She nodded and stopped where she was. Nick headed inside with his brothers following. He found Aldrich where he’d left him, on the floor with a small puddle of blood, the broken statue head, and the cane. He approached the body cautiously, then knelt down and checked for a pulse.
Aldrich was alive.
*
He opened his eyes with a swift inhale.
‘Did it work?’ asked Juliet.
‘I saw something.’
‘What did you see?’
‘We went back to the manor. I think I know what my mum was trying to say: I must take my brothers with me. Maybe they’re immune to Aldrich’s ability too? They came with us in the vision. The door was open the way we left it. You waited outside in case Aldrich tried to use his mind thing on you again, then I went in and found him still on the floor. I checked his pulse. He was alive.’
Juliet gently sighed, her face softening. Nick smiled at her blatant relief and laughed awkwardly. She seemed to be watching his face, and whatever she was thinking, she leaned closer. There was a mildly painful flutter in Nick’s chest. Was he misinterpreting her body language?
Although his muscles seemed to lose tension, his skin became hypersensitive. He flicked a look down at her lips. When he came back to her eyes, she dropped them, letting her gaze linger on his mouth.
She kissed him, and he kissed her back.
Chapter Fourteen
WHAT HAVE I done?
She pulled away from the warmth of his lips. The kiss had lasted no more than five seconds, and Juliet’s ambivalence prevented her from fully enjoying it. It was a stupid, spur-of-the-moment thing. In her last relationship, she’d never been the one to initiate physical contact.
Moving back, she saw that Nick looked nonplussed. But he followed her with another kiss. She let their lips connect, then gently pushed him back. Too much change was happening: the car incident, the spirits, a man who could control minds, and now these feelings towards Nicolas. She wanted to kiss him, but she also didn’t want to. ‘We need to go get your brothers.’
Nick huffed, apparently amused. ‘Err, okay.’ He pulled out his mobile. ‘What was the kiss for?’
‘I don’t know.’ She moved back firmly to the passenger side of the car and composed herself, but offered no further explanation.
In a strange sense, she felt violated—not by Nicolas, but by Aldrich. He had invaded her mind, used her body, and altered her memory. An eerie shiver bristled over her skin. This intimacy with Nicolas felt like too much right now.
‘Okay … The twins might be at college. I’ll ring Tom.’ Nick’s phone was to his ear instantly. A moment later, he said, ‘Tom, are you at home? Good. Is Tommy with you? College? Why aren’t you at college? Actually, it doesn’t matter. Could you call Tommy and tell him I’ll pick him up at the main entrance in about twenty minutes? Maybe a little longer. I’ll come get you straight after that.’ He paused and his eyes shifted in thought. ‘It’s important, but I can’t explain now. Don’t say anything to Dad. It’s about Mum. Thank you, thank you.’
Juliet was impressed at the speed and painlessness of the call. If she were to phone Kim in that manner, Kim would flood her with questions.
Nick started up the car and was back on the road in no time.
‘What are you going to tell them?’ asked Juliet.
‘My brothers?’
‘Yes … and did I hear correctly, are they called Tom and Tommy?’
Nick laughed. ‘Yeah. But it’s easy enough to tell them apart. Tommy’s the larger, muscular one, and Tom’s the slim one. I’m not sure what I’ll let them know, but I know what we definitely can’t tell them.’
‘And what’s that?’
‘We can’t tell them about our … erm, abilities,’ he said in a practical voice. ‘They’d think we’re pulling their legs … or that we’ve gone insane.’ He chuckled, shaking his head. ‘Maybe we have.’
‘But what will you say about Aldrich? You have to warn them of the possible dangers. They’ll notice the marks on your neck.’ She rubbed under her nails, attempting to remove the dried blood. The idea that she could have bruised and cut Nicolas, that she had done that to him, made her stomach churn. It wasn’t me. I don’t remember it.
She had never laid a hand on anyone before, although she’d once wanted to, years ago, when some girls at school had bullied her for being wealthy. Growing up, she’d heard all the names—rich bitch, spoilt cow, snotty, more-money-than-sense, stuck-up. But these girls were particularly nasty. Violence wasn’t the answer, though. As retaliation, she told the girls that she didn’t care what they thought and that she’d never stoop to their level. They were just stupid, jealous girls, and Juliet was better than that.
Nick appeared pensive. ‘We’ll tell them about Aldrich, but then they’re still going to think we’re crazy.’ He sounded impatient, like he wanted the situation to be resolved already. ‘I know they’ll both want to come with us, because it’s about Mum. But they won’t believe us about Aldrich unless they see it for themselves.’
‘Which we don’t want to happen,’ Juliet made clear.
‘Hopefully my mum was trying to say that they’re immune to Aldrich’s ability.’ Nick pulled an unsure face, then began to drive towards Amiton, heading south past the small hamlet of Willow. On one side was Eradon Lake.
Juliet looked across at the water. Dour grey clouds hung in the sky, preventing most reflections on the rippling surface and causing it to appear deep and dark and sullen. The lake’s surface area was roughly four miles, and it took Nick a few minutes to drive clear of it. Afterwards, he crossed Nova River by bridge and then headed southeast.
Maybe we should visit Tamara Trewin, Juliet almost suggested, thinking the witch could help somehow. But she soon found many reasons why it was a bad idea: Tamara might be in the middle of an appointment; Juliet had been rude on her exit when she last visited; Tamara could be susceptible to Aldrich’s mind control; and how would they convince the medium to come along? And what could she do? She claimed to be a powerful witch—plus all her other titles—and had been right about Juliet’s displacement, but how useful would her talents be against Aldrich’s ability?
It’s not my decision to make, anyway … ‘Do you mind that I invited myself along to all of this?’ Juliet asked. ‘I realise it isn’t my business, what happened to your mother … You might not want me present when or if you find out.’
Nick seemed to really think before answering. ‘My mum affected your life and made it your business when she appeared to you as a ghost.’ He paused and cleared his throat before continuing. ‘I feel like I can trust you and I’m happy for us to unravel this mystery together, but I understand if you don’t want anything to do with it. I’ve already assaulted a man, and I don’t know what else we are getting ourselves into …’
Juliet saw guilt on his face. ‘It wasn’t your fault,’ she consoled. ‘I want to go back to the manor with you. I can’t avoid the changes that have happened to me, but I can try to use them to help you.’
When they reached Amiton College, Nick pulled up on a curb by the entrance. Students huddled about in small groups and walked aimlessly by. Some glanced over, displeased by Nick’s decision to park there, but most were indifferent.
The building featuring the main entrance was Victorian-style. It had red bricks, slightly yellowed white window frames, and to one side was a gothic clock tower, piercing high above all else. The rest of the college was made up of modern builds and even a stack of unflattering mobile classrooms.
Juliet had attended Amiton College, where she’d achieved a diploma in business and had also studied the practical elements of her degree, but not at this campus. There was a smaller one in the town’s upper grounds. She’d had a good experience, respected the college, and made a couple of friends along the way.
A brawny youth came from the direction of the mobile classrooms and headed towards the entrance. Juliet observed his swagger, his manly strut, which gave a c
lear message: Don’t mess with me. The youth didn’t look unkind, but more along the lines of cocky.
‘Is that Tommy?’ asked Juliet, recognising some attractive qualities in his face, and loosely pointing in his direction.
‘Ah, yeah. I’ll go get him.’ Nick got out of the car and ran over to Tommy. Juliet watched him move fast but stoically, then exchange a few words with his brother.
From inside the car she couldn’t hear what they were saying, but at one point she witnessed Tommy’s eyebrows coming together as he lifted a finger towards his older brother’s neck. Nick gave a dismissive wave and shook his head.
The two of them marched over. Nick opened the door, then levered the driver’s seat forward. Tommy squeezed in. He looked uncomfortably large sitting in the back. ‘Alright?’ he asked.
‘Hello. I’m Juliet Maystone.’
‘Tommy,’ he replied with a shrug.
Juliet smiled, somewhat warily.
After repositioning the front seat and sitting down, Nick said, ‘I’ll drive home to get Tom now. Why wasn’t he at college anyway?’ He twisted to face his brother. ‘You’re still on the same course, aren’t you?’
‘Dunno. I think he don’t like it nowadays. Always skips classes and stuff. Should do summin like art or whatever, not construction.’
Juliet instantly hated Tommy’s manner of speaking; his voice was drastically different from his older brother’s. Tommy had an intimidating, sonorous sound, but Nick had a gentler voice, rich in tone and clear in speech—though in comparison to Tommy’s, it was effeminate. At least he speaks clearly, though …
No one talked on the drive to get Tom. Juliet’s hands were getting colder. She became annoyed at herself for forgetting gloves.
Is this madness, returning to a place linked to someone’s death? she wondered. What if she and Nicolas went back and then they disappeared? Their lives over, just like that?
But she couldn’t deny all the coincidences, and it seemed Tamara had been right about fate. If Juliet’s destiny had been changed, then did she have a new one? I can’t believe I’m having these thoughts. She shook her head, hoping Nick and Tommy didn’t notice her distress. If I have a new destiny, then what could it be? Maybe if I go back, I’ll find out more about my ability. Maybe Aldrich knows how I can get rid of it and then I’ll be normal again …
Another thing urging her to stay was Nicolas—he’d saved her twice now and hadn’t even suspected her of being in league with Aldrich. If Nick had been the one to attack her, she would sooner have accused him of having a part in it than believed that Aldrich had put him under a spell.
Is that why I kissed him? Nicolas had put so much faith in her, despite them barely knowing each other, and now Juliet wished she’d enjoyed the kiss more. She even began to hope there would be another chance. Next time, she would completely want to kiss him.
Nick pulled into the drive of a house, a plain detached home with nothing distinctive about it. Juliet wasn’t sure if Nick lived there with his brothers, if he had his own place, lived with his dad, or whatever combination, but she kind of hoped he had his own house.
‘I’ll ring him and tell him we’re here,’ said Nick, searching through his phone contacts. He held the phone to his ear. ‘We’re outside.’
A slender, brown-haired guy hurried out to the car. He was dressed sensibly for the cold weather and looked nervous. He had the same face as Tommy, minus a bit of stock. Figure-wise, he resembled Nick more than the brother in the back, but Juliet could plainly see he was Tommy’s identical twin. Nick let him in the car, and Tommy shuffled over to make room.
‘Hi, I’m Tom,’ the latest addition said and grinned at Juliet.
‘Hello.’ She smiled back. ‘Juliet Maystone.’
Everyone fell silent while Nick adjusted back into his seat. He turned to address his brothers and told them about the morning’s events. Juliet felt uncomfortable; she avoided eye contact throughout, and when Nick spoke about the way Aldrich had controlled her mind and body, she turned away completely. Holding back tears, she listened to the twins’ reactions before twisting around to look at them.
Tommy outright laughed at some of it, but Tom seemed to at least consider things.
‘I knew yuh were into weird stuff, Nick, but is this supposed to be a joke or summin?’ Tommy asked, his face showing his boredom.
‘It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me,’ said Nick. ‘I’m just warning you that Aldrich could be dangerous. He knows something about our mum’s disappearance. Surely you want to know about that?’
‘Howdyuh know that?’ Tommy asked incredulously.
‘Someone found Juliet, told her where to find me, and to take me to Grendel Manor,’ he lied, keeping his word that he wouldn’t tell the twins about her ability. ‘They said it was about Mum.’
‘Whatever. This better not be a joke. And why aren’t yuh tellin’ Dad about it?’
‘You know how he is about Mum. I don’t want to tell him anything until we know more.’
Juliet respected Nick’s decision not to involve his dad yet, but her opinion of Tommy kept sinking lower. She took a moment to observe the slimmer twin; he looked preoccupied.
‘If it’s about Mum, I’m happy to come with you,’ Tom said suddenly. He smiled again and leaned back, apparently ready to get the show on the road. He seemed like a smiley kind of guy, which Juliet liked; his grin was as handsome as Nick’s.
‘Let’s just leave already,’ Tommy capitulated.
It took almost half an hour to return to Grendel Manor. On the way, Juliet thought she heard Tommy mutter something to his twin along the lines of, ‘Looks like Nick is gettin’ some then.’ Certain it was an inappropriate reference to her, she said nothing; she felt too uncomfortable.
Nick parked on the gravel area as before, and all four got out of the car. It was late morning and the wind from the sea was strong. Earlier on, the sun had peered through the clouds in places, but now the day was glum, the sky overcast. The air tingled Juliet’s face.
Letting Nicolas and the twins take the lead, she followed through the foliage archway and towards the building. All she felt now was deep dread. The front door was open as Nick had said it would be.
‘Wait outside, Juliet,’ said Nick. ‘Just in case.’ He stepped cautiously through the large doorway, his brothers following in the same manner. Juliet couldn’t see inside and didn’t exactly want to. She waited. No sounds came from inside. She waited some more. Her intuition screamed that something was wrong.
What’s taking them so long?
The wind howled in her ears, growing persistently louder. It was unnatural, as if it were trying to communicate with her. After building to an almost deafening level, it stopped.
Everything fell silent. Samantha Crystan appeared.
She materialised so quickly that the empty space she now filled seemed to swirl and implode. Ripples swam through the fabric of the air surrounding her. ‘Save my boys!’ She reached both arms out to Juliet. ‘SAVE THEM!’ the spirit roared, then fizzled out of sight as swiftly as she had appeared.
Juliet pelted up the chalky path and shoved the large door wide open.
Aldrich wasn’t on the floor as Nick had foreseen; there was only the blood, the cane, and the statue parts. The twins faced another direction and seemed to be peering into a room, searching. Juliet froze in panic when she spotted Nicolas, whose expression became alert the moment his eyes found hers.
‘Get down!’ she shrieked, and pointed behind him. She vaulted to one side and slid across the floor. The twins pivoted to see what was happening. Juliet covered her ears, squeezed her eyes shut, stayed low.
A thunderous bang rattled her body. She heard something fall and land beside her with a clamorous cracking sound, but she remained still, not ready to open her eyes yet.
She whimpered involuntarily and slowly lifted her eyelids, expecting to see blood everywhere and Nick’s brains all over the floor. But that’s not what she saw.
Nick was struggling to seize a shotgun from Aldrich’s grip, and Tom ran over to help. Tommy was standing with a hand covering part of his left arm, and then charged towards Aldrich and kneed him in the thigh. Aldrich lost his grip on the gun, and the twins secured his arms behind his back.
Juliet looked around and discovered that the clatter had come from a painting that had fallen and split on the floor beside her. The banister of the staircase was splintered, the floor marked, and the walls splattered with dark holes.
When she gazed over at Tommy again, she noticed a tear in his jacket and a bloody patch where he’d been holding his left arm. ‘Are you okay?’ she asked, struggling to find the supporting breath.
‘What?’ he shouted. ‘My ears are ringin’!’ Juliet repeated the question, nodding towards his left arm. ‘I’m alright. Just a graze, I think.’ He held firmly to Aldrich.
At that moment, Aldrich’s eyes fixed on Juliet’s.
Her mind went dark. There was nothing.
Then she was a step away from Nicolas, her hands held up aggressively. The twins stared at her. Both looked horrified. Aldrich’s eyelids were down now and his head drooped on his neck.
‘What happened?’ asked Juliet. She let her arms fall to her side.
‘He did it again,’ Nick answered. ‘He controlled you. You came towards us in a rage, but I hit him with the butt of the gun.’
‘You were tellin’ the truth.’ Tommy’s voice shot up an octave in astonishment. ‘How the hell does he do it? … He’s like a Jedi.’
‘More like a Sith,’ said Tom.
Juliet recognised the word ‘Jedi’ as something to do with the Star Wars films, but she had no idea what a ‘Sith’ was. And now wasn’t the time for jokes or pop references. She clenched her fists and performed a violent shake of her body, trying to quell a surge of anger. Violated … again.
‘I think I know how he does it,’ said Nick. ‘Well, not exactly how, but I think he uses his eyes. He has to see the person he is controlling. We should blindfold him before he comes back around’—he cringed—‘if he comes back around. I’ve knocked him unconscious twice now. He’s lost a lot of blood.’ He peered over at the pool on the floor.
The Shadow Box: Paranormal Suspense and Dark Fantasy Thriller Novels Page 130