“He didn’t fool Elsa. She knew something was wrong. She tried to warn me, but I wouldn’t listen.” A flash of insight hit Rachel. “It’s not… It can’t be Elsa, can it? Can she see the future?”
Garrett sighed, holding the phone out to Rachel. “You need to talk to her. I’ll stay or go. Whatever you need.”
“Stay. Please. I don’t want to be alone.”
“All right.”
For this call, she wanted all the support she could get. As if he sensed her need, he draped his arm over her shoulder. She nestled against him before taking the phone.
Elsa’s number was already displayed. Rachel took a deep breath and made the call.
Chapter Seven
This was a level of Hell. Pain and pleasure tore at Garrett’s heart as Rachel snuggled next to him on the couch.
He’d dreamt of holding her like this. The circumstances were vastly different in his imagination.
Rachel put the phone on speaker and held it in front of them so he could share in the call. He felt a tremor run through her and pulled her closer.
“Garrett! How are you?” Elsa’s voice was lighter than ever. He’d never seen or heard her as happy since she and Dante became a couple.
Rachel must have heard it too. She seemed stunned, staring at the phone with her mouth slightly open.
“Doing good. I’m here with Rachel.”
“Rachel? Hi! How are you?”
“I’m…good, thanks. Thanks for asking.” Rachel wiped her eyes and sniffed, then beamed at the phone. “I’m glad you guys are okay.”
A peal of giggles drowned out the end of Rachel’s sentence. She looked at Garrett, her eyes wide. She must feel like she’d slipped into The Twilight Zone. He was right there with her.
Normally, Elsa was the reserved one and Rachel was ebullient. Things changed.
“Stop that!” Elsa said. “You’re supposed to be resting.”
“Dante’s with you?” Garrett asked.
“Yes. I’ll put the phone on speaker.”
“Only if Winston isn’t around. This conversation is going to be a little bit sensitive.”
There was a slight pause, as if Elsa was picking up on the tension on the other side of the line. Her voice was more subdued when she spoke again. “He’s in his room listening to audiobooks with the door closed. You’re on speaker now.”
Elsa and Dante were staying in their loft in the city to be close to Dante’s doctors. Garrett missed having them next door, but agreed with their logic.
It did make having private conversations like this one a bit more problematic, since Elsa’s butler, Winston, was staying with them in the much smaller space. They had even moved their cat, Leonardo.
“Hey, Dante,” Garrett said. “How are you feeling?”
“Marvelous. Modern medicine’s modalities are mesmerizing,” Dante said.
“He’s been doing this for the last half-hour. Alliteration was not listed in the side effects of his medicines. Do you have anything to make him stop?”
There was laughter in Elsa’s tone and Garrett chuckled.
“I think this conversation will put a stop to it,” Garrett said.
Dante laughed. “Quell it quickly to quash any quarreling.”
“Quiet,” Elsa said.
Garrett waited for them to stop laughing before asking his question. “Dante, when were you born?”
“Quite a question.”
“Dante!”
Dante’s tone became a bit more serious. “The second of April.”
“The year,” Garrett said. “Rachel needs to know.”
There was a long pause. When Dante spoke again, his voice was low and the playfulness was gone.
“Eighteen hundred and forty-five.”
Rachel turned to Garrett, her eyebrows knitted. He nodded in what he hoped was a reassuring manner, then said, “And how did you get here?”
Elsa jumped in. “I brought him.”
“How?” Rachel’s voice was weak.
“According to Jazz, I used astral projection to travel back in time and brought him forward ‘through sheer stubborn willpower’. I haven’t had a chance to research it myself, but it’s Jazz, so she’s probably right.”
Rachel was shaking her head, as if she couldn’t believe what they were saying. “Wait, you didn’t know what you were doing when it was happening?”
“I knew what I was doing, just not what it was called. I’ve always thought of it as ‘traveling’. It’s something I’ve been able to do since I was a child. I never researched it because I was afraid to be seen with books about paranormal phenomena.”
When Garrett had been helping Dante get settled in the loft a few weeks back, Elsa had explained her powers and that she had saved Dante’s life by pulling him through time to the present.
Jazz had been there and had already been clued in. She seemed to know more about Elsa’s powers than anybody. It had confused Garrett initially, but made more sense now that he knew Elsa hadn’t researched her own abilities—which still struck him as odd. He hadn’t said anything at the time because he had been too busy pretending to be surprised.
Finn had already been looking into Dante at Garrett’s request, and straight-out told Garrett that Dante was from the 1800s and Elsa had teleported him to the present. That plus the pre-surgery blood work that showed Dante had never received any inoculations…
Yeah, Garrett had come to terms with the idea of time travel before Elsa had said a word.
Being friends with Finn had given Garrett plenty of practice wrapping his mind around serious weirdness. He wondered how Rachel would hold up to learning about what Elsa could do. At least she had personal experience with the paranormal to draw on. Garrett hoped it would help.
“Garrett, you know I trust you,” Elsa said, “but some context would be nice.”
Her trusting him—or anyone, really—was another amazing change. She hadn’t hesitated to answer his questions. She had been the biggest control freak he’d ever met until she became involved with Dante. She took charge of every situation, never trusting anyone else to do anything for her.
Garrett still wasn’t sure how Dante had helped Elsa let go and start enjoying her life. Garrett sure as hell appreciated it though. They all did.
Rachel had the opposite problem. She seemed to be enjoying life, flitting through it blithely, but deep down she had been suffering the whole time. She used her poppets to control her environment, but she was trapped in the space she created.
Garrett didn’t know what to do about that. Yet. But he could help her now—take the pressure off so she wouldn’t have to share her own ability until she was ready.
“It was time,” he said. “That’s all.”
“Is that…” Rachel’s voice crackled. It was low and raw. She cleared her throat and said, “Is that how you knew? About Michael?”
“Yes, my powers helped me find you.”
“No, I mean… Is that how you knew he was dangerous? You tried to warn me.”
Rachel covered her mouth, her eyes clinched shut as tears streamed down her face. She was trying not to let Elsa and Dante hear the pain—shielding them from it.
Garrett wasn’t so lucky. The cracks along his heart where it had broken time and again with Rachel started to bleed as she shuddered and silently cried in his arms. He pressed a kiss against the top of her head and helped hold the phone still. From the way her hand was shaking, she looked ready to drop it.
“No.” Elsa’s voice became cold. “My parents hurt each other. Sometimes they hurt me too. I can recognize the potential for violence.”
Rachel’s hand moved to her chest as her breathing became rapid. “What?” She choked back a sob. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
It was news to Garrett too. His grip on the phone tightened.
>
“Nobody did. And it almost cost me Dante. It almost cost you your life.”
“I don’t understand,” Rachel said.
“If I had explained how I knew about him, maybe you would have listened. I’m so sorry, Rachel.” Elsa sniffed.
This was not what Garrett had planned. He wanted Rachel to understand that he believed her, not to have both her and Elsa upset and crying.
Garrett pulled Rachel closer, gently running his hand up and down her arm. He hoped Dante was comforting Elsa too.
“Please don’t be sorry,” Rachel said. “It’s my fault, not yours. You were only hurt because you were trying to help me.”
Dante spoke up, sounding much more focused and coherent. “The only involved party who bears responsibility is Michael.”
Next time Garrett saw Dante, a manly hug was in order. Everybody was blaming themselves for what happened. Even Garrett, every time he thought of that damned voicemail from Finn. It needed to stop.
“I think we can all agree on that,” Garrett said. “Can we also agree that we’re done with the apologizing?”
“Absolutely,” Elsa said.
Rachel nodded. “Yes. Of course.”
“I can’t believe you’ve been blaming yourself this whole time,” Elsa said. “I hope we never go through anything like this again, but no matter what you’re dealing with, if something’s bothering you and we can fix it just by talking, please don’t wait to call me.”
Garrett suppressed a little laugh. That was the Elsa they all knew and loved. Telling people what to do. Order was restored to his universe.
“I won’t. In fact that’s why we called.” Rachel looked at Garrett and smiled, eyes bright with tears.
His heart seemed to lurch toward her. He wanted to pull her closer and kiss away her tears. She turned back to the phone before he could do anything so stupid.
“I have a gift too,” Rachel said.
“A gift?” Elsa asked.
“A psychic ability.”
“You’re kidding!”
Rachel laughed. “I told Garrett about it, and when he believed me right away I thought he was humoring me.”
“Yeah, he does that.” An edge of playfulness had returned to Elsa’s tone. “Can you travel too?”
“No, mine’s more…mainstream.”
She grinned at Garrett. He smiled back, trying to pretend that everything was okay, that his heart wasn’t constricting in his chest, suffocating from having her so close and knowing he couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
“I hear ghosts,” Rachel said.
“Ghosts are real?”
“Yeah.”
“And they talk to you?”
“It’s more like they talk near me. I’ve been trying not to let them know I can hear them, but I think the cat’s out of the bag. It tends to make them clingy when they find out. The whole thing is not as fun as it sounds.”
“I can imagine. Can you turn it off?”
“Not really. But there are things I can do to keep them away.”
“That sounds awful.” There was a short pause, then Elsa asked, “It isn’t Michael, is it? You’re not hearing him?”
Garrett’s heart dropped through his stomach. He pulled Rachel closer against his chest, looking all around.
How the hell had he not thought of that immediately when Rachel told him about what she could do? His relief that she was confiding in him—that he finally had an explanation for her behavior—had clouded his mind.
“No, it’s not Michael. His body was cremated—I checked. There have to be earthly remains for a spirit to linger.”
Garrett lowered his head to Rachel’s shoulder for a moment, willing his heart to slow down. She briefly leaned her head against his.
“That is still a very scary thought,” Elsa said. “Being surrounded by people you can’t see.”
She wasn’t kidding. Garrett would make a dozen more of those poppet things. Hell, he’d make Rachel a dress out of them.
“What can we do to help?” Elsa asked.
Garrett listened with keen interest.
Rachel wiped her face dry with the back of her hand and seemed to melt into Garrett’s chest, her tension flowing out of her. He hoped she couldn’t feel his heart beating, fast and urgent.
“Just knowing you believe me—knowing I’m not the only one with a gift—really helps. Thank you.”
“Of course. I still wish there was more we could do.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“I do not wish to add to an already tense subject,” Dante said, “but I must inquire… Is Elsa safe when she travels? If there are spirits about that she might encounter while outside her physical form, some of whom may be dangerous, I would rather we know and address the situation.”
“I’ve never heard of people running into ghosts during astral journeys,” Rachel said. “Maybe they’re on a different wavelength or something. The bigger issue is protecting your body while you’re journeying.”
“I always make sure I’m in a locked room when I travel and I’m the only one with a key.”
Rachel’s brow knit together and she cast a glance at Garrett that was not reassuring. “I meant protect your body from possession. Florida is filled with spirits. An unoccupied body is easy pickings for any coherent ghost. They just step right in. If a spirit’s personality is strong enough, they can even possess occupied bodies.”
Garrett felt a chill shoot down his spine. How many times had Elsa left her body unattended, flirting with disaster without even realizing it?
“That is a most alarming bit of information,” Dante said. “What can we do to protect her?”
“First you stay calm,” Garrett said. “Stress won’t help with your recovery.”
“She just needs to refrain from traveling,” Rachel said. “Until I can make a talisman to protect her.”
“You know how to do that?” Elsa asked.
“I have a pretty good idea. I’ll research it more to be sure. I’ll need materials, but I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry. You just focus on taking care of Dante.”
“Thank you,” Dante said.
“Yes, thanks. And thank you for telling us, Rachel. I know how hard it can be to open up about these things. But secrets between friends aren’t a good idea. Not like these.”
Rachel nodded. “I’m starting to see that. You guys take care, okay?”
“You too.”
Rachel disconnected the call and immediately dialed another number. She didn’t put the phone on speaker, but lifted it to her ear instead.
“Hey, Jazz. Yeah. Yeah, I know. Yes, I should have called sooner. I’ve been distracted.”
Rachel rose to her knees, which took her out of Garrett’s arms. He tried to hide his disappointment. She was focused enough on her call that she didn’t seem to notice.
“I need your help. I’m going to text you a list of things I need from Bookwyrm. Yes, the hippie bookstore you like. Yes, I’ve been there. Well, I never mentioned it because… Look, I’ll explain when you bring me the things on the list.” She rolled her eyes at Garrett and shook her head. “Can you bring it to Garrett’s house this afternoon? I’m staying with him for a while. Yes, I left my mother’s house.”
Garrett could hear Jazz’s enthusiastic response from two feet away. Rachel moved the phone from her ear. She sighed when she started listening to Jazz again.
“I know, I should have done it sooner. I’ll explain everything when you get here. Okay. Thanks! Bye.”
She disconnected the call, then set the phone on the coffee table. Her lips were pulled into a broad smile.
“Thank you for doing that for me,” she said. “For believing me, for letting me stay here, for…everything!”
She threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Garrett rested his hands on her back and closed his eyes, letting the feel of her soak in—warmth and joy and the brightest essence he’d ever felt. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with her scent.
Something shifted in her embrace. For a moment, she softened against him. Her cheek grazed his, her breath tickled the fine hairs on his neck.
Warmth turned to heat and the thought of cradling her face in his hands and kissing her senseless became almost overwhelming. But then she stiffened and pulled away. Again.
It didn’t surprise him anymore, but it still hurt like hell.
“I need to get my books,” she said. “To research the talisman for Elsa.”
Garrett nodded. “I’ll help. Any way I can.”
She wouldn’t meet his eyes and her cheeks were flushed. There was attraction between them. He knew she felt it too. But there was something else standing between them—something he couldn’t see, couldn’t touch, couldn’t tear apart.
Damned if he knew what it was.
Chapter Eight
The coffee table was covered in open books when the doorbell rang. Rachel didn’t jump at the sound. She let out a little sigh, realizing she was more relaxed than she’d been in months.
She felt safe. Safe enough to convince Garrett to take a shower and leave her on her own for a little while.
“Coming!”
She ran to the counter to grab the censer before heading for the door. She had already refilled it and lit fresh incense, knowing Jazz would arrive soon. Now Rachel had the fun of explaining why she needed to smudge Jazz when she came inside.
The windows along the side of the front door let Rachel see Jazz standing on the stoop, holding a bright green bag decorated with a picture of a dragon lying on its back and reading a book. Its tail wound around a crystal ball.
Rachel smiled as she opened the door. “Hi!”
Jazz hesitated before saying, “Hi.”
Her dark eyes glittered strangely in the late-afternoon light and her long black hair hung around her shoulders as if she hadn’t done more than brush it. She still wore her signature black leather pants, but instead of her usual white V-neck T-shirt, she had on a dark, oversized sweater that practically engulfed her slight frame.
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