The Darkest Veil by Catherine Cavendish

Author:Catherine Cavendish [Cavendish, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: horror, supernatural, occult
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Published: 2019-09-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Vicky waved a piece of paper around. “It’s from Mr. Copeland. Apparently he’s gone on holiday for a couple of weeks and asks us if we would show any prospective new tenants round.”

“He’s left the keys to the vacant rooms?” That seemed a bit too trusting for him.

“Oh no. We are to show them our rooms and explain that the empty ones are just like them.”

“Typical!” Diana flung a wet tea towel onto the draining board. “That means I’ll have to keep my room clean and tidy. Can’t have people thinking I’m a slut.”

Vicky and I laughed. “Never mind, Diana,” Vicky said. “Think of all those missing pairs of knickers you’ll find when you get to the bottom of that pile of clothes on your chair.”

Diana grimaced.

“At least we’ll be able to vet the new lot. Make sure we don’t get any odd people,” I said. “Not that we’re likely to be here long enough for it to matter.”

“I don’t know. It could take a while to find somewhere we like,” Vicky said. “Given that we’re all on a pretty tight budget.”

“We’ll find somewhere,” Diana said. “I have every confidence in us.”

We all heard it at the same time. A deep sigh that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.

“Let’s get out of here,” Diana said, already half way down the hall. We didn’t need to be told twice.

Outside in the cool autumn air, we breathed easier.

“Did that really happen?” Vicky asked.

“We have to get out of that house,” Diana said.

I agreed, but a nagging, irrational doubt in the pit of my stomach wouldn’t leave me alone. Would the house let us go?

Almost a week passed and no one came to look at the rooms. Finally, on Thursday evening, I opened the door to a smartly dressed woman on the doorstep.

“I’m Roisin Devlin. I’ve come about the room.” Her voice matched her appearance. A pretty, smiling face, olive complexion and a lilting Irish brogue.

I opened the door wider. “I’m Alice Lorrimer. Come in.” She did, but a change came over her the instant she stepped over the threshold. The smile disappeared. She clutched a small crucifix at her throat while I prayed we weren’t in for another religious fanatic.

I led her upstairs, noting she seemed a little unwilling to follow me.

“I’m sorry we don’t have keys to the spare rooms but there’s one on the ground floor at the back and the other one is here.” I pointed at the door of number four. “Mine is the only one with its own kitchen. I’m on the top floor and you’re welcome to come up for a cup of tea. I’ll try and answer any questions you may have.”

She didn’t say a word and I was struck by how pale she had become. She followed me up the final flight of stairs but stopped halfway.

“Whatever’s the matter?” I asked.

“I’m sorry. I…” She turned around and started down the stairs a good deal faster than she had mounted them. I followed her.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.