Bernadette Azizi - Undying

“Thank you, but I’ll pass. I am still sore and tired. I might have a nap.”

“Very well, welcome back. A rest sounds like a great idea. Try to keep your chin up. There are plenty of fish in the sea!” she said to comfort me, and left.

The plot thickens …

After a few minutes in my room, I went to James’s door and knocked. No one answered. I knocked again but still no answer. I put my ear to the door and could hear water running. I grabbed the door handle, praying it was unlocked, and it was. I entered the room, locking the door behind me. I wasn’t sure what I should do next, so I sat on the edge of the bed, in front of the bathroom door and waited. I grabbed his pillow and held it close to my face, breathing in the beautiful scent that I had missed. I closed my eyes and waited. Finally the water stopped running and my heart started thumping. I watched the door handle turn. I had never felt so insecure. I was unsure how he would react, seeing me.

As he opened the door, he came out with a towel around his waist and another one drying his hair. I couldn’t wait. I ran to him and put my arms around him.

“Catherine! No!” In his surprise, he grabbed my shoulders and pushed me away.

“Ahh!” I cried. My shoulders were aching.

He took a second to look at me, pulling my hair away from my face. He touched my face, and gently touched my shoulders— the same shoulders that he had just pushed away.

“Are you alright?” he asked, concerned.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I muttered, holding back the tears.

And then there was fury in his eyes.

“Did Richard do this to you?” He was visibly angry and beared his teeth as he spoke.

“What? No! Of course not! James, please… just hold me.”

“Catherine. Please…” He tried not to care, but couldn’t. He shook his head.

“What happened to you?” he asked in a softer caring voice.

I didn’t want to answer so I turned away. He followed me, crouching down, looking at my face.

“Please… Tell me! Who did this to you?”

“Not who… what. I had a visitor while I was away. An old friend of ours — the one you and Mr Kemp were certain would leave me alone as long as we weren’t together. James it’s not you that it’s trying to stop me from being with. It’s anyone! This thing wants me dead so it can have me. I sense this now. It’s not about us, it’s about me! So stop pushing me away, it won’t make a difference,” I cried.

He completely caught off guard by my theory and tone.

I stood quietly and waited, hoping that he believed me.

“Are you in pain?” he asked as he placed his hand gently on my cheek and wiped my tears.

“I was thrown off a horse, while it was moving at 100 kilometres per hour.”

“Ouch…” he whispered. “Is this all still worth it for you? Wouldn’t it be easier to just leave and go back to Australia?”

“I can never leave, this is my home now. I love you. Nothing else matters.”

I stepped closer to him, praying he would let me near him and not push me away.

“I never stopped loving you, Catherine. When you went with Richard… I went mad. I hated myself for letting you go.”

I bit my lip, remembering a few things that I needed to let him know about my weekend away.

“Um… There’s something else. Richard knows about us,” I confessed.

“You told him?” he asked surprised.

“Not exactly…”

“Then how does he know?”

“When I realised that it wasn’t safe for me to be alone, I asked him… to stay in my room. I was terrified of being alone.”

“In your room? I don’t know which is worse, our ghost or Richard? Go on…”

“Well, apparently, I talk in my sleep. I was calling out your name.”

I shook my head, contemplating whether I should tell him everything. I wanted to, but I didn’t.

“And now there are two after you! You’re not helping the situation either. Do you think you could stop attracting attention from anyone else? Please?” He was so trusting and understanding that he didn’t question me.

“Catherine, I don’t know how to fix this,” James admitted.

“But you will!”

“I don’t know.”

“And I promise I will do whatever you want. I will obey any rules and even put up with Mr Kemp babysitting me! Anything…”

“I am going to take you up on that,” he smiled.

“Do we still have to keep us being together a secret?” I enquiry.

“For now, yes. But not for long,” he replied confidently.

“Did anything else strange happen while you were away or when we were apart?”

“No… not really. Just a dream I keep having, over and over again.”

“What is it?” he asked casually.

I thought about telling him about Victoria and Jonathon and the scene with the locket but I really didn’t know what could be gained. It’s just becoming more frequent and is starting to trouble me.

“It’s nothing, really,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

I took in a deep breath and felt some pain shoot through my chest.

“Ahhh…” I moaned.

“You were lucky, you know,” James said.

“I know… I have never been so terrified in my life. I didn’t want to die. Not yet anyway,” I continued.

“Not ever,” he added, “I would kiss you, but I fear I may add to your pain…” he joked.

I was not amused; he lifted my hand, turned it around and touched the palm. He kissed it so gently and then kissed the other one, placing them on his chest. He put both his hands around my back and pulled me slowly towards him until our bodies were touching. His body was breathtaking and even better then I remembered.

“I can’t wait until tonight. To have you in my arms,” he whispered as he kissed me.

“Tonight? Why not now?” I protested.

“Well, I have to deal with something. While I’m gone you need to stay with someone.”

“What? Where are you going? Can I come?”

“I don’t think that is such a good idea,” he replied.

“Can’t it wait?”

“Not at all. I am going to see Richard, about us.”

“What?” I was shocked to hear his name.

James can’t see Richard. He will tell him about our kiss!

“I have to.”

“James, he won’t say anything.”

“I need to be sure.”

Then there was a knock at the door that ended our conversation.

“Who is it?”

“Oh, my apologies Mr Barclay, it’s me. I am so sorry to disturb you, but Mr Cartwright is here, wanting to see you,” called Jules.

“Miss Kent, please excuse me for not coming to the door. I have just gotten out of the shower. Please let Mr Cartwright know I will be with him in a few moments.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Why is he here?” I asked, frustrated.

“Catherine! Calm down! This is a good thing.”

“No… It isn’t. Trust me. You don’t want to talk to him today. This is all still fresh,” I pleaded.

“You have nothing to worry about. I want you to go straight to the common room and stay there until I finish. I will follow you.”

“No!”

“Yes!” he said as he kissed me, turned me around and sent me on my way.

I had an idea. If I could get to Richard before James and beg him not to mention the kiss, then everything should be OK. Now, if only I could get there fast enough.

As I left James’s room, the hallway was unusually cold. I crossed my arms as my body shivered. As I arrived at the top of the staircase, I paused for a second, contrary to the plan of rushing to Richard before James got there. Something was not right and I couldn’t put my finger on it. I knew I had to get down the stairs quickly but something was holding me back. As soon as I placed my foot on the first step, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned, thinking it was James.