“Not anymore. I found out his bad boy look isn’t just a look. He’s dangerous.”
“Dangerous like he drinks and drives, or dangerous like he robs liquor stores?” Lucy asked, leading the way to the dress department.
“Dangerous like he might have something to do with that girl getting murdered in the museum.”
“Whoa.” Lucy gave a low whistle. “That is not good.”
“Yeah. Plus, it turns out he was only interested in getting into my pants, and then he was going to dump me.” Maya felt bad about twisting the truth, but figured it was all right since she’d be telling Lucy everything later anyhow.
“Bastard. Stay the hell away from him.”
“That might not be so easy.” Maya picked a black dress with sparkling sequins from the rack, examined it, and put it back. “He’s majorly whacked. Like, worse than Stuart. Grade-A stalker. I might have to do something about it.”
“Call the cops.” Lucy held up a short-cut, clingy red dress that looked like it would show a lot of cleavage. “Too slutty for you. But I might buy it.”
“Go for it. I can’t call the police. I’ve got no real proof, so all they can do is question him, and then he’ll come after me even worse. But I have an idea for how to take care of Gavin and his asshole buddies for good. We’ll tell you all about it at the dance tonight.”
“Tonight? I can’t wait that long. Fill me in, girl.”
Maya shook her head. “Not yet. We’re gonna need the whole crew, so I want to tell everyone at once. Plus, there are some details to work out. What do you think about this one?” She held up a rose-colored dress with shoulder straps.
Lucy nodded. “It’s you. Go try it on.”
* * *
From behind a tall case filled with earrings, Stuart Newman watched as Maya and Lucy shopped. He’d been on his way to buy some new sneakers when he’d seen them entering the store. He’d followed them in, hoping to catch Maya alone and talk with her for a few minutes. He figured she wouldn’t freak out in a public place, which would give him enough time to ask her to the dance. Convincing her to go shouldn’t be too hard, not as long as he kept his cool. After all, she had to still have feelings for him.
Then he’d heard them talking about the dance and had seen them picking out dresses. He hadn’t caught everything they’d said, but he’d heard enough to figure out Maya was going to the dance with that asshole Blake.
Stuart clenched his fists and fought the urge to shake some sense into her. As much as he wanted to, he knew it was the wrong place for a physical confrontation. Someone was liable to get the wrong idea, think he was getting violent with her.
On the other hand, nobody’s gonna care if I put a beating on that Blake fellow. And if I don’t see him around town today, I know where he’ll be tonight.
Stuart turned and walked away, his head filled with different scenarios - Blake and Maya dancing, Blake and Maya kissing, Blake’s hands going where she’d never let Stuart’s go.
All different, but all with the same ending.
Stuart’s fist smashing Blake’s nose into a bloody pulp.
Chapter 18
“So who is this boy that’s fifteen minutes late picking up my daughter for the big dance?” Roger Blair tapped his watch, one eye narrowed, a sure sign he was annoyed.
Maya sighed and pretended she wasn’t nervous.
“Roger, relax.” Emily said, and then smiled at her daughter, but she was clearly perturbed, as well. They’d both taken off from work, demanding to meet the boy who was escorting Maya to the dance.
“Kind of rude, if you ask me. In my day, we came to the door. Expected to meet the parents. Now kids just park outside and honk the damn horns.”
Something in her father’s complaints caught Maya’s attention.
Outside.
Oh. My. God.
“Um, I’ll be right back. I, uh, forgot my cell phone.” Maya ran upstairs before her parents could say anything.
How could I have been so stupid?
Blake wouldn’t be able to knock at the door, or even show up on the porch, unless he was with her.
Maya opened her bedroom window and looked down. Sure enough, Blake was standing there, looking as nervous as she felt.
“Blake!” she called, trying to keep her voice low.
“Maya. I--”
“I know. Go to the front door. I’ll meet you there, and let you in.”
“Are you sure?”
“Just do it!”
Back down the stairs she ran, not pausing as she crossed the living room to the front door.
“What’s going on?” Roger asked, rising from his chair.
“He’s here!” Maya knew her over-the-top excitement would bring questions later, but it was the only way to get to the door without her parents wondering why there’d been no knock or ring.
Maya threw open the door and watched as Blake materialized on the porch. “Hi, Blake.”
“Um, hi.”
“Maya, invite him in.” Her mother’s voice.
“Stay close,” Maya whispered. Blake nodded as they entered the living room.
“Mom, Dad, this is Blake Hennessy. He’s from, um, Boston.”
Blake shook hands with each of them, Maya making sure to stand within arm’s length at all times. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” he said.
Roger looked him up and down with an appraising eye. “Are you going to the dance like that?”
“Dad!” Maya said, mortified at both her father’s comment and her own brain fart for not remembering Blake would still be wearing the same plain tunic and pants he’d had on when The Black Lady sank. However, Blake covered well.
“No, sir. I got out of work late, and we still have to stop at my house so I can change, and so Maya can meet my family.”
“Humph. All right, then.”
“Okay, we have to go now.”
“Wait!” Her mother picked up a camera. “I want a picture anyhow. Stand by the couch.”
“Will you show up?” Maya whispered to Blake.
“As long as we hold hands.”
His palm felt cold but nice in hers as they took their places. The moment the flash went off, Maya tugged Blake’s arm and aimed him at the door.
“Thanks. Goodnight. Don’t wait up.”
“Wait just a moment. I’d like to know who’s taking my daughter out. Tell us a little about yourself, Blake.”
Blake turned to Maya, a deer-in-the-headlights look on his face.
“Sorry, Dad, next time. We’re already late, remember? Gotta go.” She kissed her parents and dragged Blake towards the door. “See you later.”
“Nice meeting you.” Blake waved.
“Be home right after the dance!” her father called out, as Maya shut the door. She didn’t answer. Who knew what time she’d be back? This way she could say later she hadn’t lied.
That’s if we get back at all.
Stop it, Maya! Don’t think negative. Besides, at least the first part of the night will be fun.
She smiled and tightened her grip of Blake’s hand as they started walking towards the school.
“You seem very cheerful,” he said.
“Just thinking about how everyone’s going to react tonight.”
“You mean when they see my clothes?”
She laughed. “No. I mean when I tell them you’re a ghost. I can’t wait to see their expressions!”
Neither of them noticed the dark-haired, swarthy figure crouched behind the bushes lining the sidewalk.
* * *
Gavin Hamlin stood by the front door of the museum, smiling out at the night. “This is better than anything I had planned.”
His enthusiasm was due to the news he’d just received from Victor Fogg, one of the sailors from the Black Lady. He’d had Victor following Blake, knowing the love-sotted youth would eventually lead him to Maya. He’d hoped only to find out where she’d be, so he could overpower her and finally claim her blood for his ow
n.
Instead, Fogg had overheard Blake and Maya talking about coming to the museum later, to - of all things - confront Gavin.
“So, what be your plan when they get here?”
Gavin turned and found Anton Childs and another sailor, Nigel Murphy, standing with Fogg. All had expectant looks on their faces. When he spoke, their smiles grew wider, but not friendly.
“My friends, tonight we bathe in blood.”
* * *
Blake held Maya’s hand in a painfully tight grip as they entered the gymnasium. She was about to tell him to ease up, until she realized how overwhelmed Blake, a child of a different century, must be by the scene before them.
A local band was on the stage, playing energetic, if not exactly perfect, covers of the latest pop hits. Mirror balls hung from the ceiling, tossing multicolored beams of light around the room. Tables dressed in the school colors of blue and gray had been set up throughout the gym, matching electric votive candles adding their flickering glow to the almost psychedelic setting. Several dozen couples were already dancing in front of the stage, while others milled around at tables or the buffet area.
“Don’t let it get to you,” Maya said, placing her lips near Blake’s ear. “You’ll get used to the noise in a minute.”
He nodded, his disbelief evident on his face. Before he could say anything, Lucy appeared in front of them, her black leather dress garishly clashing with the pinks, blues, and reds of the other girls nearby.
“You made it!” Her cheeks were flushed and her hair slightly frazzled, leading Maya to believe her friend had either indulged in some alcohol before arriving or had just finished a heavy make out session with her date for the evening, Gary Wallace.
Actually, knowing Lucy, it was probably both.
“Told you I’d be here. We had a...slight delay.”
Lucy gave Blake an unabashedly admiring glance. “I’ll bet. Anything you want to share?”
“Not that kind of delay.” Turning to Blake, Maya added, “Blake, this is Lucy. Don’t mind her. She’s got the dirtiest mind and mouth of anyone I know. Back in your day she’d have probably been a street walker.”
“And loving it,” Lucy said, winking at Blake. Then she frowned. “Wait a minute. Back in your day? What the hell does that mean?”
“It means we have to talk.” Placing a hand on Lucy’s arm, Maya steered her out to the main foyer and, then, into a short hallway housing the metal shop classrooms. Blake trailed a few steps behind, still awestruck by the size of the building.
“What’s with the secrecy?” Lucy asked.
“There’s something I’ve never told you before. But tonight I have to ‘cause I need your help.”
Maya’s serious tone caught Lucy’s attention. “So share. You know I’m here for you.”
With the time finally arrived, Maya found herself at a loss for words. Where to start? How did you tell your best friend you have a supernatural power?
Maybe the best thing is to just say it. That’s what Lucy would do, after all.
Taking a deep breath, Maya prepared to tell Lucy everything.
And then an all-too-familiar voice interrupted.
“Well, look who’s here. Miss Virgin-a-Teen and the slut-bag.”
Maya grimaced as Mary Ellen Gordon, sycophants in tow, approached them.
“Not now, Mary Ellen. We’re busy.”
“Busy?” Mary Ellen glanced at Blake and gave a derisive snort. “With what? Showing the homeless a good time? Let me guess. You feed him and, then, Lucy --”
“Don’t go there, bitch, unless you want to spend the rest of the night in the hospital.” Lucy raised a small bony fist at the gathered cheerleaders.
“Right. As if I’d ruin my makeup or a five-hundred-dollar dress before the dance even gets started.” Mary Ellen motioned to the three girls standing behind her. “C’mon. I’m bored with these losers. Let’s go have some real fun.”
Lucy opened her mouth to say something, but Maya stopped her. “Not now, okay? Focus. Something important, remember?”
Lucy continued to glare at the departing Mary Ellen, but nodded. “Okay, shoot.”
Like a suddenly-opened pressure valve, the words exited Maya in a rush.
“Ever since I was a little girl I could see ghosts and talk to them, and now there are evil ghosts in town who are trying to kill me so they can come back to life, and I need your help to get rid of them.”
Maya stopped, waiting for Lucy’s reaction.
For a moment, Lucy just stared at her with a blank expression. Then, she burst out laughing. When she could finally speak, she was holding her chest.
“Oh, my God! That was priceless! Did you think of that on your own, or did Blake help you? Blake, you just went to the top of my fav’s list. I...” she paused, looking around the hallway.
“Hey, where’d he go?”
Maya turned and saw Blake standing ten feet down the hall, far enough away that her presence would have no effect on him, rendering him invisible to everyone but her.
She immediately understood his plan.
“It’s no joke, Lucy. I’ll prove it to you. Blake, come here.”
“Girl, you’re pure loco. There’s no one...oh, holy shit!”
Although to Maya it appeared as if Blake was simply walking down the hall, she could imagine what Lucy saw. A shimmering form gradually coalescing into a transparent image, which then grew steadily more solid as it approached. By the time Blake got within five feet of Maya, he looked as solid as a living person.
Under her makeup, Lucy’s face went pale; and when she turned back to Maya, her expression was unreadable.
“This isn’t funny. What are you trying to pull?”
Maya took Blake’s hand and held it out towards Lucy. “Touch him.”
Lucy’s hand trembled slightly as she reached forward and placed two fingers on Blake’s palm. The moment they touched, she pulled back. “Dude, you are ice cold.”
Letting go and taking two steps back, Maya said, “Now touch him again.”
Lucy gasped as her hand went right through Blake’s. “That’s...I...ohmyfreakin’ God.” She swung her hand back and forth through his arm, and then his chest. “That is like totally awesomely stupendous!”
Something relaxed in Maya’s chest, and she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “You’re not mad?”
“I was for a minute, but that’s ‘cause I thought you were trying to pull a ‘Scare Tactics’ on me. This is just too cool for words. Dude, you’re a ghost? A real ghost?”
Blake nodded.
“Where’d you come from? How’d you get here? Are all ghosts as hot as you?”
“Lucy, focus. I’ve got a problem, remember?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. More ghosts. Bad ones. What’s the deal with that?”
It took Maya several minutes to explain everything, and Lucy only made things worse by constantly interrupting with questions and passing her hands through Blake. When she finally got the whole story out, Maya said, “So, now I need you to come with us to the museum so we can find this book and key before Gavin does.”
Lucy shook her head. “Unreal. Not only do you meet one sexy ghost, you manage to meet two. And one of them’s an evil wizard. And, then there’s me. All I end up with are second string football players who drink so much that half the time they can’t even get a--”
“Too much information!” Maya waved her hands. “Will you do it?”
“Sure.” Lucy shrugged. “No biggie. I’ll tell Gary he’s gotta help, or there’ll be no seeing what’s under this dress tonight. And Fiona and Curtis can come with us.” Fiona O’Malley and Curtis DeVoy were another couple who were supposed to be meeting Maya and Lucy at the dance.
“But you can’t tell them the parts about the ghosts,” Maya said. “I don’t want everyone knowing about...what I can do.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll be back with the stuff before you know it.” Lucy turned to leave, but Maya stopped
her.
“Wait. What do you mean? We’re coming with you.”
Now it was Lucy’s turn to look serious. “No way. You said these sailor guys want to slice you open and drain your blood. So why would you take the chance of going into the museum when we can do it without you? If you’re not there, the ghosts can’t hurt us.” To emphasize her point, she waved her hands through Blake’s head, causing him to flinch.
“Oh, crap. I never thought of that.” Maya turned to Blake. “Would they be safe?”
“I, I don’t know. Gavin can sometimes use his energy to make things happen, like dropping things from shelves or turning out the lights.”
“Ooh, I’m scared.” Lucy mimed her hands shaking. “I might get hit by a flying book. And no lights? Who cares. We’ll bring flashlights. C’mon, this’ll be cake. You guys enjoy the dance, and we’ll be back in an hour or two in time to see Miss Mary Ellen Slutty Gordon get crowned stupid Dance Queen again.”
“What do you think?” Maya asked Blake.
He shrugged. “It does seem sensible. You would be safe, and Gavin wouldn’t have the book.”
“Settled. Keep this one, Maya. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, even if you can put your hand through it.” Lucy did just that, a wide grin on her face.
“Knock it off, Lucy. How would you like it if you were a ghost and someone kept doing that?”
“Hell, if I were a ghost, I wouldn’t be wasting time chasing wizards or going to dances. I’d be hangin’ in the boys’ locker room, enjoying the view.”
She gave them a wink and a wave and headed down the hall, trailing sparkling glitter and perfume.
“Your friend is very loyal,” Blake said.
“And too horny for her own good.” At Blake’s confused look, Maya laughed. “I’ll explain while we dance. C’mon, if we’ve got two hours to enjoy ourselves, let’s make the most of it.”
Chapter 19
“This has got to be the craziest thing you have ever talked me into.” Gary Wallace stared at the basement window they’d just jimmied open. The museum, still closed because of the murder, was dark and quiet. “Why can’t Maya just call the police?”
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