Chapter 21 - A Coincidental Meeting Part 2

After checking on the status of the caretaker in his bedroom located on the ground floor, Marcus and Mr. Grann agreed to do the exorcism rite in the evening when most of the guests and the staff would be sleeping. The assistant caretaker was worried that it would cause quite a commotion, so he decided it was better to do it during that time. Marcus was amenable to it thinking that it would be advantageous for him. It wasn’t like he needed time to prepare anything. It was just his mind was too preoccupied with the events inside the Rogratiatto Mansion that it in effect distracted him with the present duty.

To calm himself and clear his mind, Marcus decided to visit the castle’s front gardens. He passed the many hallways of the floor in order to reach the artsy and spacious main foyer. He was looking forward to spending his free time in the maze gardens, but it soon changed when he saw a number of guests coming out of a school bus.

It had a tarpaulin tied in the front which read, ‘The Academy of Marina High School History Tour.’ About twenty boisterous girls disembarked from it, all of them wearing uniformed pink cloche hats and the school pin placed in their left chest. Father Marcus stood near the Customer Service counter just a few feet away from the main door and watched the momentary buzz in and outside the foyer.

Next to descend from the vehicle were four middle-aged women whom Marcus guessed were the teachers of the noisy students. They all wore a bright smile when they got out of the bus. However, their bright smile paled in comparison to the last woman’s sunny presence who hastily jumped out of the door just as soon as it closed.

Marcus’ breath hitched and his eyes widened.

“God, she’s—here, ” he broke out in a murmur, throat drying instantly.

She’s— She’s here!

Though unconscious, his fingers trembled and his respiration quickened. He almost had to pinch himself just in order to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

‘Ysabelle Rogratiatto is here.’

‘In Chateau Dobrí?.’

‘Now.’

‘But why? Why is she here?!’

“Father Marcus!” a high-pitched voice of a girl called out to him just as he was processing the truth. He turned to see who it was and found Mehak approaching him with excited jogs.

‘Oh, so the young Mistress is here also, ’ he commented on his mind. Noticing the same pink hat she was wearing, it didn’t surprise him at all that he wasn’t able to recognize her immediately among the group.

Collecting himself from his tentative shock, he smiled and greeted with enough warmth on the girl when she reached his front, “Good afternoon Mehak.”

“Father, ” Mehak said while bowing low. “You’re here!”

***

Ysabelle, in haste, grabbed the black sling bag that contained her DSLR camera and sprinted out of the bus just in time the door had shut.

In her many travels, she had been accustomed to sleeping in. Whether it was a bus, a train, or a private car, she had no preference. It had always been an advantage for her especially when she was lacking sleep. This day apparently was one of those sleep-deprived days many thanks to a certain priest haunting her dreams. She had specifically instructed her niece to wake her up when they arrive, but unfortunately, Mehak was too busy to do so and forgot about it. It was a good thing she had her sneakers on and comfortable jeans to race against time and make a clean jump out of the bus.

By the time she stepped foot in the castle grounds, she released a sigh, relieved that she didn’t fall. However, it was soon followed by a state of stupefaction the moment her eyes landed on Mehak approaching a man she had least expected to see in this castle.

‘Oh God, why is he here?!’

She blinked twice, clutched the straps of her backpack and sling bag, and for a moment hesitated whether to approach them or not. But she knew there was no avoiding the inevitable, so in the end, she slowly proceeded to where her niece was, all the while holding her breath.

“Ms. Ysabelle, ” the exorcist priest spoke just as she neared them, “good afternoon.” Their eyes met, quickly sending fireworks flying in the pit of her stomach.

“Fa—ther Marcus!” Ysabelle blurted out, sounding jumpy without intention, “good—good afternoon too.”

She felt her niece grab her free arm and positioned herself on the left side. That simple action somehow broke the shock inside her.

“What a surprise Father. Are you staying in the castle too?” she heard Mehak say seemingly unaware of the little tension brewing in between her and the priest.

Ysabelle noticed another weighty glance from Marcus and this caused her to tense up again.

“Yes, I am. I just arrived before lunch, ” he answered after briefly smiling. “I am supposed to do an exorcism rite here.”

“Oh, the one Father Julien said during our dinner last night?” Mehak elaborated.

“Yes, child. It is.”

‘Hmmm... what a coincidence, ’ Ysabelle commented in her mind. She remained silent all throughout the conversation, letting her niece do the talking.

“How about you two? Why are you here?” Marcus asked, looking at Ysabelle, and the girl back and forth.

“School tour Father. I did mention it last night as well right?” Mehak stated with a wide grin.

Marcus paused for a moment and then bobbed his head, remembering that topic during dinner. “Yes, yes. You did, ” he said whilst fleetingly glancing at Ysabelle again.

Their exchange broke off when a female teacher called Mehak from the front desk.

“Excuse me Father, Auntie. My homeroom teacher needs me, ” she said with a slight bow and a smile, and then jogged away.

***

The air around them grew thicker when Mehak left. Ysabelle’s heartbeat rose, panicking gradually as she thought of a good opening statement for him.

Now, why does she have to stay with the priest when she can always tail her niece and go to the front desk too?

That thought occurred in her, and so without weighing it down, she decided to just inform the priest that acceptable alibi. But, Marcus opened up a dialogue first with a simple question, “I reckon you are here to babysit your niece?”

Ysabelle glanced at him who was now looking at the busy students dragging their bags up in the first-floor stairs.

“Uh, that and my photography gig Father, ” she answered, managing to sound unperturbed this time. She watched the same scene in their front and then redirected her sight on Mehak who was talking with two teachers. Admiring the leadership her niece showed and the huge trust her teachers had placed on her, it made Ysabelle feel happy and blessed. The girl’s parents didn't even have an idea their daughter was a born leader.

“Mehak is a lucky girl to have a supportive Aunt like you, ” Marcus praised, now staring at her. His words were loud and clear, but for Ysabelle, it seemed like a thin whisper, being that she was too preoccupied and entranced with watching her niece in her tasks.

“I’m not really her Aunt, ” she said abruptly, no filtered words whatsoever.

“Come again?” Marcus broke out, his brows creased.

“Huh? What?” Ysabelle, now realizing the grave mistake, waved her hands and shook her head quickly. “Uh, noth—nothing Father. Just a silly blabber. Don’t mind it.”

She gave him a cheeky smile and a light pat on his arm, but this didn’t do well for Marcus though for his brows flexed even more.