Pirate Ghost Boyfriend: Gustaaf Von Malevance 2 (special preview)

“I did,” she sighs. “But only once all of you were gone. I liked you. You and your Grandma were sweet and kind people. I didn’t want to give you any grief at all. I only came out to visit Gustaaf.” She then sighs sadly. “Seeing him just lying there, it broke my heart all over again. But at least I was with him, that’s all I ever could have asked for.”

“There’s no way you can reach him now?” I ask. “Can you possess me and speak to him now? Maybe if you try, you can convince him not to, you know, kill me?”

Rosemary sighs sadly. “I am afraid it is not that simple, Grace. I’m not strong enough to will myself over another person. Gustaaf knows this, that’s why he’s doing what he is.”

“Damn,” I grumble. 

“I have to go,” Rosemary whispers. The music box closes and the door opens as Lir comes into the room.

I stand up and walk over to him, taking one of the plates from his hands. “Thank you,” I grumble.

“What’s wrong? Did I wake you?” Lir asks.

“No, I’m fine,” I sit down on the edge of the bed and pick at the food with my fingers. “It’s just...I’ve been thinking.”

“Ah, have you now?” Lir sits at the desk like he always does. “What’s on your mind?”

“Rosemary and Gustaaf--I mean, Von Malevance.” I set my plate aside. “What’s the deal with that? How did they meet?”

Lir licks his finger. “Well, it’s kind of a long story. But basically, Rosemary snuck onboard after Von Malevance had attacked some French ship. She had taken the clothes of an officer and stowed away on our ship. Von Malevance found her and locked her in his quarters so no one would do anything to her.”

I frown. “And that’s it?”

“No, of course not,” Lir chuckles. “There’s a lot more to it, but it isn’t something that’s for me to talk about.”

“Oh,” I grumble. I pick my plate back up and start eating. I watch Lir as he turns to his plate. Even for some sort of fishy creature, he isn’t all bad to look at. In fact, he’s quite pretty. I find as more time goes on, I do greatly enjoy his company. 

“And what about you?” I then ask.

Lir chuckles and smiles at me. “And what about me?”

I shake my head. “Who are you? Why are you serving Von Malevance? You’re obviously not one of his skeleton crew. But you have been alive since he died, and probably longer before that, I assume.”

Lir licks at his finger, his tongue is dark green and sparkles slightly. “I owe him a great debt,” he says simply and goes back to eating.

“But for what?” I scoff. “What did he do that was so great that you’re still working for him now? Why not just walk away if you don’t like how things have turned out?”

Lir scratches the side of his face then sits so he completely faces me. “People in this world work against their moral code everyday. Sometimes there are things in this world that just work out better when you do. Von Malevance was once a good man, but grief and rage can warp anyone.”

I meet his eyes and swallow back a nervous flutter. “You’re still not answering my question, Lir.”

He tilts his head to the side. “Because I don’t really want to. I am still uncertain what truths you need to know. If these are the final days of your life, I would prefer they be as comfortable as possible. The less questions you have, the better.”