by Joyce
As I watched, the long gown drifted into the air and moved slowly toward the doors that led to the terrace. It stopped until I could open the door. Then the gown fluttered by me and out onto the terrace.
I followed. The gown reached the railing before it went up and over—stopping only when it had reached the garden. It landed between the white chalk outline where Isabelle had fallen, exactly as her body had.
I stood there looking at it for a few minutes. My imagination wasn’t enough to take me where the ghostly gown wanted me to be. If Isabelle wanted me to jump down after it, she was crazier in death than she had been in life.
A terrible feeling of sadness set in. I couldn’t tell if it was mine or Isabelle’s. I started crying as I looked at the gown in the garden. So many people had claimed to love Isabelle yet none of them had been there for her when she’d been killed. She’d been alone then with only the regrets from her past, and the knowledge that she would never be able to make those things right.
The door to the suite opened, and Victoria, Isabelle’s lady-in-waiting entered. I remembered her from Isabelle’s visit to the museum, and the castle when she’d talked to Chase about Sir. Dwayne.
She glanced around at the clothes that were thrown everywhere, her expression horrified. “What happened?”
“I don’t know” I denied all knowledge as I grabbed the door before it could lock again. “It looked like this when I got here. Sorry.”
I got out of there as quickly as I could. I still couldn’t believe what had happened. My brain didn’t want to take it all in. Between the clothes going wild, and the weird thoughts running through my head about Isabelle’s death, I was ready to leave the castle and never go back. I needed time to think about what I’d seen.
Trying to avoid facing Gus, I sneaked out one of the side doors. I knew that it led to the supply area and into a parking lot for deliveries. I took a deep breath when I had reached the narrow passage between Stylish Frocks and Mirror Lake. The area was closed to the public, but residents sometimes went out of the Village this way when the Main Gate was backed up with visitors. The delivery area also led to the parking lot where residents kept their vehicles.
I ran full tilt into Sir Dwayne. We were the only ones in the parking lot. His hands went out to steady me before I could lose my balance.
“Lady Jessie. I was hoping to see you. Perhaps this is a bad time?”
Chapter Twenty-three
Out of the frying pan?
I couldn’t think of a worse time! I just wanted to go home.
“I’m sorry, Sir Dwayne.” Twilight was beginning to fall on the large, empty parking lot. It wasn’t a good place to confront a man who had only recently had been intent on kidnapping me. “Chase just called. I was in the castle. I’m sure he’s looking for me right now.”
Even to my frightened ears, it sounded lame. I couldn’t think of what else to say to him. I wanted him to know I wasn’t out here alone—well, technically I was—but there were people who cared about me. I wasn’t alone.
“Isn’t that one of Isabelle’s gowns?” he asked.
I looked down. I was wearing the burgundy gown that I’d seen drop into the garden from the terrace. How was that even possible? I couldn’t wear Isabelle’s clothes. It was insane, and yet, I was wearing it.
I wanted to scream and demand to know what was happening, but I had to stay calm—at least while I was facing Sir Dwayne. Maybe he wasn’t Isabelle’s killer. Maybe he was.
“Yes.” I managed to sound cool despite my fear. “They’re getting rid of her clothes. I decided to take this one, you know, to remember her by. I’ve always admired it.”
“I can’t believe you’d want something to remember Isabelle. As I recall, the two of you were never even friendly toward each other.”
“All the more reason to mourn her, sir.” I buried my face in the sleeve that smelled strongly of Isabelle’s perfume. “We never truly had a chance to know each other.”
I tried to scoot by him, but he put out his good hand to stop me. The other arm was in a sling like Rita’s.
“You seemed hurried, lady,” he observed.
“I am late for an important event.”
“And you seem afraid.”
Just let me go, you big ape!
“Should I be afraid, Sir Dwayne?”
“Not of me, lady.” He bowed gallantly, and swept his good arm toward me. “I mean you no harm.”
“Then allow me to pass, sir. I am weary and must be on my way.”
“Lady Jessie, please allow me to express my apologies for what happened between us. I was desperate, and desperate men do foolish things. I’m leaving the Village, and I wanted to tell you how sorry I am that the unfortunate event happened between us. I have always admired you.”
Trying not to be thrown by his sweet words, I moved out of his reach. “I completely understand. I hope your future is bright. Good evening, sir.”
“My future is brighter since you and the Bailiff decided not to press charges against me. The police have released me, even though Adventureland fired me. I didn’t expect to get away with my regrettable actions completely.” He smiled and held out his hand to me. “Thank you. I hope you’ll convey my sentiments to the Bailiff.”
I hadn’t given it another thought. Chase must have taken me at my word that I wouldn’t press charges and then told Detective Almond that he wouldn’t either. I was surprised and pleased.
And I just wanted to get out of the parking lot and back to the Dungeon.
“Think nothing of it. I’ve been in desperate circumstances myself. I sincerely hope everything works out for you. I’m sorry you have to leave the Village.”
“Thank you for that. I’ve learned my lesson, I hope. No more princesses for me.”
I tried to laugh at that, more at ease with Dwayne after talking to him. But I still felt threatened. Maybe he didn’t mean me any harm, but there was something there that kept me ill at ease. I had the same feeling I normally had when I was watching a scary movie. I knew the killer was there. I felt someone sneaking up even though I couldn’t see anyone.
Dwayne didn’t seem to notice anything. He began talking about his life and his plans for the future. “First of all, I appreciate that you don’t think I killed Isabelle. The police aren’t as sure. I can’t leave Myrtle Beach, even though I lost my job, until the case is settled. I’m from Ohio, you know. Columbus. My folks still live there. I was thinking I might go home for a while. Recuperate, you know?”
“That sounds like a wonderful plan, sir. I wish you much good fortune.”
“I was looking for a bottle of wine for Isabelle that day. The shoemaker was there in her suite. I knew she’d led him on and was about to cut him off. She’d gotten what she wanted. She didn’t need him anymore.”
I told myself not to engage him any further, but I couldn’t help myself. “Weren’t you worried about how he’d take it?”
“No. Isabelle had a way of making her wishes known without hurting you. I knew I was on the way out too. We’d had some fun. She was in the market for someone new. I was relieved in some ways. She was high maintenance and a lot of drama.”
“And when you came back from getting the wine?”
“She’d already fallen into the garden.” He shook his head. “The shoemaker was gone. Only one of her ladies was still in her suite.” He stared at the burgundy gown I was wearing. “You know, I think she was laying out that gown for Isabelle to wear for dinner that night.”
“Which lady was it?”
“I’m not sure, Lady Jessie. They all look the same to me.”
I thanked him for the information and urged my feet to move.
He put his good arm around me and planted a quick kiss on my lips. “Just to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Sir Dwayne. Good fortune.” I walked around him, finally, and got away.
It had to be the lady-in-waiting, Victoria! It must have been her green shirt that Isabelle ripped, the one we�
��d found in the passageway. Victoria had been so quick to give Sir Dwayne an alibi. It was right there all the time—there was someone besides Rita who was in love with Isabelle’s lover.
I heard a muffled voice as I was passing the Dutchman’s Stage. I don’t know why it alerted me. There was plenty of music, laughter, and conversation around me from people sitting outside the pubs and houses.
This was none of those things. It was more a whisper, a sigh. I glanced toward the stage. It was empty. No one was rehearsing or hanging out there. I didn’t see anything unusual or hear the odd sound again.
I kept walking toward the Dungeon.
My thoughts were still on the ghostly clothing at the castle. Maybe Isabelle was trying to tell me that it was one of her ladies who had killed her. Specifically, the woman who’d laid out the burgundy gown for her to wear to dinner. The same burgundy gown I was mysteriously wearing after my trip to her rooms. Was Isabelle using the reference to clothes to try to tell me what had happened?
I quickened my pace on the cobblestones, hoping Chase was home so I could tell him everything that had happened.
If Victoria hadn’t already left the Village it would be a good idea to gather everyone at the castle right away. She might leave before Chase could talk to her. I couldn’t prove anything from my feelings or my ghostly clothing experience. Someone else would have to make her admit what she’d done, or find valid proof that she’d done it.
I wished I had my cell phone. It would make me feel better, safer, to talk to Chase while I was trying to get home. I’d left it at the Dungeon today of all days.
One minute I was thinking about Chase, and the next I was on the ground. Something hard had come out of nowhere and hit me on the side of the head. The blow knocked me down and scrambled my thoughts, but I didn’t lose consciousness.
“You had to try to take him, didn’t you?” a whispered female voice demanded. “You have a man. You should’ve stuck to him.”
I was being dragged off the main walkway and behind the Dutchman’s Stage. The trees were thick and damp in the twilight as we were hidden from lights that were coming on around the Village.
“What are you talking about?” My words were slurred. I could barely make sense of my thoughts. “Victoria?”
“I’m the woman who belongs with Dwayne. Not you. Not Rita. And certainly not Isabelle. None of you love him as I do. When we leave the Village, I’ll be with him. You’ll be a rotting pile of flesh for them to find back here.”
“Look, I don’t blame you for killing Isabelle. She was a terrible person. I couldn’t stand her either.” I hoped to draw her attention away from killing me. “How did you manage it? I know she was small, but you must be very strong.”
There was another swing of whatever weapon she was holding. I could barely make out that it was large and wooden. It wasn’t a baseball bat. What is it?
I yelled in pain as the weapon hit my arm. I was sure it was broken. She sat on top of me like some demon, her hands over my mouth and nose.
“Shut up. Just die, will you? I need to leave with Dwayne.”
She put the weapon down and put all her effort into covering my nose and mouth with her hands. I beat at her with my one good arm and kicked my feet, but I couldn’t throw her off. The burgundy gown hampered my efforts.
Why did I put it on?
I could hear the sounds of my heart beating fast. My breath stuck in my burning lungs.
Wanda—or at least her head—appeared over the top of the woman’s left shoulder. “What trouble you can find, Jessie. I was just out looking for something fun to do, and here you are. Who is this person anyway? I can see she wants to kill you. I know the feeling. I’m not sure I’m happy about you being dead now. We’ve become quite friendly, haven’t we? Even though it happened after my unfortunate demise.”
I blinked my eyes and tried to encourage her to do something to get the killer off me. There wasn’t much time. I was fading away.
Maybe this is death.
I was surprisingly calm about it. I didn’t have the energy left to kick my feet or try to get free. I lay there, staring up at the leaves. My mind was drifting. I’d stopped fighting for breath.
“Oh for goodness sake,” Wanda said. “You can’t just lie there and die, Jessie. Do something. You’ve always been good at last minute saves. Think how terrible it will be for poor Chase to find you back here. You’ve let the fight go out of you. Do something now.”
But there was nothing I could do. Part of me still wanted to live. Part of me was letting go. I couldn’t feel the pain in my arm anymore. This is it.
“Stay here, love,” Wanda instructed. “I think I have an idea.”
Why don’t you just knock her off me? You move things all the time. Stop her from killing me.
But Wanda always has her own games to play. Just saving me from a killer wasn’t enough fun.
I heard the whinny of a horse close by. It sounded startled. A voice followed that yelled out and then tried to sooth the animal.
“The cavalry has arrived!” Wanda announced before she disappeared again.
I was sure I’d taken my last breath when I heard Katharina’s voice. “What’s going on here? Hey! Let her go!”
I felt the skirmish as the new knight knocked my assailant off me. I rolled over in the damp grass, coughing and sputtering. My arm hurt so bad that I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t take the chance that my attacker might manage to get past Katharina.
I forced myself to my feet and dizzily searched for the weapon that had been used to knock me down. I felt it on the grass and picked it up in my good hand.
Katharina was without a sword or lance. She wasn’t wearing armor. Her only weapons were her fists and legs. She was strong and much larger than Victoria, but I still had the impression that it was a battle for her to try to vanquish our common foe.
I staggered toward where the two women were fighting and hit the smaller woman with the wooden cudgel. She dropped to her knees. Katharina threw a net over the top of her. For good measure, I hit the woman on her knees again.
“Double tap,” I said to her. “Always a good idea with zombies and crazy women.”
“Jessie!”
I heard Katharina call my name—and then nothing. The fog I’d tried to keep away encompassed me. It was over.
Chapter Twenty-four
I was in the castle again—in Isabelle’s suite—lying on her bed.
No one else was there.
I remembered my broken arm. But it didn’t hurt anymore—didn’t seem to be broken after all. I moved it experimentally as I got off Isabelle’s bed and walked around the room.
Why am I here?
There was a light on the terrace. I opened the glass door and walked out. Isabelle was standing in the light, or the light was coming from her. I wasn’t sure which. The one thing I was sure of was that she was dead. I might have been wrong about my arm being broken, but I was sure about that.
She turned to face me, dressed in the same outfit she’d been wearing when she died. She even had Bill’s magic slippers on her feet. “Jessie. Thank you for everything you’ve done. I wouldn’t have thought you’d care one way or another about what happened to me. I guess I trusted the wrong people. Maybe you and I could’ve been friends—if you hadn’t stolen Chase from me.”
“Isabelle, even dead you’re wrong. I didn’t steal Chase. You lost him, and he and I found each other. You have only yourself to blame. I thank you for that.” I nodded respectfully. I was dealing with a ghost after all.
“Perhaps.” She smiled radiantly. “Anyway, I just wanted you to know. I’m glad you aren’t dead too. You might not believe it, but I cared deeply for Chase. I’m glad he still has you.”
“Thank you, Isabelle. I’m sorry about what happened to you.”
“Me too. On the other hand, I don’t need magic slippers to fly. Goodbye Jessie.”
I watched as she slowly drifted off the edge of the terrace, into the trees and
the night, before she disappeared. I know I should’ve been in awe at seeing her, but all I could think about was that she wouldn’t be hanging around the Village like Wanda.
I was going to have to work on my attitude. I couldn’t let one wicked ghost ruin my whole life.
And then I was awake. Really awake. The pain in my broken arm was excruciating. My head hurt so bad that I thought it might pop off, and my lungs were still burning from the abuse Victoria had given them. I could barely breathe despite the oxygen mask on my face. I was lying on the cobblestones, but it was only a moment before two paramedics lifted me and put me on a stretcher.
“I’m her husband.” Chase’s voice was tortured. “I want to go with her.”
“Sure,” one of the paramedics said.
“Wait!” I glanced around the crowd of residents that surrounded me and moved the oxygen mask. “Where’s Katharina?”
“I’m right here, Jessie.” She took my good hand and smiled into my face. “You’re going to be fine.”
“What about you?” I asked. “Are you okay?”
“She was a mean little witch, but I’m not damaged. Between us, we took her down. Thank goodness Firefox was spooked by something just as I was about to ride by the Dutchman’s Stage. I’ve never seen him act that way before. I actually lost control of him. He ran right to where you were and then threw me off. I’ve never been thrown from a horse before. It was like he knew what was going on.”
I heard Wanda’s laughter, but she didn’t appear. I wasn’t sure why she’d bothered saving me, but I was grateful. If there was a price to pay for it in the future, I’d be willing to pay it.
Chase leaned close to me as he replaced the oxygen mask. “We have to go to the hospital. Your arm is broken, and you might have some other injuries.”
“Wait a minute!” I removed the mask again as the paramedics started moving toward the Main Gate. “I have to know what she was using. It wasn’t a baseball bat.”
Rita was there. She brought the weapon—complete with both our blood on it. “You’ll probably recognize this now that she isn’t trying to kill you with it. They used them in the laundry when they had the old washtubs. You remember?”
