《Mystery at the Mansion》


 Chapter 1

    On a foggy, cold, early morning, 11-year-old girl Nyx Ravenswood packed her bags, as a horse carriage awaited her.

    "Why don''t you accompany me?" Nyx implored her parents, with a blend of excitement and worry.

    "My dear, your father and I are rather busy at present. And your siblings have decided that they do not want to go. Are you certain you wish to depart?" inquired her mother, attempting to pacify her daughter.

    "Yes, I do want to go, but... I shall be traveling alone," Nyx nervously responded.

    "You have always yearned for adventure, so we considered it apt to permit you to embark upon this solo journey to visit your aunt," her mother reassured her.

    "Goodbye, my dear Nyx. Give my regards to Penelope and Thomas," her father bid her farewell with a hug.

    Nyx hugged her siblings and parents. She was both excited and anxious, as she had never embarked on a long voyage alone. With her luggage in tow, she boarded the carriage and set off on her month-long journey in northernmost part of England.

    Although Nyx had visited her Aunt previously when she was five years old, she had traveled with her family. She recalled the grandeur and affluence of the mansion, which is owned by her wealthy uncle.

    After a long trip, it was now daytime, yet a thunderstorm made Nyx quite fearful that an accident might occur, causing her to panic and pray to God. After approximately 15-17 hours, during nightfall, the carriage finally arrived at the mansion.

    Stepping out of the carriage, she was met with an intense cold. Gazing at the enormous mansion before her, she was both excited and afraid that she might have arrived at the incorrect abode.

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    Just then, a gentleman who is dressed like a butler emerged from the door.

    "You are Miss Nyx Ravenswood, are you not?" he asked.

    "Indeed," Nyx replied.

    "Allow me to take your belongings inside," the man offered, and Nyx accepted.

    Then, a lady emerged, whom Nyx recognized from the portrait in her home as her Aunt Penelope.

    "Hello, Nyx. How are you?" Penelope greeted her with a smile.

    "Greetings, Aunt Penelope," Nyx responded, relieved that she had arrived. The two embraced and made their way inside the mansion together.

    As they entered the hall, Nyx felt warm, Nyx was astounded by its vastness. The majority of the hall was adorned in crimson, with a massive golden lantern and a colossal staircase. Several maids were working and followed by a thin lady. Aunt Penelope led Nyx to a large dining room, which had a tremendous fireplace.

    "Good evening, Miss Nyx," greeted a man dressed like an aristocrat, who Nyx recognized as Mr. Charles Lancaster, the husband of her aunt.

    As they sat at the table, the maids brought out a vast quantity of food, including a massive chicken and other delectable dishes. The man, who appeared to be a butler, stood by attentively as the food was served.

    "Ann, could you go and check on Thomas?" Penelope requested of the thin lady who led the maids "Make him come.".

    The maid who is Ann went outside. Nyx recollected Thomas who is around her age, they used to play together but he was quite problematic.

    "No, I do not wish to sit with the girl," a boy''s voice came furiously, then Ann appeared grabbing a blonde boy who is Thomas, and led him to the room. "Why does she have to live with us for a month?"

    Nyx''s heart skipped a beat at those words.

    "Thomas! Come here and greet your cousin politely," Penelope reprimanded Thomas.

    "Fine, Mother." Thomas took his seat at the table without so much as a glance in Nyx''s direction. It was clear to her that trouble was brewing.

    "Dr. Jenkins," called Charles, addressing the butler, who was apparently also a doctor. They discussed matters that were beyond Nyx''s comprehension.

    After dinner, Penelope escorted Nyx through a hallway adorned with rich crimson drapes, exquisite artifacts, fine paintings, and a musket rifle. They arrived at a bedroom where Nyx was to rest.

    "This is to be your room, Nyx," said Penelope.

    The room was bare, lacking in any luxury or adornment. There was nothing but a bed and a small table, and it was the least warm room in the mansion.

    "I must apologize, Nyx, as the servants have occupied most of the bedrooms. This is the only chamber available to you."

    The room was not unclean, for Penelope would have called upon the maids to clean it before Nyx''s arrival. Nevertheless, the walls appeared weathered and neglected.

    Nyx retired to bed, layering upon herself a multitude of covers to keep warm. She couldn''t help but feel a sense of foreboding in the eerie room.

 Chapter 2

    As the sun rose, Nyx''s eyes flickered open to the sound of the maid, Ann, dusting the room. Ann''s face remained stoic, her gaze unmoving from the task at hand. Nyx rose from her bed, and yet, Ann did not make a single acknowledgment of her presence.

    Soon, Penelope arrived to escort Nyx and dress her in lavish garments. Adorned in the finest attire, Nyx wandered through the mansion with awe and admiration. She wandered through the rooms of the estate, even discovering a magnificent library where Mr. Charles sat reading.

    As she explored, Nyx came across a locked door. She made an attempt to open it but to no avail. Dr. Jenkins arrived on the scene, holding the key to the door in question.

    "This is a dangerous place," he warned her calmly, "entering here is prohibited without expertise." Dr. Jenkins then unlocked the door and entered the room, closing and locking it behind him.

    Nyx was left with a deep curiosity about the contents of the room that Dr. Jenkins had locked.

    The excitement continued to fill Nyx''s heart as she made her way to the mansion''s sprawling garden. The mansion was at the outskirt of a city, and close to a river. Nyx admired the garden''s variety of plants, but she also recognized a graveyard far away. Nyx was enjoying the garden, but that joy was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of Thomas.

    "Pathetic, you get excited by such things," he sneered, his words cutting through her like a knife. "I enter here every day and I was born with them, unlike you who lives in such an old house. You''re poor."

    Though Nyx was seething inside, she tried to remain composed. "I am not poor, I am middle class," she replied through gritted teeth.

    "So what? You are still not rich," Thomas scoffed, his words stinging her pride.

    These words left Nyx feeling despondent and unable to fully appreciate the grandeur of the mansion. The night passed fitfully, her thoughts consumed by Thomas''s words.

    On the next day, Thomas continued his taunts towards Nyx, making her feel small and inferior.

    Thomas was a conceited boy who ate a lot and complained a lot. However, despite his big appetite, he didn''t get fat because he was always active, climbing trees and running. Nyx''s father liked Thomas, but Nyx herself wasn''t sure how her father would feel if he saw Thomas belittling his own daughter.

    As she was exploring the vast mansion, she stumbled upon a series of bedrooms that seemed to belong to the servants. One particular room caught her attention; it was spacious, with a double bed, and a large window overlooking the garden.

    As she moved on to explore the mansion more, she came across another bedroom with a single bed, and on the wall, she saw a portrait of Thomas. The plaque beneath it read, "Thomas Lancaster, born 17 February 1873."

    "What the hell are you doing here!" Thomas''s voice startled Nyx behind her, Thomas entered the room, and his eyes grew wide with anger upon seeing Nyx. "Get out of here, you foolish girl."

    Nyx hurriedly left the room, feeling scared and angry. She couldn''t bear the thought of being belittled by Thomas any longer.

    The next day, Nyx strolled through the gardens, relishing the sunshine and cool air. She sat on the grass, basking in the tranquility. But her peace was short-lived, for as usual, Thomas came to taunt and torment her even more.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    "Good day, Miss Nyx," Thomas said, his tone dripping with sarcasm Nyx was growing weary of his constant abuse "I suppose it''s not like you have anything better to do, being from such a lowly station and all. You really ought to know your place and stop pretending you belong here among civilized people."

    Nyx seethed with anger, feeling humiliated and belittled. Without thinking, she scooped up a handful of sand and flung it at Thomas, shouting, "Shut up, shut up! Stop talking down to me like that!"

    Thomas rubbed his eyes and opened them to reveal a bloodshot, fiery gaze.

    "You are a monster!" he exclaimed.

    Nyx froze in fear as Thomas stumbled towards her with his reddening eyes. She quickly took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest. Just as he was about to reach her, Ann, one of the servants, rushed over and grabbed him, holding him back.

    "Thomas, Thomas! Let me see your eyes!" Ann demanded, turning his head towards her.

    Ann is shocked and turned her face to Nyx, "Have you lost your senses?" Ann shouted at Nyx. "Look what you have done to his eyes!"

    Nyx was dumbfounded. Thomas had been the one to inflict pain upon her, yet now she was made out to be the villain?

    The other servants had gathered around, whispering among themselves.

    "I want to hit you!" Thomas cried, lunging forward towards Nyx, but Ann held him back.

    "Stop it, Thomas! We need to take care of your eyes. Let''s go inside," Ann said sternly, pulling him away from Nyx.

    Penelope came rushing to see what happened, then they made their way back to the house, leaving Nyx alone in the garden, still shaking with anger and disbelief at what had just happened.

    Dr. Jenkins confirmed that Thomas''s eyes were in good condition, but Ann could not conceal her feelings of disgust when she looked at Nyx.

    That night, Nyx and Penelope sat by the fire. "Nyx, fear not, Thomas will not come near you again. Rest your mind," Penelope reassured her.

    "It was an accident," Nyx said, her voice low and trembling with fury. "I had no intention of injuring his eyes. He was the one who provoked me."

    "Nyx, calm yourself. What''s done is done, and Thomas will no longer torment you," Penelope said in a soothing tone. Nyx was trying to calm down.

    Nyx retired to her bed, her thoughts still occupied by the unpleasant encounter with Thomas. In due time, her eyes fell shut, and her breathing deepened as sleep claimed her.

    However, Nyx''s peaceful slumber was soon interrupted by a most alarming sensation. She felt a strange presence in the room, and upon opening her eyes, she beheld a ghastly sight: a yellow, glowing figure of a woman, floating in the air before her.

    Nyx could hardly believe her eyes. Surely this could not be real. She stammered in terror, "Wh-wh-what...!"

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    The apparition drew nearer, causing Nyx to instinctively pull her blanket over her head and let out a scream. She could not fathom what this phantom wanted, or what horrors it might inflict upon her.

    But later, Nyx felt nothing. Nyx removed the blanket and looked around the room, finding no trace of the ghostly figure. Had it all been a nightmare, or had she truly come face to face with a ghost?

    Nyx''s heart was pounding with fear, and she began to wonder if her aunts and the others in the household had heard her cries. The silence that followed suggested otherwise, leaving Nyx alone to contemplate the unsettling experience. "Was it all a dream?" she wondered to herself, but the sensation felt far too real to be dismissed so easily.

    Nyx spent a restless night, fearful that the ghost might return, but thankfully, nothing reappeared.

    The following morning arrived, and despite her fatigue, Nyx struggled to find any rest. The chilly air of the early morning seemed to further add to her weariness. Nyx pondered whether to tell her aunt about the ghost or if it was merely a nightmare not worth mentioning. Knowing her tendency to startle easily, she surmised that it was likely just a nightmare. Furthermore, she had no desire for Thomas to become aware of her distressing dream. Penelope noticed Nyx''s exhaustion and wondered if it was a result of what had occurred with Thomas.

    Several nights had passed, and there had been no reappearance of the ghost.

 Chapter 3

    Nyx had been residing at the grand mansion for seven days already, with another twenty-three left before she must depart for home.

    Determined to make the most of her remaining time, Nyx volunteered to assist Penelope and the maids in adorning the garden. As they worked together to embellish the garden, Nyx overheard the maids engaging in a conversation about their birthdays.

    Although Thomas was no longer speaking ill of her, Nyx couldn''t help but notice his perpetually grumpy expression.

    The maids were cleaning the attic to rid it of dust, and Nyx was permitted by Penelope to go up and see what was there.

    Nyx entered the large attic and saw a plethora of old objects, antiques, and outdated artifacts. The maidens were sweeping and dusting the room, and Nyx found many old papers and books, most of which she did not comprehend. She picked up a few that she could understand, such as a certificate that Mr. Charles was once an accountant, before becoming the owner of a stock market company. Nyx then came across a marriage certificate for Charles and Penelope from 1865, which made her think, "It took them eight years to give birth to Thomas? He was born in 1873. Perhaps they are facing fertility issues, or maybe they simply do not wish to have more children."

    It appears that Nyx is uncovering more details about the Lancaster family within this attic. As she perused the old paintings, she came across some beautiful landscapes and portraits. There was even a painting of Mr. Charles and Penelope. Among the portraits of unknown individuals, she found a peculiar one of an aristocrat with sophisticated clothes, and another of an old woman dressed like a widow. There was also a painting of a lady, adorned in elegant garments whose face... bore a striking resemblance to the ghost she had encountered.

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    Nyx was still transfixed on the painting, her eyes watering as she studied the lady''s face, trying to confirm whether it was indeed the same as the ghostly figure she encountered. A tear fell from her right eye from fear as she gazed at the portrait for at least five minutes, lost in thought, until...

    "Nyx?" spoke Ann, with a composed expression but a quizzical tone, who had appeared behind her. "Why are you staring at this painting?"

    Nyx was surprised, as Ann had never before acknowledged her presence, except for her encounter with Thomas. It is unusual for her to take an interest in Nyx''s observation of anything.

    "I am just looking around the attic, as my aunt has given me permission to do so," replied Nyx.

    "But you have been staring at this particular painting for quite some time." inquired Ann with a quizzical expression "Do you know Seraphina?"

    "Who is Seraphina?" Nyx inquired with curiosity.

    Ann gestured to the painting, "You stare at her for so long and yet you do not know her name?"

    Nyx hesitated for a moment before deciding to confide in Ann about the ghostly apparition she had encountered.

    "A few nights ago, I saw a ghost... and she looked exactly like..." Nyx trailed off, gesturing towards the portrait.

    Ann arched an eyebrow, scrutinizing both the portrait and Nyx for a moment.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    "Nonsense," Ann declared dismissively. "We shall discuss this matter at another time." With that, Ann resumed her work, leaving Nyx to ponder the significance of the resemblance.

    Nyx descended from the attic, her mind awash with thoughts of Seraphina. She wondered if her aunt would believe her tale, or if Ann was right to doubt her. Nyx decided that she would enjoy her stay at the mansion for the remaining twenty-two days, without fear or apprehension.

    As the hour of dinner approached, Nyx noticed Ann''s suspicious gaze fixed upon her, causing her to become equally distrustful of Ann. Seated next to her Aunt, Nyx recounted her exploration of the attic, choosing to leave out any mention of Seraphina''s ghost.

    "Auntie," Nyx spoke up, "May I ask why it took you so long to have a child? And why do you not have any other children?"

    Penelope choked as she was eating, her expression reflecting concern.

    "Nyx, my dear," she said after regaining her composure, "We will discuss this at a later time. For now, let us enjoy our meal."

    As dinner drew to a close, Mr. Charles whispered something to Dr. Jenkins, who beamed with gratitude. "I am much obliged to you, Mr. Charles. It is the largest sum I have received in eight years," said Dr. Jenkins, his smile widening.

    Nyx and Penelope retired to the old bedroom and conversed about the issue of not having another child aside from Thomas.

    "Nyx, I''ve always had a problem with fertility. I''d rather not discuss it any further if you please," Penelope said in a composed manner.

    As Nyx lay in bed, she couldn''t shake the feeling that there was more to Ann''s interest in the painting of Seraphina. Unable to sleep, she got up and began to wander through the silent mansion. As she walked, she noticed a faint light coming from a nearby room and approached it with caution.

    That room was Ann''s, and Nyx found her sitting on the bed, lost in thought. "Nyx?" Ann recognized her and asked, "What are you doing here? You should be asleep." Despite Ann''s suggestion, Nyx asked about Seraphina. "Who was she?" Nyx inquired. Ann paused for a moment before answering. "Seraphina," Ann finally spoke, "was the former maid of this mansion. She was also my dearest friend."

    "Is that true?" Nyx asked with a tremble in her voice. "It seems that Seraphina''s spirit has haunted me. Do you believe me?"

    "I do believe you," replied Ann with conviction. Nyx was surprised that Ann believed her. "I believe you because the room you are staying in belonged to Seraphina."

    "So," Nyx whispered, her voice shaking with fear, "I have been sleeping in a room haunted by a ghost all this time?"

    "But it''s quite odd that she would haunt you simply because you are sleeping in her former room," remarked Ann, her finger resting upon her chin as she contemplated.

    Then she continued, "She haunted you because I was upset with you."

    "What!?" Nyx''s eyes widened in disbelief.

    "Do you remember when I was upset with you after your incident with Thomas?" said Ann.

    "I do remember," Nyx said, looking both scared and frustrated. "But it was an accident. I didn''t mean to do it."

    "It''s alright," Ann said soothingly, trying to calm Nyx down. "Let''s forget about it. I will try to remain calm towards you in order not to provoke her, alright?"

    Nyx felt relieved and grateful, hoping that peace would continue between her and Ann for the next 22 days

    "Seraphina," Nyx added, "is dead, right? How did she pass away? Did you witness her death?"

    "Seraphina," Ann looked down, saddened, "passed away from pneumonia about 10 years ago. I actually didn''t witness her passing. I used to work in other places when she worked here. We were far from each other, we only communicated through writing and sending messages to each other. This mansion 10 years ago had only Seraphina and Dr. Jenkins as the servants of the mansion. After Seraphina passed away, I was employed here due to my association with the same establishment as Seraphina."

    Nyx listened carefully, eager to learn more about the history of the mansion.

    "After Seraphina had passed away along with her child..." Ann trailed off in a panicked tone.

    "Seraphina had a child? And she was married?" Nyx asked with curiosity.

    "I... I mean..." Ann hesitated.

    "You didn''t want me to know that?" Nyx pressed on. "She had a child that also died with her?"

    "Perhaps it won''t hurt to tell you, as you are a relative," Ann said quietly. "But please don''t tell your aunt or uncle I told you."

    "What is it?" Nyx pressed, growing more confused by the second.

    "Seraphina wasn''t just a maid in this mansion, she eventually married Mr. Charles," Ann revealed.

    "What?" Nyx gasped in shock. "And why keep it a secret?"

    "They didn''t want to be shamed," Ann explained. "Only Dr. Jenkins, Mr. Charles, Penelope, and I know about it. Seraphina told me, but they warned me not to tell anyone."

    "But I still don''t understand why it has to be kept a secret," Nyx persisted.

    "Goodnight, Nyx. We''ll speak about it later," Ann said, cutting the conversation short.

    The following morning, Nyx woke up early despite staying up late. She ventured outside into the chilly and foggy morning and saw Ann at the cemetery. She approached her and found her sitting on the ground next to a tombstone that read: "Seraphina Frost. Died 1875."

 Chapter 4

    Nineteen days remained until Nyx''s departure. Thomas had not spoken to her for a week, and his face displayed nothing but disdain whenever he crossed paths with her. Nyx found it exceedingly unpleasant to be regarded in such a manner.

    During one evening''s dinner, there was only one chicken leg left on the table. Thomas was reaching for it, but Nyx snatched it away from him. She did it on purpose, for she was sick of his contemptuous looks.

    "You foolish girl! Give me that back," Thomas demanded, growing increasingly agitated.

    "I had it before you did," Nyx replied coolly, "you were simply too sluggish and pitiful."

    Thomas leaped from his seat, but the servants held him back. "Do not speak to me like that, you little pig!"

    "THOMAS!" Penelope''s voice rang out, exasperated.

    "I will speak to you however I please," Nyx shot back, her heart pounding with fury, "you wretched rat, you dirty cockroach..."

    "NYX! Enough!" Ann''s voice cut in, furious.

    Nyx suddenly looked at Ann, "Ann, I..."

    Ann forced herself to remain calm. "Nyx, please, refrain from speaking to Thomas, alright?"

    "What is the matter with you both?" Penelope exclaimed, her anger evident in her tone. "I had expected both of you to keep to yourselves and not interfere with each other!"

    Thomas left the room in a fury, while Nyx relished in the humiliation on his face.

    After the dinner was finished, Ann turned to Nyx and implored her, "I beg of you, Nyx, please stop intervening with Thomas, alright?" Ann then gave a small smile, and Nyx returned it, not wanting to upset Ann and risk a restless night of sleep.

    "Of course, Ann," Nyx replied.

    Nyx retired to bed, but her mind was plagued by the events of the evening, and she eventually fell asleep.

    However, she was startled awake by the reappearance of the ghostly figure. Nyx leaped out of bed and ran out of the room screaming.

    After a few moments, Nyx managed to calm herself down, but she was still trembling with fear. The ghost was nowhere to be seen. Nyx couldn''t understand why the ghost was tormenting her in this way.

    "Nyx!" called Penelope as she entered the room. "What''s the matter?!" Other servants, including Ann, quickly followed.

    Nyx felt like she had to tell them what had happened. "I... saw... a ghost.... again!" she exclaimed.

    "What?!" cried Penelope. "Nyx, you must have had a terrible nightmare!"

    "No!" Nyx insisted, not wanting to reveal that Ann had shared the secret of Seraphina with her aunt. Instead, she said, "There''s a painting in the attic... that looks exactly like the ghost!"

    "What?!" Penelope exclaimed, clearly taken aback. "What on earth are you talking about?!"

    Nyx was too frightened to say anything more and simply trembled in fear.

    Penelope said, "Nyx, calm down." She took Nyx''s hand and led her back to the bedroom, where she sat by her side, trying to soothe her.

    But why was the ghost of Seraphina haunting Nyx again? Did Nyx really upset Ann?

    The next day

    "You were still upset with me?" Nyx asked, feeling hopeless.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "My dear Nyx, I must apologize. I did try to maintain a positive mindset towards you, but I guess I was unable to do so," Ann responded a sense of guilt in her tone. "However, I do implore you to refrain from making a rash decision in the future."

    "Okay," Nyx replied, feeling like she had to be on her best behavior at all times.

    In an attempt to calm herself down, Nyx engaged in conversation with her aunt and even offered to assist the servants with the housework. Thomas remained grumpy towards Nyx, but she ignored him and focused on her tasks.

    One evening, Nyx ventured to Ann''s quarters and found her poring over a few papers.

    "Good evening, Ann," Nyx greeted her.

    Ann looked up from her task, "Good evening, Nyx. Is there something you need?"

    "Ann," Nyx began, "are you certain that Seraphina haunts me specifically when you are upset with me?"

    Ann paused, contemplating Nyx''s question. "A restless spirit haunts those who cause grief to their loved ones, and the spirit will not rest until their loved one is safe," Ann recited, her voice tinged with reminiscence. "This saying has stayed with me since Seraphina and I were attending a religious school in our youth. Thus, I inferred that I was the loved one, and you were the one who caused grief."

    "I understand..." Nyx acknowledged, grappling with the realization that she had indeed caused grief.

    "But," Ann added, asking herself, "why would Seraphina''s spirit be restless?"

    As Ann continued to peruse the papers, Nyx''s curiosity got the better of her. She asked, "May I know what those papers are?"

    Ann hesitated for a moment, before answering, "These are the letters that Seraphina and I used to exchange with each other."

    "How amazing that you still hold onto such old papers," Nyx commented with awe.

    Ann chuckled, "Of course, they are what is left of Seraphina for me. "

    "May I take a look? " Nyx inquired.

    Ann looked at Nyx for a moment then she selected some papers and handed them to Nyx.

    Nyx''s eyes lit up, "Oh, may I really?"

    "Yes, only these," Ann replied, continuing to read one of the letters, "Seraphina and I were often far apart, so we could only communicate twice every year or two."

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    Nyx perused the various papers, each one filled with the handwritten words of Seraphina. One spoke of how delightful the grand mansion was, while another recounted the news of her forthcoming marriage to Mr. Charles. One letter detailing Seraphina''s pregnancy. "My dearest friend Ann," the letter read, "I send this message on your birthday. Happy 21st! I have a surprise for you - I am pregnant. My child will be ready in 2 or 4 months, and I couldn''t be happier."

    Nyx stopped reading the letters and began to deduce the possible date of Seraphina''s child''s birth.

    She then turned to Ann and inquired, "Did Seraphina''s child pass away with her?"

    Ann nodded solemnly. "Yes, they are interred together in the tomb."

    Nyx''s next question was one of curiosity. "Can you know the date of the child''s birth?"

    "Unfortunately, I never had the chance to lay eyes on the baby," Ann lamented.

    "My estimation would suggest that the child was born during January, February, or March of 1873," Nyx postulated.

    "Truly? How can you be so sure?" Ann inquired, surprised.

    "This message was delivered before Seraphina''s child was born around 2 to 4 months, and it was your 21st birthday. You were born on November 7th, 1851, right?" Nyx revealed.

    Ann was a bit surprised, "How did you come to know that?"

    "I recollect hearing you and the maids talk about your birthdays on one occasion," Nyx explained.

    "I may have mentioned it," Ann acknowledged, "But how do you remember such details?"

    "I have always had a predilection for dates," Nyx chuckled, "Therefore, I tend to remember them."

    "Ah, I see. I usually forget dates." Ann nodded, "So, the child was likely born in January, February, or... when, precisely?"

    "Jan Feb or March 1873," said Nyx. "And I do find it fascinating because Thomas was also born during that time."

    "Thomas?" Ann asked curiously.

    "Yes, he was born on 17th Feb 1873. I saw it with his portrait in his bedroom."

    "I see, I''m not the one who usually cleans his room," said Ann calmly, looking down thoughtfully. Suddenly, her expression changed, and she exclaimed, "Thomas?!"

    Nyx was taken aback by Ann''s sudden outburst.

    Ann quickly snatched the papers from Nyx''s hands and began reading them intently.

    "Impossible," she muttered under her breath, her eyes darting back and forth as she pondered.

    "What is the matter?" Nyx inquired, her face displaying concern.

    Ann then looked at Nyx, then turned her gaze towards the ceiling, lost in thought.

    "It''s nothing, Nyx. It''s nothing. Just go to sleep," Ann said, attempting to reassure her.

    Nyx walked slowly to the bedroom trying to make sense of Ann''s reaction. She lay on the bed, her mind filled with questions. What could have triggered Ann''s sudden outburst?

    Nyx kept thinking, thinking, until an idea struck her... She opened her eyes and sat up in bed. From the notion that Thomas was born around the same time as Seraphina''s child, did it suggest that Seraphina''s child is actually...Thomas?

 Chapter 5

    No, it cannot be. Seraphina''s child is deceased and rests in the grave beside her. But wait, did Ann truly witness the burial of the child? Yet again, it seems implausible. Why would Aunt Penelope deceive everyone into believing that Thomas is her son? However, Nyx recalls that Aunt Penelope hid the truth of Mr. Charles'' marriage with their former maid, a secret harbored within her. Thus, it is conceivable that Thomas is indeed the child of Mr. Charles, but not of Penelope.

    As Nyx contemplates these revelations, she thought she may have delved too deeply into the matter. After all, why should she believe Ann''s account of Mr. Charles marrying Seraphina? However, Nyx''s memories resurface, reminding her of the two spectral encounters with Seraphina''s restless spirit. It becomes clear that Nyx''s actions did not merely provoke Ann''s anger, but rather, it was Thomas who displayed the most profound distress. Seraphina''s apparition seemed to seek vengeance for her son.

    Additionally, Nyx recollects that Aunt Penelope never bore any more children, raising doubts about her ability to conceive Thomas or anyone else for that matter. The pieces of the puzzle align, suggesting that Thomas is not Aunt Penelope''s biological son. Overwhelmed by the weight of this evidence, Nyx finds herself in a state of profound shock. Another sleepless night befalls her, haunted by the unsettling tales woven within the fabric of the mansion.

    Driven by uncertainty, Nyx contemplates sharing her findings with Aunt Penelope. She clings to the hope that these revelations are mere illusions and that her aunt had not been deceiving them all. Nyx''s heart yearns for the truth to be unveiled.

    The following morning, as they gathered for breakfast, Nyx summoned her aunt to a private conversation. Penelope followed Nyx to the confines of the old room, curiosity etched upon her face.

    "Auntie, there is a matter I wish to discuss with you," Nyx began, her voice trembling with nervousness.

    "Yes?" Penelope replied, her brow furrowing in confusion.

    Nyx hesitated, fearful that her words might sound foolish. Nonetheless, she mustered the courage to speak. "Is it true, Auntie, that Thomas... that he is, in fact, your own son?"

    Penelope''s brow arched in surprise, taken aback by the unexpected inquiry. "What do you mean?" she questioned, her voice tinged with confusion.

    "I-I mean..." Nyx stammered, her nerves getting the best of her. "Is Thomas truly your biological child?"

    Penelope studied Nyx''s face for a fleeting moment, her expression a mix of curiosity and bewilderment. "Pray tell, who has put such ideas in your mind?" she queried. "Who has filled your head with these speculations?"

    "Thus, Thomas is your true son, is he not?" Nyx attempted to mask her unease, struggling to maintain composure. "I am just asking."

    Penelope''s eyes met Nyx''s, a flicker of surprise lingering within them. "Indeed, Thomas is my own flesh and blood, Nyx," she affirmed. "What has prompted you to doubt this? Is it because of your dislike towards him, casting uncertainty upon his rightful place as your cousin?"

    Nyx found herself at a loss for words, uncertain of how to proceed. She wondered if confiding in her aunt would yield any resolution. "Yes, indeed," Nyx replied with a fabricated reassurance, masking her true intentions. "It was a passing thought, Auntie."

    Within Nyx''s heart, hope and doubt waged a silent battle. She yearned for her aunt''s words to be sincere, desperately clinging to the belief that Penelope was not weaving a web of deception. Yet, the mounting evidence continued to cast shadows of uncertainty upon Thomas''s true lineage.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Seated upon her bed, Nyx found herself torn, unsure of what to believe. She wasn''t certain whether to trust Ann''s claims regarding Seraphina''s marriage to Mr. Charles. Nyx yearned for absolute certainty. There remained one unlikely option��communicating with the spirit of Seraphina.

    Night after night, in the old bedroom, she uttered phrases like "Come, Seraphina," "Please come," or "Tell me the truth about Thomas." Despite her efforts, the nights passed without a response. Nyx contemplated the idea of provoking Thomas''s anger to summon the ghost once more, but the distressing encounter had been too overwhelming for her to bear. Perhaps a different approach was necessary. Could extending kindness and understanding to Thomas coax the ghostly apparition into appearing peacefully? Although reluctant, Nyx decided to give it a try and treat Thomas with the utmost kindness.

    Additionally, Nyx determined to visit Seraphina''s grave, where she would implore her to reveal the truth. Day after day, her grave offered no answers, yet Nyx persisted in her visits. The maids and her aunt Penelope grew curious, questioning the purpose behind her frequent visits to the cemetery, yet Nyx chose not to answer and decided to stop her visits temporarily to avoid further scrutiny.

    During the dinner, as the meal drew to a close, a few amounts of food remained on the table. The plate holding the majority of the remaining food was near Nyx. Nyx decided to bestow a small kindness upon Thomas.

    "Thomas..." Nyx trying to say those words. "You may have the remaining portion if it pleases you."

    Thomas displayed a look of surprise as he accepted the offered remaining food, consuming them without uttering a word of gratitude. Nyx couldn''t help but feel a tinge of disappointment, yet she resolved to continue her attempts at kindness.

    Midnight passed, and still no sign of Seraphina. Nyx''s patience waned, deciding to revisit the grave once more. To avoid further scrutiny by the maids and her aunt, she chose to go this midnight, despite the horror and chilling cold outside.

    Holding a flickering candle, Nyx moved through the dark corridors, trying not to wake anyone. She continued walking while being scared. Stepping beyond the borders of the mansion, she ventured into the biting winds that rudely extinguished her frail flame. Undeterred, she ventured forth, her hair and gown danced in the frigid gusts as she went toward the graveyard, her body shivering with cold and trepidation.

    Arriving at the graveyard, Nyx knelt beside Seraphina''s resting place and began to call out to her, urging her to come. The howling wind was the only audible sound, but to Nyx, her voice was the only sound that made it through the desolate graveyard. After what felt like an eternity, Nyx slowly rose to her feet, hoping that her visit would increase the likelihood of Seraphina''s appearance. Nyx went back to the mansion, clutching the candle tightly to light her way to the bed.

    <figure>

    </figure>

    As Nyx was going, she noticed a softly illuminated door that should have remained firmly shut. It was the door forbidden to her by Dr. Jenkins, Nyx wondered what Dr. Jenkins could possibly be doing at this late hour. Just as her thoughts began to unravel, a figure emerged from the door, quickly turning to lock it. It was not Dr. Jenkins, but it was Ann.

    Ann was startled by Nyx''s presence, her expression shifted with a mixture of surprise and caution. She swiftly moved towards Nyx and firmly placed her hands on Nyx''s shoulders.

    "Nyx," she whispered, her voice low and stern, "Don''t tell anyone that I''ve entered the room."

    Nyx felt nervous as she pondered the implications of Ann''s clandestine activities. "I... I won''t tell," Nyx finally replied, her voice filled with uncertainty. "But... may I ask what you were doing?"

    "Do not speak of it, nor entertain thoughts of it," Ann retorted, a hint of anger surfacing. "Why are you even awake at such an hour?"

    Nyx considered confiding in Ann about her visits to Seraphina''s grave. "I have been paying visits to Seraphina''s resting place," she admitted. "I want to know whether Thomas is her son or not."

    Ann fixed her gaze upon Nyx, her silence pregnant with meaning before she turned away and went away.

    Confusion clouded Nyx''s thoughts as she pondered the contents of the room and Ann''s clandestine actions. A sense of fear began to creep within her. Should she reveal the truth to her Aunt Penelope? But could she truly trust her aunt? Nyx found herself torn between conflicting loyalties and an overwhelming sense of unease.

 Chapter 6

    The following day, as Nyx passed through a doorway, she unexpectedly crossed paths with Thomas. Once again, Nyx chose to show kindness and allowed him to pass. Thomas again appeared taken aback by this act and departed without uttering a single word. Nyx pondered whether her efforts were worthwhile, but decided to exercise patience and wait.

    Later, during dinner, a hushed conversation ensued between Dr. Jenkins, Mr. Charles, and Penelope, causing the latter two to visibly panic. "What? Are you certain!?" Penelope whispered urgently, her voice filled with concern. Dr. Jenkins nodded gravely, his expression reflecting deep worry.

    Observing their reactions, Nyx couldn''t help but wonder if it had something to do with the locked room. Perhaps Ann had done something to the room. Nyx glanced at Ann, who avoided making direct eye contact with Dr. Jenkins. What could Ann have done? Nyx''s mind swirled with questions.

    Lost in her thoughts, Nyx retired to bed, contemplating the potential actions of Ann. Sleep eventually overcame her as she drifted off, unaware of the secrets that enveloped the household.

    Nyx had a peculiar dream. She envisioned Thomas riding atop a magnificent creature that possessed a golden horse body, a lion''s head, and dragon wings. Thomas affectionately named it the Golden Lion, and in his hands, he held a delectable apple pie. They soared through the air above a mystical purple river, encompassed by towering blue mountains and a sky painted in vibrant shades of green. Nyx''s dream abruptly ended as she awoke, only to see the glowing yellow apparition of Seraphina floating before her. However, this time, Nyx felt no fear in her presence.

    "Seraphina?" Nyx began eagerly. "Please, tell me, is Thomas truly your son?"

    Seraphina smiled and slowly nodded her head twice before vanishing into thin air.

    "Wait!" Nyx called out, peering into the now empty darkness of the room. She longed to ask more questions, to seek further information. Nyx interpreted Seraphina''s nods as an affirmative response. It seemed increasingly clear that Thomas was indeed Seraphina''s real son, and her Aunt Penelope was concealing this truth from her.

    Nyx contemplated whether she should tell her Aunt about it, but another question lingered in her mind: Did Thomas know about his true parentage? Nyx made up her mind to speak to Thomas.

    The next day, Nyx sought out Thomas in the garden. "Thomas," she called out, and he regarded her with suspicion. "What do you want?" he asked curtly.

    Nyx gathered her courage, trying to sound earnest. "Do you know... who your real mother is?" she inquired, hoping not to be dismissed as a joke.

    "What kind of joke is this?" Thomas scoffed, turning to walk away.

    "Thomas, please wait." Nyx hurriedly positioned herself in front of him. "Is Aunt Penelope your real mother?"

    "Move out of my way, girl," Thomas demanded, attempting to brush past her.

    Determined, Nyx stepped in front of him once again. "Thomas, I implore you, please listen. I''m not joking. Just answer me. Is Aunt Penelope your real mother?"

    Thomas''s anger flared, and for a moment, it seemed as though he might strike Nyx. Steeling herself, she braced for whatever was to come. However, after a pause, Thomas took a deep breath and regained his composure.

    "Yes, she is my real mother. Are you trying to say otherwise?" he replied, his tone laced with skepticism.

    Nyx was astonished by Thomas''s unexpected calmness. "Do you know Seraphina Frost?" she pressed on.

    "The old maid? Why?" Thomas questioned, a hint of skepticism in his voice. "Are you saying that she is my real mother?" He let out a sarcastic laugh.

    "Yes," Nyx exclaimed, her voice filled with conviction. "The ghost of Seraphina came to me and told me so."

    "A ghost?" Thomas rolled his eyes, shaking his head in disbelief and walked away. "I knew this was a joke. Get out of my way."

    Regretting the mention of ghosts, Nyx frantically searched for something that would make Thomas listen to her. Then, she remembered the peculiar dream.

    "Today, I had a dream about you riding a creature called the Golden Lion," Nyx called out to Thomas.

    Thomas froze in his tracks, his gaze fixated on Nyx. "What?!" he exclaimed, taken aback.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "I said," Nyx continued. "In my dream, you were riding a creature, with the body of a horse, the head of a lion, and dragon wings."

    "How do you... How do you know?" Thomas stammered, his expression filled with terror. "That''s my private imagination. I never shared it or wrote it down."

    Nyx realized that the strange dream had been implanted in her mind by Seraphina, representing Thomas''s own imaginings.

    "Thomas," Nyx tried to convince him, "It''s because your real mother, Seraphina, put your imagination into my mind."

    "No, no, this must be some kind of trick," Thomas protested, his voice trembling.

    "Oh, really?" Nyx retorted. "Your favorite food is apple pie, and your imagined world includes a green sky, blue mountains, and a purple river."

    Thomas grew increasingly frightened. "W-What else do you know about me?" he demanded.

    Nyx observed Thomas''s fear and couldn''t help but find it slightly amusing. She pondered for a moment, recalling another piece of information about him.

    "You were born on the 17th of February 1873," Nyx revealed.

    "Get out of my way, witch!" Thomas exclaimed, running away in terror.

    As Nyx watched Thomas flee, faint laughter escaped her lips. However, she couldn''t help but wonder about the consequences of her revelations. As she turned her head, she noticed that Ann had been silently observing the entire exchange.

    Nyx decided to muster up the courage to tell her aunt about the ghost.

    "Nyx!" Penelope exclaimed angrily. "What in hell''s name are you talking about?"

    "Auntie, please," Nyx pleaded, trying to avoid angering her further. "You have to believe me. I saw the ghost of Seraphina, and she told me that Thomas is her son."

    "Are you suggesting that I am lying, Nyx?" Penelope''s face turned stern, sending shivers down Nyx''s spine. It was the first time she had seen her aunt so mad.

    Nyx couldn''t bring herself to call her aunt a liar, so she remained silent, unable to utter a single word.

    Penelope eventually calmed down. "Nyx, I think you''re hallucinating. Please refrain from such fantasies, okay?"

    Nyx disliked being accused of hallucinating. She was certain that what she saw was real. "No," Nyx insisted. "I wasn''t hallucinating. I saw the ghost, and that ghost was the old maid, Seraphina..."

    "NYX, PLEASE STOP TALKING!" Penelope''s scream silenced Nyx immediately.

    Nyx stood still freezing not saying anything.

    After a pause, Penelope composed herself. "Nyx, let''s forget about what we''ve said, okay? Let''s do something together, you and I."

    Nyx couldn''t shake the feeling of hiding the truth, but she didn''t want to upset her aunt either. "Fine," Nyx replied calmly.

    "How about we decorate the garden together?" Penelope suggested.

    Nyx and Penelope spent their days decorating the garden with the maids. Despite the apparent peace, Nyx couldn''t shake the unease in her heart.

    One day, Nyx noticed that Ann appeared exhausted and in poor health. It had been days since Nyx had spoken to her. Concerned, Nyx approached Ann and asked about her well-being. Ann dismissed Nyx''s worry, claiming that she was fine. However, the other maids whispered among themselves, expressing concern that Ann seemed to be eating very little or perhaps not eating at all. Ann insisted that she was eating, albeit in small portions. Nyx couldn''t help but feel a growing sense of fear about the unsettling occurrences within the mansion.

    Penelope occasionally took Nyx for walks and chats around the mansion and garden. These moments provided a temporary respite, but Nyx couldn''t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

    With only 12 days remaining before Nyx had to leave the mansion, Nyx expressed her desire to visit the nearby river with her aunt, Penelope. Penelope agreed to accompany her on the walk.

    Two days later, the two of them ventured to the river alone on a warm day, reveling in the serene surroundings. They sat by the riverside, embracing the beauty of their surroundings, sitting on the soft grass and listening to the rustling of the wind through the trees. The mansion could be seen but at a distance away.

    As Nyx started to calm down, an unexpected event shattered the tranquility. Suddenly, a man grabbed Nyx from behind, his grip tightening around her neck. Nyx struggled to break free, but the man brandished a knife, leaving her paralyzed with fear.

    "NOO!" Penelope started screaming as she stood up

    "Lower your voice!" the man hissed, his voice filled with menace. "Or I''ll slit her throat."

    Penelope pleaded, "Please, leave her alone. I''ll do anything."

    "Give me money, and I''ll release her," the man replied, his tone oozing with wickedness.

    "I-I''ll fetch it right away," Penelope stammered, desperately trying to buy time.

    "You mean to tell me you don''t have any money on you?" the man laughed maniacally. "No, you''re probably planning to inform the police. As punishment, I''ll end this girl''s life."

    <figure>

    </figure>

    Nyx''s eyes widened in sheer despair as her hope dwindled rapidly.

    "What''s wrong with you?" Penelope exclaimed. "I said I''ll go get it! Why are you being so specific with your demands?"

    "Shut up! I''m going to kill this girl," the man snarled with twisted delight.

    Nyx couldn''t believe that her life was about to come to a tragic end.

    BOOOOM!

    A deafening explosion shook the air, and the man dropped his knife, collapsing onto the ground. Nyx quickly scrambled away from him before he hit the floor. Looking around, she saw Ann, holding a musket rifle��the very same rifle that hung on one of the walls of the mansion. Smoke billowed from the barrel, and the rifle was pointed directly at the man.

    Nyx felt immense gratitude that Ann had come to her rescue with the rifle, but the question was: how had Ann known they were being stalked by the man? The mansion was too far away for her to see or hear them, let alone retrieve the rifle in time to save them. Nyx wondered if Ann had been hiding in the trees, spying on them all along.

 Chpater 7

    "Ann..." Penelope said, catching her breath. "Can you tell me how you came here with the rifle?"

    "I-I..." Ann replied, also breathing heavily. "I saw the man from the window... and I realized he was heading in your direction..."

    "You saw him from the window?" Penelope questioned, her suspicion evident.

    Ann looked worried and unsure, making Penelope''s suspicion grow stronger. Just then, the other servants, alerted by the sound of the rifle, arrived at the scene, except for Dr. Jenkins.

    The man, though collapsing, was still alive and muttering to himself. They decided to carry him and take him to the nearby police station. As they prepared to move him, Penelope forcefully took the rifle from Ann and approached the maniac. Without hesitation, she fired, shooting him in the face, causing him to die instantly. The other servants were taken aback by Penelope''s action.

    "This man..." Penelope gazed at the lifeless corpse. "He could have done something and harmed us." She then turned to the servants and instructed them to tell the police that they had killed him in self-defense, emphasizing that he had not collapsed before they shot him.

    Nyx couldn''t believe the events that had unfolded that day. Why did everything terrifying have to happen? She even found herself questioning her aunt and Ann. She felt conflicted about the mansion as a whole.

    5 days left to leave the mansion and rainstorms had already begun.

    Ann visited Nyx in her room, but Nyx was horrified by Ann''s deteriorating condition. Ann was always thin, but in her current state she appeared skinnier than usual, and it was clear she hadn''t been eating.

    "Nyx... " Ann''s voice was barely audible, "Run... go away."

    Nyx was taken aback, unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation. "Ann... why aren''t you eating? Why do I need to leave? What is happening?" Nyx asked, her fear palpable.

    "Nyx..." Ann replied, her voice strained from coughing, "You will know later... before it''s too late..."

    With those enigmatic words, Ann left the room, leaving Nyx with more questions than answers. Why did Ann want her to run? What was the imminent danger that Ann was alluding to? And where was Nyx supposed to go? Nyx felt a sense of confusion and unease, unsure of what steps to take next.

    With only three days remaining before leaving the mansion, Nyx woke up coughing, wondering if she had caught a cold due to the ongoing heavy rain. The downpour continued throughout the day, adding to the somber atmosphere.

    Over time, Nyx had noticed that Thomas had become gentler towards her. She wondered what his current thoughts were regarding Seraphina and the revelations surrounding his true parentage.

    In an unexpected turn of events, Ann had mysteriously disappeared from the mansion without a trace. The maids searched tirelessly for her, both inside and outside the premises, but to no avail. Penelope insisted on a thorough search.

    Throughout the day, Nyx''s cough persisted. Her aunt checked on her and called upon Dr. Jenkins to examine her. The doctor reassured them that the cough was normal.

    The following day, Ann was still nowhere to be found, adding to the growing concern within the mansion.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    Nyx''s cough persisted, and the situation prompted Penelope and Dr. Jenkins to approach her. Dr. Jenkins decided to conduct a more thorough examination, so he donned a mask and then started examining her.

    Mr. Charles, the maids, and even Thomas watched on, Dr. Jenkins turned to Penelope and delivered a distressing news, "Miss Nyx is suffering from a highly dangerous disease."

    Penelope''s eyes widened as she stammered, "W-What do you mean, Dr. Jenkins?"

    The doctor proceeded to explain the nature of the disease. Although Nyx herself struggled to comprehend the disease, Fear began to well up inside her.

    Penelope asked, "Is it... is it deadly?"

    "I will do everything within my power to prevent that," Dr. Jenkins said, his tone grave.

    Nyx''s eyes widened in horror as she grappled with the realization that her life was now at stake.

    "What are you saying?" Penelope''s voice trembled with disbelief.

    "My lady, I must provide her with the necessary care," Dr. Jenkins informed, "I must take her to the laboratory."

    Penelope and Dr. Jenkins led Nyx to the locked room she had been forbidden from entering. Nyx couldn''t shake off her fear, unsure of what awaited her inside. She wondered why they hadn''t taken her to a hospital if her condition was dangerous, but she trusted Penelope and Dr. Jenkins nonetheless.

    As they entered the room, the door was locked behind them. Nyx looked ahead and noticed a staircase with ten steps leading downward. They descended together until they reached a dimly lit and eerie room. The air was heavy with an unpleasant smell. Nyx''s eyes were drawn to numerous bottles containing various liquids and solid objects, as well as scattered papers. The tables and furniture appeared old and worn.

    <figure>

    </figure>

    "Please, have a seat, Miss Nyx," Dr. Jenkins gestured towards an old wooden chair. Nyx complied, feeling a mix of anxiety and curiosity as she watched Penelope and Dr. Jenkins don face coverings. She wondered what they were preparing to do.

    Dr. Jenkins busied himself with the bottles in the room, while Nyx''s gaze fell upon a large door to her left. Soon enough, Dr. Jenkins returned, holding a bottle that emanated a pungent and unbearable odor.

    "You''ll need to drink this, Miss Nyx," Dr. Jenkins said, extending the bottle containing a green liquid toward her.

    Nyx recoiled at the smell, feeling both disgust and fear. She hesitated, doubting whether this concoction would truly save her life.

    "Will this really save me?" Nyx asked, her gaze fixed on the repulsive bottle as she held it. Her doubts and fear made her hesitant to consume it.

    "Nyx, my dear," Penelope said, placing her hands on Nyx''s shoulders. "Please, trust the doctor and do as he says."

    "But... I have a bad feeling about this," Nyx replied, placing the bottle on the table beside her.

    "Nyx," Penelope spoke firmly, her voice carrying a sense of urgency. "This is the best chance we have to save your life. Drink it."

    "I can''t bear it!" Nyx exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes.

    "Nyx!" Penelope''s tone grew even more resolute. "This is the only option we have. Please, drink it."

    Nyx''s hands trembled as Penelope picked up the bottle, urging her to drink. Reluctantly, Nyx reached out and took the bottle, her heart heavy with apprehension.

    As Nyx took the bottle, a sudden loud banging on the door startled her. The banging persisted, echoing through the room.

    "Who''s there?!" Dr. Jenkins shouted as he positioned himself in front of the door.

    "OPEN THE DOOR!" a voice from behind the door yelled. "IT''S THE POLICE!"

    The mention of the police sent a wave of confusion and unease through Nyx. Why were the police here? What could they possibly want?

    Dr. Jenkins hesitated but eventually opened the door. A police officer burst into the room, his presence demanding attention. He scanned the area, his gaze settling on Dr. Jenkins, Penelope, and Nyx.

    "All of you, come here," the police officer commanded. His eyes focused on Nyx. "What are you holding, young girl?"

    Nyx''s nerves flared as she held up the bottle. "It''s medicine... by Dr. Jenkins."

    The police officer''s expression grew stern. "Did you drink it?"

    Nyx shook her head. "Not yet."

    "Don''t drink it," the police officer instructed firmly. "Put it on the table. We''ll need to examine it, as well as the lab."

    Nyx complied, placing the bottle carefully on the table. The three of them followed the police officer, slowly making their way to the mansion''s main hall, where a gathering of police officers awaited. Among them stood Ann.

 Chapter 8

    Everyone who lived in the mansion stood in the main hall, facing the police officers gathered there. One of the officers approached Ann, addressing her directly.

    "So, Miss Ann Gresham," the police officer began, "please explain."

    "Thank you, officer," Ann replied. Her voice was filled with a sense of urgency. Though she appeared slightly improved, Ann still looked thin and frail.

    Before Ann could continue, Penelope interrupted, her face stern with a mixture of concern and frustration. "Ann, what are you..."

    "Madam," the police officer interjected firmly, "let her speak first."

    Penelope halted, her breathing heavy, allowing Ann the opportunity to share her side of the story.

    <figure>

    </figure>

    "Seraphina Frost," Ann spoke, her voice carrying a grave tone, "was the former maid of this mansion, who succumbed to pneumonia eight years ago... or so Dr. Henry Jenkins claimed."

    "What are you insinuating, Ann?" Dr. Jenkins asked with a hint of concern, his brows furrowing.

    "Seraphina did not die of pneumonia, Dr. Jenkins," Ann asserted, her gaze steady. "She was poisoned."

    A collective gasp echoed through the hall as Ann''s words reverberated. The revelation struck everyone with a sense of disbelief and dread.

    "But... I examined her, and she passed away from pneumonia," Dr. Jenkins protested, his voice laced with defensiveness.

    Ann maintained her composure, her eyes piercing through Dr. Jenkins. "May I inquire, then, why you adamantly forbade anyone else from examining her? Why did you guard her so closely?"

    Dr. Jenkins stood frozen, his countenance betraying a lack of response.

    "The assertion that Seraphina died of pneumonia came solely from you, Dr. Jenkins," Ann pressed on. "No other medical professional had the opportunity to verify her cause of death. It seems rather convenient, doesn''t it? Because it is highly likely that you were responsible for her poisoning."

    Gasps and murmurs filled the air, the inhabitants of the mansion expressing their shock and disbelief. They questioned Ann, challenging her accusations against Dr. Jenkins.

    "I ventured into the secret room not on a single night but on four occasions," Ann revealed, her voice unwavering. "Within those hidden confines, I discovered notes and various substances. One particular substance stood out to me, unmistakably used for poisoning: arsenic. Furthermore, I stumbled upon contractual agreements with an individual. When I fled from the mansion, I seized the papers and a bag containing arsenic, delivering them to the nearby police station. They scrutinized the evidence and found that the contracted individual was already imprisoned for the production of deadly poisons."

    The gravity of the situation settled upon the assembly, their disbelief gradually transforming into a somber acceptance of Ann''s claims.

    "I forgot to mention," Ann interjected, her voice unwavering, "the contract with that individual has forged eight years ago, coinciding with Seraphina''s untimely demise."

    Nyx''s mind swirled with a mix of disbelief and confusion. Could it be true? Was Dr. Jenkins truly a criminal orchestrating such a heinous act? The other servants, too, were stunned by the weight of the evidence presented before them.

    Dr. Jenkins, his face etched with a mixture of shock and desperation, confronted Ann. "Why... Why would you accuse me of such a nefarious act? What possible motive could I have had to poison Seraphina?" he demanded.

    "What motive?" Ann retorted, her voice laden with conviction. "You were promised a handsome sum for carrying out the poisoning, a sum that, coincidentally, remains the highest payment you have ever received. I stumbled upon your records detailing the highest payment you had ever received, and it happened to be mere days after Seraphina''s tragic demise."

    "But who would pay him much money?" asked one of the maids, her voice trembling with disbelief.

    "Who?" Ann retorted, her gaze shifting towards Mr. Charles. "Who else provides Dr. Jenkins with funds? It can only be Mr. Charles Lancaster himself."

    The room fell silent as the servants and police turned their gaze towards Mr. Charles, who stood before them, visibly shaken and nervously fidgeting under their scrutiny.

    "A few days ago," Ann continued, her voice firm, "Dr. Jenkins disclosed to Mr. Lancaster that his recent payment was the highest he had received in the past eight years. Curiously enough, it coincided with the year of Seraphina''s untimely death. This revelation led me to investigate the laboratory for the first time and cast suspicion upon both Mr. Lancaster and Dr. Jenkins. I managed to find the key to the lab to be hidden behind a jacket in the double bedroom, which I replaced with a fake one."If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "Mr. Lancaster?" one of the maids exclaimed, disbelief etched on her face. "I can''t believe it!"

    "Ann has also informed us that you and Seraphina were secretly married," one of the police officers added, addressing Mr. Lancaster directly. The room erupted in gasps of astonishment.

    Charles remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor, his anger palpable.

    "We even possess a marriage certificate validating your clandestine union with Seraphina. You temporarily divorced Penelope to marry Seraphina and have a child, but you didn''t disclose this to most people. After Seraphina gave birth, you married Penelope again," the police officer declared.

    "Yes," Mr. Charles finally admitted, his voice filled with resignation. "I confess the marrying... but why would I kill her?"

    "Because Seraphina had discovered the secret behind your accumulated wealth," Ann declared, her tone unwavering.

    Mr. Charles appeared suspicious, his brows furrowing. "What secret?"

    "In the papers that I retrieved from the laboratory," Ann explained, "although I cannot fully comprehend matters of finance, I took them to the police. They uncovered that you had manipulated and deceived the owner of a stock market and stolen his entire fortune, leaving him now living in poverty. Most of your success stems from him. You possess great skill in the art of deceiving someone in matters of finance, do you not?"

    Mr. Charles''s countenance sank, his fa?ade of confidence crumbling.

    "I knew Seraphina well," Ann continued, her voice filled with conviction. "She would never condone stealing from anyone, be they rich or poor. My theory is that she confronted you about your misdeeds, urging you to rectify your actions, or else she would expose your crimes to the authorities. Am I right, Mr. Lancaster?"

    Mr. Charles shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting nervously from side to side, beads of perspiration forming on his brow.

    "I also discovered an aged document within that room," Ann revealed, her voice steady, "which contained various names associated with the support of Mr. Charles''s illicit activities. Among those names were Mr. Charles himself, Dr. Jenkins, and a faintly inscribed name that appeared to be Seraphina''s. And lastly, there was a name that indicated encouragement of these actions, and that name is Penelope." Ann fixed her gaze upon Penelope, her tone filled with gravity.

    Penelope, taken aback, wore a mixture of shock and defiance upon her face. "What are you..." she retorted, her breaths heavy with tension.

    "You," Ann proclaimed, her voice unwavering, "were the one who conceived the notion of killing Seraphina. It was you who encouraged Mr. Lancaster and Dr. Jenkins to commit this heinous act."

    Nyx''s eyes widened, disbelief coursing through her thoughts. Could it be true? Was her aunt, Penelope, truly capable of such a heinous crime?

    "Why, you audacious..." Penelope began to speak, her voice filled with a controlled fury.

    "Seraphina had confided in me that you envied her," Ann declared, her voice unwavering. " Particularly after giving birth to a child... a child who, unbeknownst to all, is Thomas," Ann interjected, her voice cutting through the charged atmosphere.

    The servants exchanged incredulous glances, their minds grappling with the shocking revelation. All eyes turned towards Thomas, who kept his gaze fixed upon the floor, his expression a mixture of calm and internal turmoil.

    "Yes," Ann continued, her voice resolute, "Thomas is not Penelope''s biological son; he is, in fact, the offspring of Seraphina." She paused, allowing the weight of her words to settle in the room. "Seraphina confided in me about her marriage to Mr. Charles and the birth of their child. However, when I began my employment at the mansion, Mr. Charles told me that both Seraphina and her child had tragically passed away and were laid to rest in the same grave. Although some individuals were aware that Mr. Lancaster had a child, the true identity of the child''s mother remained uncertain. It was after Seraphina''s demise that Mr. Lancaster orchestrated the deception, falsely claiming the child to be Penelope''s."

    One of the police officers approached Thomas, his tone filled with curiosity. "Did you have knowledge of Penelope not being your biological mother?"

    Thomas, with a downcast gaze and a tinge of sadness in his voice, responded softly, "I... I was aware."

    "You knew?" the officer inquired, surprise evident in his voice.

    "What on earth are you saying, Thomas?!" Penelope erupted, her voice filled with a volatile mix of anger and disbelief. "What are you saying?! You and Nyx are merely children!"

    "That''s precisely why you attempted to kill Nyx," Ann interjected.

    Nyx stood in a state of shock, her mind reeling from the revelation.

    "What absurdities are you uttering?" Penelope retorted, her anger barely masked by her outward calmness.

    "In two separate instances, Nyx had confided in you, Penelope, expressing doubts about Thomas being your biological son. After that you directed your anger towards me twice and became suspicious of me," Ann explained, her voice composed. "Upon discovering the presence of arsenic, I became fearful, suspecting that you might have been planning to poison me, especially after witnessing your attempt to kill Nyx."

    "Ann," Nyx exclaimed, her voice filled with confusion and disbelief, "What are you saying? When has Auntie ever tried to kill me?"

    "It was during your outing to the river," Ann replied, addressing Nyx directly. "I had a feeling that something sinister might occur, that Penelope could potentially take drastic measures once confronted by Nyx with the truth. So, I discreetly carried the rifle with me, staying close behind them. When the assailant approached, intending to kill Nyx, I aimed and shot him in the hip, thus rescuing Nyx. However, Penelope''s immediate response was not gratitude for saving her niece, but anger directed at me for having a firearm. I must inquire, Penelope, why was it of greater concern to you that I had a rifle, rather than acknowledging the fact that I had saved your niece''s life?"

    Nyx couldn''t deny the truth in Ann''s words, for the sequence of events resonated deeply within her.

    "Furthermore, the police have determined that the man whom I shot at the river was an accomplice of the poison maker contracted by Dr. Jenkins. It is highly likely that Penelope had hired that man with the intent to murder Nyx. When Penelope realized the man could expose her involvement, she took matters into her own hands and killed him. Subsequently, her suspicion towards me grew, and I refrained from consuming any food or drink to protect myself. They may have even attempted to poison Nyx within the confines of the lab."

    "But they said I had a severe illness that required medication," Nyx interjected.

    A police officer approached Nyx, placing a hand on her forehead as he asked her a series of questions. After receiving her responses, he stated, "Your condition is most likely not severe. We will check you."

    "So that means... Dr. Jenkins lied to me?" Nyx asked, her voice surprisingly composed.

    "We will examine the liquid that Dr. Jenkins claimed was a medicine," the police officer declared, taking the bottle, which was concealed within a bag, into custody for analysis.

    Penelope directed her anger towards Mr. Charles, exclaiming, "I warned you against hiring Ann as our maid. I knew this would lead to trouble." She then glared at Ann, stating, "You have been deceitful and investigating us."

    "No," Ann countered, her voice resolute. "I never harbored suspicion towards you until a few days ago when I discovered that Thomas is Seraphina''s son."

    The truth unraveled, exposing the intricate web of deceit that had engulfed the mansion.

 Chapter 9

    The police started moving forward to apprehend Mr. Charles, Dr. Jenkins, and Penelope. However, Nyx''s heart was filled with disbelief and desperation as she moved to talk to her Aunt.

    "Please, Auntie, tell me it isn''t true," Nyx pleaded, desperately hoping for a different outcome.

    "Nyx!" Ann called out urgently. "Come here!"

    Penelope fixed Nyx with a stern, calm gaze before suddenly grabbing her by the neck and brandishing a knife dangerously close to her throat.

    "Do not come any closer!" Penelope cried, her voice laced with desperation. "Or I will kill her!"

    Nyx stood frozen, her mind reeling with disbelief. All the chaos that had unfolded within the mansion, the ghostly encounters, the deranged intruder, and Ann''s suffering from hunger��all of it traced back to her own beloved aunt, who now held her life in her hands.

    "Move, you foolish girl!" Penelope hissed, forcefully dragging Nyx along with her. The police attempted to reason with Penelope, pleading for her to release Nyx, but Penelope remained resolute. They proceeded toward the laboratory door, Penelope''s grip never faltering.

    As they passed through the door, Penelope shut it behind them. As they descended the stairs, Nyx''s tears flowed uncontrollably.

    "Auntie, please," Nyx sobbed, her voice choked with despair. "Please don''t kill me, please..."

    "Silence!" Penelope snapped, her voice low and unwavering. She forcefully threw Nyx to the laboratory floor and retrieved a pistol from the nearby table, pointing it directly at her trembling niece. "You are the cause of this entire mess. You must learn to stay out of matters meant for adults."

    "I''m sorry, Auntie," Nyx sobbed, unable to contain her anguish. Her Aunt, with whom she had shared laughter and cherished moments, now held her life in her hands.

    Penelope swiftly moved towards a large door, still aiming the pistol at Nyx. She opened it with haste. "Get in there quickly, you wretched child. And make no noise."

    Nyx, her heart pounding with fear, complied with her Aunt''s command, stepping into the dark abyss beyond the door, not knowing what fate awaited her.

    Nyx followed her Aunt through the dimly lit corridor, trying to hold back her tears and remain silent. Penelope trailed behind her and locked the door behind her with robust latches. The passage stretched ahead, revealing boxes and shelves that lined the way.

    "Wh-Where are you taking me, Auntie?" Nyx questioned, her voice trembling with fear.

    "This is a secret passage," Penelope whispered, her tone hushed. "Only Charles and I know where it leads. You will stay with me until I board a ship bound for the Netherlands, where our wealth remains."

    They continued their journey in silence, moving straight ahead before making a sharp 90-degree turn to the right. Nyx muttered under her breath, her words filled with desperation. "Dear God, please save me."

    Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Nyx succumbed to her fear and burst into tears, her cries echoing through the passage. "Please, Auntie, I don''t want to do this!"If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    "Will you keep quiet!" Penelope hissed, her voice barely audible, as she maintained her grip on the pistol, ensuring Nyx''s compliance.

    "Nyx!" the voice of Ann echoed through the corridor. Nyx turned her head and noticed a small gap in the ceiling from where the voice was emanating.

    "Keep moving!" Penelope urged Nyx, pushing her forward.

    Nyx was on the verge of obeying when she heard the desperate cry, "No! Thomas, what are you doing?"

    Suddenly, Thomas descended through the small gap, landing gracefully on his feet, facing Penelope with a determined expression. It was clear that the gap was too narrow for a grown man to fit through.

    "Thomas?" Penelope exclaimed, her surprise evident.

    A loud and resounding bang echoed from the massive door they had previously passed, but it was securely locked.

    "Quickly, Nyx, keep moving!" Penelope shouted, extending her arm with the pistol pointed toward her niece.

    However, Thomas positioned himself in front of Nyx, defying Penelope''s intentions.

    "Thomas?" Nyx whispered, astounded by his actions.

    "What do you think you''re doing, Thomas?" Penelope demanded. "Do you want me to shoot you?"

    Undeterred, Thomas stood his ground and began to speak through tear-filled stammers, "My life... My life... was a lie." His voice quivered with intense emotion.

    "Step aside, or I''ll end your life!" Penelope screamed, her voice fraught with anger.

    "I REFUSE!" Thomas cried, his voice filled with despair. "I NO LONGER WISH TO LIVE. IF NOT, THEN MAKE ME YOUR HOSTAGE INSTEAD!"

    "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? DO YOU TRULY SEEK DEATH?" Penelope bellowed. "Step aside! I have no use for you any longer. I require a girl as my hostage, not a boy."

    <figure>

    </figure>

    Ann emerged from the small gap, wielding a musket rifle, her slender frame allowing her passage, Penelope flinched in surprise. In a swift motion, Ann pushed Penelope to the ground and aimed the rifle at her.

    "DO NOT DARE TO POINT YOUR WEAPON, OR I SHALL SHOOT YOU!" Ann screamed with fierce determination.

    "You have murdered Seraphina, you are an abomination!" Ann''s voice seethed with fury. "I will not let you escape the consequences of your actions."

    "You were consumed by envy, weren''t you?" Ann continued, her anger palpable. "You resented Seraphina for having a child and it filled you with such malice that you saw no other way but to end her life."

    "Seraphina, that wretched girl," Penelope sneered, her voice laced with bitterness. "Parading her motherhood, carrying Thomas with utmost happiness while I remained childless. You cannot comprehend the pain it caused me, feeling undeserving of such happiness."

    "Is that so?" Ann retorted sharply. "Do you not know that I, too, am incapable of bearing children? 15 years ago, when a doctor first informed me of this truth, it plunged me into deep despair, as motherhood had always been my cherished desire."

    Penelope remained silent, unable to find a response.

    "However," Ann continued, her voice filled with conviction, "I would never resort to murder out of envy. I shall never forgive you for what you have done to Seraphina."

    Upon seeing Nyx and Thomas, Ann''s voice trembled with urgency, "WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?! RUN!"

    Penelope, however, was poised to aim her pistol at the young pair. Sensing the impending danger, Ann desperately clicked the trigger of her rifle, but to her dismay, no shot rang out.

    She continued clicking the trigger, growing increasingly frantic, yet the weapon remained silent and inert.

    A twisted laughter escaped Penelope''s lips. "That was a mere prop, you foolish woman," she sneered.

    Ann''s nerves frayed as she kept futilely clicking the trigger, her gaze fixed upon Penelope with growing trepidation. The gravity of the situation hung heavily in the air.

    Rising to her feet, Penelope steadied her pistol and fired two resounding shots. The sound echoed through the corridor, reverberating with finality.

    Ann crumpled to the floor, life extinguished. Nyx stood frozen in horror, her eyes locked on the lifeless body of Ann.

 Chapter 10

    The door behind them continued to pound relentlessly.

    Penelope urgently cried out to Nyx, "QUICKLY, NYX! COME OVER HERE!"

    Thomas remained resolute, standing in front of Nyx, refusing to leave.

    Nyx, her voice trembling, pleaded with him, "Thomas, what are you doing? Go."

    "Very well..." muttered Penelope and her expression darkened as she silently manipulated something with her thumb. Nyx''s ears caught the distinct click from the pistol.

    "THOMAS!" Nyx reacted swiftly, pulling him to his right side as they both stumbled and fell. In an instant, a deafening boom shattered the air. Nyx, unharmed, looked down in horror, only to find blood pooling on the ground. It was flowing from Thomas''s left upper arm, a grievous wound inflicted by the blast.

    "No... no..." Thomas muttered, his body trembling, tears streaming down his face. He was in shock, traumatized by the terrifying turn of events, his breathing shallow and erratic.

    Nyx placed her hands around Thomas. "Thomas, are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern and desperation.

    "Stupid boy," Penelope muttered under her breath as she reloaded the pistol and aimed it at Nyx, her voice filled with malice. "Come over here, Nyx."

    "STOP IT! I CAN''T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Nyx cried out, her voice filled with anguish and despair.

    "Forget it!" Penelope''s voice boomed with rage. "I''ll kill you now. You''re just wasting my time. I''ll just..."

    But Penelope''s words trailed off as she looked up and noticed something behind them. Her gaze fixed on a presence that sent chills down her spine, causing her to step back.

    Nyx turned her head and saw the yellow spirit of Seraphina appear before them, the spirit advancing toward Penelope.

    "What in heaven''s name are you?!" Penelope screamed, attempting to shoot at the spirit, only to find her bullets useless against her.

    Seraphina approached Ann''s body and placed her hands upon it, then she turned her gaze towards Penelope.

    "Seraphina...!" Penelope exclaimed, fear coursing through her veins as she took several steps back. "That can''t be real!"

    Suddenly, another spirit emerged from Ann''s corpse. It was the spirit of Ann herself, her presence adding to the chilling atmosphere that surrounded them.

    Then both Seraphina and Ann turned their attention towards Penelope and swiftly moved towards her.

    "NO!" Penelope screamed, her composure slipping as she appeared to lose control of herself. She started hallucinating, her voice filled with desperation. "STOP..."

    Seraphina then approached Nyx and Thomas, and Nyx felt a soothing presence emanating from Seraphina.

    Seraphina knelt beside Thomas''s left side, placing her hand on his wound. A sense of relief washed over him, though it did not fully alleviate the pain or stop the bleeding. Nonetheless, Thomas felt a greater comfort at that moment, and a small chuckle escaped his lips. He gazed into Seraphina''s face as she smiled at him, and they locked eyes. After a few seconds, Thomas smiled and uttered softly, "Mom..."

    Seraphina then rose to her feet and gestured towards the path leading back to the door, indicating that they should make their escape.

    "Thomas," Nyx said, placing her hands around his torso from his right side, her voice filled with urgency. "Let''s go quickly."

    They swiftly made their way back, turning the corner as they heard Penelope''s screams echoing behind them.

    "WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING?!" Penelope''s voice, filled with madness, reverberated through the corridor.

    A bullet struck the wall above them, followed by another shot that narrowly missed their right side. Finally, they reached the corner, out of Penelope''s line of sight, and continued moving.

    "COME HERE, YOU BASTARDS!" Penelope''s voice continued to rage as she fired two more shots. Then, a deafening explosion rocked the corridor. Boxes containing fuel or oil had ignited, causing a massive fire to erupt. Nyx turned to look and saw her aunt engulfed in flames, screaming in agony until she finally collapsed. It was a horrifying sight, but Nyx forced herself to focus and continued moving forward.

    They reached the door, which the police had managed to break open. The officers swiftly grabbed Nyx and Thomas, rushing them outside the lab and away from the mansion as the fire continued to spread, all the servants also escaped the mansion.

    The mansion now glowed with the inferno''s light, casting an eerie glow upon the night. Firefighters battled to extinguish the fire. Fortunately, heavy rain began to pour, aiding in their efforts. After three grueling hours, the fire was finally brought under control.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    The once-grand mansion now stood charred and ruined, a haunting reminder of the horrors that had unfolded within its walls.

    As the night wore on, Mr. Charles and Dr. Jenkins were escorted to the court, while the lifeless bodies of Penelope and Ann were removed from the mansion. The doctors promptly attended to Thomas''s injured arm, providing the necessary treatment and expertly wrapping it in bandages. The doctors have confirmed that Nyx''s condition was not dangerous and Dr. Jenkins has lied.

    The scene attracted the attention of numerous journalists, who clamored to capture photographs and inundate Nyx with questions. Overwhelmed and in dire need of rest, Nyx pleaded with them to stop.

    <figure>

    </figure>

    Dawn broke, casting its gentle light upon the burnt remnants of the mansion. Nyx spotted Thomas standing before the charred structure and approached him quietly, her heart filled with sympathy. "How are you feeling?" Nyx inquired with a calm voice.

    "I''m alright," replied Thomas, his gaze fixed upon the ruins. "I''ve come to realize that there is more to life than this house."

    "Do you truly believe that?" Nyx asked, her curiosity piqued.

    Thomas mustered a smile and nodded. "I remembered my mother... my real mother. When she touched my wound and our eyes met, I remembered her love. I recalled how she used to hold me when I was a child. I even remembered being two years old, crying because I couldn''t see her anymore."

    A tear escaped Thomas''s eye, and Nyx listened attentively, empathizing.

    "Nyx, when you revealed the truth about my mother, about Penelope not being my true mother, I... didn''t want to accept it. But eventually, I ... thought about the possibility that my entire life had been built upon... a lie."

    "Thomas..." Nyx murmured, her voice filled with compassion.

    "I fell into despair... I wanted to die," Thomas continued, his tears flowing more freely. "But when my real mother came to comfort me, she didn''t just heal my physical wounds; she instilled hope and solace in my heart.

    "I no longer desire to rely on the wealth of the mansion. What I truly long for is love and trust. I don''t want someone to provide me with whatever I desire without genuine affection. Penelope never raised me with love; she raised me to worship wealth and money. I became so spoiled that I started to disregard everyone around me, including you. I apologize for my past behavior, Nyx."

    Nyx''s eyes widened in surprise at Thomas''s apology, her heart softening. "No need to apologize, Thomas. I..."

    "By the way," Thomas interjected, his tone tinged with sadness. "It was Ann, not Penelope, who bothered to resolve our conflicts. She would always advise me to be patient with you." Thomas''s gaze dropped, sorrow etched on his face. "Ann... she sacrificed herself to save us."

    "Ann..." Nyx whispered, her voice filled with grief as she blamed herself for Ann''s tragic demise.

    Nyx marveled at the transformation in Thomas, his change for the better, and she couldn''t help but acknowledge the profound impact Ann and his real mother had on him.

    Nyx then inquired, "So... where will you go to live now?"

    "I am uncertain," replied Thomas, his gaze fixed upon the charred remains of the mansion.

    "How about..." Nyx hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "How about you come and live at my house?"

    Thomas looked at Nyx in surprise, his expression filled with uncertainty.

    "My father has always held a fondness for you," Nyx continued, her voice filled with warmth. "He would be delighted to have his nephew under our roof."

    "But I am no longer his nephew," Thomas responded slowly.

    "That''s right," Nyx acknowledged, her memory stirred. "However, he still cares for you. Though I am unsure of his reaction to recent events, I am certain that he has read the news and is making his way here. Nevertheless, I offer you the opportunity to reside with us. Would you accept?"

    A small chuckle escaped Thomas''s lips. "I would."

    "There is a question," Thomas remarked. "Why did my mother haunt you before instead of Penelope?"

    Nyx stood in thought for a moment and then replied, "If I recall Ann''s words correctly, ''A restless spirit haunts those who cause grief to their loved ones, and the spirit will not rest until their loved one is safe.'' Seraphina, being the restless apparition, haunted me after I upset you. Now, as for why she didn''t haunt Penelope instead of me, perhaps it is because Penelope didn''t directly bring you grief. She raised you, albeit in her own misguided way. However, when she killed her best friend and harmed you, that was the moment when Seraphina''s haunting intensified and she targeted Penelope, while her haunting of me was brief and non-harmful. Seraphina''s restlessness stems from the fact that you were raised by her murderer."

    "Is that so..." Thomas mused, his eyes widening as he turned his gaze back to the burnt mansion. "So that means... she is no longer restless?"

    Nyx''s eyes widened in realization. "Indeed," she said. "Thomas, I''m going to visit her tomb. Come with me." Determined, they quickly made their way to the graveyard as the sun was about to rise.

    They reached Seraphina''s tomb and beheld her ethereal, yellow-glowing spirit gently smiling at them. The sight was a truly beautiful and serene one for Nyx.

    Thomas approached her slowly, and slowly said, "You... are leaving now..."

    Seraphina nodded in affirmation.

    Thomas began to shed tears while smiling, his voice barely audible, "Mom..."

    Nyx, overwhelmed with emotion, witnessed the touching reunion. Then she noticed another spirit appearing before her��Ann, who looked healthy and radiant.

    "Ann..." Nyx whispered with a smile, tears streaming down her face. Ann returned the smile, radiating warmth and reassurance. Nyx couldn''t help but cry and blame herself, saying, "You were so brave... Unlike me, I was a coward and foolish. It was my actions that led to your death."

    Ann shook her head and continued to smile, silently conveying that it wasn''t Nyx''s fault. She then shifted her gaze towards Thomas, who noticed her presence and smiled in return.

    "Mom..." Thomas wiped away his tears, his voice filled with love and gratitude. "You will always be... in my heart, won''t you?"

    Seraphina nodded, her smile never wavering.

    Hand in hand, Seraphina and Ann began to ascend slowly, their spirits rising toward the heavens. Thomas and Nyx stood there, their eyes fixed on the departing figures as the sun rose above the horizon. Eventually, Seraphina and Ann vanished from sight, resting in eternal peace.

    THE END