Ancestral

Cinnamon Vodka

She had given me a lot to think about. I decided to start immediately. I went to the study and gently knocked. I heard a little rustling before a voice said, “Yeah?”

“Sorry to bother you Helmut, can I have a word?”

He opened the door, pulling on his shirt. “Come on in.” He sat on the daybed in the corner and gestured to the desk chair. “What can I do for you?”

This time I wasn’t sure where to begin. Seeing my hesitation, he reached down between the bed and the wall and produced a bottle. “This help?” he offered.

“No thanks,” I smiled, “Just not sure how to ask.”

“Just ask,” he stated, taking another drink straight from the bottle. Seeing me watch as he did that, he commented, “Better this way, no glasses to wash.” He snorted at his own joke.

I remembered that Mr. P. did not keep hard liquor in the house, so Helmut must have bought that on his way home after his interview today. Since the bottle was already half empty it seemed logical that he must have drunk that all since then. “How did the interview go?”

He just laughed, “Great! They loved me, but I could tell they were a piece of shit operation, so I walked away.”

He lifted the bottle to take another drink and I interrupted him. “Maybe I will have a drink after all.” I reached out and he handed me the bottle.

“Good stuff, you’ll like it.”

I moved as if I were going to take a drink but then acted as if I had just had a brainstorm. “Wait, I’ve got an idea. Come with me!” I casually placed the bottle on the desk, grabbed his arm, and dragged him to his feet and out the door. Andi was just coming in off the porch, so I enlisted her help. All I had to do was make eye contact. She immediately assessed the situation and gave me a nod. “Out here,” I said, leading him onto the porch. “I think you can see it from here.” I was just buying time until Andi returned. She brought a dark squarish bottle that could pass for a liquor bottle, and a clear bottle full of water. Ben and Sylvia were with her.

“I don’t see anything. What am I looking for?” He was pretty far gone, but Andi was planning to use that in our favor.

“Here Helmut, try this.” She handed him the darker bottle and motioned for him to drink.

He took a drink and immediately spit it out. “That’s not whiskey, it’s cold coffee,” he protested.

“No, it’s not,” Andi raised it to his lips, “It only tastes like coffee because it’s coffee liqueur. Phil tells me you used to love this stuff. Here, try it again.” This time he drank deep, almost emptying the bottle. He didn’t even seem to taste it. She then offered him the second bottle. “I brought some vodka too. You like that don’t you?”

“Of course, Who doesn’t like vodka?”

“This is a new brand, it’s cinnamon vodka, unlike anything you’ve ever tasted. Want to try?” She winked at me. Evidently, she had filled the bottle with water and added some cinnamon.

He took a large gulp and smacked his lips. “Not bad,” he said, “How about some more?”

“I don’t know,” she hesitated. “I think you’ve had enough.”

“I’ll decide when I’ve had enough!” and he grabbed the bottle and took it to the study. We followed him in. I neatly grabbed the real liquor bottle and handed it to Sylvia, who took it out of the room.

He was busy draining the cinnamon “vodka” bottle when Andi asked, “What happened?”

“it seems he didn’t get the job so he must have gotten the bottle on his way home.” He was starting to fade, but at least the coffee and water would lessen the effects of the alcohol and minimize his hangover.

“Good thing you went looking for him,” she added, “But why did you?”

“To ask him about the boys in the basement, like you suggested.”

“Of course. Did you get anything from him while he was still…?”

“He was gone before I got here, all I could do was get the booze away from him.”

“Try now,” she suggested.

“What? But he’s…”

“He hasn’t passed out yet, and the coffee has counteracted the alcohol enough that he is still somewhat coherent. He might be willing to say more in this unguarded state than if he were sober. Just try.”

I looked at Ben and shrugged. “Helmut, tell me about the boys in the basement.”

“They like to fuck,” he giggled. They’ve been fucking down there for over a hundred years.”

“How do you know that?”

“’Cause they like three-ways. Ask them if you can join in. They’ll fuck you too.”

“What are their names? How did they die?” I wanted some clear and useful answers, but he was fading fast.

“They died fucking. I like it when they fuck me. Feels so good.” He began to rub his crotch at the memory of his interactions with them, but he was too far gone. Before he could say anything more, he was asleep, and it was obvious he wouldn’t be awake for quite a while.

As Ben and I finished undressing him and tucking him in, Miss McFiercesen finally arrived on the scene, accompanied by Sylvia. She stood in the doorway and shook her head. “I’m sorry you had to deal with this. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own anger and pain at seeing him again that…It’s my fault. I should have warned you. At least he’s not violent when he’s drunk. Thank God for small miracles.” She walked over to him and caressed the side of his face, then suddenly slapped him. “Why do I still care? Why the hell…?” She dissolved into tears as she left the room.

Sylvia turned to follow. “I’ve got this,” she said. “My ex used to drink too. Not fun.”

Andi, Ben, and I shut the door behind us and headed to the living room. “It’s about time for me to turn in,” Andi said. “So, what did we learn tonight?”

“Learn?” Ben queried.

“About the boys in the basement,” I filled in. “She suggested I should ask him about them.”

“Well, duh, that was a no brainer,” he retorted.

“I know!” I was not feeling particularly smart at the moment, after realizing how blind I had been and how little I really did know. “I know.”

Andi stepped in and offered some encouragement. “Don’t kick yourself. This is an entirely new field for you and there is no institutional training for it. It seems you’ve never lived in a haunted house before, and now you’ve landed in a place where most of the houses are haunted. Give yourself some time. You’ll figure it out eventually.”

“Most..?!”

“I need to get to bed. It’s been a long night. See you at breakfast.” With that she smiled and left Ben and I to consider what she had asked. What had we learned tonight?