When You Hear the Knell of a Requiem Bell by Flashbeagle
Disclaimer: I own Kim, Ben, and their world, such as Carr News. The Gracey Manor stuff traces back to the HM movie, ride, and lore.
In this chapter: Kim comes to terms the fact that she might be Katherine's reincarnation.
Chapter Eight
It hurt to open my eyes.
When I finally did open them, it was morning, but I wasn't in the graveyard anymore, I was in an antiquely decorated room. My backpack was on the ground next to the bed, and on a night stand were my notebook, driver's license, and the photo insert from my wallet.
I'm willing to forget that yesterday ever happened if I can just get the hell out of here without interruption.
I stuffed everything into my backpack, and opened the door.
"Mistress Gracey," Ramsley said immediately as I opened the door.
I groaned. "Oh no. Look, I'm not Katherine Gracey, I'm Kimberly Fox. I'm not your dead mistress, I'm a reporter from-"
"Your husband would like to speak to you." Ramsley continued, totally ignoring me. "He's in the banquet hall, waiting for you."
Is it me, or did it suddenly get colder in here?
I have to stand up for myself.
"No." I said crossly. "I don't want to talk to him."
"Master Gracey was rather insistent."
"Well, so am I." I scowled. "Now, just leave me alone." I pushed past him and walked smack into Edward Gracey.
"Katherine, my darling, where are you going?"
"Home." I muttered.
"You are home." He just smiled at me very invitingly…or it would be if he wasn't a dead man convinced I'm his wife and wants to do something to me tonight that will result in me never leaving this awful place.
I gave him a very cold look. "Last I checked I lived in San Antonio. You should know that, considering you stole my driver's license yesterday!"
I walked past him, but he grabbed, no, make that yanked, my arm.
"We need to talk."
"No, we don't."
"This is where you belong."
"No! Just leave me alone!"
"Don't do this to me."
I pulled my arm back, but he wouldn't let go. He kept staring up at me like a lovesick puppy dog.
"Damn it, just let me go!"
"You have never been so-"
"How would YOU know? Damn it, face the facts! I AM NOT YOUR WIFE!" I shouted. I was really mad now.
"Katherine."
"It's Kimberly."
"You must remember somewhere inside of you," He said gently. "Don't be afraid and fight it." He tightened his grip on my arm.
"Yeah, well, quite frankly, what I'm afraid of, Mr. Gracey, is YOU." And then I finally got my arm back, and walked off in a huff.
I could hear them calling after me (Oh excuse me! Calling after Katherine) as I stormed down the stairs, but I didn't care. I was just about to open the door and be through of the place forever, when Edward Gracey appeared in front of me.
I screamed.
"Please don't go." He begged me. "You must stay with me. I refuse to let you abandon me!"
"Forget it." I said, perturbed. "I have no desire to ever spend any more time with you, ever again."
He paused and lifted a hand to my cheek.
Now normally, I would've been really pissed off, but it happened again. I'm in old fashioned clothes. My hair is weird. I'm about to kiss my husband, and ask him not to go to work, because I want him here with me.
"Katherine?" His deep voice asks.
"Yes?" I respond, as he leans in closer to me and kisses me….
That does it. I snapped out of it. Then I realized that I just made a fatal mistake.
I answered to "Katherine."
Uh oh.
I turned away and ran.
Any smart person would have ran out the doors, but my stupidity prevented me from doing that, and I ended up in the attic.
I really don't know why I didn't just leave, but I guess it was the insanity of the moment. I didn't bother to lock the door; if he can just appear in front of me like that, what's the use of locking it?
I hoped that the ghost of Emily Gracey would refrain from appearing to me. I've had enough of the Gracey family ghosts for one day…make that a lifetime. I just….
I don't understand anything that's happened. This is too weird. This is all impossible.
What's going on? What is happening to me? Why do I keep having flashbacks of Katherine Gracey's life? It's not like I read that stuff. The only logical explanation is the most illogical thing I've ever heard before.
I, Kimberly Elizabeth Fox, am the reincarnation of Katherine Frees Gracey.
But if that's true, wouldn't I have been having flashbacks for, I don't know, my entire life? Wouldn't I be in love with Edward Gracey? Wouldn't I have recognized this stuff when I first got here? Wouldn't I have been able to remember Ramsley's name? Wouldn't I want to stay?
But if it is true…I feel used. I mean, it's like I've gotten a used face, and a used soul at that. That I'm not myself. I'm not me.
I hate this. I hate it.
Okay, let's face it. Katherine Gracey and I really aren't much alike, when you push aside the coincidental stuff. I mean, A LOT of people want to go to Paris.
But then again, some of this other stuff is way too scary for me to even want to understand.
This is all my fault. WHY couldn't I have remembered my backpack yesterday? WHY? Then I'd be gone, and home and
Wait. Today's Mardi Gras! I yanked my cell phone out of my backpack.
Ben picked up a few split seconds later.
"Ben? It's Kim."
"Kim? Are you home yet?"
"No." I groaned. "I'm at Gracey Manor."
"Well, at least you're not in downtown New Orleans. It's a circus out hee—you're where?"
"Gracey Manor."
"Kim! I thought you said you'd never go back!"
"I did. But I left my purse here."
"Do you need me to come help you?"
"Nah. I'll escape. Are you doing anything for Mardi Gras?"
"Um, yeah. Going to avoid the crazy places and go to that Cajun restaurant we went to last weekend. It's in a quieter area of the city."
"You'd never know it's Mardi Gras here." I remarked.
"Kim, are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine. I'll be okay."
"See you later on, Fox. Stay alive."
"I will."
I hung out in the attic a little bit longer. I started to revise the rough draft from yesterday until I got bored.
Then, a thought popped into my head.
How did Katherine Gracey die?
Was it a natural thing?
Or was it murder?
She was only 23 when she died. Maybe she had some sickness that nobody knew about?
I have to find out.
Slowly, I crept out of the attic, relieved to see that Gracey and Ramsley weren't there.
I tiptoed down the unfamiliar hallway, the one without the portrait and the library. The first door I opened was a rickety old staircase. I followed it down, and found myself in a huge, giant room with dusty chandeliers and a section closed off by crimson curtains.
I took my chances and pushed the curtains aside.
There was a table draped in purple cloth with a giant glass ball. Quietly, I approached it. Then, the ball did a 360-degree spin, and the green face of a woman with wild black hair faced me.
"I am Madame Leota, seer of all!" She proclaimed.
As creepy as that was, I wasn't scared.
I guess I must be getting used to all this.
End Notes: In the next chapter…Kim finds out what happens to Katherine.