Spirit of Meradoon

By Margaret Douglas

The Biggs family vacations in Scotland, and instead of a tourist trap, prefer to stay in a remote location. When an idyllic cottage overlooking Loch Meradoon is available at the height of the season, they believe it will be perfect for their first visit to the Highlands. Assured of a quaint cottage surrounded by beautiful views, it seems a dream to be near both the loch and the romantic, ruined Castle of Meradoon.

One misty morning the children, Emma and Thomas, decide to explore the eerie castle. Thomas, two years younger than Emma, isnt thrilled about climbing around the musty, smelly, ugly, old ruin. But Emma is keen to do something different and exciting on this vacation, something theyd never do at home. When they get inside, they encounter something beyond their wildest imaginings. They are immediately propelled into a series of adventures: exciting, mysterious, puzzling, and even frightening.

As this memorable vacation draws to a close, the children receive a special gift, a gift so unique it comes with life-changing consequences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 25, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449764692

Margaret Douglas

Margaret Douglas was born in London and now lives in Sahuarita, southern Arizona, with her husband, granddaughter, and Labrador mix, Jake.

Book preview

Chapter 1 – Castle of Meradoon

Oh, come on! Don’t be such a spoiled sport! Emma cajoled.

No! came Thomas’s fearful reply. "We really mustn’t go in there. You know what Mom and Dad said." Two years younger than his sister, his idea of excitement paled in comparison with hers.

The children had just left the cottage which had been filled with an aroma of the sizzling bacon and egg breakfast their mother had made to prepare them for their morning exploits. Despite a soaking drizzle they had run non-stop, giggling and chasing one another all the way down the hillside, and now seemed surprised to find themselves standing in a lush green pasture.

Five irregular shapes of land broke the pasture’s edge, projecting into the murky waters of Loch Meradoon. When Emma had first looked down upon them from the cottage, she thought they resembled the fat, mis-shapen fingers of a giant and there, on the very tip of his forefinger, sat a ruined castle just waiting to be explored.

All they said was they’d heard some stories. They didn’t give us a direct order to stay away. It was only a warning. That’s different! Emma’s green eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she pushed damp red hair away from her freckled face. Just ten years old, she reasoned she should now be able to do some exciting things in life and her expectation was high.

Castle of Meradoon loomed before them. Its aged and worn stone walls, soaked overnight by an incessant, penetrating drizzle, made the castle dark and foreboding and projected an ominous atmosphere. This sensation of mystery and doom was heightened by a damp mist floating off the loch’s surface. It swirled around a roofless turret, now forever open to the whims of weather and wildlife.

Thomas surveyed the eerie scene and his stomach lurched, just as it did whenever he went down the steepest hill of any roller coaster he had the good fortune to ride. As if that wasn’t bad enough, his mind created all manner of ghouls, ghosts and evil spirits as he imagined them confined within the ancient walls.

What makes you so eager to climb around a musty, smelly, ugly, old ruin anyway? Only fear made Thomas speak with more bravado than he felt, since it was uncharacteristic of him to counter whatever Emma wanted.

"It’s fun and exciting. We’d never have the chance to do this at home and we might never be able to again. We’re on vacation! It’s time to do something different; that’s what exploring is all about."

It wouldn’t matter what she said to entice him, he really didn’t want to go inside. Thomas felt trapped. If he didn’t agree to go with her she would probably be mean to him, or exaggerate to their parents how much he had spoiled her day. He was concerned, too. If his sister got into one of her moods because he wouldn’t do what she wanted, she might go off in a huff. Although he liked some time to himself, he wasn’t thrilled at the thought of playing alone. All he really wanted to do was stay in the pasture and search for frogs or grass snakes.

After yet another wary glance at the castle, then back at his sister, somewhat dispiritedly, he said, Oh, okay. You lead the way.

Chapter 2 – In the Shadows

Are you coming? Emma strode ahead, efficiently demolishing any soaked clumps of grass that barred her way by stamping on them with the thick, ridged soles of her Wellingtons. A perfect, smooth pathway now trailed behind her all the way back to where Thomas stood rooted to the spot, despite having uttered his reluctant acquiescence.

Lost deep in thought of fearful happenings within the castle’s walls, he thought his sister was acting irrationally, his over-active imagination determining that she may have succumbed to the draw of an invisible spell. When her voice reached him, distant and faint, he roused himself and felt as though he were emerging from a dream.

Okay, Thomas called, reluctantly. There’s no hurry; we’ve got all day! he added, irritated by his sister and determined to assert himself. Frustrated by her persistence and his doubts about the unknown, he irritably brushed the backs of both hands across the lenses of his glasses in an effort to remove the pinhead-sized drops of drizzle which blocked his view. I’m soaked. I didn’t realize a mist could be so wet. He ran, breathless, along the grass-matted pathway to arrive at Emma’s side.

They stepped off the pasture onto a wide driveway which, like the lifeline on a giant’s palm, forged its way to the base of his forefinger. Gravel crunched beneath their feet and in no time at all, thanks to Emma’s heightened speed and increasing excitement, they found themselves at the first step of a majestic entrance.

Wow! It’s enormous, isn’t it? she said, her voice filled with awe as she stared at the castle’s moss-covered façade, impressed by the height and vast dimensions of the ruin.

Yes as well as dark and mysterious. Are you really sure you want to go on? Subdued, his voice hushed, Thomas stood motionless while his sister ran ahead with unwavering enthusiasm.

Her reply rebounded off the walls, returning to him before the echo of his own had completely faded away. Of course, it’s so much fun.

This part of the castle was intact. In fact the main body was in very good condition since it was just one of the four turrets, each placed on a corner of the square formation, which had fallen into disrepair, and was the reason it was now considered to be a ruin.

Let’s go upstairs. Not a second had been wasted as Emma quickly scoured the ground floor. Without awaiting a reply she raced ahead, scarcely able to contain herself.

Thomas was abruptly left standing with his mouth open as he feebly attempted to utter some restraint. He felt ignored and insignificant; nothing seemed to matter except what Emma wanted. His shoulders drooped and he sighed deeply, frustrated because today was evolving much like many others.

The staircase was wide and the steps steep. Even Emma’s legs were barely long enough to climb, so she turned and held Thomas’s hand to pull him up after her.

This is so much better than I thought it would be!

At the top of the stairs they stood still to regain their breath, studying a vast corridor which stretched before them.

I’d like to go into one of the towers. Thomas was most surprised to discover that the voice he heard was, in fact, his own. It seemed the eerie castle had finally triggered his intrigue, and thoughts of those who had walked these hallways before them suddenly pried his deeply-buried curiosity to the surface.

At the end of the hallway, which seemed twice as long as any at the children’s school, enormous rooms flanked either side. Each room had a huge fireplace that could easily hold a quantity of choirboys captive.

A curved archway stood before them creating the entry to the roofless turret. Now it was Thomas who ran ahead unheeded. He gazed upward through its roofless top, amazed by dark, rain-filled clouds scudding right above them. I think I can touch the sky! he said, jumping up to try. When he saw a slit-window opening in the wall, he ran to it, hopeful of grabbing a handful of sugar candy mist drifting past. Here, you try! It’s fun.

Even a mist-catching challenge was insufficient to hold Emma captive very long. I’m going to the next hallway. I want to see if I can find a complete turret.

Hey, wait for me. You’re always in such a rush.

Luck was on their side, for the end of the next hallway brought them to one of three undamaged turrets. However, it was one in which they got a much different experience from their first adventure.

Ugh, get away from me! Get away! Emma ran out, screaming at the top of her lungs when a great flurry of surprised bats burst forth from the safety of the fireplace and flew screeching around them as they sought an early escape. Not only were the terrified creatures’ cries deafening, but the overall effect was increased by the noise of their frantically beating wings. They whirled around Thomas who was fascinated by their ability to fly without bumping into him, one another or the stone walls.

Emma’s screams faded as she ran back along the corridor, frantically waving her arms like the blades of an uncoordinated windmill. She was convinced the bats were trying to dive-bomb her, whereas in reality they were only trying to fly over or around her.

"I hate you, you horrible things! Leave me alone!"

From experience Thomas knew that anything he said to console his sister would be futile because she knew they were going to become tangled in her hair.

Gradually the quantity of screeching bats began to thin as one after another found sanctuary, either once again in the fireplace, escaping through the hallway to another area of the castle or, for the most acrobatic, flying like performing jet fighters with one of their wings dipped towards the ground as they hurtled toward the narrow, slit windows to exit without injury.

Somewhat disheveled and breathless, Emma returned to the turret. "I hope that doesn’t happen again, or anything else like it! I hate bats. I could feel their claws when they hit my head."

"Oh, you were frightened? Just imagine how they felt. They’ve probably been here for years and years and have never been disturbed. Think how terrified they must have been when they heard our voices. After all, you know their sense of hearing is far greater than ours. We probably sounded like a radio turned to full volume."

Really, are you sure? On this occasion at least it appeared that Emma may be able to see something from another’s point of view.

Thomas knew he had to distract his distressed sister. He loved the fact that he could now imagine the whole castle intact. His thoughts strayed to centuries past and he could almost hear the clanking of armor, or horses’ hooves making their distinctive clumping sound when they thundered on the damp meadow while knights jousted to the roars of the on-looking crowd.

Didn’t people stand on the top of the castle and shoot arrows at the enemy? I wonder how we can get up outside for a really good view of the loch?

You mean to the battlements. Although now calm, Emma was still smoothing her hair. There has to be a staircase somewhere. If we look hard enough I’m sure we’ll find it. Her voice regained a note of excitement and she was soon running around the turret looking for stairs, a doorway or anything that might take them to the ultimate level.

They scoured the tower’s interior more than once, separating to intensify the search which unfortunately proved fruitless. There’s nothing here. No doors or stairs anywhere, Thomas announced dejectedly.

You give up too easily. How about in the hallway? Let’s look there.

The children were intently focused as they searched the walls on each side of the hallway, but without result until Thomas suddenly shouted, Here it is! Gosh, it’s small.

He was standing on the first step of a narrow, spiral staircase. Despite being carved from stone it was easy to identify signs of wear as each step was no longer completely flat but had shallow, bowl-shaped indentations at the front. They curved up and out of sight into darkness, and also formed the ceiling above Thomas as they maintained the spiral. He felt confined and, since it was a sensation he intensely disliked, he stood perfectly still not wanting to go any further.

Oh hurry up, will you? Who cares if it’s small as long as we can get outside?

Ouch! That hurt! he whimpered when a forefinger jabbed him sharply between the shoulder blades. Emma didn’t utter a single word of remorse and was heartened when the poke created the desired result, prompting her brother to move ahead up the dim and dusty staircase.

There were no windows and the sensation of turning around and around in such a small space without knowing what lay ahead, scared him and stirred butterflies in his stomach. The ghouls, ghosts and spirits once again leapt into his imagination, only this time their images were fuelled by his memories of Halloween as he envisaged them dripping with blood, or their faces contorted in varying degrees of pain and torture. He was stressed to the limit when the combination of his fear and fertile imagination took control. He froze mid-step, pushing himself against the staircase wall as though trying to become invisible. You go ahead. I can’t! Before his sister could retort with another of her sharp remarks, he quickly added in a tiny voice, I’m scared.

Oh what’s wrong now?

Unable to believe she had such a wimp for a brother, Emma agreed it was a little dark but otherwise there was nothing frightening about the place. Don’t move an inch! It’s going to be a tight squeeze.

Her jacket scraped the wall as she side-stepped past, their noses but a centimeter apart. She tilted her head on one side and crossed her eyes in an effort to make Thomas laugh, but he stood completely frozen and said crossly, "That’s not funny!"

After about thirty steps the pair burst out onto the narrow battlements, both glad to escape the musty, claustrophobic confinement, even though it meant they were again outside in the endless drizzle.

After his unpleasant experience Thomas was unable to restrain himself and ran around the wall to look below. The grass is so smooth it looks like velvet and there isn’t a single ripple on the loch, he marveled, peering squint-eyed through the mist to study amazing views. You must look at this. Come here. There’s something weird near the edge of the loch. It looks like a pile of rocks with a trail. What do you think?

Stopped in her tracks by the change in his tone, Emma ran back to join him. They both stared at the strange scene below but were unable to agree as to what it might be.

Let’s go see it! Thomas decided, either suddenly forgetful or totally oblivious to the fearful journey they had just made.

They retraced their steps in a fraction of the time and ran out of the castle onto the soft, spongy pasture as they made their way towards the mysterious object. As they drew close and the indistinguishable thing appeared increasingly larger, caution finally slowed them to a walk. A mere glance was all it took to convince them it wasn’t rock nor of such a color. Instead the mysterious formation had a rich, emerald-green tint which shone with the glistening sheen of satin.

What do you think it is? Thomas inched closer.

I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like it before.

Should we get closer, perhaps touch it to see what it feels like?

All right, go very slowly though.

Thomas started walking around the perimeter, not quite so sure that he wanted to touch anything at all. Suddenly he stopped and jumped back, exclaiming, Whoa! Look at this!

What is it?

I’m sure I saw vapor coming from the base but it’s gone now. That’s where it came from, he said, thrusting his finger forward.

Emma followed the direction of Thomas’s finger and was incredulous when she also saw two distinct columns of vapor. At least that’s what she thought they were because no sooner had she seen them, than they immediately disappeared.

What could it be, an underground spring?

No, I don’t think so. An underground spring would have to be warm, and I think they’re only found in countries like Australia and America.

While they stood waiting, peering closely at the base where the first signs of vapor were seen, Thomas shouted louder and in total disbelief, It’s an eye, Emma, an enormous eye! Look, down there.

Oh don’t be silly, it couldn’t possibly be, she said emphatically, although her voice didn’t project confidence nor convey the same conviction as when she was sure of something. She couldn’t imagine what it was, but as she looked at an object about the size of a mature melon it held a strange, luminous-green hue.

"Yes, it’s definitely an eye—and it’s looking at us!"

Before Emma had a chance to disagree, the object moved. The columns of vapor were now dense and rose even higher in the air. Very gradually the ‘pile of rock’ began to unravel itself and the fixed formation became a swirling, writhing mystery. Get back! Don’t stand so close.

The children stepped as far away as they considered safe, all the while watching every move that was made.

The strange mass was beginning to take on a very different form from the one they had first seen. It continually shifted and grew until, finally, it was transformed. In front of the children there was