The Guilty One ... Chapter 9

Andysgirl- LOL sorry cutie! I'm finally posting! Thanks for reading! And are you really somebody's girl that's named Andy? Haha, sorry just curious!

Vatsala - Awwwh, I'm sorry love! Hope you like this chapter!

Lol X- haha, I love you! Here you go!

Taffy- Oopsie, sorry! Hey, just call me if you are going to die (not that I want you to) but I can perform CPR on you. I'll save you! AND how's the situation going on at home? Is it better now? Are you okay? Your dad? Hope so, let me know hun! I'm here for you!

Asian Cutie- LOL, really it was funny? well thanks! Urgh, I know what you mean... there are a lot of guys that are definite douches in my school too. No matter how attractive they may be, they have no personality whatsoever! THANK YOU HONEY! I AM SO GLAD YOU LIKE MY STORIES BUT I TOTALLY LOVE YOU MORE THAN MY STORIES! <3 And... I call it a search engine, doesn't really matter, you can call it whatever you like! Don't ever apologize for writing your comments. I love reading them and I especially love replying them but everything you say truly means a lot to me.

Lizsizzle- WHY THANK YOU VERY MUCH SWEETY! I'm glad it was funny, haha! And don't worry about it, you focus on school and get back to it when you have the time! Don't fall behind in school, hon! School sucks, agreed.
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CHAPTER 9

"Aria...language!" Issaic narrowed his eyes at me but just for a second before he grinned. And when I say Issaic, I meant the REAL Issaic. The one that I had seen as a ghostly image, the only image I had seen of him.

"Issaic?" I squeaked.

"The one and only," he winked. That was what he had said the first time.

I stared in shock. He was wearing his gray suit. The one I assumed he had died in but he was real. Solid.

"Oh. My. God." I pinched myself on the arm to see if I wasn't dreaming. "Ow." I muttered. I even blinked a few times and rubbed my eyes thoroughly for a minute. No, he was still there as Issaic. No more ghost stuck in Joey's body. Joey?

He stepped closer to me. I stepped back.

"Aria..."

"Stay away from me."

"What is this? How can you be afraid of me? After what we've been through?"

"Exactly. After everything we've been through, how could you lie to me?" I shrieked, "You had me think that you were leaving, as in vamoosh!"

"Yes you're right. I did lie to you. Call me guilty. And I'll still be guilty even when you give me a death sentence but I can't do anything about that. I had my reasons for not telling you."

"They don't have death sentences in Canada, dear." Matilda pitched in.

Ugh. They should. "Just what are your great reasons?"

"If I left, how on earth would I get revenge on Elizabeth's killers?"

"Revenge?? That was this was all about! This was why you never told me anything!"

Matilda was still standing there, watching the scene unfold between us.

"How could you have not told me?" I point at her, accusingly.

"I wanted him to tell you back at the shop but he didn't! I'm so sorry! I just wasn't allowed to...I...." She stammered.

"Yeah. Issaic," I now said his name with disgust, "is a real saint."

"I'm so sorry, Aria."

I turned to leave, which was when I heard the moan. I whirled back around and saw Joey lying in the corner. He was back!

I ran over to him and leaned beside him. "Joey? Joey, come on, wake up."

He slowly opened his eyes. He looked extremely tired. "Aria?"

"Hey!" I struggled to get him up.

"Where am I?"

"Casa Loma! You don't remember."

"I had the strangest dream." He muttered.

I bet, floating around in space or in the clouds, wherever.

He looked at his surroundings. "The tunnels? Weren't we in Sir Henry's room? I found you there."

I struggled to think of an excuse. "Find me there? More like I found you here. You said you were going to go take a look at the place and I guess you got lost. I don't know if you just fell asleep or fainted, but I just found you here."

Joey rubbed the back of his head. "Oh. I don't remember."

I pulled him up and took one of his arms around my shoulder so he could support his weight on me.

Issaic was still standing there, looking surprisingly worried, while Matilda was nowhere in sight.

As if reading my thoughts, Issaic replied, "Matilda decided to leave but said that you're welcome to her shop anytime for any unanswered questions. She's really sorry...and I am too."

"I think you should leave."

"I think your friend needs help getting back upstairs." With that, he came around to Joey's other side and placed his arm around Joey's shoulder.

Joey glanced from me to Issaic. "Is this your boyfriend, Aria?"

"Surely you bumped your head somewhere really hard. Let's get you upstairs."

We dragged Joey upstairs in silence.

"Do you need a ride home?" I asked Joey.

"No thanks. I think I can drive. I feel better. Thanks, Aria...and..."

"Issaic."

"Thanks Issaic."

"You're very welcome."

We walked him to his car since we had parked it somewhere else but luckily he didn't question it.

Joey opened his door but then stopped himself before getting in. "I was just wondering...is Brit still here?"

I couldn't even respond.

"Do you see her around? I don't see Brit helping you out of a tunnel. Let me assure you that you wouldn't have ever found your way out of those tunnels if she hadn't been there. After what Aria just helped you through, your only way of showing appreciation is asking how to court her friend!" Issaic shouted.

"Hit on," I corrected. It was the least I could do.

"Yes. All you want is to hit on her friend!"

"I..." Joey was speechless.

"That's what I thought. How about you leave now and go find some other girl that'll actually give you the time of day!" Issaic muttered.

Joey sulked into his car without another word. I wish we had done some damage to the car. It was a nice Mazda and some scratches would've helped my mood. Maybe I should've let Issaic crash into the lamppost back in the beginning.

"We should've crashed the car into that lamppost," I mumbled as I watched Joey drive away.

"I agree."

"Anyways, thanks but I didn't need your help."

"I know you didn't need my help but I just really wanted to tell him what was bothering me. Isn't that how people solve problems?"

"Not these days."

"Then how does one solve their problems these days?"

"With guns, knives and revenge-" I stopped for a second before continuing, "never mind, you already fall into the last category."

"Aria..."

I shrugged, "Doesn't matter. Didn't you already solve your problem by taking over his body?"

"It's not like he learned his lesson."

"I guess so."

I started walking off but Issaic caught up to me. I was struggling not to look into his eyes. I could fall into them and never come out.

"Going home?" Issaic asked.

"Where else?" I peeked a look at him. He was the only one wearing a suit in broad daylight for no reason whatsoever and yet he didn't even look out-of-place. How could someone look so darn good?

"Aria...I was just wondering if..."

"You want to be hooked up with one of my friends too?"

He looked repulsed. This was the second time I saw him look like that. "Of course not! Why would you even think that?"

I just shrugged. I didn't feel like talking but I answered his unspoken question anyway. "Fine, but only for a little while."

"Pardon me?"

"You can stay at my house. That's what you were going to ask, weren't you?"

"How on earth did you know?"

I shrugged again. I picked up my pace but Issaic's long legs caught up in no time. He was around 6 feet while I was around 5'8, and I thought I was tall. If he had been from our time, he could've been a pro basketball player.

"I would stay at Matilda's but...it does not feel right..."

"Uh huh..."

"I'm really sorry. I know you hate me but...I just couldn't tell you the truth."

I stopped walking. We were almost at the castle entrance. I didn't turn to face him, I just stood there.

"And just why not? Did I question you? Sure, I asked stupid questions and I still helped you even without answers. Not knowing anything! Why wouldn't I have helped you even with the truth?"

Issaic's head lowered to the ground

"I just...don't think I would've not helped you no matter how horrible the truth could've been." I admitted.

Issaic placed his hands on my shoulders and turned me around to face him and I was forced to look into his eyes. They were the same as I remembered them. Oh, so beautiful. A blue like that was so hard to distinguish in this world, it just made it more mesmerizing.

"I'm really and truly sorry."

I backed away from his arms and made my way onto the busy street with Issaic closely behind. I hailed us a taxi and we rode home in silence. We had nothing to say to each other but I still had a lot of questions for him, though I decided to wait. He still needed to know I was furious with him.

We entered the lobby of my building and I greeted the security guard. "Another one? In less than two days? My, my..." he teased.

"He's just an acquaintance." I tried smiling. Not even a friend.

"Is that so?" he winked and strode down the hallway.

We reached my apartment door and I led the way inside.

"Make yourself at home," I muttered as I went into my bedroom. I changed into another t-shirt and some pajama pants and came back out.

Issaic had already taken off the gray coat and placed it over the couch. He looked so good in his white collared shirt. He sat down as if he owned the place but I knew he wasn't thinking that. He just had that sort of appeal to him. I could just imagine how obnoxious he would've been if he had been rich in his time. I probably wouldn't even have dreamed of helping him if that had been the case.

"Just ask me."

"What?"

"I know you have a lot of questions, just ask."

I plopped down on the couch beside him. "How do we know each other so well?"

"I wish I knew."

"We've only known each other for two days."

"Which is exactly what I was thinking..."

I sighed and turned to face him.
"How do you know everything? I mean... how to drive, how to...everything!"

"It came with the environment."

I was clearly not satisfied. "That does so not help!"

"Would you like to know step by step?"

"Pretty much. It's the least you could do."

"You're right, I'll explain from the beginning."

I nodded.

"I first met Jean Carlo and after he died Matilda took his place. Now you're wondering what exactly did I do with Jean Carlo?"

I laughed in spite of myself. "Just a bit."

"You have a beautiful laugh." Issaic smiled. If I wasn't so mad, I think I could've leaned over and just planted one on him.

But I decided to ignore him. "So what did you do?"

Issaic's smile faltered for a second before continuing. "He was a necromancer. A necromancer is someone-" I cut him off.

"Someone that can talk to ghosts and even summon them."

Issaic was shocked, that much was obvious. "Exactly. So he found me."

"What about the other ghosts? There are other ghosts there too right?"

"Of course. They're very friendly people, especially Sir Henry Pellat. He showed me all these secret pathways through the castle."

"You were a ghost, can't you just walk through walls?"

"No, we cannot. There are many misconceptions about ghosts. First off, we can never truly be a solid form no matter how much we want to or even through magic but we do have qualities of a poltergeist. We can touch and move objects if we try to without actually appearing. We cannot walk through objects but we can disappear into thin air. We can't contact everybody we please...only people that want to be contacted."

"I never wanted to be contacted," I whispered.

"Maybe so but you were open to the possibility. Haven't you ever heard that children are the best ghost seekers?"

I nodded. "Yeah, they're more open to it."

"Exactly, but for some individuals it gets passed down even as they get older, like you."

Whoopie. Not.

"And not everybody has a ghost or in other words, not everybody will become a ghost when they die."

"What are you talking about? Of course everybody does...what happens when someone dies?"

"No...everybody has a soul but not a ghost. When someone dies...only the ones that have unfinished business or are troubled, become ghosts. The ones that die peacefully without any worries, their souls go straight to heaven."

"Oh... that's interesting."

"Isn't it?" Issaic smiled again.

"So Sir Henry Pellat is troubled?"

"In his case...not technically. He just wants to watch over the castle. After all, he spent so much effort on making his dream house, he just couldn't leave it."

"And his wife?"

"Wouldn't leave without him so they roam around the castle together."

"How romantic. But are they happy?"

"As happy as two ghosts can be. They have each other, that's all that really matters to them."

"So tell me about Jean Carlo."

"Yes, he was the one that taught me all about ghosts. He can detect the others as well but I was troubled, or well... that were his first words to me. And soon after that, we became very close. I was so thrilled that there was someone out there that could actually see me, talk to me. I hadn't known that I could make contact with humans but Jean Carlo taught me how. He taught me a lot. Various spells; how to unlock doors, how to manifest objects, things like that."

"But after Jean Carlo died, how did Matilda find you? She didn't have those powers."

"She didn't so I appeared, just like I did with you. She was open to the idea of ghosts, so it made it easy. I had already informed Jean Carlo about how I wanted to help avenge Elizabeth's death and he told Matilda..." he trailed off. I cringed by reflex.

"That still doesn't explain how you knew everything."

"Matilda was a very patient person. She really taught me everything I needed to know."

"Including how to drive? I mean, come on, nobody can learn without trying."

"But remember, I was in Joey's body. He knew how to drive so I knew too."

"How'd you know about the coffee shop?"

"It's hard to miss a huge sign that has the word 'coffee' in it."

"So pure coincidence?"

"Pure coincidence." He confirmed.

"All right... what about getting to Matilda's shop?"

"Hologram. Matilda showed me a hologram she manifested of how to get from the castle to the shop. I basically memorized it. She didn't ever think that I'd get there but it just so happens I did."

"How do you know everything now?"

"I do not know everything. I'm still learning. Breathing and eating is hardly something I have to learn. I have been doing it for 21 years, it's hard to forget."

I bit my lip to keep from smiling.

"I suppose both Jean Carlo and Matilda thought that if they helped restore life to me, I would accept life and not do anything so irrational."

"Please."

"You're right. I'm not stopping until I do."

"How do you plan on getting revenge on Elizabeth's killers if they're all dead?"

"Surely, they have families. By getting revenge on their families," he simply stated.

"Isaaic!" I screamed as I jumped from the couch and towered over him.

He remained absolutely calm. "What?"

"How can you? These are innocent families! They didn't know any better!"

It was his turn to shrug.

"I cannot believe you!" I yelled.

"Aria... just calm down."

"Shut up!"

Isaaic looked startled.

"You...you're a murderer!" I hadn't realized I was already crying. Great, my mascara was probably running.

"I'm not going to kill anyone!" he screamed.

"Then just how are you going to get revenge?"

"I'll find something."

"God, you're just so pathetic. Why don't you use one of your goddamn spells and make them disappear?" I spat.

Issaic got off the couch and slowly walked over to me.

"I'm not a ghost anymore...I'm human."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"That means that I'm living; breathing and heart pumping. I don't have any spells anymore. I'm not of the unknown... I'm human. It means that I'm now 21...again. And I won't always be 21 anymore. I'll be turning 22 next year, 23 the next and grow old. Die when I'm supposed to. I don't have any second chances, Aria. I was blessed with a gift. I'm going to live my life and not have any regrets when I do die. I can't have any regrets, Aria! When I die, I want to go straight to heaven...not become a ghost again. It was so hard, Aria...Do you have any idea how lonely it gets? Watching as people walk by everyday but not seeing me. I had no one to talk to, nothing to do. I blamed myself everyday for what happened the day of my wedding. I need to do this for the love of my life...she's not getting a second chance to live. I need to do this for...Elizabeth."

I sobbed harder. "So you're living again for her? Not because you want to?"

"No! I'm so incredibly happy that I'm alive again but I need to do something for her. It's the only way I can move on and enjoy my life. I'm not asking for her to join me...I just need to heal the huge hole her absence has left in my heart. Please, PLEASE, understand that!

He grabbed both my hands and squeezed. His eyes were begging.

"I need you to understand that. Please understand Aria." He reached one hand out and wiped away my tears.

"I do understand Issaic. I do. Elizabeth was just so-" I choked, "lucky to have you, she has no idea."

A tear rolled down Issaic's cheek. I didn't bother wiping them away.

I pulled my hands out of Issaic's grasp. "But don't expect me to be behind you, every step of the way. I may have helped you all this time... but from now on, you're on your own."

With that, I went into my room and locked the door behind me. I walked over to my dressing table and looked in the mirror. I was a mess. My mascara was running down my face and left black streaks. After everything I did for him, this is what he wanted to do? I was just so stupid! That made me cry harder. I took my hair out of my ponytail and crawled into bed.

I cried myself to sleep. I woke up around 2 in the morning and needed a glass of water. I was so damn thirsty, probably from all the crying. My body had been drained out of water.

I wrapped myself in my blanket, since my apartment always got cold during the nights. I quietly opened the door and tiptoed into the living room, hoping I don't wake up Issaic. Issaic was fast asleep. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, not the avenger he really was. Then I realized that he hadn't bothered to take out a blanket or a pillow from the storage closet. I quickly grabbed a blanket and a pillow. I placed the blanket over Issaic. I gently tried lifting his head to put the pillow under his head. Issaic stirred in his sleep and slowly opened his eyes.

I held back a gasp as I looked at his eyes. His eyes shown in the dark, it was like a blue flashlight.

"You -uhm...water, uh..." I shook my head. "Pillow." I made myself say.

"Thank you, Aria." He smiled as he took the pillow from my hand. I stepped away.

"Do you want a glass of water?" I asked, not looking at him.

"No, but thank you for offering."

"Ok." I went into the kitchen, got a sip of water and went back to my room, without another glance at Issaic. I knew he was watching me but I didn't bother looking back.

The next morning, my entire face was stiff. The tears from last night had dried up and hardened my face. It felt like concrete.

I washed my face and rubbed off all my makeup. When I got to the living room, Issaic was nowhere in sight. I started to panic. What if he left during the night? What if something happened to him? He doesn't even know the area so well!

Then I noticed a piece of paper on top of his blanket. Did I want to read it?

I forced myself to walk over and pick it up. With a huge breath, I looked at it.