“You barely know me.” Chaos stopped pacing and looked at him. The room was too small. She needed to do something to distract herself. “Coffee? I’d like some coffee.”
Dakota followed her into the kitchen. Beside her traditional coffee pot, Linda had one of those pod coffee makers and seconds later Chaos had a hot cup of coffee in her hand. She drank it without looking at Dakota. She could feel him watching her. Waiting. Chaos finished her coffee and turned to make another cup. The silence was killing her. “You sure you don’t want some?”
“Nope. Just waiting for you to stop moving and face me.”
Chaos stomped, turned around, and faced him. “What?”
“You belong here. With us. With me.”
She belonged with him? They were the words she wanted to hear and yet she couldn’t let them affect her. “So?” she shrugged. Chaos took a sip of her coffee and avoided meeting his eyes.
“So? So I want you to stay.”
“I can’t. Don’t you get it? Don’t you see that I can’t stay? If I do you’ll end up dead. All the people I care about die and it’s because of me.”
“People die, Chaos. Shit happens. You’re not the only person who has had people they love die. You’re not the only person who has experienced that kind of pain.”
Chaos took a few steps back. He was mad at her. He was right, of course. People died and shit happened. Linda had brain cancer and that had nothing to do with her. But she was the reason Linda was in the hospital. If Bill hadn’t shoved her, she’d be at home where she belonged. “Is this our first fight?”
“Probably. If you stick around, it certainly won’t be our last,” he grinned.
She’d never seen him smile quite like that. He looked amazing when he smiled. It almost wiped away her frustration. “Shit.” Chaos slumped against the counter.
Dakota laughed.
“How is this possible? I just met you last week.”
“Funny. I feel like I’ve known you forever.” Dakota stepped in close and put his hands on her shoulders. “What do you want to know?”
Chaos looked up at him and found that his face was sincere. He felt it, the same connection she’d felt the moment she’d first set eyes on him. But at the same time, she really didn’t know much about him. What did he want from life? Would he consider moving back to Santa Fe? What was his favorite color and what type of car did he drive in the winter when the roads were too snowy for a motorcycle? There were so many things she could ask. “Tell me about how you met Linda.”
Dakota took a step back and released her shoulders. “Make yourself another cup of coffee and let’s go sit down.”
“I died when I was fourteen,” he said, sitting on the couch beside her.“My father killed me.”
Chaos blinked. He wasn’t kidding. A deep anguish took hold of her heart. What kind of misery had he experienced as a child? “Did he cause the scars your back?” Chaos remembered what they looked like. The deep slashes left a vivid and indelible impression.
“He did. He beat me often and usually with a belt. My mom died when I was younger. I was ten and by myself with a monster. He killed her, too. He beat her to death. I was fourteen when he killed me. He drowned me and left me for dead. The white light that people talk about? I saw it and I went toward it. My mother stopped me.”
Chaos fought the urge to reach out and touch him. He sat mere inches from her, all she had to do was shift her weight and touching him would seem natural. Now, she felt like if she reached out, it would be perceived as sympathy. Dakota didn’t want sympathy. “How did she stop you?”
“I saw her spirit. I’m not sure how she did it. Trust me, I've spent years trying to figure it out. It has to have something to do with her Navajo heritage but she was able to give me part of her life force, her spirit. When she did that, I had the strength to go back. To live.”
“She must be an amazing woman,” Chaos murmured. “To do that for her child. She must love you very much.”
Dakota turned toward her. He grabbed both of her hands in his. “I lived but my mother suffers because of it. When she gave me part of her spirit she couldn't return to the light. She wanders the in between. She has no place to go. I spent years trying to learn about my heritage and the ways of the spirit world. No one has answers. The piece of her spirit gives me the ability I have, to split. I think. I send out my spirit, Cheveyo, to battle, guide or protect and her spirit remains in my body to keep it grounded on this plane.”
“Cheveyo? Is that Navajo?”
“It means Spirit Warrior. It was a name given to me by my mother when she handed over her spirit to me. You asked how I met Linda. I met her when I was looking for answers about my mother. I wanted to know how to set her free.”
“Did Linda have the answer?”
“Yes. She had more answers than anyone else I met. When I die, my mother will be free. Her spirit will be whole again. So I wait until it is my time.”
“That must be hard. But it has to be nice, too, to have that piece of your mother always with you.”
“She doesn’t talk to me, not like a ghost. I can just feel her. She’s out of reach. Sometimes when I close my eyes, I can almost see her. It was difficult for a while. It took me years to come to grips with it, but Linda showed me that with my powers I can help others find their way into the light. My mother is willing to wait. I’ve thought about killing myself but it would only dishonor her sacrifice and if there’s a hell I wouldn’t risk her soul just to assuage my guilt.
He released her hands. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”
“It was time you knew. Will it convince you to stay? Will it convince you to give me a chance?”
Dakota’s cell phone rang. She started to get up from the couch to give him some privacy. She felt his hand on her leg.
“Stay.”
Dakota answered and listened for a few moments. “I’ll try,” he said, before hanging up.
“Try what?”
“Linda’s asking for you. She’s dying. I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner. She wanted to keep it from everyone until the end.”
“I know. She told me last night. I’m so sorry.” Chaos put her hand on top of Dakota’s and laced her fingers with his.
“It’s not the end.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle. After all she’d seen and experienced over the past couple of days there was no denying it. “I guess not.”
“Will you come with me to the hospital? It might be our last time with her.”
Chapter Thirty
No Time to Lose
Her work boots thunked on the tile floor and echoed down the long hallway. “I hate hospitals.”
“Everyone hates hospitals. They’re packed with a sense of despair, death, and illness. Who wants to be around that energy? Even if you’re not conscious of it, it feels horrible.”
“Great,” Chaos grumbled as they turned a corner. For a small hospital, it sure had a lot of twists and turns.
“Don’t worry. Linda’s not going to die here.”
“How do you know that?” she said. She felt selfish about it but Chaos was glad Dakota was with her. She didn’t know what to say to Linda. How did you comfort a dying woman?
“She told me she dreamt about her death when she was fifteen. She’s always known where and how she will die and I can tell you it’s not here in the Boulder hospital.”
“Where’s she going to die?”
“At home.”
“Do you know how?”
“I don’t. She never told me. Probably better that way because I’d be tempted to stop it from happening.” He paused at the end of the hallway and looked in both directions. “This way. I hope she goes in her sleep.”
“Wild,” Chaos said. “If it’s true.”
Dakota stopped walking and looked at her. “After everything you’ve seen, you still doubt?”
Chaos shrugged. “You always have to look for a logical explanation first. Don’t you? If you automatically
assume everything is supernatural or paranormal you make a lot of wrong assumptions. Sometimes things just happen.”
“Then again,” Dakota said, “Maybe everything happens for a reason.”
“I’m not sure I believe that. What reason could your father have for what he did to you? What reason could God have?”
“You’re right.” Dakota gazed at her thoughtfully. “Maybe it’s all just chaos.” He flashed a grin at her, then his face turned serious. “This is her room,” he said pointing at the door beside them. “You ready?”
Was she? Linda had opened up her home and her heart to Chaos. She’d risked her life. She wanted to visit Linda one last time and thank her. She just didn’t want to kill her in the process. “You sure she’s not going to die here in the hospital?”
“I’m sure.”
“Then I’m ready.”
Dakota pushed the door open and held it for her. Chaos stepped into the room and smiled. Linda lay sleeping on the bed. She was propped up so much she was almost sitting. She wore blue satin pajamas and her hair looked perfect. If it weren’t for the bandage on the side of her head, you’d never know she was sick, or dying. Chaos took a step toward her and stopped.
“What’s the matter, Chaos?”
She felt Dakota’s arm around her and fought the urge to melt into his strength. “It doesn’t feel like a hospital in here,” she said stepping away.
“What? Oh, you’re right,” he chuckled and looked around. “She’s been busy.”
“What do you mean?”
“She cleaned the room of negative energy and protected it. No death and dying in here.”
“But she’s dying.”
“Not today, dear.”
“Linda, you’re awake.” Chaos felt immediately guilty for talking about death in her room and for waking her up. “I’m so sorry.”
“For what?” Linda pushed herself up so she was sitting completely upright.
“This is all my fault.”
Linda laughed. “You caused my brain cancer? I think I’m the one who caused it, not you, dear.” She patted the bed beside her. “Come over here. You don’t have to stand by the door. It makes me feel like you’re ready to run.”
“Who is ready to run?”
Chaos turned and saw Sheila and Kat standing in the door. Sheila held out a beautiful bouquet of at least two dozen sunflowers. It almost looked like more than she could carry. “I brought flowers for you.”
“Sunflowers are hard to find this time of year,” Kat grumbled. “She made me drive to three different florists.”
“Thank you both. I’d like them right by my bed, if you don’t mind.”
Chaos stepped aside so Sheila could set the vase down on the table beside Linda’s bed. As she was stepping back, Linda grabbed her arm.
“What’s wrong, Sheila?”
“Nothing.” Sheila patted Linda on the hand holding her arm and sat down on the bed. “I’m just worried about you.”
Linda didn’t say anything else. She just sat silently and waited for Sheila to say something more. Looking at Sheila, Linda knew she was right. There was something going on. Her normally cheerful face bore the look of a hard night’s sleep and an abundance of worry.
No one talked. It was as if Linda had sent up a silent message to everyone in the room to stay quiet until Sheila caved.
“Fine,” Sheila said. “Do you remember that call we received from the family in Estes Park?”
“Old town? With the little girl?”
“Yes. That’s the one. They’ve been living with an active spirit for about three years now, since they moved in. Small things happened at first. And only occasionally.”
“Like what?” Chaos asked.
“Like she’d set something down on the kitchen table and five minutes later it would be gone. She’d find it in the living room or somewhere. Small things that make you think you’re getting forgetful or losing your mind. But these folks are open-minded and spiritual so they quickly realized they had a ghost on their hands. It wasn’t malicious so they didn’t do anything about it.”
“And now?”
“Claire, that’s the mom, she thinks it is targeting her daughter. Their little girl just turned three and she keeps talking about the ugly lady. They actually put a camera up in the girl’s room and claim to have captured footage of the girl’s bed moving.”
“That’s not good,” Linda said, shaking her head.
“The mom is hysterical. She called me this morning. Julia, the little girl, has been having nightmares lately. She woke up this morning saying the ugly lady wanted to get inside her. Sometimes when they hear Julia crying at night they’ll try to get into her room and the door is locked. Julia says she didn’t lock it.”
“She’s trying to possess?”
“Maybe,” Sheila nodded. “They’re desperate for help.”
“Then you must help them. Tonight.”
“Without you?”
“Dakota and Chaos,” Linda said. “Would you go get us some coffee?”
Chaos realized Linda was about to break the news of her illness to them. With a heavy heart, Chaos forced a smile. “Of course.” She left the room behind Dakota. He closed the door and she turned to him. “She’s going to tell them, isn’t she?”
He nodded. “It’s past time that she did. I think the coffee shop is this way.”
Chaos walked beside him, lost in her thoughts. “How long does she have?”
“No one knows.”
Thirty minutes and two cups of coffee later they returned to Linda’s room. Sheila and Kat were gone. “Where’d they go?”
“To make preparations for tonight.”
“What’s happening tonight?” Chaos asked.
“They’re going to Estes Park to investigate and help that little girl. There’s no time to lose if that spirit is trying to possess. Chaos?”
“Yes?”
“I’d like you to go with them in my place.”
Chaos took a step backwards. “Oh, Linda. Why did you ask me to do that? The faster I get out of here, the safer it is for everyone.” Chaos felt shitty. She wanted to help. She wanted to stay but she couldn’t. Chaos knew what happened when she got attached to people and the clock was ticking away. She’d been here too long as it was. Linda had gotten hurt because of her and Dakota had almost died. If she went with them tonight there was a very real chance someone would die. It sounded dramatic and crazy but she knew from past experiences that she’d pushed her luck too far.
“They need your help. That little girl’s life may be in danger.”
“You’re all in danger if I stay.”
“Nonsense.”
“Look at you,” Chaos said, throwing her hands up in the air. “You’re in the hospital because of me. You were trying to help me and almost got killed.”
“I bumped my head. That’s all. I’m getting out of here tomorrow. I’m fine.”
“Then investigate tomorrow. Tell the family to get a hotel tonight and investigate tomorrow.”
“I don’t think it can wait, Chaos. Remember how desperate you felt when you came to us?”
Chaos nodded. She remembered all too well how she felt.
“Now imagine you have a three year old that’s being attacked. It’s ten times the fear and anxiety. Please help them tonight. I promise to have answers about your necklace tomorrow. You can go home tomorrow. Will you help, Chaos? Will you help us help that little girl?”
Chapter Thirty-One
Yes, Please.
The sound of a low rumble in the parking lot woke Chaos from her afternoon nap. She’d agreed to go on the investigation tonight and figured a few hours of sleep were required beforehand. These late nights were killing her. Stretching, Chaos rose from the bed and peered out the window. Someone was walking toward her room. She recognized the smile behind the helmet glass. Dakota. Chaos opened the door. “I’ll be ready in a minute. How’s Linda?”
He took off his helmet. She saw him g
lance at the open suitcase on the floor.
“She says she’s fine. You’re packing?”
Chaos nodded. “You know I can’t stay.” Dakota moved over to sit on the bed. He carried himself with such confidence and effortlessness that she couldn’t help but watch him move. His muscular thighs made her mouth water. Chaos shook her head and returned to her packing to distract herself. There was nothing sexy or romantic about folding t-shirts.
“When Sheila saw you, when she had her vision about you coming, we thought you'd stick around. We thought you'd be our new cleaner.”
“I don’t know how to clean spirits.”
“You can learn. You already know so much.”
“I can’t replace Linda.” She set a stack of shirts into the small suitcase.
“Not replace her. Just be yourself and do what you do best.”
“What is that?” she laughed. “Kill people?”
“Share your amazing energy with everyone.”
He said it with such reverence that Chaos felt a tear come to her eye. “That may be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“I believe in you, Chaos. You know that I didn't at first. I let my dreams cloud what was real and right in front of me. You're amazing. I wish you could see it.”
“I know who I am, Dakota. I think you must have bumped your head or something. You hated me when I got here and that was just a few days ago.”
“I was wrong. I dreamed about you and I misinterpreted them. Well, maybe not all of them.”
“What do you mean not all of them?” The tension in the room was building. Chaos felt like she couldn’t breathe. He wanted her to stay. She wanted to stay. She couldn’t. She had a life in New Mexico. She was responsible for a business. She had employees to pay and a mortgage to cover. You’re afraid, she thought. Damn right she was afraid. Afraid that something horrible would happen to these people that she liked. These people that she loved.
“Let me show you,” Dakota said.
Chaos didn’t miss the heat in his look. She remembered the way his lips felt on hers. The way his hands scorched every inch of her body. She’d longed for those hands to touch her again, but it wasn’t possible. She wanted nothing more than to let him show her his dreams, but life didn’t work that way. Her life didn’t anyway. “I am a threat, Dakota. Your dreams were right. Every single person I’ve ever gotten remotely close to has died because of me. I’ve even killed people I didn’t know. My name is Chaos!”
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