by Jamie Ott
They knocked on the attic door.
“Tatia, let us in,” shouted Jack.
The door swung open.
“What can we find to fight these guys with?” asked Bruce, when they got to the top of the attic stairs.
“I’ve got a wood board,” said Tatia, who held a 6 x 36 inch plank in her hand.
“I found one more can of Bully Beef,” said Jack.
At the sound of Rob or Joey ramming the attic door, they froze for a second.
Tatia ran to the stairs as they burst through the door, and up the steps.
Right as they reached the attic floor, Tatia sent the flat side of the plank straight into Rob’s stomach, dropping him to the ground.
Joey grabbed the plank, wrenched it out of her hands and threw it at the wall.
Just then, the last can of Bully Beef flew through the air, and hit Joey on the forehead. His eyes bugged out in surprise, and then he dropped to the ground like a dead weight.
They all looked to the center of the room, where Langley was floating idly.
“Thanks,” said Tatia.
“Well, looks like it’s just you and me,” said Jack to Rob, who was struggling to breathe and stand.
Jack pulled out the switch blade that he’d wrestled from Joey.
“Drop the knife, now!” someone said.
A light glared in their eyes.
Standing near the stairs was a policeman and an old lady in jeans and a sweat shirt.
Jack dropped the knife.
“What the hell is that?” asked the cop.
“It’s a ghost, dummy,” said the woman. “Hello, Emmett.”
The ghost wailed.
“You know him?” asked Bruce.
“He’s my brother.
Rose Langley
Chapter 9
“Officer, I saw the whole thing,” said the old lady. “The ones you want are the big one, and the one with the long hair. Where’s the third one?” she asked of them.
“I think he ran off,” said Tatia.
“Alright, I got better things to do, so let’s get this over with,” said the cop.
He put cuffs on Joey and Rob.
“You guys need to leave. This house is condemned; it’s not safe.”
~~~
Fifteen minutes later, they watched the officer drive off with Rob and Joey in the back. Nick had completely disappeared.
“Who are you?” asked Tatia.
“I’m Rose Langley, Emmett’s sister.”
“Thanks for sticking up for us, but how did you know Joey and Rob were the ones who needed to be arrested?” asked Jack.
“I saw the whole thing go down on the little webcam I installed weeks ago.”
“You were watching us?” Bruce blurted.
“Well, not at first. Originally, I installed it so that I could see Langley. I’m surprised you never noticed it actually; the webcam was right there on the mantle.”
“Are you the one who was watching me, from the window?”
“Yes, that was me. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Why did you never kick us out?” asked Jack.
“Because I wanted to see what Langley would do,” she laughed and smiled. “As he got older, he was quite temperamental. He didn’t like kids much. I thought he’d scare you off, eventually. Instead, he took a liking to you, I think.”
“Is the house really condemned?”
“Well, it’s quite cold. Why don’t you come to my house and we’ll talk about it over breakfast.”
They walked two blocks over and took a right. She led them to a tall white house with a green roof.
Once inside, Rose talked nonstop about Emmett as she made pancakes and sausages.
“Langley was a good kid. Our father didn’t think so. You see, he wanted Emmett to be a doctor.
Emmett did as Father wished until music changed his life. Back then, music had such a transformation that many men forsook their responsibilities, in search of some obscure idealism, like freedom and living for the moment.”
She set a large stack of pancakes in the center of the table.
“Tatia and Mira, will you bring out the dishes.”
Rose put the frying pan in the sink. She walked to the living room and came back with a photo in her hand.
“This was him back in the seventies. He was about twenty there.”
There, in the same leather hat, stood Langley with a large smile.
“When did he die?” asked Bruce.
“About ten years ago. I got a call from the gardener, telling me to come over to the house. There he was, in his chair with a drink in his hand. He’d choked on a garnish.”
“Maybe that’s why all the black stuff is in his mouth; it’s a symbol of the way he died,” said Mira.
“What about his daughter?” asked Tatia.
“Who?”
“The baby in the pretty locket.”
“An old cousin. She’s gone, now, too. Not many of us, Langley’s, left.”
“What do you think is gonna happen to him, once they tear down the house?” asked Bruce, sounding concerned.
“I don’t know; that’s why I’ve hired a medium. She’ll be here, today, to help him move forward.”
“We don’t want him to go. Can’t you just fix up the house?” asked Tatia.
“I can’t afford it. We used to be wealthy but no so much anymore. All I have is my retirement check, and I’m going to go live with my kids.”
Meeting Emmett
Chapter 10
When the clock said 2:45 pm, Rose and the kids walked back to Emmett’s house.
They waited out front for the medium to arrive.
A white sedan pulled up fifteen minutes later. A middle aged woman with purple scarf around her neck emerged.
“Hi, I’m Maggie.” She extended her hand.
“I’m Rose,” she said, and introduced the kids.
After Maggie got a bag from her trunk, Rose led her up to the front door. She pulled out a key and opened the door.
All was still; the lights flickered a bit.
“Let’s take it back to the parlor; that was Emmett’s favorite place,” said Rose.
Maggie followed Rose to the back room, humming and looking around with her large blue eyes.
“Let’s push the couch back and sit on the floor, in a circle.”
After they moved the couch, Maggie pulled a large black sheet with an enormous pentacle spray painted on it, from her bag.
She set it on the floor.
Next, she pulled out 13 candles, set them in a circle, in the center of the sheet and lit them.
“I can feel Emmett in the room. Contacting him will be easy. He’s used to appearing in the physical world,” she paused a moment.
“Let’s hold hands,” she said, as she sat on the sheet, “and call Emmett into our circle, using our minds only.
Once he appears, he cannot leave until we let him. Whatever you do, don’t let go of each other’s hands. If you do, you’ll break the connection, and set him free, again. If that should happen, then we’ll have to call him again. Only, he may ignore our calls, next time.”
They sat in silence, holding hands, calling Emmet for nearly an hour.
“Why is it taking so long?” asked Tatia.
“Because breaking the veil, as they call it, takes a lot of energy. Ghosts need rest in between visits to the Earthly plane.”
Some more time passed when Maggie asked, “Emmett? Are you with us? Come into our circle.”
When nothing happened, she said, “He’s resisting. He knows why I’m here, and he doesn’t want to go. Talk to him, Rose.”
“Emmett,” said Rose. “Listen, the house has been condemned. It’s going to be destroyed, and I’m too old and broke to do anything about it. You need to move on.”
He appeared in the circle.
The lights flickered.
“Emmett,” said Maggie. “If you do not leave this house, it will be de
stroyed, and your spirit could die with it.”
“Why do you remain in this house?” asked Rose.
The ghost merely looked at his sister.
“He’s speaking to me,” said Maggie. “I hear his otherworldly voice. He says he doesn’t deserve to be happy; that he let his father down. Do you know what that means?”
“Emmett, no one blames you for not being here when Father died. I know you feel guilt for things that happened between you two, but it’s time for you to face him. Father loved you, Emmett, and he’ll be waiting for you on the other side.”
“He’s asking me about what’s on the other side – Emmet, I can’t answer that. But I promise you that the place is a happy one. You have to have the courage to move on.”
A light wailing entered the room.
“He wants me to thank you for bringing him joy, the last few weeks. You made him feel alive, again. He’s glad you got your guitar back.”
“Thanks, Langley,” said Jack.
“Okay, kids, say good bye to Emmett, now. I’m gonna lead him to the light.”
“Bye Emmett,” said Tatia and Mira.
“Thanks for being there for us,” said Jack.
“Say hi to my grandmother for me,” said Bruce.
“Bye, Emmett. I love you, and I’ll see you soon,” added Rose through tears.
“Langley, I want you to close your eyes and relax your spiritual mind. When you’ve done so, you should feel warmth, almost as if it’s entwined with everything around you. Focus on that warm feeling. It will feel like its smothering you.”
After a moment, she added, “Yes, that’s it, that’s the other side. Follow the warmth; focus on that place.”
Suddenly, a rush of air moved around the room.
Langley disappeared, leaving behind a white cloud that hung in the air.
~~~
They stood out on the sidewalk, waving goodbye to the medium.
“Well, I must be going, too,” Rose turned and said to them.
“Now, my house hasn’t been sold. I’m not due to leave for a couple of hours, but, I’ll tell you what, I’ll leave the key for you, under the mat.”
She gave them each a hug.
“Thanks for making Emmett happy, the last couple of weeks. I’ll never forget the looks on your faces, that first night when you arrived.”
Rose pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and patted her eyes.
She pulled Tatia into a tight embrace, again, and slipped something into her pocket.
“Don’t check your pocket until I’m gone.”
“What?” Tatia asked.
“Thanks, Rose,” said Jack and Bruce.
“Bye,” said Mira.
They watched her walk down the street, and make a right, heading to her house.
“Well, what now?” asked Mira, leaning on Jack for support.
“I think we should start a band,” said Jack.
“Come on,” said Tatia. “Let’s get some burgers.”
Tatia and Bruce crossed the street. Jack and Mira followed closely.
“What did Rose give you?” asked Bruce.
“I don’t know.”
She felt in her pocket and pulled out the locket.
More about the author:
Jamie Ott is passionate about the fantasy genre of young adult literature. Most famously, she’s known for her large collection of short stories and novellas.
For the person needing a quick adventure, she’s been hailed as an accomplished provider.
Other popular short works by the author:
Adventures of Jacko the Conjurer: Red Skies, Blue Skies
Funk’s the Chocolate Loving Vamp
Vampin Vampire Series – Now available in box sets
Due out 2012
Adventures of Jacko the Conjurer: The Dawn
Down the Shrinking Hole
Black Fleet
Vampin Book Series #9
By Jamie Ott
Copyright 2012 Jamie Ott. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used without written permission.
ISBN-13: 978-1467970023
ISBN-10: 1467987023
For all inquiries, please contact [email protected]
Awake or Dreaming
Chapter 1
Her bed was extremely hard and cold.
Time for a new mattress, she thought.
Starr reached around for her blanket, but only felt the surface of something smooth and hard.
She opened her eyes and propped up on her elbows. Through narrowed eyes, she looked for her blanket, but, instead, saw that she wasn’t even in bed; she was lying on a cold black table.
Thinking she was dreaming, she rubbed her eyes, roughly. When she reopened them, panic enveloped her.
She looked around the room, but nothing looked familiar.
Except for a single set of red velvet curtains, the room was plain; the walls were bare and white, and the wood floor was dusty.
Then she noticed that the thick ray of moonlight that beamed across the room, from between an opening in the curtains, was disrupted by something at the foot of the table.
Propping herself up higher on her elbows, she noticed it looked like an altar.
The moonlight was snuffed out, for a few seconds, leaving Starr in complete darkness.
Carefully, she got off the table and walked to the window. She pulled back the curtains, looked out, and saw that a small hive of bats had just passed, and were flying off for a night hunt.
Looking down, she saw she was on the second story of an unfamiliar stone house. There were a couple acres of mown lawn. A mile or two out was a drop off that was barely visible through a large mass of fog rising upward.
She turned back to the dark room.
Using her power of remote viewing, a form of extra sensory perception, she sensed the rest of the house to see if anyone else was there, but there was not.
Starr turned her attention to the altar.
On it, laid a few burned down candles, a bowl of salt, a dagger and a silver goblet with a rosary draped across it.
Starr noticed a charred smoke smell, about the place. Looking down, she realized the smell came from her, as her pajamas were ripped, stained, and ashy.
A painful twinge shot down her neck, making her whole body jump.
She rubbed her neck and made to get a closer look at the items.
Immediately, she took interest in a black leather book that lay in the center of them all.
On the front, etched in gold letters, were the words Necro-Grimoire.
Although the pages were written in Latin, Starr could tell that it was a very special book. The Grimoire’s paper was heavier than books of today, and the edges of it were really rough, almost as if they’d been cut.
Judging by the smell that came from the book, it was old, too.
Starr didn’t know, exactly, what a Necro-Grimoire was, though she’d heard similar words in movies. If she were still alive, her pulse would have quickened; not only was she somewhere she didn’t remember coming to, but to find such items so close to her, upon waking, scared her.
She put the book in her pajama pants pocket and made to leave the room.
Whoever brought her there must not have realized that simple locks couldn’t keep her in.
Gently, she applied more pressure to turning the doorknob, breaking the lock easily.
Even though she sensed that she was alone, there was always the possibility that someone was masking their thoughts or their scent.
Slowly, she poked her head out of the door.
The hall was large and empty of any decorations as well: no tables, chairs, pictures, or anything, just dust.
Quietly, she made her way down the dark stairwell.
The bottom floor of the house was just as empty of furniture, or any personal touches, as was the upstairs.
When she stepped onto the bottom landing, she was instantly distrac
ted by the moon, which appeared so large and white through the living room’s glass door that it looked as if it were sitting on the grass.
Momentarily entranced, she walked across the Spanish tile floors, and slid back the glass door, breaking the little metal latch, absentmindedly.
The sky was blackish, and the fog felt moist and fresh on her skin. She walked across the grass to the drop off, and then peered down into the houses on the lower incline of the hill.
She heard thoughts, like little whispers in her ears, coming from below.
In one grey stone dwelling, two people argued as they got ready for bed. On the other side of town, a couple made love as their teenage daughter climbed out of a window.
Many miles to her right, several bored teenagers horsed around, in a marsh, drinking booze they’d stolen from their parents: two of them weren’t wearing shoes, for some reason.
Starr could smell their blood all the way from where she stood.
One of them went to urinate in the marshy water of the river.
She sensed the animal, lurking, even before it stirred the surface of the water; it was hungry and knew it needed to put the colorless beast down, fast, or he’d get away.
It leapt out with lizard-like reflexes, scaring the kid into a backwards stumble onto the muddy ground. The alligator waddled on top of the kid, quickly.
Hearing him scream, the others ran, from out of the trees, to help.
Suddenly, she wanted to be there; not so much to help the guy, but to see the animal whose hunger she could feel. Never had she had such a connection with an animal before.
How was she to get there? She was so far away?
But, then, almost as if her inner demon were answering her, she levitated.
From below, she could hear the teens shouting. She commanded her body to go, fast.
And she did, fast like the wind she flew down to the spot where the largest, of them, was attempting a back grip on the alligator. One of the other kids held a shotgun, pointed at the animal’s head, and screamed at his buddy, telling him to try to get out from under it so he could shoot.
Her feet touched down amongst the clump of trees to their right, but they were too busy to notice.
She walked out, pushed the large kid away, and yanked the alligator off by the tail.
The alligator was angered, and it looked at Starr with complete ferocity. She could feel the animal’s surprise; it felt hunger, fear and rage all at once. It wanted to rip, tear and kill her, right there on the spot.