The Haunting Season

by Michelle Muto

  Jess nodded in response to Brandt’s suggestion about the man on the stairs. “I’ll ask.”

  “And Gracie and Emma?” Dr. Brandt inquired.

  “They’re not as transparent as they used to be.”

  Yet another sign the house was getting stronger. Gage wondered if Brandt was drawing the same conclusion.

  Brandt took a seat in one of the chairs. “It’s encouraging that Gracie and Emma are showing themselves to you and Allison. But we need them to show themselves around me.”

  Gage exchanged glances with Bryan. Sure, the doc had been the only one who hadn’t seen them yet, but the way he’d said it seemed…off.

  Jess simply nodded. “I’m trying to convince them. They’re just shy.”

  Brandt stood and paced a few steps. “We need to bring out Riley. From our combined experiences, he’s the most willing. Draw out a few more ghosts, Jess. Then, we’ll hold a séance for Riley.”

  With that, he walked away, leaving them alone in the Great Room. He’d been disappearing a lot lately. Two days ago had been the first time they’d noticed it, although even Allison thought some of Brandt’s earlier disappearances were because he’d been spending time in the basement. Everyone exchanged glances.

  “The basement,” Allison said, echoing Gage’s thoughts. “Again.”

  Mrs. Hirsch passed through, eyeing them. She’d been looking at them differently since the knife incident. Not that Gage could blame her.

  He forced a smile and wiggled his fingers in mock greeting.

  “Hey, Mrs. Hirsch,” Bryan said. “How’s it going?”

  Bryan. Always the cheery, polite one. Mrs. Hirsch’s hand tightened on her key ring and the other hand fumbled for the pendant she wore around her neck, but her stare remained as icy as ever. Instead of answering, she nodded briefly before continuing through the Great Room and up the stairs.

  Gage thought it was weird that she continued her rounds even though she could see all of them were right here. He’d have gotten used to it by now, except Mrs. Hirsch was just flat-out hard to get used to. Then again, she probably thought the same about all of them.

  “Well that was pleasant,” Jess said, once Mrs. Hirsch had gone upstairs.

  “Yeah, well, she’s a real people person,” Gage replied.

  “I’ve got something for you,” Bryan said, reaching under the chair and pulling out a paper plate with a dead mouse on it.

  “Ew!” Allison said.

  Gage held up a hand. “No thanks, Bro. I’m still full from dinner.”

  Bryan shot him a serious look. “It was an easy find. Do you want to practice while Brandt’s gone or not? Mrs. Hirsch won’t be back down for a little while.” He shrugged. “Not that she’d think much of it, anyway.”

  Bryan nudged the plate and the mouse rolled over on its other side. “You bring it back, I make it vanish. Just like the lizard and the frog.”

  Gage exhaled. He didn’t feel like doing this anymore. He wanted to do something…normal. Go out, watch TV. Anything. “We’re getting to be a real circus sideshow act here.”

  For whatever reason, dead things hadn’t been too hard to find on the estate grounds. He’d been successful at reanimating a few of them, and Bryan had been equally successful at blinking them off into his version of the Bermuda Triangle.

  Jess’s leg brushed against his again, making it damn impossible to think of anything else but her bare skin on his, how inviting and soft her mouth had been when they’d last kissed, how she had tasted as he’d kissed her neck, how she’d felt pressed up against him…

  “I need something to drink,” he said, getting to his feet and heading to the kitchen. He opened the fridge, letting its cool air wash over his skin, then took a bottle of soda and unscrewed the cap.

  “It’s getting to us all,” Allison said behind him.

  Gage lifted a brow and scoffed. You have no idea, sister.

  Allison retrieved the orange juice from the fridge. The bottle was almost empty. “The house,” she said removing the cap and not bothering with a glass. “The longer we’re here, the more it intensifies our emotions.”

  Gage took a swig of soda. “Tell me about it.”

  Which was the wrong thing to say around Allison because she would. Repeatedly. Enthusiastically. It was the one thing that made them all not to want to listen to her. It wasn’t that they didn’t believe her. How could they not? It was just that Allison took things to an extreme. Gage eyed the doorway. Jess might already be heading upstairs…

  “It won’t be long,” Allison continued, clueless as to the real reason behind Gage’s discomfort. “We’ve got to hurry this up somehow. I feel it. The evil in the house. It’s like the demons are at the door and Riley is about to let them in.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Gage replied. “We’re doing the best we can, okay? Stick to the plan.”

  “You don’t get it,” Allison said, her voice strained. “You’re not the only one who has eyes for Jess. Riley does, too.”

  Allison’s observation didn’t faze him. He figured the way he and Jess had been lately, everyone would have to be blind not to see he was attracted to her. And it didn’t surprise him that Riley or any other male would find her attractive, too. Still, Gage was used to competition from living, breathing rivals. Not ones he couldn’t see.

  He pushed away from the counter. “Yeah, I sort of got that. But, he’s not her type.”

  It wasn’t as though he didn’t care—he did. He understood what Allison was really saying here—that Riley would probably go for Jess first.

  “Don’t be a smart ass,” Allison said, leaning in. “I’m scared, Gage. Not just for me, but for Jess. Even though this EPAC committee probably wants me the most, Siler House wants Jess the most. It’ll stop at nothing to get her.”

  “Look, not everyone handles their stress around here by freaking out. I use humor. Deal with it, okay?” He was sorry the moment he’d spoken. He took another swig of soda. “Sorry. I guess we’re all stressed. Look, about Riley. We’re not going to let that happen, Allison. I promise. But what else are we supposed to do about it right now? Because, if you’ve got a better plan, I’m listening.”

  Why not? Unless he was ready to just march into the Great Room and toss Jess over his shoulder and carry her off—which wasn’t going to happen—he might as well hear Allison out.

  Voices from the other room began to carry into the kitchen. It was getting late, and Bryan and Jess sounded like they were going to call it a night, after all.

  “Well?” Gage asked. Allison might be a bucket of crazy, but something in her expression told him she’d clearly thought this over, probably quite a bit since she didn’t sleep much at night anymore. He was game to hear her out.

  “Okay,” he said. “Let’s go talk to the gang.”

  “We need to talk about a lot of things, but this can’t be done during the day, Gage. We need to do the séance, but not with Dr. Brandt around. Something’s wrong with him. We need to talk about this. Tonight. But not in the house.”

  Gage thought it over and nodded. Sure. Made sense, God help him. Who knew where Riley was these days? And, if they couldn’t see all the ghosts all the time, it might be better if their ethereal ears weren’t around for a change. They’d have to sneak out after Brandt had gone to sleep and Mrs. Hirsch made her first set of rounds, and be back inside before her next. Good thing he’d already made a note of when those times where. Of course, it’d been for different reasons, but what the hell.

  “We all meet by the oak, three in the morning.” He tossed the bottle cap into the trash and walked out.

  “What do you think Brandt is doing down in the basement?” Bryan asked Gage once they were back in their room.

  “No idea. We could follow him the next time.” Gage sank onto his bed. Brandt was either up to something or his train had left the station. But either way, the doc was beginning to worry him. It was as though he was on something, like he was spacing out on them.

  T
he house? Could it be the house has gotten to him that much? Or is he shutting down, like Allison does sometimes after she overdoses on freak-out?

  “I’m curious, but I don’t think we should push it,” Bryan replied. “Whatever he’s doing in the basement, it means he’s not spending as much time with us. Gives us time to practice.”

  Gage stared up at the ceiling. “We’re going to have to be ready whenever he wants to do this séance. I hope Allison holds it together. If she doesn’t, there’s no telling what she’ll bring over.”

  “Think she can fake it?”

  Gage shrugged. “She’s not going to try to actually summon Riley, and neither am I, but we can’t be sure it won’t work, anyway. We’ve been pushing our luck with the Ouija board. I don’t know if whatever’s holed up on the other side is going to stay there if we end up doing a séance and the Ouija board is present.”

  “What does Jess think?” Bryan asked. “Does she think Allison can do it? Close the door to anything that might want to drop in on her and stay a while?”

  “Not sure. We haven’t had a lot of time to talk about that,” Gage said.

  Bryan laughed softly.

  “It’s not like that. Yet. Unfortunately. We just haven’t had a lot of time to ourselves at all. Much less to talk about Allison.”

  Bryan laughed again.

  “Shut up.”

  Bryan grinned. “Fine. Truce.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “Hey, I’m going to the kitchen for something to drink. Want another soda or something?”

  “No, I’m good,” Gage replied.

  “Suit yourself,” Bryan said as he headed out of the room.

  Gage lay on his bed, hands propped behind his head.

  Jess. He couldn’t get her off his mind. Not just because she was turning him on all the time. But because she took his mind off everything else for a while—Ben, his parents, this house. Everyone looked to him to help make things right when he really didn’t have a clue at all how to do that.

  He felt badly for Jess at times. All she wanted was a chance to see her dad once more—to tell him she was sorry for not being there when he’d died. To tell him she loved him. Sometimes, he lay awake at night wondering if there was some way to help her with that. Other nights, like tonight, it was just hard not to think of her in…other ways.

  Gage rolled over and punched his pillow a few times.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  “Can’t sleep again?” Jess asked. Not that tonight was any different than every other night. It was no wonder Allison always looked so tired. Jess didn’t think her roommate slept more than a few hours at a time.

  Allison shook her head. “You’d think I’d be used to it by now.” She pushed the sheets back and sat upright. “Sorry. I know I’m keeping you awake.”

  Jess sat up and sighed. “No, not really. I’m not real sleepy, either. Feel like going to the kitchen and maybe getting a cup of tea or something?”

  Allison retrieved a book from the nightstand. “I think I’ll just sit here and finish this.”

  “What are you reading, anyway?” Jess asked.

  Allison opened the book. “Oliver Twist.”

  Jess raised her eyebrows. “Really? Oliver Twist?”

  Allison shrugged. “Beats thinking about Riley lurking in the mirrors.”

  “We’ve covered the mirrors. He can’t see us.” Jess took a seat on the edge of Allison’s bed, hoping she might change her mind about going downstairs. Since the incident with the knives, Jess didn’t like wandering the house alone at night. Not that having Allison with her would do much good. If anything, having a demon magnet for a roommate should have meant keeping away from her. But not one demon had manifested itself yet, and Allison was a pretty good Riley gauge.

  Allison didn’t look up from her book. Not a good sign she would give in and go along. “Doesn’t mean Riley’s not still there and getting really ticked about the towels over all the mirrors. I bet he’s thinking of some other way to watch us. The walls and floors only tell him where we are.”

  Jess got to her feet and took off her sleepwear shorts and top and put her shorts and t-shirt back on. “Come on! Come downstairs with me. Please?”

  Allison shook her head.

  “Well, I’ll be back in a little while then,” Jess said, resigned.

  “Be careful if you do any exploring. Don’t go into any rooms where we haven’t covered the mirrors.”

  “I won’t,” Jess replied. “I promise. See you in a little while. Want me to bring you anything?”

  Allison’s attention had already returned to her book. “No. See you later.”

  Jess let herself out and headed down the hallway. Mrs. Hirsch had taken to leaving the lights on by the staircase and on each floor’s landing. Since the knife incident, Mrs. Hirsch wasn’t keen on anyone walking the halls at night. Especially alone.

  It turned out she didn’t run into Mrs. Hirsch at all. Only Bryan, who was raiding the pantry for a late-night snack.

  “Jess!” Bryan said, seeming surprised.

  “Couldn’t sleep either, huh?” She opened one of the cabinets in search of a mug. It hadn’t occurred to her one of the guys might be down here. Too bad it wasn’t Gage instead.

  “Potato chip?” Bryan offered.

  Jess smiled. “No, thanks. I’m just going to have a cup of tea.”

  Bryan leaned against the counter as he ate. “Allison keeping you up again?”

  “She’s awake, but it’s not her,” Jess replied as she filled the cup with water and put it into the microwave. “Just couldn’t sleep, is all.” She rummaged through the pantry for tea. “No decaf,” she said. “Guess regular will have to do.”

  “But won’t that keep you up?” Bryan asked. “I mean, that stuff has caffeine in it, right?”

  Jess laughed. “Yeah, it does, but that’s all that’s here. I’ll have to ask Mrs. Hirsch if we can get some other kinds.” She added the teabag to the cup.

  “Do you want sugar or milk with your tea?” Bryan asked, heading to the refrigerator.

  Jess raised an eyebrow.

  “My mom,” he explained. “She’s a tea drinker. She usually puts milk and sugar in hers. I guess it’s a thing.”

  “Sure,” Jess replied with a smile.

  Bryan sat the milk on the counter while Jess retrieved the sugar bowl.

  “So, I guess three of us have insomnia tonight,” Jess said, as she stirred in the sugar. She didn’t want to mention the real reason she’d been restless the past couple of nights—Gage.

  Bryan laughed. “I think all of us have insomnia. Gage is wide awake, too. He just wasn’t hungry.” Bryan grinned. “Say, maybe you should check in on him.”

  Jess nearly spilled her tea. “What?”

  His smile grew wider. “You heard me.”

  She looked over her shoulder, half expecting someone to be standing close enough to hear them, but mostly to hide the fact she felt a blush coming on. “Bryan!”

  He stuffed the bag of chips back into the pantry. “Oh, don’t give me that Bryan crap. Come on.” He headed out of the kitchen, stopping only when he realized she wasn’t right behind him.

  “Would you prefer I go get him?” Bryan asked, still grinning. “Because, I’m sure he’d love to see you. You could just…sit on the sofa and talk.”

  Jess was about to say that might be a safer idea, but Bryan was already back in the kitchen. He took the cup from her hand and dumped the tea into the sink.

  “Hey! What’d you do that for?” Jess asked.

  He rinsed the cup out, quickly dried it with the dishtowel and placed it back into the cabinet.

  “Bryan!” But by now, his attitude was infectious and she couldn’t help but laugh.

  “It’s clean enough,” he said, taking her by the wrist and pulling her from the kitchen. Jess would like to have thought she offered some resistance, but realized that was laughable at best. She let him lead her through the Great Room and up the stairs to the second floor l
anding.

  Jess waited while he scoped the hallway, but even she could tell Mrs. Hirsch wasn’t around. Whenever the housekeeper was checking out a locked room, she always left the door open while she was in there. The lighting in the hall wasn’t great, but Jess didn’t notice any open doors. Mrs. Hirsch was probably on the third floor, or in the music room.

  Or in the basement with Dr. Brandt.

  Bryan walked back to her. “Coast is clear. I can go get him, and we can all go back downstairs,” he whispered. “Or, you can stop in and say hello by yourself. Your call. Whatever you’re comfortable doing.”

  Jess let the thoughts of how heated things were getting with Gage fill her head. She recalled how perfect his lips felt on hers, how warm his hands were, how she’d run her hands under his shirt.

  She was still thinking of these things when she realized Bryan was going into his room. Damn! She’d missed her chance to be alone with Gage. She padded down the hall after Bryan.

  “Gage,” Bryan called out quietly as he opened the door. “You have a visitor.” Bryan turned and smiled when Jess walked up beside him.

  “For God’s sake, put each other out of misery,” Bryan whispered in her ear.

  Gage rolled off the bed wearing nothing except a fairly thin and loose pair of well-worn and equally faded gray sweat shorts. Add to that the sight of him shirtless, and she didn’t think she’d ever catch her breath again.

  He looked puzzled at first, but then that grin, the one that melted her into a puddle, spread across his face and Jess didn’t care that she was staring at him in full appreciation.

  Gage’s eyes met hers, then he glanced at Bryan.

  Beside her, Bryan laughed softly. “I’m just going to go get a snack,” he said. “Another one. I’ll be back in… half an hour?”

  Gage’s attention turned to Jess once more. Everywhere his gaze fell, she felt as though her skin had become electric. He stepped into the doorway, standing so close she had to lift her head to look at him. Her eyes lingered on his mouth and everything else but her need for him faded away.