To Curse the Darkness by P.G. Forte Page B

head. To the contrary, everything was very much all wrong.
    The suite of rooms closest to the top of the stairs was where Georgia had stayed during her first visit here, shortly after Conrad had bought the house in the mid-eighteen hundreds. And even though she visited only rarely, for the next one hundred and fifty years Conrad had made certain those rooms were kept open, reserved for her exclusive use.
    He often found himself thinking of her when he passed this way. Perhaps it would prompt him to write her a letter, recounting an amusing anecdote that had recently occurred, one he knew she’d appreciate hearing about. Or maybe it would spark a memory, and he’d find himself reminiscing over events that had taken place over the course of their long friendship. Almost without fail, however, these reminders would bring a smile to his lips and cause his mood to brighten.
    It was only recently that Conrad had come to loathe the sight of that cursed door. That was Damian’s fault.
    Ten years ago, while he and Damian were still estranged, Conrad had convinced his lover to return with him here; and Damian had immediately claimed the rooms for his own use. For nearly a decade, Conrad had been forced to pass by this suite, coming and going, anytime he accessed his own rooms, which were located at the other end of the hall. Gone was the pleasure he had once taken from the sight. Instead it became a daily reminder of his loneliness and his ongoing failure to reconcile with his partner.
    Now things had changed again. Now this spot would become linked in his mind not with joy, not just with sorrow, but with tragedy. It would be tainted for him anew, haunted by the ghosts of those he’d loved and lost. Not just for a decade, but forever. He did not know how he would stand it. He might be forced to move.
    Julie slipped her hand in his. “Let’s just go in, all right? Like you said, we’ll get it over with.”
    Conrad nodded. “Yes, of course.” He forced his grief to the back of his mind and made himself move forward once again.
    As he raised his hand to knock, however, he noticed the small frown on Julie’s face and paused. “What is it? What’s wrong now?”
    â€œWhy are you knocking? Don’t you have a key? They are locked in, aren’t they?”
    Guilt stabbed at his conscience. He should have locked them in, shouldn’t he? “No, they’re not. But I promise you, there’s no need for concern. It was not necessary to…to imprison them by such means.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œFor a couple of reasons, actually. Georgia has been placed in restraints. I deemed that necessary because if the madness strikes her, even I might not be powerful enough to control her without incurring injury. As for Christian…” He paused, wondering how much to reveal.
    â€œHe’s under compulsion, isn’t he? You didn’t need to lock the door because he can’t escape—even if he wanted to.”
    Conrad glanced at her in surprise. “What do you know about compulsion?”
    Julie shrugged. “Not very much. You said something about it last night.”
    â€œDid I? I don’t recall.” It was very possible, however. He’d said entirely too much last night. He still could not imagine what had gotten into him. She hadn’t pried, exactly. She hadn’t demanded the information from him. She certainly hadn’t attempted to wheedle it from him as Damian might. And yet…it was unsettling how much he’d revealed to her. His mind shied away from the possible reasons. She’d caught him in a nostalgic mood. Surely that was all it was. “Anyway, you’re quite right. I felt it was best to compel him.”
    â€œYou never did that with me or with Marc, did you? Not even when we were growing up?”
    â€œPerhaps when you were infants, refusing to sleep, I might have tried to do something of the sort. But