw Edmund sitting back in the chair next to the bed, reading from one of his family's books.

The day continued from there. Both of them acknowledge the day was Hallowe'en and Edmund's last full day of this corporeal portion of life. If perhaps his last day at all according to the words of the priestess.

They spent the entire day together, talking about everything from Edmund's earlier life, to his life as a ghost, rebuilding the manor into a popular bed and breakfast, and even the lonely portions of his existence. They discussed sections of the books. Aiden wrote down every word of the initial curse, the additional one when he tried to cross the threshold of Edmund's room, and the words of the priestess.

Over a late lunch, he continued to read the words, scratching notes, and thought about his future prospects. He was pissed to find an email from the company in Boston decided to hire internally for their position, but would keep his information on file.

"Just my luck," he muttered.

"What is wrong?" Edmund asked.

"The job offer fell through. They're going internal," Aiden said with a shake of his head.

"Which means you're back to the beginning of your job search?"

"Or I could accept your proposal to help you break the curse. It appears my life is rearranging to meet with yours. Could be part of the curse, bringing me full circle to find and help you." Aiden shrugged.

"You would do this for me."

"I would," Aiden said as he closed the laptop. He raised hands over his head for a full body stretch. "The sun is going down."

Edmund stared only at Aiden, ignoring everything around him. His form flickered with his concentration.

Rising, Aiden strolled over to Edmund, taking more care than ever, used a finger to push back his glasses, and placed his hands on the arms of the chair. He leaned forward, smiled, and captured Edmund's in a soft, lingering kiss. One of his hands lifted to curl around Edmund's cheek, the skin smooth and cool as marble under his touch. There was a flicker of energy, mist, but nothing to show he was truly alive.

Pulling back, he stared deep into Edmund's gaze.

"Aiden… I couldn't ask you to do…"

"You don't have to ask. I agree. Come, we need to do this in your room. What else do we need?"

"Candles, moonlight, and hope," Edmund said as he stood, brushing against Aiden's body.

"And lube. Lots of lube," Aiden said with a grin. "Though, I hope neither one of us needs to stay inside the other the entire night, because… umm… ow."

Edmund laughed as he wrapped an arm around Aiden's waist and led him out of the room. "No, I don't think it will be necessary. Perhaps we should make love a couple of times to prove our love for one another or the beginnings of love."

"I'll definitely second those ideas and I insist on lots of cuddling for the rest of the time."

"I say that sounds good and hope I can cuddle you for a long time beyond one night. I never thought I would even have the chance to end this curse. My life seemed to stretch endless ahead of me."

"We'll make it better if this all works," Aiden said.

This time, Edmund made sure to open the door instead of ghosting through. "I learned after last time."

Aiden broke out into laughter at the sheepish smile on Edmund's face.

They stopped at the threshold, not because of a spell, but the transformation of the interior room.

"Umm. This isn't your room, is it?" Aiden asked as he looked around at the lavish blankets, pillows, the bed piled with more, breezy curtains flowing with the sea breeze, a fire roaring in the hearth, and candles flickering everywhere.

"Not the way I left it earlier," Edmund said as he stepped forward and stopped to stare in a corner. "Priestess…"

"What…" Aiden moved until he was behind Edmund, his hands clutched his waistband as he poke his face around Edmund's shoulder. He saw the shadowy image become clearer of a dark-skinned female with her hair wrapped in a colorful cloth and her clothes were gauzy and flowing. She wore several amulets around her neck and waist.

"Happy All Hallow's Eve, gentlemen. Captain Edmund Carslyle, the one who doomed my love to death and cursed by myself, do you come into the relationship under your own free will and bidding?" the priestess intoned.

"I do," Edmund said, not arguing any points tonight.

"Aiden Joseph, the one who entered this manor without pretense or knowledge of the aforementioned curse, do you come into this relationship under your own free will and bidding?"

Aiden blinked and fixed his glasses. "I do, Priestess."

"So polite, dear boy," the woman said with a smile, bright against her skin. "By your free will and power of this night, I open the spiritual world and release you from your curse this evening, Captain Edmund Carslyle. If the two of you prove a love strong between you, life will remain beating in your heart, your soul replaced intact. If you break apart and are false with one another, Captain Edmund Carslyle, your soul and life is mine and you will cease living among this world."

Edmund swallowed under his throat. "I understand, Priestess, please do thy bidding with me."

Aiden clutched him tighter to support the man.

Raising her hands, the priestess chanted and spoke with her spirits and gods until a line of smoke flared from the fire and wrapped around Edmund, forcing him away from Aiden's grip.

"Edmund!" Aiden called out, but couldn't get through the barrier.

Edmund cried out as his body twisted and contorted under the power. He dropped to his knees, suddenly feeling the weight of the world and loss upon his body. He pressed a hand against his chest.

It was there. The strong beating of his heart.

"You have until the rise of the sun to prove your commitment or your soul returns to me with the first rays of the sun across the water. Mark this time well," the priestess said and disappeared along with the barrier around Edmund.

"Edmund! Damn, not again… Edmund!" Aiden shouted as he banged his fists against the barrier. When it disappeared, he almost face-planted, but balanced himself out. Seeing Edmund on his knees, he dropped and crawled to him. "Edmund? Oh, Edmund, talk to me." He reached out and pressed one hand to Edmund's shoulder and another on his back. The sensation of touching him was different and astounding. "Oh… my… god…"

"I'm alive…" Edmund said.

"Holy…"

Not wanting to waste a minute of his one night with Aiden, Edmund twisted until he captured Aiden's face between his hands and pressed his lips against him. Their tongues dueled, tangled, and plied against one another. The kiss sloppy, wet, and full of need.

"One night. My night with you… Now…" Edmund said, catching his breath.

Lips swollen, eyes bright with passion, Aiden gave him a lopsided smiled. "You got it, pirate."