Page 49 of Leafpoint Lighthouse

“Excuse me, I’m not singing,” William said stiffly.

“Don’t lie. Did dying cause something wrong in your brain?”

“What are you talking about?” William snapped. “Are you still delirious?”

“No! You keep repeating that song, and then you made me ill.”

“I certainly did not!” William exclaimed, affronted.

“What is your problem? I know you want me gone, but do you really believe I’d let you gaslight me?”

“Lyra, I’ve no idea what you’re talking about!”

I dreamed my love came standing by,

Lowlands, Lowlands away, my John,

Came standing close by my bedside,

Lowlands away.

“Who is that?” William demanded, looking at me.

“That’s not you?”

“No. What were you saying about your window?”

“You kept opening it and dragging the covers off me.”

“No, I didn’t…” William looked thoughtful. “What else do you think I’ve done?”

I listed the bangs, scratches, tapping, knocking things over, and William grew sterner with every moment.

“None of that was me.”

“Then who?” I demanded. “Is there a second ghost?”

William shook his head and paused. “Lyra, I’ve been haunting here since I died, and I’ve never seen anyone else. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t someone.”

“Another ghost? Wow, aren’t I the lucky one?”

“Is that sarcasm? It’s a little inappropriate if so. Because this other spirit means you harm. I merely want you gone,” William declared.

“Christ. Nothing like being honest! William, I’m not leaving—not now, not ever!”

“We’ll talk about that later. We need to set a trap,” William stated.

Incredulously, I shook my head. “I’m not obliged to do anything with you! This is you tricking me again.”

“No, Lyra, I give my word,” William said fervently. “None of that was me. It goes against who I am; I would never harm a woman.”

“I don’t know what to believe, and I’m so tired. Please stop bothering me, William,” I almost begged and crawled under my covers. Without another sound, I switched the lights off and settled down.

William

We weren’t alone, and I’d no idea who was here. Someone was messing with my human, and that was unacceptable. It was my duty to protect Leafpoint, nobody else’s. What purpose did this second spirit have for interfering? Leafpoint only answered to me, and for the last two hundred years, I had sensed nobody else.

However, it was only since Lyra arrived that this trouble began, and it appeared very directed. I sat as the kettle boiled and replayed what had happened. Lyra was given a cold welcome in Penhaven. Keith suddenly wanted to buy the land. Lyra being served notice to tear down Leafpoint. The town meeting and the hostility it brought. Lyra saying I was doing things I hadn’t. The mob forming. An intruder trying to break in.