The Witch Of Crimson Peak

Part 4

Over the next few weeks, the building work had come along nicely. Floors strengthened, and refurbishments going nicely. It was true, the drainage cost me another 20k, way over budget, but it needed to be done.
It all seemed nothing when I thought about what I was going to get when I was done, and Thomas seemed to like seeing me as a woman in charge. In fact I would often sense him near me watching, where I would ALWAYS stand a little straighter and taller to show, my figure off more to him.

I invested in coffee and tea facilities for the workers, so I wouldn't have as much chance to bump into Chris. The only time I saw him was at morning briefings with him and Liam when they were deciding the best way to go about things and which materials would go best with the climate and period of the house. Liam always had an opinion, and whilst he was nice, he seemed to think he knew best.
One morning I came back to my room and I just knew something was off. Someone had been in it, my dresser drawers were open and I could tell some of my underwear was missing. I felt sick, all but my blue silk panties were accounted for. I looked to my bedside table, none of my 'toys' seemed to have been touched. Thank GOD!

I trudged downstairs angry, I knew one of the guys had to have taken them. I walked down the hallway, turning the corner I ran into someone knocking me over onto my backside. It was Chris. "Sorry didn't see you there, love!" He helped me up and I dusted myself off. He was wearing a yellow hard hat with stone wash jeans and a flannel shirt that hugged tight over his arms. Those guns were impressive, and he kinda looked like a calendar model. "It's okay, I was rushing around like a blue arsed fly.".

"Yeah, sorry! I saw someone up here but when I went to follow they... Ah never mind, I'm sure it was nothing. Not had enough coffee, eh?"
I felt a little sick and pressed him for further details.
He shrugged and said he thought he saw someone but when he came to investigate they had gone. Another spirit perhaps? I sighed, it was possible. But why take my under crackers? "Now that I have you here, I was wondering if..."
"Not now!" I said as I stormed off, this was ridiculous, someone had stolen my things, tainted my belongings and my room. And yes I suspected Chris.

I went down to the basement to the currently empty clay vats taking photos. The idea to make it into a Spa was thought to be a tad ambitious, but I knew it could be done without too much work.

As I snapped away I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Someone was there.
"Hello? Who are you?" I whispered.

A great chill encapsulated me and I felt sick, a cruel bile rising in my throat. The smell of rot and decay.

"Did you think I would let your attempted seduction go unnoticed, child?" I saw her now, a woman who was once beautiful in life, now rotting in the spirit world. "Look at you, how could he allow himself to be distracted, to think anything of a scarlet whore like yourself. He will never feel for you what he did for me!"

A flash of images, like memories came flooding into my mind, they were hers. Sexual images of she and Thomas, her sick desires being made true and Thomas shedding tears of loathing and regret.

"You are Lucille?!" I shouted pushing the images out. I knew full well with my reading with spirits in the past they would try psychological attacks to weaken people, but this bitch had no clue who she was messing with.

Deflectere a sua potestate!

I called on the spell to lessen her ability to use her spiritual powers on me and my mind cleared.
"I know who you are. And if you have any self preservation, you will leave myself and Thomas alone."

"Oh that will not happen dear heart!" She laughed as she took a turn about the room. "My blood runs deep in place, in this clay. My bones rest in this whole estate. So do my brother's. That is why he shall be forever mine, and will never belong to you."