GhostlyPersuasion by Dena Garson

“I
suppose it takes energy to exist no matter what form the body is in. If you
can’t eat to create energy, then I suppose you’d have to recharge your batteries
somehow.”
    “That’s the conclusion I came to as well.”
    They shared a smile.
    “I also noticed,” Seamus continued, “that whenever I made
myself visible to someone, I required more, what did you call it? Recharging?”
    “So you can choose to make yourself visible to people?”
    “Somewhat. I’ve been told it’s not a solid form. I’m
guessing it’s the kind of thing that creates many of the current ghost
stories.”
    “Interesting.”
    They came to a wall of shrubbery.
    Katie looked to her left and then to her right but didn’t see
an opening through the thick hedges. She tilted her head in Seamus’ direction.
“So how do I get in?”
    “To the maze?”
    “They have a garden maze? I didn’t notice that from my
window. I just thought it was a well-manicured garden.”
    “There are a lot of things at Tullamore that are not as they
appear.”
    Katie studied Seamus’ expression but couldn’t detect
anything out of the ordinary. But she was sure he was hiding something from
her. “Like what?”
    “If we come across it I’ll tell you. How about that?”
    “Harrumph.” She waved to the shrubbery wall. “So tell me
about these gardens.”
    “They are the finest example of Irish horticulture you’ll
find in this county.”
    “Really? So how do I get in?” Katie tried to keep the
exasperation out of her voice.
    Seamus looked up at the sky, specifically in the direction
the sun was setting. “Are you sure you wish to see this so late this evening?
The sun will be set in less than an hour.”
    “That’s okay. I wasn’t planning to stay long. Just wanted to
stretch my legs a bit.”
    “If I show you the way to the entrance, will you promise to
stay close to the front entrance and leave if I tell you to?”
    “What? Why?”
    “Because it’s going to be dark very soon.”
    “So?”
    “I would feel better if you were not out here after the sun
sets.”
    “Is there something out there I should worry about?”
    “Let’s just say there will probably be some things in the
garden you won’t want to see.”
    “Like what? Pagan rituals? Werewolves hunting prey?”
    “The weres tend to stick to the woods at night, so no.”
    “Okaaaaay,” she said hesitantly. “Unless there’s something
out here that is an immediate threat to my life, how about if you let me be the
judge of whether or not I want to see it? And if I do see something I don’t
want to see, I’ll chalk it up to, ‘you were right’, and I’ll turn around and
leave.”
    “As you say.”
    “Now. Which way should I go to get into the garden?”
    “There is an entrance about fifty meters that way.”
    Katie walked in the direction Seamus indicated. “Well, what
do you know?” she mumbled when she found the gate.
    If someone were standing directly across from the entrance
they would see it. But because the wood gate was set into the middle of the
shrubbery thickness, it was not noticeable.
    Inside the garden there were pathways made with rock
stepping-stones. Patches of grass grew between the blocks, making it appear as
a level walkway. Shrubbery lined the outside perimeter and was also scattered
around the extensive gardens.
    Nothing was blooming but even without a multitude of spring
colors the gardens were beautiful. Whoever designed the area had been quite
imaginative. They created cozy nooks where visitors could relax in the sun, nap
in the shade or simply escape from the world.
    Sculptures were scattered throughout in various shapes and
sizes. The tiny ones added a touch of whimsy. The life-sized reminded Katie of
the ancient Greek statues she’d seen in museums.
    One statue Katie hoped was not lifelike. Any man with the
equipment she saw on that one would either make some woman very happy or rather
uncomfortable.
    After wandering through the garden with