Shannon flinched. Her azur gaze was lost in the air, covered by a terror filter. Her fists balled, she stared at her daughter and the man in confusion. Shannon wanted to protect the girl, her gaze was protective. But this man...

What was he doing here? Why were him and Marilou this close? Did Marilou need some help? Did the man have good intentions? Her mind spun at a thousand thoughts a minute, yet nobody dared to say anything.

All words were traitors in that situation, taboo. The best cure was silence. Perturbing yet perfect, it organized the whole thing. Marilou and the man consulted each other, watching the young girl with a look of affection and protectiveness.

Marilou seemed desperate. Her gaze full of regrets and doubts, she hanged to the man's arm, staring at her mother in fear.  What did she want? Was there anything that she wanted to say, but that she held back?

A minute passed. Then, five. The silence wasn't making it all embarrassing, yet Shannon saw exactly what happened. She didn't understand a single thing about it, yet she had to live with it.

Thoughtful and less surprised than at the start, Shannon contemplated the stranger slowly. Honestly, he looked pretty sympathetic. His expression was smiling and protective, yet she could seek a look of sadness and pain through his eyes. A scar. The corner of his lips was frozen in a mocking smile, as wrinkles covered his frail face, his hazel eyes piercing right through her skin.

His hairstyle was pretty funny. He had his white hair up in a way that reminded her of how they did during the eighteenth century. His outfit was well adjusted, hugging the curves of his body. The man had a floral english sweater, almost a dress, accompanied by an odd white tie.

Shannon's breath caught in her throat. This man looked like the famous Alfred William Smith, one of the most important men of the eigtheenth century. She shook her head. It was impossible, and she knew it. Sir Alfred William Smith was deceased, in a thousand seven hundred and fifty five.

Yet her insight told her that it was truly him. Her history classes gave her an advantage now. And yet it wasn't the time to show off her pride, acting like a geek.

Not at all. The only difference is that the man that stood in front of her was deceased in a thousand seven hundred and fifty five, and it was a too long time ago. Nobody could live three hundred and five years, no human could!

Most of all, he would look less handsome, all wrinkled and pouting. Shaking her head to shake off the thoughts, Shannon began finding the silence quite awkward. She wanted to speak, but she didn't find the words.

Tucking a strand of caramel brown hair behind her ear, the mother inspected them both. Did Marilou look happy? Yes. If she wouldn't feel safe, she would've seen it in her face.

Visibly, Marilou was stressed out. Her arms crossed behind her back and her gaze wandering around, she avoided her mother's eyes.  Why so? What made her anxious, all of a sudden?

Pouty, Shannon was about to retort something, but then her daughter pulled her out of her trance.

- Mom, I can explain, she suggested, her shaky voice betraying her nervousity

Shannon raised her eyebrows. The tone Marilou used and the fact she called her mom reassured her slightly. Oof, she wasn't neglecting her. Squinting her eyes, she invited her daughter to say more of it.

- Of course. I have a few questions in mind for you, Loulou. She started

The concerned one relaxed, letting her arms fall along her body. Glad that she had her attention, the interlocutor waited patiently for a response. Which didn't come. Instead, she replied:

- Did you know we had neighbours, mom? She inquired rhetorically, Because even if we don't live in heaven, we attract attention from them.

Curious, Shannon balanced her weight from one foot to the other. She didn't think that this manor would be interesting anyone, mostly not when all of it was about a haunted house. Clearly, this man's interest was the proof to it. Visibly, he likes horror movies, she thought, amused.

- Oh yeah? And what would your name be? Shannon questioned, plastering a smile on her face

She finally had attention from someone! Uh, positively? She hoped so. Shannon never tried to gain attention, yet she always liked having positive attention. Positive, naturally. Nobody would try to attract the idiots in their surroundings. And mostly not from that stubborn white-haired man that interested her truly!

- William. I assume you must be Shannon, am I right? He retorted calmly, in a british accent

Surprised, the concerned one decided to respond to him politely. Did he daughter mention her name, to that gorgeous stranger?  It looked like Marilou and the man went along well! Was there anything in his head? Shannon doubted it. Yet she didn't want to look too skeptical for her own good.

- Yes, that's me. And I assume you and my daughter go along well, am I right? She replied as she tilted her chin towards Marilou

Shannon thought she had hallucinated, as she saw Marilou and the man consulting each other with worry. Were they hiding anything? Certainly. Probably. If any revelations were too be told, Shannon would be all ears.

- Indeed, we had time to discuss when we stepped through the house. Marilou agreed as she nodded her head vigorously, her mother's doubts fading

Relieved, Shannon stared at both of them. She turned away, clacking her tongue in approval. Marilou and Alfred William Smith could finally breathe.

***

Marilou and Alfred spent the evening discussing. Again. Talking about the crazy talk they had with Marilou's mother, along with the weather or Alfred's troubled expression when he saw another human.

It worried Isaac. They spent a lot of times together, and he wanted to know if he had other intentions than that. It didn't look like it, but his behaviour was saying the contrary.

It worried Lilith more. She wanted to show Marilou something, recently. She didn't dare, considering she passed a lot of time with her new friend from the eighteenth century. If she had to be honest, it didn't bother the spirit to endure Sir Alfred William Smith.

Well, maybe just a little bit.

Living as a ghost in a manor for three hundred and five years, Lilith discovered a lot of secrets. Places. Taboos. Things that you couldn't reveal to anyone.

Lilith knew everything about this place, and more about its ancient owners. Creepy, she had to admit, but she always searched for the truth. Hungry for informations. With the years, she learned a few things.

Yet she didn't have anyone to share it with. But now, she wanted to share it with the twins. It broker her heart to admit it, but she liked Isaac better than Marilou.

Determined, Lilith walked towards Marilou. Where was she? Lilith didn't know. She focused on the girl's voice.

The spirit immediately found the young girl, sitting on the leather couch, next to Alfred. An annoying smile playing on her lips, Lilith levitated behind Alfred.

- Can I take her for a second, Alphy? She whispered

Bewildered, the man shifted to her, directing his gaze to Lilith's invisible body. With a sigh, he nodded his head.

- Yes, yes, of course, if you stop calling me Alphy, he grumbled as he pointe her

Nodding as well, Lilith lifted her index for Marilou to come over. Always enthusiastic, the girl jumped over.

- You have something to tell me, Lilith? She asked as she stared at her intently, walking away from Alfred

- Yes, I have something important to tell you. Follow me.

So that's what she did.