Ghost

My teeth quivered in fear and my feet suddenly felt glued to the floor, "Turn around, Mélie." Damien Jaeger said with a dreadful coldness.

There was a lump in my throat. It was my heart in my mouth! "Turn around." He repeated, with authority. I willed the guts and slowly turned to face him. He didn't in the least wear a happy face.

"Damien." I said his name in a low whisper. His furious eyes drained the blood from my body and I paled.

"Mélie." He called my name for the second time.

I swallowed the humongous lump in my throat, not ready for what was coming, "Do you not realise that your dress is see-through?" He finally said.

"What?" I asked, lost.

He huffed, "Just a second." And he pulled his black jacket off and flung it around my shoulders, "There. Much better."

"Your nightie is powered blue, my love."

"Oh!" I exclaimed and my cheeks flushed with embarrassment, "I didn't realise that it was so obvious."

"Or," Damien Jaeger started, wearing a mischievous smirk on his face, "You did this deliberately to tease your husband."

"That wasn't the plan at all, Damien." I said.

Damien Jaeger chuckled and pretended like he wasn't going to buy what I had just said. Lowering his face to me, he planted a kiss on my lips, "Missed me?"

"I did." I replied.

"You did. Well, in that case, let's go in. We've got some catching up to do."

"Where's my princess?" Damien Jaeger asked as we walked into the mansion.

"She's in the kitchen making dessert with Sharon."

I heaved a silent sigh of relief as we walked up the stairs. It was clear that Derrick hadn't told him anything. So does that mean that Derrick was just trying to mess with my mind? I knew that he would soon become a pest and I dreaded that moment from coming.

My heart throbbed loudly against my chest as I set eyes on a figure half hiding beside the wall wearing the face of the devil. He uttered soundless words and I read his lips, "Gotcha!" He waved a hand at me.

"What are you looking at, Mélie?" Damien Jaeger asked, drawing my attention back on him.

His eyes moved to the direction where Derrick was standing, "Nothing!" I nearly screamed but Derrick had already vanished.

"Mélie, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I replied with suppressed tension.

"You look like you're scared of something." "Or someone." Damien Jaeger noted and I let out a dry laugh.

"Don't be silly, Damien. What will I be scared of, a ghost?"

"Maybe."
~

Lunchtime was an array of lasagne, mustard greens, baked macaroni and cheese, potatoes skillets, meatloaf smeared in BBQ sauce and turkey wings alongside creamy mashed potatoes, candy yam rice and orange juice and champagne. Delicious!

Or at least the first few spoons of the food tasted good- until Derrick walked in.

"Wow, these look delicious!" He remarked and drew his seat, "What do we have first?"

"How about I have what my niece is having first?" He said, picking up a plate and dishing out some lasagne for himself.

Darcy giggled and I stiffened. The idea of Derrick and Darcy growing fond of each other was something I didn't want to entertain.

"Darcy, have some juice." I said, drawing her attention from Derrick, "Are you done with your homework, my love?"

"Yes mommy!" Darcy replied. I could have sworn that Derrick was staring at me with disdain but I didn't spare him a glance.

"Who knew you'd suddenly have a soft spot for kids, Derrick?"

"Ah ah ah, Just my niece." Derrick disagreed, "She's an exception because she's so adorable."

"And your daughter, of course." He added and my eyes met his before quickly looking away.

"So, Mélie." He called. I swiftly looked at him, wondering what he was going to say. A knowing smirk curved his lips, "Mind if you tell me a little more about yourself?"

"I mean, it'd be nice to know more about my sister-in-law, right?" He said with a chuckle, exchanging looks between Damien Jaeger and myself.

"You know, I feel like I've seen you before."

I swallowed the mould of chewed up food in my mouth, "I don't think so."

"No, I'm quite certain I did though, right here in the city."

"Derrick…"

"No, bro. Listen to me." Derrick insisted.

I paled, realising what he was about to do. A fearful gasp sent my chewed up food the wrong way and I erupted into endless coughing.

"Mélie, are you okay?" Damien Jaeger asked with concern. He was already standing beside me. His hand patted my back as I continued coughing.

"Are you okay?" I heard Derrick asking.

He grabbed a glass of water and offered it to me. I ignored it, prefering to continue coughing in peace. My eyes were already red and tearing up.

"Here, have some water." Damien Jaeger said, offering me a glass. Derrick had returned to his position on the seat and Darcy had stopped eating and was now staring at me, anxious.

I accepted the glass of water from Damien Jaeger and gulped it down with desperation, "Thank you."

Damien Jaeger nodded but remained standing beside me until he was sure I was fine.

"How did you choke on your food, Mélie?" Derrick asked. I ignored him and fondled with my plate for a while, "I need to go to the washroom." I announced, then vanished out of the dinning hall.
~

Splash!

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, almost not recognising the pale woman that I was looking at. More water. More water. I cleaned my face, feeling a bit cool before finally straightening from the sink. A malevolent creature reflexed in the mirror.

"Ahh…" I tried to scream but my voice became muffled as a pair of fingers covered them shut.

Was Damien Jaeger right afterall? Were there really ghosts in the mansion?

More attempts to scream but to no avail. I was done for!