The Haunting of Blackwood House by Darcy Coates Read Free Book Online Page B

pulled forward like a morsel of food being sucked into a monstrous fish’s mouth.
    The entry room was exactly how she remembered it. The aged wood groaned around her as she turned on the spot. To her left, the long-unfinished meal still sat on the table. “Home Is Where The Heart Is” hung on the wall in the room to her right.
    Home . It was such a warm word. Mara had lived in houses before but never a true home. Blackwood felt innately good—innately right—as if she’d found the one place on earth she actually belonged.
    Footsteps behind her announced Neil’s arrival. He carefully placed her portable wardrobe into the corner of the room then crossed his arms as he surveyed the entryway. “We should have hired someone to clean the place out a bit.”
    “I didn’t legally own it until this morning,” Mara said, shrugging. “Besides, no point in wasting money on something I can do myself.”
    To call the house a bargain was an absolute understatement. Mara’s savings, which she’d expected to almost entirely lose on an apartment, had covered Blackwood and left plenty to spare. Even after she paid for spare wood and tiles to repair the aging building, she’d have enough to last her at least four months, provided she didn’t buy too many frivolities. Four months was plenty of time to find a job, and she could spend her spare hours making Blackwood more comfortable.
    “What’s first, boss?” Neil asked.
    Mara twirled then faced the stairwell. “There’s no electricity, so we’d better pick a bedroom before night sets in. Somewhere that will get moonlight through its window.”
    “Good plan. We might find something on the second floor; it’s less cluttered than downstairs and should hold its heat better. I’ll grab some more stuff while you start exploring.”
    “Meet you up there.”
    It wasn’t until she was halfway up the stairs that Mara questioned Neil’s last phrase. More stuff? Does he mean my box of trinkets? Or maybe he brought something for dinner. I wouldn’t complain if he had; tonight feels like it needs something more special than tinned tuna.
    On the second floor, the wide hallway branched to her left and to her right. Mara searched through it and found three empty rooms. The first two had shattered windows, but the third’s glass was only cracked. Mara held her hand near the pane and felt a whistle of cold air. Maybe I can find some cardboard to cover it.
    All of the other bedrooms were furnished, and Mara didn’t want to imagine the insects and cockroaches that might be living amongst the old wardrobes and under the decayed rugs. Her new room wasn’t large, but it was at least clear and didn’t have many cobwebs lurking around the roof. Floral wallpaper—shabby, peeling, and discoloured—coated the wall around the door.
    “Mara?” Neil called.
    “In here.”
    He backed into the room, two stacked boxes filling his arms. Mara recognised the cartons from the back of his car and frowned. “I thought you said that was equipment from work.”
    “Some of it is.” He gave her an apologetic smile. “But I brought some extras just in case.”
    “Just in case of what ?”
    “In case my beloved girl didn’t bring anything to sleep on, for instance.” Neil dropped the boxes into the corner of the room. “Or anything to cook on.” He caught hold of Mara’s wrist and tugged her close. “Or to heat herself when it gets cold at night.” Kisses peppered her cheeks, forehead, and nose.
    Mara, laughing, squirmed against him. “I swear you’re like the paranoid mother I never had. I don’t need you fussing over me.”
    “Really, truly?” Neil quirked an eyebrow. “Were you just going to sleep on the floor?”
    Mara tried to worm herself free, but Neil’s grip was too solid to escape. “Of course not. I was going to take one of the house’s mattresses and flip it over.”
    “Ma- ra !”
    The abject horror in Neil’s voice made her laugh uncontrollably. Neil seized on her