Chapter 4 Lord of the Puck 3

Bree

The room wasn’t a room at all. It was a suite. With a huge bathroom complete with modern shower and not so modern roll top bath with ornate claw feet that looked deep enough to drown into as you looked out of the huge by windows into the grounds, a sitting room with chair and a sofa that were probably worth more than my entire apartment back home and a bedroom that was taken up with the biggest four poster bed I had ever seen.

It was spectacular.

And for the next four days it was all mine.

Both the bath and the bed were calling my name now the jet lag was tugging at my senses but I knew there was at least one thing I needed to do before then.

Sighing, I pulled my laptop and equipment out of my bag and positioned it on the desk nearest the windows. Where the late afternoon light was rapidly failing.

It got dark early here, I’d have to remember that and do my update videos in the morning because I hadn’t brought my ring light.

“Hello from a chilly-“ I faced the camera at my smiling face. “That’s what they say here in the uk.” I gave a little giggle. “Well from a chilly United Kingdom. I’ve arrived at my hotel and let me tell you, I’m pretty sure the bed has been slept on by queens.” My sigh wasn’t theatrical, I was suddenly exhausted. “And I’m pretty sure I saw a ghost already. Should I start a ghost hunting channel as well-“

What seemed like a hundred laughing emojis filled my screen and I smiled. They liked it when I was like this. My platform was a way to get out a serious message but that didn't mean I couldn’t be happy.

After all, I was the poster child of what you could overcome, I’d taken my own nightmare of being stalked at a teenager and the death of my brother by him and made it into a story of strength and percerence. I was what victims of stalking could be if they were strong enough to get through the nightmare.

“Only joking, of course if I see or hear anything I’ll definitely let you all know but I’m here for the -“

I froze. Something creaked behind me and my skin crawled.

The feeling of being watched was overwhelming, like someone was right behind me and it was ten times stronger than it had been on the stairs.

Not daring to turn, even though every atom of my soul was telling me to, I searched the image of myself to see if anyone had come in unannounced.

There was nothing and honestly I hadn’t expected there to be.

It was just this place, the history of it getting under my skin  and mixed with the bone weary tiredness it was making me paranoid.

Sucking in a breath, I set my shoulders. “Well you all know why I am here. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t and as usual I’m going to ask you to donate to the charity that is so close to all of our hearts. I’ll pop the link below.”

Hearts filled my screen this time but no smile curved up my lips because something was watching me. I

Could feel it like an icy breath against the back of my neck.

Is everything ok?

Have you just heard something?

My screen went crazy with questions and forced myself to smile. They were worried about me. I appreciate that but I wasn’t here to look for ghosts or even to admit they were real, I was here to raise money and that’s what I had to do.

“Sorry sorry. I’m exhausted and jet lag is officially kicking my ass. I’m going to head to bed , so I love you guys and I will check back tomorrow with you all! Keep doing good work and stay strong. Love you.” Blowing a kiss to the screen I gave a little wave and shut down the live.

That was too short to do any real good but I’d make it up to them in the morning. Once I had slept and freshened up.

Once I had.

“Hello Bree.”

I froze like a deer in headlights because I knew that voice. I might not have heard it for ten years but I knew it. My body turned to ice. My eyes closed as I sent up a silent prayer, and I didn’t care which god answered. As long as one of them did.

“Please god no.”

A velvet-like chuckle filled my ears. “The only god in your life is me, Bree. Always me. And it’s time you realised it.”

My hair moved and I knew that he had lifted it and smelt it.

Fear ripple through me but I didn’t dare turn around. I couldn’t. I was transported back to being a seventeen year old girl, locked in a cat and mouse relationship with an unknown man who had ultimately killed the one good person in my life.

Only I had known from the moment my twin brother had taken his last breath who it was who had been obsessed with me.

Liam god damn Lord.

My brother's best friend.

“It’s time you realised who you belong to,Bree. Who you have always belonged to. Who am I?”

“Liam.” His name felt like poison in my mouth. Only it couldn’t be Liam. As far as I knew he was back in the states. Playing the ice like he was born to do it and playing the ladies like he was born to do that as well.

He couldn’t be here. If he had left the states it would have been all over the news and I made sure I always knew where he was at all times.

For my own safety of course and not because I liked keeping up with him.

“Who am I?”

“Liam.” This time my voice faltered. That wasn’t right. It wasn’t Liam. It couldn’t be Liam because Liam didn’t sound like that.

The accent was all wrong.

It hit me all in a rush. Had I been wrong for all these years? What if it wasn’t Liam at all and I had blamed him-

“Oh god.”

“That’s right Bree. I am your god.”