Psychic Storm: Ten Dangerously Sexy Tales of Psychic Witches, Vampires, Mediums, Empaths and Seers

by Deanna Chase

  “Two hours to turn my brain off sounds heavenly,” she sighed.

  She filled him in on Max and her angst over not being able to help him sooner. Throughout the day, Kate had kept seeing Max’s tortured face in her head. She wondered how much of the abuse could’ve been prevented if she had only revealed his abductor sooner. Jared said all the right things and agreed with her mother’s assessment of her putting too much pressure on herself to save everyone. During the exchange, Kate purposely hadn’t brought up Declan.

  Jared would agree with her reaction to Declan’s unconventional job offer. Yet, something was holding her back from admitting everything to him. It made Kate consider the idea that a part of her wanted to accept his proposal. Working with another psychic would mean more cases could be solved. Not to mention, he was right about her future prospects. Her part-time job at the doctor’s office didn’t pay much and she was majoring in English at a two-year college. Since a teaching career didn’t feel like a right fit for her, she wouldn’t have many job offers once she did graduate. Although Kate loathed admitting it, maybe some of her father’s past accusations had merit. He had told her to stop floundering and start making some serious decisions about her future. However, collecting reward purses was probably not what Robert Edwards had in mind.

  When they arrived at the movie theater, Jared possessed another piece of her heart. Although Kate insisted he get a snack, he skipped the popcorn since she refused to get anything. They grabbed a couple of seats in the rear and she immediately rested her head against his shoulder. “How do people do this?” she moaned. “I would definitely get kicked out of any religion where fasting was involved.”

  “How about we get something to eat after here?” Jared suggested and kissed the top of her head. “I think you’re good, it looks like you lost at least ten pounds today.”

  She lifted her head and faced him. “Really?” His smirk made her punch him on the arm. “You’re such a bad liar. But I think you’re right, I must have really low blood sugar or something. I better eat,” she said nodding. Hurriedly, she added, “You know, for health reasons, of course.”

  “Of course,” he said in a mock serious tone.

  Jared gave her a kiss that left her even more lightheaded than she already was. As the previews began, she leaned her head back onto his shoulder. Jared’s muscular arm wrapped around her body and drew her closer to him. Kate let out a content sigh and shut her eyes. As the movie began to play, she felt her eyelids grow heavy. Sleep was calling to her and Kate decided not to resist.

  “I hate this house!”

  It was jarring to be in a vision and be confronted with such strong emotions. It took longer for her to get her bearings as the screaming continued around her. The living room was unfamiliar and so was the woman who stood before her. The woman was barely five foot and couldn’t weigh more than 100 pounds soaking wet. Her pale skin was emphasized by her reddish-brown hair. Her face was careworn which made it hard to determine her exact age. Her Irish accent seemed more pronounced the angrier she became. Her fists were shaking with emotion and she took a few audible breaths to calm herself.

  Kate was shocked to see the target of the woman’s rage was a hunched over figure sitting in a wheelchair. The boy’s face was hidden as he sobbed audibly. He had just been yelling moments ago, but the woman’s words had reduced him to a mess of raw emotion. The woman did not look moved by the display of emotion and continued to glower in his direction.

  “Be a man! You make me sick with your sniveling,” the woman sneered.

  “I’m your son, doesn’t that matter to you?”

  “I might have given birth to you, but no mother would want to claim you after what you’ve become. You’re a weak-willed liar who will ruin anything he touches.”

  The intensity of the vision made her relieved that she was only an outside observer. Being inside of the brain of Ally Seldon as she dealt with the horror and rage over losing her son was enough emotional conflict for a lifetime. When she didn’t know the thoughts of her psychic targets, it made it easier to remain impartial.

  The boy lifted his head. He had a sickly pallor to his skin and his brown hair was not as short as his current style. As he stared disbelieving at his mother, the boy’s face was distorted from a mixture of hate and despair. However, there was no doubt in her mind. This was a younger version of Declan Brayden.

  He was much leaner which made her guess that his bulk must have only appeared in recent years. His chocolate eyes lacked any of the vibrancy that she had come to know. Instead, they looked devoid of life. As much as she tried to study his other features, her attention could not be torn away from the wheelchair. Kate had researched Declan enough to discover he’d been hurt badly enough in the ski accident to be put in a medically induced coma. For some reason, Kate had assumed he’d been fine once he came out of the coma. She didn’t know he had been in a wheelchair afterwards.

  “I wish I died that day on the mountain,” Declan declared. She didn’t discern whether he said it as a test for his mother, but Kate felt a hatred for the woman as she said nothing to contradict him. His mother’s eyes remained cold as she regarded him.

  “Declan, I’m done listening to you feel sorry for yourself. Everyone has tried to be there for you. But then you start with your crazy talk about prophecies. No one is blind, Declan. The whole damn town knows about your drug problem. Your dad would die of shame if he was still alive,” she spat the words out at him.

  He shrank further into his chair. “I never said they were prophesies. And the drugs have nothing to do with the things I see when I go to sleep. I came back from that accident different.”

  “Yes, we can all see that. It turned you into a drug addled fool,” she declared.

  Her words had a physical effect on him and his pain was visible. “It hurts, Mom. My whole body every night…I can’t stop taking the pills.”

  His moans were hard to witness as was his mother’s indifference. “I want you gone by the morning, Declan. I don’t care where you go, but you’re no longer welcome in my house.”

  “Mom, please don’t do this. I’m sorry, I’ll try harder…”

  She glared at him. “I heard this already and I warned you one more strike and you’re gone. Bad enough you tell that lie about having a dream that your cousin Amy’s husband was cheating on her. Now, I find the pills you had sworn you flushed down the toilet hidden in your room.”

  He gesticulated wildly as he pleaded with her. “Mom, I’m in a wheelchair, I have nowhere to go. Please, Mom, please…”

  “Goodbye Declan.”

  “Only you could sleep through a movie about the apocalypse,” a voice whispered softly.

  Kate opened her eyes and inhaled Jared’s scent. She gave him a watery smile. After a minute to get her bearings, she responded, “Rousing me from sleep twice in one day. I could get used to waking up next to you.”

  The lights were back on in the movie theater and the moviegoers were filing out. She got to her feet and did a few yoga poses to stretch out. Twisting at the waist, she saw Jared watching her with a bemused expression. “What? Was I talking in my sleep?”

  Her brain tried to process what she had seen. It explained a lot about Declan and the reasons behind his actions. When he said he didn’t talk to his family, she hadn’t realized he had a deceased father and a mother who despised him. At least he seemed to have kicked his drug problem if the party the other night was any indication. Kate assumed he got clean soon after leaving his mother’s house. As unfortunate as the situation appeared, getting thrown out may have forced him to stop taking drugs. Sadly, based off of what Declan had revealed to her, it didn’t sound like he had mended fences with his family.

  Just when she was about to write the jerk off, he had to weasel his way into her sympathetic heart. Kate reasoned he must have an extra psychic power that forced visions on people. If the intent of the revelation was for her to understand his motivations for wanting to use his visions for
profit, she certainly did. Without her family to rely on, Kate would’ve probably done the same thing.

  “You look a million miles away,” Jared remarked and took her hand.

  As Jared lifted his body out of the theater seat, he towered over her. Kate craned her neck to study his face. Jared was another person in her life she was lucky to have and knew she could rely on him for anything. As she stared at the handsome detective, she found herself with no desire to talk about Declan and relive the vision she just had. Instead, a hearty meal with her caring boyfriend sounded like a superior plan. “Just trying to figure out what time KFC closes,” she said.

  “There’s my girl,” he chuckled.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Happy Birthday!” Julie squealed into the phone.

  Kate had to hold the cell phone away from her ear as her best friend launched into an off-key rendition of Happy Birthday to You. Once she caught her breath, Julie asked, “So, what are you up to? Want to meet for a liquid birthday lunch?”

  “Actually, I’m on my way to Declan’s,” she responded.

  As Kate said it out loud, she had to question her sanity once again. A liquid lunch followed by some primping before dinner with Jared was what she should be doing. Not visiting Declan with her head in her hands.

  Kate had waited for the past few days in the hopes that the psychic would call her. She didn’t feel entirely in the wrong and thought maybe he would realize that some of the points she made during their argument were valid. Since the phone remained silent, Kate decided to pop over his house and try to make amends. She rationalized that at least the psychic was bringing people back home. The families were probably more than happy to give him the money as long as their loved one was returned to them.

  “What’s going on with you and him? Gage told me he kept sending these glances full of longing your way.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Gage,” Kate countered in hopes of changing the subject.

  “You’re right. He actually said Declan kept looking over at you like he wanted to freak your brains out right then and there.”

  “No, it’s a platonic thing,” she said even though it was a half-truth. It felt true enough for the moment. Declan certainly didn’t seem to like her very much after their last fight. “He’s interested in solving cases together.”

  “Well, try to have fun today. Having visions of abducted children is not the right way to spend your birthday” Julie admonished. “Call me tomorrow and let me know where Jared takes you for dinner.” Kate promised she would catch up with her the next day and hung up just before arriving at Declan’s house.

  His car was in the driveway which meant she would have to go through with this spontaneous visit after all. Gathering her courage, Kate marched with determination to the door and rang the bell. After a couple of minutes without an answer, she began to knock. Finally, the door swung open. The way he was throwing daggers at her gave Kate the hint that he may not be quite ready to make amends. A tousled redhead moved into Kate’s line of vision.

  “Good morning,” she said brightly to both him and Trish, his apparent overnight guest.

  Declan was shirtless and although his muscles were hard to miss, her eyes were drawn to the many scars that covered his body. They told the story of the horrors he had endured after his accident. The most prominent scar went across his chest. It must have been at least four inches long and went straight down the center of his body.

  Trish had on an oversized t-shirt and a pair of boxer shorts—probably both belonging to Declan. Instead of shooting Kate hateful glances, she was beaming a lazy grin at Declan. Kate couldn’t help but feel a little bit envious of the girl. She wouldn’t mind having bed head and a self-satisfied smirk after spending a night with Jared. Why did Jared have to be such a gentleman? Couldn’t he go a little rogue and just haul her off to bed already.

  “What do you want?” he demanded. Trish didn’t bother to suppress a giggle upon hearing his tone. Kate gathered the girl got a kick out of seeing Declan humiliate her and she shouldn’t look to Trish for any female solidarity.

  “I need to talk to you.” As an afterthought, Kate added, “Please.” It was hard to respond politely to his aggression, but holding in her temper was the only way to make him listen. A definitive “no” seemed on the tip of his tongue until it seemed like her practiced forlorn expression won him over.

  Before he could answer, Trish spoke. “I was going to head home anyway. Why don’t I just call you later?”

  Declan nodded and followed her into what she guessed was his bedroom. He closed the door as they entered. Since he hadn’t invited her in, Kate waited awkwardly at the front door. Shifting from side to side, she hoped they weren’t going to have a quickie while she stood there waiting.

  Five minutes later Trish emerged in a midnight blue mini-dress and ready to do her walk of shame back home. She made certain to give Declan a long and exaggerated kiss at the doorway. Trish didn’t bother with a goodbye as she stalked past Kate and into a parked Jetta.

  As she watched her drive away, she heard Declan clear his throat behind her. “You wanted something?”

  “Listen about the other day…I just wanted to say I’m sorry for overreacting a bit,” she hedged.

  “A bit? You said I was morally bankrupt,” he seethed.

  “Alright, I did come off as preachy and I wanted to apologize for that. I didn’t mean any offense. I mean people make money off of much worse things, right?” she asked rhetorically. His mouth was set in a thin line and he didn’t respond to her rambling. She decided to continue. “The end result is still the same. Someone is returned safely to their home,” she said with false cheer in her voice.

  Declan shook his head. “That’s not always the case. Sometimes they give me a reward for finding the location of a body. Those are definitely not the fun ones. Means I have to get inside the head of the killer and see them murder someone.”

  Kate swallowed down her distaste. Maybe she didn’t have the stomach for this whole psychic thing after all. She croaked, “Sounds awful.”

  Her disgust didn’t go unnoticed. “Kate, I know you didn’t come here for my forgiveness.”

  “Partly, I did. As much as I resisted, you have become a friend to me—and I do miss talking to you about all this paranormal craziness,” she confessed. “But I also would like to work together if you would still consider it.”

  “I don’t know…”

  His uncertainty made her plow on. “I didn’t want to do this, but you’re making me pull the birthday card. It’s today and I think it would be really mean of you to not forgive me.”

  Shaking his head, a ghost of a smile appeared. “I must be crazy…” his voice trailed off, “but okay we’ll give this a shot. Just try not to annoy the hell out of me.”

  “No worries,” she replied. “I frequently annoy people. However, I’m like mold, I grow on you.”

  “Well, since you’re here, I might as well show you something,” he said resignedly.

  Declan gestured for her to follow him into the house. Walking behind him, she followed him into his living room. He picked up a piece of paper lying on the coffee table and handed it to her. She felt the couch depress as he sat next to her, but her eyes didn’t move from the paper. It was a missing persons poster that Declan must have printed off the internet.

  The girl in the photograph looked to be about her age. She had an infectious smile on her face and a vibrancy that jumped off the page. Her blond hair was cut to her shoulders and her tanned skin was highlighted by perfectly white teeth. Scanning the statistics, she saw that Melanie Pirola was twenty-four years old and had been last seen at her own home three days earlier. The reward was listed as $25,000 for information leading to her return.

  Declan’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “I got in touch with Melanie’s sister Delaney last night after I found the case online.” Kate didn’t dare ask if he spent his spare time scourging the internet for abduction cases. In this ca
se, ignorance was preferable.

  He continued, “She’s willing to accept my help. Delaney explained that she lives with her sister and when she arrived home from her bartending shift, Melanie was nowhere to be found. Her car was still parked in the driveway and there was no sign of a struggle or break-in.”

  Kate fired question after question at him. “Any suspects? Or any indication she may have just taken off?”

  “It doesn’t sound like it. She’s a very popular fitness instructor at a gym near their house and has a very close-knit group of friends and family. She sounds reliable and this is the first time she’s ever even missed a day of work. Her sister insisted that no one would ever want to hurt her sister. She was too well-liked,” Declan explained.

  Kate didn’t find that hard to believe judging by the picture. “Where in Pennsylvania does she live?”

  “Chambersburg. It’s about three and a half hours from here. Your dad lives in Pennsylvania, right?”

  “Yeah, but he’s not that far away. His house is only about an hour from here,” she replied.

  “It took me a couple of hours, but I did have a vision about her last night…” Declan began.

  Her face lit up. “Which means she’s probably alive.”

  “Unfortunately, the vision didn’t tell me anything about her situation. It was just a random memory of a night out with friends at a karaoke bar.”

  Kate chewed on her thumbnail as she pondered Melanie’s disappearance. “Well, maybe she did just take off then. Any guys in the picture?”

  “She broke up with her boyfriend a few months ago, but he has an alibi for the day she went missing. And Delaney said he hasn’t shied away from the investigation. He’s cooperated with police and has helped pass out flyers and do ground searches. Melanie wasn’t known for keeping secrets from her family, so her sister doubts there was someone else. Also, Delaney was able to get access to Melanie’s online passwords. She checked yesterday and found no activity in the past few days on her bank account.”