Free Malevolent Hall 1666AD by Rosemary Lynch Page A

at the poker.
    “I am not going to hurt you,” he added.
    “What, oh, no, sorry,” she said, throwing the poker to the ground.  “I’m just a little jittery at the moment.”
    “That is understandable, after what happened here,” he said in a gentle voice.
    “You know about my family?” Matilda asked.  He gave a slow nod.
    “Do I know you?” she asked, as the feeling of familiarity rippled through to her core.
    “Yes, Matilda, you do,” he confirmed.
    “Where from, school?” Matilda asked.  “Are you, local to Selton?”
    “Not from school. I am from Selton, but I cannot tell you, you have to remember me,” he said, mysteriously.
    “What, why can’t you tell me?” she asked.  He smiled, and the intensity in his eyes turned her legs to jelly.  “And not being funny, but you’re not exactly dressed for a building site,” she remarked looking at his trousers, white shirt and waistcoat.
    “It is the rules of the enchantment,” he said.
    “Enchantment, what the hell are you talking about?” she asked.
    “Matilda,” a man’s voice hollered.  She turned to see Mike walking towards her, with Parker bounding by his side.
    “Excuse me,” she said to the man, who merely dipped his head with a smile.  “Mike,” she greeted as he approached.
    “Sorry to bother you, Matilda,” he said, in a smooth, deep voice.  Parker sat by Mike’s feet and growled.
    “Parker, shut up,” he said, looking down at his dog. It was not like him to growl.  Parker ignored him, and he growled staring at the stranger by Matilda’s side.
    “Parker,” he said again, this time his voice was firm.  Parker stopped growling, but he did not stop staring.  Matilda eyed the dog, looked back at the stranger and then to Mike.
    “That’s okay.  How did you know I was here?” Matilda asked.
    “One of the guys putting up the scaffolding saw you go through the gate,” he replied.
    She swallowed nervously; he saw her go through the gate, she hoped he had not seen her use her magic to open the door.
    “We’ve found something I think you will want to see,” he said mysteriously.
    “Really, what is it?” she asked, curiously.
    “A chest,” he replied.
    “A chest,” she repeated, glancing at him, and then to the man to her side, and she was surprised at how similar in appearance the two men were. In fact, if you ignored the stranger’s weird clothing, they could easily pass as brothers.
    Matilda was somewhat concerned however; that Parker could obviously see the man, as he was still staring at him but Mike never acknowledge the man was there.
    “Yes, you know like a treasure chest,” he said.
    “Oh, okay.  Look I will catch you up if that is okay, I’ve just got to grab something from the summer house,” she lied.
    “No problem. I will get the men to get it out of the hole and put it in the kitchen for you.”
    “Thanks, Mike,” she said gratefully, and he gave her another one of his heart melting smiles, before heading back towards the garden gate.  Parker stayed, and he growled again.
    “Parker,” Mike yelled.  The dog barked one more time, and then took off after him.
    “Walk with me,” she asked of the man, and turning she headed back towards the summerhouse.  He did not reply, but he did follow her.
    Once inside, she stopped and turned to him.
    “Why didn’t he see you, but the dog did?” Matilda asked apprehensively.
    “Because I am dead,” he replied.
    “You - are – dead?” she repeated, taking a step back, her eyes wide.
    “Yes, I am what you like to call a spirit, or ghost.  The dog could sense my presence, but your friend, he could not see me.”
    “But why - why can I see you quite clearly?” she stuttered.
    “I honestly do not know,” he whispered back, and he took a step towards her.  She froze to the spot, too afraid, and too excited to move.
    “Are you the one who’s been calling my name?” she said back.
    “Calling your name?” he repeated, a slight hesitation