Free Curses by Traci Harding Page A

more confident about teaching her craft these days. And although she has realised one of her dreams, to perform professionally, her greatest adventure (marriage and parenthood) is still unfolding.
    A year after Chloe’s birth, Lisa is performing in the ‘Bodies’ recital once again.
    Lisa inspired the character of Alma in The Ancient Future Trilogy and the character of Hannah in The Alchemist’s Key .

     
    The dream of any young couple is to buy their own home, but you don’t always get told the whole story when purchasing a house. It’s only after you move in that you find out about the faulty electrical wiring, the white ants and that the stove has not been cleaned in a century! When you’re moving to a small town, it seems everyone knows more about your house than you do and no one bothers to say anything until the sale goes through.
    The premise for ‘Curses’ came when I was reading a book of Irish ghost stories, and I came across a tale of a haunted house at Berren, Derrygarry. The story took place in the middle of the nineteenth century. This tale embraced a romance, a curse, a poltergeist and finally an exorcism … and even so, the haunting did not end there.

Curses
     

     
    Prologue
     
    ‘THE HOUSE WAS the home of Phillip McLevy, a well-to-do farmer, with a good wife and a young family. Their country lifestyle was idyllic until McLevy got involved with a local girl, who became pregnant and demanded that McLevy marry her. When he refused, the girl called upon the dark forces of nature to devise a curse that would avenge the wrong done her. McLevy was much relieved when the girl left the little country town to start a new life in America and was drowned at sea during the passage. The young farmer’s relief was short-lived however, when soon after, violent, unexplainable happenings began to take place in the house. The parish priest was called in to exorcise the unseen entity and after several hours of praying in every room of the house the priest emerged pale and shaken. He told McLevy that he’d managed to banish the spirit from the house, but that it was still present in the environs. The priest told McLevy never to extend on the foundations of the house or the troubled spirit would be back.
    1. The Sale
     
    ‘Well, that’s a fascinating story, Mrs Hodson. No wonder this house has been on our books forever.’ Bert, the real estate agent, fixed his aging receptionist with a stern look that urged her to hold her tongue in future. ‘I hardly think such tall stories are going to aid young Steven here to sell the place.’ He turned to his junior. ‘Forget you ever heard that old myth,’ he instructed firmly. ‘This property is very specific to the Garretts’ needs, so just stick to the facts. Is that clear.’
    Steven gulped and nodded. He needed the commission.
    ‘Good,’ Bert concluded. ‘The Garrett’s are very keen, so you ought to be able to sell this one with your eyes closed.’
    The junior forced a smile. ‘I’ll do my best, sir.’
    ‘That’s the spirit.’ Bert gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder for reassurance. ‘I expect you’ll come back with a firm offer.’

     
    True, the idea of moving so far away from cosmopolitan life was not thrilling, but Rhea was well used to uprooting herself to accompany Phillip all over the world on business trips. He was a technologist and as such a creative mind as his was always in great demand, Rhea had seen a lot of the world in their three years of marriage. However, this time their move promised to be more permanent. For the first time in Phillip’s career he was determined to develop his latest venture himself and had been given a substantial Government grant to do it.
    ‘So, what do you think?’ Phillip queried, smothering his own excitement.
    Rhea had to admit that the old rundown cottage had potential, far more than the last four houses she’d renovated for their profit.
    ‘I think it’s a wreck,’ she replied, her