Paranormal After Dark

by Rebecca Hamilton

  “I don’t know. I just feel weird.”

  He touched her face, his eyes glittering in the dark. “I’ll walk you inside.”

  Ever nodded and unlocked the door. She stepped inside, fumbling along the wall for the light switch.

  In the split second it took her to step into the dark hallway, the door slammed shut behind her.

  She whirled around. “Cade?”

  “Ever?” His return call was faint through the thick door. “What happened?”

  “That wasn’t you?”

  “No.” The door knob jiggled once, and Cade cursed. “Something’s wrong with the door.”

  Ever froze, listening. Something didn’t feel right; it was worse now that she was inside. She gently laid her mask and purse on the hall table, and then hit the light switch.

  The hall was empty. The familiar Navajo patterned rug glowed merrily on the hardwood floor beneath the soft, warm light. The living room was dark, but nothing seemed out of place. She could hear the dogs barking in the backyard, alerted to her presence by she and Cade yelling at each other through the door.

  She reached for the doorknob. The lock wasn’t in place, so Cade should have been able to open it. When she touched the handle, it sparked beneath her fingers. Pain shot up her arm.

  Magick.

  Panicked, she called to Cade. “I’ll let you in the back door!”

  In the kitchen, she switched on the light. Nothing unusual here, either: the coffeemaker silent, the carafe filled with cold coffee leftover from that morning. The two chairs she and Nah had sat in for breakfast were still angled away from the table because they never remembered to tuck them back underneath. The back door was still dead-bolted. Her nah had left the blinds open on the back door, and Cade’s face appeared as she drew near.

  Ever hissed and jerked her hand away. The back door reacted the same as the front, sparking sharply beneath her fingers.

  Cade grabbed the handle, his face grim, and jerked. The door didn’t budge. He cradled his hand against his chest. “Son of a — !”

  “Maybe the cellar door,” Ever suggested, pointing him in the right direction.

  Cade opened his mouth to answer, but his gaze drifted over Ever’s shoulder. Shock, then concern, then anger warred on his face. A split second later, he attacked the door, throwing his entire body against the wood and glass.

  The hairs on the back of Ever’s neck stood. She stepped backwards, away from Cade’s fury, too scared to turn and face the source of his fear.

  “Hello, Ever.”

  She whipped around to find Gilles Robidoux standing in her kitchen.

  “What are you doing here?” Ever asked, her heart pounding so loud she could barely hear over it.

  “I could not speak to you freely with your boyfriend so closely attached to you, my little phantom.” He smiled, a harsh slash across his angular face. He glanced around the kitchen, wrinkling his nose. “This is where your mother chose to raise you? What a shame. You were royalty once.”

  Ever backed into the door, where Cade was still desperately trying to get in. But the house had survived a millennium’s worth of storms; it could withstand forces far tougher than a teenage boy.

  “Have a seat, Ever. We have much to discuss.” Gilles waved his hand.

  Ever didn’t have a chance. She stiffened as his energies entangled her, forcing her forward. She crossed the room under his influence and sat at the table. She tried to fight against his hold on her, but couldn’t. His magick was too powerful.

  Before Gilles could speak again, the window on the kitchen door shattered.

  Gilles threw up a hand, and all the bits of broken glass paused in mid-air. He twisted his wrist and closed his hand, and the glass melted back into the frame seamlessly, as if it had never been broken. Through the perfectly smooth glass, Ever saw Cade hurl the lawn chair he’d used to break the pane into the yard, cursing furiously.

  If Gilles Robidoux is this powerful, I don’t have a prayer, Ever thought, trying not to hyperventilate. She took a deep breath. Play along. Put him at ease so he’ll let you go.

  Nah says you’re strong. Believe it.

  “What do we have to discuss?” Ever asked.

  Gilles sat down across from her. “You and I, ma chère.”

  Ever couldn’t suppress the wave of disgust that crested through her. “Aren’t I a little young for you? Legally?”

  Gilles looked stricken. His magickal hold on her loosened. “Ah, no, ma chère. I do not mean romantically. I take it you do not know who I am.”

  “I just met you,” Ever snapped.

  “I am your father, child.”

  Ever gripped the table for support. She couldn’t speak as she stared at him, searching his face for proof. She saw it in the shape of his eyes and the curve of his jaw. Ever was definitely her mother’s daughter, but this man looked as if he could be her father.

  “I don’t believe you. Can you prove it?”

  He laughed, as maliciously entertained by the situation as she was horrified by it “You don’t need to believe me. I know it is the truth.”

  “If you’re my father, what was the worst thing you ever did to me?” She covered her useless left hand. Though her mother had never told her how it happened, Ever had always known her father was to blame.

  “I let your mother keep you away, and thus kept you from becoming the great witch you are capable of being.” Gilles cleared his throat. “Lily has kept you from me for far too long. Now it is my turn. If you wish to take any belongings, I suggest you pack a bag now.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you,” Ever said through gritted teeth as she stood, fighting against the tenuous hold he had on her. She held out her bad hand. “Did you know you maimed me?”

  Gilles stood as well and came to her side so fast she didn’t see him move. She let him take her hand and inspect the damage, even though the sensation of someone else touching the sensitive skin made her stomach roil.

  She realized she hadn’t heard any noise from the back door since Gilles had cleaned the glass before it hit the floor. She glanced at the darkness outside — Cade was nowhere in sight, though the dogs still barked.

  “I did this?” Gilles asked, catching her gaze.

  Ever didn’t like the regret she saw in his eyes. If he exhibited any signs of human emotion, her own compassion would get in the way. After eighteen years of pretending her father didn’t exist, she wanted to keep doing so. “Mom says you did.”

  “Why hasn’t she healed you?” He cupped her hand between his palms.

  As his magick washed over her skin, Ever said, “She’s tried. So has Nah.”

  Suddenly, the lights blinked out.

  “What?” Gilles let go of her hand.

  Thunder shook the house, and the first drops of rain began to hit the windows.

  “Thunderstorms. What’re you going to do?” She thanked her lucky stars for the opportunity. She turned her voice personable, pretending to be at ease with him. “We have a flashlight in the closet. Wait one sec.”

  She moved away from him, feeling for the closet. The further she got from him, the weaker his spell’s hold on her became.

  “The lights go out here a lot,” Ever said to distract him. “It’s an old house, you know.”

  “Why would you not simply magick the house alight?” Gilles scoffed. “Your mother. Always so barbaric.”

  Ever clenched her jaw, locating the heavy MagLite. “Magick isn’t always the answer.”

  “Sweet girl. I have so much to teach you. So much harm your mother has done that needs undoing.”

  Mom never harmed me the way you did, Ever thought. She hit the button on the flashlight, her heartbeat speeding up. She found Gilles’ gray outline in the ambient light, then turned the beam on his face.

  “You’ll never teach me anything.”

  Gilles threw his arms up to shield his eyes, and Ever used the opportunity to leap to his side and bring the flashlight down on his head.
/>   Gilles buckled to the floor, his skull bouncing on the linoleum.

  In the same instant, another burst of thunder shook the house. The lights flickered back on, and Cade burst through the basement door.

  Chapter 20

  CADE

  EVER STOOD OVER a bleeding — and definitely unconscious — Gilles. Her eyes were as big as saucers, and she still brandished a huge, black MagLite over her head like a club.

  After the absolute horror of being stuck outside unable to protect her, Cade did a double-take at the scene before him.

  “Obviously, you’ve got this,” he said with a grin.

  Ever burst into hysterical laughter. Cade was sure she had to be working through some serious stress. As he knelt beside Gilles and checked for a pulse, Ever stopped long enough to squeak, “Did I kill him?”

  “No. But you probably should have.” Cade stood and crossed to her, taking the flashlight from her shaking hands and setting it on the counter. He cupped her face in his hands, checking her for marks. “Did he hurt you?”

  She shook her head, blinking fast. “No. Not really.”

  “What happened?”

  She gripped his arms, her gaze falling to the prone Gilles. “He says he’s my dad.”

  Cade’s jaw clenched. “There’s no way you came from that. I can’t believe it.”

  Ever laughed bitterly. “You haven’t met my mom. He’s exactly the sleazy kind of guy she would fall for.” She sucked in a deep breath. Her bi-colored eyes were glassy. “Oh, Gods. What if he really is my dad?”

  “Hey.” Cade took her chin in his fingers and forced her to look at him. “Even if he is, it doesn’t mean anything. You are a beautiful person, Ever. No matter who your parents are or what mistakes they’ve made.”

  Ever looked at him as if her entire world hung in the balance, and he was the only thing keeping her from cascading over the edge.

  Cade swallowed hard as he wrapped her hair around his fingers. His heart was in his throat as he tugged her close and kissed her.

  Every missing piece fell into place as her lips moved against his.

  She felt solid, warm, and real in his arms. Her small hands drifted over his chest and her soft curves sank into him. She yielded to him, her lips parting so the kiss could deepen. Cade reveled in the feeling of her tongue against his, in the aggressive way she returned the kiss as if she couldn’t get close enough to satisfy her need for him. His body reacted swiftly to the feel of her pressing against him. She belonged there and always had.

  They were interrupted by a pained moan, and Gilles shifted on the floor.

  Cade broke the kiss reluctantly and hurled a sleeping curse at the man.

  “Don’t curse him!” Ever said, swatting Cade on the arm as Gilles’ head fell back to the floor. He snored loudly, the curse already cast. Ever glared at Cade.

  Cade lifted an eyebrow. “You’d rather I knock him out with a MagLite?”

  She bit her lip, obviously trying not to laugh. “Smut, Cade. If you’re going to be my boyfriend, we have to get rid of the smut on your soul. You’re better than that.”

  Cade’s heart skipped a beat. He slipped an arm around her waist and dragged her against his chest. “Boyfriend?”

  Pink blush suffused her cheeks. “If you want.”

  “I’ve never wanted anything more.” He kissed her, slow and soft, then pulled away and sighed. “Let’s call the police and get this dude carted out of here before we give him permanent brain damage.”

  * * *

  IT WAS NEARLY two in the morning before the police drove away with a still unconscious Gilles Robidoux. Cade left Ever in her grandmother’s capable hands and drove home.

  The house was quiet; both his mom’s sedan and his dad’s Hummer were in the driveway and the porch light was off. He took the stairs to the second floor, thankful to be home. It had been a long day and an emotional rollercoaster. His feelings for Ever were confusing enough without adding a life-threatening situation and sleep deprivation on top of them. He was on the verge of passing out.

  He couldn’t decide whether or not he was mad at himself for not telling Ever that he’d known about Gilles. Why had he kept it a secret? Lack of opportunity to mention it, maybe. Lack of conviction. Or some macho-man desire to protect her.

  Without warning, the doors to his father’s office flew open as he passed. Cade felt tendrils of his father’s power encircle him, lifting him off the floor as if he weighed nothing. He flew across the hall and through the office doors, incapable of fighting the power.

  “Insolent brat!” Rémy snapped, flicking his fingers towards the carpet.

  The magick tossed Cade to the floor. He was frozen in place, unable to lift his hands to break his fall. His head slammed against the worn runner and stars burst in his vision. His breath whooshed from his chest.

  Rémy’s face appeared over him. “How dare you interfere?”

  Cade stared up, trying to regain his bearings. His father’s magick draped over him like a lead blanket, anchoring him so securely to the floor he felt as if he couldn’t breathe. It took him a moment to register Rémy’s French, and then he managed to gasp out. “What did I do?”

  “You will speak en français!” Rémy roared.

  Cade was too addled by the blow to his head to realize he’d spoken in English. Obeying his father, he repeated, “Qu’ai-je fait?”

  “Gilles is behind bars because of you, and I am left to clean up the mess.” Rémy rubbed his brow, walking away.

  “He was trying to kidnap Ever,” Cade argued.

  He should have known better.

  Rémy’s magick bore down on him, squeezing his breath from his lungs. The pressure increased until Cade felt as if he would burst. He cried out.

  “Ever is his to take, just as you are mine to punish!” Rémy snapped. “You were told you would be helping Gilles. Little did I know, you’d already built a relationship with the bitch. If I’d have known, it would have saved us much trouble this night.”

  Fury filled Cade. “Don’t speak of her that way.”

  The pain became blinding.

  “And you do not talk back!” Rémy screamed. “You are to obey me without question, Cade. Tonight, you have failed me, and you have failed my oldest friend. Once he is free, you will hand him Ever O’Connell and you will do it with a smile on your face.”

  Cade could barely speak through the intense pressure, his gaze on the dark wood ceiling above him. “Ne-ver.”

  “Do not fight me, son.” Rémy’s tone fell low and dangerous. “You will never win.”

  “She’s mine.” Cade’s declaration exploded between them with the force of a nuclear weapon. In an instant, Rémy’s anger became a living thing.

  Cade sailed through the air, able only to close his eyes before he hit the ceiling. His world turned into a blur around him as he flew, crashing into the walls, the furniture, and then to the floor once more.

  Tears rolled down his cheeks as he gasped for breath through Rémy’s intense pressure. He couldn’t move his arms or legs to make sure they weren’t broken, but everything hurt.

  Rémy came into view, his face twisted into a snarl. He lifted a palm and squeezed his hand into a fist. Cade cried out at the vise-like feeling around his middle.

  “You will never stand against me again, my son.” Rémy dropped his hand and the pressure disappeared.

  Cade struggled to breathe as his father left the room. It took him numerous tries to finally get to his feet. He stood in the dim office, lit only by a crackling fire in the grate, and tried to take stock of his injuries.

  A broken wrist. Broken ribs: two or three, he couldn’t tell. His entire body ached as if he’d been put in a blender and pureed on high.

  He closed his eyes, reaching for his power. It took everything in him to heal the broken bones, so there was nothing left for the general aches and pains. He stumbled from the office, using the wall to hold himself up.

  In his room, he popped some painkil
lers and grabbed a duffel bag from the closet. He didn’t pack much — just the essentials and a couple outfits for school. His phone was destroyed in his pocket: the screen shattered from Rémy’s punishment. He tossed it in the trash, grabbed his laptop, and left.

  * * *

  MITCH OPENED THE door after about five minutes of Cade pounding on it.

  “What are you doing here, man?” Mitch rubbed his bleary eyes. He still smelled of beer and pot from the party. “You look like shit. What happened?”

  Cade rested against the doorframe for a moment. His head felt heavy enough to knock him off his feet. “I fucking knocked forever. You’re impossible to wake up.”

  “I’m shitfaced, man.” Mitch stepped forward, his shorter frame fitting comfortably under Cade’s arm. “I got you. Come on.”

  Cade leaned on his best friend, taking careful steps into the trailer.

  “Did you piss off the old man?” Mitch asked, gently helping him onto the couch.

  “Apparently.” Cade let his head fall back onto the cushions and shoved his duffel bag onto the floor. Nothing had ever felt so good as Mitch’s threadbare couch did right then. “Can I stay here?”

  “Yeah, man. You wanna beer?”

  That was Mitch’s answer for everything. Cade managed to chuckle, though it hurt. “No. I just want to sleep.”

  Mitch stood silently for a moment, studying him. “Is that a good idea? You’ve got a killer bruise on your head. What if you have a concussion?”

  Cade touched his forehead; it was tender. It was also a miracle his dad hadn’t shattered his skull. “I don’t have a concussion. I healed what I could. I just need rest to get some of my strength back.” Cade kicked off his shoes and reached for the folded blanket on the back of the couch. “I’ll be fine.”

  Sometime during the night, Cade awoke, his body seizing. He felt as if he were outside himself, watching as his limbs jerked. He tried to call for Mitch but was barely able to grunt. He had no control over his muscles as they trembled violently.

  Cade rolled from the couch, hitting the floor with a heavy thud. He didn’t even feel the pain of the impact, but he hoped it was loud enough to wake Mitch.