The Mistress's Ghost

Benjamin and the Maids

As Blair was led up the stairs, Salem joined them, confidently walking beside the figure in white. Not once did the woman let her go, and not once did she say a word. Perhaps she was shy? Maybe she just didn't like small talk.

After killing supposed fabled creatures, how would one speak to the other? Would they gingerly greet each other like nothing happened?

Blair rubbed her eyes, exhaustion seeping into her bones as she drew closer to the warmth of her bedroom. Salem cooed up at the woman who was now smiling down at him, as if she knew him, as if they were old friends.

The woman saw Blair staring and shot Blair her own smile. It was perfect. Her teeth were straight and white, and lips a gorgeous shade of red. Her skin was pale and her hair dark, framing her face like the night sky would the moon. Her dress was old fashioned, shining with the moon. The sleeves flared at the wrist and tickled Blair's sleeveless arms. The waist was tightened with a piece of blue ribbon, almost too pale to notice a difference in color.

White roses laid-stitched to the upper left of the dress. They matched the small, intricate designs of lace that rested at the end of her dress. The train trailed only slightly, and drug with sounds of swishing, rubbing against the fabric of the carpet.

Blair blinked once, and then twice. This woman wasn't real. And if she was, she was an angel sent from God herself, soon to disappear once her job was done.

"You must be the new owner of this castle," The woman in white broke the silent trance between them, catching Blair's attention.

Blair blinked again, but three times now, clearing her mind of the possibilities of this woman. Her voice reminded her of one of her favorite jazz singers. She spoke lowly, like her singer would, and her articulation sounded the same. It sent shivers down her spine, a blush to her cheeks, and butterflies to her stomach.

"I'm sorry for intruding on you and your..." Her shining blue eyes gazed around the darkness of the corridor and staircase, "home."

Blair shook her head, "I-I'm glad you did, madam. I needed the help."

The woman smiled warmly, nodding, "Well, then I suppose my intruding was a blessing."

Blair swallowed, giving her own skittish smile, "Yes. Those...things were horrifying. If you hadn't intervened I'd probably end up dead. Or worse - like them." Blair rubbed her eyes, shaking her head, "Do you know what those beasts were?"

A small chuckle flittered through the air with the use of the word 'beasts', "Those beasts are products of a cults experiments."

Blair's mouth fell agape, unsure what to say. A cult? The creatures and lord of the castle had been the main topic, but never was the cult brought up. Or, perhaps it was brought up, and she ignored it like everything else.

"Cult?" The brunette's eyes glanced down over the railing to take in the piles of dust forming. The creatures weren't solid anymore. An alarming fact she wasn't prepared for.

The woman in white had nodded silently, catching a glimpse of the dumbfounded girl from her peripheral. She knew it was a lot to handle, the creatures and even herself.

"The lords were apart of the cult. Their leader had influenced the villagers into joining the cult as well," The woman explained, feeling the brunette woman grasp her hand a smidge tighter.

"Why?" Blair questioned meekly, now staring at their hands.

"Why?" The woman in white almost laughed, remembering to keep herself in check. She couldn't scare Blair off; she needed Blair.