Penelope was still feeling pretty angry about her confrontation with both her mum and auntie. She couldn't believe that they thought that murder was the best option for getting rid of those who openly disagreed with them. It was childish and foolish. Not to mention, against the law.

She grieved for Oliver. How much he must have endured. He'd lost Addie not only once but twice. Penelope realized for the first time just how disillusioned her aunt was. It was one thing to feel upset over losing out on someone's love. It was entirely another to decide that murder was the best way to handle that rejection.

Penelope wondered as well if her aunt was so angry with Oliver, what would stop her from murdering him? Perhaps that was why Oliver chose to remain invisible to her aunt. Although he wasn't physically dead, he was dead on the inside.

She knew that now was the time to admit to Oliver that she'd heard some of the story about what happened here all those years ago. Penelope also wondered if now that the truth was made known publicly, would Addie and her great grandmother's restless spirits finally be able to move on?

Penelope hoped so. She couldn't imagine being bound here on earth when one was technically dead.

***

"You shouldn't have admitted your wrongdoings!" Jane was furious with her older sister. How she'd broken down and wept like a child once Penelope had the audacity to confront them both.

"What does it matter now?" Lenora snapped. "They're still dead! Besides there's no concrete proof to hold us accountable."

"I suppose you have a point there." Jane recalled her conversation with Micah. She'd always had in the back of her mind that Lenora had asked the housekeeper to assist her in the murder of their grandmother.

"I still don't understand why you had Micah assist you," Jane added. "That was rather...extreme."

"That old biddy might have been up there in years," Lenora said. "But she wasn't feeble."

"I knew I shouldn't have allowed you to be the one to deal with her." Jane's face was turning crimson.

"Was it necessary to kill her the way you did?"

"Look who's talking!" Lenora stared stonily at her younger sister. "You dissolved Addie with Holy Water!"

"How else was I supposed to dispose of her? She was a demon!"

"Yes, well. You probably wouldn't have been able to just kill her normally."

"You had no right to resurrect her. That was cruel and unnecessary."

"I did it for Oliver!" Lenora's face was turning crimson now as well. "He told me to!"

"I have my doubts that Oliver would have suggested such madness."

"He agreed," Lenora said sullenly. "It's close enough."

"Why?" Jane's gaze was boring into Lenora's. She gave her sister some credit for not backing down.

"I told you why. For Oliver."

"Yes." Jane crossed her arms over her chest. She didn't believe Lenora. Her sister was not the benevolent soul. She only did things if there was something in it for her.

"Funny," Jane added. "I don't quite believe you."

"Believe whatever the hell you want to." Lenora's tone was haughty. "I was only thinking of Oliver's welfare."

"Possibly," Jane conceded. "Or you just wanted to show Oliver that you were a good person so he'd come running into your arms."

"Why are you acting so pious?" Lenora glared at Jane. "You burned Addie with Holy Water until she turned to ash!"

"I didn't want to do that," Jane said quietly. "But as usual, I got stuck cleaning up your mess."

"Oh ho!" Lenora pretended to be shocked by Jane's statement. "You really do fancy yourself some kind of saint, don't you?"

"I've made mistakes, I'll admit. But I did what I did to protect myself from you and your black magic."

A cruel smile crept across Lenora's face as she advanced towards her younger sister. Jane stepped backwards, bumping into the table and knocking her shin, hard on the edge.

"Afraid I'd dispose of you that way, dear sister?"

"I wouldn't put it past you, you wicked witch!"

"That's correct, dear sister." Lenora was slowly inching closer to Jane, who was trying to squeeze past the table and escape the room before Lenora dared to murder her.

"I am a wicked witch and I'm going to get rid of anybody else who dares to try and take away Esper Hall from me!"

As Lenora began to chant, reaching for the small, glass vile hanging on a chain around her neck, there was an ear splitting scream that pierced the air.

Penelope.

****

Several years ago:

Warning this part deals with suicide and death.

****

Oliver had seen and heard enough. He was leaving Esper Hall, never to return. He couldn't bear living in the very place where his beloved had been taken from him. As well as his grandmother.

Lenora had crossed over to the dark side now and she refused to let go of that...power which had completely consumed her. She'd never been a sane person, even before the darkness had infiltrated her soul. Even as a child, she'd been cruel and thoughtless, never once considering others needs, only concerned about herself.

As Oliver prepared for his own demise, he paused, realizing he was no better than Lenora, Jane or even their grandmother. He'd allowed his misery to control his life. Especially now that he knew Addie was truly dead this time and she wasn't ever coming back.

He sat down heavily in what had beenhis and Addie's bedroom, the poison set before him. He laid out the suicide note, hoping that Lenora would be the one to find his lifeless body. Oliver glanced around the room. Tears filled his eyes as they spilled down his cheeks. He wished he was leaving this place with a better memory.

Oliver took the vile in his hand and lifted it to his lips, swallowing the bitter liquid down. It burned his throat but he had hardly thought of that. Oliver leaned back heavily in the chair. The poison was slowly coursing through his body. He could feel it working.

Oliver was losing feeling in his feet first, followed by his legs and torso as it crawled up his chest, spreading to his chest and arms. His entire body was numb now, his fingers drooping by his sides. He smiled as he saw Addie coming towards him, that bright smile on her beautiful face.

"Oliver, come. Join me. We can have a beautiful life together in the afterlife."

Oliver grinned, reaching out for Addie's hand, allowing her to take him away from everyone who insisted on making his life miserable, and into the beautiful, white light.

****

Someone was knocking on the front door and it sounded rather urgent. Lenora wasn't interested in speaking with anyone and shouted for Micah to answer the door and send whomever it was, away.

Lenora had called the paramedics only an hour ago to come and take away her grandmother's body and spoke with the mortician about having the coffin removed from the house as well. It did technically contain Addie, although it wasn't in the bodily form.

Because of that little mishap, Lenora had been forced to go into the garden, collecting some rocks and placing them into the coffin as not to arose suspicion about it being "too light."

Lenora was seated in the kitchen, making herself a cup of strong tea when suddenly a figure appeared in the doorway. It was Alison, who lived down the street and had been friends with them, although mostly Jane and Addie when they were growing up.

"I'm not interested in company," Lenora snapped at Alison. "Be on your way!"

"I just heard about your grandmother," Alison said quietly. "How tragic. Especially so soon after Addie's death."

Lenora's temper flared. She stood up, grabbing the nearest object, which just happened to be a kitchen knife, brandishing it in front of her, causing Alison to stumble backwards in fear.

"I told you to get the hell out!" Lenora shouted. Alison stared, wide eyed in terror at Lenora, confused as to why she was acting so irrationally.

"I only meant to say my condolences Lenora. You don't have to try and kill me for it!"

"Fine!" Lenora snapped, lowering her arm so that the knife was pointing at the floor. "You've said them. Now get out! And don't bother coming back!"

"Why?" Alison frowned, making no move to leave. "I thought we were friends?"

"Friends with you?" Lenora barked out a laugh. "You're a damn traitor! You loved Addie, not me! Anyone who loved that bitch is my enemy!"

"Why? Because you wanted Oliver for yourself?" Lenora raised her arm, the knife now pointed at Alison as she hurled in her direction, narrowly missing her face.

With a shriek of terror, Alison turned and fled Esper Hall, slamming the door on her way out. Lenora smiled in satisfaction. That bitch wouldn't dare to darken their doorstep ever again. Not as long as Lenora laid claim to this place.

Micah appeared in the doorway of the kitchen now, her face chalk white, trembling.

"What's the matter now?" Lenora asked irritably.

"It's...Oliver. He's...dead."

***

Jane raced past her sister, shoving her aside, fear coursing through her veins, wondering why Penelope was screaming. Was she having another vision or had she uncovered something far worse, like a...spirit coming to torment her?

"Penelope, darling!" Jane shouted, dashing up the stairs, her heart thumping wildly in her chest.

She suddenly realized she smelled...smoke? Oh God! The house was on fire! Jane frantically searched the upstairs rooms, finally coming across her daughter, who was beating madly against some loose panel in the wall.

"What are you doing?" Jane screamed, grabbing Penelope's arm and trying to drag her away.

"We have to help Oliver!" Penelope screamed, tears coursing down her pale cheeks as she clawed wildly at her mother's hands.

Jane froze. It couldn't be. Could it? Oliver was dead. She'd been the unfortunate one to discover his body, hunched over, draped across the table, the suicide note just beside him.

"Oliver is dead!" Jane shouted, dragging Penelope out of the room and into the hallway, down the stairs as the smoke became thicker, the flames spreading from the attic, consuming everything in its path.

Penelope was in shock. No. Oliver was not dead! She'd spoken with him, several times. He'd felt...solid to her. He wasn't a ghost!

"Mum, stop! Oliver is alive!" Penelope twisted free from her mum's tight hold, dashing back upstairs, even though the smoke was thick and choked her, causing her breath to catch in her throat and making her eyes water.

Then..a figure appeared. Penelope ran forward, grabbing Oliver's hand. He was coughing from the thick smoke and his weathered face was red, tears streaming down his face. Penelope quickly hurried towards the front entrance, where she could see her mother standing, looking petrified.

Penelope wasn't certain if it was because of Oliver or something else. Penelope reached the door and tugged Oliver outside.

They both collapsed on the grassy lawn, coughing and gagging from inhaling the smoke. Jane knelt down beside her daughter, checking to see if she was all right before turning her attention to..Oliver.

He couldn't be alive. Surely he was an evil demon come back from the dead to torment her for her cruelty towards Addie.

"Oliver?"

"It's me." Jane recoiled, not believing it.

"Mum, where's Auntie Lenora?" Jane's eyes widened, and she realized with a terrible thrill that Lenora was still inside the burning estate.

***

The ghostly figures swam around Lenora, enchanting her, enticing her to move forward. She was spellbound, unable to break free from their darkness. She stretched out a hand, the ghostly hand took ahold of hers, leading her further into the fiery flames.

As the flames consumed Lenora, she smiled. This wasn't the end. Or if it was, it was precisely how she wanted to it be.

The darkness was her master and she was willing to comply.

****

Laina and Quinn heard the sirens wailing down the street, the bright lights flashing as they sped towards..Esper Hall.

"Aunt Quinn, I think the house is on fire!" Laine shouted, grabbing her jacket and hurrying out to the car. Quinn grabbed her jacket as well, along with the car keys. She had a very bad feeling about this.

***

Penelope was lying on the ground, Oliver on one side, Jane on the other, trying to console her. She was sobbing uncontrollably. But wasn't for the reason that they thought. It wasn't because of Lenora's..untimely death.

No. It was because of Esper Hall, itself and all those memories of Addie, their grandmother and anyone else who held a strong history of the home.

"You..died," Jane whispered to Oliver. He didn't elaborate. Instead he put all his focus on Penelope, who was clinging desperately to one of his hands.

"Mum, would you please shut up!" Penelope snapped. Jane shut up. Obviously now wasn't the best time for this discussion.

A car pulled over to where they were sitting, on a grassy spot beneath a willow tree and Quinn and Laina bolted from the car, rushing to Penelope.

"Thank God you're alive!" Laina threw her arms around Penelope who hugged her back, silent tears still slipping down her cheeks, dripping off on to Laina's jacket.

"Where's Lenora?" Quinn asked and Jane gave a short, cury shake of her head.

"I'm sorry."

"She brought that shit down on her own head," Oliver spoke up grimly. No one else said anymore. They all sat together, watching as Esper Hall was slowly engulfed in the fiery flames.

***

Several weeks later:

Penelope was finishing unloading the last of her personal belongings as a car drove up the lane which led to Esper Hall. Or what was left of it.

The car door opened and Laina climbed out, moving to give Penelope one last hug. The two friends held each other tightly before releasing their hold.

"Well," Laina told Penelope. "I'm heading home. But I'll try to get back here within the next few months."

"I hope you can," Penelope said, trying to keep her voice from trembling. She would miss Laina terribly.

"I will," Laina promised. She glanced behind Penelope, looking at the burnt remains of Esper Hall. It seemed more forlorn now instead of creepy.

"Oliver already has someone lined up to start rebuilding the place." Penelope turned herself, trying not to think about her aunt burning to death in there. Even if she did deserve her fate.

"Until it's remodeled, where are you staying?" Laina asked.

"In the cottage house, just down the lane," Penelope responsed. "I was shocked when Mum agreed to let me move in with Oliver."

"Are you positive you want to live in a place so tainted by death?"

Penelope smiled. She was used to it by now. Especially given that she was fairly certain that both Addie and her great grandmother's spirits weren't around anymore. They'd gotten they're revenge on Lenora, although they'd had to wait until the afterlife to do so.

"I'm not worried about that," Penelope assured her friend. "Besides, Oliver is planning to help me "Fine tune" my psychic abilities and I'm happy he can."

"Good luck." Laina smiled at Penelope, who for once, looked more at peace than she had since they'd met.

"I need to get going," Laina added. "I don't want to miss my flight. Take care of yourself, Penelope. And Oliver."

"I will. Thanks. Have a good journey." Laina climbed into her aunt's car, waving as Quinn drove away. Penelope saw Oliver limping up from the opposite direction, looking weary.

"Ready to head over to the cottage?" He asked Penelope. She nodded and grabbed her bags, following Oliver down the lane.

As she pasted by a portion of Esper Hall, she saw her aunt standing in the window, looking serene. Penelope pretended not to notice. It was better that way.

Chapter 14

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