Page 10 of Who Owns You?

“Speaking of…” She pulls a ring of probably a dozen keys from one of the pockets on her sweater, offering them to me. “These are the keys to every door in the castle.”

“That’s a lot of doors,” I sigh, taking the keys from her and going through them one by one.

There are over a dozen, and I get anxious just looking at them.

“This place has some rooms that remain untouched but have been kept up well,” she says, grasping her chin as she thinks. “You should have a look around and get your bearings, best to learn your way around in the dark in this town.”

“Why in the dark?” A cold sliver of fear snakes its way down my spine, causing me to shiver slightly despite my layers and the fire.

Eloise arches a silver brow at me but smiles.

“The electrician should have the power back on tomorrow, so unless you are comfortable traversing by candlelight, learning how to get around as you are is your best bet,” she says in a no-nonsense way that makes me purse my lips, feeling like a naughty child. Her smooth Irish accent softens the blow, but only just.

“Right, thanks.”

“Of course, I’m also always a call away. I may not have lived here, but I’ve been in this town my entire life, and I’ve made visits to this castle a few times when there were community events. I know my way around well enough.” She pushes herself up from the chair. “I should be going. My wife and I are having a meal with her parents sometime tomorrow.”

“Oh, awesome, cool,” I say with a bit of relief. Some places off the beaten path might not be LGBTQ+ friendly, but this town at least is accepting. “I think I will take a look around, try to get my bearings and then pass out.”

“You surely have had quite the shock, coming to a new country and the world changing as it has. Though I will say that our little town has always been a bit more magical than the rest of the world.” She winks. “Have a good evening, Charlotte.”

“Have a good evening, Eloise,” I reply, watching her walk out, leaving me alone in the room that suddenly feels far too big for just me.

I sink back into the chair and groan. My eyes flick around the room to the shelves lined with books, most of which have words on the spines written in languages I can’t understand, and then to the grand desk on the opposite side of the room, backed by large arched windows letting in beautiful rays of moonlight.

Not only is this whole country seemingly greener, but it has more than enough rain to keep it that way. It’s like I’ve never seen the world in the right colors before, and as an artist, my heart breaks for New York and all of its gray.

I stand slowly, taking in the room one last time before cursing.

“Shit, I need to get my bags. There’s no way I’m letting Eloise heft them up the stairs.” The thought of the older woman even attempting to pull those into the house makes me want to faint.

I scramble out of the room and retrace my steps, finding the entryway again. The front doors are closed, and my bags are nowhere in sight.

“Weird,” I whisper, eyes flicking around. I tip my head to try to listen for any distant noises, but nothing catches my attention.

I’m alone in the castle, and for all intents and purposes, my bags just walked themselves to the room that will be mine. Wherever that is. An uncanny awareness prickles at the edges of my mind. I might be alone, but it doesn’t feel that way.

“Get a hold of yourself, Lottie. Ghosts and ghouls and monsters may exist, but it’s highly unlikely any would be living in your castle,” I say, trying to reassure myself, though the words sound weak.

I turn back toward the stairs, taking in their grand swoop upward. But a big blob of something yellow whooshes across the landing at the top.

Making me nearly jump out of my skin.

I swear it’s there, but when I blink, it’s gone. Nothing that big should be that fast, and nothing should be in this house with me. Eloise said so…right?

Wrong. She didn’t actually say anything about the status of the maybe monsters in the basement.

“Oh my god, I’m freaking exhausted,” I groan, shoving my head into my hands and taking a breath. The exhaustion must be hitting harder than I thought. “New country, new home, new life. I can do this.”

Chapter 5

CHARLOTTE

The ground floorand basement are all clear of supernaturally spooky things, but the number of spiders living in the corners is enough to make me wish that half the kitchen wasn’t sitting in the bowels of this castle. It’s inhumane to put the place where food is made beside a nest of possibly venomous spiders. But this place wasn’t built in the past century, so I should consider myself lucky that it has running water down there.

I shiver as I make my way around, thankful that the sconces on the walls are all electric, so they should help once that goes on.

“Kitchen, storage, wine cellar, all make up a two-story kitchen. I’m all set to sit out an incursion by the common folk.” I snicker as I make my way back up.

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