The Breathing - A short story

Amber felt uneasy as she drove up the serpentines. The hotel was very isolated and with the grey sky and the heavy wind the castle which housed the hotel was less romantic than it was creepy. 

It had sounded like such a good idea, when her agent had suggested it: Spend a week in a remote Irish castle to finish editing her book. She had thought the surroundings were going to be inspiring and the lack of distractions was going to keep her focused. Now after a 3 hour flight and a 2 hour drive, on what was the wrong side of the road for her, she simply felt annoyed. She would have to take the car even if she wanted to get a coffee in the nearby village. Apparently the castle or hotel provided a full board but since it was the off season and she wondered if there were going to be a lot of other guests and full staff.  

She stopped the car at the parking and sighed, remaining seated for a moment. She grabbed her purse, her laptop bag and her wobbly old suitcase and made her way to the main entrance. 

While the castle could be considered ugly from the outside the inside made absolutely up for it. The floor was an intricate design of black and white marble. The walls were lined with paintings and wall hangings, which covered a dark brown paneling. The reception had been designed in a way that it merged perfectly into the antique designs. 
 
Amber rang the bell and an elderly woman, who gave off a fairy godmother vibe, appeared. "Good afternoon. I have a reservation. The name is Thompson." Amber explained. "Ah of course." The woman smiled. "We have been expecting you. I am Mrs. Bennett. Welcome to Culver Castle!" Her welcome was so honest and warm that Amber couldn't be annoyed anymore. "Am I the last guest to arrive?" She asked looking around in the deserted entrance area. "Yes, but you were the only one arriving today." Mrs. Bennett laughed a girlishly. "You mean I am the only guest in the whole castle?" Amber couldn't stop herself, as the thought of staying in the hotel all by herself made her feel uneasy. "Oh no!" Mrs. Bennett replied immediately. "We have a few other guests, but they have already been staying here for a few days. Despite the season business is slower than usual." She explained. "Please fill out this form dear." She handed Amber a sheet and a pen. After filling out her contact details and signing is she handed it back to Mrs. Bennett. "Thanks love. Here you go. I have put you in the duchess room, it is our loveliest room. You take the main stair to the first floor and then corridor to your left. Just walk until the end and you will reach the door." Mrs. Bennett explained. "Do you need help with your luggage?" She asked. "No, thanks. I can manage. Where is the dining room?" Amber asked. "Just through there." Mrs. Bennett pointed to a beautifully carved double door to the right. "What time would like to have dinner?" She inquired. Amber checked her watched and it read 4.25 pm. She did a quick calculation and answered: "Around 7.30, if that is ok?" "Perfect. I will tell our cook. He will be delighted since most of our guests drive into town for dinner." Mrs. Bennett beamed at her, happy that at least one of her guests wanted to try the food. Amber just smile and grabbed the key. "Thank you so much Mrs. Bennett." "One more thing Miss Thompson: The only staff at night it Mr. Rowling our night receptionist but he will attend to everything you might need. Just ring 09 on the phone in your room." With that Amber took her luggage and went upstairs. 
 
The room was indeed beautiful and Amber had to admire the interior architect as all modern amenities had been integrated so perfectly in the antique setting that Amber felt transported back in time. This would definitely help her get into the mood to edit her novel. It had been the first time she had tried her hand at a historic novel and she felt the genre suited her well.  
 
After taking a shower and unpacking, Amber decided to take a lay down for a while and set the alarm clock on her cell phone for 6.30 pm. When she woke up she was taken aback by the complete darkness of the room. She reached for her cell phone and gasped. Was there someone breathing in the room? She held her breath to see if there truly was someone else breathing and she could have sworn that the breathing stopped a second after she had held her breath. With trembling fingers she reached for the light switch and when the light came one there was nobody in the room. God! She gasped. She should definitely stop watching cheap horror movies. Her stomach growled and distracted her from the scare. She got dressed in her favorite maxi dress and black boots and went downstairs. 
 
The dining room or ballroom as she corrected herself was a vision of a by gone era that took her breath away. She could see where decades ago a long table had stood, that hosted noble men and royalty. She saw ladies in long gowns with expensive jewels. She imagined the music and couples spinning, decadent buffets and champagne glasses. Now several smaller tables filled the room but just like the reception there design fitted perfectly into the room. 
 
Amber was alone with the exception of a man in the far right corner. He seemed to be studying a portrait of an elderly lady, dressed in 17th century clothing. Amber approached him and when he didn't turn, she said: "Excuse me? My name is Amber Thompson. I'm in the duchess room and Mrs. Bennett told me this was the dining room." She felt like a school girl reciting a prepared excuse to the principal.
 
The man turned around and smiled at her. He was around her age with dark brown wavy hair and grey eyes. He was wearing black trousers, riding boots and a white linen shirt. His had the warmest smile Amber had ever seen and she felt her cheeks blushing. "Mrs. Bennett is of course correct. This is the dining room. It would be shocking if she had gotten it wrong, considering she has worked here half her life." "Do you work here?" Amber asked and felt a little overwhelmed by this man, which in turn made her feel silly. I am a grown woman and don't get nervous just because some man smiles at me. She berated herself.  "Not if I can help it." He replied and winked at her. This time Amber had to smile as well. "My name is Richard. I believe Dominic will be back right away. From what I hear his roasted lamb is to die for." "Are you also staying for dinner?" She hated how eager her voice sounded but there was something about this guy that made her want to spend more time with him. 
 
"Oh! My apologies, Miss Thompson!" A voice with a heavy Irish accent came from the door. Amber turned around and saw a middle aged man, with a friendly face and slight limb. "I'm so sorry! Mrs. Bennett said you would be down by 7.30 pm. I wouldn't have stepped out if I knew you were coming down so soon." He explained apologetically. "Don't worry. I had indeed said 7.30 to Mrs. Bennett. But I only just arrived." "My name is Dominic and I am the cook but since we have so few guests, I double as the waiter. I hope you don't mind." His accent made everything sound charming. "Of course not." She replied. "Very well. Choose any table you fancy. I will bring you our menu right away." "That won't be necessary. I already heard that your roasted lamb is to die for. Does it come with a side dish?" Amber inquired. "Of course Miss. Boiled potatoes and roasted vegetables." Dominic replied. "That sounds wonderful! Could you also bring me a bottle of red wine? Something that goes well with lamb..." Dominic grinned, please that she wasn't one of those women who just had salad and tap water. "My pleasure." He said and turned towards the kitchen. 
 
Amber turned around, hoping she could at least convince Richard to share a glass of wine with her, but he was gone. She gasped for a second until she noticed the discreet door at the end of the wall just 3 meters from where had been standing. She rolled her eyes at herself. This castle was really getting to her. 
 
About one hour later she was full and slight tipsy as she had drunken more than half the bottle of wine. "That was absolutely incredible, Dominic!" She said when he came to clear the table. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Miss Thompson." He beamed. "Please call me Amber. I have a feeling we will see each other quite often this week, as I don't intend to miss any meal!" The both laughed over her enthusiasm. "I will look forward to it and will keep the rest of your bottle for tomorrow." "Thank you Dominic." "If you want a night cap, we have a selection of Irish Whiskeys in the chimney room on the first floor. Instead of going left just go right and you can't miss it." Dominic explained, before adding with a mischievous smile: "I have also been told that this is the room with the best cell phone signal." "Thank a lot Dominic! I must indeed make some calls. Do you know where I can find Mr. Rowling? He wasn't at the reception when I came downstairs and wanted to check with him, if I can use a room with a desk. I'm a writer and am actually here to work but there is not suitable table in my room." Dominic's hearty laugh reminded Amber of Santa Clause. "I'm Mr. Rowling. My name is Dominic Rowling." Amber snorted with a grin. "I think the wine has made me a little slow!" "Then you definitely should let some proper Whiskey finish the job and you will sleep like a baby. And don't worry, tomorrow morning I will arrange for one of the rooms with a desk to be prepared for you to work in." Dominic said kindly. "Thank you so much! I shall now go and get my night cap." She got up. "Good night Dominic." "Good night Amber."
 
She found the chimney room quickly and was happy to see that there was someone already there. "Richard!" She exclaimed. He smiled that boyish smile that made her knees wobble more than the wine. "I was hoping Dominic would send you here." He said, obviously as happy to see her as she was to see him. But she wasn't about to make it easy for him. "You disappeared before without a word." She stated her tone slightly upset. "You're right and I apologize. I just thought it best, since Dominic would have been upset to see me in the dining room." Richard spoke carefully and Amber sensed a tension, therefore she dropped the matter. "Would you like a drink?" He asked politely. "Yes, please. Whiskey. Anything you recommend. After dinner I trust your taste." Amber answered and sat down on a red velvet couch. "Ah! I guess the lamb was indeed to die for then!" He said grinning, as he poured two glasses and handed her one saying: "Egan's Legacy. Probably not the best but definitely my favourite." He sat down in the armchair across from her and stared into the fire. 
 
"Do you know what this room is?" He asked, his voice sounding miles away. Amber shook her head and took a sip of her drink. "This is where the Duke and his male guests would retire to after dinner. Women were originally not allowed in here. At least that was the common etiquette but as you can imagine more than one lady made her way in here." He winked at her and she couldn't help blushing. She was a sucker for this Irish accent she decided. "Probably not all of them of impeccable reputation." Amber replied, after all two could play this game. He grinned wickedly: "As a gentleman I will not go into further details." 
 
They talked about the history of the castle, with Richard telling her all sorts of anecdotes. Amber told him about her book and how excited she was that was finally going to live the life she had always dreamed about. When it came to family Richard grew distant and simply stated that his father was an abusive man, in whose eyes he was a failure. There was something about him, which made it easy to talk to him. She hadn't felt this comfortable with a man in years. He was so different from the other men of her generation. 
 
After that they remained silent for a while after that, drinking slowly, listening to the crackling fire and simply enjoying each other’s' company. Amber looked up from the fire to notice Richard looking at her intensely. His grey eyes seemed to be taking in her essence but not in the uncomfortable way when a drunken man at a club stares at you. This was different, intimate but delicate, as if he was recording this memory carefully. "You are beautiful." He said dreamily. "I would like to draw you." The last sentence was uttered more to himself. "Are you an artist?" Amber asked. He smiled sheepishly. "Well, at least I consider myself one." "I would love to see your work and..." She paused before adding with what she hope was a flirtatious smile. "...if I like it, I might be willing to pose for you." 
 
He didn't get to reply as a loud rumble from the corridor interrupted them. Both jumped up from their seat. "What was that?" Amber asked, wondering if maybe one of the other guests had come looking for a night cap and tripped. "You should return to your room. I hadn't realized it was this late." Richard said with an unsettling urgency. "What?" Amber was hurt over his sudden rejection. "Please, it is for your own safety!" He was almost pleading. "But..." She didn't get to say anything more another rumble sounded from the hallway, louder and angrier than before. Then the lights went out, leaving them only with the chimney fire for light. "Richard? What is going on?" Amber asked, with a trembling voice. "Trust me. I won't let anything happen to you. Stay here and lock the door! I will go and check!" She could tell he was trying to sound calm for her benefit. He turned his back to her and went to the door. "Please be careful!" She shouted before he went through the door. He turned and smiled at her: "Of course! How could I miss my chance to draw you?" Then he was gone and Amber locked the door. 
 
He had been gone less than a minute when she heard another rumble from the hallway. This time it was further away and different. It was as if two sounds were competing. Was someone fighting?  Then she heard it and the blood in her veins froze. The breathing! But she was alone! What was going on? She held her breath and there was still the sound of breathing. The fire gave off little light, but she couldn't see anybody! Nobody could have entered! It was simply too much. She ran to the door, unlocked it and rushed along the hallway. 
 
"Richard! Where are you?" She shouted. The hallway was pitch dark until she remembered that she had her cell phone in her dress pocket! She took it out and turned on the flashlight. The small light comforted her a little and she decided to call the police. Maybe someone had entered the hotel. The artwork must be worth quite a bit and knowing the hotel was understaffed... Damn! She thought, not reception! Another rumbling sound came from above her. This was her chance! She ran down the stairs to the reception, shouting: "Dominic! Dominic! Call the police, someone is here!" She got to the reception area but it was empty. Dominic was nowhere in sight! She checked her phone but she didn't get even one bar. She heard another rumble, it was getting closer again and more intense.  
 
Amber's heart was racing. She was scared to death and worried about Dominic and Richard. Then she heard it gain: The breathing. It was very close and she felt the breath on the skin of her neck. She didn't hesitate and ran out the main entrance. She thought that maybe if she could reach the main road she could stop a car or might have cell reception. She ran as fast as she could for about 10 minutes until she was there. But the road was dead, not a car in sight. She checked the watch on her phone and it read 1.23 am. But she had reception so she called the police. 
 
After the longest 20 minutes of Amber's life the police car with two officers arrived. One put immediately a blanket on her. When they arrived at the hotel, the light was back on. They policemen entered and asked her to stay in the car. After a few minutes the older one came to fetch her. 
 
Dominic and the younger policeman were in conversation. "The power had gone out and I went outside to start our emergency generator. It is a stubborn thing, so it took it me a while." Dominic explained. "What about the rumble Miss Thompson heard?" The policeman asked. "I don't know, but often our pipes are rather loud. Don't forget the plumping is literally 300 years old." "But what about Richard? If it was the plumping, where is he?" Amber hated how hysterical she sounded. "Who?" Dominic asked, white as a sheet. "Don't you have an employee or a guest by that name?" The policeman asked Dominic. He shook his head. "Hmm.... Maybe it was one of the lads from town trying to sneak into the fancy hotel." The policeman said. "We will check the hallways upstairs and see if anything is amiss. You were in the chimney room you said?" He directed the question to Amber. "Yes. It is upstairs." She said. The four of them went upstairs.  
 
The fire had in the meantime died down but the room was again brightly lit. The older policeman picked up Amber's glass and smelled it. "How many of those did you have Miss?" He asked and Amber's face darkened at the implication. "Just the one..." She said pointedly before adding slightly embarrassed: "...and a few glasses of wine at dinner." She appreciated that the policemen didn't comment any further. "As discussed we will check the hallways. But I doubt we will find anything." They left the room and the policemen started their sweep.
 
"I'm sorry Dominic. I really thought..." Amber started, feeling like a complete fool. "No need to apologize. In fact I believe there is something you should see. Come." Dominic said and led her downstairs and through the dining room towards the door, through which Richard had vanished. It led to a gallery with dozens of paintings. "During the summer months we arrange tours. This is the only time the gallery is open to the public." Dominic explained as he fumbled with a power switch until every painting in the gallery was lit individually. "This way!" Dominic signed to the far left and stopped in front of the portrait of a young man in early 19th century riding attire. Amber gasped! The man was the spitting image of Richard! "I thought so!" Dominic said matter of fact, after seeing the shock on her face. "What...?" Amber felt as if her head was spinning. "Let's go into my office and have some tea. I have the feeling you won't be able to sleep anyhow. 
 
About 20 minutes later she was curled up on a couch in Dominic's office with a steaming cup of tea and finally Dominic started to tell her the story. "The man you have seen tonight was Richard Culver Earl of Limerick. The heir to the Duke of Donegal, whose seat this castle used to be. He was born in 1844 and died in 1876." Dominic made a pause to let the information sink in but as Amber didn't react he continued. "He was all an heir back then should be: intelligent, good looking and charming. He possessed many skills and was a talented artist. Everyone had high hopes for him and he was well loved in his circle. His father however was a different story. He was by all accounts a cruel man. Apparently he abused his family verbally and physically from the start. You have to understand back then there was no way to escape something like that. The families had no other choice but to endure the abuse, in particular the women. Richard was a good man you must know and he couldn't stand seeing his mother and siblings abused like that but he did what he was supposed to do until he couldn't bear it anymore. One day the Duke was attacking his wife viciously over some imagined insult or maybe just because he was in bad mood when Richard stepped in. What happened next has been puzzled together by local historians from the accounts of the younger siblings and the servants. Richard hit his father with a heavy candelabrum so he would let go of the duchess. But the duke was a strong man and it didn't knock him out. They fought for a long time. They left a path of destruction through the house." "The rumbling..." Amber whispered and Dominic nodded. "I guess you are beginning to understand. At one point the duke got hold of a knife and stabbed his son. Richard knew he couldn't hold up much longer. He was younger but he had lost a lot of blood and his father was filled with rage. When they were on the top floor he saw his chance come when the duke stopped in front of a window and started mocking his son. So he launched at him." Amber gasped. "They both fell to their death." Dominic finished. 
 
She entered her room and yawned. She got bed ready and checked the watch. It read 3.46 am. She could still get a few hours of sleep. She pulled back the bed cover and found a drawing on the sheets. It was a drawing of her face. She took a closer look at it and felt oddly moved. She seemed pensive and relaxed. Amber found he had drawn her more beautiful than she actually was but then realized that it was just how Richard saw her. Then she heard the breathing again but this time she didn't feel scared. "Thank you." She said to the room. "I love it. I will be waiting every night in the chimney room. Not afraid. I'm not afraid because I know you will protect me." With that she went to bed and fell asleep with a smile on her face.

They remained silent until Amber said: "You are telling me that the man, I spend the evening with was a ghost?" Dominic sighed. "I don't know what he is to be honest. He has been seen a few times but nobody reported an encounter such as yours. Mostly people seeing him out of the corner of their eye but some people have interacted with him and touched him." Amber thought about Richard drinking the whiskey and handing her a glass. "You have seen him too!" Amber said in a low voice. "I have. Many years ago and it scared the hell out of me. You have to understand, his story or legend whatever you want to call it is very well known here." "He was in the dining room before you entered. He told me later that he had left because of you, that he didn't want to scare you." Dominic laughed. "A considered ghost. How about that?" "Actually I think he likes you. He seemed to know you quite well." Amber explained. "Well it seems as if everything that was written about him is true." They went silent for a few minutes until Amber said: "I think I will go to bed now." She got up and stretched. "Are you sure you will be alright?" Dominic asked concerned. "Weirdly enough, yes. Somehow knowing the truth helps. Good night!" "Good night Amber."