Free Masque by Lexi Post Page A

him. “And of course the Green Room is a
library where a visitor could read or research. I particularly like the desk.
It feels very—”
    Rena gasped as she lost her balance and fell against the low
embrasure. Visions of catapulting over the side passed before her an instant
before Synn caught her to him and held her tight. She grasped him around the
waist in return, her heart beating a flamenco in her chest as adrenaline rushed
through her veins. She took deep breaths, clinging to him as her body calmed,
but the quick heartbeat she heard against her ear wasn’t hers. She leaned her
head back to look at Synn.
    His brow was furrowed and more serious than usual. His color
wasn’t so good either. “Synn?”
    He squeezed her, but his gaze remained fixed to a spot
beyond her.
    Having no objection to being in his arms, she rested her
head back on his chest, but she used her hands to knead his back in an attempt
to relax him. The man was more tense than a cat about to pounce. They stood
there, embracing, until the puffy clouds gathered for their own party and the
breeze blew cold. “Ah, Synn. I think we should go in now. It’s going to rain.”
    He loosened his arms but didn’t let go. “Yes, you should go
inside before it rains.”
    He put his arm around her waist and guided her to the door.
Once she reached the bottom of the spiral staircase, he released her.
    She headed down the hall. “The next room is obvious as it’s
the billiard room, but what is the White Room used for?”
    When she received no reply, she stopped and turned. He was
gone…again.
    “Urgh. That man is going to drive me to drink.” As she
descended to the next level, she noticed a distinct lack of sound. “Finally, a
little peace and—”
    “Rena! Rena, where are you?” Huh-oh. Valerie’s impatient
voice pierced through to the second floor.
    She picked up her pace. “I’m up here. Be right down!”
    “You better be. You need to make some decisions… now .”
    She descended the final staircase into the entryway. Valerie
stood at the bottom, one hand fisted into her waist and the other holding her
phone.
    “What is it?”
    “I’ve got to find us a stone mason. I’ll be lucky if there
is one in all of Canada. They aren’t exactly a dime a dozen. And this boy
here.” She pointed to Matt who stood nearby, still naked from the waist up,
water dripping down his chest as he gulped a bottle of water. He was a feast
for Rena’s frustrated libido. “He wants to know what you want done with the
graveyard when the rain stops.”
    A bright flash lit the Abbey on all sides and a thunderous
roar immediately followed.
    Matt grinned, but Valerie shook her head. “ If the
rain stops.” With that pronouncement, she strode off to the kitchen, leaving
Rena with Matt. Overall, not a terribly bad arrangement.
    * * * * *
    “Father Richard!” Synn strode into the chapel, still shaken
by Rena’s near fall. No matter how many times he told himself she wouldn’t have
tumbled over, he couldn’t shake the feeling someone had instigated the episode.
The question was why? If they lost her, their chances of resting in peace would
evaporate. Could that be it? Someone didn’t want to leave?
    “Father Richard!” Where was the blasted priest? Synn sat in
the front pew and stared at the altar. “Do you know what just happened? She
almost fell to her death, that’s what happened.”
    He waited, determined to speak to the elusive man. Damn it,
where was he? The priest, like him, didn’t fit the Abbey’s ghost contingent.
The good father had never preached a sermon in the little chapel, yet here is
where he appeared. “Father Richard. You must tell me what the blazes is
happening.”
    Synn peered into the cloister behind the altar where Father
Richard sometimes appeared. Nothing. He sniffed the air but no incense met his
nose. Blast it. “Very well, I will assume our lovely guest potentially falling
to her death isn’t important and go on about my business