Ghost 5 – Thanks for the info Guys!!! I'll get Reid's name right from now on – told you my spelling and grammar was bad. I'm sooo sorry for being away so long and hopefully I can be able to continue this. Please continue to enjoy.
CHAPTER 2
Caleb drove as fast as he could to Madam Sophia's mansion while talking to Pogue on the phone.
"Look you know Reid's only doing this to piss you off because you're going to ascend first," Pogue said reasoningly "Plus he's always carried a torch for Essie, she was the only girl who didn't want to run in the other direction when she met him,"
"That's no excuse for sneaking up on her while she was in the shower," Caleb argued "Come on man she'd kill us,"
"Which is why Reid's probably going to be keeping a low profile for a good few hours," Pogue replied
"True," he agreed
"Just promise me you two won't start fighting over her, you know she won't like it," Pogue asked
Caleb looked to the empty passenger seat to find a darkling sat there for a couple of seconds before it disappeared.
"Jesus!!" he yelled
"Caleb?" Pogue asked urgently
Before he could answer he ploughed through a truck, time seemed to slow down and within seconds his car came to a screeching halt in one miraculous piece.
"Caleb? What's going on man?" Pogue asked
He picked up the phone and steadied his breathing before he spoke.
"I just saw a darkling," he croaked
"Who in the hell would send you one of those things?" Pogue asked
"I don't know but something's not right," Caleb said calmly
"Maybe Sophia can help us?" Pogue asked
"I'm heading there now," Caleb replied "I'll ask her,"
"See you later man," Pogue answered "And tell Essie I said hello,"
Caleb put the phone down on the seat and got to grips with reality again after his near death experience, he had always feared the power and regarded it as a curse more than a blessing however there were times when he was thankful that it protected him. He let the incident go and concentrated on the road and the old English mansion in the distance, Madam Sophia had the grandest mansion in Gloucester it was big and old and had always begged him to explore all the rooms when he was little and even when he went on his fortnightly visit he would still get the same childish feelings. The old woman had become family to him and a more bearable replacement for his mother when she was having one of her moments of despair, Madam Sophia would always know the answer even before he'd asked the question and give him guidance when he needed it the most. The iron of the driveway swung open slowly, the house and its surrounding land look beautiful at this time in the morning a light mist clung to the trees and the lawns, although the house looked gothic and menacing up close Caleb felt more at home in that place than in his own house.
"Good morning sir," an aging Marcus greeted
"Hi Marcus," Caleb replied
"Nice set of wheels," he admired "Are they real?"
"Yes," Caleb answered
"Only I heard that Master Tyler turned an old wreck of a Jeep into a sleek black Hummer," Marcus explained "I wonder if he could do something with my old rust heap,"
"He's always been good at that trick," Caleb said thoughtfully
"You'll find Madam Sophia sitting out on the lawn this morning," the servant said politely
"Thank you," Caleb answered
He wondered through the cathedral like house till he came to a set of french windows that opened out onto a veranda and the grand gardens.
"My dear boy," Madam Sophia greeted
She grabbed her walking stick and got up from her seat, Caleb smiled whenever he heard her soft and motherly french voice and didn't mind being kissed on both cheeks.
"You'll find her in the swimming pool if you want to fetch her for breakfast," she said warmly
Caleb saw this as an instruction to go and get her.
"I won't be long," he smiled
"Take your time," She said kindly
Caleb walked across the veranda and down some steps and came to a set of arched shaped windows that slid open.
"Morning," came a voice followed by a slap of water
Caleb looked into the pool and wondered where Essie was, he walked around the pool and saw nothing.
"Did you sleep well?" Essie asked
Again Caleb saw a slap of water but couldn't see her swimming.
"What's the matter?" She asked
"Are you invisible?" Caleb asked
"I'm not skinny dipping if that's what you're thinking," Essie replied "Can you hand me a towel,"
Caleb heard the sound of someone standing up and saw her slowly appear as she walked towards him, for a second he thought he was having another dream she was wearing a red bikini that fitted her perfectly he couldn't help but stare at her athletic body, she had muscles and curves in all the right places.
"Thanks," she said breathlessly and then began drying her body then her hair.
"Caleb? Are you blushing?"
"You're Aunt sent me to come and get you for breakfast," he muttered
"Give me five minutes," Essie answered
She disappeared into a cubicle and came out wearing jeans a grey vest and a grey cardigan, they left the swimming pool and went up the steps to this veranda.
"Bonjour ma cherie," Madam Sophia said kindly
"Bonjour Tante," Essie replied in a sweet french accent
She kissed her Aunt's cheeks before sitting in a chair.
"Café?" Madam Sophia asked gesturing to the coffee pot.
"Yes please," Caleb answered
Sophia handed it to him and then cast her eyes at the spoon that was stirring Essie's tea all by itself.
"Essie you know better," she said disappointedly
"Oh yes," Essie said remembering her manners
She looked at Caleb who had his eyes fixed on the stirring spoon.
"Would you like any sugar with your coffee Caleb?"
"Yes," he answered
He saw her look at the sugar bowl.
"Sugar," she said politely
The bowl slid toward her.
"Guests first you know that," she said quickly
The bowl slid across the table toward Caleb.
"Tell it how many spoons you want," she instructed
"Two," he said firmly
Caleb's teaspoon landed in the sugar and took two spoonfuls and began to stir the coffee.
"My mom taught me that trick," Essie explained
Caleb took the spoon out and drank a big mouthful of warm aromatic coffee.
"You've come to see us with a lot on your mind," Madam Sophia said curiously
"I saw a darkling this morning," he said confused
The women looked at each other forebodingly.
"Any idea of who sent it to you?" Essie asked
"Reid," he answered
"Must you blame Reid for everything?" she asked
"He's been getting out of hand lately," Caleb explained
Sophia leant forward and looked at the two of them.
"Don't be so quick to target those you know my boy," she warned "Has it occurred to you that someone outside your covenant could have sent it to you?"
"No one besides us have the power," Caleb said firmly
"Someone's come and they obviously mean to do harm to you and the others," Madam Sophia warned
"We'll be careful," Essie promised
The three of them put the troubling business to the back of their minds and enjoyed a nice breakfast.
"Time for you two to go and enjoy yourselves now" Madam Sophia grinned
She got up and kissed them goodbye before going into the house.
"I've got to get something from my room," Essie said quickly "It's for your father,"
She took Caleb's hand and they went to the south end of the house, Caleb couldn't help but admire every stained glass window unlike his family mansion this house was a place filled with colour and sunlight except from the library and the large gallery in the north end of the house.
"This place always was beautiful," he whispered reverently "It's better every time I see it,"
"My Aunt was never a doom and gloom kind of person," Essie said kindly "She's always loved magic and nature,"
They stopped in front of two thick oak doors, Essie smiled at him as she turned the brass handles and admitted him into her bedroom. It was just as Caleb remembered, the king sized bed with it's Union Jack cushion and beefeater teddy bear faced the grand arched window that looked out onto the sweeping gardens. Her spell books were arranged neatly on a shelf above her desk in order of author, a beesum lay idly behind the door Caleb went and picked it up.
"I'd be careful with that thing, sometimes it tends to have a life of its own," Essie said cautiously
"Have you ever used it?" Caleb asked
Essie took the broom and ran a hand along its polished length, she held it out horizontally and slowly let go and before their eyes the broom hovered.
"Learning to ride a broom was a nightmare," she explained "But I think I've finally tamed the thing,"
She touched the broom again and it returned to being an inanimate object, she put it back against the corner and picked up a small green bottle from her suit case and her bag.
"What's that?" Caleb asked
"You'll see," She replied
"Will you be needing lunch Miss Esther?" Marcus asked
"Put something up for me won't you Marcus?" she replied on her way out
"Yes Madam," he replied
Caleb opened the passenger door for her and saw her pick up the newspaper.
"Was this the boy you saw?" she asked
"Yes," he replied
Essie put the paper in the back seat and got in, Caleb was rubbing his finger tightly around his car keys he was going to deal with Reid tonight. He started the car up and they headed for the town chemist.
"I've got to get something for my mother," he explained as they got out the car
They began exchanging pleasantries with the chemist when Kate bust out of no where.
"Hi guys!" she exclaimed
"Hey Kate," Essie said brightly
"Kate," Caleb followed
Another guy appeared from no where beside her.
"Guys this is Chase Collins," Kate said excitedly
"Hi," Caleb and Essie said unison
"How's it going?" Chase replied
"Did you guys hear about that dead guy?" Kate asked in a soft voice
"Yes..Yes we did," Essie replied
"Did you know him?" she asked
"No," Caleb replied
"It's shocking," she began "He was on Reid and Tyler's floor,"
The atmosphere turned awkward after she had finished.
"So? Does anyone want to go to the movies and see that new one with Matt Damon in it?" she asked
Caleb and Essie looked at each other before looking at her.
"No, we're running some errands for my mother," Caleb explained
"Oh I see," Kate said with a smile "See you guys at Nicky's then,"
"See you later Kate," Essie said before leaving the chemist
Caleb opened the door for her once again before getting into his car and starting the engine.
"Now this is where the tour begins,"
She raised her eyebrow.
"Are we going to walk down memory lane now?"
"Something like that," he muttered
Once they reached open countryside Essie shut her eyes and let the wind whip her face.
"I still can't believe you never said goodbye to me properly," Caleb complained
"You were sixteen, I knew you'd eventually understand," she answered
"You left a message on my voicemail and that was it," he said angrily
"Anyone would think I had dumped by text message or something the way you talk like that," Essie replied astonished
She was right he was starting to talk like a jilted boyfriend, they weren't even going out at the time. He suddenly stopped at the derelict barn and watched the sad thoughtful look cross her face.
"The first college," she whispered "It's nice to see it hasn't fallen down yet,"
Essie looked at him and saw something different in Caleb's eyes, it wasn't the usual brotherly look this was something disturbingly different. He took a looked at the barn with proud look.
"A reminder who we are," he said softly
He drove on until he came to a tumble down house, a mist swirled about the place and gave it an eery feel. A gun shot was fired as they both got out the car, both of them ducked down.
"Hey it's only us alright!!" Caleb yelled
"Whose that with you?" the caretaker called
"Who do you think it is?" Essie called back angrily
The two of them got up slowly, Essie stared at Caleb angrily.
"One of these days he's going to shoot you by accident,"
Caleb chuckled as they walked toward the house, the door creaked open and the rickety old stairs lay before them.
"Home sweet home," Essie muttered before mounting the stairs
Once she got there she saw the old caretaker lowering his gun.
"Sorry about that," Norman said apologetically
"Forget it," she muttered and went to the armchair
William Danvers looked at her warmly.
"I've got a present for you Mr Danvers," She said softly
Essie picked up a glass and poured the thick green mixture into it.
"Drink this for me,"
William slowly gulped the mixture down.
"Now what?" Caleb asked
"Just watch," Essie said quickly "Mom has used this stuff on others who have abused the power, you're dad won't get his full power back but so long as he doesn't go over exerting himself he'll be back to normal,"
Just as she had said it Mr Danvers was once more a young healthy man with sharp blue eyes.
"Thank you," he said gratefully
Essie shook her head and stepped aside.
"Father," Caleb said in a choked voice
"Caleb," his father replied and with that hugged him tightly
Essie cleared her throat and looked at Caleb.
"It's getting late and we should be getting back,"
Caleb let go of his father and took her by the hand, he lead her down the stairs and to the car instead of opening the passenger door for her Caleb pressed her against the car and kissed her. When at last he stepped back to get his breath back he saw her cheeks had flushed to a rosy colour making her look even more beautiful.
"Thank you,"
Essie just stared at him in disbelief that he kissed her, it was a passionate, tender and loving kiss.
"You're welcome,"
"You better get back and get ready for Nicky's," Caleb said with a smile
She got into the car quietly contemplating what her Aunt had said the night before.