McCrady Manor: Blood Curse - Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

 August 1

     She lay on the couch looking out the door to her best friend's cabin.  The identical cabin sat directly across a small dirt road from her's.  She watched Leigha's door, waiting for her to leave.  Leigha would be leaving soon, to go work at the mansion.

          She shifted her body and looked at the ceiling.  It was three months ago that it had happened.  Three months to the day.  "May first," she uttered aloud.  "I want to forget." She almost cried to herself wishing the past moments away.

          As she tried to push the memories back...the images formed stronger.... so clear that she couldn't ignore it...

          The blazing bon fire loomed up before her...before them all.  Almost one hundred people were gathered on the beach dancing around.  Some were drinking, but she sat with a soda in her hand, always the responsible one.  She had never had a drink in her life.  It just didn't interest her. 

          She just sat there watching the bon fire.  She watched as the small embers would break away from the flaming wood and fall onto the sand or into the lake.  She felt as if nothing in her life would be the same after this night.  As if nothing would be solved.  Yet, she knew that she would survive and that she would go on. Yet the feeling she had seemed more then upcoming change.  It seemed more then normal nerves.  It almost seemed, dangerous.

          Everyone was celebrating a job well done.  They had all been working so hard for the past few months, some for a year, preparing Clear Water Estate to be opened up for the public.  Fixing up the old house that was called McCrady Manor.  Restoring the inside and out to it's past glory, with some modern additions and making it completely safe again.  They tried to keep everything they could, and reproduced what they couldn't, to what it had been.

          Nathaniel McCrady, his wife Paige, and son Austin lived in another house on the land called Bell Manor.  Nate had decided to set McCrady Manor up as a museum for a trial season.  The big house was just sitting empty, and the county seemed so interested in it.  Rarely were people allowed in it.  As it had been rumored to be haunted.  They also fixed up the massive land, so that the visitors could explore and enjoy its glory.

          In the next couple days they would open the massive iron gates, at the front of the driveway, to the public.  Then those hired as guides would tell the visitors all about the history of the land and the McCrady family.  The guests would see the beautiful house and land and be amazed.  It was so breathtaking.  She had been living there for a while and the beauty still blew her away.  She thought about the house for a moment, she had seen a few of the changes, like a new birth.

          The house stood a wondrous five stories high, and one low.  All six levels had been revived to its original grandeur. The Queen Anne Victorian style home was started in 1876 and finished in 1878.   Nathaniel McCrady Jr., his wife Rebecca, and their three children oversaw the building of the house.  Before the house was complete, his wife and daughters met tragic deaths.  Many of the attractions of the house had never been seen in their parts prior to the building of the manor.  The 13-foot ceiling in the main hall.  The front entrance with a double entrance, the inside doors showcased elaborate stain glassed windows, as did other areas in the house.  The mosaic tiling held the word McCrady amidst it's complicated design.  The large spacious rooms holding beautiful woodwork, sparkling chandeliers, specially made moldings, and beautiful art pieces including massive fireplaces shipped in from other countries. The land was as magnificent as the charming yet impressive house.  Filled with archers of green grass, stables, a gazebo, beachfront, forest, a rumored church and graveyard, and a massive English style hedge maze. There were also the two other houses on the land, Bell Manor, and Harmony Manor, which stood in destruction after a fire in 1915.  Also the employee quarters, which was a lane of cabins available to the long-term employees, which use to be the servants quarters.

          Most of the people who had worked so hard would have to leave within the next few days.  Only a few would stay behind to continue the work, and she was one of them.  Feeling so happy about it, since she no longer felt at home, anyplace but here.

          She made some new friends and knew that a couple of them would be staying. Most everyone had taken on their job here to help them through college.  Some were just interested in history.  Most of them, it was something interesting to do in-between and after classes.  For her, it was a job she was enjoying that she needed.  She had nowhere else to go, nothing else to do.  She loved to write, but couldn’t at the moment.  Her flame for writing had been blown out about a year before. Someday she would start again. 

          Right now, what she wondered was if the guy she liked would be staying.  His name was Macen Haskelway.  He was sweet and kind.  He always made her laugh.  With his dark hair, gentle blue eyes, and a kind smile.  He stood about 5'11 to Meghan's 5'5, but it was a nice balance.  He inspired to become a police officer, which she respected, had been taking his classes he needed to fulfill the dream.  It was admirable in her eyes.  Macen seemed a lot more sensitive than his identical twin brother, Codie.  Though Codie was the one who seemed interested in her.  Not Macen.  Which just confused her how she could be attracted to one, and not the other.  She tried to be friends with Codie, but something inside her, seemed to ward him off.

          Just as she had finished that thought she realized that Codie was standing over her, watching her daydream in the darkness.  He asked her to take a walk with him around the land...suggesting a stroll through old maze.  She figured that it wouldn't hurt...but what she would soon find out was that it would.

          "Meg!"  Someone shouted from her door bringing her back to reality.  She heard her screen door open and looked up to find Leigha.  "Where the heck were you?  La--La Land?"  She joked.

          "No, I'm just tired," she whispered as she sat up.  "Aren’t you going to be late?"

          "Not yet, but I will be if I don't leave in the next five minutes."  She smiled.  Leigha had a big beautiful smile.  It made her even prettier than her long red hair and her large violet eyes did alone.  "I need caffeine and I drank my last can of soda last night when Alec came over to watch movies.  Do you have any?"

          "Yeah, help yourself.  There are some cold cans in the refrigerator.  It's the cheap stuff, but it works," she answered.

          "Great I'll get you some more when I go grocery shopping tonight.  Okay?"  Leigha said as she walked into the kitchen.

          "Don't worry about it," she muttered.

          Leigha walked back out into the living room with a can of cola. She stopped in front of her friend before leaving.  "You don't look so good, are you okay?"

          She shook her head.  "No," she moaned.  "I think I'm coming down with the flu or something.  I got up this morning, ate, and it all came right back up. Plus I've been real tired the last few days."

          "Do you work today?"  Leigha asked.  She shook her head.  "Good, get some rest then.  I'll stop by after I'm done with work and see how you're doing."  Then Leigha waved good-bye and left, walking down the dirt road towards the main part of the property.

          As soon as Leigha left...her memories returned.

          It was dark as they walked into the beginning of the maze.  There was no moon that night and the stars weren't very bright.  A dark curtain seemed to be upon them.

          She hadn't been in the maze before so she had to trust Codie's leading.

          As he took her deeper into the tall hedges, and as she became lost and confused, his mood changed.  Suddenly, he pushed her up against the hedge wall and started to kiss her. She pushed at him and tried to tell him she didn't like him like that, but he kept coming, and had her pinned.  She tried to get away from him, to scream, to kick, but he covered her mouth with his and started moving his hands inside her clothes.  He was very strong and she could not move.  He slid his hand across her mouth as his kiss ended.  "You're mine, Meghan Quinn.  Mine.  I'm gonna take you places that you've never been and you will enjoy it.  No matter what you do."  A big smile spread across his face.  "You can't stop me.  Everyone is on the beach and no one will hear your screams.  So go ahead and scream all you want."

          He uncovered her mouth and ripped off her T-shirt.  Her bra followed and he started to touch her.  Then her shorts and underwear were off before she knew the difference.  The whole time she was trying her hardest to fight him, and the urgent need to pass out.

          He pushed her to the ground and started removing his clothes.  She tried to get up but he bent over and picked up a stone about the same size as his fist.  "Lay down or you will regret it," he threatened, holding the rock over her.  All her kicks and punches seemed to do nothing.

          "Why are you doing this?" she managed to question.  Her breath was ragged and burning in her throat.

          "You're mine.  That simple."

          "No, I'm not," she said and started to raise her head up.  She felt the stone hit the side of her skull.  The sharp pain made her dizzy and her head fell back down to the ground.  Warm liquid started to drip down her face and she looked to find the blood forming a small puddle around her.  She looked up at him and her head began to spin wickedly. His sick smirking smile was the only thing she could see.  Then everything went black as she felt another sharp pain in her head.  Soon, though, it was numbed, as she was lost in all darkness.

          She couldn't remember anything after that until she opened her eyes to find those of her attacker staring back.  "Calm down, Meggie," he whispered.  Macen was the only one who called her Meggie.  She searched his face for the one difference that Codie and Macen had, a mole on Macen's left temple.  Codie had it removed.  His had been on the right side.  They were mirror image twins.  When she saw the mole, she felt so much relief.  "Are you okay?" he asked.

          She couldn't say no, all she could manage to do was cry.  "Don't tell anyone," she pleaded.  "Please, I don't want anyone to know."

          "Meggie," Macen said with a strong accusing tone, "What did he do to you?"

          She looked up out of shock.  "You saw?"

          "I saw Codie running from here.  Before, I saw him leave with you from the beach.  I grabbed the blanket that we were all sitting on and came out here.  Did he..." Macen closed his eyes.  "Did he touch you?"

          She looked down and found the blanket wrapped around her.  She could also see that her clothes were spread out between the two hedge walls.  She couldn't do anything but nod.

          "That bastard!  I am going to...fucking kill him!"  He grabbed a stone from the ground and got ready to throw it, but stopped with it over his head.  He brought it down by his face and looked at it.  He could see the blood on it.  The blood he was touching with his hand.  "He hit you with this, didn't he?"  He watched as she nodded.  "Meggie, I am so sorry."  He dropped the rock and picked up her scattered clothes.  Then he grabbed her arm gently and helped her up.  "I'm taking you home.  Then we are going to the hospital."

          "No," she begged.  "Please, I am already...so...humiliated."

          "Did he rape you?"  Macen asked.

          Her body was shaking and her heart racing.  She was so sore she didn't know if her body had been invaded or not.  "I don't know,” was all she could manage to mutter.

          "Meggie," she heard bringing her back from her memory.  She saw Macen peering down at her.  She also felt something wet and cold against her forehead.  "How are you feeling?" he asked moving the washcloth off her face.

          "I remembered...it came back again," she whispered choking back the tears.  "Codie...everything.  Why does it keep doing this...why do the memories keep coming back?"  He gathered her into his arms and held her there and she cried. 

          "Honey," he whispered softly.  "They come because they are part of your life, now, sweetheart.  And if I could change it I would."  He smiled at her.  Ever since that night, three months ago, he had been by her side every step of the way.  They had become very close.  More so than just friends, now.  "If it had been me...I would have been gentler and we would have waited until you were ready.  I swear it, Meg.  I'd turn back the hands of time if I could.  I hate seeing you hurt like this."  He paused.  "When I stopped in at the mansion Leigh said that you weren't feeling well.  What's wrong?  Do you have a tummy ache?" He asked in a childish voice trying to cheer her up.

          "Do you really want to know my symptoms, Doctor Haskelway?"  He nodded smiling.  "Let's see...I am extremely tired.  I'm nauseated and vomiting.  I'm not really hungry.  I have a small headache.  I am dizzy, crabby, and my jeans are tight."

          Macen couldn't help but to laugh.  "And this means..."

          "That I have the flu and I'm getting my curse," she said rolling her eyes.

          Macen's face seemed to fall.  "Meggie...I hate to pry in the personal department, but when was the last time you had your," he paused.  "Curse?"

          "See the calendar on the wall in the kitchen?" She asked pointing towards the kitchen.

          "Yes."

          "Get up and look at it.  I mark the first day on the calendar with an x to help me predict the month after," she explained.  He flipped the calendar back to July...then June...then May...and then April.  "What are you doing?  Getting it all memorized so you can predict when to avoid me?"

          "Meg," he whispered.  "The last time you had one was in April.  The middle of April.  Which means that..."

          "What!  You're nuts," she shouted before he could finish.  She jumped up ran into the kitchen, almost tripping over her own feet, and looked herself.  She was shocked to find out that he was right.  With all the work that she had been doing she hadn't even noticed.  "I've skipped 3 months."  She looked up at him.  Her gray violet eyes were wide.  "What does that mean?"

          "I hate to tell you this but I think that we better get you a pregnancy test.  I don't like the idea of you carrying my evil twin's baby but...I think it's more likely that that is why you have been feeling so bad."  He said, wrapping his arms around her.  She started to cry.

          She hated doctor's offices.  They always reminded her of needles, pain, and death. "We could have just gotten a home pregnancy test," she whispered to Macen.

          "They aren't very accurate," he said.  "This way we'll know for sure."

          "I'm too scared.  What if I am?  What am I suppose to do?"  Meghan questioned.

          "Meghan Quinn?" the nurse asked.  Meghan stood and walked up to the nurse.  The nurse led her back to an area with a waiting room.  "The bathroom is to your left.  Go in there and urinate into one of the plastic cups found above the toilet.  Write your name on the cover and put it in the turnstile found on the wall.  Then you can have a seat in the waiting room, here, and wait for the results," the nurse explained, pointing across the hall to the empty room with eight chairs.

          Meghan stepped into the bathroom and closed the door.  "You should have told me that I'd have to pee into a cup.  I would have drank some water."  She whispered to herself after the door was locked and no one could hear her.

          A while later she sat in the waiting room biting her nails.  She kept thinking that she wasn't ready for a baby and how she didn't want it to be Codie's.  But she loved children and knew she could never kill a life growing inside of her...if there was one.

          "Meghan Quinn?"  A nurse asked, standing in the doorway.

          She looked up.  "Yes?"

          "Your pregnancy test came back positive.  So when you leave today make another appointment for your first prenatal visit."  The nurse handed her a slip and then said, "Congratulations."

          Meghan sat there for a second, numb.  She looked down at the little slip of paper the nurse had handed her for a good couple minutes.  Then stood and walked out to the appointment desk.  Her next appointment was made for the following week.

          "Meggie, what did the test come back as?" Macen asked.

          She looked at him and he could see the tears forming in her eyes.  "Positive," she whispered.

          He walked her to the car.

     He drove her to a small restaurant where he requested a quiet corner booth.  "Why did you drag me here?" she asked as they sat down.

          "We need to talk."

          "Talk about what?" she whispered sliding into the corner.   She put a hand to her nauseated belly.

          "About you, the baby," Macen paused and handed Meghan a menu.  "Me."

          Meghan rested the menu on the table in front of her and studied her surroundings.  The cafe had a cozy family atmosphere.  It was soft, warm, and inviting.  Her eyes were drawn from table to table.  Families, business meetings, dates all gathered in the friendly little restaurant.  Her gaze continued around the room until it finally stopping at Macen's blue gaze.  She looked into his eyes and saw love...and fear.

          "What about us?" she asked.

          "Well," he began, nervously running his fingers through his hair.  "I've been thinking.  You're pregnant."

          "So I've been told," Meghan commented dryly.

          "Don't," he said.  He was nervous enough.  He didn't need her being sarcastic.  He was having feelings that he'd never felt before.  There was only one way he knew to explain how he felt for her.  "You're pregnant.  My brother is responsible."

          "So?"

          "My twin brother.  Identical twin brother, and...."

          "What does that have to do with us?"  Meghan interrupted.  "You're nothing like..."

          "Would you let me finish?" He interrupted.  He ran his hand through his brown hair again.  She was watching him so intently and it was making him so much more nervous.  "He's my twin.  We have the same genes."  Macen paused.  He took a deep breath.  He looked directly into Meghan's eyes.  "Let me be the baby's father."

          Her eyes grew wide.  "You...what...the father...I...I...” She closed her mouth.  Her mind was racing and thoughts were blending into one another.

          "The way I see it, we have a nice relationship starting between us despite the fact of what my brother did...and I'm sure you think of it every time you look at me.  Codie has done this before.  He wouldn't be a good father and I would.  I may not be the best choice but at least this way it can never be proven differently.  And if our relationship doesn't work...I will not abandon this child.  The baby will be mine heart and soul.  I'm not doing this because I feel that I have to either.  I am doing this because I want to.  Ever since I first saw you those many months ago...my heart has only wanted you, I was just too shy to tell you.  I just didn't know how to explain it.  Now I do."  He paused and looked down at his hands then reached up and ran them through his hair.  Then he reached over and took her hand in his, softly stroking her soft skin.  "I'm trying to say that I love you, Meggie.  I have never felt like this for anyone else.  If you don't feel the same...let me know."  He took a deep breath and stroked the hand he held in his softly.  "Honey, if you feel even a little of what I feel in my heart and soul, then I think we should give this a chance.  I think we could at least try to make this work."  He looked at her waiting for a reaction, but the waitress came to take their orders. 

          "Everything is happening so fast."  She whispered, after the waitress had walked away.  "Macen...I don't know what to say,” she paused.  "I don't know what I can say right now."  Her heart was racing so fast.  It felt like it would either burst or suddenly stop completely. "This whole year has been so bad."

          Macen reached across the table and touched her other hand and drew both of her hands together.  Then he saw the tears building up.  "Do you want to tell me about it?"

          She looked into his eyes and saw the concern that he felt.  Along with the love.  He did love her, she realized.  She lowered her eyes as she began.  "My father died from the results of a car crash in early January."  She began.  "He died almost exactly a year after my mother."

          "Meggie, I'm sorry."

          "She died after giving birth to my last sister.  The baby survived only a few hours after my mom.  Throughout my life I have lost 10 brothers and sisters.  4 before me, 6 after.  The only one who survived past a few months was my brother.  He was born a few weeks before my seventh birthday.  Brandon lived until the Christmas after his fourth birthday.  She had three other pregnancies after Brandon.  Two while Brandon was alive.  The last one, though, is what killed her.  She developed severe Eclampsia and she died, as several of her organs failed her, while the baby entered the world.

          "My father was hit by a drunk driver head on.  He died in the hospital shortly after.  He made one of the nurses write me a note...saying..." she paused. "That he loved me.  He died before I got there.

          "The rest of it you pretty much know," she said as a single tear broke free and ran quickly down her cheek.

          "I won't ever leave you.  Meggie, unless you want me to," he whispered.  "I swear."  He took her hand and brought it up to his mouth placing a kiss on her knuckles.  "Marry me, Meggie.  Marry me and give this," he paused.  "Us, a chance."