“I’m sure they’ve gone mad.”
“I’ve seen the hole. I’ve seen Capone’s haunted cell. Man, I wouldn’t want to have to spend a night alone in that place, but I don’t think there’s anything more there than here. Just the vibrations of lost and lonely people.”
“It must be overpowering to go in there.”
“I suppose for someone really sensitive, it could be hard. I’m not so sensitive, so I don’t feel all the things some other people might.”
“I suppose.” Madeline thought about the really sensitive people. People like Natasha. How would she fare at Alcatraz?
“It doesn’t matter,” Jake said. “I’ve got to go. It was nice to finally meet you, Madeline.” He held out his hand, and Madeline shook it.
“See you online,” she said. Jake lifted his bags and set off out the door and to his car in the lightly falling snow. Madeline turned away, not wanting to watch him load up his gear. An ache spread through her, and she realized she would miss him. Even though she had resented how he took over everything, she still would miss him.
The idea of it made her sad enough to ignore the strange vibrations in Edwin’s room when she returned to pack up her toothbrush and other assorted items she had left lying around the bathroom and bedroom.
She looked out the window and saw Jake’s car chugging down the main road of Hermana. It would take him a long time to reach the Boston airport in this weather. She hoped he made it without incident.
She half hoped a sudden storm would whoosh up and he would be stranded at her house for a couple of days. But that wasn’t going to happen. And even if it did, she didn’t know if she could stand having him boss her around.
Her gear was calling to her, so she packed it up and took it to the door. Only Klaus was left behind. Diana and Eric had left before everyone else had woken that morning. As she returned to Edwin’s room to bring down her suitcase, she encountered Klaus on the stairs.
“Excuse me,” he said.
“My apologies,” Madeline said. “I’m just going to grab my suitcase, and then I’m off.”
“I just want to say thank you. This weekend was a lot of fun,” Klaus said, his eyes locking onto Madeline’s.
“Yes, it was.”
“Sometimes I couldn’t help but think... well, that maybe there was something.”
“There’s activity here. That, I’ve never doubted.”
“More than activity. I mean, like there was an attraction.” Klaus stepped down one of the stairs and reached out toward Madeline. He took her hand. She looked down at his hand clasping hers and shuddered.
“Attraction?” Madeline asked.
“Yes. Like soul mates. Like people who have known each other for years and years.”
“And they reconnect,” Madeline said. “You can talk to them as if you’ve always known them.”
“Yes. Exactly like that.” Klaus stepped down again. “I know we have that connection,” he stammered.
Madeline stared at him wide-eyed. “We do?” She narrowed her eyes and tried to see him as he really was. “We do?”
“I do. We do. I felt it from the first moment we met. That electric static.”
“You mean carpet shock.”
“You can call it whatever you want, but I know it was a sign.”
“A sign of what?” Madeline asked.
“Of us.”
Madeline stared at him. “Of us?” She shook her head and stepped back down a step. “Not us. There’s nothing between you and me except for a friendship that started on the Internet.”
“No. We’ve been connected. I felt it for the first time. I saw it all during the séance.”
“Saw all what?”
“How you and I used to know each other.”
“No, we didn’t. Not us. Maybe not anyone.”
“Oh, Madeline. You’re so serious. No wonder you’re single.” Klaus sighed and shook his head. “I’ll see you on the boards,” he said as he pushed on by her.
“It was lovely to meet you. Thanks for your help,” Madeline called after him.
“It was a pleasure. Let me know anytime you want to do this sort of thing and I’ll check my schedule,” he called up.
“Okay,” she called down.
Madeline entered Edwin’s room. In the bright light of day, the portrait didn’t haunt her as much as it did when it was night. The swell of emotions wasn’t overwhelming, and she didn’t even feel as though his eyes followed her around the room as she had the previous two nights.
What a weekend it had been. Between Jake barking commands at everyone and Madeline trying to follow the agenda she had written out before the weekend had even started, frustration had mounted around every curve. It seemed as though every time Madeline suggested what they should do next, Jake had a better, more enticing plan in mind. Jake was great at winning people over; his handsome looks didn’t hurt, and his charming wit lured people into his line of fire easily.
Madeline thought about the studies that had been done on how more attractive people get further ahead in life. She had seen the theory proven true time and again over the years. People like Jake could coast along forever on their charisma.
In the end, all that mattered was that she had enough material for her next book. She hoped between the five of them, they had captured something that would be of interest to others.
If not, she’d have to figure out another theme for her next book.
Chapter Six
Spending time with friends leads to new ideas.
Madeline walked into the used bookstore. It was hot and musty, a welcome relief from the blasts of icy wind blowing in from the ocean. The store windows had a rare view of the ocean and the edge of the beach.
The warm air fogged her glasses instantly, and she removed them as she searched through her purse to find her eyeglass tissues.
“Hi, Madeline.”
Madeline turned her head to see Maggie and Weldon waving at her. She recognized Maggie’s red hair, but otherwise she was blind. She waved at them.
“Just a sec, just gotta wipe off my glasses.”
Maggie and Weldon picked their way through the teetering stacks of books until they stood beside her.
“Oh look, it’s right here,” Maggie said as she plucked the container of lens cleaner from Madeline’s purse.
“It doesn’t help to look for things when I can’t see.” Madeline sighed. “One day, laser surgery will be mine.”
“Eew. I’d hate to have them shining those laser beams into my eyes,” Maggie exclaimed. “That’s gotta hurt.”
“Not as much as a breast job. Very little recovery time. It’s just so expensive,” Madeline said.
“I suppose,” Maggie said.
“When you freelance, you don’t have the same benefits. It’s cosmetic, so it’s big bucks.”
“I think eye surgery should be a must-have for everyone who meets the requirements. Think of how much less garbage there would be if fewer people wore glasses.”
“You’re right. I never thought about that. I have four pairs of glasses myself. And that’s just for this latest prescription. And I’ve had tons of glasses in my life. Multiply that by millions of people and wow...” Madeline shook her head at the thought of mountains of used eyeglasses cluttering up landfills. “We should start a petition. Laser surgery for everyone.”
She had finished wiping her glasses and noticed with dismay that they fogged up again instantly. She took them off, knowing she’d just have to wait until she calmed down.
“I’ve been meaning to call you,” Maggie said. “Do you want to go play darts with us sometime?”
“Sure,” Madeline said. “I’m not very good at it, but I’m game to try.”
“When’s a good time for you?” Maggie said. “I know you’re so busy these days.”
“The sooner, the better. Something always comes up,” Madeline said.
“Don’t I know it,” Maggie replied. “How about right now?”
“In this weather? I was just going to buy a good book, curl up and stay home.”
“Oh, forget about it. Come out with us. You can tell us all about your latest exploits at the Kelly Proctor house.”
“All right. But let me browse a bit first.”
“Okay, we’ll browse some more too.”
After Madeline picked out a few books on real-life hauntings, she was ready to go play darts.
Since it was still early, they were able to get a table by the dartboards, and within a few minutes, they started a game. Madeline did quite well, considering she didn’t play very often.
She watched the easygoing give-and-take between Maggie and Weldon. They hadn’t been dating very long, but already they melded like an old married couple. She wondered how Maggie felt about it, knowing Maggie’s tendency toward promiscuity.
Weldon kissed Maggie lightly on the cheek when her dart hit the bull’s-eye. “See? You’ve improved so much already,” he said to her.
“I guess you’re a good teacher,” Maggie said.
“No guessing about it. I rule,” Weldon said.
Weldon won the game, but that wasn’t much of a surprise. Maggie had told Madeline he was an avid dart player.
They sat at the table and enjoyed a pitcher of beer together. “So, tell us about your exploits,” Maggie said. “All the ghost-hunting stuff.”
“Well, everyone left the Proctor house this morning. I’m quite tired since I don’t sleep well there.”
“I don’t know how anyone can sleep there. That place is definitely haunted,” Maggie said.
“So what happens? You go there and what? Talk to ghosts?” Weldon asked.
“Well, I’m a writer, and I sometimes write books about haunted places. I like to go investigate haunted buildings and take pictures, and I have this little recording thing too.”
“One of those made-to-record-ghosts things?” Weldon asked.
“Yeah. My thing is mostly that I’m always trying to find more interesting material for my books. So far, I’ve found things, but they’re typical. Nothing I can really brag about.”
“What do you find?”
“Orbs. Sometimes you can get weird noises, even talking. I’m never sure what I’m going to pick up.”
“Do you see the ghosts too?”
“Not really. I’m not a medium. I’m trying to learn, but it’s going to take time.”
“You should take lessons from Natasha,” Maggie said.
“I work a lot with her, and I try to pay attention to what she does. But I don’t even know if I want to see what she sees and feel what she feels. I’d probably go crazy.”
“It’s nerve-wracking to see things. I’ve seen things myself,” Weldon said. “Have you?”
“Yeah, but mostly since I’ve been hanging around Natasha. I guess some of that stuff rubs off.”
“So your weekend wasn’t so hot, then?” Maggie asked Madeline.
“Well, it was interesting. I had some people I met online come out to see what they could see. One guy even came from California.”
“California? That’s a long way for a ghost hunt.”
“He’s always been curious about the Kelly Proctor house. It’s kind of famous in our business.”
“For sure,” Maggie said.
“Anyway, he was okay. Not what I expected.”
“Oh?” Maggie raised her eyebrow. “I sense there’s something going on here.”
“No, nothing going on. Unfortunately.”
“So you like this guy?”
“I think I liked him more before I met him.”
“What was wrong?” Maggie asked.
“He’s so damn bossy. Has to be in control.” Maggie laughed.
“I’m sure that was something to see. You being bossed around. Control freak versus control freak.”
“I let him. It’s easier.”
“I think someone has a crush on someone,” Maggie joked as she poured the rest of the beer into Madeline’s glass.
“I thought I did. He is cute. But...”
“Well, he lives in California, so it doesn’t really matter, does it?” Maggie said.
“I suppose that’s true. It’s not like I’m ever going to see him again.”
“Well, you just might. Want me to read the cards on him?” Maggie asked as she reached for her purse.
“No. I don’t want to know,” Madeline said.
“Well, I know this much. You’re not done with him yet,” Maggie said.
Chapter Seven
Connections made now can be helpful later on.
As Madeline walked to the circle, she thought about her mother. The woman had died a few years earlier, following a life chock full of travel and spiritualism. Their lives touched and parted several times a year, and emails zipped along the internet every few days. Madeline’s mother had been married for twenty years and single for just as long after that, enjoying men but cutting them loose before the relationships got too serious. She had men in three countries, and before she grew ill, Connie would fly on a regular basis to Paris, England and Toronto. Her work as a journalist for three magazines kept her busy following assignments, and Connie had little time for her two children. Madeline often wondered how her father, Liam had managed even twenty years at their home in Boston, but she knew a large part of it was his close connection to his children. With Connie gone so much, Liam was often the sole caretaker, and he loved it.
He drove Madeline and Pepito to various classes for piano, clarinet, theater, orchestra, swimming and sailing over the years. Through Liam, Madeline learned she and her brother had been named after the Madeline books written by Ludwig Bemelmans. When Madeline was young, she loved hearing the stories about the curious orphan with her name. As Madeline grew older, she searched for books outside of her required scholastic duties and discovered A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Her mind opened around the same time her dad got into witchcraft. He learned about a little town called Hermana about an hour away, and when he split from Connie, he moved there.
Madeline studied journalism at Boston University, and when she graduated, she joined her father in Hermana. At first, they’d shared an apartment and when she was making enough money freelancing, she found a funky little loft near the beach.
Her mother visited frequently and always stayed at a pretty little bed and breakfast overlooking the ocean. Like almost every old building in Hermana, it was reputed to be haunted, and Connie had many stories to tell about her times there.
Connie fell ill with lung cancer and eventually died a slow, agonizing death. Liam still lived in Hermana and was still active in his occult studies, belonging to a coven. During the day, he ran a store catering to tourists’ whims for cheap trinkets and spells, with tarot readings in the back.
Madeline remembered the first time she brought Connie to meet Lucy. They’d had a lunch date at which Lucy was going to determine if Connie was a likely candidate for the circle. Connie was the required Aries sign that was missing, but her skepticism was too high for welcome energy. Connie didn’t mind the rejection, but Madeline always lamented it. What a wonderful mother/daughter experience that would have been: to be in a coven together.
Connie didn’t really believe much in the ghost hunting Madeline was just getting into at the time she grew ill. She was skeptical of ghosts despite the unusual occurrences at the bed and breakfast.
“It’s just an old house making noise. Couple that with imagination and you’ve got yourself a ghost” was her quick retort to almost any finger-pointing at her own experiences.
“Dust on the lens,” she would say about orbs. “Someone’s smoking” or “that damn New England fog” were some other favorites. She had an answer for everything.
Madeline walked slowly toward Lucy’s house and thought about Lucy’s reaction to her mother.
“There’s a lot of scattered energy, but she means well in the end” were Lucy’s wise words.
“I know,” Madeli
ne had said.
And in the end, her mother was trying to do too much.
An energy rush from Lucy’s house flooded through her. No matter what her mother said, there was no denying the air was different as she approached the massive old mansion. Turrets were covered in snow, as were the many roofs, and the scene would have been hauntingly beautiful had it not been so damn cold.
Madeline hurried her steps toward the front door and breathed a sigh of relief as it swung open with a blast of warmth.
“Good evening, Miss Madeline,” Sophie, the red-haired maid, said. Madeline hugged herself for a moment, jumping up and down.
“It’s so cold out there. I hate this weather,” she whined.
Sophie laughed. “Why don’t you go south in the winter? Surely you can find an assignment that will let you travel down to Florida to cover Walt Disney’s crypt or something?” Sophie smiled as she held her hands out for Madeline’s coat.
Reluctantly Madeline disrobed and removed her icy boots. Sophie held out a pair of black velvet slippers.
“You remembered.” Madeline grinned.
“Always,” Sophie said.
The slippers were a running joke between them as Madeline frequently forgot to bring shoes. The circle was performed barefoot, but she always forgot about the parts in between. Sophie knew she hated the cold, so a couple of years ago, the maid had given her a pair of black velvet slippers for Christmas.
The snug plush insides hugged Madeline’s toes, and she hugged Sophie in glee.
“They still feel as comfy and warm as the first day I slipped them on,” Madeline said.
“I’m glad,” Sophie said and went to greet Adele, who had just arrived. Adele’s plump form was covered in freshly fallen snow. She pulled off her woollen hat to shake out her strawberry-blond curls, and her deep blue eyes spotted Madeline.
“Hi, Adele,” Madeline said as she waved. “I’ll hug you when you aren’t the abominable snowman.”
Aquarius: Haunted Heart Page 7