“Where’s Mrs. Valdemar and Doctor James?” blurted Nico the instant the two got into the house.
“Upstairs in Mr. Valdemar’s room, with Mr. Carmichael,” the butler replied as he took their coats.
“Let’s go, Erik!” The two bounded up the stairs, as Carmichael was about to close the door. “Mr. Carmichael, we need to speak to you,” stated Nico in a deadly serious tone.
“So it would seem. Come in, you’re just in time.” Carmichael opened the door to let them in. Helene and Dr. James were already in the room.
“Erik, Nico! You’re back!” exclaimed Helene.
“And as Mr. Carmichael pointed out, just in time.” Doctor James pointed to the bed. “He’s refused to release Mr. Valdemar, so now I have come to order him to release him. Not a request, an order.”
“And how do you propose to make me comply?” asked Carmichael coldly.
Dr. James reached into his medical bag and pulled out a gun. “This way, sir. Release him, or I’ll kill you.”
“Elliot!”
“Kill me, and Valdemar will never be released.”
Nico and Eric glanced at each other; just as they figured.
“It’s a chance I’ll have to take,” said the doctor, “but you won’t be able to control him any longer. Now, release him or I will shoot you.”
“Wait, there’s something you should hear.”
“No more from you . . .”
“I didn’t say it was from me.”
Nico and Erik glanced at each other as Carmichael walked towards the bed.
“Valdemar, tell them what you were just telling me.”
“I don’t want Helene to marry Dr. James, I want her to marry Mr. Carmichael.”
“What?”
“No!”
“That’s not Mr. Valdemar’s wishes; you made him say that!” blurted the doctor.
“You heard him, that was his voice.”
“Is this part of your experiment, Mr. Carmichael? To see if a spirit can be controlled through hypnosis and make them say whatever you want?” Nico asked coolly.
“You, sir, may be a lord, but you are still a child and have no right to speak on this matter,” Carmichael replied a bit harshly. Nico began to glare at him, making him rather uneasy. “The point is, those are his wishes. Will you deny him that?”
“Those were not his wishes, Mr. Carmichael. You told him to say that,” stated the doctor.
“I did not; apparently a man can change his mind after death.”
“Now listen here . . .”
“Elliot, please go.” They all glanced at Helene in surprise.
“But, Helene . . .”
“Please, just go. Erik, Nico, you as well – please go.”
“Mrs. Valdemar . . .”
“Please.”
“Fine,” muttered the doctor. He turned to Carmichael, “But I will be back, and if you harm her in any way, I will kill you.”
He stomped off towards the table where he left his bag, and put the gun back into it before grabbing it and walking to the door. Carmichael unlocked the door and opened it. Dr. James paused to glance at Helene before walking out, followed by Erik, who made it look like Nico was walking out with him. But Nico had taken an opportunity, when no one but Eric was looking, to hide under the bed.
As soon as Carmichael closed and locked the door, his eyes fixed on his prize, Helene Valdemar. “So, you believe me?”
“I am in agreement with Doctor James; I heard my husband’s voice, but not his real wishes. However, I will bargain with you. I will marry you if you release my husband.”
“No, I will not bargain with you, Madame; you will marry me in any case.”
“What? Oh no, Mr. Carmichael, not until you end my husband’s torments.”
“Edicts, orders from you? Let me enlighten you, I am the one in charge here. You will do as I say, or I will leave Mr. Valdemar exactly as he is and never release him.” Nico blinked; that was basically the same thing she was offering, but Carmichael just wanted to feel like he was in control. “I have coveted you these many months, and I will have you as my wife, I will take you, body and soul!”
Helene gasped. “I’ve heard enough!” She walked by him, but he grabbed her. “Let me go, you’re hurting me! Help! Somebody help me!”
Nico quickly crawled out from under the bed. “Mr. Carmichael, let her go!” The two turned. Helene screamed and fainted. “M-Mrs. Valdemar?” Had he looked too scary?
Carmichael gave a yell and rushed to the door to unlock it, but fumbled with the key and dropped it.
“No!”
He turned and dashed to the curtains. That’s when Nico noticed someone walking next to him. He turned, gasped, and backed up against the wall. Valdemar was walking towards Carmichael, no doubt in response to Helene’s cries of help! And neither Nico nor Carmichael were controlling him! Nico watched, petrified, as Ernest closed in slowly and menacingly on Carmichael, his skin changing from flour white to an icky goo. Carmichael backed up against the fireplace; he had nowhere else to go and Ernest was closing in. He let out a scream as Ernest lunged at him, and Nico sensed both men’s souls leaving their bodies. Valdemar’s body crumbled into goo as it fell on top of Carmichael’s body. Nico took a few shaky breaths before turning his attention to the key.
“Helene, Helene!” Dr. James’ voice echoed through the door as he banged on it.
“Nico!” came Erik’s voice.
“H-hang on, I’m unlocking the door!” Nico opened the door and let the two men in.
“Helene!” Dr. James went straight to the unconscious body on the floor while Erik turned to Nico.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, but . . . I guess Mr. Valdemar figured out his own solution.” Nico pointed at the mess on top of Carmichael’s body, Dr. James noticing it at the same time as he was picking up the waking Helene.
They grimaced in disgust at the sight before quickly vacating the room.