Whispers of the Victorian House

Chapter 22- Sleeping Beauty Effect

Diya thought she could trust Caleb, but their relationship was put to the test after an alarming incident that occurred in the mansion's basement. After discovering that Caleb had not shared some crucial information about the mansion's history and the Book of Shadows, she began to distrust him and his motives. This made her suspicious of him and his intentions towards her. Diya was particularly troubled by the fact that Caleb knew the mysterious woman in the black veil, and yet he had not shared this information with her.

To make matters worse, Diya found herself struggling to understand the curse that haunted the mansion. She could not interpret the identity of the person responsible for the curse, nor the reason behind it. This lack of clarity and understanding left her feeling overwhelmed and confused. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to connect the symbols and cryptic codes she found in Emily's diary to the mansion's history, which added to her frustration and deepened her sense of unease.

Caleb informed Diya that he had a client waiting for him for a house auction and he needed to go immediately. He even warned Diya not to enter the basement alone without him. Diya felt disabled and discouraged from finding out the truth behind the mansion's history because of Caleb's dishonesty.

While leisurely walking through the grand mansion's lavish halls, Diya's attention was suddenly drawn to muffled whispers that seemed to be coming from the walls. She paused for a moment, contemplating investigating the source of the whispers, but before she could make a move, Tabitha appeared from the stairs, elegantly dressed and ready to head out.

With curiosity piqued, Diya inquired, "Where are you off to?"

"I need to grab a few things for myself and get some fresh air," Tabitha responded.

As Diya listened to Tabitha's woes, she nodded sympathetically like a dashboard bobblehead.

"I get it, girl. You need to shake off that stress before it turns you into a human-shaped stress ball," she said. Tabitha couldn't help but chuckle at the mental image of herself morphing into a giant stress ball.

Tabitha stepped out of the grand mansion, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor as she disappeared from view. Diya, feeling let down, moved closer to the wall once again in an attempt to catch any lingering whispers or murmurs. The cold surface pressed against her ear, but the only sounds that reached her were the distant chirping of birds and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. Disappointed, she resigned herself to the silence and pulled away from the wall, left to wonder what secrets might still be hidden beyond her reach.

As she looked around the spacious mansion, she realized that she was the only one left in the room with Brian and Brianne. The grand estate had been passed down to her from her mysterious grandmother, Emily Brown, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of both wonder and unease as she contemplated the secrets that the old building might hold.

Quietly, she tiptoed up the marble stairs, her steps muffled by the plush carpeting. As she reached the top landing, she peered into the dimly lit room to check on Brianne. To her relief, she saw that Brian, Brianne's husband, was already standing by her bedside, holding her hand in his. She couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and tenderness at the sight. With a faint smile, she gently shut the door behind her, taking care not to make a sound that would disturb them.

As she entered her room, she let out a sigh and plopped down on her bed. She reached into her shoulder bag and retrieved her grandmother's diary, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. With trembling fingers, she opened the diary and began flipping through the pages until she reached the last two. They were filled with mysterious symbols and cryptic codes, which she studied intently, trying to unlock the secrets they held. Despite her determination, the task proved to be challenging as the meaning behind the symbols was difficult to grasp.

Lost in concentration, she delved into the detailed world of decoding the cryptic symbols and codes sprawled out before her. She was fast asleep, oblivious to the calming atmosphere of the forest that seeped into the room through the open window. The sound of leaves rustling gently in the wind and the sweet scent of pine trees filled the air around her, sending her into a deep slumber. Her head thudded onto the soft pillows, and her grip on the journal loosened, causing it to tumble down to the floor with a soft thud.

Caleb frantically tried to reach out to Diya, but all his attempts failed as her phone remained unreachable. Little did he know, the exhaustion had overtaken Diya, and she had fallen asleep, unable to answer his call. The thought of Diya returning to the basement of the mansion alone and potentially getting into more trouble made Caleb increasingly anxious. Suddenly, the call disconnected, and all hope of reaching out to Diya vanished. The anxiety that had been building up inside Caleb reached a boiling point, and he felt as if he had no choice but to end the meeting with his clients early. With a heavy heart, he speedily made his way back to the mansion, hoping that he would arrive in time to prevent any harm from befalling Diya.

Diya's bedroom was shrouded in a frigid gloom that seemed to seep through every crack and crevice. She could feel the chill in the air, and no matter how tightly she wrapped herself in blankets, she just couldn't seem to shake off the cold. Though she was aware that all the windows were shut, she was too exhausted to get up and make sure they were properly secured. As she lay there, feeling exhausted and powerless, the wind whispered against her face, as if trying to lull her into a deep, peaceful slumber.

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💕Have you ever wondered why Caleb insisted that Diya call him every time she needed to access the basement of the mansion? Let's try to uncover the mystery behind it together!