Page 8 of Eternal Love (Timeless Duet #1)

T he next couple of months passed by in a blur.

A beautiful, dizzying, heartbreaking blur, as she and Theodore searched the house from top to bottom, the grounds, for something, anything, that might provide proof or be of use.

She herself had searched the library in town and turned up nothing of merit, merely articles relating to what happened, nothing of newness or any note.

Julia realized very quickly that she was going to need to check Sandra and Luke Pitts’ home for any documents, any proof they had kept about their ancestors.

And she wasn’t going to ask nicely. She was an outsider as it was; they weren’t just going to hand anything over.

The Pitt family ran the King’s Head pub.

So, she would check there first after closing tonight.

If nothing turned up, she would, ahem , check their house.

It wasn’t really a crime, was it? It wouldn’t really be stealing if she found something, she reasoned. She was trying to get justice for a past crime.

“Where are you going?” Theodore demanded, as she shrugged on her jacket.

She sighed, wrapping her arms around him. “We agreed. I’m going to the pub to take a look around, see if I can find anything.”

And then I’m going to their house when that turns up nothing , she added silently.

His jaw flexed. “I don’t like the idea of you going out there all alone.”

Her mouth curved into a half smile. “What, are you going to chase me?”

The jaw muscle flexed some more. She didn’t think that was possible. Oh dear, bad attempt at humor.

“Just a joke,” she murmured. “I’ll be fine.”

She could almost hear his teeth grinding together. He wrapped his arms tight around her. “Don’t joke. Not about this. It’s hurting me to not be able to go with you, to protect you, hell, to leave this house.”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry.” She took a deep breath and stepped out of his arms. “But you can’t stop me. I’m doing this.”

There must have been something in her eyes, in her face, that convinced him arguing was futile.

He cleared the space she’d made and pressed his lips over hers in a demanding kiss, as if he could protect her from harm with it.

She rose on her tiptoes, fisting her fingers through his hair.

She broke the kiss and made for the door before he could change her mind.

“I’ll see you soon. I promise.”

Julia turned away from the look in his eyes. She thought she heard him murmur something, but she pushed on, needing to get on with her plan before she changed her mind and ran right back into his arms.

****

T he pub was quiet. She hadn’t expected anything else.

She glanced at her phone. It was roughly half an hour till closing, and the only people here were a few drunk men, an older woman with long silver hair who she vaguely recognized having seen her around the village, and the Pitts themselves, Sandra and Luke, working behind the bar, cleaning and counting tips.

Julia sat at the bar. She figured she should order a drink before she looked around.

Luke placed the white wine in front of her with a smile. “You know we’re closing soon?”

She waved the hand that wasn’t clutching her drink. “Yes.” She smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll be out of your hair soon,” she said.

And maybe in your house , she added silently.

She took some gulps of her drink, her eyes scanning the bar.

The woman with silver hair waved at her like they were old friends.

She could use a friend right about now. She was pretty sure Camilla had thought her insane for her last few texts.

Yes, the man I love is a ghost, and was murdered in the house I now own, but that really doesn’t bother me.

To be fair, was there any normal way of explaining that?

Julia plastered a smile on her face and waved back. Then the woman’s wave became more insistent, more of a beckon. She obeyed and walked to her table. The woman pushed a strand of hair from her face, her numerous rings glinting in the low light.

“Sit, please. I’m Tabitha.”

Julia took the seat opposite her, opening her mouth to introduce herself, when Tabitha cut her off with a raise of her hand.

“Julia. I know who you are, Julia. It’s not every day we get new blood in our village. There’s been a lot of talk about you.”

Julia gave her a sheepish smile. “Only good things, I hope,” she said weakly, knowing full well this wasn’t the case.

Tabitha didn’t answer, merely steepled her fingers and assessed her. Julia tried her best not to shift under her gaze, wiggling slightly in her seat.

“You’re not here for a drink, are you?”

“I’m sorry?” Her heart began hammering in her chest.

“No, you’re here for much more.” Tabitha’s knowing gaze traced her face, then moved to Luke and Sandra, and back again.

Julia straightened her spine. “Maybe I am.”

“Oh, it’s okay, dear, I’m no friend of theirs, believe me, this is sadly the only watering hole in town.”

Julia decided she liked her.

Tabitha continued, “My family have lived here for generations.” She looked at her pointedly, before taking a deep breath.

“What happened to that man...” She shook her head.

“His curse finally has the chance to be broken. My family...” Tabitha looked at her, tipping her head to the side.

“I’m assuming if you can see him, dear, that you have an open mind? ”

Julia nodded. Clearly, she did. But Tabitha did, too. Far more open than hers, clearly. Julia had to force her mouth closed, to stop it from gaping open at Tabitha’s knowledge of the situation. She needed to focus on what Tabitha was telling her. She could be shocked in her own time.

“I come from a line of practicing witches, and my ancestors needed money, and so, before the murder, the restless soul curse was placed on Theodore, cursed to remain in the manor for all eternity, unless a soul spoke to his own. And even then, the curse wouldn’t be broken.

He’s carrying his own demons, as I’m sure you know. ”

He thought he had cursed himself ... when it was his murderers all along. Another act of violence, never allowing him to rest. Julia’s blood boiled. “That’s why I’m here. I need to find the proof of the murder so he can rest.”

“You won’t find it here, dear.”

Julia glanced at the Pitts. “There are letters that might hold it. But wouldn’t they have burned them?”

Tabitha shook her head. “I don’t know, but I do know something they can’t burn, not without a witch, at least. That’s not how the restless curse works.

In order for it to remain intact, the instructions must be passed onto future generations.

” She nodded at Sandra and Luke. “They could have set him free, but they didn’t.

They are following the instructions. Get hold of the instructions and all will be well.

Find me when you do, there’s a ritual I need to perform. ”

She nodded, looking into Tabitha’s eyes. She felt she could trust her. Her whole sorry story came spilling from her mouth. To her credit, Tabitha just entwined her fingers and sat back and listened.

“Love is very powerful, you know,” she said wisely. “More powerful than even magic, at times.”

“Is that why, maybe, he’s looking more ... alive?” She frowned before Tabitha could answer. “But then why was I able to photograph him? It was a little blurry, sure, but I sent it to my friend Camilla, and she could see him just fine.”

A smirk crossed Tabitha’s face. “Well, dear, it sounds like your friend Camilla may be more powerful than she realizes. There are a few reasons one can see the other side. They can have the sight, the power to see what the naked eye cannot.” She stopped talking and gestured to herself.

“Or they can have opened their third eye or cast a spell. I myself opened mine when I was only thirteen.”

Yep, that was Camilla all right. She enjoyed watching spooky videos that freaked Julia out to no end when they were kids.

Then she’d graduated to a fascination with all things spiritual.

Julia’s mind cast back to when they were fifteen, sitting cross-legged in Camilla’s bedroom.

Camilla had tried to persuade her to open her third eye with her.

Julia had point-blank refused and left her to it.

Well shit, I wonder if Camilla knows it was successful . That some of the people in this world she’s seen are spirits? She shook that thought from her head. That issue could be dealt with later.

“So that photo would be blank for pretty much most of the population?” she asked.

Tabitha tapped her nails on the table. “That’s right. Only those who have an open mind and want to see further than the confines of this world can.”

Julia nodded, taking it all in. “Thank you for your help.”

“I’m just sorry for the part my bloodline played in it.” Tabitha covered her hand with her own. “If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.”

Julia bit her lip. “Well, now that you mention it...”