Table of Contents
ABOUT THE BOOK
ALSO BY KATIE JENNINGS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
ABOUT KATIE JENNINGS
PREVIEW OF UP IN THE PINES
ABOUT THE BOOK
A year has passed since banishing the spirits inside The Sparrow House and the team is as solid as ever, with Grace and Jackie now an important part of Great American Paranormal. They travel to haunted Savannah, Georgia, to save a bed and breakfast plagued by something much worse than ghosts. Between Ouija board portals, a surprise encounter with a woman from Ian’s past, and inner turmoil Grace just can’t shake, will the team make it out of Savannah alive?
Of The Ashes is the sequel novella to So Fell The Sparrow, which is available on Amazon in eBook and paperback
OF THE ASHES
Copyright © 2017 Katie Jennings
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Published by Sapphire Royale Publishing
Visit the author at:
http://www.katieajennings.com
http://www.facebook.com/authorkatiejennings
http://www.twitter.com/dryadquartet
ALSO BY KATIE JENNINGS
Up In The Pines
For Love & Bourbon
Things Lost in the Fire
So Fell The Sparrow
The Vasser Legacy
When Empires Fall
Rise of the Notorious
Rulers of Deception
The Dryad Quartet
Breath of Air
Firefight in Darkness
A Life Earthbound
Of Water and Madness
The Dryad Quartet Special Edition
ABOUT THE BOOK
ALSO BY KATIE JENNINGS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
ABOUT KATIE JENNINGS
PREVIEW OF UP IN THE PINES
When the Angels arrive, the devils leave.
EGYPTIAN PROVERB
CHAPTER ONE
She was a skeptic who became a believer.
It began with a sparrow—the lovely little spirit of a girl desperate to be free. Sensing the girl’s presence, feeling her touch, witnessing her apparition clear as day, had been more than enough to drag Dr. Grace Sullivan over the edge of cynic disbelief into pure faith in the supernatural.
It also didn’t hurt that her house had been haunted by two nasty, vengeful spirits. The chaos perpetrated on The Sparrow House by Grace’s own ancestors was something she would never forget. Nor would she forget the journey it took to finally end the turmoil.
An entire year had passed since banishing the spirits. She kept the home, free now of any paranormal activity, and the friends she had made during her stay there. The pair of ghost hunters and the psychic medium who came to her rescue were now like family. Hell, they were her family.
She glanced to her left, admiring the man beside her. He leaned back casually as he drove, one hand on the wheel and the other out the window, coasting the brisk Seattle air. Peace softened the hard lines of his face and a smile curved his mouth. On each knuckle of his right hand was a letter, spelling the acronym of his life’s passion.
G.A.P.C. Great American Paranormal Crew.
Ian caught her staring, and his smile deepened. “What?”
Grace shook her head. “Nothing. You just look happy.”
He shrugged, turning his gaze back to the cityscape that spread before them. In the distance, the Space Needle shot into the partly cloudy sky like a spear. “I’m home.”
She stared out the van’s passenger window, taking in the sights. This was her first visit to Ian’s hometown. Nerves skittered over her skin at the thought of meeting his family. It was his father’s birthday and a huge party was planned at their home in Capitol Hill. She wanted to make a good impression, but was wildly out of practice when it came to socializing.
Once upon a time, she’d been an outgoing, charming guest at the most prestigious parties in Chicago. Now, she would be surprised if she could handle shaking hands without spilling her drink like a klutz.
The thought made her cringe and only made her more nervous.
They’d spent the last year mostly on the road, going from one haunted location to the next, gathering evidence for the television show Ian and his partner Alex were producing. One episode had aired so far, with a few others finalized and ready to debut in the coming weeks. Already, the show was a hit. Grace had known it would be.
Ian was an exceptional ghost hunter. His instincts on the paranormal combined with Alex’s sense of humor and top-of-the-line ghost hunting equipment set them apart from others in the field. It made them famous, literally overnight.
It amused her to recognize that a profession she would have scoffed at a year earlier was one she now respected. She’d come a long way from the skeptical surgeon plagued with grief over the loss of her parents, resistant to anyone’s help. Now, she assisted Ian and Alex with their investigations, providing medical and scientific insight. It was a vastly different life from the one she’d led before, but, then, she was an entirely different person. Experiencing death first hand changed her, in more ways than one.
It also brought her to Ian, and she wouldn’t trade him for the world.
Feeling sentimental, she rested her hand on his knee. His cobalt eyes met her own gray ones, amusement in them.
“We’re almost there,” he told her, laying his hand on hers. He squeezed it tightly, his smile devious. “You nervous?”
“No,” she lied, returning the grin. “Should I be?”
“They’re nice people,” he told her. “My mom’s a skeptic, like you. She thinks my chosen profession is pretty stupid.”
“You never told me that.” Grace shifted in her seat to see him better. “And I wouldn’t really call myself a skeptic anymore.”
“You still lean heavily on your science, Doc. That’s what makes you such a great addition to the team.”
She felt a flush of pleasure creep over her cheeks. “Well, somebody’s got to reign you and Alex in when you guys stir each other up into a frenzy.”
“Hey, now, the frenzy is what keeps things interesting,” Alex piped in good-humoredly from the backseat. He had one arm wrapped around his girlfriend, Jackie, who lazed beside him with her corgi, Gatsby, sound asleep in her lap.
Grace glanced over her shoulder at him. “Yes, but the scientific proof is what keeps things credible.”
“Touché.” Alex scratched Gatsby behind the ears, nodding at Ian. “How long are we home for?”
“Couple of days,” Ian replied. “Your sister has a line on a potential haunted location down in Savannah.”
“No rest for the wicked.” Alex grinned
, kissing Jackie’s forehead.
The gypsy-eyed psychic medium snuggled closer to him, offering Grace a smile. “Savannah is a magical place.”
Grace chewed on her lower lip. “Isn’t it supposed to be really haunted?”
“Yes,” Jackie confirmed, eyes glittering. “That’s part of the magic.”
Minutes later, they parked before a large, two-story Colonial home. Vivid gold maple trees covered a lush garden, and a winding brick path led the way to the front porch. Lights were on inside, visible through the wide front windows.
Ian exited the van, skirting around the front to open the passenger door for Grace. She accepted his hand as she stepped out, taking in the elegant estate that had been his childhood home.
“And here I thought you had humble beginnings,” she mused.
He grinned. “You should’ve seen the apartment I was renting with Alex before I met you.”
“Ah, the good old bachelor pad,” Alex sighed fondly, one arm draped over Jackie’s shoulders. “I think all our furniture was worth like twenty bucks. We poured every dime we had into camera gear and equipment.”
“Money well spent,” Jackie said, leaning over to clip a leash onto Gatsby’s collar.
“That’s not necessary,” Ian said. “My parents have a beagle. These two will be best friends.”
Jackie smiled and tucked the leash back into her beaded purse, then whistled for Gatsby to follow as they walked up the brick path.
Ian’s hand found Grace’s and she held tight, exhaling a long breath. She hoped she looked all right after the long drive. She hadn’t even thought to freshen up her makeup or change out of the jeans and flannel shirt she wore, and her shoulder-length russet hair could probably use a brush. Too late to worry about it now, she realized. Best to just put on a smile.
Before they reached the front door, it swung open to reveal a tall man who was the spitting image of Ian, but older. Streaks of gray lined his careless waves of thick dark hair, and blue eyes smiled out at them from behind black-rimmed glasses.
“There they are!” the man greeted, throwing out his arms in welcome. He grabbed Ian’s outstretched hand and dragged him in for a backbreaking hug, then faced Grace. “This must be the doctor we’ve heard so much about.”
She held out her hand politely, hoping it didn’t tremble. “Grace Sullivan. Nice to meet you.”
He ignored her hand and embraced her instead. She fought back the awkwardness she felt as they met eyes again. For a fleeting moment, it was like looking at Ian thirty years in the future. Even the devious quirk of their smiles was the same.
“Richard Black.” His gaze swept past her and he chuckled. “And there’s the kid who almost burned my garage down with fireworks.”
Alex laughed. “Guilty as charged. What’s up, Mr. B?”
The two enjoyed a back-slapping hug before Ian’s father turned to Jackie. “And the enigmatic Jackie. Pleasure to meet you at last.”
Jackie bowed her head with a smile. “Thank you for inviting us into your home.”
“Thank you for coming all this way just for my birthday party.” He hugged her before stepping aside to invite them in. “C’mon inside. Caroline’s just bringing out the appetizers.”
“Who else is here?” Ian asked, resting a comforting hand on Grace’s shoulder as they walked inside.
His father shot him a wink. “Everybody.”
They passed through a craftsman-decorated parlor, complete with wood-paneled walls and hand-carved furniture, emerging into a spacious living room crowded with guests. Everyone turned as they entered, and drinks were raised amidst a joyous cheer.
Grace stepped aside as Ian and Alex were swallowed up by the crowd, welcomed home by both their families. She spotted Alex’s sister, Cassie, along with a short, petite woman with sandy blonde hair she realized must be Alex’s mother. The woman held him tightly, swaying back and forth as though she didn’t want to let go.
Others Grace assumed must be friends and extended family patted Ian on the back, congratulating him on the new show. She didn’t miss the light that came into his eyes, or the ease with which he moved among the guests. She had never seen him look more at home.
It was a far cry from the man she met over a year earlier back in Mad Rock Harbor. When he’d showed up on her doorstep, his blunt, serious attitude had her hackles rising. It was only later that she got to know the tender side of him, the side brimming with fearless compassion. His love and loyalty ran deep, and now she understood where he’d learned it. With these people, she could tell that love was something given in abundance.
Envy flooded her and she let it flow naturally, not ashamed of it. A dull ache bloomed in her heart, missing her own parents. She may have never had an enormous group of family and friends like Ian and Alex did, but she never once felt unloved. Her parents had made sure of that.
A hand linked with hers and she noticed Jackie standing beside her, her brown eyes soft and all-knowing. Grace attempted a smile, even as her own eyes filled.
“I didn’t know he had all this,” she admitted, motioning with her free hand to the room and the crowd.
Jackie nodded. “He brought you here to share it with you. Because he loves you.”
Grace sniffed, wiping away a stray tear that fell. “I know. It’s hard being on the outside, though. I feel like a puppy at the pound hoping to be adopted by the cute little family walking by my cage.”
Jackie’s bell-like laugh filled the air. “I suppose that makes two of us, darling.”
“Yeah,” Grace mused. “I guess it does.”
“Sweetheart, aren’t you going to introduce me to your new friends?” A tall, slender woman with chin-length gray hair that Grace assumed to be Caroline Black wafted into the room, holding a tray of fancy canapés. Her eyes were on Grace and Jackie, though her voice reached Ian across the room. He walked over, pressing a kiss to his mother’s forehead, then gestured to Jackie and Grace.
“Mom, this is Jackie, Alex’s girlfriend. She’s a psychic medium.”
Jackie shook hands with Ian’s mother, offering a warm smile. “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Black.”
“Caroline, please.” The woman turned to Grace, her smile growing. “And this must be Dr. Grace. My son tells me he’s fallen head over heels in love with you.”
Grace flushed, embarrassed as she accepted the woman’s handshake. “So he tells me.”
“I don’t know why it took you so long to bring her over, Ian,” Caroline scolded her son in a cheerful manner. “I guess you were just too busy with your ghosts to bother introducing us until now.”
The hint of resentment in the woman’s voice wasn’t lost on Grace. She saw Ian hadn’t missed it, either, though he did his best to ignore it.
“Well, she’s here now. Dad wants to play a game of pool, excuse me.” He headed for the billiards table in the corner of the room, where his father was already racking the balls for a new game.
Grace stared after him, grateful she still had Jackie at her side. When Alex suddenly dragged her friend away to introduce her to his family, Grace found herself alone under Caroline’s politely discriminating stare.
“Canapé, honey? Or something to drink?”
“Got any wine?” Grace asked with a dry smile.
Caroline chuckled, her pale-blue eyes glittering. “I do indeed. Follow me.”
She led the way through the crowd and into the kitchen, with its rows of maple cabinetry and island covered by a slab of well-loved butcher block. Caroline motioned for a stool at the island, inviting Grace to sit down.
Grace admired the butcher block, running her hands over its surface. “I love butcher block. There’s something so homey about it.”
“I agree,” Caroline replied, grabbing a couple of wine glasses from a glass-fronted cabinet and a bottle of red wine from the counter. She brought them over, filling both glasses with a smile. “This house was built in 1910. We’ve done our best to preserve its original charm.”
“It’s a beautiful home.”
“Thank you.” Caroline slid a glass across the island to Grace. “This is a 2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Malbec. Sourced from grapes grown right here in Washington.” At Grace’s surprised look, Caroline laughed. “Bet you didn’t know we make wine here, did you? Many people don’t.”
Grace lifted her glass to tap Caroline’s, then took a sip. She let the warm red wine coat her tongue, smooth and bursting with flavors of spiced plum and boysenberries.
“It’s amazing,” Grace praised. “Beats the cheap bottles of Merlot we get at the gas stations when we’re on the road.”
A knowing smile spread over Caroline’s lips. “Speaking of that, how are you enjoying your new life? I’m sure it must be exciting.”
“It is,” Grace agreed. “And exhausting, too. Ian and Alex have gotten some amazing evidence at the locations we’ve visited, though. It’ll make for great T.V.”
“So, you believe in all this ghost stuff?” Caroline asked, tilting her head to the side.
“I didn’t always. But, yeah, after what I’ve seen and felt, especially in my own house, I can’t deny ghosts exist.”
“Hmm,” Caroline murmured, her smile widening. “I guess I’m the only one who doesn’t get it, then. Ian’s tried to convince me, but I just can’t help rationalizing everything.”
“I get that,” Grace told her, laughing. “I frustrated the hell out of Ian when we first met. I absolutely refused to believe my house was haunted. It was much easier to try and explain away everything I was experiencing as old pipes rattling, stray cats meowing, cold drafts…you name it. I had every excuse in the book. It wasn’t until a spirit actually showed herself to me that I gave up all my reservations and believed.”
“That must have been terrifying for you.”
Grace shrugged. “I was plenty scared, trust me. But Ian was there, and somehow he made it all okay.”
Caroline’s eyes softened. “He’s always been a knight in shining armor.”
Of The Ashes: A 'So Fell The Sparrow' Sequel Novella Page 1