The Captain of the Manor

by Nicole Dennis

  Aiden shuddered. "No thanks. I'm not a beach goer."

  "Perhaps the bath, nap, and visit to the library are in order. Dinner is served promptly at six for those guests who wish to join. The dining room is down the stairs, turn around the short hallway behind the counter, and it will take you to the double doors. Brunch is also served there, buffet style, from eight am to eleven am. Lunch is on your own, there are several decent places to visit within a walk."

  "Thank you for the options. I'm sure I'll figure something out."

  "Very well, enjoy your stay, Aiden," Edmund said. Since Aiden didn't take the folder from the counter, he held it and the card to him.

  "Oh, thank you, I forgot to take this." Aiden shuffled his bags until he had a hand free. He took the card, looked at it, and swiped it through the lock. The light turned green on his first time.

  "You're lucky, most people fight with those cards. I prefer keys myself, but security insisted on the change," Edmund said with a shrug. He stepped away as if to head downstairs.

  "Will I be seeing you around?"

  Edmund turned at Aiden's question. "I'll be around the rest of the week. All Saints' Day is when another family member will take over as manager."

  "Oh, you're not here full time."

  "No. This is one of my rare visits to the manor. I don't prefer staying here at Trident's Rest, you know the ghosts and haunting and all that nonsense," he said with a flap of his fingers.

  Aiden chuckled at the quiet joke. "Perhaps we'll meet again at dinner."

  "Perhaps."

  With a grin, Aiden fixed his glasses, and entered the room. He dropped down the bags. "Crap… Forgot to ask about a car." He opened the door and stepped into the opening. "Excuse me, Mr…"

  The hallway was empty.

  "He's fast," Aiden said as he went back to the room.

  * * *

  Having to relinquish his corporeal form and returning to ghost form, Edmund leaned against the wall to hide the wavering shadow he sometimes left behind which people said was the Carslyle pirate ghost.

  He never was a damn pirate. He was a privateer with rights to plunder under the care of the newly formed Americas. With a scroll as proof, he could attack all ships sailing under different flags and plunder their goods for the benefit of the Americas, him, and his crew. Pirates were a bloodthirsty lot who made their berths in the Caribbean. Edmund preferred berthing around his family's home and lighthouse as he patrolled the waters.

  After watching the bewitching young man, Edmund disappeared through the walls until he stood within the master suite which hadn't changed since his last voyage. The voyage he didn't return from, at least not in the normal fashion.

  Lacing fingers behind his back, Edmund paced across the thick Turkish rug he plundered from a ship. His knee-high polished black boots didn't make a sound. Neither did his tight pants, loose silk shirt, and long black coat with polished silver buttons. These were the clothes he disappeared off his ship centuries ago. Every time he returned to this insignificant cursed form, these clothes appeared upon his body.

  Not quite a ghost, not quite immortal, he was something completely utterly different. He was cursed. He was forced to take this ghost form throughout the year except from the night of the Autumnal Equinox to the evening of All Saints' Day. Those few weeks he could partake a more corporeal form with various clothing and interact with humans, eat, enjoy sex, but unable to step into direct sunlight. Sunlight would shine right through his form and reveal his secret. Taking this form was taxing and he couldn't hold it for long hours before returning to his ghost form.

  All of his troubles started after crossing the eerie ship, Calypso's Mystery, and her pirate captain, Bartolomeo de Soto, in the waters of the upper Lesser Antilles. While the captain flew under an unknown flag, sailing deep on his keel, and Edmund knew his ship could attack and plunder this under his written proclamation.

  Though he tried to prevent the deaths of the captain, this time it didn't happen. The captain was severely injured, bleeding on the deck when he boarded to oversee the situation after the quick, fierce battle. The rest of the crew was tied to the masts before his crew began to plunder the cargo holds. It was later, when he released the second mate, who rushed to his captain's side. He learned who the Portuguese man was and his protect. De Soto was under the protection of his mistress, a powerful voodoo priestess. This lady was a wise and powerful priestess well known throughout the Caribbean. Her name was Marie Gedeon. Anyone who attacked her lover would be found and cursed by her protective spirits.

  Sailing throughout these waters and visiting the ports, Edmund knew all about this ancient African practice which came here with the slave market. Many believed in the magic and mysticism of voodoo and their houngan and priestesses. He didn't return the plunder for it would make him appear weak in front of his crew. When this priestess learned of her lover's death at his orders, Edmund knew he would face her wrath and spirits. He sailed away, headed toward home before the Calypso could reach the priestess.

  He wasn't lucky. Problems soon began amassing during this fateful voyage home. Several barrels of fresh water became contaminated. More containers of food were decimated. Multiple crew members died with unknown factors and causes. The voyage lasted three times as long once the full moon of the Autumnal Equinox rose and fell in the dark sky.

  The week of All Hallows' Eve, he watched the skies darken with a rush of deep black-gray clouds rolling across the sky. The wind whipped around them, tugging and pulling at the sails until three ripped. He ordered the crew to the rigging to take down the rest. They would be at the mercy of the current and waves, but there wasn't another choice. He stayed at the wheel, issuing orders, and watching the skies.

  In a flash of lightning, a dark-skinned woman in colorful fabrics, a scarf around her neck, and items in her hand which she waved in his direction, her mouth forming words, as she danced around him. The final curse came through the darkness along with dust and power:

  Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust Twist and bend the bones to dust I scatter these bones, these bones full of my rage Take them as an offering to bring thy enemy pain I see thy enemy before me now I bind him, crush him, and knock him down With these bones I now do crush Grind thy enemies into dust With the eternal fires out of control With this curse I take thy soul Take the form as a ghost for eternity Betwixt the time of the autumnal equinox and all hallows' eve thy will become corporeal Learn the will of thy heart This is my will let it be done

  As she finished the curse, Edmund lost feeling in all his limbs. He stared at his feet as they faded to invisibility and gradually climb up his body. As he screamed against her, the spirits, and into the wind, he disappeared completely from life.

  After All Saints' Day, he reappeared in this suite in his current form and figured out what the priestess did to him. The following autumn, he learned about the corporeal state, disguising his appearance from family and friends. He couldn't leave the manor except to reappear at the lighthouse. He was connected forever to this manor; it recharged his energy and held him in this life between worlds.

  Adjusting to this ghost form and half-life, Edmund accepted his fate. He integrated the changes of the manor to a B&B after the last of his family passed and he adjusted the name on the deed to whatever current one he chose. He took a lover, preferably a male, when his body craved the sensation during this short reprieve and entrance into the physical world. Over the last few years, he didn't bother, hardening his mind to his empty fate.

  For those reasons, he was intrigued by the temptation of the gorgeous young man inside his home. This man saw both of his forms and didn't flee. He recognized Aiden's mind was troubled, the loss of his job, no ride home, and little available funds. With this last week available to him, Edmund wondered how he could connect to Aiden before he lost his chance this year.

  Chapter 4

  As one night passed and another began to darken outside of his rather spacious suite, Aiden blinked and looked away fr
om his laptop screen. Lifting the reading glasses, he rubbed his fingers against his aching eyes. After searching almost every available job listing throughout the country for the last twenty plus hours, he couldn't find anything which required his particular set of skills. There wasn't a teacher's position, a researcher, nothing.

  "Damn this economy," he said with a grumble.

  There was a knock on the door.

  Dropping the glasses on the desk, Aiden pushed the chair back and strode to the door. He opened it and saw Edmund standing outside, dressed in stunning perfection of a dark suit, crisp shirt opened at his neck, and a swatch of hair falling across his forehead.

  "Good evening, Aiden. How was your evening and day spent with the suite? Is everything to your liking?"

  "Umm." Aiden looked around the suite which he barely explored after finding the desk and opening his laptop. He didn't even get a chance to have a bath or sleep under the thick flowing comforter in the four-poster bed. "It's great."

  "You appear tired. Have you slept at all since your arrival? My staff mentioned no one saw you leave this room, not even for meals. Is everything all right?"

  "Umm. No, things aren't well." Aiden shoved a hand through his hair.

  "What is happening? Can I help?"

  "No, I doubt even you can help."

  "Perhaps. What is the issue?"

  "I've been searching for a new position."

  "Position?"

  "Job. I need a new job. A car too. Or a rental car so I can go home."

  "You wish to leave the manor."

  "I don't have the money to stay beyond this night. I checked my accounts. I don't want to take advantage of your hospitality." Aiden shoved a hand through his hair when Edmund waved away with his concerns.

  "Relax, dear Aiden, the money doesn't concern me. I can comp a suite whenever I wish. I'm part of the family in charge of this old place."

  "I couldn't possibly…"

  "You will accept and say nothing more. You can stay until things are sorted out." Edmund motioned with his hand. "May I enter?"

  "Of course, please, and thank you for the suite." Aiden stepped aside to let the other man enter the room.

  "No need, please."

  After entering the room, Edmund waved his hand once more. Aiden looked outside and saw a server pushing a silver cart into the room, covered with silver dishes and white cloth. He watched the server nod to Edmund before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

  "I suspected something was wrong when you weren't seen downstairs for dinner. Forgive my impertinence, but I ordered a pair of meals to be sent here. Would you like to join me at the table and enjoy our evening meal?" Edmund placed his hands on the cart and pushed it to the small round table near the French doors which led to a small balcony overlooking the ocean.

  "I lost track of time," Aiden said and placed a hand to his belly when it rumbled in agreement.

  "I have a tendency to do the same when I'm involved in a project," Edmund said as he settled the placemats, dishes, rolled napkins with silverware, glasses, and a pitcher of iced tea on the table. He wheeled the cart to a corner, moved to the French doors, and opened them to let in the soft evening breeze. Standing in the opening, he lifted his head and breathed in the fresh air. "Isn't the night ocean breeze wonderful? I enjoy this time of the year."

  A little stunned at the handsome male standing in his suite, paying him attention, Aiden swallowed and dragged a hand through his hair. He stepped over to stand with him. Looking across the balcony, he saw the dark ocean with the soft white caps of the breaking waves rolling and crashing on the beach. The cries of seagulls added to the sound of waves. The old cypress trees and oaks surrounding the manor waved, leaves brushing one another, as another wind curled around them.

  He leaned one shoulder against the frame, ready to fall asleep at this perfect moment, but the soft rustle of clothes distracted him. Glancing to the side, Aiden stared at the taller man. He tilted his head to study him.

  "Is something wrong? Do I have a smudge on my face?" Edmund raised a hand to his face and smoothed his fingers over his open collar.

  "You're perfect…" Aiden blushed at the words.

  "You like my appearance."

  Aiden lowered his gaze.

  "Though rumpled and tired, I enjoy looking at your form."

  "Me? Nah. I'm a skinny, geeky nerd who has no fashion sense for a gay guy."

  "Hmm. It adds to the appeal and unique quality you bear."

  "Why are you here with me? You have other guests, paying ones, who need your attention."

  "You're the guest who is troubled. My attention is on a guest, an important one in my mind." Edmund waved a hand toward the table. "Please, come and eat before the food chills and is ruin. The chef would never forgive me if I share cold food to a guest."

  "What did you chose for us?" Aiden sat down, copied Edmund by unrolling and laying the napkin across his lap.

  Edmund opened the small dish. "We start with crab stuffed baby portabella mushroom caps as our appetizers. For our entrees we have a Roasted Black Sea Bass with Chile sea salt and a tomato, kalamata olive, and orzo salad. I requested a light chocolate mousse dessert to finish off the meal."

  "This looks wonderful."

  "I hope you're not allergic to fish."

  "No, I'm not allergic to anything with food."

  "Excellent," Edmund said and scooped several mushroom caps onto Aiden's plate. "Enjoy, please."

  Cutting the cap in half, Aiden slid a piece into his mouth and moaned in appreciation at the burst of flavors. Throughout dinner, Edmund carried the conversation, drawing answers out of Aiden with ease along with laughter.

  There was a connection growing between them.

  Finishing dinner, Aiden leaned back, placed a hand on his full belly. "Everything was delicious. You have a fantastic chef."

  "Hmm. He helps to make the visit to our manor complete," Edmund said, pressing the napkin to his lips before laying it across the dish, hiding half of his meal.

  "You didn't eat much."

  "No, my appetite wasn't all there this evening."

  "Not do to something I said," Aiden asked, worried he ruined things.

  "No. No. It is my problem," Edmund said. "Now. You said you're in some difficulty in finding a new position."

  "Economy sucks."

  "Yet you have several Master degrees and a doctoral one as well in several fields," Edmund said.

  "I have a doctorate in physics and Masters in the other fields. I sent a few requests to various universities for a position within their physics and quantum mechanics."

  "What will happen until you hear from these universities?"

  "Figure out how to survive."

  "Perhaps I could help…" Edmund swallowed and stared out the window.

  Aiden stared at the handsome figure sitting across from him flickered. He completely flickered from transparency to solidify. Even the clothes altered during the change. His eyes widened and he pushed back from the table. Rising to his feet, he backed away until he hit the nearest wall.

  "What the…" Aiden swallowed. "What…"

  Edmund dropped his gaze to the table. He placed his hands, a little translucent, upon the table. "I hoped it wouldn't happen yet, but I have no control."

  "You…" Aiden shoved a hand through his hair.

  Rising from the table, Edmund placed his hands behind his back. "I will take my leave. Do not worry about the dishes, I will call a server."

  "Don't. Not one move." Aiden pointed a hand at the man. "I want an explanation."

  "Would you be in the right position to listen?"

  "I don't…" Aiden swallowed.

  "I will answer all your questions tomorrow, if I can," Edmund said with a nod and disappeared completely from Aiden's view. He didn't leave through the door.

  Shocked by the disappearance, Aiden felt and found a chair. He sat hard and stared at the spot Edmund disappeared. He didn't move for hours.

  Gh
ost… How… Not possible…

  Chapter 5

  After writing the various pros and cons of true ghosts, paranormal activities, and researching everything possible about the manor and the Carslyle family, Aiden paced through the suite. He knew what he saw, but how could he believe it. A ghost. An actual ghost.

  There was a knock on the door.

  Turning to face the door, not sure he wanted to answer it this time; Aiden moved across the room and opened it. The man or ghost in question stood in the hallway, hands behind his back, and a quiet expression upon his handsome face. No matter what, the man was still damn gorgeous.

  "I wasn't sure if you wish to speak with me after what happened. I can leave you alone, if you desire," Edmund said in the unusual accent and way of speech which caught Aiden's ear.

  "I think we need to talk. If you can," Aiden said, stepping out of the way.

  "I hope to answer what questions you seek."

  When Edmund moved past him, Aiden reached out to touch him. His fingers found solid muscles under the soft fabric of the black shirt. He moved his fingers and noticed Edmund stopped.

  "Are you trying to figure out how I am standing before you and solid in form?"

  "How can this be? How can you be standing before me in solid form but disappeared in front of me last night?"

  Edmund closed the door and waved Aiden back to the table where they dined last night. "Please, have a seat. My twisted tale is long."

  Dropping in the seat, Aiden watched Edmund pour them two fresh cups of tea from the sterling silver pot a server brought earlier to the room. Edmund lifted the small tongs over the sugar bowl and glanced at Aiden.

  "Oh, two please," Aiden said.

  With a nod, Edmund dropped two cubes of sugar in the cup, carried the delicate porcelain saucer and cup to the table, and set it down. He returned a moment later with his own cup, some milk added to the liquid which he stirred. He settled in a chair, crossed his long legs at the ankle.

  "Where do you wish me to begin my tale?"