by Angie Sandro
I stand by an open window, dabbing sweat from my forehead with a clean tissue. No way can I survive without a breeze until this aroma factory of a deathtrap clears out a bit. Ruby snuffs the candles, then turns with a wide smile. “Better?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Good. Please, have a seat so we can get started.”
Landry and I sit down at a round table covered with a thick red tablecloth.
“Give me your hands,” Ruby says, reaching out to us.
I lay my palm on top of hers, and Landry does the same.
“Now take each other’s hands.”
Landry and I share another glance. He presses his thigh against mine, and I derive a bit of comfort from having his strong presence beside me. I draw in a deep breath, startled by my reaction to him, and take his hand.
Ruby smiles. Her hazel eyes close. Silence, but for our harsh breathing, fills the room for what feels like forever. I study Ruby’s blank face. A minute crease forms on her brow then settles into deep grooves on her forehead. Her hand tightens around mine. “I see darkness,” she says, and sighs. Her head tips forward, and she groans. “Ya’ll have questions, fears for your future together.”
I twitch, wishing I could take my hands back. My palms have gotten sweaty, but not nearly as moist as Landry’s. Both of their grips keep me from pulling away.
“There’s opposition to ya’ll being together. Family? Mother? Father?” Her voice rises higher as if in a question then settles into authority. “They’re not supportive.”
My hand tightens around hers then releases as I think about how disappointed Mama will feel once she finds out I’ve disobeyed her wishes. And Landry’s parents? Well, I can only imagine the righteous reverend’s displeasure if he learns his son has gone to a practitioner of the dark arts with the witch’s daughter. Muwahahaa. I stifle a giggle at that random thought.
Ruby rocks back and forth, moaning as if in pain. “Ya’ll have to fight to be together. It’ll come down to a choice. Love for one another or love of family.”
I roll my eyes at Landry, about ready to burst out laughing. Love for each other, ha! But he’s too busy nodding to notice. Ruby has sucked him in like a trapdoor spider and stuck him good. And poor Landry can’t keep his big mouth shut.
“What about my sister?” He leans over the table, almost jerking me out of my seat.
Ruby’s head tilts to the side, as if she listens to a voice we can’t hear. “Your sister accepts and encourages the relationship.”
I shoot Landry my shut-up frown and ask, “Madame Ruby, will she be my maid of honor?”
Ruby frowns in thought then nods. “Yes, she will. All ya have to do is ask. She’ll do anything for her brother. They’re very close.”
Landry wilts in his seat.
I yank my hand from hers. “Wrong. Firstly, Landry and I aren’t in a relationship for our parents to disapprove of. Secondly, his sister’s deceased. That’s why we came—to see if we could contact her spirit. Come on, Landry,” I say, tugging on his hand. “She’s a fraud. She can’t help.”
Ruby stands quickly. “I see the future. Not always is it clear, but what’s coming in about the two of you is very strong. Your families disapprove, and ya’ll have to choose whether to cave to their displeasure or stand up for one another. If ya don’t fight, they’ll destroy you.”
“Just give it up, Yoda. You’ve been caught,” I say.
“No, the only part I lied about was whether or not his sister would be your maid of honor.”
“Mala, wait. What if she’s telling the truth?” Landry says, breathing hard.
“Don’t be naive. If she lied about one thing then she could be lying about all of it, Landry.”
“Maybe if she knew more about what’s going on, she’d be able to help.”
“Help her get one over on us better, you mean?”
Landry pulls out four twenties and lays them on the table. “I want you to contact my sister’s spirit.”
Ruby shakes her head. “I can’t do that. I’m sorry. All my information comes from my guardian angel, not the spirits of the dead.”
Landry pushes the money across the table, desperation written clearly across his face. “Please. Ask your guardian angel what it knows about Lainey. She’s been haunting Mala. Tell me who killed her.” His voice rises with each word, and simultaneously the temperature in the room drops. His hand tightens around mine again, and his eyes glitter. “It’s her, Mala. She’s here.”
“Oh, crap,” I say, chilled. Mama’s warning about contacting Lainey flashes through my head. Why hadn’t I listened?
Ruby’s eyes widen. “What’s going on?” She loses her fake country twang for a northern accent similar to the one I’ve heard spoken on TV shows—Jersey Shore or The Sopranos. Ruby isn’t even from the South, but Landry doesn’t notice that either.
“It’s my sister,” he says, breathless. “It’s Lainey.”
“No, Landry,” I say, heart pounding. “We should go. This is dangerous.”
“It’s why we came.” He squeezes my hand so hard it hurts. I don’t think he realizes. His eyes never leave Ruby’s bloodless face.
“I came because I hoped Ruby was a real medium,” I tell him, trying to pull my hand free. “She’s not! Look at her, she’s terrified. Lainey’s dangerous—unpredictable. I don’t want her inside me again.”
“She can use me,” Ruby offers in a rush, and her eyes take on a frantic glitter. “My chakras are open. My mind and spirit are in tune.” Before I can pull away, she grabs my other hand and closes her eyes.
“Don’t, Ruby. You don’t understand—”
“Lainey, if you’re here, give us a sign,” Ruby says.
The cold spot settles over the table, and the overhead light rocks back and forth. We look up to see the rope cord sway then dip as the light flicks on. And off.
“Oh my Goddess,” Ruby whispers. “Lainey, your brother wants to ask you some questions. Turn on the light once for no and twice for yes. Do you understand?”
Click, click. “Yes,” Ruby translates. Her eyes roll back in her head, leaving only the whites of her eyes showing.
Landry stares at the light. “It’s me, sis. Are you okay?”
Click—“No.”
“Are you in pain?”
Click—“No.”
“Do you need help?”
Click, click—“Yes,” Ruby hisses, and a shiver runs down my spine at the alien sound. This isn’t Ruby anymore.
A trickle of blood drips from Ruby’s nose. The color drains from her face, leaving it a blank, ghastly mask. The blood thickens as it runs across her mouth. Her tongue darts out. The tip licks the blood from her lips, and a mirthless smile stretches her mouth wide.
“Landry,” I whisper. “This isn’t right. Please stop.”
His hard gaze falls upon me. “Lainey, did Mala kill you?”
I gasp, frozen.
Ruby’s sightless eyes focus on me, and I shiver. I can’t meet her gaze. It takes all my strength not to run screaming from the room. Whimpering, I yank my hands from Ruby’s and Landry’s and back away from the table.
Landry’s hard gaze follows. “Did she do it, sis?”
“No!” I yell.
Click. “No!” Ruby convulses so hard her forehead smacks the table. She tumbles sideways out of the chair. When she hits the ground, her eyes open, and she gazes at us, unblinking. I stare at her in horror, too terrified to care if she needs help.
Ruby coughs, spitting blood from her open mouth. “The baby’s crying,” she mumbles, sitting up with effort. “What happened? Where’s my son?”
“Ask him. I’m done.” I shove through the beads blocking the front door and exit the trailer into the light. Warm air wraps around my body and soaks in deep. My stomach clenches with nausea, and I bend double, sucking in air to keep from being sick.
“Mala,” Landry calls.
I shoot upright then shuffle down the driveway on legs too shaky to run.
“Mala, wait!” He runs out of the trailer and catches my arm just as I reach the sidewalk in front of Ruby’s trailer.
I twist my arm, but he refuses to let go. “Get away from me!”
He pulls me against him. “Damn you! Why did you leave?”
“Damn me? Right back at you, Landry!”
“What’s the matter?”
I shove at his chest. “You’re psycho! Like multiple-personality, stark-raving nuts if you can’t figure out why I’m pissed.”
“Is this about me asking if you killed Lainey? I had to be sure you weren’t involved.”
“You’re a liar. This whole time we’ve been together you thought I was guilty. What would you have done if Lainey said yes?”
Landry doesn’t answer.
“Oh my God, yesterday in the woods…What did you plan to do if you’d caught me?”
He juts out his jaw. “I didn’t.”
“Say I’d tripped and fallen. What would you have done to avenge your sister? Hurt me?”
“I don’t know!” He turns in a half circle, then swings back to face me. “It didn’t happen. I wasn’t thinking straight. I’d barely slept in four days. When I did, I dreamed of Lainey and you. I got all twisted in my head.”
“You’re still twisted. Let me go.”
“No! I need to figure out what my sister wants. She left when you walked out. She left with you.”
“I don’t care. You and Lainey can go to hell!”
He drops my arm and steps back. I take in a deep breath, looking around at the dilapidated trailers. Crap, not the best neighborhood to storm off in. I gritted my teeth. “I need to get to work.”
When Landry doesn’t answer, I snap, “I’m not rich like you. I don’t own a cell phone. Give me yours so I can call someone to pick me up.”
Landry crosses his arms, eyes hardening to ice chips. “Who’ll come to get you?”
“I have friends, Landry. People who care.”
“Not enough. Does anyone know where you are? Or who you’re with? If you disappeared, nobody would suspect me.”
I back up. “You’re scaring me.”
“I mean to. Lainey was murdered by your house. We don’t know who did it, or why. Mala, it’s not safe. You’re in danger.”
“From you?”
“No. Not now.” He has the good grace to hang his head.
“Not good enough.” Not nearly good enough. “For some stupid reason, I trusted you. I wanted to help you…and Lainey.”
“You can trust me. I swear. I won’t hurt you.” Landry trembles with the strength of his emotions. The problem is that I can’t read him.
But really, what choice do I have for the time being? He’s right. I don’t have anyone I can call to pick me up. No Mama. Bessie or George…I meet Landry’s eyes. No, I don’t even want to try to explain to either of them why I went to see a psychic with Landry.
“Mala—” a faint voice calls, and I jump.
Ruby stands in her doorway. She’d wiped the blood from her face, but a faint hint of crimson stains her too-pale skin. She squints, as if the light burns her eyes, but when she sees me watching, she walks toward us.
I take an unconscious step back, forgetting that Landry stands behind me, and I bump into him. His hands rest on my shoulders, not roughly, but firm and warm. I want to soak up his heat because I can’t stop shivering but pull away instead. His touch makes me sick to my stomach.
“Are you okay?” Ruby holds out a shaking hand.
I take it. “I’m fine. What about you?”
Ruby laughs. “I’ve never had an experience like that before—an opening. That perfect feeling of connection to a departed soul. I’ve been blessed.”
“More like cursed,” I mutter.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be right as rain in a couple of hours. My next appointment isn’t until twelve. I plan to soak in the tub and regain my equilibrium.” She blinks, and I notice how watery and red her eyes have gotten. No matter how she tries to spin it now, she hasn’t recovered from being possessed. She’s even forgotten to start speaking in her fake country twang again. “I heard you and Landry,” she says. “I know his betrayal has affected you, but I wanted to remind you of my earlier prediction.”
With a scowl, I cross my arms. “You’ve already been paid. You can cut the bull.”
“No bull, only truth. You need Landry, and he needs you. You’ve got to trust each other, or I’m afraid you won’t be ready for what’s about to happen.”
My heart starts hammering…Ready. The word echoes in my mind. I won’t be ready.
“Ready for what?” Landry demands.
Ruby’s eyes turn from Landry to me. They’ve rolled up beneath her eyelids again. Merciful heavens, but that gives me the willies. Her hand tightens around mine. I try to pull free, but she holds tight. Her fingers dig into my skin. “I see fire. I hear screams…blood.”
I quiver beneath her hand. Energy crackles between us. The heat of flames burns my legs. Thick smoke chokes off my breath and stings my eyes. Tears stream down my cheeks, but I can’t free my gaze from Ruby’s face as it blisters then blackens. Skin sloughs from the bone. Yet her lipless, grinning mouth still speaks. “Run,” she whispers. “You’re not ready. Run!”
Chapter 16
Mala
Cursed
By the time Landry parks across the street from Munchies and comes around to help me out of the truck, anger has replaced fear. I push his hand aside and jump down on my own. I forget to check for traffic until I’m halfway across the street and Landry yells, “Mala, wait.”
The squeal of tires and a thump slows me down. A quick glance over my shoulder shows Landry limping around an idling car. The driver climbs out looking pissed.
“Sorry, I’m okay,” Landry says to the driver, then yells, “Mala!”
I press my hand to my traitorous heart, which flipped when I heard him shout. “Don’t say anything else,” I cry, spinning around and running for the building. “I don’t want to speak to you again. Ever.”
If I’m alone with him, I’ll do something I’ll regret, like smack him upside the head, or worse, forgive him ’cause I’m a pushover. “Can’t hold a grudge longer than a minute,” Mama always teases. And she’s right. I’m already softening toward him, which kicks my fury up another notch. Now I’m also pissed with myself for believing his stupid I’m so sorrys.
The lunch crowd fills Munchies. Customers of all ages wait in line at the counter to order their meals, cluster together at tables or booths, and hang out in back playing video games. When I shove open the door, they stop and stare, eager to watch the drama unfold. We must look a sight—Landry chasing after me while I try my best to escape.
Landry blocks my path. I try to edge around him, but he mimics my steps. “I’m not leaving until we have this out. I need you. Please?” he says with a low groan that touches my insides and makes them clench.
Those three words conjure up a variety of dirty thoughts that have nothing to do with the actual conversation. Landry doesn’t want me. He wants the power he thinks I have—the power to connect with Lainey. My mouth opens, but before I can say a word, a voice that makes the hairs on the back of my neck curl interrupts.
“Landry, I’ve been looking for you, cher,” Clarice says, walking up behind him with her poseur posse of friends. A frown creases her perfect brow. Did she hear his last statement? I can’t tell by the way she ignores me. She threads her arm through Landry’s and caresses his forearm. “I’ve been so worried. You haven’t returned my calls. Your mom said you’d left early this morning.”
Landry pulls his arm from hers. Not in a mean way, more just irritated. “My mom has barely said two words since the police told us about Lainey, so I doubt that.”
Clarice blinks, her only show of surprise at the rebuff. “So, where were you?”
“That’s none of your business, Clarice. You’re not my girlfriend, so stop acting like you are.” Landry’s eyes bore into min
e as if by maintaining eye contact he can keep me from leaving.
A muscle flexes in Clarice’s jaw, and she shoots a glare in my direction. Time to beat a hasty retreat. I turn to head for the employee break room. Landry sprints after me and grabs me by the waist, spinning me around like a top.
I press my hands against his chest to catch my balance. “Stop treating me like I’m your personal Barbie doll. I’m not yours to pose.”
“Please, I’m sorry.” He runs his hands down my back as if soothing an unruly kitten. “Let’s talk.”
“No.”
Clarice stands with her hands on her hips. “Seriously, Landry,” she yells. “You’re gonna ditch me for that slut?”
I whirl in Landry’s arms, fed up. “I’m not the one begging like a bitch for a bone,” I say to her, shaking my head in disgust. “Show some pride. He’s obviously not into you.”
Clarice’s hand lashes out, connecting with the side of my face. My cheek puffs out a bit of air and begins to burn. The skinny thing slapped me. Slapped, like a girl, and compared to getting walloped by Mama’s closed fist, it barely hurts. She must’ve expected a reaction: crying, screaming, even getting a retaliatory backhand, but instead I stare the girl down. Her eyes widen, and fear fills them. Her friends start whispering.
One of them shouts in warning, “Clarice, she’s putting a curse on you.”
“She can’t do that,” Clarice says, but she backs up.
Landry keeps a firm grip on my waist as if afraid I’ll go after her, but he still puts in his two cents just to mess with the girl I thought was his girlfriend. “You’re the one who said she’s a witch.”
I roll my eyes, too honest to play along, regardless of the satisfaction I’d gain by freaking her out. “I’m not a witch, Clarice. If I were, I’d wish that all your hair would fall out and that you’d break out in itchy hives.”
Clarice gasps. “Stay away from me.”
“I’m not doing anything. You hit me first.”
“This isn’t Mala’s fault, Clarice.” Landry moves in front of me. Defending me against Clarice is one more clue added to my long list that he’s just plain crazy. Hellfire, they’re both twisted. And I’m stuck smack in the middle of their insanity. It’s his fault I got slapped in the first place, since Clarice got pushed over the limit at seeing me in his arms. I don’t blame her for being mad. Hitting me is another matter entirely. I won’t forgive her for this. She’s going down.