Haunted

Chapter Twenty-Five

"You know that's not at all what happened."

"It's what the history books say."

"The history books only tell the side of the victor, they don't tell what really happened." Kole replies, both of us walking up the steps towards the House. Now that I've seen it in daylight, I'm not surprised I thought it seemed so maze-like.

It's not a house at all, it's a manor, set off the main highway rather deep into the woods. There's no telling how many acres go with this place, or how much it costs just to maintain it monthly. The outside makes me think of some royal house, with a circular driveway, fancy bushes and flowers that make everything smell really nice.  There's a gazebo I can see not too far off, but I've never seen anyone over there.

The front of the house is beautiful, framed by four white pillows, the brick manor itself probably three stories tall. I can see more additions to it sprawling farther back, probably added over the years, because it definitely doesn't match the original layout.

Demons must garner quite a lot of money.

"You would say something like that," I reply dryly, pausing at the top step.

Well that's strange.

"What is it?" Kole asks, pausing beside me.

"I don't know," I hesitate, tilting my head a little. "I just --- I don't know."

"Do you sense something?" he asks, and I send him a look. Yeah, I can see ghosts, but I don't have Spidey-senses.

"I'm serious, Amelia. Do you sense something?"

"I, I don't know." Wow, okay, he is serious, he's giving me that face. "It's just, something feels a little off."

"Explain."

"I don't know, Kole." I huff, crossing my arms uncomfortably. "It just doesn't ---."

"Master James." Katia suddenly appears in front of the doorway, and I jump, staring at her in surprise. I nearly take a step back, Kole's hand suddenly pressing against my lower back so I don't go tumbling down the steps behind us.

"Katia. What is it?" Kole's voice is calm, he doesn't sound panicked or worried. His eyes flick behind her to the double doors, the gold knockers shiny. I've never actually seen any other in person, just on movies for old houses; this entire place is like an ancient throwback.

"There has been an incident with the New York House." Katia says calmly, her hands clasped in front of her. "The leader has fallen."

"Fallen?"

"That is all I have been told. Mistress Williams is here, along with some of the New York members." Katia is all formal, so this must be serious. She's usually more relaxed with Kole than she is anyone else, they have a weird friendship, I think.

Kole gazes at her for a moment, and Katia tilts her head a little.

I feel as if they're communicating something, and I'm completely left in the dark. Is there some demon-ghost telepathy that I'm just oblivious too?

Is that a thing?

They're both so silent, Kole's face darkening slightly. I feel his hand press firmer against my back, and I look up at him, my chest tightening.

Is it bad others are here? Does this mean it's a house full of demons and I'm basically the only human? Is that --- wait.

"Am I in danger or something? Because I can totally go back to school." I say nervously after a moment, disliking the terse silence between the ghost and the demon. Of course, at school, there's a revenant trying to eat me, consume my energy, whatever the hell it does, and now here --- well, there's a houseful of demons that I've never met.