《It wasn't my fate》


 Prologue: In the beginning

    Illusion¡­ or the ability to be able to manipulate one¡¯s mind into believing that the impossible, for only a moment, could become possible. A slight of hand or a hidden gesture that seems to slip past the conscious mind, is all that is needed to ensure a successful illusion capable of sending a crowd to their feet.


    In a room adorned only with the silken threads of a spider¡¯s web, a child shuffles a deck of cards through shaking fingertips. Through the cracks of the boarded walls a light filters through, though dulling as the once vibrant day shifts into a shadowed night. To the left of the room a single table stands on coiled legs which holds a dust coated jar. He had planned on collecting buttons of all shapes and sizes¡­ buttons once strung proudly upon silken dresses or woollen coats. Buttons which held meaning to someone, at least at some point in time, but were now discarded and waiting for someone else to find the beauty in them once what they were attached to was lost.


    A single wooden door was all that lay before him if he was to peer up from his current position. A door splintered from its age yet held a sort of attractiveness to it with its mirror like glass staring back towards him. He dared to glance up and felt the grimace creep across his face. His untamed Raven locks fell over eyes he hated to call his own. Though his left eye held a pale blue tainted with what could only be described as a silver lining, his right eye seemed to be lost in the colour pallet. It held a shade of red similar to that of freshly spilled blood at times, but given the right light, that same crimson eye would let off a paler hue which was often mistaken as his eye shining.


    He faltered once feeling the cards slip from his tiny fingertips, scattering across the dust sheened floorboards. A creak broke through the silence as boards curved inward when he bent down to start gathering the deck back together. It was his mother¡¯s idea. She thought that with his talent he should add a little more mystery with the art of trickery. It was tiering enough¡­ He spent most of his day traveling from one town to the next whilst his mother waved in the steady flow of cash his talents provided. To see the dead was called a gift, though, take off the bow and the pretty idea of it all and it could just be considered a curse.


    Raising his hand to cover his crimson eye, he bit into his lip until he felt the steady flow of blood run down his chin. Had he kept his mouth shut then perhaps things would be different. Perhaps his father would have stayed around long enough to see him achieve anything a normal child would usually receive praise for. Perhaps his mother would smile again without the need of a fistful of cash. Oh, the scenarios he would dream up whilst laying awake at night. Those scenarios he knew to be only dreams.


    The door opened and the doorway stretched out to a hall just as bare as the room he now stood in. If he strained his eyes enough, he could see a potted plant hanging just by a window which allowed the stream of moonlight to flood in from beyond its closed frame. A figure stood in the doorway, her blonde hair pinned back to a neat bun and her hazel eyes bore down towards him with a look of concern. She wore a loose-fitting black dress pinched in at the middle with a coreset that allowed the base to flay out and give her form further shape. If she was to take her hair out, he knew it would rest just upon her shoulders and fall longer at the front than it did at the back. Almeria had been the household maid for the past year and a half now. She was always gentle, even when he stayed out too late and she feared he¡¯d catch a cold.


    ¡°Chester,¡± She sighed whilst kneeling down to level herself with his height. ¡°You¡¯ve made yourself bleed, what has your mother and I told you about biting your lip? Gently she used her fingers to pry his teeth from his flesh before she removed a piece of cloth from her dress pocket to dab his chin first then up to his lip where she held the cloth in place. ¡°There is a little girl you will be seeing tonight,¡± she then smiled. ¡°You¡¯ll make her better so she can play like the other little girls her age, now won¡¯t you?¡±


    Nodding, Chester spread his arms out as Almeria went about unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it back from his shoulders. Her fingers were surprisingly warm in comparison to the cool night¡¯s air now wafting in from the hallway.


    ¡°Her name¡¯s Elizabeth,¡± Almeria continued. ¡°She plays piano like you do Chet¡± He could see her conceal a blush. She had called him by his nickname. A name only his mother used or his father when he was around. ¡°Sorry Chester,¡± she added quickly to the end. ¡°Just sometimes you¡¯re so quiet that I ramble on and let things slip.¡± Straightening herself once she had him fully unclothed, she then disappeared back down the hall only to return a few moments later with her hands carrying his next outfit.


    ¡°Is my mother coming this time?¡± He could feel his throat grow dry just uttering the question. Of course, she would¡­ she loves to be there to talk the other mother¡¯s through whatever was going on. To take credit for breeding such a special child. Lifting his arms, he felt the light fabric of his blue shirt being pulled down over his head, then held onto Almeria¡¯s shoulders so he could step into his black jeans. ¡°I thought maybe this time just you and I could go¡­¡±


    Almeria glanced up with a small smile. ¡°You know she likes to support you and your work silly.¡± Placing her hands to his sides she helps guide him down to the floor, so she was able to fiddle with his polished shoes. ¡°Besides if your mother wasn¡¯t there, I¡¯m sure the other parents would freak out with what you do¡±


    A part of him knew that was right, though it still didn¡¯t change the fact that he hated her being there. Almeria lifted him back up onto his feet once she ensured the knots were fastened properly. Noticing his worried expression, she decided to keep hold of his hand as she guided him from his room and down the hallway.


    ¡°A letter from your father arrived this morning,¡± She added when they reached the hallways end and turned left towards the wooden flight of steps which coiled down to the lower level. ¡°He said he¡¯s going to try and make it home for Christmas, wouldn¡¯t that be nice?¡±


    Her voice seemed to trail off after the vacant promise of his father returning for the holidays. He promised the same thing ever year¡­ it¡¯s been three years and he hasn¡¯t made a single Christmas yet.


    Chester could feel the small smile play upon his lips. He had to at least humour Almeria with the illusion of a smile, especially after she was going to so much trouble to cheer him up. Right now, however, he was feeling as if a huge weight was being pulled down upon him, and that weight only increased when he saw his mother rounding the corner. She wore a thick strapped crimson dress which clung to her hourglass like frame and flowed down to the floorboards beneath her. The dress itself was probably worth more than the building they were standing in and accompanied with her side tilted crimson hat and pearl necklace¡­ well¡­ she was just a standing gold mine.


    ¡°Well what do you think?¡± She grinned whilst taking a graceful twirl. ¡°Your mother scrubs up well doesn¡¯t she?¡±


    Looking up from the wooden boards, Chester swallowed hard and nodded to her question. When she twirled, he could see she¡¯d also managed to afford a new pair of heels which clicked with her every step.


    ¡°I thought you were supposed to dress him Almeria?¡± His mother question with a hardened tone. ¡°He hardly looks the part of a gifted child now does he?¡± Chester flinched when his mother crouched down in front of him and gripped hold of his chin, tilting his face this way and that which caused her nails to dig into his cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ve also told you numerous times to cover up that demon looking eye. The poor girl¡¯s mother is going to have a fit if she sees it¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Digging his teeth into the side of his cheek when she finally released him, he held back the tears by clenching his fists by his sides. He could feel Almeria softly gripping him by the shoulders and steering him back up the stairwell, but from the moment she changed his shirt to a button up white shirt and slid on his black vest, to the time they slipped into the back of the carriage and ventured off into the night, his vision was just a blur.


    ¡°We¡¯re making ten times more from the healings than we are from talking to the dead.¡± His mother made a point of saying when they pulled into the gated driveway of a large estate. ¡°I suppose depending on the severity of the condition we could always up the prices again to make an even greater profit¡± Leaning forwards she licked the corner of her handkerchief and run it along Chester¡¯s lower lip. ¡°You¡¯ve been biting that lip again, haven¡¯t you?¡± Rolling her eyes, she glanced towards Almeria.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Mistress, I¡¯ve told him time and time again not to do it¡­ I¡­¡± Almeria¡¯s voice was shaking slightly, though she still managed to spread a smile across her once drawn face. ¡°But you know how stubborn children can be¡±


    Nodding towards Almeria she then took another glance towards his crimson eye before holding her hand out. ¡°I¡¯ll put the patch on then shall I? Seeming you chose to ignore me back at the house,¡± she scowled.


    In truth Almeria knew how uncomfortable the patch was for Chester. She made the decision at the house to just bring it along with her and have him wear it when they left the carriage. With a slight nod she passed the patch towards his mother as she was quick to fasten it over his eye before she shuffled her way from the carriage and bowed towards the man now holding the door open for the three of them. Chester had not even noticed that at some point they had come to a stop at their destination.


    ¡°Roslyn.¡± The man nodded as she stood upon the loose gravel and reached in to pick Chester up to place him on the ground.


    Roslyn gave him a small nod in return then placed her hands upon Chester¡¯s shoulders. ¡°My son has been talking none stop about helping little Elizabeth,¡± she smiled before waving towards Almeria to confirm her lie with a quick nod herself. ¡°Elizabeth used to play the piano before this unfortunately event happened?¡±


    To the quirk of her brow the man signed then looked back towards the expanding manner behind them. ¡°Ah yes,¡± he murmured, as if remembering a time long ago. ¡°The manner used to always be filled with her beautiful music, but unfortunately now she¡¯s unable to sit up, let alone enjoy the keys of her piano.¡±


    Hearing the extent of the girl¡¯s illness only made Chester tense. Some people he couldn¡¯t help¡­ people who were too far gone and people who had given up on themselves. He had learnt that if the victim was set to die within the next seven days¡­ then the cause was all but lost. To prevent scepticism his mother had recently started to request that a local doctor had come to assess the patient before she¡¯d even consider taking the job.


    ¡°Well my son Chet here plays the piano himself. He¡¯s quite fond of it actually, ¡°his mother continued to babble on as they made their way towards the large wooden doors placed skilfully in the centre of the large bricks which surrounded it. ¡°So, when I mentioned her passion to him, he decided to push her case up to the top of our priority list¡±


    Priority list? They were mainly getting prank calls, or the calls which were serious they dealt with on that night.


    Glancing towards his mother his eyes then grew wide as the wooden doors were peeled back to reveal an almost reflective marble staircase which expanded out to the entirety of what they could see of the second floor. The marble of the staircase flowed down to both the first layer and then back up to the second story making the foyer seem larger than it needed to appear. This place¡­ it was nothing like Chester had ever seen before. Every corner had some form of decorative item in it, whether it be a vase balancing on a glass table, or an array of red to white roses clustered together and tucked within polished silver clamps hanging from the walls.


    He could tell his mother was enjoying the finer things in life. She had already started darting around the entrance from one side to the next. She especially liked the idea of the painted portraits which hung along the back wall of the second story.


    ¡°They¡¯ll be waiting for you in the second seating room,¡± the man continued whilst gesturing towards a hall which coiled around into a section illuminated by freshly lit candles. The flickering from their flame danced across the hall and once Almeria had steered him through the darkness to that light, he held his breath at what he saw.


    Elizabeth was propped up with numerous pillows and her parents had positioned themselves together by her side, squeezing each other¡¯s hands as if that simple gesture would bring upon some miracle to save their daughters life.


    They seemed in a daze until they looked over towards Chester then met his mother¡¯s gaze. At first the girl¡¯s mother sobbed and the father clenched his arms around her to hold her tight.


    ¡°My wife Maria¡­ she has trouble coming to terms with our Lizzy¡¯s condition,¡± He uttered whilst stifling back a croaked voice. Judging from the redness of his eyes and cheeks, Chester could tell that it wasn¡¯t just his wife grieving over their daughter¡¯s situation.


    Moving closer towards the sofa, Chester felt Almeria¡¯s hands leave his shoulders. Being so small he could easily look down upon the girl¡¯s sinister locks, spilling out in curls past her shoulders and down to her wrists. Her lashes were thick and cheeks a feverish pink he knew all too well. Tentatively he reached forwards. Taking her hand with his he was greeted by the girl fluttering her eyes open to look at him. A purple he¡¯d never seen before stared back, faded, yet pleading.


    ¡°Who¡­ are you¡­?¡±


    Her words stumbled out and were hard to hear over his mother behind him, talking over the process with their backs turned to the two of them. He preferred the privacy¡­ it allowed him to concentrate on what he was doing.


    ¡°I¡¯m Chester¡­ Your parents sent for me to help you¡­¡±


    He was never one for speaking, in fact, he tried to stay quiet as best he could. The living wasn¡¯t as easy to talk to as the dead¡­ at least the dead didn¡¯t have any expectations.


    ¡°It¡¯s too late¡­¡± she croaked, though as she smiled Chester could see a single tear fall down her face.


    Squeezing her hand gently in his he then whispers. ¡°It¡¯s never too late¡­ if you believe¡­¡±


    She looked at him, and for a moment he could see the expression of wonder cross her features. It was as if for a brief moment he was able to convince her that everything was going to be okay¡­ and that was all that he needed.


    ¡°Have faith in me¡­¡± he continued as his eyes closed and he cupped both his hands around her own. He could feel the plastic of the drip separating them from having a complete connection, however, he had worked around them before.


    Allowing himself to relax he felt her squeeze his hand back. She had faith¡­ Smiling shyly he could feel the sweat start to bead upon his forehead as the pain struck him first. It was a pain he should have been used to by now, but one he could never really prepare himself for. It was as if someone were shoving a dull blade through his chest cavity¡­ breaking apart whatever was in the way to get to his heart which now beat quickly within his chest. He could hear his breath. Long shallow breaths as the heat started to reach his fingertips and push forth into the now tensing Elizabeth.


    ¡°He¡¯s hurting her!¡±


    The voice was loud enough to break through his trance. Though to Chester, her cries out as well as Elizabeth¡¯s slight whimpers, were drowned out by the searing pain which caused him to latch his teeth into his lip. Three¡­ He counted in his head, as if that would be enough to distract him from crying out. Two¡­ he could feel her starting to settle down. One¡­


    Opening his eyes, he released her hand and toppling backwards he clutched at his chest and tried to use the pressure of his nails to relieve the pain.


    Elizabeth sat herself up quite suddenly. Her hair fell over her face though she was determined to squirm forwards to reach out for him. It was a natural thing. Usually for the first ten or so seconds the person would try to reconnect with the feeling of being healed¡­ or as some people liked to call it, cleansed.


    ¡°It¡¯s a miracle!¡± Maria cried out from the far corner. She rushed forwards to wrap her arms around her daughter and her partner joined her side a few moments later after collecting himself from the shock of his daughter¡¯s speedy recovery. Though the girl continued to reach out, her eyes lined with tears, Chester could do nothing but try and bring his knees up beneath himself so he could move further away from her. He couldn¡¯t let them re-connect, for some reason he knew deep down this was something he should never do.


    ¡°Take him back to the car¡±


    He could hear his mother¡¯s desperate tone call out and could feel Almeria¡¯s hands wrap beneath his arms and lift him quickly into her arms. By now¡­ the room he was now being rushed through was turning into a blur¡­ he could feel his heart clenching then releasing with every painful beat. Another healing¡­ another healing and what did he gain from it? Absolutely nothing¡­

 Niceties

    The large dining hall was circled with numerous faces. It was hard to believe that so many people could fit around such an oddly shaped table, though with shoulders quite a comfortable distance apart, Chester watched as they tucked into the roast beef coated in a herbed sauce.


    He looked up towards the ceiling. He had noticed the similar design all throughout the building. It was as if someone had taken lines of gold and stretched them out in equal lengths apart across the entirety of the roof. Though if one looked close enough they could see that each individual strip was carved into a line of biblical recordings, each one showing a story in minute detail.


    ¡°So, I hear you have earned yourself quite a following for someone in their early twenties¡±


    The voice was soft, though pitched halfway through. He knew her as Lady Madora. She had earned her title after marrying into a wealthy family whom dealt with numerous shipments of coal to neighbouring countries. She had been the start of conversation all night¡­ well at least the conversation that had everyone quieten down to listen. In all honesty, Chester hated being the centre of attention, even the thought of speaking out to more than one or two people at a time had his skin crawling¡­ but¡­ Looking over at his mother and seeing her annoyed expression at the fact he hadn¡¯t answered her yet, he swallowed hard and clamped his hands over his knees.


    ¡°So it seems¡­¡± He managed to croak out.


    Lady Madora¡¯s face contorted into a displeased scowl. His answer obviously was too short to keep the conversation flowing, but he felt their attention shift as his mother started speaking.


    ¡°We seem to be getting letters daily with numerous people needing my son¡¯s gifts,¡± she smiled. ¡°If only I had another child with his talents so we could help all of them in their struggles.¡±


    She always had to be the charismatic one¡­ the one to smile about it all and to make everything seem as if in some freak way this was a gift and not a burden.


    The dinner was finished quite quickly, and the gests all gathered in the entrance for the usual light banter and wine whilst they waited for the night to conclude. Chester tried his hardest to keep to the back of the room and away from the constant conversation, though somehow, two of the party goers had managed to break free from the crowd and move until they were pretty close to his side.


    The first thing that came to Chester¡¯s mind was the obvious stench of the girl to his lefts perfume. It was particularly strong and smelt of a foul mix of crushed herbs watered down with a fermented oil. Scrunching his nose a few times to try and clear his senses, he made the conscious effort to not give the satisfaction of directing his eyes towards her. The male to his right was rather tall and stocky. To see his large frame trying to squeeze into his suit could have been classed as amusing if it were on any other occasion. The two were probably partners, Chester had gathered that by the way he brandished a golden tie around his neck to match with her lengthy gown. She leant in close to him with curious brown eyes and a mass of orange curls which fell down to brush against the top of her shoulders.


    ¡°So, do you really talk to the dead?¡± she questioned whilst exchanging a glance with the man opposite him who was now moving so he stood beside his partner. ¡°I¡¯m Frey and this is my brother Rey.¡±


    The resemblance in their names had his eyes flicking from one to the other. They couldn¡¯t have been twins¡­ they had to be at least two or three years apart.


    Her break out of giggles had him break from his thoughts.


    ¡°We¡¯re twins in a sense that I was born on the same day as my brother though three years later.¡± Leaning in closer to him now he could feel the warmth of her breath against his face. ¡°Why is it that such an occurrence like that could possibly happen?¡¯ She arched her brow towards him as if he had all the answers but frowned when he gave no response in return to her eager questions.


    ¡°He¡¯s not going to help us out sis just give it a rest. Can¡¯t you see you¡¯re making him uncomfortable?¡±


    Chester glanced towards Rey who was now slumped against one of the buildings many stone pillars. Now that he looked at the two of them closer, he could see that they shared the same nose¡­ same eyes¡­ and same red hair in unruly curls just at different lengths.


    ¡°If you need my help, why didn¡¯t you just approach my mother about it?¡±


    Granted it was the most he had ever said the entire night, but he didn¡¯t exactly want to ruin business, or his mother would probably have his head for it. Taking a step forwards, he gripped Frey¡¯s shoulder then pointed in the direction of his mother, who at the time was allowing a waiter to pour her another glass of wine.


    Pulling away from him she shook her head quickly then moved until she was kneeling down before him.


    Please Chester¡­ you have to understand that we don¡¯t want to throw money into something we don¡¯t know will work. Your mother brings a hard bargain to the table and to take that from our parents account¡­¡±


    Rey was quick to pull her back to her feet before her scene was noticed by the others.


    ¡°You see we had a brother,¡± Rey continued whilst he pulled his sister in close to his side. ¡°A brother born before the both of us and lived until his early teens. We were wondering what kind of person he was and what kind of legacy he wanted to leave for this family so we could try our best to try and meet them ourselves in his memory.¡±


    Leaning back against the wall Chester dropped his eyes to the marble floor beneath them. ¡°To have some stupid notion that the dead really care about what legacy they once had before their passing is idiocy in its finest form.¡±


    Frey¡¯s eyes grew wide before they began to line with tears. ¡°How could you of all people say something like that?!¡±


    Her raised voice had the whole party drop to silence. Chester¡¯s mother was the first to push her way through the crowd to their sides where she quietly tried to calm the situation.


    ¡°Almeria,¡± she smiled softly with her hand outstretched towards their house maid who was standing in the far corner. She was seriously going to try and just remove him from the situation? He could see Almeria heading towards them. ¡°I apologise for my son¡¯s rude behaviour. His line of work tends to mess with his human side.¡±


    Feeling her glare, he averted his gaze and focused instead on an urn situation in the opposite side of the room. If he narrowed his eyes enough, he could just make out an inscription to the side.


    Dearest Finn, forever in our hearts, forever attached to our souls.


    ¡°I am terribly sorry.¡± His mother¡¯s voice cut in again and he had to blink just to refocus upon the three of them before him. ¡°He will help you out free of charge in exchange for the both of you to ignore his previous insensitive remarks.¡± Bowing down low she then smiled when the two of them agreed with her compromise.


    Flinching he took a step forwards and clutched at his mother¡¯s wrist. ¡°Are you an idiot, Almeria isn¡¯t going to be able to cover up what happens when all of this is done,¡± he hissed.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Tensing whilst his mother straightened herself and pulled her wrist from his grip, she then nodded towards the two of them. ¡°Take him somewhere private, for what you ask, I recommend somewhere you know your brother to have visited a lot.¡±


    That was how it started. How he ended up back in an attic, though this time accompanied by two people he¡¯d met moments beforehand at a party he never wanted to attend. This attic was a lot more crowded than his own when he was younger. This one was cluttered with old stone statues, boxes half opened, and random unfinished canvasses leant up against the walls. It was a miss match of different styles of art and the dust which coated the floors surface left the air thick after the three of them had been moving about up there.


    Our father told us that he used to come up here to paint and complete his studies. He liked how quiet it was up here in comparison to the rest of the house,¡± Frey murmured.


    Looking about he couldn¡¯t really see anything particularly grounding for a spirit to attach itself to. There was nothing up here which could have belonged to the kid; the paintings half completed looked recent so they couldn¡¯t have been done by him if he passed away before these two were even born.


    ¡°His name was Finn, right?¡± Chester sighed whilst narrowing his eyes and focusing towards a pull window placed on the far wall. ¡°I saw an urn downstairs with that name engraved into a silver plate¡­ is his ashes in there?¡±


    Looking between each other the two shrugged. ¡°We know it¡¯s in his memory, though whether he is actually in there is an entirely different story,¡± Rey added.


    An urn with no ashes¡­ This family certainly kept odd trinkets in the wake of their son¡¯s death. Making his way across the room he pushes the window outwards allowing a filtration of moonlight to create a path that lead from the window across to where one painting he hadn¡¯t noticed before had been leant against the wall. The painting itself was concealed from view and at this point, all he could tell was that at some point it would have been hanging on one of the manner¡¯s finer walls by the way a wired hanger had been bent from the strain of holding up the weight of the painting for many years. Crossing over to it he peeled it back from the wall and turned it so it was facing the moonlight, and, in that moment, a chill covered his body and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stick up.


    Taking in a shaky breath his eyes start flicking wildly around the room. He had felt it¡­ a change in the air, a shift of the presence in this room, but he couldn¡¯t see so much as a silhouette to represent whoever had just decided to join them. Rey must have felt the change in temperature¡­ he immediately went to wrapping his arms around himself whereas before he was close to his sister to the point, they were almost holding hands. Frey on the other hand was too busy stomping around the room and moving old boxes in search of her brother¡¯s old possessions to be able to notice anything going on around her.


    ¡°That painting¡­¡± Rey took a few steps forwards but kept to the side so he wouldn¡¯t block their main source of light. ¡°I Remember it used to be in our nursery when we were growing up¡±


    Frey had stopped rummaging around at this point and had spun around to look towards the painting. She was a little late at catching on, but she brought her arms around herself as her breath escaped her lips in a soft mist that followed the breeze filtering in through the window. ¡°Finn¡­¡± Abandoning her position by the boxes she moved to crouch down by the base of the painting where she used her pale fingers to brush the cobweb that had gathered at the corner of the frame and obscured a portion of the picture where Finn¡¯s name now became visible. ¡°This was his work¡­¡±


    Gesturing for Rey to hold the painting up, Chester then moved so he was standing in front of it. Panning his gaze over the many splashes of colour created by thick layers of oil paints, he tilts his head to the side and finds himself smiling a little at the beauty of what lay before him. It was a depiction of the lake he had passed on his way to the manner¡­ although the oak tree that lined its waters seemed a lot smaller and didn¡¯t branch out as far as it now did. It was like a picture caught in the past.


    ¡°Finn are you here?!¡±


    Tensing up at the sudden loud shouts of Frey as she bounced back up to her feet and started pacing around the attic. The shift in temperature only intensified to the point a thin layer of frost started to outline the windowpane and creep along wooden walls and framework that surrounded them. Spirits could shift the temperature in the room, sure¡­ but usually when temperatures drop to these levels, whatever was with them wasn¡¯t happy with them being there and trying to communicate.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think your brother is here Frey¡­¡± Chester¡¯s voice had come out a little more shaken than he had anticipated it to. He wanted to give her confidence that whatever this was, it was something that they needed to be turning away from and getting someone else in to properly cleanse the room.


    ¡°What are you talking about? Didn¡¯t you notice the change in the room?!¡± Frey at this point seemed to be bouncing from her heels to her toes as she moved around the room. She was pulling boxes out as if she was playing hide and seek with a child. Even if she was to move a box whatever this thing was hiding behind, it was unlikely she would be able to see it.


    Spinning around Chester felt a warm breath shift the fabric of his coat. Looking into the blank space that greeted him, he run his tongue along his lips to try and counteract the cracks that were beginning to form against the skin. If Finn passed in his early teens there would be no way he would only reach the base of his coat¡­ whatever was up here was running low to the ground and it was aware that he would be able to see it if it came too close. These sorts of intellectual spirits were ones you didn¡¯t want to remain locked in a room with¡­ they were often depicted as demons scraped up from hell and could quite easily slip into hollow objects as their host.


    Growling¡­ it was a deep and guttural growl coming from the far-left corner of the room. Moving his gaze to the direction of the sound he was then quick to move his attention to where Frey and Rey were standing. They didn¡¯t seem to have heard it so¡­ that meant what he was hearing was the culprit to the now freezing attic.


    ¡°Well Mr I see dead people. Do you see our brother?¡± Rey had followed his gaze to the corner of the room and when he pointed it out that he was focused on a certain point of the attic, Frey soon moved to stand by his side and peer towards the corner as well. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why your mother charges so much if you- ¡°his words drowned out as Chester started to move across the room. Intimidation was not the approach he needed to take¡­ not this time.


    Crouching down onto one knee he holds his hand out then turns his head away in the hope that he would feel something to confirm his theories. He could feel eyes bearing down upon him from behind as the twins watched in a kind of quiet trance at what he was doing. It was always the way when he connected with the dead. The silence gave him time to concentrate, but whether people realised this and chose to remain silent¡­ or if something came over them like when he was completing a healing, was something that he hadn¡¯t quite figured out yet.


    There it was¡­ a warmth that run along his index finger like a breath of summer air against the biting cold that surrounded them. Turning his head slightly at first, he could just make out the outline of two pointed ears and then the wagging tail. Letting out a relieved sigh he turned himself fully and offered the back of his hand again towards the hound that moved tentatively forwards. This is what happened to dogs when they were unable to cross over¡­ their fur appears like ash around their shadowed forms¡­ like sparks it comes to life. Peering into the golden eyes that stared back he gives a small smile to the pup. A German Sheppard¡­ just over two years old. Moving so he is able to run his open palm along the fur of the dogs jaw he closes his eyes as flashes of images start flicking across the back of his lids. He could only describe the experience as being similar to that of watching a projection film¡­ some parts cut and pasted poorly and others quite jumpy and unclear.


    A recollection of a boy running out into the snow to collect a shivering bundle of fur¡­ that scene soon shifting to towering adults scolding past actions and instructions being demanded to provide this ball of fur the fate it was once destined to. Stubbornness seemed to run in the family as this child stowed away a stray runt of a pup in the attic of a beautiful manner. The next few scenes skipped by like a short film of a longer life, but gradually that stubborn boy began to visit less frequently and when he did, he could barely make it up the stairs¡­ an illness? Running this thumb through the fur to maintain the connection he creases his brows and squeezed his eyes shut tighter. Eventually the boy stopped showing at all¡­ then the eyes which once held the joy of seeing his rescuer now held the pain of realising, he was alone once more.


    Pulling his hand back slowly he looks down towards his fingers then flinches as a warmth hit his palm and he realises a single tear had managed to run down his cheek. Breathing in deeply and wiping his eyes on the back of his coat sleeve, he shakily rises back up to his feet and turning to face the twins who were exchanging glances he smiles a little.


    ¡°Like I said¡­ your brother isn¡¯t here¡­ but a friend of his is¡± he could feel his voice breaking slightly. Looking into the eyes of a spirit could be overwhelming at the best of times¡­ but when the spirit was an animal¡­ well the emotions are far stronger than that of a human¡¯s soul. ¡°He had stowed away a puppy from the winter snow¡­ your parents wouldn¡¯t allow him to keep it, so he hid him up here¡­ when your brother passed there was no-one left to take care of him so he too fell to the same fate.¡± Frey seemed to be less convinced than Rey did. She kept moving her attention to the space where he had been crouched with pursed lips and clenched fists by her sides. ¡°Your brother has crossed over to whatever land you wish to believe is after this life¡­ but unfortunately his dog has remained, still waiting for his master to return. If you want a legacy to hold onto for him, I think cleaning up this space and adding some things for this spirit to play with will be your best bet¡±


    ¡°This is the sort of shit your mother gets payment for?¡± Her words bit off at the end as she scoffed and moved her attention back onto Chester. ¡°You¡¯re a fake, a fraud, a damn circus act!¡± Spinning on her heels she pushed past her brother¡¯s shoulder and stormed down the stairs. Rey followed her shortly after, once he had given Chester a sorrowful smile and a brief nod.


    Peering back over his shoulder to the blank space where the dog had been, he finds himself chewing on his lip once more. Not everyone believed in what he could do¡­ when it came to talking with the dead anyway. He always guessed because it didn¡¯t have the same physical effects as his healings did¡­ there was no evidence that anything was ever there, just the words that were sprouting from his mouth.


    Making his way back down to the main hall he crosses the floor to his mother¡¯s side. She by this time was laughing loudly and leaning against the shoulder of another guest that had taken a liking to her. The way he was pawing at her backside, even with him being as discreetly as he was trying to be, Chester could tell he would be heading home with Almeria alone tonight.


    ¡°Shall we head home?¡±


    Feeling Almeria¡¯s gently grip against his shoulder, he could feel an instant relief wash over him. For them to go home and for him to be done with this night was something that he wanted prior to his evening being disrupted by the twins.


    Giving Almeria a small smile and slight nod he goes to turn to follow her towards the door¡­ but in that moment he saw something¡­ like the flash of a figure making her way through the crowd and heading in his direction. At first, he felt like she was somewhat familiar¡­ but her blonde curls and heavy winged liner caused a distraction that made it difficult for him to place her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hurry now before the weakness sets in¡± Almeria begged as she linked her arm with his and guided him quickly towards the door.


    Whoever it was¡­ she must not have been that important if Almeria was willing to ignore her clearly breaking through the crowd to reach them. Stepping up into the carriage and being followed by a panicked Almeria, the last thing he heard for that evening was the quick whip of the reins and the crunch from the carriage wheels rolling over loose stone.

 Lets bring out your eyes

    The next morning brought with it the brisk cool air, welcoming the first day of Autumn. From Chester¡¯s bed he could quite easily peer out the open window to his left as Almeria drew the curtains back to let in the natural light from the risen sun. Grimacing at the thought of having to get up, Chester raised his arm to rest upon his forehead as he closes his eyes once more and takes in a steady breath. Almeria only ever woke him this early if they had received word of his next job. Sometimes he wished that things would slow down, and the sceptics would break word through the towns once more so the work would just try up.


    ¡°How did you sleep?¡± Almeria¡¯s words filtered in soft enough to not seem like a burden to someone who wanted to just drift back off into the darkness of sleep. ¡°You were tossing quite a bit last night¡± Her cheeks flushed as she fidgeted with her fingers clasped before her. Chester was actually used to her watching over him, so he was not sure why she was so embarrassed to admit it.


    ¡°I slept just fine¡± letting out a deep sigh he moves his arms back so he can lift himself up off his pillows and into a more comfortable sitting position. ¡°Did you even sleep at all considering you were watching me all night?¡± Flicking his gaze towards Almeria, who had moved by his side to help pull the silk covers from over him.


    ¡°Well as you would say,¡± she smiled with a small nod. ¡°I slept just fine once I had finished my duties and managed to lye down¡±


    Chester smiled at this. Usually Almeria was very formal and rarely showed this side of herself¡­ but when she did¡­ it kind of broke up the normally heavy feeling his body held whilst going about his daily tasks. With Almeria now standing so close to him as she started to unbutton his night shirt, he could start to see the faint lines of her age blemishing her once smooth skin. Her hair she used to keep quite kempt and pinned back, now held strays of hair which wisped across her face and shaped her features.


    ¡°Your mother is waiting to start breakfast. I hope bacon and eggs on lightly toasted sour dough is to your liking¡±


    And just like that her playfulness had disappeared. Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed so Almeria could help guide the legs of his jeans up to his thighs, he then stands and waits for her to clasp the button at his waist. He did not know how his mother was awake so early in the morning, considering how late she was last night returning home from the party. Perhaps she gained enough energy from the masculine company she kept.


    ¡°I can make you something a little lighter if you¡¯re not feeling well¡± Almeria had started to pull his dusty blue dress shirt up over his shoulders and button the buttons down the front whilst she looked up towards him. ¡°You are looking a little pale¡±


    Chester pursed his lips and shook his head lightly before he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m feeling fine¡­ whatever you prepared will be good enough anyway¡±


    He knew that probably was not enough to comfort her, but once she had fastened his shoes in place, she was quick to nod and stand up before she made her way towards the door. ¡°Once you¡¯re ready just come downstairs and I¡¯ll serve it to you¡± And with that she was gone.


    Chester groaned and laid himself back down against the bed, spreading his arms out either side of himself. He could just fall back to sleep if he really wanted to. Though whether that would give his mother ample fuel to march up those marble steps herself to shake him awake was a completely different story.


    Sitting himself up once more he moves up onto his feet and paces the few steps across to the window so he could lean out and look down to where the stone path snaked it¡¯s way towards the front of the manner and then up and back to a small courtyard lined with hedging for privacy¡¯s sake. His mother had put a lot of money into the manner over the years, to the point that now every room is decorated just as lavishly as the next. Turning around to face his bed, he looked over the redwood bed frame carved into the shape of a stallion. She had this bed imported from over seas and she often boasted about it amongst her friends. Looking across to his dresser he moves over so he can open the top drawer and remove a small container which he opened revealing an artificial contact lens. This was something new to the scene and although it felt like glass piercing his eye and did not exactly match the colour of his other eye, his mother insisted that he wear it.


    Tilting his head back he places the lens over his eye then blinks a few times to set it in place. Leaning forwards, he peers into the mirror above the dresser to ensure it is positioned properly then biting his lip he takes a step back. Sometimes old habits never die.


    Making his way out of his room he travels down the familiar hall and then down the marble steps lined with a thick red rug that trails all the way down to the large oak doors before him. If he decided in that moment to have a mental break¡­ to just run full pelt through those doors¡­ he wondered how long it would take for his mother¡¯s new house tenders to catch up with him. Probably not long considering he struggled going up and down the stairs at the best of time at a walking pace. Gripping hold of the banister he makes his decent and as he turned himself to head towards the dining hall, he was stopped by a broad-shouldered man with thick brown locks pushed back from his face. Dark brown eyes looked down towards him through thin lashes and thick brows pinched in the middle. His mother¡¯s guard.


    ¡°Tor-¡°before he could speak out the mans name, he gripped hold of Chester¡¯s chin abruptly and tilted his head upwards so he could turn his head to the side and ensure his lens was in place. Gritting his teeth Chester knew he just had to endure it. It was not as if he could just muster up enough strength to shove Torvalds off.


    Once he was finished his inspection the man stepped to the side and allowed Chester to enter. His mother was positioned at the middle of the table on the right-hand side and his silverware was positioned opposite her own. Normally she would sit at the head of the table and he would be off centre to her¡­ it avoided him having the ability to look at her he guessed. She was dressed in a pinched black gown that trailed down to her ankles. It was almost as if she were in mourning the way she was sitting slightly hunched in her chair.


    Almeria entering the room from the far-left door gave a sense of relief for Chester, but for only a few moments as she pulled the chair out for him. Sitting himself down Chester was then provided his plate with one egg balanced delicately over the slightly toasted sour dough. He could see that Almeria had chosen to only give him one slice of bacon as garnish on the top, but she had made the effort to add the extra pieces to his mother¡¯s plate.


    ¡°Leave us¡±


    His mother¡¯s words bit into the air like a hungry pup. Almeria bowed slightly before she left the room, but not without turning her head slightly to give Chester one last sorrowful smile.


    ¡°I thought we could discuss what happened last night,¡± her tone started off soft, but soon her pitch started to change, and her knuckles turned white around her cutlery handles. ¡°A dog¡­ really?¡± She flicked her gaze up towards him then went about cutting into her toast. ¡°Of all the things you could have said you saw, you spouted out some nonsense about some stupid dog and even went to the trouble of elaborating some fantastical story about how it came to be in that attic?¡±


    ¡°I know what I saw-¡°


    ¡°You¡¯re defending your actions then?¡± his mother cut in whilst shoving her cut piece of toast and egg into her mouth. She was chewing as if she had not seen food in days, but perhaps that was just her way of trying to combat the hangover with the internal rage that was brewing inside of her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­ if you wanted me to lie to them then you should have charged them¡± At this point Chester was not intentionally trying to debate the matter, but that was usually the way when it came to paid jobs. If Chester found something that his mother knew the family wouldn¡¯t like or agree on, then it didn¡¯t matter what the dead had said, he had to personalise it for the family in order to gain the wealth his mother desired.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°You make me out to be this horrible person Chet,¡± She moved in her place to bring her napkin up to a single tear gathering beneath each eye. ¡°But what you don¡¯t understand is the sacrifices I have had to make to ensure that this demon curse you have been graced with remains being utilised for the purpose of the best benefits of the people¡±


    Chester placed his knife and fork down so he could remain focused when he looked up towards his mother. She had mastered the act of grief¡­ she had mastered the act of happiness of love¡­ but this ritual she had whenever he started to become anything but her vision of perfect was getting old and he was starting to get tired of it. Opening his mouth slightly he went to say something, but his parted lips only evoked arched brows from his mother almost daring him to speak. Closing his mouth once more he looked towards the doorway where Torvald had abandoned his post guarding the door and had started the first few steps towards the table.


    ¡°Our next client made contact within the early hours of this morning so we will need to leave by lunch today in order to make it to their location in time for our appointment¡± Holding her hand up as if like clockwork, Almeria returned to the room and presented a letter which already had it¡¯s seal broken. ¡°Bishop Earnest Miller Davis. He has been suffering with liver failure for quite some time and it has come to the point that he has exhausted the resources of any medical professional.¡±


    An 84-year-old man with acute liver failure. This client seemed to be bordering on the restrictions to his abilities.


    ¡°And so, a man of the faith has come to us for assistance. Perhaps he can throw some holy water on that demonic eye of yours and we can call it even.¡± His mother chuckled as if she was making some kind of inside joke that she half expected Chester to laugh at as well. But when he did not respond the way she had intended him to, she cleared her throat and passed the letter across the table. ¡°Have Almeria take you into town for a fresh suit. Let us try something other than the black and white for a change¡±


    Chester picked up the envelope and taking the letter out so he could unfold it, his eyes ran along the desperate pleas of a frail man. Each letter appeared to be written by shaking hands, which indicated that he actually had taken the time to write this request for himself. Within his words he had stated that he had not yet found a successor for the orphanage to which a lot of the church¡¯s proceeds went into. The next Bishop in line had questionable motives for taking over the church, inclusive of a demand for luxury living, and Bishop Earnest knew where the funds to create that dream were going to come from.


    ¡°You said we must leave by midday?¡± Placing the letter within his pants pocket, Chester used his hands to lift himself up from his chair. ¡°Then Almeria and I will head into town now so as to not waste time.¡±


    For once his mother seemed pleased with this. His desire to actual complete a client¡¯s request was always welcomed, rather than his stubbornness to leave on other occasions.


    ¡­


    ¡°You seem rather eager to complete this next client¡¯s request¡±


    Chester pulled himself up into the carriage and shuffled himself along so he could lean against the far door. It was more of a personal reason as to why he accepted it without resistance. If he saved this old man Bishop, then he prevented a far worse creature taking over and breaking a system which helped those who could not help themselves.


    The sound of whinnying from the steeds that hauled their carriage were soon followed by the sudden jolt of the carriage being pulled into motion. Almeria had found her seat by his side and was leaning slightly forwards so as to not grant herself too much comfort whilst she was on duty. She would never sit herself opposite him, not even when the carriage was filled with his mother¡¯s male company.


    ¡°What can I say, I feel sorry for the old man¡± Chester found himself sighing again. Again conversation, even so little as small talk was not something that Chester was comfortable with, even amongst people he knew. But judging by the way Almeria lowered her head and appeared dejected that he was wanting to end the conversation there, he decided to continue.


    ¡°Will you be joining us this time?¡±


    Almeria briskly nodded. ¡°Of course. Your mother likes to ensure that you¡¯re removed from site before the repercussions of your work kicks in¡± She smiled a little at her words and then a glisten of curiosity seemed to befall her once dull eyes. ¡°I know I have asked this before but¡­¡±


    ¡°But?¡± Chester found himself repeating her last word in order to encourage her to continue.


    ¡°You have had this gift since birth¡­ your father isn¡¯t particularly anything or anyone special and neither is your moth-¡°she stopped herself at this and gave a sheepish grin as she corrected herself. ¡°Well your mother doesn¡¯t possess these abilities either so¡­ there has to be a source for it right? I have been doing some digging myself and¡­¡± At this point Almeria produced a novel from the folds of her cloak.


    Almeria proffered the book into Chester¡¯s hands. It was a hard cover lined with a moss green felt. Upon first glance it appeared to be some kind of gimmick or replica of a pagan bible with the way the pentagram was carved skilfully into the centre and lined with a gold leaf trimming.


    ¡°You purchased the devil¡¯s bible?¡± Chester¡¯s brows creased at his words and Almeria moved closer as if to welcome the idea that they should be speaking in hushed voices. ¡°You know how my mother will react if she finds something like this on my person, or even yours.¡±


    Almeria looked around nervously at first, as if she thought that anyone within a few steps from the carriage would hear what she had to say.


    ¡°I have folded a page down for you¡­ before we get to your tailor, find it and just have a quick read and tell me what you think.¡± She continued to nod whilst she spoke before she pushed herself back to place some distance between them.


    Chester looked down at the book within his hands and turning the book over so the pentagram was concealed by the back cover, he peered out the window to the cobble stone streets that winded through the stone buildings that created the town. It would not be long until they reached the tailors. A few updated measurements and he should have the opportunity to slip away for a few moments whilst Almeria and the tailor discussed colours. But did he really want to read the pages of the book he held in his hands? Or was he just inclined to do so because Almeria had put so much effort into bringing it to him?


    ¡°There are many a mythical creatures out there who have been said to possess the same abilities as yourself,¡± Almeria continued whilst tapping the back of the book. ¡°To think that they¡¯re only depicted in fairy tales when you stand before the world as a living representation of a Godly being- ¡°


    ¡°Godly?¡± Chester scoffed. ¡°Since when did the crimson in my eye depict anything Godly- ¡°


    ¡°You may have a crimson eye, but you certainly aren¡¯t the Devil Chester, and the sooner your mother realises it the better¡±


    Chester smiled a little to Almeria¡¯s words. She had never treated him any different¡­ even when he was a child and she saw his red eye for the first time she did not treat him any less than she would her own son. If she were so inclined to have any of her own.


    The sound of Torvald¡¯s boots hitting the pavement caused Almeria to hurriedly take the book back from Chester¡¯s grip and conceal it once more beneath the folds of her coat. A few moments later and Torvald was swinging the carriage door outwards only to hold out a hand to help Almeria step down to the sidewalk. Torvald did not offer the same hand to Chester, but that was not something Chester had expected. Torvald was only there to ensure that each move Almeria made was exactly as ordered by his mother.


    ¡°Good morning Louie,¡± Almeria chirped up as the tall blonde man came striding from the store back to the store front.  He wore a well-made tailored suit in an off grey with a white undershirt and light brown pointed leather shoes. ¡°We¡¯re after a fresh suit for Chester¡±


    Louie looked Chester up and down and then he quirked one brow up as if he were thinking of what to recommend first. ¡°Any particular colour?¡± Louie continued as he pulled a tape measure from his coat and used it to grab a quick measurement of around Chester¡¯s waist. ¡°Or is the Madam of the house requesting another all black suit with white underlaying?¡±


    Almeria took Louie by the warm and started to guide him towards the fabrics off to the far right of the store. As she moved, she slipped the book once more between Chester¡¯s fingertips and then gestured for him to move to the back of the store where the change rooms were. Chester gave a small nod in understanding and briskly made the quick walk out the back and once seated in the change room, he pulled across the red curtain to conceal himself from Torvald¡¯s view.


    Pulling the book out onto his lap he began to flick through the thick pages until he came to the page where Almeria had turned down the page. He run his fingers along the words and the picture on the right was that of a hooded figure that appeared to have no face¡­. A reaper¡­? Running his fingers further down the page and along the printed words things began to piece together¡­ like why he felt the way he did whilst healing another being¡­ why toying with the natural order and healing those who were meant to be dead could easily be reflecting onto someone else¡­ or even himself. His fingers gripping the edges of the book the further he read down the page, he could feel his heartbeat increasing within his chest. The ability to see the dead¡­ the ability to heal the ability to see the last moments of someone¡¯s life it all stemmed from the similar abilities of this creature and Almeria had already done her research.


    Dropping the book to the floor he used his heel to kick the book beneath the stool before he heaved the curtain back and started to stride back towards the door. He did not need a new suit¡­ he needed to get out of there before his heart exploded from his chest. Letting in a few heavy breaths, by the time he reached the door Torvald was quick to grip his shoulders and turn him back to face Almeria.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter dear boy?¡± Louie chimed in as he made a few paces towards Chester. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost¡± Chuckling at the thought of it he then exchanged glances with Almeria and then he too started to turn pale. ¡°Wait¡­ you didn¡¯t see a ghost back, there did you? I have been hearing noises and footsteps, but I haven¡¯t seen anything I- ¡°


    ¡°No ghost¡± Chester forced himself to say abruptly. ¡°Just¡­ a piece of thread I mistook for something else¡±


    Louie stopped his ramblings and then broke into laughter. ¡°Oh, Chester you had me worried there for a second. It¡¯s not that often that you¡¯re able to come here between your busy schedule and when you do you react like that!¡± Breaking into laughter once more Louie then waved him over and Torvald made the effort to push Chester in Louie¡¯s direction. ¡°You¡¯ll give a poor young man like me a heart attack¡±


    Chested tensed as Louie pulled his coat back from his shoulders and then went about replacing the pitch black for a dusted blue. ¡°See how this brings out his eyes more. The off-colour blue really brings out that unusual silver ring¡± Louie continued whilst talking more to Almeria then Chester.


    Maybe he was just overreacting. That book was stamped in the fiction section for a reason there was no way it could be true. The grim reaper was a figure used to explain death it was not something that could be identified as being real or not, but either way he knew for a fact he was human. But that did not stop the nagging question. If he was human then where did his abilities come from and was he the only one?