Haunted Souls

Chapter 1

Nico stood in the hall beside the open door, his eyes closed as he listened to the conversation inside. Will was trying to explain to the kids, trying to make it sound as innocent as he could.

"So...so my grandma died." Will was saying. "And my uncle inherited her...property. But he doesn't want it so he's giving it to us."

"Why'd you say property like that?" Bianca asked. She was their oldest at sixteen, her pale features almost matching Nico's. "And where is it?"

"Scotland." Will scratched the back of his neck. "It's...in Scotland."

"I don't know where that is!" Ethan declared. He was around five, named after an old friend of theirs that had died too young. When they adopted Ethan he was still a newborn, leaving the name choice up to them. "Is it as far as the store?"

Nico chuckled softly, hearing Will do the same. "No, buddy." Will tried to explain. "It's farther. A lot farther. We'd have to take a plane."

"Again, why'd you say property like that?" Bianca asked. "It better be bigger than this house if we're going all the way to Scotland."

"Well..." Will paused before speaking again. "My grandma...may or may not...have owned a castle..."

"A castle?!" Nico grinned at Bianca's excited statement. "We own a castle?!"

"A castle!" Ethan joined in. "Dad, you got us a castle?!"

Will laughed softly. "It's all the way in Scotland and we have no idea the shape it's in-"

"If your grandma lived in it, we can." Bianca interrupted. "When are we leaving?"

"Today? Please say today." Ethan begged. "I want to see the castle!"

Nico stepped into the room then, his hands deep in his pockets. "Kids...you sure you want to move? It's far, and your friends-"

"We don't have friends, dad." Bianca had already started to throw things in a duffle bag. "Please? Please, can we go? I can get my own room. We could have so much fun exploring..." She trailed off as Nico held his hand up. "What?"

"There will be rules." Nico glanced at Will. "Again, we don't know the shape it's in. You might not be able to just randomly go exploring. We'll see."

"Party pooper." Bianca looked to Will. "Dad-"

"He's right." Will cut in. "We'll just have to see when we get there."

"When are we getting there?" Ethan asked. "Today?"

"I have to talk to your other dad about that." Will ruffled Ethan's blond hair. "Did you brush your hair today? It's tangly."

Ethan's hands moved to the top of his head. "Maybe..."

"Right." Will kissed his forehead before getting up. "Brush it while I talk to him."

"Do I have to?" Ethan asked.

"You know that answer to that." Will left the room and moved to his own bedroom, Nico following. Once they were behind a closed door, Will sat on the bed and spoke again. "They're really excited about this."

"I know, I heard." Nico sat next to him. "Do we have money for plane tickets? They're...they're really expensive. And then all our things..."

"We can pay for it all with my inheritance." Will kissed Nico's hand. "They want this. And so do it. I've always wanted to get out of this country. You have, too. I know you have."

"That was before we had three kids." Nico put his head in his hands. "We already told them we're going. We can't turn back now. I just...I just wish I could be happier about it."

"Me too..." Will got off the bed. "I'm...I'm going to go check on the kids. Maria should be waking up soon."

"Okay..." Nico didn't look up. "When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow?" Will asked. "So we have time to pack?"

"Whatever." Nico laid down, his eyes staring at the peeling wall. "You'll get everything situated?"

Will nodded. "I told you I would."

"I have a horrible feeling about this..." Nico whispered. "A horrible feeling, Will."

Will ruffled Nico's hair. "I know. But it'll be okay. I promise you."

Nico nodded. "Yeah...okay. Get them packed for me? I have a headache."

"I will, I will." Will gestured around them. "But that means I won't have time to pack all of our stuff."

"We can work on that later." Nico rolled over to face Will. "Come kiss me."

Will grinned. "Now that's a demand I can follow." He leaned over to kiss Nico, letting himself melt into the kiss before pulling away. "There. Sleep that headache away so you can help me. Maybe we can order pizza or something."

Nico nodded. "Goodnight."

"Night."