Lenora wearily trudged up the stairs to her bedroom. Penelope and Jane had long since retired for the evening and Lenora knew she should have gone to bed a few hours ago herself. Unfortunately her earlier conversation between herself and her younger sister had left her feeling uncomfortable and edgy.

She flicked on her bedroom light, closing the door and hurried to dress for bed. She tossed her dirty clothing into the bin and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth ans have a drink of water. As she turned, she caught a glimpse of a whitish mist floating around.

Lenora made a dismissive sound and headed back into the bedroom, settling herself on the edge of the bed, removing her slippers and sat there, warily glancing around the room. She was unamused by the ghost's childish antics and she desperately wanted them to cross over and leave her in peace.

"I'm going to sleep now, you stupid bitch," Lenora snapped, sliding back into the bed and pulling the blankets over her, lying down.

"Should you decide to throw a tantrum, I'd appreciate it if you'd keep it down."

Lenora dutifully closed her eyes and immediately the unsettling noises began. The door opened and closed a few times. The windows were rattled. A cold breeze blew around. And the bathroom lights flickered on a few times.

Lenora decided not to do anything. It did no good anyhow. The ghost was determined to make themselves known, especially since it was Lenora.

"You'll pay, Lenora. You'll pay."

Lenora squeezed her eyes tighter. She wasn't going to be goaded into anything this time around. She'd had enough. Of everything.

***

Laina was walking down the road, early the following morning. Her aunt wasn't much of a morning person so Laina decided to go on a quick walk before her aunt decided to get out of bed. Which seeing how it wasn't quite ten o'clock in the morning, it'd probably be another hour or so before her aunt emerged from the bedroom.

Laina had been dying to come to England and visit her aunt. Laina's family was originally from this area but when Laina's mother was eighteen, she'd decided to move to America and hadn't been back since.

Laina knew that her mother had conflicting emotions towards England and her family that she'd so readily left behind several years ago. She also knew that something big had taken place between them all and it wasn't anything good.

So when Laina announced that she'd been in contact with mom's younger sister and that she was planning a trip here, her mother had been surprised and a little upset.

"Why do you want to go there? It's not as interesting as you might think."

"Don't you ever miss it?" Laina asked. "How could you just leave behind everyone you cared about?"

"Because I don't really care about them," her mother had repiled. "And they don't really care about me, either. Leaving was the best decision I ever made."

"I'm still going," Laina said stubbornly. "You can't stop me. Especially since I'm paying for the trip myself."

"I'm not going to stop you. Just don't expect anything good to come from there."

Laina was thinking about all of that when she reached Esper Hall. She remembered that strange man from last night, hoping he wasn't lurking around close by, eager to attack her.

She paused, getting a good look at the place. Her aunt wasn't kidding. The place did look creepy even in the daylight. It was big and sprawling and looked like it belonged in a horror movie. Laina walked a little closer, trying to get a better look.

She suddenly spotted a young woman in the back garden, just wandering around, a blank look on her face. Laina went over, calling out to the girl.

"Hello?" The girl turned, looking somewhat startled, her eyes widened in her pale face.

"Sorry," Laina added. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't. I just wasn't expecting to see someone else on this road. It looks like it's deserted most of the time."

"I kinda got that impression myself." Laina hesitated. "Would you mind some company?"

"Not at all. Go around to the gate and I'll let you in." Laina did and the girl unlatched the garden gate, allowing Laina to come inside.

"You're not from here, are you?" The girl turned and Laina saw a strange look in her eyes.

"Uh, no. I'm visiting my aunt, who just lives up the road. I'm American."

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Penelope Smith. Or P.J., if you prefer. I'm visiting my aunt as well. She lives here."

"My aunt has told me about this place. It's kinda famous around here, it seems."

"I suppose it is." Penelope fixed a keen eye on Laina. "You didn't mention your name?"

"Oh! Right! Sorry. It's Laina Walker." Penelope smiled.

"You mentioned visiting your aunt? Do you have other family that lives around here?"

"Yeah. My grandparents and some cousins. My mom is originally from here but she left several years ago."

"Ah. I see." Laina noticed how distracted Penelope appeared. She was curious if it had anything to do with this house.

"You said your aunt lives here?" Penelope nodded. "Did she inherit it or something?"

"Yes," Penelope said. "She's my mum's older sister so my great grandmother left the property to her."

"Does she live here all alone?"

"For the most part. She has a housekeeper and..." Penelope stopped abruptly. Laina was curious as to what Penelope was going to add but she didn't want to be overly nosy.

"Would you like a tour?" Laina noticed how stiff and formal Penelope sounded all of a sudden.

"What about your aunt?" Laina asked. "Would she care if I came in, unannounced?"

Penelope hesitated. She wasn't sure if Auntie Lenora would like a stranger coming in and looking around the place.

"Well." Penelope said smiling. "If my auntie complains, I'll simply explain that my new friend wanted to see where I'm staying."

Laina smiled as well. She decided that she would like to become Penelope's friend. They already had something in common. They were both visiting their aunts.

"Cool. Lead the way, P.J."

***

Jane was upstairs, in the attic, searching through some old boxes of ornaments that used to belong to her grandmother. Her grandmother kept everything so there were boxes and boxes of crap piled up in every corner of the attic.

Jane sneezed, as she pushed over some containers that were piled on top of one another. Phew! This place needed a decent cleaning! Obviously Lenora wasn't going to do anything of the kind. She wondered if Miss Wren might be willing to assist Jane in sorting out some of this stuff while she was here.

Jane sighed. She'd hoped that Lenora might have been some kind of..help with Penelope since she'd been the one who'd spoken the most freely with their grandmother in regards to the psychic stuff. Obviously Lenora wasn't going to be much help.

Her mind drifted to...Oliver. Jane hadn't seen him in years. No one had. They all assumed he was dead. Jane felt a pinch of guilt. Oliver was so handsome and charming. He could charm the socks off of anyone. He just had that certain something that drew people to him. And he was kind.

Jane supposed if she were being completely honest, she'd always known that Oliver wasn't interested in her or anyone else. Except that...poor young woman. Everyone who met her knew she wasn't going to live long. One only had to look into her face to know that.

She'd always been sickly, ever since she was a child. She was rarely allowed outdoors as she could easily catch a chill, which often led to a cold or much worse. In spite of the young woman's poor health, Jane often found herself envying the girl. She'd often pass by the girl's house, only to see her reading or...that Oliver was sitting with her, telling her tales of his adventures outdoors.

Jane was ashamed of her ill thoughts towards the sickly girl. Especially when she knew that the girl probably wouldn't live past her twentieth birthday. Yet..somehow she had. She even made it to her twenty-fifth birthday. Jane could still remember Oliver making the grand announcement during dinner one afternoon. How he intended to wed the young woman.

All the angry murmuring among everyone seated at the table. How hurt and distressed Lenora was. How she'd pleaded with Oliver to release his dreams of having a normal life with the woman. Oliver had ignored them all. Jane could still remember the pained look on Oliver's face as he walked away, heading for his beloved's, not once turning back to them.

Jane leaned heavily against the wall, her heart pounding just a little as she recalled watching Oliver retreat. How sad and disappointed he'd been in their response to his happiness. She'd wanted to run after him, telling him that he deserved to be happy with whomever he chose. Instead she'd just sat there, like a stone frozen to the spot in the ground, unable to move.

Jane pushed herself off the wall and continued her search for more ornaments of her grandmother's wanting to decorate her bedroom with them. She turned and frowned as she spotted an old trunk that she knew held stuff that belonged to the young woman.

Jane pushed away the heavy tapestries that were draped over the dusty old trunk, checking to see if it was unlocked. It was. The lid made a loud creaking noise as she lifted it, curiously peering inside. At first, it appeared that it was mostly clothing in the trunk. Until Jane spotted it.

She reached inside, pushing the clothing out of the way, struggling to unhook it. After a few good tugs, the item came free and Jane lifted it out, examining it more closely. It was an old jewelry box. Jane opened it and discovered some old jewelry inside, along with a handwritten note. It simply said: Even when I'm gone, I'll never leave.

****

Penelope watched Laina's eyes widened with each step she took as they toured through the old manor house. She found herself becoming amused by this girl's reaction to her family home.

"This place is incredible!" They were upstairs, walking from room to room, most of which appeared closed up, as a lot of the furniture was draped in light colored sheets and there was layers of dust and cobwebs across much of it.

"You think so?" Penelope had gotten a sudden chill, goosebumps raising on her arms. She briskly ran her hands over her arms. Laina gave Penelope a quizzical stare.

"You all right?"

"Yes. I just caught a bit of a chill, is all." Laina noticed that Penelope looked even more pale than usual and hurried to stand beside her new friend.

"Perhaps we should head downstairs," Laina suggested. "You look terribly pale."

Penelope didn't argue as she was getting some strange vibes from being up here, among all these old rooms. She wasn't sure if it was because the air was so stagnant or if was because of something else that was lingering about.

"I apologize," Laina began. She never finished as Penelope suddenly fell forward, Laina just catching her before she hit her head against a table.

I'm here, Penelope. We must speak. Soon. Time grows short. I'll meet you in your room, this evening. Late. Please be there.

Laina was shaking Penelope's arm, crying out, scared to death that the girl was in some kind of pain and might need medical assistance. Jane heard Laina's voice and rushed down the long hallway, only to discover her daughter and some girl she didn't know, huddled on the floor.

"What happened?" Jane demanded, pushing away the unfamiliar girl and checking Penelope's pulse, making sure she was still alive.

"I..I don't know. I noticed she looked pale and I suggested that we go downstairs and she just...slumped forward all of a sudden."

"Penelope, can you hear me? Penelope, darling?" Jane was leaning across Penelope's body. Penelope moaned softly as she regained her senses, her eyes fluttering open.

"Mum?"

"I'm right here, darling. What happened? Do you remember?"

"Another...vision. Or something? Somebody was trying to contact me through telepathy."

Jane frowned. Who on earth could possibly be trying to connect with Penelope in that way? She didn't understand. No one around here besides Penelope had her gift.

"Can you stand?" Penelope nodded and Jane and Laina helped her to her feet and slowly down the stairs, into the main room, where Jane said she'd get some water and a damp cloth for Penelope's face.

Lenora immediately appeared, looking terribly cross and put out, especially to find a stranger that she hadn't invited into her house.

"Who are you?" Lenora snapped, glaring ferociously at Laina, who was seated beside Penelope, holding one of her hands.

"She's my new friend, Laina Walker," Penelope replied. "We were looking around upstairs."

"How dare you invite a complete stranger into our private, family home! You should have consulted me first!"

Jane returned from the kitchen with a glass of water and a damp cloth. She handed her daughter the water and handed the cloth to Laina, who gently patted Penelope's forehead with it.

"Are you aware that your daughter is allowing strangers into this place without our consent?"

"If Penelope vouchers for this girl, I'm not concerned."

"Last I checked, the deed to this place had my name upon it! Not Penelope's!"

"I was simply showing Laina around," Penelope said calmly. "You needn't get so cross about it."

Laina set the cloth aside and stood. She looked uneasy and Penelope wanted to reassure her that she hadn't done anything wrong.

"I really should be going. My aunt is probably wondering what's become of me." Laina smiled at Penelope.

"Thanks for the tour, Penelope. I hope to see you again soon."

"You're welcome. Come by anytime." Laina waved goodbye and quickly hurried out of the house.

Lenora was still scowling, her arms folded across her chest. Penelope pretended not to notice.

"Penelope, you can't just allow anyone to come in here!"

"Why not?" Penelope challenged her aunt. "She's a nice person. She didn't mean any harm."

"That's not the point. There are a lot priceless antiques here. Lord knows that girl could steal something and sell it."

"I have my doubts, Auntie." Jane sat down beside Penelope, putting her arm around her waist.

"You mentioned that it seemed like someone was trying to connect with you telepathically?"

"I know it sounds odd," Penelope said. "But it felt like that." Jane and Lenora exchanged a troubled glance. Who could it be?

"If it happens again, please let me know right away," Jane said. Penelope nodded and drank her water. She thought she ought to feel unsettled about what had happened. Yet she wasn't. Whoever was trying to connect with her meant her no harm.

***

The hour was growing late and Oliver was growing antsy. He'd heard Jane and Lenora both retreat to their bedrooms for the night and he was making his way towards the room that Penelope was occupying. He was getting desperate to speak with her.

Oliver reached the wall that slid open and poked his head out, listening for any signs of movement from either Lenora or Jane. After a few minutes of not detecting either, he soundlessly slid out, closing up the loose wall panel before making his way towards Penelope's room.

He knocked lightly, hoping that Penelope wouldn't become alarmed by his abrupt presence. A few seconds ticked by before Penelope opened the door, looking surprised.

"It's...you," she said finally. "From my visions."

"Yes. My name is Oliver Esper and we need to talk."

Chapter 3

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