Page 22 of The Curse of McMillan Castle
“You sure? You don’t mind?”
“O’course no’. I’m no’ paying ye, lad. Ye needn’t work with me anytime ye doona wish to. I appreciate ye whene’er ye are here, but I doona expect ye to be. Go and enjoy yer day.”
That was all Cooper needed in order to set off in the direction of the castle.
Yawning with just about every third step, Cooper moved through the castle as quietly as he could. If any of the younger children saw him before he was able to sneak away for a nap, they would drag him into playing with them. And today, he just didn’t have the patience for it.
To his surprise, he didn’t cross paths with anyone in the castle until he rounded the hallway corner leading to his bedroom. His grandmother and Baodan stood visiting just a few doors down from his bedroom.
He waved at them but neither waved back. It was only then that he noticed the look of concern on his grandmother’s face. He didn’t even think either of them had noticed his presence, they were so engrossed in conversation.
Cooper continued on to his room, opening the door and taking one step inside before he heard the one name that caused his little feet to stop cold.
“Osla.”
His heart pounded in his chest. He stepped far enough into his room so they couldn’t see him, but stayed close enough to the open doorway so he could listen better.
“Ye havena said her name to me in a verra long time, son. What do ye need to tell me about Osla?”
Cooper thought his grandmother’s voice sounded shaky as she spoke. He imagined that if he opened his mouth right now to speak, his would be too. He leaned his ear further toward the hallway to listen for Baodan’s answer.
“I saw her.”
Cooper’s legs began to tremble, but he didn’t move a muscle. He had to know what Baodan was going to say next.
“What do ye mean ye saw her?”
“I mean precisely that. Last night, as I made me way around our bedchamber to blow out all of our candles, I glanced into the looking glass, and there she was—standing behind me, staring over me shoulder, her eyes as sad as I’d e’er seen them. Mitsy said she’d ne’er seen my face so pale. I still shake when I think of it.”
If it hadn’t truly been before, his grandmother’s voice was definitely shaky as she answered Baodan now.
“Did…did Mitsy see her?”
“Nae. No’ then.”
“Mayhap ye were overtired. I ken that Osla must cross yer mind from time to time. Mayhap she was on it last night, even if ye dinna realize it at the time.”
“Nae.” Baodan’s voice was firm in his answer. “Ye doona understand. Mitsy dinna see her last night, but she did see her this morning. She woke before me, and Osla was standing at the foot of our bed. Mitsy screamed so loudly I couldna believe the whole castle dinna wake.”
Cooper’s mind began to reel.
Was that why he’d been unable to sleep the night before? Had some part of him been able to sense Osla’s ghost within the castle?
Whatever it was, Cooper knew one thing for sure.
Burning the painting had only made everything so much worse.
They hadn’t given Osla any sort of peace.
All they’d done was let her loose, free to roam around the castle tormenting them.
Tears pooled in Cooper’s eyes as he slid to the floor and pulled his knees tight to his chest.
What were they supposed to do now?
Chapter 15
Madeline
