When I finally got home my head was spinning. Everything was wrong. So, so wrong. Because I understood it all, I believed it. But that was ridiculous! How could I have lived anywhere but here? It wasn't possible. It……it just can't be.
I slumped against one of the stone walls that surround our grounds. Or rather not my grounds. Not if what they said was true. I was passed crying, or even madness. Now I just needed to scream. To run away as far as possible. My thoughts were interrupted as a dark silhouette strolled up the small cobble path running through these lands. At first I thought about hiding. After all, wouldn't that be the easiest solution? To just disappear and never return. But I couldn't do that either. After all I was Susannah Simon; since when had I ever been afraid of anything? This was definitely not the time to start.
As the figure approached I made myself look presentable. I straightened my necklace carefully and smoothed down my skirts.
"Good-day My Lady." Came a cold voice. My heart immediately sunk. I admit that I half expected it to be Jesse or his companion. I wished so much that I could find them and have them explain everything to me. I must have misheard when they mentioned….well, yes. I must have just misheard.
"Good-day good Sir." I answered without any trace of happiness. That is because I had just become aware of who it was that had just greeted me. Felix Diego. I felt a shiver shoot up my spine as he took a step towards me. I could almost feel the ice surrounding him like a fence. I truly detested this man to my core.
"I was not aware that you were to ride into town. I had been told that you were to join us. I am not questioning your courtesy, but I do feel slightly put out by your disappearance earlier today."
I curtsied prettily and tried to ignite a faint flicker of a smile as I said,
"I am sorry to have offended you so deeply, and I beg your pardon." I was going over the top with the last bit, but I knew only too well that men wished to believe that a woman would grant them any wish. Yet it was always good to make them feel it was their idea.
He smiled a grim smile and held out his hand. I straightened but did not take it. Instead I pretended not to have seen it.
"My dearest Susannah," he drawled in his cold voice. He had no emotion in it. No actual care in what he said. And he was standing scandalously close to me. I took a step back under the pretence of brushing down my skirts again. I wasn't comfortable being out here with him. Especially not alone.
"What business brings you to Carmel?" I asked him calmly. My heart was in my throat as he reached out and brushed my cheek with his hand. Cold shivers swept down my body. I did not like it here. I had to get away fast.
"Mrs Diego wished to visit the famous Carmel-by-sea once more. We came here many years ago, but I don't expect you to remember that. You were still only a child. We hadn't yet been married, but then there was that unfortunate accident with her fiancé and……."
"I thought he was said to have gone to stake a claim. I never heard anything about an accident."
What possessed me to say that I do not know? It wasn't in any of the papers I read on him. How did I know he hadn't been in an accident? How did I………………..
"What did you just say?" he asked me in his usual drawl. Like I was below him. I hated it when people treated me like that. I stared at him in annoyance.
"Forgive me sir, but I do believe I am the one in need of an answer." I answered in a toneless voice that was meant to threaten him.
"I beg your pardon my dear, but I do not wish to discuss such……troubling details with someone such as yourself." I raised both eyebrows at that.
"And what is that?" I asked rudely. I didn't care though; he deserved everything I said to him. He'd definitely done enough to warrant my mistrust.
It was then that I heard a small familiar sound from behind me. A ghost appearing nearby.
"You are innocent." He sneered, "And I must admit I admire that quality greatly." I felt his arms try to wrap around me, but I stumbled back avoiding his grasp.
It was then that I felt another pair of hands loop around my waist and pull me backwards. Into the many surrounding trees. I turned in their hold and came face to face with one of my least favourite people. That is the only explanation I can give for the sudden fluttering of my heart.
"Oh, you." I blurted out rudely. He looked at me with annoyance. I could tell he was angry. I could see his scar glowing even in this darkness.
"Susannah. Where have you gone?" I heard Felix call from somewhere outside the wooded area.
"What are you up to this time?" Jesse asked impatiently. But my attention was focused elsewhere. On the man standing behind him. Looking ever so very murderous. Not that he could Jesse of course. No. He was looking at me.
"Why do you have to keep showing up whenever I'm busy?" I asked angrily. He ignored me and instead turned to figure out what it was that had stolen my attention from him. I didn't know what to do.
Jesse was the man Maria had meant to marry; I was almost certain of it. But then why did I get the distinct feeling he would not appreciate being near Mr Diego?
I knew. I just did. Diego had killed Jesse and I knew it. Things were becoming far too complicated for my liking.
I heard Jesse mutter something under his breath that did not sound pleasant. Felix obviously unaware of his victims' presence proceeded to grab my arm and drag me forwards.
"Get off me!" I yelled before kicking him hard in the shin. He let out a winded breath but didn't loosen his grip. That is until Jesse yanked him away by the back of his dinner shirt. He threw him onto the floor angrily. Then turned to me, eyes blazing.
"You are acquainted with Mr Diego?" I asked dryly. I was slightly out of breath from my attack on the man. Yet I made myself stand up straight to face Jesse squarely.
Jesse however disregarded my question completely. As is the usual with the many ghosts in my meeting.
"What on earth do you think you're doing coming out here alone?" he turned slightly to point at the man struggling to get to his feet. He was covered in grime that I'm almost certain will stain.
"With him." He spat. I rolled my eyes and began to walk away. I was in no mood for being yelled at. Especially after the way he had behaved yesterday. After the lies he'd told me.
"Susannah!" he called. But it wasn't his voice that stopped me. Rather the cold hand that clamped over my own. I glanced down worriedly, knowing where Jesse's companion was almost instantly. He was amazingly strong for a live man. Well at least I assume he's alive. He has no aura so he cannot be dead.
"PAUL!" Jesse yelled, before running towards us hurriedly, "touch her again and I will kill you."