Chapter Fourteen.
William
The wind blew around the lighthouse, harsh and cold.
March on the coast was never a pleasant season, although one I was long accustomed to.
The Jasper women were constantly taking me by surprise.
First Lyra, and now Thea. They didn’t treat me as undesirable or a pest. Neither was perturbed by my or Avery’s presence.
And Thea’s bombshell had rocked me. Perran was alive.
I thought back to the gruff, bearded man who’d become a friend.
My fellow lighthouse keepers had died—murdered like me.
Those rumours had reached here. But being isolated as I was, I’d heard nothing of Leafpoint’s sister lighthouses being haunted.
Was it only Perran and I? Had Guy and Gilbert returned too?
Did we all imprison something? Thea hadn’t elaborated on much, apart from the fact Perran was a pain in her backside.
The Perran I’d known hadn’t been a difficult man, but he enjoyed being alone and preferred his own company to that of most people.
His circle was small, and he was loyal to friends.
Sometimes Perran would wander down to the local tavern, but a few beers later he’d head home.
Like me, he was unbribable. And because Perran was so big, most folk avoided starting trouble with him.
“You’re thinking loudly,” Lyra said from behind, startling me. I’d not heard her coming, which was unusual.
“There are many unanswered questions. I’d not even considered Perran might still… well, I can’t say alive, can I?” I snorted, unamused.
“No.” Lyra came to stand beside me. “Yet you’re the most real person I know.”
Somehow, I understood Lyra’s meaning.
“This can’t happen,” I murmured.
“Nope, but it is, isn’t it?” Lyra replied. Her hand slipped into mine, and I squeezed it.
“You’re five and twenty. Too young to…” To what? Settle down with a ghost? Throw her life away? Why was I discussing this? Nothing could happen.
Lyra turned to me. She reached up and cupped my face.
“I’m dead, Lyra,” I said harshly.
“Yet, I can hold you. Touch you. Kiss you,” Lyra’s voice drifted off, and she rose on tiptoes and drew my head down to hers.
I stopped a hair’s breadth away from her lips. Then I clasped Lyra close and kissed her.
Lyra pressed against me as she sank her hands into my hair and kissed me enthusiastically. I’d no idea how long we kissed, but we were panting when we pulled back.
“This is wrong,” I whispered.
“William, I don’t care. You’ve treated me better than any man I’ve ever known,” Lyra retorted. “You certainly kiss like a god.”
I’d had women when alive, but none had aroused me like Lyra. Even when we fought, I desired her. And now with Lyra in my arms, I regretted so much—being born in the wrong time, not knowing her then. So many regrets. But I couldn’t change, and neither could Lyra.
“You deserve a man and a family,” I whispered, and that hurt. Because Lyra had been clear, Leafpoint was her home. I’d have to watch Lyra with a husband and children that weren’t mine. That would be too painful. I couldn’t imagine it.
“William, I deserve someone who loves me. Is that you?” Lyra pushed gently.
I clasped Lyra close again, and she tucked her head under my chin. “Yes, with everything I am, I am irrevocably in love with you, Lyra Jasper.”
“That’s good because I somehow fell for you too,” she whispered.
“Lyra…”
“No, I don’t want to hear an argument. Against standard, accepted relationships, this may be wrong, odd, and yeah, completely unusual. But you can turn solid, become real. That gives us a chance. Just don’t tell me it’s necrophilia.”
“What does that word mean?” That wasn’t one I was familiar with.
“Having sexual relations with a corpse,” Lyra said.
I drew back, horrified. “That happens?”
“Yes. It’s gross, I know. Mind you, I suppose I could claim I’ve a serious case of spectrophilia.”
“Of what?” I demanded. What language was Lyra speaking now?
“It’s also known as phasmophilia. Basically, they mean having a sexual attraction to a ghost or having sex with a spirit.”
I began spluttering. “I…I…Lyra.”
“It’s okay. One day at a time.” She patted my chest.
“Lyra, I can’t handle that information,” I admitted, and Lyra giggled. It warmed me inside to hear it. She didn’t laugh enough. That scoundrel had no doubt ground Lyra down. Men like Cale should be flogged publicly.
“Where do we go from here?” I asked.
“We solve the mystery of the evil entity and then move on from there. Once we’ve dealt with that, we make plans.”
“Lyra, you can’t put your future in my hands. I can’t have children with you, nor—”
“William. There is artificial insemination, plus, we have a child. A rather bright and inquisitive son—who is currently hooked on superheroes. We have to convince Avery they are movies and not reality. I’m not high-maintenance; I’m happy with a simple life.
The Jasper fortune is immense. I don’t have to work, and we can live here.
“Maybe if we vanquish this evil, then you and Avery can leave the lighthouse and visit places. A family-owned yacht is available for us to take out sailing, too.”
We both jumped when someone suddenly pounded on the door.
“It’s late, too late for visitors,” Lyra said.
“Let me check,” I replied and disappeared.
By the time Lyra had reached the ground floor, I’d checked out the stranger outside. He was older than both of us, handsome yet cold. I’d no idea who he was.
Lyra
“It’s a man,” William murmured. I glanced at the kitchen clock; it was nearly midnight. The man banged again, and I opened the door. William plastered himself to my back. Even though I couldn’t see him, I could feel him. Reassured that I had backup, I faced the stranger.
“Can I help?” I asked, wondering if he’d broken down.
“Out of the way, girl,” he ordered and shoved aside.
William moved, and I held a hand up. Something was very wrong with this scenario. Unease coiled in my gut.
“You’ve thirty seconds to identify yourself before I throw you out and call the police. This is private property…”
“Oh, shut up. God, you whine like Susan did,” he said, turning and looking me over. It was his eyes, the same as mine, that gave away our connection.
“You’re Lyle.”
“Well, guess you have some semblance of a brain. Must get that from me,” he sneered.
“I won’t even bother answering that. What do you want?”
“It’s simple. I’m the eldest and the Jasper inheritance should have come to me, and I’m here to claim it. I’ve papers here for you to sign. Sit down and start signing them now!”
Deliberately keeping a distance, I backed away and leaned against the stair bannister. The sheer cheek.
“Why on earth would I do that?” I asked, amused but at the same time shocked by Lyle’s sheer arrogance.
“Because I’m the eldest Jasper alive. I’m the heir. And you’re my daughter. Frankly, you’ve neither the brain nor the intelligence to manage this estate. You’re already mishandling it by refusing a multi-million-pound sale of the lighthouses.”
There it was. Several things hit and landed at once.
Lyle knew about the attempted land grab.
This was Keith again. He’d somehow found Lyle and brought him here.
Lyle also expected to get the inheritance, despite being male.
I wondered if I had signed those papers, how they’d hold up in court?
But I’d no plan to. And Lyle clearly was buying into Keith’s rubbish of believing that I lacked any brain whatsoever.
“First off, this is my home. You don’t get to barge in here and shout demands,” I said, flaring up.
Lyle glowered. “Next, I won’t be signing anything.
You’re my father? Don’t make me laugh—you’re barely more than a sperm donor, and I owe you bugger all.
And you mention my intelligence? The lack of yours is amazing.
A male can’t inherit the Jasper Trust. Even if you discovered a loophole, nothing in The Trust can be sold. Not the lighthouses or the land.
“Tell your idiotic friend Keith, good luck; he just bought himself a harassment suit. I hope Keith has the finances to back up these bullying tactics. Because he’ll run out of money long before me.
” I stomped forward, poking my finger into Lyle’s chest. “I’d rather burn the fortune than give you a penny.
Call me stupid? At least I understand my rights and the Jasper Trust. What makes you think I owe you anything? ”
Lyle’s mouth worked angrily. “Do as you’re told! I’m your father!” he thundered.
“No, I’m Susan Jasper’s daughter. You only provided some DNA.
I’m twenty-five years old, and this is the first time I’ve ever set eyes on you.
That doesn’t say much about you, Daddy Dearest. You’re disgusting.
Jesus, do you really believe I’m some brainless twit who’d obey mindlessly?
You’re bloody delusional. Now, take your damned demands and get lost! ” I ordered.
Sheer fury crossed Lyle’s face, and I inwardly quailed. This man was capable of violence. He stepped forward, fists clenched, eyes narrowed on me.
“You. Will. Do. As. You’re. Told.”
“No.” I folded my arms and held Lyle’s furious gaze. Lyle’s hand rose, and before it fell, he was shoved back roughly.
Lyle looked confused and came at me again. William pushed him so hard this time Lyle smashed into the wall by the door.
“What are you doing?” Lyle seethed.
“Nothing. Did you forget about the ghosts? This one is rather partial to me,” I replied.
Lyle sneered, and I smiled. “You’re mentally incompetent.”
“If you so say. Now get the hell out of my home!” I ordered.
“Not until you sign.”
“William, would you mind?”
“Pleasure,” William intoned. He materialised semi-transparently in front of Lyle, who merely scoffed.
“Even if he’s real, what can he do?” Lyle laughed.
Moments later Lyle was shrieking as William picked him up by the scruff of his neck and threw him out. The door slammed shut with a finality that couldn’t be mistaken.
“I need to get these papers to Joseph,” I stated urgently.
“It can wait until morning,” William said, becoming solid and rubbing my shoulders.