Tim gave me a look of absolute trust. “Are you ready to do this?”
“I am.”
Having him with me? Yes. I was ready. We sipped the tea, and the combination of herbs that George blended had me relaxing almost instantly.
Once the cups were drained, Tim reached for my hand and grasped it in his. “It’s going to be fine.”
I loved that he was seeking to put me at ease. “I never doubted it.”
He leaned and rested his head on the back of the chair. His eyes drooped, then closed. Knowing he was under made it easier for me to let go and follow him.
The scene wasn’t like it had been before. Gone were the green fields, and in their place were dirty husks of buildings. Some had been burned out, and others looked like they should be.
Tim stood behind me, his hand on my shoulder. “What is this place?”
“No clue. This isn’t where I was last time.”
In the distance the echoes of a child crying for help reached us. Without hesitating, Tim raced in the direction he thought the sounds were coming from, with me hot on his heels.
The scene we came upon was surreal. A young boy, with blond hair and blue eyes, stood in the middle of a vast, empty area, crying. As we approached, I noticed Tim wasn’t being cautious at all.
“Hey, are you okay?”
He turned and looked at us, a smile on his face. He spoke with a soft Southern accent when he said, “You’re here!”
Tim threw a panicked glance in my direction when the kid wrapped his arms around Tim’s waist.
“I waited here for you, just like you told me to.”
“Like I…. What’s your name?”
He peered up, and I could see the absolute reverence on his face. “Alexander.”
“It’s good to meet you, Alexander. This is Scott, and I’m—”
“Tim. I told you, I’ve been waiting for you.” He reached out and took Tim’s hand. “I knew you’d come back for me one day.”
I gave Alexander a hard stare as a familiarity washed over me. “You were the one from my vision. The boy he killed.”
Alexander’s smile slipped. “I didn’t want to die, you know. I thought… I thought he loved me, like a father. I hadn’t had one in so long, and when he came to me and offered me a place to stay, I was so grateful. He bought me presents, taught me lessons that I missed in school, and then, when I told him I loved him, he killed me. Why? What did I do wrong?”
Tim dropped to his knees and clutched Alexander to his chest. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Alexander. Not one damn thing.”
The way Tim was with Alexander made me wonder if he ever wanted a family. He’d always been good with people, and the way he spoke about Ryan’s kids should have clued me in. He held Alexander, his muscles tense as he rubbed the boy’s back. Alexander sighed and sank into Tim’s embrace, resting his cheek on Tim’s chest.
“What did you mean when you said Tim told you to wait for him?”
Alexander wasn’t letting go of Tim. “He came to me, and seeing as how he’s gotten older, it must have been so long ago. He told me to wait right here. He promised he’d come back and help me and said he would bring someone who could do it.” He grinned at me. “I think that was you.”
“Wait. I came to you? Are you sure it wasn’t Scott?”
Alexander shook his head. “No, sir. It was you. You were a little kid, but it was you.”
“It’s because a spirit will almost always come to the lock first.”
I turned, not surprised to see Sofia standing there.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Timbo.”
He groaned. “Please don’t call me that. My name is Tim.”
She cocked her head. “I don’t understand. Timbo is a name that should be honored.”
“It’s not anymore. Tim is an okay name, and people don’t react differently to it. Timbo is… just weird.”
“Don’t deny your heritage, Timbo. Embrace it, and know that your name was a gift from your parents, who no doubt felt it symbolized the strength you would need to care for your key.”
He huffed. “I’ll think about it.”
As Sofia walked around, I noticed that Tim still held Alexander, as if protecting him. It was sweet to see.
“When Scott died, his abilities became active, as did yours. At night, while you slept, you were more receptive to the visits of those who needed help. Alexander was one of them. His death was the catalyst for the problems that plague you now.”
Tim’s eyebrows went up. “How do you mean?”
She turned her attention to Tim. “Alexander died in the early twentieth century. He languished here for nearly a century, and when Timbo’s abilities manifested, Alexander was drawn to him. By now his murderer was dead many times over, but he continued to roam the earth, looking for another he could control. He had a connection to Alexander, being the life he seemed most proud of taking. Each time his host died, he would stalk and torment Alexander. When Alexander found Timbo, he led the murderer back to him. In fact, he tried to take Timbo’s body then, but his connection with you was too strong. Only after you left was he able to finally break through those defenses.”
“So it was my fault?”
Tim squeezed Alexander, but his gaze was locked on me. “Stop saying that! There was no way you could have known, so just stop.”
She brushed an affectionate hand over Tim’s shoulder. “You’re right. No one is at fault for what happened. No matter what either of you did, he would have eventually found a way into Timbo. Without your influence, each time Timbo became upset, his ability to rebuff the spirit waned. Though your leaving did weaken him, it was the death of his mother, the former key, that finally allowed the spirit to enter. She knew this, and it was why she went to you, Scott.”
“If you knew all this, why didn’t you tell me?”
She chuckled. “Everything happens for a reason, you know. If I had told you, then Timbo would never have come here and accepted his destiny.”
“But he said—”
She knelt down beside Tim and Alexander. “Oh, Timbo wanted to believe it, but as much as he was certain, there would always be a seed of doubt in him. In order to fully accept his role in your life, he needed to meet Alexander when he was old enough to understand. This is his defining moment, where he comes to realize the importance of the work the two of you will do. The other spirits, who Timbo has not met, were a nebulous thing. Alexander is more than that.”
Alexander extracted himself from Tim’s arms. “I have to go now.”
Pain shone in Tim’s eyes as he locked gazes with Alexander. “I understand.”
“Thank you for coming back for me.” He hugged Tim once more, and I could see Tim didn’t want to let go. “For what it’s worth, you’re going to be a better father than you know.”
Before Tim could respond, Alexander disappeared.
Tim turned a harsh glare at Sofia. “You allowed him to stay here, by himself, for over a hundred years? Worse, you let that son of a bitch torment him?”
“You forget, I’m dead too. I have no control over anything.”
His lip curled up, showing off his teeth. He was shaking, and the anger was rolling off him in waves. “Then why didn’t my mother help him?”
“Tim?”
He startled, his eyes wide. His gaze snapped to Sofia, and he held up his hands. “I’m sorry. I… I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. I can sense the turbulent emotions in you, and I do understand.”
“Why am I so angry all the time?” He peered up at me. “Why am I so mad at Scotty?”
“I wish I had an easy answer for that. Your anger with Scott is justified. As his lock, you were made for him. When he disappeared, your life’s purpose went with him. All the feelings, the need to protect, the desire to love him? All that was turned dark by the pain in your heart. When the spirit entered you, he fed off that. You could say he nurtured it for his own benefit. Believe me when
I say a lesser man would have succumbed already. The fact that you still fight is a testament to your strength.” She moved closer to me. “But no man can stay strong forever. When Scott came back, the spirit used all that pain inside you and channeled it at him.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means if the spirit weren’t inside you, you’d still feel the hurt, but you would move past it. Your love for Scott would outweigh the anger. Your desire to protect him would supersede the pain of the past. As Scott’s lock, you need control in every situation….” She let the words hang, but I got the gist. “And Scott will need that from you.”
“But I’d still love him?”
She smiled. “Yes, he would have your heart, just as you have his.”
Tim sighed. “Thank you.”
“But,” she continued, her gaze locked on Tim, “there will still be times you want to throttle him. Trust me, Vano had to pull back his anger more than once. I was… headstrong, like Scott. I don’t envy you in the future.”
That made Tim seem happier. “So, what about my mom? Why didn’t she help Alexander?”
Sofia sighed. “A lock and key can only help so many people. There are those who have waited for longer than you know, but the thing about being dead is that time doesn’t pass. Though a hundred years has elapsed in reality, for Alexander, only seeing you as an adult told him time had passed. If not for that, he would never be aware of the years that had gone by.”
That seemed to assuage Tim somewhat. “How many others are still waiting for help?”
“Numbers beyond counting. While my people think that you are only here to help the Romani, many others will come seeking your aid. And Timbo, under most circumstances it’s up to you whether or not you’ll help them. Without your permission, they should not be able to speak to Scott.”
Scott arched an eyebrow. “Okay, two things in there make me a little nervous. ‘Should be’ and ‘most circumstances.’”
She gave a Cheshire grin. “There are some spirits with very powerful wills. They will sometimes push their way past you and go directly to Scott. Or if Scott is not with you, they might attempt to contact him directly. The two of you must figure out your rhythm to ensure you’re both working as one.”
“It sounds like Tim has the hardest job. How is that fair?”
“You’re not mistaken. Timbo’s job requires a clear head and nerves of steel. Your life is literally in his hands.”
Tim waved his hands in front of him. “Hold on. What do you mean his life is in my hands?”
She gave him an indulgent smile. “When Scott is helping spirits, his body is left unprotected. During this time, spirits, like the one who inhabits you, will be drawn to Scott, with a desire to take over his body.”
“And how do I stop them?”
She moved closer to Tim and placed a hand on his arm. “With the strength of your body and heart. During his sojourn into my past, Scott saw my love, Vano, hold a ghost. While Scott can touch them, only you can physically hold them. It provides you the means to protect Scott.”
“And what about Scott?”
“As you will see, the key helps the spirits find peace. Most of them simply need to be heard before they can move on. Others need an unfinished task completed. The motivation of spirits is known only to them, and sometimes the key must discern them.”
“And what about the spirit inside Tim?”
Sofia growled. It was the first unfriendly sound I’d heard from her. “That vile thing should have been destroyed long ago. Not only is he responsible for far too many spirits that are unable to move on, but he has also destroyed the lives of so many innocent people.”
“Then how do we stop him?”
Her expression was like that of someone sucking a lemon. “I don’t know. There have been others who’ve tried. Timbo’s own mother, for example, fought him on two occasions, but he’s a slippery one. Just when you think you’ve got him beaten, he flees from the body, leaving that person to wonder how they could do what they believe they’re responsible for.” She pursed her lips. “If I’m honest, I’m surprised he continues to reside inside of you.”
Tim glanced back at the spot where Alexander had stood. “So my choices are to beat him or do my best to continue to contain him?”
“Oh no. You cannot contain him. Every time you experience a dark emotion, he will once again gain his power. As strong as you are, even you can’t hope to contain anger or jealousy.”
I could feel the frustration rolling off Tim. When I reached out and touched his arm, he turned and gave me a sad smile.
“So there’s nothing we can do?”
“I never said that. How you will deal with it is up to the two of you. I cannot tell you how to proceed, mostly because I honestly don’t have the answers.”
This whole thing about being secretive was getting on my nerves. “You said before we needed to find our own way. Every lock and key who came before us, with the exception of you and Vano, had a teacher. Why are we different?”
She walked around us, studying us as if trying to determine how much she should say. “Old prejudices die hard. The Romani are still reviled in many places, and having a key who isn’t of the people will have them turning their backs. It will be necessary to earn their trust and show them you are worthy of the title.” She sighed. “The two of you are much like Vano and I were. Though we were of the people, we still were the first lock and key. We had no one to lead the way, and everything we discovered came through trial and error. But that path brought us closer together, both as husband and wife and as lock and key. Showing your willingness to help, to learn, and to grow? That’s what you must show the Romani to get them to see you as family.”
Tim stood up straight. “But we’re talking about people’s lives. Well, afterlives, I guess. We don’t want to screw anything up.”
“You’ve both been doing fine thus far. I have no doubt that as the two of you learn more, you’ll be even better than those who have had training. There is one thing you must always remember, though. You’re never alone. Find your strength from those you trust.” She huffed a breath. “Timbo, I know you’re upset about the fact that the two of you might have shorter lives, but think how much you will accomplish in that time. You will save countless people, living and dead. Could anything be more noble?”
Tim reached for my hand, and when he took it, he squeezed, grounding us both. “I’ve already been taught a few lessons on that front. I never want anyone to go through what I am. And after seeing Alexander, I understand how important what Scotty—what we—can do is to people.”
That earned him a genuine smile. “You’ll see that the rewards of what you’re doing will far outweigh anything else. And in the end, the two of you will have eternity together.”
That made me wonder. “Why aren’t you with Vano?”
She chuckled. “As I said, time passes differently for spirits. What has been hundreds of years in your world is nothing more than the blink of an eye for us. Vano understands my need to ensure the two of you work together, and he’s waiting for me to return to him. We have forever ahead of us, so what are a few more years?”
“And what about my mother?”
I’d wondered if Tim would ask. And I had to admit, I was anxious to hear the answer.
“Your mother did what any would do. She chose to protect her child, regardless of what it could cost her. I wish I could say where she went, but there are things even I don’t know. Once a spirit passes beyond this realm, I’ve no idea what happens. I helped enough to pass over to know that whatever is out there brings them peace.”
Tim blew out a breath. “If she’s at peace, I’m okay with that.”
Sofia placed her hands on Tim’s shoulders. “I guarantee you that wherever she is, your mother still watches over you, and she is very proud of the man you’ve become. As am I, and all those who came before you. You and Scott might become the greatest of any of us. But I won’t lie. The road ahead of y
ou will be paved with danger, sadness, and pain, but also of joy and more love than your heart can hold.”
Tim stood and wrapped an arm around me. “Nice thing about that. If it’s more than our hearts can hold, that means others can share in it.”
“Yes, that’s it exactly.” She clasped both our hands. “This is the last time we’ll meet like this. You have a destiny to forge, and I have an impatient husband who longs to see me once again. Know that Vano and I could not be prouder of you both. Go with our blessings. And always remember, only by working together can you succeed.”
A thought struck me, and I had to know. “Wait!”
“Yes?”
“You said that until me, all the locks and keys shared a family line. Tim and I are unable to have children. Does that mean when we die, there will be no more lock and key?”
She ran a hand over her hair. “It’s possible, but I don’t believe it. When Beth died without an heir, Scott came into the picture. He wasn’t of the people, had no connection to any of our bloodlines, but still he was a key. I believe that when your time comes, a new lock and key will arrive in time to take up the mantle from you.” She grinned. “It might even be your own children.”
“What do you mean?”
“The future holds many surprises, Scott. Why not let them come in their own time?”
As she began to fade, I worried that we were going to screw up somehow, but then Tim squeezed my hand and I knew that even if something went wrong, he’d be by my side to make it right again.
And I loved him for that.
Chapter Twenty
GEORGE PULLED a blanket up to cover Tim and I. “Sofia’s gone?”
Tim sat on the sofa with my head in his lap, running his fingers through my hair. “Yeah, she is.”
“So you’re on your own?” George frowned. “That doesn’t seem right.”
“You know, Sofia said we’re not alone, and I know now that she’s right. When we needed help, Gavin, Rachel, and Ryan all stood up for us. And so did you. Maybe the training isn’t as important as the trust we have in our friends and family.”
The Spirit Key Page 20