Lela found the large stone wall covered by vines, lost to history, worn down, weather-beaten. The iron gate surprisingly opened to her touch and swung inward on the long dirt drive lined by willows and oaks, the branches and leaves waving gracefully over it.
The adventurer tucked her camera closer to her and moved into the property, left abandoned these past fifty years. She had trouble taking it all in, the largeness of it, the feeling of history, of pains, happiness, joys and sorrows.... Lela hoped the old house still stood. People had photographed the servant quarters in the last ten years, but said they couldn't get near the house. There seemed to be a presence there. A foreboding, protective presence that they had all felt better to leave alone. Lela was not dissuaded, ghosts excited her, or rather the possibility of them. She read books, she had dreams about those books.
Her spine tingled in anticipation as the trees opened to reveal the once stately mansion, its large white pillars chipped, the second floor balcony had planks missing in its floor, the front door was wide open. She could see the grand stair case through the door, like a tease.
"Wow." She breathed, raising her camera she snapped a pic, easily. Drawing the camera away from her she gasped as she saw an image in the display. A tall, dark headed man stood in the doorway, watching her. She looked up and saw no one. But she felt pulled to come closer. She didn't understand why people felt creeped out about the big old house. She felt welcomed, pulled in.
The steps were creaky but strong as she ventured onto the porch and slowly walked toward the great entrance. Movement caught her eye to the side in what used to be the dining room. It was that tall man. She saw a glint of a sword on his side. "Hello?" She asked, "Is there someone here?" The presence felt all enveloping, like a warm embrace. Felt passionate.
"You came back." She heard in her head. Gasping, she whirled, "Who .. said that.. who's here? "
"Come upstairs." The warm, mellow voice said, "Don't worry, its safe. I wouldn't let you get hurt." The drawl was thick, like honey, her skin tingled with warmth that ran from her arms into her legs and pooled between them like a nest. "I've been waiting so long." The voice purred. "I missed you."
She let her camera dangle on her shoulder as she took the grand stair case carefully, keeping to the safe spots next to the railing, it wound around to connect with the second floor, dusty with debris everywhere, pigeons squawked and flew out of the rafters on the landing, she ducked, letting them fly out the broken window behind her. The voice chuckled, "She isn't in her glory days anymore, that's for sure."
"Who..who are you? How do you know me?" She was drawn to the bedroom to the right directly off the stairs.
"You'll remember." He purred.
Inside the room, the floor was painted a light blue, chipped and old obviously. The fireplace had cobwebs and a draft. The windows on either side of the fireplace were broken and one ledge was rotted. In the corner was an old vanity with a big mirror. The only piece of furniture in the room. Instead of raising her camera to take a picture she laid it on the floor, walking to the mirror and looking in it, her lips were parted.
She should have been afraid when he walked up behind her, his shirt opened all the way down, suspenders looped by his hips, his hair messy. Ghosts could look real bodied like that? She stared in wonder as he looked at her, lifting her hair off her neck. She shivered as she felt an electrically kiss on her neck, Lela could feel his lips on her neck, brushing softly over the skin. She slid her eyes closed. "Why do I feel ok with this?" She whispered.
"You've been here before." He whispered, his hands circling her waist and sliding up, "You wanted to come here, that's why you've been so obsessed about this plantation. You wanted to come home." He nuzzled her as his hands rested under her breasts.
