― Myquillyn Smith
Alone in the House
The advent of something unexpected I usually associate with joyful occasions but today's discovery demonstrated that the unforeseen can also be quite disturbing.
I don't know exactly how I feel about uncovering an ancient sacred site in my basement.
The hardest thing about exposing the cave writing is I have no one to share it with―at least, no one I trust to not be shocked or distressed and add to my angst.
Kate has been out all day and is now at a conference, so I'm left on my own to deal with the consequences.
Why is unsettling events always seem to occur on dark and stormy nights―is that some kind of de rigueur cosmic law?
Lightning is wavering at the windows and peals of thunder rumbling across the night and I have Mollie at my feet on guard duty and have turned on all the lights. Yes, I'm stressed and probably overreacting because I've lived in the house over a week ignorant of the grotto that lay beneath my feet.
The only thing that concerns me is there might be human bones concealed in the dark recesses of the cave. Aside from that I'm good, although not exactly brave.
I glance out the rain-beaded window and in the blue electric glare think I see the figure of a woman standing near the firs that line the trail.
It occurs to me it could be the Dark Lady because Kate saw her in that very spot just before I moved in. Why is she here―guarding the sacred site?
I'm sure Mollie could so that―if only she could somehow convey that sentiment to the Dark Lady since they already seem to have a mystic connection.
My thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door and I can see though the frosted glass the dark outline of a woman.
Great! I'm going to have to confront the spectre and convey the message myself.
I get up and warily approach the door, with Mollie making the same whimpering sound she made when meeting the Dark Lady at the cliff.
I should really arm myself with some sort of weapon in case she attacks, but Mollie's tail is wagging and I don't want to insult the ancestral spirits by disrespecting their messenger.
I timidly open the door a crack and my blood turns cold.
"Boo!" Kate laughs, "Don't tell me you're scared."
"Okay, I won't," I mutter, embarrassed but happy to see her.
"Can I come in? I promise I won't bite―well, maybe just a little."
"Very funny," I grimace. "I thought you were the Dark Lady. I saw her near the trail."
"Oh no," she teased, "we had a delightful conversation. She was just checking in on you."
"Yeah, I'm sure she wasn't," I frown, helping her off with her coat.
And then she's in my arms, covering me with kisses. "Cheer up, Chum―I missed you so much!"
"Well, I know I really missed you. Mollie did too."
Mollie was leaning against her legs, pressing close as she could.
Kate knelt down and threw her arms around her the same way the Dark Lady did by the cliff. Mollie's tongue was bright as a lighter flame and she was clearly enjoying the attention.
"C'mon in," I laughed. "Do you feel like coffee or hot chocolate?"
"Hot chocolate sounds heavenly. I drank so much coffee today I'm hyperactive. I feel my whole body is buzzing."
"I know the feeling," I sympathized.
"What's gotten you so on edge?" she asked.
"Wait until we're settled by the fire and I'll tell you the whole story."
"Well, regardless of what it is, I can tell you this―it always involves a woman. You seem to be a magnet for the opposite sex."
I wanted to dissent, but she had a point. Woman always seem to be my nemesis. No use disputing the facts.
When we're finally all seated by the fire, I tell her about my discovery in the basement and my theory about the Dark Lady guarding this site as well.
"It makes sense," Kate says, munching on a croissant, "I'll have to research the previous owners of the house to get the complete history."
"But why on earth would anyone build a house on sacred ground, let alone concealing an ancient site?"
"Maybe they weren't concealing it so much as keeping it safe."
I stared at her. "I never thought of that."
"She laughed, "That's why I'm a real estate agent and get paid the big bucks."
I couldn't argue with that fact either.
It made me wonder who owned this house previously and what other secrets could this house contain?