Chapter 1 He can see ghosts

ELARA

"You are not talking to us, Elara" I heard the whisper of my name and I smiled. I turned the egg on the pan before transferring it onto the plate.

"I would like to talk to you. The others are actually upstairs now." The whisper came again. I lifted the tray in my hand as I headed towards the guests. A couple came to eat and they already said they were newly wed. They came today for their honeymoon.

“Thank you”, the young man said as I served their food.

“If you need anything, please let me know. Your room is ready.” I said and the man nodded.

“Thank you. miss. Do you run the inn alone?” The man asked, looking around and I smiled.

A lot of people ask that but I actually have two assistants who aren't here right now and there is actually another assistant whom I cannot tell them because they are invincible to all the guests except me.

“No, my assistant will be back tomorrow,” I told the young man before leaving.

“You are ignoring me, Elara. I know you can still see me.” The voice whispered and I finally turned to face her. She is Diana, the youngest ghost among the ghost living in the inn.

“Of course I see you but I am working right now. I can't reply to you when the guests are here. They will think I am crazy.” I replied Diana and turned to make more food.

My name is Elara and I started seeing ghosts six months ago. I lost my parents two years ago when I was 18 and the only thing they left me was the inn.

An incident happened six months ago in which I suddenly stumbled down the stairs. That was what my two assistants told me but the moment I opened my eyes, I noticed something was wrong. Apart from the two assistants in my room that day, I saw other people. Or should I say they are all ghosts because I am the only one who can see them.

I thought I was going to ignore them and maybe after taking a day to rest and sleep, everything would come back to normal but I was wrong because things never remain the same again. I could see these ghosts and they are very many more in the inn. The moment they realised I could see them, they began to talk to me until they became my friends and I promised to find their families since they do not have memories of when they were living on earth. They do not even remember how they died.

My ghost friends help me in managing the inn sometimes but if they work too much, they lose too much strength.

Oakwood is a small town, and everyone knows everyone; if so much death happened, the magistrate should have been told and I should have been able to recognise their tombs. Maybe if they find their tombs, these ghost will ascend to heaven.

I turn Diana and she suddenly become mute becausenu have been ignoring. Diana is a small girl of seventeen and I wonder how she lost her life so early. She also has no idea of who she was except her name.

“Okay, speak. What do you want to tell me?” I finally asked her and she moved closer to me.

“It seems like my energy is declining. Maybe I need some food.” She said and I wanted to laugh because we both know eating food doesn't let them regain energy. They don't gain nourishment from eating food.

“Take this,” I said and pushed a plate of bread and egg towards her.

“Eat to your satisfaction and make sure the room is neatly arranged. We will be having more guests tonight because of the rain which is about to fall.” I told her and she smiled.

“Thank you, Elara.” She disappeared from my sight and I continued cooking other food.

“I would like to deposit payment for the food.” I heard one of the customers say and I quickly washed my hands before making my way to the dining hall.

“It's 20 copper coins for the food” I informed the man and he placed a silver coin on the table.

“I need a room for tonight.” I took the money and smiled.

“Of course, please follow me” I said and led the way towards the stairs. I showed the man his room and he settled inside while I closed the door behind.

I worked for some more hours before finally taking a break. The rain had already begun the heavy downpour and the customers already retired to their room while some had were dining in the dining hall.

I sat down on the chair in the counter, away from people's eyes as I drank from the liquor inside the jar.

My ghost friends surrounded me, their eyes focused on me and I knew they actually had questions to ask. I could see it in their eyes.

“Speak,” I told them, and the elderly woman among them stepped forward. Her name is Maureen and she might have lost her life close to four years ago because her skin looks more pale compared to others.

“Miss Elara, is there anything wrong? You have been drinking since.” She asked.

“I also wanted to ask the same thing.” Diana said, coming to stand beside me.

“That is what humans do when they have a lot on their mind. We usually drown ourselves in liquor because we wish to forget something, even if it's just for a while.” I told them without letting them know that somehow, I miss my parents.

“Then can we also drink if we have a lot on our minds?” Jake asked and I shook my head. He is around the same age as Diana but I think he is older.

“There is something called being drunk. I doubt you all know the feeling. You are not going to get drunk by drinking….”

The doorbell chimed and I turned to face the entrance. The door was pushed open by a gust of wind and I saw a silhouette first before the person stepped in.

I stood up immediately to welcome the guest. “Welcome to White Hart Inn,” I said and the man walked in, leaving mud prints on the floor, which the ghosts already mopped.

“I need a room. For two people.” He said and removed the hat from his head.

A gasp echoed among the people in the hall and I wondered what was wrong until my eyes fell on the man who just walked in.

My lips parted in shock.

For a second, it felt like I was lost in a trance. The man was tall with broad shoulders and he had an icy stare but that wasn't what made my heart skip a beat.

It was his face.

In the years I have been living in Oakwood town, I have never seen a man as handsome as this and with the way he dress, I could tell that he is not ordinary.

But then, I heard the guest at the inn whispering.

“He is Lucian.” I heard one of the guest eating said and I frowned. That name indeed rings a bell.

“Lucian?” Another person asked.

“Yes. He is a Necromancer, the one they say is capable of getting rid of spirit.” I heard them say and a shiver ran down my spine.

“Can you please hurry, Miss? We are drenched because of the rain.” The man beside Lucian said. They must have come together.

“Yes, please sit down for a while. I will get the room ready in five minutes. And if you need food, you can…”

“Step back.” I heard Lucian said in a not-so-familiar tone. I would have focused my attention on how deep his voice was, but not when I noticed those two words weren't directed at the man beside him.

He was talking to one of ghost who was suddenly standing close to him. He can see ghosts.