Chapter Seven
No one had quite thought it possible, but the night passed peacefully, with everyone able to rest well. Morning was cloudy, with the prospect of more Christmas snow on the way. The group began to awaken to the pleasant day, more refreshed to face whatever might happen.
Crump smiled as he peeked in on Lector and Nesbitt. During the night, Nesbitt had rolled over against Lector and Lector had hugged him close. They were both still sleeping now. "Aww." Crump quietly backed away and shut the door.
Johnson was up as well. "They're both happy?"
"They sure look it," Crump said. "I hope that exorcist can make the ghosts go away so we won't have to fiddle with it, especially after Nesbitt overtaxed himself."
Johnson nodded. "We'll find out soon enough."
"Is Gansley still sleeping?" Crump asked.
"He was when I looked," Johnson said.
"He'll wake up when he's ready," Crump said. "I'm gonna get breakfast. You want some?"
Johnson perked up. "Guilty."
They were soon off to the kitchen.
Back in Lector's room, he was slowly starting to wake up. At first he was surprised to find Nesbitt resting at his side, but he immediately smiled. Nesbitt looked so peaceful and happy, and Lector had apparently been aware of him in his sleep, as he had embraced his friend. It was a relief to see Nesbitt looking so well; Lector had still been rather haunted by the memories of that horrible time in the past when he had thought Nesbitt was dead. Things were different now, and he loved every reminder of it.
"Lector," Nesbitt mumbled.
"I'm here," Lector told him.
Nesbitt stirred, sleepily blinking up at the older man. "You really are here. . . ."
"Now, you didn't think I'd leave you alone after that stunt you pulled last night, did you?" Lector drawled.
"No," Nesbitt replied. He gruffly smiled. "And I'm glad of it. This is a pleasant way to wake up."
"I'm glad you feel that way," Lector said. "I do too. How are you feeling?"
"A lot better," Nesbitt said. "I wonder if the priest has shown up to do the exorcism yet."
"Probably not yet, unless he was going to come early," Lector said. "I don't believe we knew an exact time." He sat up and then slowly started to get off the bed. "Do you feel like getting up?"
Nesbitt considered that. "I'm still kind of weak," he admitted. "It feels like I might get dizzy if I try to get up."
Since Nesbitt was rarely so candid about not feeling well, Lector took special stock in his words. "Then you'd better keep resting for a while," he said. "Do you want anything to eat?"
"Maybe later," Nesbitt said. He sank deeper into the pillows. "I think I want to go back to sleep."
Lector smiled. "Then you do that," he said.
Nesbitt was dozing again within the next minute. Lector pulled the quilt up around him more before taking up his phone and quietly leaving the room.
Crump was in the hall when Lector stepped out. "What's up?" he asked. "How's Nesbitt feeling?"
"Still weak," Lector told him, "but he had a coherent conversation with me before dropping off to sleep again." He smiled. "I'm sure he'll be alright."
"That's great," Crump grinned. "And we just got a text that the priest came early and it looks like the exorcism worked, at least on the basement ghost!"
"Wonderful," Lector said with a mixture of surprise and relief. Melody had been added to the group text the previous night, so that if she needed to, she could reach out to everyone for help at once.
"I wanna say that means our problems are over, but with our luck, it's probably a false sense of security to think that," Crump said.
"It certainly could be, unfortunately," Lector sighed.
"It seems kinda strange the ghost could be subdued and kicked out so easy," Crump said. "We never had that good of luck with exorcisms before."
"Of course, this is a different location with different ghosts," Lector pointed out. "And Nesbitt did weaken it last night. Maybe it just wasn't able to put up a big fight against the priest."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Crump conceded.
"That said, I must admit it seems strange to think of the problem getting solved that quick," Lector continued. "It feels like it must be the calm before another storm. I so want to be wrong, but I don't know that I am."
"Well, I'm gonna think you are until proven otherwise," Crump insisted.
Lector smiled a bit. "It is comforting to think that it's all over. I will certainly hope that, at least." He looked to the stairs. "And now I would like some breakfast."
"Me too!" Crump chirped. "Johnson and I were just getting some when the text came in. I came back up to see if anybody else was awake to let them know. Now let's go!" He headed for the stairs.
Lector chuckled as he followed. Crump had certainly pounced on that opportunity. Not that Lector could blame him. Food definitely sounded good.
xxxx
It was surprising to start waking up. Duke hadn't thought he would ever be able to sleep. But he was gradually coming back to awareness on the pillow and realizing that he had finally been sleeping until now. He swept the hair away from his face as he rolled over on his back and stared at the ceiling.
He couldn't remember exactly what he had been dreaming, though. Had it been pleasant? He wasn't waking up feeling wearier than when he had laid down, so hopefully it hadn't been unpleasant.
He slowly sat up and then got up, swinging his legs off the mattress. As he shuffled into the living room, he found David asleep on the couch, one arm hanging off the edge. He shook his head in amusement and turned away, going to the kitchen.
People had often asked him why he didn't get a house. He had never given a straight answer, not wanting to talk about it. But houses held painful memories after all that his father had done to him. Sometimes he had come home wanting a little solitude from the mood swings and the rages and the lectures on revenge and he had tried to hide in the house for a while. He had always been found. Houses were too big, with too many places of false security that fell through. Somehow, his high-rise apartment felt safer and more secure.
His father was gone now, though. Duke didn't want to live in a big house aloneāit would feel too uncomfortable and lonely. But . . . if someone was with him . . . if he had someone good to share it with . . . maybe it would be nice.
He was still deep in thought when David got up a while later and wandered into the kitchen. "Good morning!" he greeted. He eyed the breakfast foods in approval. "This looks good."
"Help yourself," Duke said with a broad gesture. He hesitated. "David . . . has your family ever considered moving back to Domino City?"
David blinked in surprise. "They definitely have . . . mostly because I keep trying to coerce them into it."
"I guess there's no point in asking, but . . . do they still hate me because you didn't go with them and stayed here instead?" Duke asked. That had always been a sore point with them. And then, of course, they had found many other reasons to hate Duke as well.
David slowly buttered a piece of toast. "They still wish I would have come," he said guardedly. Instead of asking, he waited for Duke to come to the point. He knew there was one; Duke didn't make idle conversation.
"I know they were grateful I found a way to get you back," Duke said. "But they probably felt I wouldn't have needed to do it if I hadn't involved you in my problems in the first place."
David sighed. "Duke . . ." Duke was right, of course. And David hated to admit to it and bring up more pain and wounds he had hoped to help Duke leave behind.
"Okay, okay." Duke squirted syrup on a pancake. "What I'm really wondering is if they'd ever move back into their old house . . . and if you'd then move into a house with me." He knew David had wanted to stay in that house and keep it in the family. He was more sentimental than he wanted to let on. But if he felt free to leave . . . would he?
David almost dropped the butter knife. "You'd actually move into a house?!" he exclaimed.
Duke shrugged. "If I had someone I wouldn't mind living with . . . yeah, I think I'm ready."
David had to smile. "I'll talk to them about it again. This is the perfect time, too; they are coming back for Christmas."
"I thought so," Duke smirked. "Although . . . you'd better not tell them the whole reason you're asking."
"I don't think they'd suspect anything," David said. "They know I never wanted them to leave."
"Why did they leave anyway?" Duke frowned. "It always seemed weird. They had a good set-up here."
"My sister moved when she got married and the rest of the family wanted to be closer to her," David said. "And as you know, they wanted me to come with them."
Duke snorted. "But you needed to stay here with your college classes," he objected. "Honestly, sometimes I wonder if they really moved just hoping to get you away from me."
David wouldn't meet Duke's eyes. "Isn't that putting a little too much importance on yourself?" he said lightly.
"Maybe ordinarily," Duke said. "But not with them. They'd do it."
David looked down at the food. "You never could be fooled, Duke."
"Almost never," Duke muttered. The drug smugglers had certainly fooled him for a time, operating out of the store without his knowledge or suspicions.
"Don't worry about it now, Duke," David said quietly. "It's the past." He started to eat.
". . . It's almost Christmas," Duke said. "Are they coming today?"
David nodded. "I need to go out to the airport to meet them. Will you be okay at the store?"
"Oh yeah," Duke said. "Lumis and Umbra will be there, and Serenity will come later."
"Good." David hesitated. "If you find a house that looks right to you, go ahead and get it. I'll be there with you. I promise." He smirked. "I wouldn't miss Duke Devlin finally being ready for a house."
Duke smirked a bit too. "We'll see."
xxxx
As everyone else began to awaken and go about their day, they were all surprised but happy to see the news Melody had sent of the exorcism ridding the house of the evil ghost.
"Finally, something is going right!" Mokuba exclaimed. "Now we won't have to worry about ghosts anymore!"
"Although it sounds like the other ghosts wouldn't leave," Marik frowned. He and his siblings had come to deliver Christmas treats to the Kaibas and their other friends and were lingering for a few moments. "That's the same problem we ran into with Evangeline's ghosts."
"Yeah," Mokuba sighed. "Well, if the others aren't actually evil, maybe that won't be a problem. . . ."
"Or maybe they'll have to not let it be a problem," Marik said. He folded his arms. "It doesn't seem right that the other ghosts can't be removed too. If they won't agreeably co-exist with the living, they have no right to be there."
"I suppose in their eyes, the living people are the intruders," Ishizu remarked. Her eyes flickered with unspoken concerns. "I am glad the malevolent ghost appears to be gone, but I'm worried that the threat is not yet over. It seems our problems rarely resolve so easily."
Seto grunted. "Isn't that the truth."
Mokuba bit his lip. "Well, maybe this time is different," he said.
"I most certainly hope so, Mokuba," Ishizu said.
"So do I," Marik added.
Rishid nodded his agreement as well.
xxxx
Serenity awakened refreshed and ready to call on Duke to make sure he was alright. Knowing that David had stayed over with him was encouraging, and the news that the exorcism had worked was even more pleasing. Surely that meant everything was resolved.
Before she could go about her plans for the day, however, an incoming text from Melody distracted her.
We went down the creepy hall and found a weird dagger laying on the floor!
She had attached a picture. Serenity frowned as she stared at it and then enlarged it for a better look. It didn't look like anything she had seen before. But although it was very simple in its design, the sight of faintly carved letters in the blade made it extremely unique and mysterious.
A text came in from Yugi almost immediately.
We'd better come over and look at that! It might be dangerous.
Serenity bit her lip. It had been too much to hope for that everything had resolved nicely. Apparently there was still more, or Yugi worried there was.
Plbrrrrrbt.
Now Serenity did a double-take. The nonsense had come from Bakura's account. Then she giggled, suddenly realizing what had happened.
Oreo!
She could just imagine the tuxedo cat looking up innocently at her owners after stepping on the phone.
I'm sorry about that, everyone. The dagger looks like it could be an Eon Item. We'll join all of you in examining it, if that's alright.
Bakura was always polite. Melody would be overjoyed for him to join in, no doubt. But . . . an Eon Item? Worry passed through Serenity's eyes. Those were always bad news. She had hoped they had collected all of them by now, but perhaps not.
Joey yawned, suddenly appearing in the doorway. "Hey, Sis," he greeted. "What's up?"
"Well, the exorcism worked," Serenity said slowly, "but now it looks like there's an Eon Item in Melody's house."
"Are you serious?!" Joey pulled out his phone to look at the group chat too. "Oh man. . . ."
"Everyone's going over there to look at it," Serenity said. "Maybe we should go too."
"Not without breakfast!" Joey declared. He immediately started off in the direction of the kitchen.
That really wasn't a bad idea, Serenity decided. It would give them strength to deal with the new twist. She put her phone in her pocket and quickly followed her brother.
xxxx
Duke frowned as the new messages came in just as they were finishing breakfast. It was a surprise about the exorcism happening so early and then actually working, but it was some good news they all sorely needed. The other information, though . . . he wasn't sure what to make of that.
Neither was David. "An Eon Item, right in the hallway where that evil ghost was carrying on? That can't be a coincidence."
"No, it can't, and those things always cause more trouble than they're worth when they show up," Duke scowled. "Almost everyone's going to check it out. Serenity too."
"And you?" From the tone of David's voice, he didn't want Duke to go. But he knew it might be hopeless to get him not to, especially if the danger of the malevolent spirit was gone.
Duke sighed. "I probably will."
"So house-hunting will be put on hold then," David remarked.
"That's probably better anyway," Duke said. "Who ever heard of trying to move this close to Christmas?" He got up and placed his dishes on the counter.
"You do what you feel is best, Duke," David said. "But I hope you won't forget about this. I was happy that you were finally ready for a house."
Duke looked back at him. "It's really that big a deal, huh?"
"When it comes to you, yes," David said. "You still keep your secrets, Dukey-Boy, and preferring an apartment has always been one of them." He sobered more. "I always felt that houses held some level of horror and pain for you, but I wasn't sure what. I respected your feelings and didn't pry."
"And that always meant a lot." Duke turned and faced him, placing his hands on the edge of the counter behind him. "You're right. I . . . never really felt safe in a house." He looked away. "My dad saw to that. I feel guilty about it because I know he wasn't well, but . . ."
"Duke." David came up next to him. "You have nothing to feel guilty for. Yeah, he wasn't well, but he still failed you as a father. I'm still struggling to forgive him for everything he did to you, and I probably always will." He grimaced. "Which probably makes me a hypocrite after what I said about Tristan not understanding things like that. I can understand things like you being driven to a nervous breakdown because of a tragedy, but I can't grasp someone losing all humanity and decency, especially if what happened was their own fault."
Duke just sighed and shrugged. "It's hard when the person's actions are evil," he said. "People don't like it when their loved ones are harmed. I think you'd have to be a saint not to get mad if someone is hurting your friends or family, whether the guy is sane or not."
"That is pretty much how I feel," David agreed. "And anyway, he was sane when the whole mess started. He shouldn't have fooled around with the Devil's Boardgame in the first place. When he suffered the consequences that he already knew the game had, he should have been man enough to accept it was his own fault, not blame Solomon Muto and then groom you to take his revenge all of your life!" He clenched a fist and looked away. "Maybe I'll be in trouble someday for feeling like that, but it doesn't change that I still do. Yes, Solomon was responsible too for encouraging playing the game, but your father didn't have to agree. And you and Yugi were both innocent. Neither of you deserved to be caught up in a mess your grandparents caused."
"I know." Duke sighed. "And there was no resolution. There couldn't be. I want to think Dad feels differently now that he's dead, but . . . maybe he doesn't. Maybe he still hates me." He gripped the counter tighter. "It seems like we run into so many spirits who can't move on after they're dead."
"And they'll have to deal with that," David said quietly. "Not the living. I'm proud of you, Duke, for making all the steps you have in moving on. Wanting to get a house is another. I don't want to see that new interest get soured."
Duke gave a vague smirk. "You won't. Now that the idea finally occurred to me, I'm not giving up on the idea of us sharing a home."
David smiled. "I'm looking forward to it." He glanced at the door. He needed to get started picking up his family at the airport, but he hesitated, the indecision flickering in his eyes. He also wanted to be there for Duke when Duke felt he wanted to go back to that house, even if the threat was gone.
Was it really, though? He couldn't forget the dark premonition he'd had last night. He still didn't feel completely at ease now, and he was sure Duke didn't either, even if Duke hadn't fully sensed what David had.
". . . You know, I could drop you off at the store on my way to the airport," he said. "Since I won't be there and Lumis and Umbra will. I mean, you're not really needed at the Nosakas' house, are you?"
Now surprise filled Duke's face. He knew David didn't like how overprotective Duke was of those two, feeling it was unhealthy for Duke. Why would he suddenly encourage it?
"David . . ." Duke frowned. "What's wrong?"
David sighed. ". . . I don't know," he admitted. "I'm still worried about how hateful the spirit was. And we know the Eon Items are bad news. Every one of them we've encountered has been malevolent, with some crazy rules attached to it for using it or reversing its damage. I don't like the thought of you going out there."
"And I don't like Serenity going out there," Duke said. "I'm sure Joey doesn't either. But she's going, probably because Joey is and she's worried about him. Or maybe because she doesn't want to live in fear, always thinking something's going to go wrong. I just . . . I don't want her going. And since she's that determined, I feel like I have to be there too. I'll just have to trust that Lumis and Umbra will be okay, because if there's any current danger around here, it will probably be at that house."
"You could tell her your concerns, like I'm telling you mine," David said.
"I know. I did tell her it might be dangerous. But I . . ." Duke pushed away from the counter. "I don't want to end up seeming like I'm sheltering her. I've tried so hard to show her life doesn't have to be that way. And it doesn't! She's done so well, coming out of her shell as much as she has. . . . I've probably backslid a lot myself because of . . . things, but I don't want that for her."
"She wouldn't want to put you in danger either, though," David said.
"It's a mess all around, isn't it?" Duke mused. "By trying to keep someone safe, we're endangering ourselves and each other. And yet, what can we do? We can't all just live in bubbles. We have to keep hoping for the best while trying as best as we can to look out for our loved ones."
"That's basically what I told you ages ago," David said.
Duke nodded. "I didn't want to believe it then. It's still not an easy lesson to accept, knowing what can happen because of it." He clenched a fist at his side. "But I know I need to."
David's shoulders slumped in his defeat. Duke's mind was made up, and David couldn't blame him for his concerns. But he still wasn't quite ready to concede. He had one final card he could play.
"I know I'll look like a hypocrite again, Duke, but last night I had a really bad feeling about this case," he spoke at last. "I haven't felt like that since . . . well, since the drug-smuggling case. It felt like you're in danger. I'm worried about you, and I'm worried for you to have anything to do with what's going on. Even if the threat is supposed to be gone, I'm not convinced it is. Especially with the Eon Items involved."
Duke regarded him in surprise. "David . . ."
"I know I can't stop you from going, but I don't usually have intuition except when it comes to money," David continued. "It scares me."
Duke frowned. ". . . It scares me too," he admitted. "But then I want Serenity there even less than I already did."
"Only that spirit wasn't after Serenity; he wanted you," David said. "Please . . . go to the store, Duke. Don't go back to that house."
Duke hesitated. "I can stay back, but that's no guarantee I won't be around that Eon Item sometime. They'll be bringing it back and putting it with all the other stuff we've been collecting."
"It's better than going there to look at it right now," David said. "You know I don't ask much of you, Duke, but please . . . don't go there. Please."
Finally Duke smiled. It was a sad smile, a resigned smile, a smile that said he knew exactly what David was experiencing and worrying about and he couldn't bring himself to put David through what he himself had gone through in the past.
"Okay, David," he said. "I won't go."
At last David relaxed. The worry wasn't completely gone from his eyes, but it had been greatly reduced.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
