Engravings of Wraith

by Kiera Dellacroix

  He rubbed a hand through his hair, irritated at how greasy it felt, but too drunk to care. He looked at it stupidly for a moment, finally wiping it across the front of his robe and grabbing his glass to knock back the last of the Scotch. With a little sigh, he closed his eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.

  He awoke with a start an uncertain amount of time later and squinted around fearfully in the dark, the uncomfortable sense that he wasn’t alone gnawing at the back of his mind. Not moving from his chair and afraid to breathe, he let his gaze rake carefully over every inch of the living room. Finding nothing, he let out a relieved breath and his shoulders slumped, releasing the tension that he wasn’t aware had taken control of his body.

  “You lose, Terry,” came an Irish purr from directly behind his chair.

  His bladder let go as an arm snaked over his shoulder and a gloved hand from behind gripped his face, forcing his head up and into the back of his recliner. He screamed when he felt the puncture, but the scream morphed into staggered grunts of breathless agony as the blade slowly sliced through him in an upward motion. Eventually, as the blade’s progress was finally halted by bone, he felt himself released.

  His hands went immediately to his injury and his eyes dropped in horror to the bleeding gash that started just above his left hip and ran across the width of his abdomen to end at his ribcage. Surprisingly, the wound itself wasn’t gushing blood, the bulging presence of his entrails protruding through the wound had reduced the external bleeding to a slow ebb. He was dimly aware of Bailey coming out from behind his chair, leaning heavily on a cane and bending to clean her blade off on the front of his robe. Straightening, she reached inside her jacket and withdrew her cell phone, punching a number into it and bringing it to her face.

  “Fifteen minutes.”

  She flipped the phone closed and limped over to sit carefully on the end of his coffee table, eyeing him with interest.

  “For the second time in my life, Terry, I’ve killed because I wanted to, and for the first time in my life, it feels good,” she said conversationally. “The wound is fatal and, from what I understand, extremely painful. Care to confirm or deny?”

  He could only grind his teeth against the pain and stare at her, his eyes glittering with hatred.

  “I’ll take your silence as a confirmation,” she said amiably. “We have some time to catch up, it’ll take twenty minutes for you to die. Of course, you’ll be unconscious in fifteen. So its your dime,” she added with a shrug and looked at him expectantly.

  She received nothing but his labored breathing in response so she continued.

  “That little scratch I gave you is my last official act as an employee of the government,” she said casually. “Director Hoake almost laughed when I asked for the privilege as part of my severance package. Needless to say, your services to the Organization are no longer required.”

  She cocked her head curiously. “No comment?”

  With an effort, he managed to bare his teeth in a snarl.

  “That’s the spirit,” she said in amusement. “Did you really think that I would allow my lover to live with the guilt of having been the cause of my demise? She more than likely already thinks that this is all her fault, but I’ll have the rest of my life to convince her otherwise. It’ll be a long life too, Terry. Much longer than the few minutes you have remaining.”

  “D…D…Dyke,” Terry ground out painfully.

  She chuckled. “That very well may be true,” she said jovially. “But I’m her dyke, and I hope to God I always am.”

  She raised an eyebrow in contemplation as his breath began to shorten. “It seems I was off by a few minutes. Must be the alcohol in your system. It thins the blood, you know?” she speculated pleasantly. “More’s the pity.”

  She stood from the table and leaned on her cane. “Try to land on your feet when you arrive in Hell,” she said with a dark smile and turned to limp slowly towards the door, where she paused for a moment and waited for his head to fall lifelessly onto his chest.

  “Goodbye, Terry,” she said quietly as she opened the door and stepped out into the night.

  She carefully negotiated the stairs with her cane and walked down the driveway to the street to open the passenger door of her GTO. With a slight grimace, she sat down in the seat and rested the cane between her legs.

  “Where to now?” Josh said from behind the wheel.

  “New Orleans,” she said quietly.

  ———

  “Piper?” Nancy said gently as she hesitantly opened the door.

  “Come on in, Nan,” Piper said from the edge of her bed.

  Nancy entered and threw a worried glance at Piper who was still wrapped in her towel and staring at the katana lying across her lap. “Pippy, you’ve been out of the shower for over an hour, are you going to come down for dinner?”

  “Yeah, I guess I lost track of time,” Piper said distantly.

  “Honey, are you okay?” Nancy asked softly.

  “No,” Piper said wretchedly. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without her,” she said tears coming to her eyes.

  “You’re going to go on, just like she would’ve wanted you to,” Nancy said sternly.

  “I don’t know that I want to,” Piper whispered.

  “You have to.”

  “Why?”

  “Because that’s what she would’ve wanted, you know that,” Nancy said. “She loved you very much.”

  “I know,” Piper whispered.

  “Is that hers?” Nancy asked nodding at the sword.

  “Yeah,” Piper said with the ghost of a smile. “You know I caught her working out with it once. She was amazing. So fast and so strong, she was unbeatable.”

  “I imagine she was,” Nancy said quietly.

  “Why did I go home that day?” Piper asked in quiet torment. “Why?”

  “Only God can answer that, Pippy,” Nancy said. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  “Yes, it was,” Piper said miserably. “Because of me, she died on some operating table, alone with no one to watch over her and no one except a bunch of strangers to look after her when she was gone.”

  “Piper,” Nancy said sympathetically. “She died knowing that she saved you and knowing that her family was going to be taken care of. How would she feel if she could see you now?”

  Piper raised her eyes to Nancy’s.

  “Be strong for her, Pippy,” Nancy added giving her a quick peck on the cheek. “Now get dressed, your Mom is almost done with dinner.”

  ———

  Josh walked up the worn dirt road an hour before sunset enjoying the cold brisk weather. He rubbed his hands together happily as he approached the plantation home and climbed up the steps to knock firmly on the door, waiting patiently until a large man with graying red hair opened the door.

  “Can I help you?” Jack asked eyeing Josh warily.

  “Happy New Year. Is Piper here?” Josh said pleasantly. “I’m Josh Anderson, a friend of hers from Atlanta.”

  The man stared at him for a moment, evaluating him with intelligent eyes. “We’re eating dinner, would you like to come in?”

  “Yes, please. I’m sorry to disturb you.”

  “Not at all. Come in,” Jack said, stepping back and closing the door after him. “I hope you’re not here to give her anymore bad news. She’s had enough.”

  “Just here to say hello,” Josh said with a disarming smile.

  “Good to hear. Follow me,” Jack said and led him into the dining room where he was surprised to find a room full of people.

  “Josh,” Piper said looking up in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to see you,” Josh said, disturbed at the lifeless glaze that covered her eyes.

  Piper got up from the table and gave him a hug. “I’m glad you came, have a seat,” she said, leading him to a chair next to hers. “This is my friend, Josh Anderson,” she said to everyone as she sat back down in her chair. “I’ll let everyone
introduce themselves,” she added, waiting until the formalities had passed to speak.

  “How did you know where to find me?”

  “It wasn’t that hard,” Josh said dismissively as Liz gave him a plate.

  “Thank you, ma’am,” he said politely. “But you’ll need to set out another, I have a friend a coming if you don’t mind?”

  “Who?” Piper asked confusedly.

  Josh looked at his watch. “She should be here any minute.” A grin twitching slyly at the corners of his mouth as he dug his cell phone from a pocket and dialed a number.

  “Yeah, she’s here,” he said into the phone, turning a winning smile on Piper.

  Piper paled and closed her eyes as words once spoken abruptly dominated her mind with a startling loudness, their meaning becoming suddenly clear. “I play to win and if it looks like I’ve lost, its only because its not over yet.”

  “Oh God,” she cried, bolting from her seat and taking most of the tablecloth with her, scattering plates and spilling drinks as she knocked over her chair and ran from the room.

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding, Josh,” Martin said, rising from his chair. “If you are, it’s nowhere near funny.”

  “See for yourself,” Josh said with a chuckle.

  Martin smiled and ran after her, as did everyone else in the room. They emerged as a crowd on to the front porch, finding Piper jumping up and down with her hands over her mouth, staring with wide and tearfully overflowing eyes at the GTO coming up the drive. The car stopped and Bailey got out slowly, closing the door behind her and shooting a relieved smile in her direction.

  Piper screamed joyously and flew down the steps at breakneck speed, hitting the bottom and racing the remaining distance to throw herself into Bailey’s arms so hard it took both of them to the ground.

  “No way,” Martin said disbelievingly.

  “Thank the Lord.” Doreen said tearfully and Liz ran into her husband’s arms crying happily.

  “Who is that?” Fiona asked curiously.

  “It’s my sister,” Ryan said with a huge grin.

  Piper straddled her on the cold ground, covering her face and lips with kisses, only distantly aware that she was crying.

  “I love you so much,” she cried. “Don’t you ever leave me again.”

  “I love you, too,” Bailey said quietly.

  “Say that again,” Piper said, burying her face in Bailey’s hair.

  “I love you, Piper,” Bailey whispered, bringing a hand up to stroke the head buried in her shoulder. “Help me up, love.”

  Piper raised her head and looked deeply into the black eyes inches from her own. “Are you hurt?” she asked worriedly.

  “Still recovering I’m afraid,” Bailey admitted.

  She blinked back her tears and helped her shakily to her feet, noticing for the first time the cane she had been using to stand on, she knelt to pick it up for her.

  “Better?” Piper asked as Bailey took the cane in her right hand and leaned on it.

  “Yes,” Bailey said with a lopsided smile.

  “Good,” Piper said and stingingly slapped her face. “That’s for making me believe that I lost you.”

  Bailey gaped at her in stunned surprise, bringing her left hand up to cup her burning cheek.

  “Good for her,” Nancy said approvingly as she observed from the porch.

  “Ouch,” Jack said sympathetically.

  “I’ve a mind to do the same thing,” Doreen said happily.

  “Did that hurt?” Piper asked angrily.

  “Yes,” Bailey said peevishly, rubbing her cheek.

  “Good,” Piper said with satisfaction, reaching up to take her hand and placing a kiss on the palm, wrapping her in a hug and placing another kiss on the injured cheek. “I love you, Bailey Ann,” she added, bursting into happy tears.

  “I love you,” Bailey said quietly and Piper started to cry harder.

  “You have a lot of explaining to do,” Piper cried into her chest. “I thought you were dead.”

  “I promised, didn’t I?”

  “Kiss me,” Piper sniffled and raised her face to receive the incoming lips. “Now, come say hello to everyone who still thinks you’re a ghost,” she said, taking Bailey’s hand and leading her slowly to the porch where smiling faces waited to greet her.

  Bailey gingerly took the last step and smiled at her mother. “Hello, Mum,” she said and was enveloped by a crying Doreen.

  “It’s very good to see you, Bailey,” Martin said with a happy grin, patting her on the hand that was circling her mother’s back.

  “Hi, Martin,” she said with a smile over Doreen’s shoulder.

  Doreen finally let go of her and was replaced instantly by Liz. “Thank God, Bailey,” she said tearfully.

  The embraces went through everyone including Nancy and even the usually silent Fiona, who was obviously in awe of her. Piper never released Bailey’s hand and let the tears fall from her eyes unchecked.

  She was eventually led back into the house and taken to the dining room where Josh was found busily going about eating dinner, he looked up sheepishly as everyone came back into the room and Piper glared at him disapprovingly.

  “What?” he said around a mouthful of food. “I tried to get her to stop,” he said gesturing at Bailey. “But she was in a hurry to get here.”

  “Piper get her a chair,” Liz said happily as they all began to take up their seats.

  Piper let go of Bailey’s hand tentatively and began to leave the room, throwing an uncertain glance over her shoulder with every step as if she wouldn’t be there when she got back.

  “Corey get Bailey a chair, please,” Liz said rolling her eyes and Piper instantly closed the distance to retake possession of Bailey’s hand.

  When Bailey was seated, she reached over and patted her still crying mother’s hand. “I’m sorry, Mum,” she said quietly.

  “They said you were dead, child,” Doreen said.

  “It was necessary, I’m sorry,” Bailey said, squeezing Piper’s hand tightly.

  “Is it over?” Doreen asked.

  “Yes, it is,” Bailey said with a nod.

  “Are you okay?” Ryan asked.

  “I’ll need the cane to get around for awhile, but yes, I’ve never been better,” she said with a brilliant smile and Piper’s eyes grew moist again at the sight of it.

  “A lot of people were hurting very badly over your loss, young lady,” Jack said.

  “I’m truly sorry,” Bailey said regretfully. “It was unavoidable, not only for everyone’s safety but for mine as well. I was out for over two weeks following surgery. They weren’t sure whether or not I was going to make it and didn’t want to take the chance of making me a target while I was defenseless. They decided to proceed as if I died and followed my instructions in that regard.”

  “We’re just glad to have you back, Bailey,” Corey said.

  “Yes,” Liz said in agreement, “very glad,” she added with a smile nudging Piper’s knee under the table.

  Piper’s face scrunched up confusedly and she turned a look on her mother, who smiled and nudged her again, forcing a little box into her hand.

  “Thank you,” Bailey said quietly. “It means a lot to me knowing that I have friends and… uhm… family…” She paused, her voice cracking on the last word. “…family that care for me,” she finished hoarsely.

  “Don’t ever doubt that, child,” Doreen said tearfully and Bailey nodded.

  Piper reluctantly took her eyes off Bailey and looked to see what her mother had given her, letting out a quiet gasp at what she found. Her eyes came up to meet Liz’s and her mother nodded, grinning encouragingly at her.

  Taking a deep breath Piper steadied herself. “Uhm…Bailey,” she started and almost lost her nerve when Bailey turned an adoring glance in her direction.

  “Yes?” Bailey asked softly.

  “I…I…” Piper stopped and cleared her throat and Liz chuckled, earning a quick, vicious
glare from her daughter.

  “What’s the matter?” Bailey asked squeezing Piper’s hand.

  “Oh boy,” Piper groaned. “I want to give you your Christmas present,” she said in a rush.

  “You bought me a present?” Bailey asked quietly.

  “It’s more than that,” Piper said, feeling the sweat break out on her body, her face growing hot. She slowly brought her hand up from under the table and presented the box to Bailey, shyly.

  Bailey let go of Piper’s hand, using both to cradle the box and open the lid, emitting a little gasp when the contents were revealed. Her eyes grew moist and quickly overfilled as Piper took the ring from the box, grabbing her left hand in the process.

  “Last night, I went to bed not wanting to wake up,” Piper said in barely more than a whisper. “Tonight, I’ll fall asleep thanking God I have this chance. I don’t ever want to face another day without you in it,” she stopped for another deep breath and a sniffle. “I want to love, honor, and cherish you for the rest of my life. I love you, I’ll always love you. Please, be mine.”

  Bailey choked back a sob and forgot there was anyone else in the room at Piper’s words. She opened her mouth to speak but to her dismay she found herself incapable of forming anything coherent.

  “Just nod yes or no, goofy,” Piper croaked nervously.

  Bailey vigorously nodded to the affirmative and Piper slipped the ring on her finger. “I love you,” she whispered.

  “Way to go, Pippy!” Nancy said enthusiastically, instigating approving smiles and happy applause from the other occupants of the room.

  Bailey stared through tearing eyes at the ring encircling her finger, only dimly aware of the noise surrounding her. She brought her eyes up to meet Piper’s and promptly broke into tears, arms immediately enveloped her and she wept helplessly into the crimson hair.

  Liz wiped at her own eyes. “Let’s give them a moment shall we?” she said, standing from her chair. “Josh, would you get her things from the car and I’ll find you a place to bunk down for the night?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Josh said with a grin as he rose from the table.