The House

Family History

Amber got Charles to agree to meet at a diner close to the part of town Ashley lived in.  She didn't want to have her friend doing any extra driving.  They had both arrived at the dinner and grabbed a booth.  Business was slow.  They were quickly given a table in a pretty private part.
​"I'm giving this guy fifteen more minutes, Amber,"  Ashley said.
​"The guy is a hot mess.  I don't expect any of his answers to help us directly, but if we can read between the lines.  We might be able to put something together.  He may be a bit shifty, but there's money in it for him.  He won't tell me anything to help free Darnel."  Amber explained.
​"I don't think Darnel should be freed either.  So, me and him are on the same team on that one.'
​"There he is."  Amber pointed as Charles entered the diner.  She let out a breath as she waved him over to their table.  He seemed more put together than he had been at the house earlier.  "Hey, Charles.  This is my best friend, Ashley."  She introduced them.
​Charles shook Ashley's hand and then took a seat.  "I know that house is a lot.  The responsibility is enormous.  I commend you."  He smiled.
​"Commend me?  I'm getting paid to use a guy as my prisoner and exploit his abilities.  How is that admirable?"  Amber asked, confused.
​"You didn't read the booklet, did you?  My apologies.  I was a mess earlier, and that's on me.  I'm going through a very messy divorce.  Money doesn't solve everything.  The booklet is really for your eyes only.  You didn't give it to Darnel, did you?"  He asked.
​Amber was becoming more frustrated.  "What is going on, Charles?"  She asked, not hiding her growing anger.
​"Well, the story I gave you earlier was for Darnel's benefit.  He doesn't exactly remember his past.  It's a part of the curse.  I play into it."
​"What's the story?"  Amber's anger was growing.
​"You come from a line of people who have been trusted in guarding the house.  Your job is to make sure Darnel doesn't escape.  I couldn't tell you that in front of him.  The booklet explains it all."
​"I knew he was bad news,"  Ashley spoke.
​"Bad news is an understatement.  The stories I've heard about that guy, well, they're terrifying."  Charles said as he flagged the waitress down.  "Can I get a cup of coffee?  I'm sure you don't have anything stronger, do you?"  He asked nervously.
​"Coffee it is."  The young, blond-haired woman said while smiling.  She looked around the table picked up on the mood and quickly waked away.
​"Who do you have me living with, Charles?"  Amber was working overtime to keep from yelling inside the diner.
​"Calm down; I know it's a lot."
​"Why didn't you just invite me somewhere away from the house, Charles?"
​"I'm sorry.  I dropped the ball.  I'm going through a lot right now."
​"So much that you'd rather I release an evil man into the world?  Charles, is he why everyone living there turns evil?"
​"The only way to keep him locked up is to be crueler than him.  The booklet takes care of that.  You need to read it."
​"So, you are saying he gets out if I don't turn evil?"  Amber's eyes were beginning to tear up.  She was believing this shit show.
​"Yes.  If you stay this sweet young lady you are, you will be taken advantage of, and he will escape.  Let me guess: he is already trying, isn't he?  He's been in that house too long without a guard."  Charles looked concerned for once.  "He might have freed himself from that part of the curse.  What did he say to you?" 
​Amber's heart was racing.  "He just told me he didn't want to see the sweetness leave my eyes.  I think he might have been trying to seduce me." 
​"That's how they get you under their control."
​"They?  What is he?"
​"Oh, I don't know.  I do know if he gets out, a lot of people may die.  He has to stay in that house, Amber.  Your kindness is a great sacrifice, but it is what must be done.  Your ancestors have done it.  It's your turn now."
​'But I'm the last one. What happens when I'm gone?  Who will protect the house?"
​Charles looks down and takes a deep breath.  "I don't know.  I made up that story in front of Darnel.  He can't kill you, but he can mess with your head.  It sounds like he's trying already.  It's up to us to figure out how to keep him trapped if you vacate the home."
​"You are a terrible lawyer," Amber said.  "I'll call you if I need help."  She said, getting up from the table.
​"I'm sorry.  I'm going through a very rough time.  Divorce is only a tiny part of it.  My life is unraveling faster than I can control."  He began to cry.
​His tears confused Amber.  She felt a bit of guilt at being so harsh to him.  "Did you ever stop to think that Darnel is messing with you too?"  She asked.
​He looked up at her and wiped his eyes.  "Oh, Amber, we are in trouble if he is affecting my life like this.  You think he broke his compulsion and was weakening me, so I didn't prepare you properly?"
​"I do.  I can't go back into that house without a plan, but I can't leave it vulnerable either."  Amber looked at Ashley.  "Any ideas?" 
​"You need to read the booklet."  Charles offered.
​"It's at the house.  Do you have another copy?  I'm sure Darnel has destroyed that one by now."
​"I don't have a book copy, but I know the incantation."  Charles was rubbing his face with frustration.
​"Amber, you need to think about this.  If everything you told me is true, then you will lose having a real life.  You will become an evil tyrant and not have time for a personal life.  No kids or husband.  I don't think I'm ok with it."  Ashley pleaded with her friend.
​"Forgive me, but this isn't about you.  No one knows the amount of damage Darnel can do if freed.  One thing he said that is true is that he has been trapped for centuries.  We don't know what he is capable of.  The real mystery is what he wants to do.  How evil is he?  If Amber doesn't use the incantation and guard the house, we could all die.  Are you ok with that, Ashley?"  Charles said her name with disgust.
​"It's easy to say that when your life isn't on the line."  Ashley retorted back.
​"My life is ruined.  He destroyed it.  I wish I could be the one to use the spell."  He said with defeat.
​Both Amber and Ashley looked at Charles.  "Who says that you can't?  Why does it have to be me?"  Amber asked.
​Charles placed his hand on his chin.  "Hmmm.  I'm never going to see my kids again anyway.  It's worth a try."
​"How will we know if it works?"  Ashley asked.
​"The best way to describe it is to say there is a bit of a glow to the person.  You'll know.  I'll know.  We will know.  Let's give it a try.  Let me check with someone quickly, and we can head out."  Charles said, taking his phone out of his pocket and making a call.  "Hey, Mom, it's about the house.  Yeah.  No, she didn't read the booklet.  I know, I know.  Mom, I messed up.  You know what's going on in my life right now.  No, well, yeah, yeah, I've been drinking.  Yeah, a lot.  Mom....Mom, I'm trying to fix it.  Can I be the one to guard the house?  Ok.  I know.  It's better than the alternative.  I love you too."  He put his phone back in his pocket.  "It doesn't matter who guards the house; it was just entrusted to your family because that's who started the curse.  Anyone with pure intentions can do it."
​"Do you have pure intentions, Charles?"  Ashley asked.
​Amber listened to them speak but found herself stuck on Charles's words about her family starting this whole thing.  "I thought you said that a witch cursed him."  She said.
​"I did,"  Charles answered.  He turned to Ashley.  "I do have pure intentions.  It's the only thing I can do to make things right." 
​"Was my ancestor a witch?"  She asked.
​"Your family, my family, our families.  You do know what an incantation is, right?"  he asked as if dubious by her lack of understanding.
​Amber found herself offended by the way Charles asked the question.  It felt as if he was questioning her intelligence.  "I don't like how you just asked that question, Charles.  I know what the hell a spell is.  This isn't making much sense.  How did your family get roped up in this if my family cursed him."
​"Look, I'm sorry.  I've said it many times, but things aren't going well for me.  I didn't mean anything by my question.  It was obnoxious to assume you understood all of this.  It is a lot.  Your family cast the spell that trapped him, and my family compelled him.  We have been working together for centuries.  That's why he targeted me when the compulsion wore off.  It was my responsibility to reinstate it.  He tried to incapacitate me so it would be one less hurdle for him to jump.  Taking on this responsibility works out for me, but you must take over my role as the family lawyer.  We must also find someone to inherit the home when my time ends.  We don't know how much time we have.  We have however long I live, and then we have a window of a few months after.  I failed to maintain the protection of the house during the window between you and your great-uncle.  I failed."  Charles looked down shamefully.
​"You are a victim of an evil that we must keep trapped.  Let's get to it.  We are running low on time."  Amber said as she got up from the table.
​"Yeah, I haven't heard a more true statement."  Charles agreed.

​The group left the diner and met back up at the house.  Charles said the incantation must be spoken at the house for it to work.  They gathered outside the house, and Charles recited the words from memory.  He said the words were embedded in his head.  He had been taught them from as early as he could remember.  Once the words had been spoken, he raised his hand, and as he had said, he began to glow.  "It's working!"  He shouted with glee as he closed his eyes during the duration of the glow.
​Amber and Ashley watched with awe as Charles stood there glowing, taking in the spell.  "Do I need to do anything?"  Amber asked, feeling the need to do something useful.
​"You must take the oath of being the lawyer."  He said as his eyes remained closed.
​"How?"  She asked.
​"Just say it.  Say that you will do it."  He said.
​"I'll take on the role of the lawyer for the house."  She said eagerly.  She closed her eyes, anticipating something, but nothing happened.  "Is something supposed to happen?"  She asked.
​"No, you don't get any special effects,"  Charles said as the glow disappeared and his eyes opened.  "It's done."  He said.
​They all looked at each other.  The relief that Amber expected to feel wasn't there.  "Should we test it?"  She asked.
​"Yes.  Shall we?"  He gestured for the ladies to head into the home.
​"Will you be an evil tyrant to me?"  Amber asked before heading to the house.
​"No, you are free from the spell.  You are the only one who will see the real me.  Your uncle would call me often to feel himself again.  You should be prepared for that."  He smiled.  "I'll need it."
​"You'll have it."  Amber smiled.  She would be there whenever he needed.  The sacrifice he was making was significant.  She would not forget.  "Let's get to it."  She said with a slight chuckle and headed towards the house.
​When they entered the house, Darnel was still sitting at the dining room table Amber had left him at.  "Well, I didn't think I'd see you again."  He said, looking at Ashley.  "I thought you were out."  He smiled.
​Amber looked at Ashley, who chose not to respond.  "She had a change of heart,"  Amber said.
​The look of realization was beginning to show on Darnel's face.  "Oh.  Charles, what did you say to this lovely young lady?"  He asked, looking unhappy.
​"I told her the truth.  Which apparently, you know, too.  How long have you been compulsion-free?"  He asked.
​Darnel began to frown with anger.  "You took it?"  He said through clenched teeth.
​"I did.  I didn't want to see the sweetness leave her eyes either."  He said with a smirk.
​"You know you can't compel me if you are the guard?"  He asked with a slight smile.
​"I do.  You can't hurt me, Darnel, and you can't leave."  Charles said confidently.
​Darnel looked at Amber and smiled.  "So, you're the lawyer now?"
​"I am."  She said matter-factly.
​"Good.  I meant what I said earlier."  He winked and vanished.
​"Where did he go?"  Ashley asked, panicked.
​"He can't leave the house.  He only has to make himself visible if we want him to.  I don't care to see him, so I'll allow it."  Charles said.  "Well, I have a few days before I'm an evil tormented tyrant.  I'd like to enjoy it.  I'll call you if I need to."  He said.  He pulled Amber into a hug.  "Thank you."  He said as he released her.  "I have purpose again."
​Amber smiled at Charles.  "Thank you."  She said, squeezing his arm.  She turned and walked out of the house.  She turned to Ashley before she got in her car.  "Thank you, girl; I may need a place to stay until I can find something."  She smiled.
​"Come on over.  You're always welcome."  Ashley said, getting into her car.  She pulled off and sped away.
​Ashley stood at her car and stared at the house.  She couldn't shake the feeling she felt when Darnel smiled at her.  He had turned so angry, but all anger left his face when he discovered she was the lawyer.  He almost looked joyful about it.  That didn't sit right with her.  She shook her head and got in her car.  That would be drama for another day.  She looked at the house one more time and drove away.