The Sugar Hill Collection

by M. L. Bullock

  “I want you to go away. Far, far away. I want you to drop your ridiculous claim with the board and your equally ridiculous court case with Avery. She’s the matrone, and you’ll never be in charge, end of story. This is your final offer, Bray.”

  “You’ve got a lot of damn nerve asking me to…”

  “I’m not asking.” I closed my eyes and imagined how he’d look when I told him the news. “You need to shut your mouth and listen, Bray.”

  “Stupid bitch! You can’t silence me! I won’t sit back and watch this family be destroyed by Avery Mutt-Blood Dufresne.”

  As he blathered on about his mission to keep our family line clear of any and all unimpressive branches, I was busy sending him text messages.

  “What the hell is this?” I heard his phone dinging repeatedly on the other end. “What kind of crap are you…”

  “Recognize any of those models? Especially the tall lanky one with the man sucking her stiletto heel? I like the one where she’s wearing red leather. Red suits her, don’t you think? I bet she wears that for you sometimes. Right?”

  “You must have photoshopped these pictures! No way that’s my wife.” He was furious now. I was so, so enjoying this.

  “Oh, yes, it is. I’ve got the photos to prove it. And the links, if you’d like to see them. Such a shame that Dorothea pure-as-the-driven-snow Fontaine Dufresne hasn’t lived up to your high standards, cousin. Everyone will surely accept her anyway, and we won’t think less of you because you married a…well…a girl like her.”

  “You won’t breathe a word of this, you stupid bitch.” He was livid now, and I laughed into the phone. “I mean it. You think that old demon you got is something…he’s got nothing on me. I don’t play games.”

  “My detective has copies of all this. All I have to do is say the word, and he’ll send a copy to everyone on the board. So here’s what you are going to do, Bray. You are going to get in your car with your prostitute wife and head back to New York or wherever you two came from on your honeymoon. I don’t expect to see you here again. And do not bother Avery with this nonsense. She’s got much more important things to deal with than worry herself with a worm like you.”

  He didn’t know what to say. I’d outplayed him. Well, Jamie and I had outplayed him. “Understand? I want you to say it. Loud and clear, now.”

  “I’m leaving. You won’t hear from me again, but you better not show those photos to anyone. I will sue you for defamation if you do.”

  I grinned. “Defamation is when you spread a lie, but this is the truth. I watch Judge Judy. I know what the deal is. Don’t come by here again. Don’t contact the family again. Goodbye, Bray.”

  I didn’t give him the satisfaction of answering me. I hung up the phone and ran up the staircase humming.

  Tonight we’d destroy Ambrose, and I had a date! This was turning into quite a day!

  I had one more phone call to make, and then everything would be set for tonight. I didn’t expect it would be a problem at all. I rounded the stairs still humming some forgotten tune and froze. Ambrose stood at the open bay window. His face was in profile, and he was looking out the window at something below.

  “Leave, now,” I said in a whisper. He never looked in my direction, never cast his cruel beauty on me. Ambrose simply vanished slowly, leaving no trace of himself behind except for the gentle moving of the curtains. But no, that was just the morning breeze, right? I walked to the window and peeked downstairs.

  I could see exactly what he was smiling about.

  Avery was here. Or something that looked like Avery. She was obviously dead, very dead from the color of her bloodless skin. Her black clothing hung on her frame like a shroud—as if she’d been dead for a hundred years. But yes, that was Avery.

  It wasn’t her, not yet. But Ambrose’s threat was clear. He wanted to add Avery to his collection of dead Dufresne women.

  Well, we’d see about that.

  Chapter Seventeen – Jessica

  I don’t know why Avery chopped off her hair, but she’d sure done it. I returned from my visits with Handsome and Summer to find her looking pale and kind of disheveled. I should never have left her. The air at Thorn Hill had intensified too. You could smell electricity, kind of like you would during an intense lightning storm. I followed her through the kitchen and into the mudroom. As we turned the corner I saw a shadow dart behind me, a spidery shadow about as big as my hand. I thought perhaps it was a spider, but those horrible things didn’t grow that big down here. Did they?

  I paused as Avery chatted away for a few seconds. The shadow spider darted around the top of the wall, and I shivered. God, please, anything but spiders! Then I heard soft laughter in my ear and felt a scratch on my arm. Leave now, witch! I whimpered at the pain, but Avery didn’t seem to notice. She went on and on about her hair and tied the remaining strands back with a ponytail holder that she pulled from her pocket.

  Maybe she just needed a change, or perhaps it was a cry for help. Well, I was a horrible hair stylist, so I could be of no help there. She kind of laughed it off and said it had been on a whim. She hoped that some talented stylist in Belle Fontaine could whip it back into shape. I merely nodded and couldn’t help but stare. This was how I had seen her in my vision. Like this, with that bloody wound.

  “You think Reed will hate it?” She laughed as if it were the funniest thing ever.

  Time to change the subject, I guess. “I’m sure he’d love whatever you did to your hair. You’re beautiful, Avery. Hey, did Summer call you this morning?”

  “No. Why? What’s up?” Avery smiled as she tied on an apron, the kind you wear in the yard. The spider shadow was back on the cool lavender wall above the side door. It reared up on its back legs and waved its front legs at me. The spirit hissed in my ear again, but I waved at it like it was a gnat.

  “She, uh, she mentioned having dinner or something later.”

  “Sounds great. Oh, that reminds me, I need to call Reed too. I need to apologize for last night. I can’t imagine how I did that.” She was fiddling with a visor now.

  “Did what, Avery?”

  “Knocked that dresser over on him. I don’t even remember doing it.” Happy with the way the visor fit now, she grinned at me shamefacedly. “I’m such a klutz.”

  I laughed, and it sounded kind of crazy. “Who said you did that?”

  “You did, this morning. Remember when you came into my bedroom? I must have gotten really loaded to do something like that. Remind me to stick to a two-drink maximum rule.”

  I frowned at her, but she didn’t seem to notice a thing. I never said that to her. I never told her she knocked over the dresser. Either she was delusional or…someone pretended to be me. And two guesses who that was. The spider expanded, and I reached for an apron. I fully intended to join her outside, if that thing would let me.

  “Oh, I wouldn’t mention it, Avery. I’m sure he’s all right. I heard Summer say she might invite him to dinner. I guess we should be there by five or so. She didn’t say what time.”

  “Great. You know what I want to do now? I’d like to go back and see that forgotten cemetery. Let’s finish cleaning it up. It just feels wrong to leave it the way it is. I’m so glad you found it. And I’m glad you’re here, Jessica. I have really enjoyed your company. It’s been a while since I tended a garden. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

  “Um, it’s not a garden, Avery. It’s a graveyard.”

  “Oh, did I say garden? I meant graveyard. Oh well, po-ta-to, po-tah-to…” She giggled, and it was an ugly thing. Something was horribly, horribly wrong.

  She was being strangely cheerful, like she was the happiest girl in the world. Like nothing weird had ever happened in her life. Not the book burning up, not Reed getting assaulted, not Ambrose threatening to add her to his garden.

  For the next few hours, we worked in the cemetery, breaking only for iced tea and icebox sandwiches. Thankfully, a late afternoon rain shower kept us from returning. I
didn’t see the shadow again, but I knew Ambrose was close.

  Yes, my hands were hurting, my back was hurting and I had dirt everywhere.

  I showered as quickly as possible, praying that the shadow thing would stay away. I dressed hurriedly and practically ran downstairs to wait for Avery. I wore a yellow dress with a yellow satin ribbon for a belt. But Avery looked like a million bucks.

  I watched her walk down the long staircase in a long, black satin gown, one that was more suited for an awards ceremony than for a dinner with her family. She’d actually curled and fixed her hair; she’d lifted it away from her face and revealed her lovely cheekbones. I swear I thought she was talking on her cell phone, but she was talking to herself…or someone I couldn’t see. I opened the front door and complimented her on her look.

  “Is it too much?”

  “Hey, my mother always says if you got it, flaunt it. You look great. You ready to go?” And here’s where things got tricky. I could tell she didn’t want to go now. She glanced up the staircase as if she hoped someone would come down, but no one else was there.

  “Reed’s waiting, Avery. He’s going to love seeing you like this,” I lied, feeling bad about it immediately.

  “Really? You think? Let’s go, then.” We walked out and made the drive to Sugar Hill. The farther we drove from Thorn Hill, the more agitated she became.

  “You know, I think I’ll stay at Thorn Hill. My hair looks terrible. Just look, Jessica. Can you take me back?” She peered at herself in the mirror.

  “Are you kidding? You are gorgeous!” Did we just pass Ambrose? Yes, he was standing on the side of the road. Same white shirt, slightly open. His dark hair hid his face, but I could feel his glaring eyes piercing the blackness.

  “No, I’m serious. Please take me home.”

  “But I thought Sugar Hill was your home,” I said, trying to prolong our conversation. We were about to turn onto the drive.

  “I don’t want to go now, Jessica. Take me back!”

  “Fine, I’ll take you back, but I need to go to the restroom first. Too much iced tea today.” I ignored her I-hate-you-look and put the car in park in front of Sugar Hill. With a cheerful smile, I hopped out of the car and ran up the steps. I needed help, and fast. Avery sat in the car glaring at me.

  But she wasn’t alone.

  I ran back to the car, and the ghost in the back seat stared at me the whole time. His hand was on Avery’s shoulder. Yes, she was definitely under his influence.

  “Avery!” I shoved my hand in my purse. Yes, there it was. I pulled out the tiny bag and clutched it in my hand. Then I slid my fingers into the bag and pulled out a pinch of salt. I opened her car door with my other hand and discreetly tossed the salt in front of the rear door. Ambrose would not be able to get out, at least for a few minutes. The power of salt was something I’d learned from Handsome. It was the only thing you could use to create barriers that would keep spirits away, however temporarily. I hoped and prayed that the salt would weaken his hold over her, at least long enough for her to come inside.

  “What? What is it?” Her blue eyes were fearful, and she got out of the car. “What?”

  “I have to tell you what I saw about you. I have to! I can’t wait. Please come inside so I can tell you all about it,” I said, practically dragging her up the steps.

  “What are you talking about, Jessica? You aren’t making any sense.”

  “I know I sound crazy, but I did see you. You showed up in my motel room. Your hair was short, like this.” I touched her hair lightly and fought back tears. “Avery, if something happened to you, I couldn’t live with myself knowing I could have prevented it. Please let me help you, Avery.”

  In a dreamy voice she said, “Okay, I trust you, Jessica.”

  We walked up the steps and into Sugar Hill. I glanced over my shoulder, but Ambrose was not there. I looked up at the now cloudless sky and wondered where he’d gotten to.

  For the moment, he’d lost his influence over her. I prayed it was long enough.

  Chapter Eighteen – Avery

  Handsome was singing beside me. “The very thought of you, and I forget to do…”

  I knew this song. Yes. Jonah sang this to me once. I sang the next line. “Those little ordinary things that everyone ought to do…” He’d done some crappy rendition of it for a throwback album, but I loved Billie Holiday’s version.

  Then Handsome’s warm voice returned, and it comforted me. “I’m living in a kind of daydream…”

  “I’m happy as a queen…” My eyes fluttered open, but I couldn’t see around me. “Handsome? Handsome Cheever? Are you here?”

  The room was full of smoke…no, that wasn’t smoke. It was fog or a haze of some kind. And I was at Sugar Hill. The family home had a certain feel to it, an energy that I’d never felt anywhere else.

  Then a light appeared. A small light, like candlelight. Yes, it was a candle. It bounced through the fog and stopped, and then there were two lights. I saw Annalee. She smiled at me sadly and then vanished back into the fog. As she parted, the fog did too, and I caught a glimpse of the wall behind her. I was in the Mirror Room! How had I gotten here?

  “Handsome?” He didn’t answer me. I couldn’t be sure he heard me, but I could hear him singing. His deep voice sounded farther away now, though, like he was in the next room or on the other side of a window. As my fear grew, I saw another light flicker. Another figure appeared, not as tall as Annalee but very like her. She did not smile but lit the next candle on the table, and she too disappeared into the fog as quickly as she’d appeared.

  More figures came out of the fog, all women, all with candles. Soon the table that usually stood bare against the wall near the door was full of lit candles in silver candlestick holders.

  And then there was Anne, but she was not as I’d known her in life. She was young, with her typical neat hairdo and a fitted pink dress. She too smiled at me, but it was empty and as dead as she was.

  “Miss Anne?” Had I fallen down the stairs? Injured myself somehow? Why was I here?

  “Someone answer me!” I waved my hands furiously, and to my surprise the fog began to fade. I saw them now, dozens of women lined up against the wall of the Mirror Room. I saw their empty smiles, their pale skin—and they all had something in common. They wore the ring!

  The ring I wore burned my skin, and I screamed. I tugged at it, but the metal singed my fingers. I cried out, but the women merely watched me like dead dolls. It was dark in the room except for the candlelight.

  And there he was. Ambrose in all his loveliness. His dark hair shone in the light, as if he were alive, young and healthy. The women stared at him adoringly, sighing in loving expectation of his attention. His cheeks were warm with life, and his red lips were bright as he sipped red wine from a crystal glass.

  He walked—no, slid—toward me. The remaining fog covered his feet, but I swear it was as if he had walked. His hands, yes, they were real! I could see the lines in his fingertips. He was as real as I was, breathing and walking and talking.

  “My Avery. Such a rare beautiful bloom. You belong in my garden, my darling Avery. You wear my ring, and you are mine. My soulmate.” His lips were close to my ear as he whispered the last word slowly. “I have many blooms in my garden, but I would treasure you above all others.” He sipped his wine and offered the cup to me. What could I do but accept it? I took it with shaking hands but didn’t drink. I stared into the crimson liquid. Was that blood? What was this?

  “What about these others, Ambrose? Did you tell them the same thing?”

  “You wear my ring, and you are mine. My soulmate! I will not be denied, Avery. How can you refuse me when I’ve waited so long for you?” His hands were in my hair, and he pulled me to him. I wanted to push him away, but something in my spirit was in control. My mind screamed loudly against this.

  “No, I can’t deny you, Ambrose. You’ve waited so long.”

  Then I heard another voice, a familiar voice. It was Hands
ome! I kissed Ambrose and began to shake with desire, but I listened and called out to Handsome with my mind.

  “Magic runs in our veins, Avery. It runs through mine. It runs through yours. It’s not something we can avoid ’cause it’s who we are. It’s really who we are, but that doesn’t mean we can’t undo what we’ve done. We can. I can. And I will, if you let me. Can you hear me?”

  I didn’t speak aloud, but I couldn’t help but nod. Ambrose stepped back and took the cup from me. His dark eyes glittered with anger. “You will drink. You will be mine.”

  Call me, Avery, and I’ll come to you.

  “Handsome?” I stared at Ambrose as tears began to flow down my face. Oh, how I wanted him. How I wanted to be loved by him…forever. And he loved me too. I could feel his love, his need for me, his desire. He was the handsomest man I’d ever seen. No one was as beautiful as Ambrose. No one…

  Avery, call me and I’ll be there. Miss Billie’s singing. She’ll watch over us. If you kiss him again, you’ll die.

  And then I saw her—Susanna! She was in the large mirror behind Ambrose. She shook her head, pleading with me. I could not hear her, but her face was full of fear. Seeing her gave me the courage I needed to call out, and I did. With all my heart, I screamed, “Handsome, help me!”

  And suddenly he was there, holding my hand. Ambrose froze, and the women vanished one by one. As each vanished, her candle flickered out as if stilled by a deadly wind.

  There was only one candle left now. And the cup was still in Ambrose’s hand. “You will drink. You are mine.” He offered the cup to me once more.

  Handsome squeezed my hand. “Now, Avery. Renounce him, and I can help you!”

  “What do I do?”

  I heard Ambrose growl, and he slung the cup at Handsome. It didn’t touch him; in fact, it passed through him like he was a ghost. Was I a ghost too? Was I already dead?

  “Tell him that you renounce him. That you don’t want him. That you are not his soulmate!”