Origins (The Grimm Cases Book 1)

by Lyla Oweds

  Damen rubbed his chin and nodded. “I agree. But we’ll watch it in the meantime. Dr. Stephens has a family emergency to attend to and is leaving tonight, so he’ll be unreachable. He should have already turned off his cell, but he might not have left yet. Miles, can you let him know what’s happening?”

  “Hey…” They weren’t going to try to make me leave, were they? That certainly wasn’t the reason I told them what had happened. Besides that, I was the only one who could fully sense these things. And I had house-sitting responsibilities here—

  “I can do that.” Miles nodded. “I want to be away from here for as long as possible anyway. Once she’s bandaged up, Bianca and I will drop by Dr. Stephens’s place before we pick up dinner—Julian, you forgot again.”

  “I’m sorry.” Julian sounded mildly chastised, but mostly annoyed. “I forgot again. But really, is food the most important thing at the moment?”

  “Damen, don’t you think she should go back to the dorms?” Titus rumbled behind me. “I did purchase all the equipment you requested. We shouldn’t put her in any more danger. This isn’t safe.”

  What did he mean he bought new equipment? They didn’t seriously…

  Outside of that, there was something more pressing. “No, I’m not going back to the dorms!”

  The four of them froze before staring at me in surprise. They hadn’t expected me to argue.

  “Bianca.” Damen frowned, speaking slowly. “I understand that you feel obligated, but this isn’t your home. It’s not your problem to solve. Why did you stay, anyway—after all this started? Why didn’t you contact Hamway and just tell her that you couldn’t house-sit anymore? Does she know about the paranormal activity?”

  “No, I haven’t spoken to her since she left. It’s difficult to contact her, and also…I’m allowed to have friends here, anyway. Besides, the ghosts aren’t all bad!” I argued—upset that they now wanted to send me away when I was the one who brought them here in the first place. “They aren’t all bad. I can’t just run away. I have to help her.”

  “Her? The one who trapped you in the bathroom?” Julian asked mildly. He was wrapping my foot with antiseptic and a thin, white bandage—the deep concern of his face masked over with determined professionalism.

  “No, there’s another girl too,” I told him. “A child. If I can’t help her, she’ll be stuck—alone with those things. I feel it—I can’t just leave.”

  “There’s more than two? All haunting the same location?” Damen took a step back, shocked. But then his gaze turned stern again. “Either way, you don’t need to stay here for that. And if necessary, we can observe activity from afar. But this isn’t the first time it has attacked you now. You are still living, Bianca. You should aspire to keep it that way.”

  He paused for a moment, considering, before continuing. “Besides, this isn’t the first spirit you’ve seen in your life. There’s nothing that binds you to this ghost more than any other.”

  “I can’t…” As much as I wanted to argue with him logically, there was nothing I could say. He was right. I couldn’t recall the last time I was emotionally vested in the welfare of a spirit. It was more than wanting to become a stronger person. There was a pull—something I didn’t understand—that made me need to help her.

  “Is there something about this spirit that has caused you to seek out answers?”

  “I don’t know…” I didn’t understand.

  Why was Damen pressing me on this? Even if I wanted to leave now, I couldn’t. At some point, I had become emotionally entangled, and I just had to see it to the end. “Everyone will give up and leave. It’s happened before.” Somehow, I knew that as a fact. “I don’t even know…I don’t know why we can’t call Professor Hamway. All I know is that if I don’t do anything, then nothing will change…She’ll be trapped here forever.”

  I blinked out of my musings and held Damen’s gaze. “Please, don’t make me leave.”

  Damen had a blank look on his face, and the others were utterly still. He finally answered. “We don’t abandon our problems once we’ve become aware of the situation. It makes no difference whether you are here, or safe in your room at the dorm. I’m not going to make you do anything. What I want to know from you is what is so different about this house—this ghost—in comparison to others in the past?”

  I wished that I knew the answer. “I don’t know…” I repeated.

  I got the impression Damen wasn’t thrilled. But I wasn’t sure why he couldn’t let go of the subject. If he was like Finn in any way, then perhaps he just needed to know—for his own understanding.

  Well, more power to him. But I had no idea. So I couldn’t help him clarify the situation.

  I wasn’t being difficult or evasive—I was just being me. Besides, it was my fault they were here. If they got harmed, then it would be on my conscience. “I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful. When I asked for help, I didn’t expect you to be in danger.”

  Titus’s chest jerked as he scoffed, and I wondered why he reacted that way. His next statement answered my question. “I don’t think it’s us that’s in danger.”

  I tilted my head back into his chest and looked at him. While I understood gangsters were fearless and tough, the spirits in this house had been other-worldly scary. A spectre of this magnitude could easily target any one of them…and that…well, that would be terrible. “You can’t let it get you. You’re vulnerable—you can’t see them. I can help. If any of them come near, I’ll warn you and you can run away. And we all need to stay in groups at all times.”

  Titus raised his left eyebrow higher with every word coming out of my mouth. By the end of my instructions, he had the most befuddled expression on his face—and I wasn’t sure why. It was Miles’s sudden laughter that broke through the pregnant pause which followed.

  I glared at his shaking form. What in the world was he laughing about? This was dangerous business.

  “Oh my God, she’s freaking hilarious,” Miles exclaimed, as he tried to regain his composure. I could feel Titus’s chest heaving beneath me as he, too, found humor at my expense. “Asking her to join our group was the best decision we’ve ever made.” Miles wiped at his eyes.

  “I’m serious!” I narrowed my eyes at him.

  Julian and Damen joined the two in uproarious laughter, and my blood pressure skyrocketed.

  “Stop laughing!” I crossed my arms under the blanket as I pouted. I was only looking out for them, and they were laughing at me. See if I ever tried to protect them from harm again.

  Damen nudged Julian aside and knelt down in front of me. I tried to ignore him, but when he stroked my hair, I couldn’t pretend anymore. He waited until our eyes met before he spoke. “It’s all right, baby girl. If we’re going to stay here, then we’ll all follow your rules—including you. No one—and that includes you—is to be alone in this house at any point until we’ve solved this case. But I think us guys will all be safe. I have a feeling this spirit is targeting only women. Even so, your concern about our welfare is touching.”

  Well, the fact that it was after women was a nice, sobering thought. But if it was so touching that I cared, why laugh at me?

  “Thank you.” An emotion—almost like appreciation—flashed across his expression. It happened so quickly I almost missed it. Damen’s mouth turned up slightly as he continued. “It’s not every day that someone actually cares if we can handle something or not or worries about our welfare. It’s unexpected, but nice.”

  At his words, the amusement fled from the others as everyone exchanged some secret look that I couldn’t decipher. Julian stated he was done treating my leg, and the exchange was soon forgotten.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Understanding

  “Isn’t it my job to help you with some of these? I thought that we were working on some kind of payment plan?” I asked, gesturing toward the large pile of electronics in the middle of the room. I was sitting at the bottom of the rickety basement stairs, watching T
itus as he circled about the musty, dimly-lit space.

  Julian and Titus had led me to the guest room so I could get dressed. My leg was sore, but I could have walked—painfully—if necessary. The only reason I had collapsed earlier was because I was caught off-guard. But they were taking no chances, and Julian insisted that I rest my leg for the night.

  With classes beginning tomorrow—and Monday being my busiest day of the week—it made sense. It was hard for me to argue with logic. But dressing with two boys standing just outside the door was uncomfortable. I’d hurriedly threw on the first tank and pajama bottoms I could find.

  After that though, I had refused to leave any of them alone in the house. Begrudgingly, they accepted my earnest pleas.

  Damen—who had his shikigami to help if necessary—was setting up equipment in the upper level. Miles had taken Julian to visit Dr. Stephens and then pick up dinner. Meanwhile, I was assigned to ‘man the base’. The job was only meant to distract me until the equipment had been distributed and set up—the base only consisted of a folded card table and a couple of monitors.

  Titus had been tasked with handling the worst location—the basement.

  Considering how much he had helped me, I felt obligated to see him through this deed. If the spirits overlooked his hulking, male frame and imposing muscles, it was possible that—with his long hair—a desperate ghost might mistake him for a woman.

  Initially, he rolled his eyes and tried to leave me behind when I offered to help. But he clearly did not expect me to limp after him.

  I won that small battle.

  I still didn’t feel I was being very helpful, though. Titus told me that keeping watch for rats and ghosts was plenty useful. So, I would do whatever I could.

  “Your job is to sit on your beautiful behind and tell me if you see something.” Titus gave me the directive as he assessed the situation. He was still circling the area, flashing a light into the dark corners of the room where the overhead light did not reach. “Besides, you wouldn’t want to risk dropping our expensive camera equipment. Not when you can hardly walk. You should have stayed upstairs, but you are such a stubborn little thing.”

  “I can help,” I protested. “I can hold stuff. Or hand you things. I wouldn’t drop the camera.” I grabbed on to the railing and began to pull myself up.

  “Would you be willing to bet three thousand on that?” he asked mildly. “I don’t think your nerves could take it.”

  I almost lost my grip and fell forward, but caught myself just in time. “What?” My eyes were glued to the pile Titus brought down earlier. “Did you go out and spend three thousand just on this?”

  “Of course not.” One of Titus’s jean-clad legs moved into my vision, and my focus drifted upward along the length of his frame. He wasn’t looking at me, though. He studied the room as he pulled his loose hair back into a ponytail.

  For a moment, I forgot what we were talking about, but then he glanced back at me and pointed to one particular item in the mass of equipment. “Only that camera cost that much. It’s infrared—top of the line, of course. I’m not sure what everything else cost. I left the details up to Maria.”

  Maria again. The bitter sting of jealousy I held toward this mysterious, fluffy-haired blonde surprised me. Of course, I had no idea what she actually looked like. But a blonde would be his type.

  Not that I cared what his type was. I didn’t want to date a mafia lumberjack anyway. Besides, it didn’t matter—since they didn’t date and were celibate and all...

  Even though I was desperately trying—really trying—I was still wary of Titus. Especially when we were alone. I wasn’t sure why. There was something bizarre about him, but I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Perhaps it had something to do with his dangerous presence, how large and terrifying he looked. Or maybe it was the sense of wildness and danger that lay dormant in his gaze. These were traits that the other three men lacked. But what better way to face your fears than open exposure?

  If Titus was a paranormal-fighting mafia-based monk, then there was no way that Maria was a girlfriend from a rival gang. That would be unrealistic—who ever heard of a gang of monks? If one such thing existed, then they were all clearly on the same side.

  She could be Titus’s apprentice. I should ask, but it might give him the wrong impression. Like, jealous impressions. I couldn’t ask—I shouldn’t be jealous or curious. But maybe it was normal to know. Wouldn’t it look strange for friends not to know this kind of stuff?

  Then the words he had just said registered past my inner ponderings.

  “Hold on.” I put my hand up in shock, surprising Titus. He paused mid-motion, picking a camera up off of the floor. I continued before he could respond. “Are you saying that this pile of stuff cost more than three thousand dollars?”

  He didn’t move an inch but watched me—perplexed. Then his green-eyed gaze drifted to the pile for a moment before returning to me. This time his tone was wary as he answered. “Yes. I imagine so.”

  I was flabbergasted. “Why in the world would you spend that much money? All we need is holy water, and perhaps some incense. How long do I need to work to pay this back—?”

  “You don’t need to pay this back.” Titus straightened. “My company collects all sorts of technology for research purposes. This is all a business expense.”

  I ignored him. “I’m paying this back. Don’t argue.”

  My gaze was trapped on the pile now, it seemed to grow bigger the longer I stared. “I’m going to be working for free forever.”

  I should have asked for a written agreement. I had no idea what my salary was supposed to be in the first place. I’d bet they wouldn’t bat an eye at paying me a hundred dollars an hour or some ridiculous sum of money. I couldn’t let them do that. It wouldn’t be right.

  Such generosity was more than I could accept. I simply didn’t deserve it. I just hoped they’d never be able to figure this out for themselves.

  “What are you thinking about?” Titus asked.

  I looked up quickly, drawing in a sharp breath. His face was now shockingly close to my own. It startled me, and—despite my best attempts—I couldn’t suppress my reaction as I lurched backward.

  Then I started to lose my balance and almost smacked my head against the stairs.

  Titus quickly grabbed my shoulders to stabilize me.

  I blinked, stunned, as I slowly came to realize what had just happened. Titus’s body framed mine. One of his forearms pillowed my head—against the place where my skull would have smashed against the steps. The other arm was wrapped around my shoulders, holding me to him.

  “Watch out.” He sounded winded. His voice, along with the feel of his steady warmth over me, had my heart thundering in my chest.

  “S-Sorry,” I stammered. What should I do now? I could have seriously hurt him. At this point, I was capable of just about anything.

  “Are you all right?” Titus shifted on top of me. And as he stood up, he pulled me up along with him as if I weighed nothing. Electricity ran down my spine as he held me back from him. His large hands were gentle on my arms. His gaze traveled the length of me—starting at my feet—surveying for injuries. Once our gazes met, he froze.

  A tense moment passed before he frowned and dropped his hands from my arms. “You’re afraid of me.” Shame flooded his expression, and a self-reproachful look took over his features.

  I hated I had been the cause.

  He continued, his voice softer now—as if he were talking to a frightened animal. “I’m so sorry. I thought that it was okay…I’ve been picking you up and holding you all night. I just didn’t realize…”

  I couldn’t bear the look in his eyes. But he kept on uttering apologies, not giving me a chance to respond. I wanted to deny he was right, but I couldn’t. The fact remained even though it was different than yesterday: I was still wary of him. With the others around, it was different. But with the two of us alone, I couldn’t entirely suppress the slight fear at the
edge of my nerves. There was something dark about him, and I knew that he could hurt me without breaking a sweat.

  Yes, any one of them could hurt me if they wanted to. But Titus was different.

  Eventually, I would get over my fear. I knew that I could. But I would never be able to do so if I wasn’t honest with him.

  “Why?” he mused, frowning. “Is it because I didn’t back off yesterday? Miles tells me that I’m pushy and overbearing. But I was only concerned about you, and you were walking alone—”

  I couldn’t take it anymore. He had been nice to me, even then. Pushy or not. And even though I had physically attacked him, he still welcomed me into the group without question. Even now, he still wanted to help me. He had gone out of his way, despite hardly knowing me.

  He was a good person. I knew that, too. Scary, but good. I couldn’t let him feel guilty about something that wasn’t his fault.

  “Stop.” I pressed my fingers to his lips—standing on the stairs made the action easier. His stunned gaze locked with mine as his words trailed off. “It’s not you,” I told him. “I’m damaged. Quirky. I have very weird instincts. Outside of the initial creepiness, you did nothing wrong.”

  Titus blinked at me in confusion, his face relaxing. He seemed to have no idea how to respond.

  He seemed clueless about certain social norms—not that I was an expert. But I was certain that most people didn’t just show up at a girl’s house after she kicked him in the balls.

  Finally, he appeared to make up his mind. His voice was low as he asked, “What do you mean by damaged?”

  During the silence, my focus had been captured by a loose curl. It had fallen seductively in front of his eyes, and I was entranced. But at his question, I realized what I had done—what I’d said.

  How much I nearly gave away.

  These guys seemed to do that to me. They had a knack for catching me off guard. It scared me—but also drew me in. I desperately sought the peace they offered—but not right now. Not until I figured out what this friendship meant and how our dynamics would play out.