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In life the Butler had always been a quiet man, described as prompt in action and silent in motion. He spoke only as necessary to relay the wishes of the Mistress and her family to the remainder of the Manorâ??s staff, none of whom he couldâ??ve called friends but certainly there was an amiable working relationship to be had.
However life had been life and now, teeth gritted, the Butler fought to maintain a hold on his rapidly blossoming fury at the damage being wrought to the Manor by either the careless actions of the guests or the machinations of his fellow spirits. He watched as the merest hint of satisfaction played upon his lips as the opera singer plummeted to her death having stressed a particularly rotten piece of the railing. Ironic that a trained singer should have such a ghastly pitched shriek in relinquishing her mortal coil.
Slowly his form shifted into view in front of the remaining living guests, two women and a man, each of whom stepped back several paces to avoid a similar fate as had befallen Kevin Andoli when he had come into contact with the Gravedigger. A variety of emotions played on their faces, fear, intrigue, even outright hostility. Clearing his throat he smiled genially at them and for a moment at least they seemed to relax. Excellent. The Butler flourished his arm in a nominal bow as by way of introduction.
[b]â??Honoured guests of the Manor Rosengard, I am the Butler and I am at your service.â?[/b]
The dark-skinned man he recalled as Shaw opened and closed his mouth several times before finally speaking, as if he had been structuring his response.
[b]â??You are not here to kill us then ?â?[/b]
The Butler released a mirthful laugh, he supposed that was probably the most obvious and astute question to begin the conversation with, even if it hadnâ??t been asked particularly politely.
[b]â??I have little interest in this game the others in the Manor are playing, rest assured that so long as you conduct yourself in an appropriate manner in my presence you have nothing to fear.â?[/b]
[b]â??Appropriate manner ?â?[/b]
The nurse seemed to have found her voice and joined in the conversation. Locking eyes with her the Butler raised the index finger of his gloved hand.
[b]â??Indeed madam. You are all guests here and though the Manor may have fallen into a lesser state since that terrible night I expect you to conduct yourselves as etiquette dictates when in the dwelling of your betters.â?[/b]
He paused, clearing his throat again, a small cloud of dust seemingly flowing from his lungs.
[b]â??I have tended Rosengard for decades, as my father did before me and his father did before him. As such I have developed an understandable attachment to this home and wish to prevent you all from furthering the damage Mother Nature has seen to inflict. Though I cannot guarantee your safety from the other spirits, as I said, if you behave yourselves in my presence I shall do you no harm.â?[/b]
Miles temper seemed to get the better of him for a moment.
[b]â??Prevent us from damaging it ? Itâ??s those lunatics you call the other spirits who are destroying this place trying to kill us! Why donâ??t you do anything to stop them ?â?[/b]
[b]â??Mind your manners my good man. I do not stop them for my own reasons, not least of which being there are more of them than myself alone.â?[/b]
Finally joining the conversation Jacqueline Masey attempt to sway it in a different direction.
[b]â??Mrâ?¦uhâ?¦Butler, weâ??re looking for one of the other people here, Alicia Mills, a doctor, can you help us ?â?[/b]
Presenting a small frown the Butler shook his head.
[b]â??I am afraid not my dear, while yes I do know where she is, I cannot lead you to her.â?[/b]
Crestfallen Jacqueline pursued the subject.
[b]â??But why ? You said you would help us.â?[/b]
[b]â??Iâ??m afraid the good doctor hasâ?¦sealed herself off from all thatâ??s going on. She has had the aid of another here in the Manor for what purpose I donâ??t care to fathom and thus you will be unable to reach her, Iâ??m sorry. For the moment however she is quite safe,â?[/b]
Silence reigned between them for several moments as the three mortals processed what the poltergeist had told them. Inclining his head as if listening to a distant sound the Butler spoke again.
[b]â??Iâ??m afraid I must take my leave now, something else requires me attention. Iâ??m sure if you stick together youâ??ll all have a better chance of survival than alone, I wish you all luck as Iâ??m afraid youâ??ll most certainly need it.â?[/b]
Fading back out of sight the Butler ignored their cries for him to stay longer and explain exactly what had occurred. Something new had occurred, he could feel it in his bones. Passing through the walls of the mansion he found himself looking upon the library and its occupants and watched Byronâ??s intrigue unfold wordlessly.
Byron had visited Rosengard often, and the Butler had found him to be a repugnant little man of obsession. Likely this latest scheme was one in a litany intended to lift him from his malaise.
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Cradling his loveâ??s broken body, Kevin Andolli wept fierce tears of grief. It wasnâ??t fair, this wasnâ??t how it was supposed to be. They were supposed to have had a future together, this one last big score and it his hedonistic days would be behind him and then, then they couldâ??ve lived happily together until old age separate them finally, surrounded by friends, family and all manner of good things.
The old professor was saying something, probably trying to comfort him but there was nothing to be heard beyond the sound of his own sobbing in his ears. Even as Saraâ??s blood collected around his legs he continued to brush the stray hairs from his face and whisper soothingly to her, despite what Diana had done she was still so beautiful to him. He felt a pair of strong hands on tugging on his shoulders and turned to see Mathisâ??s face frank with sympathy and understanding.
[b]â??I know it hurts, God knows it hurts worse than anything in the world but we canâ??t stop here son, we need to move on. You heard that ghost, the two of you are living on borrowed time as it is.â?[/b]
Turning to look at Evelynne, Kevin was shocked to see the open fear in her eyes as she looked at him. For a moment he thought it was just the tears in his eyes blurring his vision but even wiping them away left the expression remaining on the journalistâ??s face. Her lips quivered for a moment before she burst into a pained sobbing and raised her hand to cover he face.
Unable to maintain eye contact with her, Kevin returned to looking at his fiancéeâ??s face, her eyes now closed and the expression on her face softened in death. Stroking her cheek he felt the grief well up again and threaten to overwhelm him, biting his lip he felt the wet metallic tang of blood but persisted until the feeling was pushed back down into the pit of his stomach. Gently laying Sara on the ground and crossing her hands, he stood up and vainly attempted to brush the blood from his trousers and after a moment laughed at the ridiculousness of whatâ??d heâ??d attempted.
Yes, the ghost had been right, so long as the two of them were alive they were both dancing a knife edge of mutual destructionâ?¦yesâ?¦there was only one thing to be doneâ?¦one of them had to die now.
Slowly he walked over to the great lectern dominating edge of the grand library, dust covered it like a sheet and he absently ran his fingers along the top edge exposing the ancient timber in four long lines. Certainly thereâ??d be one here. He opened the drawers mechanically, searching carefully for his prize until at last he felt cold steel beneath his fingers. Withdrawing the long, thin blade of the letter-opener Kevin walked dispassionately back to where Mathis was attempting to comfort Evelynne in her distress, the naked blade visible in his hand.
The moment the Daniel saw the knife he moved to intercede himself between Andolli and Decouer, the blank, unfazed and unflinching look in the younger man told him all he needed to know of Kevinâ??s intention. Daniel raised his hands placatingly and took another step backwards to shield the girl now cowering behind him.
[b]â??Look son, come on now, you donâ??t want to do this. Just â??cause that ghost said it doesnâ??t make it true, we shouldnâ??t start killing ourselves to appease them.â?[/b]
Nothing. Not an iota of change, even recognition seemed apparent on the manâ??s face as he lurched closer and closer.
[b]â??This isnâ??t what sheâ??d want! Sara wouldnâ??t want you to do this, she called you her protector, she knew you were a good man!â?[/b]
It was there, just the briefest flicker in his face, the slightest hesitation in his step. Daniel breathed a sigh of relief as the knife Kevin lowered the knife in his hand to his side, completely unprepared for the swift hook that came from the other and caught him in the jaw. Stars blossomed before Mathisâ??s eyes as he felt himself topple to the ground, darkness consuming his world.
Left without anyone to stop the madman, Evelynne brought her legs up to her chest and looked away at the ground, unable to look him in the face. Within three breaths he was on top of her, leaning down, she met his emotionless eyes and let out a squeak of terror before screwing them shut and awaiting the inevitable even as tears streamed down her face. His left hand which had floored the old professor brushed her hair for a moment.
[b]â??Iâ??m sorry.â?[/b]
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With that Kevin plunged the letter opener deep into his own neck, arterial spray drenching Evelynneâ??s face as she recoiled backwards in horror and disbelief. The gambler fell to his knees with a small satisfied smile on his face even as precious lifeâ??s blood pooled around him. Wiping away the crimson liquid from her face Evelynne crawled over to him, attempting to brace his fall backwards and laying him on the carpet. His eyes seemed to unfocus and she leaned in as his lips moved slowly.
[size=1][b]â??See you soon Saraâ?¦â?[/b][/size]
Slowly Mathis regained a sense of his surroundings, even as pain welled up in his jaw from where the young gambler had hit him. A cold chill ran through his spine as his forced himself to rise, prepared to see the man standing over the slain body of the journalist, instead he found the girl pounding furiously at the manâ??s chest, the blade dug in his own throat as he lay assuredly dead on the floor. She was hysterical, blood soaking her fingers.
[b]â??I didnâ??t ask you to! I would never have asked you to do something like that! You stupid selfish bastard!![/b]â?
Her voice was hoarse from crying and shouting as Daniel managed to draw himself up alongside her. Evidently Kevin had committed suicide rather than kill the girl, he wouldnâ??t push the subject, it wasnâ??t his business what had happened between the two of them while heâ??d been unconscious. Instead he cradled the sobbing girl in his arms as she turned and hugged against him fiercely for support.
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The Butler whoâ??d watched the event unfold quietly swept across to the young woman in the dark-skinned manâ??s embrace, it had been an extraordinarily noble thing the younger man had done. A worthy death. A gentlemanâ??s death. The woman was still hysterical, no doubt mad with guilt over what she had just witnessed. Touching her once on the head the old ghost let his voice rise a fraction to the tone of a command.
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[b]â??Sleep little one.â?[/b]
Daniel felt the girl stiffen in his arms and for a moment feared the worst, however with a cursory evaluation he found her eyes had shut and the tears stopped but she still breathing and her pulse has slowed to a more normal pace. He looked around, certain this was the action of another spirit. Shaking Evelynne gently he found no reaction, a further, harder shake still yielded no result. Finally he apologised and slapped her face, her white skin blotched red where he had struck her but she remained firmly unconscious to the world.
Daniel cursed quietly as he found himself alone in a room with two bodies and what might as well have been a third in his care.[/size][/font][/indent]
