Valerian Empire

Chapter 64: The threat- Part 1

She looked at him eyes wide while he stood there with a bright smile on his face.

“Y-you’re a ghost…!”

“I am,” he confirmed as he sat on his tombstone.

How was it possible? She had never heard about ghosts actually existing, they were nothing but myth and that is what she had grown up to believe.

But here was a man who claimed the tombstone was his. May be the man was joking with her, she thought to herself.

Seeing the young woman look at him suspiciously, he said,

“You don’t believe me,” and she shook her head in response.

“You are a walking talking person, whom I am able to see very clearly,” she pointed out and saw him smile to show his long canines, “Ghosts are floaty things.”

“Like this?” he asked as he elevated from the tomb, hanging in mid air.

Katie got up from where she sat quickly to take few steps back, away from the dead being. Not able to believe her eyes as the man chuckled.

Fear getting on to her nerves she darted from the place, leaving the flowers on the ground in a hurry. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her to. After a good distance she turned around to see no one in sight.

Now that she thought about it, he hadn’t shared his name when they met. No wonder Martin had not caught him slacking off, the man was a ghost!

Turning back she screamed as the man named Malphus stood ahead of her.

“We weren’t done talking,” he said with a frown on his face.

“Oh dear God, forgive me for all the faults and misdeed but take the evil away-”

“Hahaha,” the man laughed as Katie prayed to God, “You’re a funny little lady,” he said while she stood there with horror struck on her face.

“I’m not a little lady,” She narrowed her eyes before fear laced her face, “What do you want? I’m so sorry for disturbing you while you rested in your grave,” she apologized to see him tilt his head.

“Don’t worry I won’t harm you. I have no power as such. I wanted to thank you Katherine,” the ghost said making her look confused, “I am touched by your kindness. It has been decades, people came and went but none bothered about that tomb. No relatives, no friends, no one but you. You placed flowers that I am allergic to but also removed the dirt. I thank you for that. You have my utmost gratitude.”

“You are welcome?” she said not sure what else to say to the ghost.

“Let’s go back to the mansion,” he said walking, “Come on it’s going to turn dark that is if you don’t want other ghosts following.”

Listening to this Katie began walking, keeping a good distance between them.

She couldn’t believe that there was a ghost walking in front of her. Hands in his pockets, while he hummed a tune. Remembering the time in the attic she asked him,

“Were you the one who spoke to me in the attic?”

“I did. Unfortunately I didn’t get my form that day and couldn’t do anything except for speak. But now I’m all good,” he said bringing up his fingers to wiggle it, “Human’s love playing hide and seek,” she heard him mutter.

“There seems to be a maid who shows quite an interest in you. She keeps following you, she was also there in the attic,” he said making Katie wonder who he was talking about.

“Which maid?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I didn’t bother to know her, even if I did I would have forgotten it. I have never been good remembering certain things you see. Don’t worry I won’t be following you around tomorrow,” and as she let out a sigh of relief, she heard him say, “But for now you are my only company.”

Katie looked at the man’s back as he walked like any other living man. It was such a strange thing, she thought to herself. Unlike what she heard in the tales of her town, this man didn’t appear to posses any evil intention. May be even ghosts were identified into good and bad ones.

As they continued to walk, questions bubbled up on the possibility of him seeing other ghosts. If he could, then may be she could try talking to her family. She missed them.

Did the dead have contact with other dead beings?

“Um..Malphus?” she called out his name to which he turned around, “How’s life after death?”

“I don’t know,” she saw him look at the sky as birds flew under the vast sky, heading towards home as the sun was going to dip down, “It must be like a pleasant sleep. I didn’t know I was dead until you woke me up,” he answered her.

So death was like ever lasting sleep.

“Can you like-speak to other people who are dead?” she asked hope in her voice.

“If I did I wouldn’t be here little lady. You ask too many questions,” he murmured enough for her to hear.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized and saw him halt for her to catch up.

“I was joking. I don’t mind your questions, and glad that you aren’t still running like a mad woman,” he replied with a happy smile.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you die?”

“Once upon a time there was a man who went to walk in the forest at the middle of the night and then he was killed by a pair of half vampires. The end,” he said thoughtfully and added, “By the way that man was me but you got it right?”

“…” She didn’t know what to say they reached the mansion.

“You are gullible,” that was a joke?!

She had heard that a person’s soul sometimes wandered around the realm of the living due to unsatisfied desire. Did he too have such reason for his soul to wander now? She felt sorry for waking him up from his deep slumber in his grave.

If it weren’t for her disturbing him, may be he wouldn’t be here. It was her fault that he had woken up from being dead and being polite was the only thing she could do for now.

From now she would definitely avoid the graves that didn’t belong to her family with fear of other ghosts following her around.

Days passed by, leaves turning brown and falling on the ground where new green leaves took its place. Malphus came and went as he pleased. Some days he would be there to pipe in to talk and some days Katie found him sitting on a tree. Keeping his word he didn’t follow her like the initial days.

Some maids had turned hostile with her, avoiding or ignoring her when she was around. The gossip never stopped. It was as if some of them thrived on it, like it was the only purpose they had.

She tried ignoring most of it but there were instances when few words got to her. Words that were spiteful and which she didn’t deserve. Of course no one told it right to her face.

Things with Lord Alexander hadn’t changed much. The Lord was busy making errands to other empires and the council due to an issue that arose in the north empire. When time permitted and he was free they would go out for a walk.

It was at that time that Katie felt that Lord Alexander was letting her into his world. It made her happy. For Katie, walking alongside Alexander was what brought her joy.

He hadn’t touched her like that night after they came back from the theater. She remembered his words. ‘You are mine’ those words made her heart flutter every time she thought about it.

As she pulled the sheets of the bed, setting it flat and neat she felt her cheeks go warm.

She had professed her feelings, coming out clean and she didn’t know if she had to thank or blame the wine that was served in the theater.

Even though he hadn’t said a word about what he felt for her she was fine with the way things were. Like she said to Elliot, she would stay next to the Lord as long as he would permit her.

She didn’t want to be greedy but sometimes she could feel her heart clench painfully at the thought of him with another woman.

Katherine had read in books on how vampire Lords didn’t attach themselves to people and things because that would bring nothing but their downfall. In history many men and women had multiple partners, not sticking to one of them. Though it wasn’t spoken loud, it was something that took place behind the curtains.

In a vampires world, committing to a person meant more than a humans relationship. The downside being were one couldn’t live without another, a weakness that could be used by others. On the other side it was an eternal, unbreakable bond. A love that could be envied by others.