Eternal Love

Chapter 3: The Seance

Sheila, John and Ophelia enjoyed a quiet dinner together, then retired into the study. They sat and listened to the latest news, a whole lot about the fight of slavery being abolished in the country, but not all states agreed. Sheila didn't look at their servants as slaves, they were family to her. Yet, her mother and John helped her to understand that not everyone thought the same as they did; it was a rough time for the country. John told her to stay kind and she would not have to worry about these "issues" they speak of.

Sheila humbly agreed and got out her needle point project she had been working on before her father's death, but hadn't been much in the mood for as of late. They all sat quietly as the radio droned on; then half an hour later, they concluded their broadcast for the night. Sheila was relieved, because she had been ready for bed since the program had begun. Ophelia and Sheila bid John a good night, then waited until he left. Sheila closed the door behind him, locked it and took her mother upstairs.

She helped her mother get ready for bed, tucked her in and proceeded to her own room. She got ready for bed, too tired to read for the night. She said her prayers and climbed into bed. A few minutes of silence, she suddenly heard something like pots and pans falling somewhere in the house. She heard her mother scream out for her and she quickly got up and ran to her mother.

Her mother looked terrified, she instructed Sheila to go investigate the noise. Sheila grabbed a candle and proceeded downstairs. She got to the foot of the stairs and the front door suddenly blew open. Sheila fought against the wind blowing in to shut the door. She shut it, locked it and looked out the window.

She saw nothing but the black of night. She decided to check the kitchen, there was a door to the outside in that room too. She got into the kitchen and saw the back door was wide open. Two of their pots had fallen off the rack above the island counter, to the floor. She shut and locked the door, put the pots on the counter; then left the room. She got down the hall to the foot of the steps, when she heard the clatter of pots again.

She ran down the hall to the kitchen once again; she found the pots on the floor again. She looked around and saw no one in the room. She put the pots under the counter, in the lower cabinet this time and went back upstairs. She climbed back into bed, with the covers tightly wrapped around her. She sat awake for what seemed like hours, just listening to the house.

Finally, she drifted off to sleep. She awoke the next morning with the Sun steaming onto her face. She rubbed her eyes and climbed groggily out of bed. She was still tired from the events of the night before, therefore it was definitely going to be a slow morning. Sheila got her coffee and joined her mother on the front porch.

Ophelia asked if Sheila ever figured out what that loud noise was the night before. Sheila told her the events of the night, in detail. Ophelia nodded and suggested they send for Madam Gabriela. Sheila finally agreed and they had one of their horse servants ride into town to fetch her. A hour later, the servant Came riding up, with the Madam holding onto him tightly.

Madam Gabriela got down and asked if next time they sent a carriage; she didn't care to ride horses. Ophelia shaked her head yes and fondly greeted her. She offered a chair for her and proceeded to tell her what Sheila had witnessed the night before. Madam Gabriela nodded in understanding as Ophelia went on. She suggested they should do a seance that night, at sundown.

They both agreed and bid her good bye until sundown. Ophelia and Sheila went on with the day; decorating for the holiday and making candies with the cook. Sheila went upstairs to change into her costume, she had decided to go with being the ghost of a princess. Her mother thought it was in good taste considering the background of their family. Ophelia had dressed as a Egyptian mummy.

Just as the sun was beginning to set, the kids were beginning to show up in their cute little costumes. Sheila quite enjoyed handing candy out to the kids; it was the best part of the holiday to her. A hour went by and madam Gabriela showed up with John Busby. Sheila was rather surprised by this, considering she hadn't invited him. Must be that arrogant attitude of his in play, Sheila thought.

Ophelia said it was fine he was there and they proceeded inside. Once inside, they went into the parlor room; where a single round table had been set up, with four chairs placed around it. Although it looked inviting, Sheila was a bit leary. They all sat down together and joined hands as madam Gabriela instructed. She lit four candles and then bent down her head.

A few minutes went by, and then Sheila heard someone whispering her name behind her. She jumped up and let out a small shriek. Ophelia yelled at her to sit back down and control herself. John got up and put his arms around Sheila to comfort her. Sheila told them she had enough and left the room.

She went upstairs and cried on her bed due to the overwhelming fear she was feeling. John knocked on her door and asked her if he could come in; she said not tonight and got up and locked her door. John left, then she got ready for bed. She was brushing her hair when she saw out of the corner of her eye, a figure standing at her bedroom door. She began to yell for the figure to leave, thinking it was John. However, when she got closer to the figure, it disappeared into thin air.

She looked down on the floor where the figure had been standing. She saw the name, "Thomas" engraved into the wooden floor. She thought it was strange she had never noticed it before, then shook off the vision of the figure out of her mind; then climbed back in bed. The night went on without incident and Sheila got the much needed rest she had needed for weeks.

The morning went on as usual, however when Sheila went to the gardens; she found a gentleman's jacket sitting on her wicker chair she always sat on. She smiled, thinking John was playing tricks on her. She grabbed the jacket and walked around calling out his name. She continued this for a half hour, then sat down at the fountain. As she looked into the pool below the fountain, she saw the figure of the handsome man she saw on the day of her father's funeral.

She thought of the name she found engraved on the floor of her room, then called it out loud. The figure nodded and she suddenly felt a cold hand on her shoulder. She quickly turned, but no one was there. She quickly got up and ran back to the mansion; only this time, she didn't feel scared. She felt both excited and relieved; she finally had a name to the ghost haunting them, she was convinced.

She went inside and excitedly told her mother and madam Gabriela what she had figured out. Gabriela believed her, but her mother wasn't so sure. They decided it was a friendly spirit, especially considering nothing bad had happened yet.