“Jesus Christ,” Granger muttered, looking down at the body. “Poor SOB. Killed by the television.”
“It wasn’t the TV,” Robert said, examining the table. “None of this food has been touched.” He walked to the bathroom, retrieving glasses from the shelf, still wrapped in paper. “These glasses are unused. And the one you used to give him pills, Eliza, is still where you set it down. He didn’t eat or drink a thing.”
“I guess the reuniting didn’t really work out,” Granger said.
“I wonder if Marc worked, either,” Eliza replied. “Rachel might have her hands full.”
“So do we, thanks to her,” Robert replied.
“What do we do with him?” Eliza asked. “Call the authorities?”
“They wouldn’t be able to figure out who he is,” Granger said. “And we certainly can’t tell them.”
“Call Kai,” Robert said. “Tell him to let Uncle Tommy know that we have a body. No need for them to steal one.”
“Oh, Robert!” Eliza moaned. “Not Lee! It just seems so…wrong.”
“I think Lee would like the idea of getting back at Scray as his final move in life,” Granger said. “And no one knows about Lee, so it’s less risky than stealing a corpse. It’s a perfect setup, Eliza. I say we go with it.”
She stood and looked down at Lee. After a few moments, she nodded, and watched as Granger and Robert wrapped him in a sheet to the sound of Bryant Gumbel interviewing George Pataki on the television.
Chapter Sixteen
It was sundown as Eliza crossed the threshold at the old Grignon farm, passing from the inside of the house to the outside while in the River. She felt the same tingling she felt the first time she’d done it with Rachel. This time, Granger and Robert were right behind her, carrying Lee’s body.
Once through the door, they placed Lee in an old wheelbarrow that Granger borrowed from the barn. Eliza walked down the driveway, leaving the property, headed to the red brick store.
“How do you feel?” Robert asked her.
“It’s coming,” she said. “I can feel it inside, beginning to twist.”
“The new moon will be up in an hour,” Granger said. “Let’s pick up the pace here.”
It had taken most of the day to prepare Lee’s body with the Cana stones in a way that they hoped wouldn’t tip off the Kanontsistonties, and Eliza’s anxiousness had increased as the evening hours approached, as the new moon arrived on the other side of the planet and was racing toward her with each passing hour.
She led the others, crossing the streets of Waverly. It was a little slower going with the wheelbarrow, and a couple of times Robert complained and said he’d prefer to just carry the body, but Granger insisted they keep using the device.
Twenty minutes later, at the red brick store, Eliza removed her lockpicking tools and worked at the padlock on the front door. I hope this is the last time I have to do this, she thought, feeling pangs of hunger erupt in her stomach, becoming more acute. She knew it wasn’t from lack of food; they stopped to grab a bite not more than a couple of hours ago, as they brought the body down from Menasha. It was while watching them prepare Lee that Eliza first felt the hunger pangs, and she had to leave them to do the work on their own, fearful that the sight of Lee’s bloody body would exacerbate what she was experiencing in her gut. The idea to stop for food had been Granger’s, hoping it might make her feel better, but she hadn’t been able to eat more than a few french fries. The hunger she felt wasn’t real, human hunger. It was a sick, more bloodthirsty pain, and when the pangs hit, they overrode everything else she felt.
The lock clicked open. She let Granger and Robert pass inside, and then followed them into the room.
“Alright,” she said. “The second gateway.” She turned, dropped into the River, and walked back out the door, feeling the change in power as the second token was bestowed by the gateway. She watched as Granger and Robert brought Lee’s body through, detecting subtle changes in its makeup. Suddenly she could smell it, and wanted to reach down and rip off one of Lee’s arms so she could sink her teeth into it.
The hunger comes from them, she reminded herself. Eating Lee won’t make that go away. Another pang hit her hard, making her feel the need to double over.
“You OK?” Robert asked as she dropped from the River. She felt his hand on her back.
“Yeah,” she said, straightening herself. “Let’s get this over with.”
She marched on, heading to Waverly Hall.
The wheel of the wheelbarrow bumped into the uneven ground on the path behind her, causing Lee’s body to bounce against the metal. She would have slowed her walking to allow Robert more time, out of respect for Lee, but the hunger she felt overrode her normal politeness, causing her to focus solely on eliminating the pain. Within moments the hall came into view. She could already sense the frenzy within; Scray and his minions, preparing to eat for the first time in many years.
If they’ve been this hungry for that long, she thought, they won’t think twice. Lee’s body smells like a delicious BBQ. They’ll eat without thought.
Perfect.
“Thank god no one lives in this town anymore,” Granger said as they approached the hall. “Can you imagine, seeing three people carting a dead body through town in a wheelbarrow?”
They stopped as Eliza came to a halt several feet from the front of the building. She dropped into the River, and could immediately see the skulls through the windows, dipping and flying through the room in anticipation of the feast. The sound of music played loudly, drifting out to the ground where they stood. She left the flow.
“They just want to eat,” Eliza muttered. “I hope this works.”
“Alright,” Granger said. “Let’s do this.” Robert had lifted Lee from the wheelbarrow, and was ready to follow Eliza inside.
“I’ll take him,” Eliza said, her face twisting in pain. “Give him to me.”
“We’re going with you,” Robert said.
“No, you’re not,” Eliza replied. “It would kill me if either of you got hurt doing this. I was so terrified when you both disappeared at Black Creek, I don’t want anything like that to happen again. I’ll take Lee inside. They won’t hurt me. They want me to keep bringing them food.”
“What if they detect…you know, the stones,” Granger said. “You might need to get out of there fast.”
“I’ll give them Lee and leave,” Eliza said. “I won’t stay.”
Granger nodded. She turned to Robert, extending her arms. He gently placed Lee’s body into them. He felt lighter than she expected.
“Please be careful,” Robert said. “Come back to me.”
“I intend to,” she replied, smiling. She turned and walked toward the hall. As she approached the doors, they flew open on their own, and the sound of music spilled out into the night air.
They’re ready for me, she thought.
She tried not to think about the Cana stones inside Lee’s body, instead wiping her mind so they couldn’t pick up on her thoughts. She slowly marched down the hallway. Halfway she was forced to stop; pains in her stomach felt like a small animal inside with sharp claws, digging into her. She felt herself starting to bend, trying to alleviate the pain; Lee became heavier at her new angle, and she almost dropped him. Above her, the skulls were flying wildly, like crows about to fight over a dead rat.
When she turned to walk into the main hall, the music stopped. Stretched out in front of her was a long table. The ghosts of the room were lined up along it, utensils in hand, waiting for the meal to arrive. Overhead the skulls flew in a frenzy.
Scray rose from the middle of the table, and the flying skulls retreated to perches along the ceiling, where she’d seen them the first time she entered the hall. Pangs of hunger riddled her stomach, making it difficult to remain upright as she walked. After several steps, she stopped again, bending, trying to make the pain lessen.
It’s not going away until they eat, she thought. Stand up and walk.
>
She took another step, and then another, trying to reach the table where Scray was waiting. Each step seemed harder than the next; each movement of her legs made the ache inside her widen and threaten to take over her entire body.
My god, how did Gloria endure this, for all those years?
Finally, she reached the banquet table opposite Scray. He looked down at her, a wide smile on his face. He watched as she walked closer, holding Lee’s body over the table, and gently set him down.
You did it, Scray said.
Make the pain go away! Eliza said, holding her arms around her midsection, wanting to lie on the ground and curl up into a ball.
It will, my dear, in just a moment, just as soon as we eat. He stopped and turned, addressing the ghosts in the room. It’s been many, many years, my friends! I know some of you thought it would never happen again, but I told you to remain faithful, and you see that tonight, your faith has not been misplaced. I’ve arranged for this woman to bring us delicious human flesh for years to come! When we eat and break this long fast, don’t eat too quickly, don’t be gluttonous; don’t dive in like it’s the last meal you’ll ever have. No, my friends, eat slowly and carefully, enjoying every bite, knowing it’s the first of many, many meals to come!
Scray leaned down. Using his hands, he brutally ripped Lee into two halves, as if breaking apart a loaf of bread. Blood poured down from the table. As the ghosts on either side of Scray took the halves and tore off a piece, Eliza shrunk back from the scene. They passed the body down their respective sides of the banquet table, each ghost taking a piece of Lee and greedily devouring the meat. Occasionally one of the ghosts would throw a piece into the air, spraying blood as it flew, and one of the skulls would drop from the ceiling and snatch it before it hit the ground. Despite Scray’s admonition, within seconds the room erupted into a full-fledged eating orgy.
As they consumed the flesh, the pain inside her began to lessen. If they’re going to detect the stones, she thought, it should be about now. She reached the hallway and ran. There were no skulls overhead; they had all entered the main hall, wanting some of the banquet.
When she reached the door she pushed it open. Granger and Robert were just outside, forty feet from the hall’s windows, watching. She ran to them, and Robert wrapped his arms around her.
“Did it work?” Robert asked.
“They’re eating,” Eliza replied.
They all dropped into the River and watched through the windows. The ghosts inside were cheering and hollering in pleasure as they dined on the meat.
They don’t seem to have a clue, Granger muttered softly.
Are you alright? Robert asked Eliza, who was still holding her stomach.
Yes, she replied. The pain is going away.
The sound of the feasting increased in pitch as the participants reveled in the meal, shouting and calling for more meat. Eliza could see Scray, still situated in the middle of the dining table, slurping the blood from the flesh in his hand, using his teeth to rip off a chunk of it.
Then, it began.
A pop of yellow-green, almost fluorescent, up above the window, bathed the room very quickly in an eerie flash. The light filled the room and then extinguished. The participants didn’t seem to notice it; the revelry and merrymaking continued without pause.
Then another flash, this time from one of the skulls flying through the room. Eliza saw it burst into green flame and fly onward, missing its target and landing with a thud against the wall, where it exploded into a small fireball.
Then another pop and another burst of light, followed by another. She watched as Scray turned, examining the explosions, his expression of delighted gluttony slowly replaced by concern. The ghost to his left exploded, sending green and yellow flame across the table, setting it ablaze.
A half dozen more pops hit simultaneously, rocking the hall, causing Scray to duck. It was followed by more loud pops, when suddenly one large BANG! exploded inside the room, shaking the ground, obliterating all images in a green flame that poured out the windows, lapping up the sides of the structure.
Wow! Granger exclaimed, delighted with the result.
The flames roared inside the building. Eliza could make out movement within the fire, figures trying desperately to escape, but unable to flee fast enough.
Huh, Eliza thought, looking up. No smoke. And the structure isn’t being damaged by the fire.
They watched as the interior of the building continued to burn, the flames roaring out the windows and up the side of the structure.
I wonder if Akal is inside, Robert said as they watched the spectacle.
His workshop is destroyed, that’s for sure, Granger said.
I don’t know about that, Eliza replied, remembering the moving liquid that flowed down the walls of his cave. Akal’s place had seemed different than the rest of the building, and she wasn’t sure if the fire they were watching would be able to consume it.
The green and yellow flames were mesmerizing, and Eliza found herself becoming a little hypnotized as she watched the building burn — but not really burn. It took several minutes for the fire to subside. The flames that had been reaching out the windows shrunk, leaving only a smoldering green glow inside the hall.
They dropped from the River. “How do you feel now?” Robert asked Eliza.
“Fine,” she replied. “Maybe a little heartburn.”
Granger laughed, and they walked toward the front door of the hall, ready to inspect the damage.
Chapter Seventeen
Eliza scooped a large spoonful of pasta and passed the bowl to Kai, as Robert refilled her wine glass. She took a fork and stabbed at the food, then put some into her mouth. As she chewed, she became aware that everyone was looking at her.
“Don’t watch me eat!” she said, reaching for the wine glass.
“We’re just concerned that you are back to normal,” Granger said, quickly looking down at his plate.
“Well, I am,” she said. “See?” She shoveled another forkful into her mouth.
“I’m glad,” Robert said.
“This is incredible,” Kai said, taking a bite. “I would have never pegged you for a chef, Granger.”
“Thank you,” Granger replied. “No one wants to take the time to make fresh pasta anymore. That’s half the trick.”
Eliza felt the food go down, and she realized it was the first she’d eaten in a while. It was nice to have her appetite back.
“So, no sign of Akal?” Kai asked.
“No,” Robert answered. “We went through the whole place.”
“He’ll be pissed that his supply has been interrupted,” Kai said. “He might retaliate.”
“Then we will have to do something about that,” Granger replied.
“Legend shelves,” Eliza said. “That’s what we’ll do. I have one at home. We’ll have to get another one for here, to protect you and Robert.”
“They’re very expensive, aren’t they?” Kai asked.
“I’ve never bought one, but that’s my understanding, yes,” Eliza replied.
“Akal has no idea I’m involved,” Kai said. “I think I can do without one. Although I’d still like to take you up on your offer to replace the totems with one.”
“Let me get Granger and Robert set up first,” Eliza replied, “and then we’ll work on Black Creek. It’s going to be a little complicated up there. We need to decide if the legend shelf will just keep people out, like the totems, or if we want to use it to drive out some of the stuff that’s hanging around Dark Arm’s cabin. If not, there will be a lot of fine tuning involved, to allow what’s there to stay.”
“Of course,” Kai replied. “There’s no rush with Dark Arm. The totems will keep working until you’re ready. Where will you obtain the shelves from?”
“I have a source,” she replied, thinking of Aceveda, “but I can’t discuss it.”
“Alright,” Kai replied. “I consider myself lucky enough to have someone willing to hel
p. I can live without knowing where it came from.”
Silence fell upon the table for a moment while everyone ate and drank.
“I keep wondering what happened to Rachel,” Eliza said. “And I wonder if Marc survived, or if what happened to Lee will eventually happen to him. He wasn’t separated as long as Lee was, but who knows.”
“I wonder if we’ll ever hear from her again,” Granger said. “After what she did to you, I’d be surprised if she ever shows her face.”
“I think there was a lot more going on between her and Marc than just a gifted helping another gifted,” Eliza said. “I might go back up to Waverly sometime and see if Pam will tell me more.”
“If you can get her when her sister isn’t around,” Granger said.
“You think they were romantically involved?” Robert asked Eliza.
“That’s what my gut tells me,” Eliza replied. “Rachel always had a guy she was stringing along, but she was rarely serious about them. For her to sell me out like that, she really must have cared for him.”
“Whatever she’s got with him,” Granger said, “I hope she’s living with a whole new bundle of regret. Deceiving you so you’d be condemned to the compulsion and feeding those things for the rest of your life was far worse than the mistake she made with Marc in the first place. I’ll never forgive her for it.”
Eliza looked at Granger. In that moment, she realized he felt more like a father to her than her own father ever had.
“You have special skills,” Kai said. “You’ll need to remember that they help you, but they can also make you a target.”
A target, Eliza thought, worried that she already lived her life defensively. Now she’d have to be even more on guard.
Not afraid, she heard Aceveda saying to her, just more aware.
“I won’t be able to get a legend shelf for you right away,” Eliza said to Granger and Robert. “My source is unavailable for a few days. My shelf will protect my house once I turn it back on; why don’t you both come up to Spring Green and stay at my place until I can get a shelf for you? There’s plenty of room.”
The Haunting of Waverly Hall Page 16