by Nancy Glynn
“After all these years, I still can’t get him to call me Mark. Drives me crazy, but he’s a good kid.” He winked at her as she stifled a laugh.
“Kid? I haven’t been a kid in twenty years, but I’ll take it.”
“You two,” she said, shaking her head.
Mark started to walk to the corners of the foyer and begin the procedure. He dipped the palm into the holy water and fanned it around them. “Eric, can you light the Sage for me, please.”
“Yes, sir. Be back.” He grabbed the Sage and ran to the kitchen, coming back with it lit. “Lucinda’s here, too? You’ll be watched over from those two, no doubt.”
Lana nodded, smiling.
“Now I need you to smudge the corners for me,” Mark instructed.
“What exactly is a Sage?” Lana asked, backing away from the strong odor.
“It’s called smudging, and this is White Sage with frankincense and Palo Santo wood. You have to remember this is from my mother, the gypsy princess as she likes to call herself, so she knows more about it than I do. We need to smoke out every corner of the house. Lana, darling, I’ll need you to open all the windows for me.”
“Papa, there has to be hundreds of windows in this house!”
“Sweetheart, use your gift. I’m getting too old or I would. My mind’s not as sharp as it used to be.”
“Right.” She walked to the center of the foyer and concentrated, closing her eyes. “Open,” she commanded in a low voice, visualizing the windows opening. Every window flew open at once, including any doors, banging against the house. She smiled, proud of herself.
“Damn, girl. Your mother would freak if she saw you do that. Daisy hated that, but I’m impressed,” Eric admitted, shaking his head.
“Okay, Eric, you can start the smudging. I’ll follow with some sprinkles of the holy water, but the Sage should do the trick. Make sure you hold that plate underneath so the ashes fall on it. If you run out, there’s more.”
“So, Papa, is this really supposed to keep the boogeyman out?”
“Yes, it’ll help with any dark entities that might be hiding in the cracks or under your bed.”
“Oooh, that sounds interesting,” she teased.
“Don’t joke. I’m serious, honey. I can’t lose you next. I won’t lose you. Do what I say, and I’ll feel better leaving you here.”
“Do you really think this will keep Jack out?”
Both men sucked in their breath and gave her a shut the hell up look.
“Sorry, I mean the man. Or Mr. Red as you like to call him.”
“Just do as I say and help Uncle Eric out.”
“Fine.” She lit her Sage and went to work. When she started on the first corner, it blew out. She relit it and it blew out again. “Papa, this keeps dying out. Is that supposed to happen?”
He walked over and relit it, pointing it to the corner and it stayed lit. When he handed it back to her, it blew out again. “It won’t let you do it for some reason. Damn. Eric, you’ll have more work than I thought. Sorry, good man.”
“Hey, it’s why I’m here. To save little Lana.” He grinned at her, elbowing her side to get her to laugh.
“If you haven’t noticed, I’m not little anymore.”
“Yes, we’ve all noticed. Now get more coffee made, woman! It’s going to be a long night.”
“I think I might just have to stay the night after all. I’ll call and have them get me in the morning.”
“Great idea, Papa. I’ll have James get your room ready for you. If it’s all right, I’d like to go lie down.” The room was spinning.
“You okay, Lana girl?” Eric asked, concern in his blue eyes. “You look out of it.”
“Yes, I’m fine. Just a little tired is all. It’s been a long day.”
He nodded, still looking concerned.
She walked to her grandfather and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for coming, Papa. Don’t stay up too late.”
Mark reached out and hugged her to him. “Please be careful, Lana girl. I know you’re stronger than your mother, but I don’t want you to get too cocky. You just have no idea…well, just be careful.”
“I’ll be fine. I promise. I’ll see you in the morning. Sleep well.”
After having James bring more coffee, she headed upstairs. She felt a little tired after using her powers, something that always happened when she did too much. She needed to work on that more. She also wished she could read minds like her grandfather. That was one thing that wasn’t passed down to her for some reason, only the telekinetic ability. She needed to visit Marissa.
In her room, she put her nightgown on and washed up. As she walked to her bed, the fire blasted, the heat singeing her skin again like earlier. Shaking her head, she slid into the covers and glared at the fireplace.
A knock on her door snapped her out of her trance. “Come in.”
Eric popped his head in. “Mark wanted me to Sage in here before you went to sleep. That okay?”
“Sure. It needs it, I think.”
“You got it.” He began the ritual and walked to each corner, smoking them. He stopped and looked around. “I can’t believe this used to be Daisy’s—I mean your mother’s room. I was never really in it, but I can just imagine her here.” He looked off, remembering old times.
“Eric, come sit and talk for a minute.” She patted the bed.
He shook his head. “No, I need to get this done. I really don’t want to talk about the past with your mother, either.” His eyes pleaded with her to not continue, anger mixed with hurt.
“Is that why you never got married?”
“Lana! Enough!”
“I’m sorry. I’ll let it go…for now.” She smiled and slid under her covers and watched him smoke her corners, top and bottom just in case. He really was an attractive man. She could see her mother having some feelings for him, feelings that had to be let go because of her love for her father. But she could tell Eric never let it go. He never stopped loving his Daisy, and that made her heart ache for him.
She remembered him dating a few women, bringing them for holiday dinners, but she always saw Eric watching her mother with intense eyes, like a love-sick boy. It just wasn’t meant to be.
Maybe she could find someone here for him now that her mother was gone. That would be on her agenda after introducing herself to the town and getting to know everyone. Some sophisticated, sexy woman in her forties, maybe a widow with lots of cats. She giggled to herself at the thought.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, nothing.”
When he finished, he came over and bent to kiss her forehead. “You are safe, my girl. No more bad energies.”
“My hero,” she sang.
He swatted her leg. “Goodnight, Miss smarty pants. You’re not too old to get a spanking.”
“Really?”
“You’re such a flirt! Save it for some hunky man that’ll appreciate it.”
“Know any?”
“Lana, I’m sure you’ll have no problem meeting someone around here. He’d be a lucky guy, but I’ll have to approve since your dad can’t.”
“Approve? I don’t think so.”
“Goodnight, Lana.” He laughed, walking to the door with his plate and dried up Sage.
“Goodnight, Uncle Eric. I do love you.”
He turned, and his eyes misted over, his voice cracking. “I love you, too, Lana. You’re like a daughter to me.” And with that, he walked out.
Smiling, she blinked, switching off the lights. Turning to her side, she felt something soft and sticky wet next to her leg. She sat up and blinked the lights back on.
A bouquet of daisies covered in blood nestled there.
Chapter 4
“Lana, your grandfather isn’t feeling so well,” Eric said as she stepped out of her room in the morning for breakfast.
“What? Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner!” She pushed past him and strode to the room across the hall.
“I wanted to, but
the door was locked. Why would you lock your door?”
She looked back at him, shrugging with irritation, and opened the door to find her grandfather pale and sweaty in his bed. “My God, Papa! What’s wrong? What do you need? Tell me!” she yelled, running to his side in a frantic rush.
“It’s this house, Lana. I can’t stay, but I don’t feel well enough to leave, either. I’m stuck. Eric brought me my medicine and orange juice, but I just can’t seem to stand. This room…something’s here.” He lay back against his pillow, and allowed her to press the damp cloth next to him on the bed to his forehead.
“Did you Sage in here?”
“Yes. It should have worked. Sorry to be a burden, love.”
“Stop. Don’t ever call yourself that again. I love having you here. If I have to care for you, then I will.”
“But you have to go meet the town. You’ll be busy.”
“Then I’ll have Lucy help me when I’m not here.” She sat next to him on the bed, smiling down at his ashen face.
“My mother always said she’ll probably outlive me because of my ailments, and she’s the one with the oxygen tank, crazy old goat.”
Lana laughed, picturing Marissa sitting in her wheelchair and scolding her son for being sick. She’s been told she had her great-grandmother’s charming personality, and she had to agree. The woman was a hoot.
“Pray with me, child.”
“Papa…”
“I know you don’t pray, but just bow and pretend for an old man, okay?”
She paused before giving in. “Fine, for you.” She bowed her head as his hand cupped it, and listened to his prayer to rid this room and house of anything other than the light from God.
The Bible on the table next to him flew across the room, hitting the wall with a thud.
Her head snapped to the sound and saw it lying on the floor. “Papa?”
“Keep your head bowed, child!”
She returned to the position and closed her eyes, hearing him pray louder and with more force. The walls rumbled in vibration.
Lana had had enough. She stood and faced the room. “Coward! Show your face, Jack!”
“I don’t think it’s Jack. I think it might be William. He’s restless that someone’s living in his home again, even if it’s his granddaughter. I could be wrong and it’s not him. There’s quite a lot of angry souls that came out of this mess nearly twenty-seven years ago.”
She scoffed. “Well, I’m not standing for it. I’m not scared. You’re not welcome here. You hear me? Get out and go back to Hell!”
It was quiet after that, too quiet. A chill crawled up her spine. Feeling faint, she sat back down on the bed. “I’ll get a nurse for you, Papa. What would you like for breakfast?” She rubbed her head, trying to rid it of the ache.
“Fine, but I’m not moving in. Only until I feel well enough to leave. And not one of those old horse-faced nurses, okay?”
She roared with laughter. “Really? Horse-faced nurse? Oh, you are too much, Papa. I’ll try to get a cute one. What animal would you prefer?”
“Human would be nice, love.”
“Well, that I can’t promise. If I ask for one, who knows where she’ll come from, so brace yourself.”
“Thanks, Lana girl. And I’ll just have some toast, if you don’t mind.”
“Toast it is! I’ll have it brought up to you.”
“Where’re you off to?”
“A place called Jack’s Den. Ever hear?”
“Yes. It’s where William ran his meetings in the back as well as ran the whole joint. He’d meet there with his businessmen, thinking up more ways to make the town rich. It belonged to Mr. Red.”
“Maybe I’ll run into him there.” She smiled and closed the door behind her.
As she started for the stairs, Eric was coming up them. “How is he?”
“A little better. He’ll be staying for a while.”
“Good. I worry for him. He’s always been so kind to me. I think it’s pity,” he said, smiling.
She smiled back and then wondered about something. “Why did you care if I locked my door?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. It just seemed strange to me, like you don’t have trust. You know you can trust me, right, Lana?”
“Why wouldn’t I trust you? I honestly don’t remember locking it. Maybe in my sleep?”
“I just don’t want you to feel like you have to guard yourself. But if you do lock it, then I’ll understand. A woman needs her privacy. I just can’t get used to you being one. I haven’t seen you before the funeral for a few years when you moved into your apartment, so it was quite a shock. You’ve really turned into a beautiful young woman, especially those eyes that belonged to your mother.” He smiled, remembering Daisy’s face. “They carry a wisdom of an old soul that a twenty-five-year-old shouldn’t have.”
She fluttered her lashes at him. “These old things?”
“You!” he said, laughing with her. “Where you headed?”
“Jack’s Den.”
“What? No way, not without me.”
“Why? It’s just a restaurant. I want to explore every part of this town that belonged to my dad. I feel closer to him.”
“Fine. You have my number, so text if you need me. I’ve let Daisy do too many stupid things here and in Chicago. I can’t continue with her daughter.” He kissed her forehead and walked to his room. “Oh, did you sleep well?” he asked, turning back to her. “Because I kept having the strangest dreams.”
“I slept okay,” she lied, not mentioning the daisies that she immediately disposed of during the night. “Dreams?”
“Yeah, bizarre. Ones that made me feel uncomfortable. Maybe tonight will be better.” He walked away then.
“Or maybe it won’t,” she whispered back.
***
The street was still wet from the morning rain, the dewy smell hitting her like musty air, as she drove with the windows down. She loved that smell. Like everything was clean and new again. A new day, a new start. She chose a simple black dress that molded her figure, and tied her long hair at the nape of her neck.
Driving down King Road, she found the famous restaurant she’d heard so much about. Even the sign was exactly the same as described by her mother. It said Jack’s Den, a picture of a wolf overlooking a fire pit.
And it was designed like a castle in medieval times. A castle she intended to rule. This was her town now. That sign should say Lana’s Den, and it would.
As she walked through the parking lot and into the doors, a staff rushed out to greet her. Something in them recognized her for who she was and immediately bowed.
“Hello, I’m Lana Stone. Nice to meet all of you,” she said, smiling.
“Hello, Ms. Stone. Anything you need, let us know. We’re here to serve you. Please, come this way.” The pretty brunette waitress escorted her to the back, but something stopped her.
“What are those?” Or should I say, who?” Paintings on the wall of different men appearing to be in some leadership role stared at her with blue eyes.
“Oh, those are the men who have run Golden Hills over the centuries.” The waitress stood back and let Lana take in each portrait.
“Is that my grandfather?”
She nodded. “Yes, William Stone.”
“Where’s my father?”
“He never quite made it there,” she said, looking at the ground.
“Right.”
And then she saw it further down from her grandfather.
“Is that…”
“You? Yes, Ms. Stone.”
Lana stepped closer and stared at her painted self, staring down with a power that scared even her at this moment. That wasn’t her, or not her true self. There was no way. She looked soulless.
“Can I have that taken down?”
“Sorry, but Mr. Red said to never touch these.”
“Mr. Red, huh? I’d like to speak to him if I could, please.” Her heart pounded at the thought of him co
ntrolling these people over her, no matter who he was. This town belonged to her now.
“He’s in the back, waiting for you,” she said in a little voice.
Her eyes widened, her heart raced, and she nodded, following the girl to the back.
The girl pushed the door open and let Lana go in before her. The door closed behind her, finding herself in the room alone. A large cherry oak table with thirteen chairs sat in front of her. William slowly appeared in a vision of crystal specks, sitting at the head of the table, banging his hand down on the table in anger.
She stood back and watched the scene play out. Her father was at the end of it, waving his hands in the air in a fury, silently yelling something at his father. They stopped and turned to her, their eyes boring into hers, brown and blue into her green.
“Daddy?” she whispered, reaching her hand out, but only to see him disintegrate as did her grandfather. She looked down and fought the tears. That had to be when he confronted his father about her mother. She remembered that story, and was so proud of him for standing up to that man for his love.
Her heart ached for her parents. She missed them terribly.
Just then, the door slammed shut, making her jump. She looked up and a tall, sophisticated man stood there, chiseled jawline, dark, short hair, intense blue eyes, and a sexy grin, wearing blue suit pants and a white buttoned shirt against his tanned skin. He seemed familiar, but she couldn’t place him.
“Lana Rose Stone, it’s a pleasure.” He walked to her and held his hand out to shake hers. “I’m Jack Red.”
“You’re Jack? Jack Red?”
He chuckled. “I am. Surprised?” His hand waited for hers.
She reached out and took it, a shock coursing through her. When she regained her composure, she pulled it away as if it had been in fire. “I don’t know what I was expecting.”
“Do you need to sit?” He walked to the table and pulled a chair out for her.
“I’m not that weak. I just felt a little dizzy. Sorry to disappoint.” She eyed the chair and then back to him.
Watching this man walk around the room, her room, made her feel sick. This was the man who destroyed her family. Ignoring his pseudo-smile and those eyes, she glowered, hardening her jaw.