Chapter Eight.
William
Lyra patiently explained her financial situation, which eased much of my guilt.
She still had to leave, but frightening her now wouldn’t make me feel bad.
Lyra had money and could go elsewhere. Somehow, I understood that if Lyra stayed, the evil would escape.
Even if Ajax hadn’t stressed how that couldn’t be allowed to happen, I felt it deep in my bones.
Nobody would call me a religious man, nor a holy one.
Things happened beyond my control and comprehension.
I was an ordinary person born of simple people.
We didn’t wish to rule the world or make decisions for the country.
All I wished was to do my job with pride.
That wasn’t much to ask. Why I’d been thrust into this, I had no idea, but it was not something I could walk away from. That was unthinkable.
Sudden shouting erupted downstairs, and I wondered what had happened. When I found Lyra, she was pacing back and forth and angrily speaking into her phone. Another female was also angry and making threats.
“Lyra, I’ll skin him alive,” the unknown woman seethed.
“Thea. Have you contacted Joseph? Keating has gone too far.”
“Not yet. I called you first. If this doesn’t bring Ophelia and Poppy running, then they’re fools. No doubt, they received letters too,” Thea snapped.
“He knew about this. Keating’s smug face yesterday should have warned me. Did you get that structural survey completed?” Lyra asked.
“Yes. And Seareef is sound, like it was five years ago when Sonia did the last one.”
Lyra kept pacing. She ran a hand through her hair.
“Okay, contact two other companies and bring them in. Nothing local. I’ll do the same.
Send me the names so we avoid using the same firms. Also, find other electricians and plumbers to do the job.
We’ll fight fire with fire. Let me call Poppy and Ophelia and get them to act.
Kingfisher and Clamshell must be as sturdy as ours.
Neither could be worse. If Leafpoint and Seareef have been maintained, they must have been too. ”
“What happens in terms of The Trust if they’re condemned?” Thea asked.
I was trying to catch up, but I’d caught the main points of what was happening.
Lyra laughed. “Have a guess. We’ll have to pay for repairs and maintenance. They can’t be torn down. Even if they are dismantled brick by brick, they have to be rebuilt from the foundation up.”
“Thank God. I love my lighthouse,” Thea said.
Seareef, Clamshell, and Kingfisher were the other three Jasper lighthouses.
“Someone is mounting an attack,” I murmured.
Lyra looked at me and held a finger to her lips.
“Was that a man I just heard?” Thea asked suspiciously.
“No, it was the TV. I came to fetch something from my bedroom.”
“You have a TV in there?” Thea pressed.
“A small one, you saw it, remember?”
“Nope. So much has been going on.”
“Well, I do. I’ll call Poppy and Ophelia; they were coming down this weekend. They might need to speed things up. The good news is that the meeting is on Friday, so we’ve got time, given it’s Tuesday. Move your ass,” Lyra ordered and said goodbye.
“What has happened?” I asked as Lyra held up a finger. She pressed her phone’s screen and dialled a number.
“Poppy, hey, this is Lyra. I’ll dial Ophelia in.”
“What’s happening?” the woman named Poppy demanded.
“Let me get Ophelia.” I waited impatiently while Lyra called someone else and explained what had happened.
“I’m actually on the M4 with Dad now,” Poppy said, and Lyra fell silent.
“You’re coming?”
“Yes. We were going to surprise you,” Poppy replied. “Dad can’t wait to meet you all.”
“I have a letter too,” Ophelia muttered.
“How do you know?” Lyra demanded.
Oh, I sensed trouble. Lyra’s face set.
“Because I’m at Clamshell. I’ve just opened it. Did you say Joseph knows?”
“Not yet, but he’s my next call. When did you arrive here?”
“A few days ago. The contractors I’ve hired are coming in today, so I’ll get at least one report,” Ophelia remarked. I disliked her tone. It was empty, cool, and upper-class. This was someone used to having money and well aware of the noble blood in her veins.
“You never told me?” Lyra responded, and I heard the hurt in her voice.
“Lyra, I needed some time. I’ll come over tonight; we can all meet up,” Ophelia said, hanging up.
“We’ll be there soon. This is so exciting!” Poppy squealed and ended the call.
Reaching for something inside a cupboard, Lyra spun as I started to materialise. White exploded everywhere, and Lyra gasped as she blinked in horror.
Lyra
I’d registered William commenting, but hadn’t been prepared for him to be behind me, invisible. His outline hung in the air, covered in flour.
“Oh,” I said and began to laugh.
“What did you do?” William exclaimed, his voice totally unamused.
“It’s your fault; you were standing in my path!” I retorted.
“I wanted to know what was happening!” William snapped in return.
“Go away, Casper,” I instructed, and grabbed a cloth.
A sudden jolt struck my back, causing me to turn. William might well be invisible, but I could see him thanks to the white powder.
“Did you just throw something at me?”
“No,” William replied grumpily.
“Liar!” I retorted.
“Prove it,” William said smugly.
Piqued, I scooped up some flour and threw it at him.
William growled.
“I can spot you; the flour is outlining you!” I smirked.
“No visitors,” William ordered.
“That is definitely not up to you. They’re my family.” Now I was angry.
“That you were unaware of. I won’t have strangers tramping through here and possibly strengthening the evil.”
“That’s not your choice. I own Leafpoint, not you. Try not to forget that, William. Evil or not, I can have a priest get rid of you!” I warned.
“Give it a shot,” William threatened and stomped off.
“Oh, don’t push me,” I muttered and began cleaning up the mess.
The lighthouse smelt amazing, even if I said so myself. The smell of freshly baked bread mixed with cake. I’d thrown together a simple casserole, which added to the delicious scent.
“Only me!” Thea yelled as she let herself in.
“Thea, I’m right here,” I uttered, laughing, and Thea shrugged.
“I bought wine! Miss Fancy Pants might not like it though,” she teased.
“Fancy Pants will drink anything as long as it’s alcoholic,” Ophelia stated as she entered the kitchen next. “The door was unlocked.”
“You’re fine! Come on in,” I invited as I glanced at Thea. Talk about awkward. I heard a snort and realised William was watching.
Ophelia smiled, but it was empty. Someone had done a number on her, just like me.
“Sit down. I’ll make drinks, and we’ll have the wine with dinner.” I waved a hand at the dining table.
“Can I have a snoop around?” Ophelia inquired. “Get some ideas?”
“Sure, Benny and his team have nearly finished. Only the bathrooms require updating now, but go ahead.” I smiled, and Ophelia headed upstairs.
“Ophelia seems sad,” Thea murmured thoughtfully, watching her.
“Yeah. She’ll share when she’s ready.” I turned around at a knock.
“We’re here!” Poppy squealed as I opened the door. She flung her arms to embrace me and hugged me tightly. I laughed and returned the hug. Poppy let go and tackled Thea. A tall, distinguished man entered, and I stared.
Edmund was handsome, but life had been difficult for him; the lines around his eyes spoke volumes. He was fit for his age, which I placed at approximately fifty. Edmund’s dark hair was greying around the temples but neatly cut. Brown eyes held mine as his softened.
“No doubt who you are. Lyra, you’re the image of Susan,” he murmured and reached out to hug me.
“You knew my mum?” I asked, surprised, hugging him back.
Edmund nodded sadly. “It’s a long story, but I’ll tell you.”
“Okay,” I said for lack of anything else.
Edmund turned and looked at Thea. “You have to be Simeon’s. You have his eyes and smile.” He hugged her too as Ophelia walked down the stairs.
“And you have to be Christopher’s; you have your mother’s look.” Edmund didn’t hold back but reached out and embraced Ophelia too.
“Shall we go upstairs? It’s too early for dinner,” I suggested.
“I’ll help you make tea,” Poppy chirped, looking excited.
Five minutes later, everyone was sitting in the living room. As I was still waiting for my sofa, Edmund and Poppy perched on the sofa bed, and the rest of us sat on some beanbags I’d bought.
“I can’t believe I have nieces,” Edmund said, smiling.
“You don’t talk to your brothers?” Thea asked.
“No, Sonia did a number on everyone.”
“You call her Sonia?” I held Edmund’s gaze.
“She’s been called much worse by me.” He shifted with a sigh. “I’d better start from the beginning. Lyle and I are twins.”
“Joseph never mentioned that,” I gasped.
“No. I imagine not. The order was Lyle, me, Christopher, and Simeon. Once, I thought we were close, but we weren’t.
I fell in love with a woman, Susan, your mother, Lyra.
She was beautiful, and Lyle and I both wanted her.
Flattered, Susan couldn’t decide who to pick.
Only Lyle was seething. First, he was deprived of the Jasper fortune, and now he was playing backseat to his younger twin. ”
“What on earth?” I gasped. “Are Poppy and I sisters?”
“No, sadly not. I was sent away, supposedly to learn the overseas business for a year. When I returned, I was informed Lyle and Susan had married. I was furious and beat the crap out of Lyle. He deserved it. While I’d been gone, Lyle and Sonia had been whispering poison in Susan’s ear, so Susan chose him. Back then, Lyle could be charming.