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IN THE FOG THAT CAME rolling in off of the mighty river, a figure took form. At first the features were vague and merely drifted along with the fog. Dominic watched in fascination as the figure took shape. He could make out her long flowing white gown and auburn hair that streamed across her back. Occasionally, the breeze delicately picked up her hair and moved it. She seemed to make her way to him, casting no shadow from the fog obscured moon.
He heard Bianca approaching him and informed her, “Do you see her? It can’t be her?”
Bianca peered into the fog, trying to see what he was pointing to. He asked her once more, “Please tell me you see her. She is right there. You can see her moving towards us.”
***
BIANCA ONCE MORE PEERED deep into the dense fog, trying to see what Dominic saw. For a moment, she thought she saw something move in the fog. She shook her head, not wanting to believe that she was out there. But then, she saw the movement once again. There was a figure in the mist. Her auburn hair was picked up by the wind and flowed behind her. She watched as the figure stopped and just stared at them. Then the figure disappeared in the whirling clouds of fog. Bianca repeatedly blinked, trying to see if she could find the figure in the fog once again.
She shook her head and told Dominic, “It is just a figment of your imagination. The fog is thick as pea soup tonight.”
He looked at Bianca in disbelief, “You saw her, didn’t you? You aren’t scared?”
Bianca shook her head, but kept peering into the dense fog waiting to see if the figure appeared once more. There was nothing there.
***
DOMINIC HEARD FOOTSTEPS approaching from behind. He turned to see his mother coming out of the house. Even at this hour, she looked completely made up. Her hair was still tucked in a tight chignon, not a hair out of place. She had yet to dress for the night and still wore her dress and high heels.
Even now she still looked at ease, serene almost. “What are you doing out here Dominic?”
He bent down and kissed his mother on the cheek, “I wanted some fresh air before bed.”
Bianca looked intently at mother and son. There was no doubt of their lineage. Dominic inherited his looks from his mother, but as much as he tried to deny it, he had his dad’s temperament. Dominic’s mother attempted to instill a calmer temperament in Dominic, but at times, she could see the venom that ran in his blood. He was a man to be feared.
Dominic led his mother back inside, not wanting to share his fears that Alexis wandered these grounds. After all, no one knew she was dead except Brian and Bianca and both of them would not be talking.
Once inside, he continued to peer into the fog. Maybe it was just a figment of his imagination. There was nothing there except fog and shadows. His mother touched his shoulder, “Dominic you should go to bed. It is getting late and I am sure you have a busy day ahead of you.”
Dominic looked at his mother and nodded, “I plan on going to bed soon, but first I must see Bianca out.”
As Dominic walked Bianca to the front door, he caught a whiff of Cuban cigars. He looked around to see where the smell was coming from. Bianca noticed his unease, “What is it, cher?”
“Do you smell that?”
“Someone must have been smoking a cigar earlier is all.”
He shook his head, “Mais non, that is my dad. The ghosts must be restless tonight, but why? Has my dad come here to tell me something?”
“Ah cher, the ghosts aren’t restless. I am sure that someone had a cigar, and the smell of it is still lingering. You have to trust me; I would know if the spirits were restless tonight.”
He let out a sigh, “I guess you are right. It’s just I swear when the fog rolled in, I saw Alexis walking about, and now the smell of dad’s cigars is heavy in the air. It makes one wonder.”
Bianca took his hand in hers, “You are working too hard. You need to relax.”
Dominic knew that she was correct. She would sense that the spirits were restless.
***
THE GHOST OF RAYNE Simoneaud watched as Bianca and Dominic headed back into the house. A sinister smile formed across her face. She had only just begun to haunt these two.