42 The house in Hohenau (2)
As expected, nothing happened when Vera and Sara explored the house. They just had time to note how pretty the furniture was. And the quality of the materials used for the details.
«Is this a wood stove?» Vera inquired, standing next to a black iron stove.
«It is,» Florian replied.
He knew Mark Kaplan liked to keep things as they used to be, no matter how new the furniture could be. He hadn't built any modern heat systems.
Either way, that was a summer house. They weren't supposed to visit in winter.
«I see,» Vera said.
«Is this where she hides?» Sara murmured, tilting her head. She knew nothing about that specific spirit, but house spirits had their favourite hidings in the darkest corners, under the entrance door, or in stoves.
«I think so,» Vera replied, moving away. «But we won't be sure until the family comes here. She will react to them.»
«But... If that was the case, removing the stove would solve it... Right?» Florian inquired.
«Most houses don't have stoves, which makes them unwelcoming to most house spirits. Modern-day heat systems are not fit for them. But removing the stove doesn't guarantee she will leave. There are many other spots where she can reside. And you can't remove them all.»
«So, not having stoves makes a house unwelcoming... But it's no guarantee...»
«Exactly. It makes it unlikely that a spirit moves in after the house is built. But if the spirit was there before... Well, she won't leave just because of that. She's been here for longer than you think. We just need to find out what triggered her rage.»
«She's angry with the family?»
«Yes, she is,» Vera said. «We're here, and she doesn't care.»
«Isn't it because it's daylight?»
«Doesn't matter.»
«I see...» Florian sighed. Of course, a case involving supernatural creatures wasn't easy to solve. «So, what do we do now?»
«Just wait.»
They sat in the living room, each lost in their own thoughts. Florian took the chance to analyse the two women for the umpteenth time.
He had written his report on their conflictual relationship, but there was something he still missed. Before sending everything to the boss, he wanted to discover the reason behind their behaviour.
There was something wrong in the way Sara would put her efforts into saying something embarrassing - often unrelated or totally irrelevant - just to trouble Vera. And she dared do so too often for it to be a character trait. What made her think she had the right to treat Vera that way?
And what made Vera bear with it? Why didn't she fight back or complain to their superiors? Was Sara blackmailing Vera in some way?
Was the agency less welcoming than it looked from the outside?
The boss thought Vera liked her job too much to leave, but what if there was more behind the story?
They had to get a grasp on the contract. What was actually written in there?
Florian couldn't talk about his suspicions to the boss just yet. He first needed to confirm at least part of it. What if he was wrong?
He would lose his job and, likely, his head. And the boss would lose any hope to conquer the witch.
If Florian was wrong, and Vera liked working at the agency, trying to take her away just yet would have been counter-productive.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car parking on the main road. Then, supposedly, the Kaplan family took the path to their property on foot.
When they arrived, they stopped in the garden. Contrarily to Sara, they felt safer out in the open than inside.
«Don't worry,» said Vera while reaching the door. «I am here. She can't hurt you under my watch.»
She smiled at the family, and Helena Kaplan decided to believe.
The two teenagers were following their parents against their will, but their father had made it clear that experience would form their character. They would learn something new. If nothing else, not to meddle in supernatural events.
He wouldn't need to worry about his children playing with rituals - even as a game - after that.
The two, a girl and a boy, observed Vera with a keen eye. She wasn't much older than them, all things considered. She was a university student while they were in high school. How could a girl so young solve the matter with their haunted house?
The most doubting was the girl, Lora. She didn't trust that beauty with amber eyes. And, even less, the other blonde one. They didn't look like the police to her. Rather, like top models.
Or hookers, she thought while analysing the blonde woman's shoes and dress.
Her brother, Aaron, wasn't very convinced either. But, in front of two beautiful women and in the worst part of his teenage years, he would have done what his father wanted.
It was just about going into the house and checking whether the ghosts were gone.
«Frau Kaplan, would you like to come in first?» Vera said. She offered her hand and, in front of her children's surprised eyes, Helena accepted.
The witch signalled to the rest of the family to wait, and the women disappeared behind the door.
«I won't call the spirit by name anymore,» Vera said once inside. «I can explain everything when we're back in Vienna. For now, let's call it spirit, okay?»
«Okay,» Helena said. She hadn't heard the whole explanation, so she didn't even know the actual name. It was not hard to avoid it.
«Usually, this kind of spirit is close to the woman in the house. That's why I asked you to come in. I think she is angry with someone. Let's find out who and, possibly, why.»
«Let's do it,» Helena sighed. «Is it because of the crisis? Because I was too harsh to my husband? I had my reasons, don't you think? But if being a humble and passive wife for a few days will return this house to Mark, I will do it.»
She was ready to do whatever it would take. Even cleaning by herself.
