The Hallows Rest

"Is there something wrong with your room?" Donald asked his face completely innocent.

"Depends on who you ask," I responded. "I need to speak with Mrs. Shipley." He hesitated, confused. "Now!" I demanded my voice sounding very loud in the hushed Victorian lobby.

"Of course" Donald responded. His professionalism embarrassed me slightly; I was talking like a crazy woman. "Would you care to wait for her in the dining area? Continental breakfast is still being served."

"Thank you." I said sheepishly.

I sat down at one the small tables with a cup of coffee. I could not wait to get out of the hotel, but I couldn't leave without talking to Mrs. Shibley. She knew something. I felt myself feeling more kindly towards her, she had been trying to help after all. I'd been a real jerk.

Lost in my thoughts I didn't notice her sit down and gave a start when she brushed my shoulder.

"You met Adam." She said her voice a gruff whisper.

"I don't know" I responded blushing.

"Yes you do!" When I nodded she went on. "I tried to tell you, but no, you just had to stay here. How do you feel about your deluxe room now?"

I bit back a nasty response, she still was impossibly rude. "Who is he?" I asked looking into her cloudy eyes.

"The devil himself!" she said making the sign of the cross over her emaciated breast.

"Please Mrs. Shibley; tell me who was in my room last night?" I pleaded. "Is he a staff member, do I need to call the police? Help me!" I could feel my voice raising and couldn't stop it.

"Shh!" she said patting my hand. "Police won't help you. He would be impossible to arrest. You stayed in his room; they could arrest you for trespassing."

I stared at her in confusion, waiting for her to continue. "Before the house was an inn" She said, "It belonged to the Lyon Family. Adam was their cousin from England. He came to stay with them because he was a trouble maker, and an embarrassment. They exiled him to America. He was no better here. Adam was a big game hunter, a gambler, and a womanizer. When he wasn't hunting animals he hunted women, especially other mans wives. Well one day he chose the wrong one, and in a jealous rage her husband killed him in the very room you stayed in."

I felt a chill run up my spine as I remembered the strange dream I'd had of a young man directing the arrangement of his trophy.

"When this place was turned into the Hallows Rest one of the selling conditions was that Adam's room was maintained in the manner to which he is accustomed. It was also strongly encouraged that no women stayed in the room. That didn't make it into the contract, but the staff knew about it, and we kept it from happening if we could.

I was twenty when I came to work here. About a week after I started we got snowed in. The hotel was practically empty and the staff stayed in the guest rooms. I was young and brash like you," She smiled at me and it softened her whole face, I once again regretted being so judgmental.

"I wanted to see what all the fuss with room seven was about, and boy did I find out! I haven't been in the God-forsaken room since. The new staff, they don't listen. Every once in a while some weirdo books the room on purpose. We had some crazy writer stay here for two weeks last year! Unholy that's what it is. Anyway child, maybe next time you will listen when someone tries to help you."

She stood and walked away without another word. I watched Mrs. Shibley leave and made a hasty retreat from the Hallows Rest. Even now two years later I get chills remembering my time there. The thought of Adam brings feelings of both shame and longing. I have found myself tempted to return many times but can't bring myself to do it. Samantha has the room booked for the Memorial Day holiday next week; I can only hope this account will make her change her mind. Although knowing her she will try to book an extra night. For his sake I hope the ghostly Casanova likes redheads, he may have finally met his match.