Ghosts Of Lovers Past

by Bethany Sefchick

“I don’t know,” Rose rushed on. “What I do know is that Tim and my grandfather were at the house because you told them to be, Mia! Somehow, you knew that Justin and I were going to die. You went to find my grandfather and Tim. You brought them to this house and you used your magic to do the spells! You’re the one that helped my grandfather cast the spell that split me in two and when something went wrong, you died that day too.”

  Rose barely paused for breath, wanting to get everything out into the open.

  “You were the Mountain Witch and you were in love with Tim then, just like you are now. Only you couldn’t be together, so you hid your relationship until it was too late. That day… It just went wrong somehow and you died before whatever was between you two got resolved. Nothing has changed. It’s still the same old cycle repeating.”

  “No!” Mia insisted again. “It isn’t true. I would know if it was.”

  Rose snorted. “Yes, it is and somewhere deep inside, you do know it. One of those black, faceless shadow people in the hallway that Justin keeps seeing? That’s you! That’s why you’re here now. You’re the one tied to Justin and I, and Tim is tied to you. That’s why you’re here. That’s why he’s here. You have a part in this too, Mia. You just have to accept it!”

  This was the closest Rose had come to feeling anger since she had woken up in this house, and she found that it invigorated her spirit like nothing had in a very long time. Suddenly, she wanted nothing more than to find the missing part of her and get on with her life, whatever form that took.

  “Maybe you’re right,” Mia finally admitted softly, the fight going out of her. “But that doesn’t change anything now. What’s done is done and maybe I did die that day. But the past is the past, at least for me. All I can do now is to help put the universe right.”

  Mia studied Rose with those same tired eyes. “Justin told me how you view the universe, the cogs and wheels that make it all run. Even if you’re right and I am tied up in this, today is your time, Rose. It’s not mine. I’m certain of that, if nothing else.”

  “I didn’t meant to upset you,” Rose said, her agitation now gone. “I just wanted you to know that you’re as wrapped up in this mess as Justin and I are.”

  Mia shrugged. “Like I said, it’s the past. I can’t change it today. I can only change the present and I fully intend to do that.”

  “By taking this part of me,” Rose gestured to her shimmering form, “to the hospital to unite with my other half. What if it fails?”

  “It won’t,” Mia said calmly, now more sure of herself, “but if it does, I have a backup plan.”

  “Which is?” Rose couldn’t wait to hear whatever explanation Mia had in store this time.

  “If something fails, I will simply allow my soul to disappear,” Mia looked away, unable to meet Rose’s eyes at first. “Callie will be able to facilitate the transformation, make it easier on both of us.

  Rose gasped at her in horror. “You’ll die!”

  “I know,” Mia replied, a grim smile on her lips, “but you’ll live and the universe will be right again. I have a lot to answer for, Rose, things that you don’t understand. This will go a long way to help repair the damage I’ve caused.”

  “Tim won’t understand,” Rose shot back in desperation. “He’ll hate me. You’re the one he loves and it will kill him to see me with Justin. All he’ll see is you. It will still be your body, not mine.”

  Mia sighed and closed her eyes. “Then you’ll have to make him understand because I won’t change my mind. If only one of us gets to live through this day, Rose, it will be you. My mind is made up. Now let’s join.”

  Crossing to the door without giving Rose a chance to protest, Mia opened it and beckoned for both Callie and Elliott to come back into the room. Once they were inside, Mia locked the door and turned to face Callie. Elliott, for his part, simply stood back, waiting and observing, just in case he was needed, as he always did.

  “We’re ready,” Mia informed Callie. “Are you still in control of your abilities.” When Callie nodded, Mia smiled. “Good. Then this should be easy. Whenever you’re ready.”

  Slowly, Callie brought her fingers up to Mia’s temple and closed her eyes. After a moment, the younger woman released a small sigh and her body seemed to sag, as if under an increased weight. Elliott started towards them, but Callie held up her hand.

  “Not yet,” she whispered in a voice that sounded as if it came from miles away. “I will tell you when.”

  With that, Callie reached out and touched Rose’s temple with cool, dry fingers. The last thing Rose remembered was falling backwards into the same gaping black hole she had experienced the first time she had died. She also knew she didn’t like it any better the second time around.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Elliott emerged from the kitchen first, carrying Callie’s limp form. Justin wasn’t surprised when Reed raced over and plucked the unconscious woman from the doctor’s arms.

  “We have to get that damn bracelet off,” Reed growled, cradling Callie protectively. “Every time she has to do something, it nearly kills her. She can’t replenish her energy fast enough.”

  For his part, Elliott just grumbled and ran a hand through his hair. “You know we can’t do that. It’ll come off soon enough. Until then, I promise she won’t die. Now let’s go to the hospital.”

  He pulled a set of keys from his pocket and beckoned to Josh who was still on the lookout for any dark spirits or other paranormal danger, to follow him. Reed trailed the entire group through the front door, an unconscious Callie still in his arms.

  A moment later, when Mia emerged from the kitchen, Justin knew immediately that Rose was the one looking out from her eyes. She spared Tim a brief glance, but then locked eyes on Justin. Those eyes, however, were neither Mia’s brilliant green ones nor the grayish blue he knew Rose’s were when she was living. Instead, they were a greenish gold, as if sunlight were playing across the forest floor.

  It was very disconcerting, not just for Justin but for Tim as well. Justin felt, rather than saw, Tim come to stand beside him. “Mia?” he heard his friend ask and held his breath in anticipation of the answer.

  “Not at the moment,” a strange voice replied. To Justin it didn’t sound like either of the women, but rather an odd mix of both their voices. “Mia is here with me, but for the moment, I’m in control of her body. If you really need to see her, she can come out. It’s just that it taxes her.”

  “Rose?” Justin asked, wanting to be sure the woman who was the other half of his heart was really inside his boss’ body.

  “It’s me,” she replied in that same odd voice, “at least for now.”

  Tim twitched beside him. “I don’t like this,” he said finally, “but I don’t think I have any choice.”

  The trip to the hospital was a quiet one. Tim concentrated on driving, following as closely behind Elliott’s car as possible, not saying a word. Justin couldn’t blame him, really. Of all of them, his friend stood to lose the most. Rose might die, but at least now Justin knew to look for her in his next life. They still had a chance in the future, even if this one didn’t work out the way he prayed it would.

  Tim, however, didn’t have that option. If Mia’s soul disappeared, that was the end of her. There was no chance for her soul to be reborn and Tim would lose the only woman he’d ever loved. Justin knew that now without question.

  Beside him in the backseat, Justin risked a glance at Rose. It had taken all of her willpower, or at least Mia’s willpower, to physically get her into the car when they’d finally emerged from Rosewood House. This was the first day in over a century that Rose had set foot outside the home that had also become her prison.

  She was clearly relishing every new sensation and had stopped more than once to smell or feel something on her way to the car. It had only been Tim’s terse “get in” that had spurred Justin to drag Rose into the car.

  As if she could feel his eyes on her, Rose turned to look at him, then
reached out to take his hand. “Soon,” she whispered. “This will all be over soon.”

  It was more than a little disconcerting to see Mia’s face, but hear Rose’s voice. Justin knew Tim must have been going through hell, but he found it difficult to care. Afternoon sunlight played across her face, illuminating the dark blue tones in Mia’s thick mane of hair, making her beautiful in a way that Justin had never considered before. He knew that if something went wrong, his friendship with Tim would be over. Even after all they’d been through, the other man would never be able to forgive Justin or Rose for taking Mia away from him, even though it had been Mia’s choice.

  Justin also knew for certain that he’d been wrong to judge Mia so harshly. He still wasn’t sure he liked her, but there was far more depth to the woman than he’d given her credit for. He had no idea what had happened in her past, but Tim did, or at least he suspected. If they made it through this, Justin knew he had to make peace with the woman whose soul normally inhabited the body sitting beside him.

  Seeming to read his thoughts, Rose looked at him and gave him a small smile. “She’s a good person, you know. They all are.” She was quiet for a minute, as if lost in thought. “When I’m finally free, I’d like to work with all of you. If I’m able, that is.”

  “We’ll get through this and then you can do whatever you want,” Justin assured Rose, still able to see his lover’s spirit in Mia’s eyes. “We’re going to have that tomorrow I talked about.”

  Shrugging, she brushed a lock of hair away from his face and in the rear view mirror Justin could see Tim’s knuckles turn white on the steering wheel. “Perhaps. Perhaps not. Either way, we have had our time now and I have found peace and happiness in that. If this is the end, I found what I have spent my existence looking for. I found my love again and it ended up being far better than what I lost.”

  Justin wanted to say something, to tell Rose that he loved her, but it felt wrong, especially here in this car with Rose in Mia’s body and Tim only inches away. Instead, he squeezed her hand and offered up a small smile. It was the best he could do.

  The rest of the trip passed in silence and before long, Tim pulled up in front of St. Teresa’s Memorial Hospital. “We’re here,” he said unnecessarily as he turned around to look at them.

  Justin could see the anguish etched deep into Tim’s face and he prayed that this was over soon. Everyone he loved was hurting and the anger inside him was growing again. This time, he didn’t think it had anything to do with James.

  As the group got out of the car, they could see Elliott, Josh, Reed and Callie ahead of them already walking into the hospital. At some point during the trip, Callie had obviously regained consciousness because she was walking under her own power, albeit with a considerable amount of help from both Reed and Josh. The sight of her standing on her own eased a bit of his anger, reminding him that there was still a chance.

  The group quickly made their way into the hospital lobby where Elliott charmed his way past the receptionist while the rest of them waited near a small cluster of chairs. Soon they were on their way to the eighth floor where the unconscious body of Sophia Hamlin was still hooked up to life support.

  “How did you get us in?” Reed asked the question that Justin himself had been wondering. “We don’t exactly look like doctors and I know Sophia’s family has forbidden visitors.” In fact, with Callie still barely conscious beside him, Justin thought they looked as if they were more likely to be patients.

  “I have privileges here,” Elliott explained as he moved the group quickly through a corridor and down a hallway toward a bank of elevators. “I told them that I had a group of students studying comatose patients and that you would all greatly benefit from observing Sophia.” He gave a wry grimace. “I also promised that I’d go out with her. She’s been after me for over a year.”

  Justin was thankful for what Elliott had done and told him so.

  The doctor just shook his head. “Don’t thank me yet. There’s still more to do.”

  “And there’s trouble coming.” That came from Tim who had been growing increasingly more agitated the closer they got to Sophia’s room. “Something’s not right here.” He shook his head and Justin knew that Tim wasn’t able to use his abilities as well as he normally would. The issue of Mia and Rose was clouding his brain.

  Justin reached out and put a hand on Tim’s shoulder. “We’ll handle it.” Whether they could or not, Justin really didn’t know. However, he wanted Tim to have some kind of reassurance. The other man was suffering enough at the moment.

  Soon enough the elevator arrived at the proper floor and the group shuffled out, led by Elliott in his guise as teacher. A quick look at the floor map directed them down a hallway to their right and then right again down a more secluded hallway where an unnatural silence seemed to hang heavy in the air. Josh said that he would stand guard at the end of the hall. If something evil was coming, he would see it and give a warning.

  As the rest of the group reached the door to Sophia’s room, Justin felt his pulse begin to quicken and he reached for Rose’s hand, only to discover that Tim had already claimed it with his. Justin fought down a sharp spike of anger and reminded himself that this was as hard on Tim as it was on himself.

  Slowly, Elliott pushed opened the door and, after making certain the room was empty except for Sophia, he motioned for the rest of the group to follow him. As the doctor moved aside, Justin had to force himself not to rush to the bed where a woman bearing Rose’s face lay unconscious, hooked up to numerous tubes, IVs, and assorted machines.

  Slowly, as if in a trance, Justin crossed the room and picked up Sophia’s hand. Her body was warm and her skin felt just as soft as he had imagined it would. “Rose,” he whispered involuntarily to the nearly silent room, as the machines beeped a steady rhythm in the background.

  He felt Mia’s body move to stand beside him. “I look like me,” Rose whispered from inside her host body, not wanting to shatter the calm of the room. “I look as I always did.”

  Justin felt a hand on his arm and looked up to see Tim standing beside them, his eyes dark with worry. “We need to move this along. Something is coming. I don’t know why Josh hasn’t warned us, but we have to assume it attacked him before he saw it. That means it’s sneaky and dangerous.” Obviously Tim had recovered his senses enough to use some of his abilities. It was either that or whatever was coming was so powerful that Tim couldn’t ignore it.

  Nodding, Justin looked at Elliott and Reed who was still supporting a barely conscious Callie. Justin realized that the other woman hadn’t spoken since they’d entered the hospital and he wasn’t sure that was a good sign. “Now what?”

  “We repeat the process from earlier,” Reed told him, helping Callie move towards the bed. “I just hope Callie is strong enough to get things moving. If not, I might have to and I’m not sure I know how.”

  “I am,” Callie mumbled, her head still lolling slightly to the side. “I can do this.” She tried to place one of her hands on Sophia’s temple, but it fell uselessly to her side, her muscles unable to do the simplest of tasks. Callie swore and tried, and failed, a second time to position her hand properly.

  Looking unsure, Reed placed Callie’s hand on Sophia’s temple, being careful not to bump the other woman’s extremely pale skin with the Imperitas bracelet that encircled Callie’s wrist. Justin appreciated the care because he was sure that Sophia’s skin would bruise easily. Rose’s always had.

  Suddenly, Reed’s eyes grew wide and he began fumbling in his pocket rather than continuing to make the physical connections necessary to send Rose’s spirit into Sophia’s body.

  “Hurry up,” Tim hissed, noticing the delay. “We’re almost out of time. He’s coming.”

  Before Justin could ask who, exactly, was coming, the door to the room burst open with a gust of wind. The air grew heavy and oppressive and Justin found it difficult to breathe. He also discovered that he was no longer able to move, seemingly roo
ted to the spot where he stood.

  None of the others seemed to be able to move as well. He could see Elliott’s eyes desperately roaming the room and Reed struggling to move even a finger. Whatever was here obviously had help from more than one witch or dark spirit.

  “Too late,” a menacing voice hissed as a cloud of mist began to form and a body coalesced in the center of the room. “I am already here.”

  Justin recognized the figure immediately as every single memory from his life as James Morgan came rushing back to him, nearly overwhelming him as his mind struggled to process the images assaulting it. In what seemed like a brief moment, he remembered everything – Rose refusing to marry Hammond Parks, the son of the local iron furnace owner and Parks’ seemingly untamable rage, one that matched James’ own fury.

  He remembered Parks accusations that James had married Rose for her money, that they had never consummated their relationship and, worst of all, that Parks and Rose were secretly lovers. He also remembered Parks’ threat to kill them both and the bloody night in the hallway where guns and magic had collided, ultimately leaving four people dead and Rose’s soul splintered in half.

  “Remembering are you?” Parks’ ghost growled, finally having solidified into a full-body apparition. “Remembering how I struck you down like the dog you are?” There was a sneer in the ghost’s voice, one that enraged Justin.

  “I remember that even in the end, you didn’t win,” Justin spat out, finding that while he couldn’t move, he could still speak. “I remember that a woman defeated you and took your prize away before you could claim it.”

  That much was true. An image of Tim and Mia, when they had been Jonah and Margaret, bursting through the door as Parks attempted to rape Rose was crystal clear in Justin’s mind. In slow motion, he saw Parks throw Rose violently to the floor, her delicate neck breaking in the fall. He also saw Parks try to shoot Margaret, and Jonah throwing his body in front of hers, taking a bullet in the shoulder meant for her.