Page 71 of The Silence of Hell

“Yes.” I laughed. “I forgot Ronnie. I remember why as well. When Mom and Dad took me away, I was so traumatised. I kept asking for you, and they just told me to shut up. That you didn’t want us anymore. That did not make sense to me, so I blocked out most of the happier memories. But now I know the truth. They stole twenty years from us. I’ll never forgive them,” I said.

“Can’t say I blame you. Shall we go downstairs?” Aunt Aggie asked.

“We can, but how much of the hauntings were real?”

“The doors opening and closing were the ghosts, darling. And the scream is all Margaret. The ghosts are real here, so get used to living with them. They were also the ones moving things around. They wanted your attention. You might not believe in them right now, but over time, you will. And they’ll always protect the heir.”

“Really?” I questioned dubiously.

“Yes. You haven’t asked about the missing jewellery,” Aunt Aggie said as Ronnie thumped Rik on the head a third time.

I laughed at Ronnie’s glee. How frightened of Rik he must have been. Well, Ronnie would be safe now.

“It wasn’t important to me.”

“It is all safe. As is the Star of Lucia. It’s all hidden in a secret room only I have access to. And you will as the heir. It is a room only the heir knows about, sweet girl. Remember that. Nobody else can know but the heir. And the Star of Lucia must never leave this house. Should it do so, misfortune follows. There are several times mentioned in the journal that has happened. Read it, learn it, and respect your ancestors, darling,” Aunt Aggie explained as she rose to her feet.

“That’s why the leg cast was here,” I gasped, and Aunt Aggie smiled.

“Ronnie, bring that nasty creature with us. We need to find Lavender’s young man and devise a story,” Aunt Aggie said and opened the sitting-room door. “Come now, let’s put your household at ease!”

Chatter

He had been going out of his mind when he discovered Lavender was gone. The screams of the ghost had alerted him, and he’d rushed to check on her. After checking the cameras, they’d learned she’d disappeared from inside the room. He, Jinx, and Tatum were trying to discover the secret panel when there was a commotion in the entrance hall, and he went to look.

Relief swept over Chatter as he saw Lavender standing there. After enfolding her in a huge hug, Chatter turned his attention to the tiny old lady with her and the hulking man. Lavender reminded everyone of their NDAs and then headed into the kitchen. She’d quickly explained what had happened, and Chatter glared at the unconscious figure of Rik.

Between him and Jinx, they’d created a cover story and called Lio.

Lio arrived half an hour later and carted Rik off as he screamed obscenities and threats. All of which Lio took note of and added to the charges.

Lavender immediately began stressing about where Ronnie and Aunt Aggie would sleep, and Aunt Aggie laughed.

“Dear girl, we’re good in our tower, and plus, I did overfill the house for you!” she stated.

Lavender merely giggled in return, and it lightened his heart to see her happy. There was real love between the three of them. Ronnie kept eyeing him suspiciously, but Chatter understood it would take time for him to gain Ronnie’s trust. After all, Ronnie hadn’t exactly had the best experiences with male figures.

Chatter grinned as he watched Ronnie chase Lavender around the drive with a frog in his hands. Lavender was screaming like a girl, and Ronnie chortled behind her.

“They did that when she was a child,” Aunt Aggie said from behind him.

“She’s scared of frogs?” Chatter asked, walking over to her.

“No, but it was a game they played. My son is gentle and has a heart of gold unless somebody he loves is threatened. Ronnie will never hurt anyone unless they hurt someone he cares about. Then he has the Bloodsworth temper.”

“We shall look after him, Aunt Aggie,” Chatter said. “Can I call you that?”

“Are you going to marry my niece?”

“Yeah.”

“Then you can call me Aunt Aggie. God blessed me with three beautiful children, and he took two from me. Ronnie was irrevocably changed after his illness, and God took away the clever boy he’d been. But then I was gifted with Lavender. And she was perfect, and I knew what her purpose in life was. Lavender brings sunshine and love wherever she goes. If she loves you, young man, do not abuse it. Don’t take it for granted, nourish it. Do that, and you’ll have a very happy time with her,” Aunt Aggie said.

“Can you imagine the journal entry about this?” Chatter asked, and Aunt Aggie laughed.

“Oh indeed, but if you read the journal, it won’t be the most scandalous. Just one in a long line of family secrets,” Aunt Aggie replied.

“I’ll be honoured to keep them,” Chatter stated and looked over to Lavender. She was squealing his name and running at him with Ronnie on her heels. Chatter chuckled and headed down the steps towards her.

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