In the Category of Families

Sarah was following the dead man through the street, her obvious enthusiasm hiding deep seated unease. She was looking forward to meeting someone else who could talk to the dead, but she wasnt looking forward to the effort of laying an entire family, and one that seemed this close knit to rest. Best case senario, theyd realize the pain they were causing and experiencing without need, and move on. Bad case senario, Luke wouldnt want to lose his family agian, and shed lose a possible friend. Worst case senario, Luke would want them to move on... and they'd take offence.
She let loose a small sigh, then turned to her guide, and waited for the coming conflict.

Edward followed his ghost sense which allowed him to feel the presence of those closest to him. John, Mum, Lucas... He headed for another ship, looking back frequently to make sure nothing happened to the little girl following him.

The ship they approached was long and narrow, a classic racing ship. A beautiful, Coxish classic detailed and polished, the signs of someone's pride and joy. Luke was nowhere to be found outside the ship however.

Sarah looked to her guide, noting his babying concern, "Dinnae fear for me, fiddler. Ets rather 'ard to attract tha Pale Ladies gaze, ifn ye don moind me sayin." She looked at the vessal they were approaching, "Are ye sure we're at tha roit spot? Ah kinnae see tha lad, an' tha' boat seems very angry."

"'e's inside for some reason," Edward answered, looking concerned and adjusting his hat. "Don' know why."

"Some stranger came an' too' over, Ed," came a younger voice from behind them. "Th' old Lord Fairfax, I thin'." Harry paced forward, obviously concerned. "Mum an' John are trying t' talk 'im down, bu' e's determined t' tal' to 'is son."

Sarah looked almost piqued with rage, "Took over 'im? Ye mean ye let tha lad get possesed? Ye great daft bullies, prolly just tol some wanderin soul that Luke could see ye for tha asking." She gives an angry glare at Ed. "Ye kinnae protect 'em from the livin or the dead, wot good are ye doin anybody 'ere?" She then realizes what shes saying, and immediately calms down and offers an appologetic look to the ghost, "Ahm sorry Ah said tha'. Look, if ye kin 'elp me get to 'im, Ah kin get tha rider away, Ah hope."

"We didn' ask 'im to do it. The ol' man was talking to our mum, and 'e finds ou' that Luke can see us, so in the next instan' 'e decided to ta'e over. We aren' sure what to do. On th' one 'and 'e might be able t' get Ali ou' of trouble. On th'other..."

"'e could get Luke killed?" Edward added, glowering at his little brother.

"Right," Harry answered nervously, looking suitably chastened.

Sarah shoots a worried gaze to the ship, "We kin worry about 'oos tha idiot later, roit now, theres a man not very 'appy wit yer 'Ali' 'ho own tha ship. We need ta get Luke out o' there an' 'ave words with this kidnapper a yers. Kin ye either 'elp me get on tha ship, or get 'im oot 'ere?"

"Can' you just knock." Harry asked with a shrug. "Tha's wha' 'e did."

Sarah cast a skeptical look at the boy ghost, then an appraising one at the ship, "'S worth a shot, Ah suppose." With that, she walks up to check on the entry to the grand vessel.

It took a good five minutes, but the knock was finally responded to. A small, round woman moved to answer the door, revealing a ship that was nearly spotless in it's cleaning. "Cal I help you?" She asked the young girl, a mixture of confusion and concern on her face.

Thinking quickly Sarah says to the lady, "Terribly sorry m'arm, but me boss sent me off on an errand an arsed me ta meet 'im here. Said 'e 'ad some business wit tha master of this vessal. Is 'e here yet?"

"Asked you to meet him here? What sort of errand?" The woman asked skeptically.

"Yes marm," Sarah said, "'Is orders were to get a message to tha' wierd lookin git his nibs was travelin wit, sommat about not bien able ta see 'im for dinna, y'see, and meet 'im 'ere sos we could wait fer the guvner ta get back from where'er 'es off to."

"Meet... here? At a ship he doesn't even own?" The woman asked skeptically.

Sarah squirms slightly, hoping the woman isnt getting ready to call the cops or somesuch, "Yes, m'arm, he loiks 'avin me on 'and in case 'e need some errands run on short notice. 'Es a moight fergetful at toims, sometimes'll ferget the toim a day, till it seems pertinent." Sarah was trying to pour on the 'doe eyes' hoping the ladies mothering instincs would take over, though she was also getting ready to bolt if the woman started making a fuss.

The woman stared at the girl, critical of her story. Clearly this young woman was a waif out for a snack or something to steal. Though the doe eyes wore at her heart, and finally got the desired reaction of a sigh and an open door. "Fine then. Come in, we'll take you to see Mr. Fairchild and maybe get you a snack and drink," She said, ushering the girl inside and down the hall.

The hall itself was elegant, but not ostentatious. A simple wooden hallway with a red carpet. Even the waiting room itself was relatively simply, filled with plush red couches, a coffee table, a grandfather clock and a bookshelf. "Lucas" himself sat on one of these couches, politely sipping the tea he had been given.

Sarah noted the superimposed form of the ghost over the man, and briefly turned red with anger at the dead mans rudness, she then did her best to compose herself, checked to see that the other ghosts were still following her, and said, "Evenin sir, Ah ran tha errands ye wanted, though somma tha boys wanted ta give ye a message, 'Ah message for a son' sir. Ahm not sure what they ment, but they seemed ta think ye took sommat without permission." She was gambling here, hard, and she new it. If the ghost riding this man wanted, he could easily feign ignorance and have her in a heap of trouble. Hopefully, with the hints she was dropping, and her spectral escort, he'd at least play along out of curiosity. She almost held her breath in anticipation of the next few minuets.

A look of complete disregard filled the sitting man's face. "Go tell them they have the wrong person," He replied dryly. He was hardly in the mood to deal with distractions that would get in the way of his message and might put the body in more danger if they were left around when his song returned.

Sarah was piqued at the abrupt dismissal, she was really getting sick of everyone trying to treat her like a child, "Look ye great bully, Ah kin see wot ye are, and Ah know ye don 'ave permission ta be 'urtin tha man 'ow ye are. Ye wan sommat, Ah kin 'elp, but ye keep 'armin tha livin, Ah'll make sure ye never get wot yer after, ye cruel daemon."

"If you would kindly leave, I imagine there will be less trouble with you gone than with you here. If I can deliver my message, I will leave. If I can not, I will not stop trying until my message is delivered. This is a personal matter I would prefer to discuss myself," "Luke" replied calmly.

"An' 'ow're ye expectin ta be believed, roiden annuder ooman?" Sarah asked, "Tha only thing yer family'll think is yer either a madman wot needs some 'elp, or a loir tryin ta play on their greif. Either way, you loose, dead man. Ye want ta win, ye get out a 'im, an' ask me fer 'elp. Et'll be scarier fer yer family," She looks down, suddenly nervous, "and a might dangerous ta me," she looks back at the wicked memory, determination in her small face, "but if it gets ye ta where ye stop this evilness, Ah kin get it done."

"And I should trust a little girl offering a vague solution because...?" Fairfax replied. "I'm not the sort of man who trusts promises to fix problems with no clear plan."

"Because..." Sarah was on the verge of tears, she didnt think that Harry and Ed would spread it around, especially as she was helping them save thier family, though there was no way to know if there were any hidden ghosts around, and that would be very bad. She had come this far, and she had to help this poor man though, "because Ah kin let yer family see yer face, yer actual face an' 'ear yer voice. Ye kin deliver tha message yerself, an' leave the man out a this."

"And how can you do that? I have never heard of such a thing..."