Chapter Nine.
William
As Lyra came out of her bedroom, she screamed as I appeared in front of her as a decomposing corpse.
Lyra danced back with a wail and threw a water bottle at me.
With a disjointed grin, I let the bottle sink into my rotting skin and then disappeared when I was certain my bodily fluids had coated it.
“William!” Lyra shrieked as I grinned. This was only the beginning.
Lyra picked up her bottle with distaste and made whimpering noises all the way down to the kitchen. She muttered under her breath as she opened the bin and dropped the bottle into it.
“First, you keep me awake half the night, and then you mess with my head. What is your problem?” Lyra demanded to herself.
What was Lyra talking about now? Was she losing command of her senses?
I’d barely begun to torment her. I swallowed guilt.
Lyra had informed me when she arrived home yesterday that they’d cut Keith off at his knees.
A rather descriptive saying. If the Leafpoint was safe, then Lyra needed to move on. The time for being nice was over.
Lyra
I grinned as I opened the package I’d ordered from the online store and cuddled it.
William could get ready. He wasn’t the only person who could play pranks.
I waited until he appeared in the kitchen to make a drink.
William had become addicted to vanilla coffee and liked to have one in the morning and evening.
As he stirred it, I slipped up behind him and put in earplugs.
Moments later, I blasted William with a foghorn.
The sheer fright on his face as he dropped the spoon he was stirring his coffee with was so satisfying.
Even funnier was the way William dematerialised. I howled with laughter. I picked up the spoon, chuckling the whole time, and began making my own breakfast. Every so often, a giggle escaped me at the look of terror William had displayed.
William
What the hell had that been? How dare Lyra do something like that? This is my lighthouse!
Leafpoint poked at me, amused, and I frowned in response. Leafpoint didn’t care, and her amusement rolled over me. If Lyra wanted war, so be it. I was only too happy to indulge.
When she’d settled down after breakfast, dragging her laptop out to do an activity, I let Lyra begin work and then began banging on the pipes.
Lyra looked up, annoyed, and then returned to what she was doing.
I repeated my action, and Lyra glowered.
With a grin, I kept it up for the next hour.
Finally, she shoved the computer away and stomped downstairs.
I followed as she started pulling out ingredients to bake.
I’d behave for a bit because I liked cake.
Wondering what flavour Lyra planned to make, I stepped too close.
Lyra turned rapidly as I partially materialised, with the electronic whisk in her hand.
A nasty smile crossed her lips, and Lyra shoved it into my stomach and switched it on.
I was puzzled at first, then I looked down and screamed.
The entire thing was sickening; where it hit me, my molecules spun like a whirlpool and came apart. Lyra moved it upwards, into my chest, and as she held my eyes, she shoved it straight into my forehead. I exploded as Lyra cackled wickedly.
Fleeing for my existence, I raced to the lantern room and tried reforming. I couldn’t. In sheer disbelief, I wondered what the hell Lyra had done to me. I wasn’t going to lose!
Lyra
Oh, that had been hysterical. I really needed to film William’s expressions.
He was completely panicked. The whisk had mixed him like a fluffy cloud.
And as I moved up his body, William changed from panic to nausea to horror.
I put it down and began laughing uncontrollably.
Damn, that was funnier than the foghorn.
As a peace offering, which I was aware William wouldn’t abide by, I made his favourite flavour: vanilla cake.
He amused me with his obsession with vanilla, but each to their own.
I let the cake settle and headed back upstairs to read the reports that Joseph had sent.
They were tedious, but gave me a better idea of the estate and its size.
I’d just finished when someone knocked. I wasn’t expecting anyone; someone was coming to renovate the bathrooms, but that was next week. My cousins knocked and then let themselves in. So who could this be?
I opened the door and stopped, shocked. “What the hell do you want?” I demanded.
“Let me in; it’s cold out here.”
“Go get fuc—”
“Lyra, I’ve come a long way,” Cale insisted.
“I wouldn’t have bothered if I were you. We’ve nothing to say to each other,” I retorted and tried to shut the door.
“Lyra, please, I just need to talk,” Cale wheedled. I hesitated, and Cale’s face took on a pleading expression.
“Fine,” I grouched and moved back.
Cale stepped in and looked around. “Wow, this isn’t what I expected. This is cool.”
I watched Cale assess the kitchen. It looked amazing with its white and blue cupboards and the new appliances. Cale nodded in approval, and that rankled. Why did I need that? I didn’t.
“That smells good,” Cale said, nodding at the cake on its stand.
“Yup.” I sat down and folded my arms. “You’re not a guest, Cale. State what you want because you obviously aren’t here for a friendly visit.”
“Lyra, I made a mistake,” Cale began, looking apologetic when I guessed he was anything but.
“Which one? Cheating on me, humiliating me, not defending me, treating me like an unpaid servant, or thinking I’m an idiot? Please clarify.”
“Babe…”
“Nope. We’re not doing that. My name is Lyra, not babe. Use it,” I snapped.
Anger flashed in Cale’s eyes, and I knew he wasn’t here for me. “All of it. There were extenuating…”
“Cut the crap, Cale. Does Serena know you’re here?” I asked, cocking my head to one side.
“We’ve broken up. When the truth about her stealing your work surfaced, other colleagues spoke up. Serena was useless, a liar, a thief, and damn lazy.”
“Ah, just what you accused me of being then.” I held Cale’s eyes, and again there was that flash of anger. A soft noise sounded from behind me, and William was there.
“I’m sorry,” Cale murmured, putting feeling into it.
“Is that it? Are we done? I need to prepare dinner,” I asked as I rose from my chair.
“What do you mean? I’m here, apologising. Lyra, we are good together,” Cale said, reaching out and taking my hand.
“Oh, my God. Are you for real? Do you expect me to fall at your feet and resume our relationship?” I gasped, trying not to laugh.
“You loved me so much! Lyra, remember the happy times. We can have them again!” Cale insisted, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles.
“Tell me, Cale. Why do you suddenly want me back? Because Serena isn’t the genius you realised?
Or perhaps you know I came into money and did some research.
Or is it because you heard about the attempted land grab that was worth millions?
Would you like me to drop the lawsuit against the firm?
That would make you the golden boy. Or do they need me to return to take over those projects that no one else understands apart from me? ”
Cale stepped back, lost for words, and then a forlorn expression crossed his face.
“Can’t I have missed you?”
“No. You failed to notice I was even there. And I’m supposed to believe you’re sincere and being honest at this moment? Sorry, Cale, I don’t need your idea of missing me. If there’s nothing else, leave.”
Cale stared incredulously. “You’ve changed.”
“Yes. For the better. I’m nobody’s fool now, least of all yours. Go.” I headed for the door and opened it. The chill wind blew in, and I shivered.
Cale walked over and shut the door. Leaning on it, he smirked down at me. “Babe, I’m not leaving until we sort this out. I love you.”
I couldn’t stop the laugh that burst out of me if I’d have tried.
“Are you for real? You don’t love me. No, you’ve heard about the inheritance.
Money, that’s something you seriously enjoy.
If you’d not treated me so badly, this might have been ours.
Now you’re realising what mistakes you made, and it’s too late,” I hissed.
“Don’t be like that, Lyra. I had a wake—”
“Stop! Just stop, Cale. No more lies. You are here to get money and persuade me to withdraw the lawsuit. Neither is going to happen,” I cried.
“If you refuse, they’ll fire me!” Cale shouted.
“Not my problem. That’s yours for treating me like trash.
For thinking you would embarrass me and walk away with impunity.
It’s clear you’re not a nice person—you are mean and horrible.
That’s on you, not me. You behaved as though I didn’t matter.
Well, guess what? Even drab, frumpy people have value! ” I yelled as tears appeared.
“Lyra, just do as you’re—”
“Get out!” William boomed.
I wiped the moisture that welled up in my eyes angrily.
“Who’s that?” Cale demanded. “Have you got another bloke here? How dare you?” Cale exclaimed.
“No, I have a ghost,” I replied and sat down.
Cale gazed at me in disbelief and suspicion. “You’ve lost your mind.”
“William, be my guest,” I said wearily.
Instantly, a booming cackle ran around the kitchen. The mug tree jiggled of its own accord, and then a chair scraped across the tiles. The microwave pinged on, and the kettle began to boil.
“Stop this, Lyra, it’s not funny!” Cale ordered.
“Begone!” William thundered.
“Seems you pissed him off!” I murmured.
William was ramping up, but I could sense his emotion. He was enjoying this.
Cale’s eyes widened as the chair began rocking back and forth on two legs, before clattering to the floor.
“William, please do not break anything,” I chided.
“How are you doing this?” Cale demanded, his face paling slightly.
“Not me, William, the ghost,” I repeated and sat down.