The Blood Stone [working title]
an excerpt

“I thought you wanted to talk about last night,” Devii said softly, turning to face him. Cael sat on a tree stump, twisting his cap idly between his hands. The two had found refuge in the wild growth at the farthest edge of the manor’s grounds. From where they sat the white house seemed miles away and the trees and tall grass served as perfect camouflage from any prying eyes.
“Sorry, it had slipped my mind. I mean…I’m still in disbelief. I mean…it was…”
“A ghost,” she said. Late last night the duo had gone searching the west wing for a ghost that Devii had witnessed only a few days earlier. Although Othena had forbid anyone from entering the lower west wing, it was where the apparition had last appeared.
“But how do we know it’s not real? I mean I’ve seen Zavier conjure things that look like specters. This could just be some sort of trick.”
“But there was no one else there, Cael. And others have seen it and in different parts of the house. I don’t think anyone could play a trick like that.”
It couldn’t have been a trick, Devii thought. It looked so real. But it wasn’t just that. She had felt its presence—sensed it. It had been so real she couldn’t accept it as anything else. She shivered involuntarily.
“Maybe,” he said and took a moment to think about it. “It felt real.”
“The house is supposed to be haunted you know…” Devii began softly and she sat up. Cael looked at her eagerly. “This house was already here before we moved to Port Ryetto. It had been abandoned for at least ten years, maybe more. Moving up here was very difficult since most of the locals had refused to come near it.” She turned to look at the forest that loomed behind them only a few miles away—a tall wooden gate ran along the boundaries of the manor’s property, separating the house from the dark wilderness behind it.
“That’s ridiculous. Why would people be afraid of an old empty house—ghosts or not.”
“Because of how close it was to the rainforest. When we first came here, the trees were much closer to the house than they are now. Some folks said the forest was trying to swallow the house—to reclaim it.”
“You’re making this all up.”
“I’m not,” Devii pulled her knees up to her chest and stared into the blackness of the forest behind them. “Maren, the woman who owns the flower shop in town has told me a lot of local stories. There is something in that forest, even she believes it. She’s not afraid of it—but even she believes there is something in there.” She squinted her eyes and for a moment she could swear she had seen something move. Cael put a hand on her shoulder and she turned back to face him. His face had paled considerably and he was fumbling with his hat nervously again.
“You’re scaring me, Devii.”
“I’m sorry.” She flashed him a small smile and he relaxed a little.
“That still doesn’t explain our ghost,” he said, looking back at the house.
“I know. People started seeing it less than a year ago. But what would make a ghost suddenly appear after all this time?” She turned to Cael for a response, but he simply shrugged. The two sat in silence for a moment. The wind blew gently across the tall grass, rustling the thick green strands.
“Othena isn’t doing anything illegal, is she Devii?” he finally asked.
“You mean murder?” she said bluntly and he nodded. “I doubt it, but she wouldn’t tell me even if she did. She’s a very mysterious woman, Othena.”
Her thoughts drifted briefly to the woman’s stern features. “The only thing going on in that house is good ol’ prostitution.” The two of them laughed, but Cael’s voice faltered.
“How do you live with that going on,” he said softly.
“I’m a heavy sleeper,” she said with a slight chuckle that was quickly stifled by the sober look on his face.
“Seriously, Devii.” He turned away and ran a hand through his thick, curly black hair. It was medium length with boyish curls hugging the base of his neck. “I don’t know how you do it.”
“The brothel is in the east wing of the house and I’ve never been there. Othena would never allow that. Besides she needed the money and prostitution was perfect for a town like Ryetto. Most of these women would be working the streets, whether Othena ran this place of not. At least here she treats them well and keeps them safe…” her voice trailed off and she remembered Claodiya’s words earlier that morning. “Besides, I don’t have a choice.”