Midnight Creek Tales

#4. The Duchess' Lost Portrait / Chapter 9

If we were to beat the Duchess and come out of this house alive, we would need to be quite skillful in doing so. I suspected that she wasn't finished, and would try many times to put an end to us.

I didn't dare go back down in the wine cellar for more scattered crucifixes; I wasn't in the mood to be locked in again. "If we are going to survive we're going to need to strategize."

"Strategize? She could be listening to us right now!"

"But I thought she only spoke French?" Brown asked.

The room became very silent, and none of us spoke as if we were expecting something to happen...

After a short awkward pause, we began to talk once again but now this time being more cautious and less naïve to the dangerous beast that could be lurking the halls. "How long do you reckon we're going to be haunted?"

"Maybe forever," Brown said glumly.

"Well that's why we're going to have to destroy her," I stated in a hushed tone.

"How do you propose we do that? You said the crucifix stunned her, but it didn't kill her."

"Hmm... we're going to need more artillery. We might have to run down to the church across town to grab some holy water. Maybe enough would kill her."

"If we step into that car, we might end up like those mutilated horses out there. It's a trap! And no one is going to believe that a ghost of a dead duchess killed Starkey, so we're going have to deal with this matter ourselves."

"We need a priest."

"How are we going to get a priest here at this hour Brown? It's not like you can call a church and ask them to send one over."

"Hmm..." We all sat down and brainstormed, knowing that this was going to be an immensely difficult feat to accomplish. Eventually, after ten minutes of hard thinking, we all came up with a temporary solution. "Look at least wear your crucifixes! As long as you have one over your neck and you flash it at her face, you should be all right for the moment. Let's just focus on tonight men, when morning arrives we'll come up with something better. I'd suggest waiting for people to start walking the streets and then we can make a mad dash to the nearby church. And once we step in, we're home free!"

Both of them were still for a second but then agreed, "Sounds like a good plan. Hell, if we kill it we won't have to worry about running." Grinned Brown.

"Ok then, sounds brilliant! I'd say in the meantime we can stay here and play some cards, throw around a couple of darts, and maybe even play some charades or just chat for a while, as long as we stay on guard."

"Seems like a plan to me," Brown said now in a hopeful mood.

"Just remember one thing, keep your eyes peeled chaps. One slip-up or miscommunication could make us lose our heads. So be on the alert, and don't get too comfortable. Another thing too, no one is to have alcohol. If anyone gets drunk, you might as well be asking for an arrow through the heart."

"C'mon Cole, whatever is gonna happen will happen. What's a couple of beers going to do?" Brown said pleadingly.

"I said no! Please trust me on this Brown, do you want to end up like Starkey over there?" He looked towards the fireplace, and Brown reluctantly nodded his head no.

I handed Radcliffe and Brown a crucifix, "Haven't worn one of these in a couple of years." Laughed Radcliffe as he slipped it on.

Brown did the same, and then I lightened the mood. "Well C'mon guys, those cards aren't going to shuffle themselves."