The Brown House

by Christy Sloat

“Of that I am unsure. But he kept many journals; maybe the answers are in amongst their pages.” She looked toward the room and it was completely dark. With no light it was hard to tell what or who was in there.

  “However he did it, he found the sisters. He made a deal with them, one that I am sure you will not be pleased to hear.” My head snapped back and I gave her a look of maddening fear.

  “Tell me!” I yelled.

  “He gave a life for a life. Or in this case, lives for lives. In order to keep the rest of our family safe from the curse he asked them to lock the curse in the room. Though, he asked that if the door was unlocked by a Mayhew then the curse would in fact strike their family instead.” My mouth went dry and tears flooded my eyes. Ephraim and Lynley would be affected by this curse now. I looked at Ephraim as he remained in the mist. “That is precisely why I said you must be the one to open the door. Your friend is a Mayhew, and now he is cursed, as is his sister.” I was in a state of shock.

  “Why Lynley and Ephraim both?” I screamed.

  “Because they are both here the curse affects them both. Maybe they should have stayed home.” She shook her head in shame.

  The mist disappeared and freed Ephraim, who now lay still on the floor. Lynley grabbed him and tried to wake him with no avail.

  “No, you must be wrong! Please tell me you’re wrong,” I pleaded. Everything inside me knew she was right. “Why would he turn the curse to the Mayhew’s? They don’t deserve to be involved in your mistakes.”

  “You are right, they do not. That is why when this boy’s father tried to open the door in the past Pearl and I warned him to never come back here, and to tell his children the same. Obviously he did not warn them.”

  No, he had warned Ephraim, but because of me, he didn’t heed the warning. If I would never have involved him, he wouldn’t be in this position. Now I ruined his life and Lyn’s as well.

  “If you were to be the only one to open the door, nothing would have happened. Since the Mayhew’s were also looking for the same items I am in need of, Everett was sure they would be the ones to try to open this door.”

  “What were they looking for?” I asked. I couldn’t imagine why a Mayhew would break in here and try to open this door.

  “They were looking for what I wanted you to find. These items will set my daughter free. The Mayhew’s wanted the items so that they could ruin the evidence. Pearl is innocent in all this.” She walked toward the room and I followed behind her. Ephraim and Lynley were innocent too, and now I harmed them.

  “No, Brylee don’t go in there please,” Lyn begged, as she reached for me.

  “It’s okay, Lynley. Stay with Ephraim.” I walked into the room and a light in the corner turned on all by itself. I assumed Violet used her energy to control it. The room was decorated just as a little girl would like. A small bed sat in the corner covered in a bedspread trimmed with white lace and satin. The room was impeccably clean, not a speck of dirt anywhere. Several dolls lined the shelves that hung on the walls. Books and papers sat on a wooden desk, neat and orderly. Violet scoured the room, searching for whatever it was that would set Pearl free. My heart hurt for Ephraim as he lay on the ground. I wanted answers from Violet that I wasn’t quite getting. I couldn’t let Ephraim and Lynley die.

  “Violet, I will help you find what you’re searching for, but you have to help me. I found the key and we opened the door for you.” She stopped her search and stared at me. “You must tell me how to save them, please!” I felt the tears streaming down my face. She looked at me with remorse and reached out and touched my cheek tenderly.

  “I do not doubt you want to save him. I see it in your eyes you care for him. I must warn you this curse is not foolery. It is a force stronger than you have ever imagined. If you save him then you will save her, I understand that. It will take his life away before you can find a way to save him.”

  When she spoke these words I felt like failure was my only option. Was there no way to save him? I turned toward him, where Lyn still clung to him. I wouldn’t let him die. My feelings about him aside, he had a family that loved him. He was the man of the household now. I couldn’t let Lyn and her mother lose someone else. I couldn’t let Lyn die too. Their family had already struggled so much.

  “I am willing to do whatever it takes to save him, I love him.” I couldn’t believe I had said it but it was the honest truth.

  Lyn gasped. “You do?” she asked. I nodded and again turned toward Violet.

  She smiled. “Yes, I see that you do. If you help me find what I desire I will help you.” Finally!

  “What are we looking for?” I started going through the desk. It was strange that the place was so clean, but I didn’t ask why. That was such a minute detail right now.

  “You will know it when you see it, but please hurry.” I kept looking not worrying about why she told me to rush. God only knows why I needed to; maybe there was a time limit to being in here, and when the time was up the door closed. I left the desk and moved along the floorboards, remembering what Ephraim had taught me. I came up empty handed. Violet stood in the center of the room twisting her hands nervously.

  I noticed picture frames on the walls; they were photos of Pearl with her bouncy curls and all. I stood staring at them, noticing one was off center. I reached out to fix it and all at once the pictures fell from the wall. They crashed to the ground, sending tiny shards of glass across the floor. I stepped back carefully, trying not to step on anything sharp. It scared me, mostly because I was not expecting that to happen. When I looked back up at the wall I saw a small opening within the wallpaper. I pulled gently on it and it easily came free, revealing a cut-out in the wall. I stepped forward and peered inside the dark hole. It was full of several letters wrapped carefully in red faded ribbon. I pulled them free and set them on the bed.

  “You found it, oh thank you so much my dear. You have to read them now, out loud,” Violet told me with reassurance.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  I untied the ribbon carefully and plucked a letter from the pile. The paper was delicate and smooth. I unfolded it gently and found the script a bit hard to read. The ink had faded over time and it was not as easy to see now. I tried my best to see it, and went to the light in the corner to help. I read aloud:

  My dearest Violet,

  In all our time together, this afternoon was the most splendid. I melt in your stare and fly away in the breeze of your breath. I continue to think of you for days after. Please tell me you will leave with me. No is not what I want to hear. I love you too much to leave you.

  Until our next meeting,

  O

  “Keep reading.” Violet pressed. So, even though I was utterly confused I pulled another letter.

  My dearest Violet,

  The news of your pregnancy has been a blessing from our dear Lord. I only want what is best for you, even if you feel that is to part ways. I do not want to anger William any further. Let him think what he must, but I know the truth.

  With love,

  O

  Who was this ‘O’ and why did he write her love letters? My head swam trying to come up with an answer. I kept reading.

  My dearest Violet,

  Our daughter has been born! I am so pleased to hear the news. She is almost as beautiful as her mother. She has my eyes, doesn’t she? Seeing you today was a wondrous gift. Thank you for allowing me to see her. Her name is beautiful, Pearl. I will respect your request. I will let William raise her as his own child. I will love you forever. No matter what may occur you are the love I long for. I see it in your eyes that you feel the same as well.

  With love,

  Oscar

  “Oscar!” Lynley exclaimed. I was still not catching on yet. “You mean Oscar Mayhew was Pearl’s dad?” Now it clicked. This was the secret that was hidden in this room. The Mayhew family knew the truth of their indiscretions and wanted to get rid of the truth. Everett Brown must have hidden the letters to protect his family.

>   Violet hung her head, and I noticed a mist form next to her. Pearl appeared and hugged her mother. I watched in awe as Pearl learned the truth. William Brown was not her father, she was a Mayhew. I understood now why the two families hated each other so much. Violet was having an affair with Oscar Mayhew, then she had his child and told William it was his.

  “Wait, did William find out?” I asked them, interrupting the cuddle-fest.

  “Yes, once she was born he noticed she did not have the same appearance as our other children. He had known of the affair. I lied and said it was not his child, but he found out.” Violet turned toward her daughter. “Pearl, I am so sorry. I have always wanted to tell you. My fear kept me from telling you the truth.” She caressed Pearl’s hair. She turned and faced me now. “Once she died I went crazy and so did Oscar. He had never known her truly, he only watched her from afar. He finally told his wife Mabel the truth. She didn’t believe him so she came here to ask me. I was in shock from the loss of Pearl. I didn’t speak a word, I couldn’t.” She paused and touched the love letters that lie on the bed. “She thought I was denying the affair, so she and her children were determined to find the truth. The only proof is in these letters. I asked my son to hide them where no one would find them. And here they have been all this time.” Her confessions seemed to help her have peace in her afterlife. I knew it would not be enough to help Violet leave this house. She was still trapped here.

  “Mother, I am not upset. I have never felt like a Brown. I always knew father had ill feelings toward me. I will go in peace knowing I am a Mayhew. I was loved by you and my siblings. Perhaps I will meet my father now.” She faced me and smiled while playing with her hair. “Thank you Brylee. Save Ephraim, find the sisters and rid the curse from him. If you look in the desk in the basement you will find Everett’s journals. Read them, they will help you find the sisters.” The mist that was Pearl started to fade. She smiled and played with her curls as she seemed to disappear. Violet smiled and came toward me.

  “Thank you Brylee, you have risked so much. I will help you in any way that I can to save the boy from the curse. I will also tell the others to stop frightening your family.” I laughed and she brushed back my hair sending cold chills down my face.

  “I do not want you to leave.”

  “I don’t either,” I admitted. “What happens to the room now?”

  “It will remain unlocked I suppose.” She shrugged and then faded away. I crossed the room and went to Ephraim’s side. He was awake now staring at me wide eyed. I touched his cheek and he nestled into my hand.

  “So I guess I’m cursed, huh?” he said with a laugh.

  “Ephraim Mayhew, don’t talk like that. It’s not a joke!” Lyn cried. “What’s going to happen to him?” she asked me, as if I held all the answers.

  I had no idea what would happen, or if he would survive. It was so unreal. Everything that was happening was unbelievable. I would not let that stop me from saving him. I did this to him and I would fix it.

  “He will be okay! I will do what I can to find the Barclay sisters,” I assured her.

  “What do we do if they’re dead?” Lyn asked me.

  “Kayla told me they didn’t die. She said they used magic to stay alive. So if Everett saved his family from dying off, then I can save you.”

  The three of us hugged for a long time before I finally closed and locked the door. Ephraim could walk and said he felt fine. He looked the same as he did before, but I felt a strange darkness surrounding him. We went into my room and they gathered their things. Lyn left first climbing down the tree carefully. Ephraim paused before he went out the window and faced me.

  “I won’t let this curse do any damage. I will not go anywhere. I promise to help you find the sister’s no matter what it takes. Because, if it kills me then it kills Lynley, too.” He looked so sure of himself and brave.

  “I am so sorry Ephraim, this is all my fault. Your dad warned you to stay away and I…” He put his hands on my lips.

  “No, I am not blaming you or anyone except those witches. They did this.” He pulled me into his arms and his lips covered mine. I melted under his kiss and felt all my worries cease for just a moment. Then he pulled away and all the fear came flooding back to me.

  “So you love me, huh?” he asked jokingly.

  “You heard that part I take it?” He nodded. “Well I sort of do.” My cheeks burned and I could have jumped out of the window to spare my embarrassment. I had admitted to loving him before I even knew his true feelings. He told me he liked me and cared for me, but love was major.

  “You should go. Lyn is probably freaking out right now waiting for you.” I didn’t want to hear him say the, ‘I like you but don’t love you’ speech. I would spare him the torture.

  “Yeah you’re right, goodnight.” He turned and opened the window slipping out carefully and disappearing into the night. I locked the window and sat on my window seat. I put my head in my hands and cried until I fell asleep.

  “Brylee, wake up we’re going to breakfast.” Mom’s lyrical voice pulled me from a dream that resembled what I had lived through the night before. I sat up in my bed wondering how I got there. I was also in my pajamas, unaware of how they got on me.

  “No, gonna pass,” I mumbled. “You and Dad go. I have plans with Lyn today.”

  “Okay, we will bring you back something.” She pulled the door closed and I reached for my phone. I had two missed calls from Lyn and a text from Ethan.

  I ignored the missed calls and went directly to the text.

  Hi! Just checking in to see how you are. I am okay. Miss you.

  I typed as fast as my fingers would allow.

  I am okay. Weird things are happening. I am scared, Ethan.

  As soon as I hit send I got a response.

  Just do what you need to do. Don’t give up on him.

  I froze. He knew about Ephraim and he knew about the curse. I didn’t want to know how he knew so I didn’t respond. I just took his words as they were meant, advice.

  After I was dressed I called Lyn and she said Ephraim seemed fine. They would be meeting me in an hour. We would be looking for Everett Brown’s journals and then driving to meet the genealogist. It was still important to Lyn for us to find out why the Brown’s tree was unfinished. I knew the reason was simply because Everett saved them from the path of destruction then made them leave. Lyn needed something to do. A job that was her own and I would give that to her. Her brother was cursed and so was she. She wanted to help save their lives. There was no stopping her.

  I poured a cup of coffee as I waited for them to arrive. As I sat at the dining room table alone I thought about Ephraim. He didn’t tell me he loved me, too. There was a big possibility that he didn’t feel that for me. I felt it for him, and if he didn’t for me, then I would have to give him time. The only thing was I didn’t know how much time he had left. I heard the door open and they strolled in smiles and all. I had no idea how they could be smiling after what happened. Lyn came over and handed me a box of something that smelled delectable. I opened it to find cinnamon rolls drizzled in frosting.

  “Wow, what’s the occasion?” I asked her as I pulled out plates from the cupboard.

  “No occasion, our mom made them. She was actually up baking early this morning. She got a new job.” I served everyone and they sat with me at the table. I ate slowly and listened to Lyn tell me how her mom received a call from her brother in-law, John’s father. He told her he desperately needed her to take a job. John’s father owned a golf course and the country club that we were at last night. No wonder it was so beautiful and prestigious, it was owned by the Mayhew’s. Apparently their mother took the job, and will now be home on the weekends. I ate the cinnamon roll and, although I was happy for them, I was sad that Saturdays we wouldn’t have dinner together.

  “That’s wonderful news, Lynley,” I told her as I shoved more roll into my mouth.

  “Yeah, it’s great news,” she said, as her s
miled faded.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked. “Come on, this is great news. We are celebrating, not focusing on last night.” I knew she was worried. I was sick with dread.

  “Lynley, you and Miles go ahead and meet with the artist today. I’ll stay here with Brylee,” Ephraim told her. He was trying to take her mind off of it.

  “Okay.” She nodded and got up. “I’ll call you as soon as we find anything out.” I didn’t know why she needed to still find the artist of the family trees. We knew what we needed to. Maybe she felt this lady would know something that would help us find the Barclay sisters, or maybe she just needed to stay busy. She left and Ephraim and I cleaned up the kitchen. Once we were done we headed to the basement. The door opened and I felt the rush of cold air blow past me. I shivered and Ephraim grabbed my hand. We walked in together hand in hand.

  The desk sat in the corner of the basement and Ephraim broke free of my hand and pulled it open. Sure enough, the leather bound journals sat inside. The first time I looked in here, I didn’t think twice about them. There must have been thirty of them. Ephraim found a box and we set them inside. He carried the box out and we silently left the room. I pulled the door shut and Ephraim stood behind me. I turned and he met my gaze, pulling a strand of hair away from my face. We hadn’t spoken since Lynley left.

  “Are you alright?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I suppose. I just want to find these chicks and help you guys. I feel so responsible,” I admitted.

  “Brylee, stop it!” I jumped. He was seriously mad. “You don’t control me. I make my own decisions. When you told me about Pearl, I could have left. But I didn’t. I came back to help you. You are not responsible for this. Understood?” Even though I didn’t agree I nodded. “We have a lot of work to do. So I propose we start reading.” He pulled out a journal and flipped the pages open. I sat with my own book on the couch next to him.