by Nancy Glynn
“It’s pretty. You lived here?”
“Yes.” He stared at it as if remembering growing up there. “But I’m sure another family does now, thinking they’ve always lived here.”
“Right.” She watched him without him knowing, picturing him as a boy here. “I bet you were a cutie running around here.” She rubbed his arm to lighten him up.
“I guess so. Do you find me attractive now, Lana?” He turned to her, needing to hear what he wanted, and she obliged.
“I do. If you were my age, I’d sweep you up in a hot minute.” A smirk crossed her lips.
“You don’t like older men?” he asked, appearing hurt.
“I’ve never really thought about it. I’ve only been with a few men my whole life.”
He gazed at her long and hard, wondering who these men were. She kept that part of her life to herself, though, not sharing much with anyone. Her own mother didn’t even know she’d come close to being serious. But Lana always found some fault with them, something that irritated her, and she’d drop them. She figured she just wasn’t cut out for anything long-term.
“I hope you do find someone who’ll make you happy, Lana. I really do want that for you,” his voice lowered.
“Thank you, Eric. I hope I do, too. But if I don’t, I’ll live. I have so much going on here that I don’t think I’d have the time to put into a relationship, you know?”
He nodded. “Sometimes you don’t necessarily need a relationship to fulfil other needs,” he said, a seriousness imbuing his face.
She understood exactly what he was implying. “I think I do. I couldn’t just sleep with someone and then never see them again.”
“Or you could see them again,” he whispered. His hand reached out and wrapped a strand of escaped tendril back around her ear.
Yes, she understood exactly what he was saying to her.
“Is that what you were with my mom? Friends with benefits?” She didn’t mean to be hurtful, only trying to understand what had happened between them.
“I never slept with your mom. Lord knows I tried, but she was in love with your father. I know I carried a torch for her a little too long, but I can now see myself with someone else. If it’s the right someone, then I can move on.”
“I’ll find you the right one, then.”
He looked away, staring at a ghost of a family that once lived in that house. Another house of immortal souls, greedy for whatever power they could get in Golden Hills. She envisioned Eric laughing and chasing his pretty sister, a sister who was given to Jack. So many girls in this town were sold to him, all for the love of money and status. Eric and her father never wanted any part of that.
Just like what happened to her mother when her own father, or step-father, Richard, had done, selling his wife and daughter to Jack for partnership of his law firm. The thought made her sick. What was wrong with these men?
“I should probably move out.” He continued to stare at the house.
She nodded. “Yes. May I ask why you feel you should? I mean, I know why.”
“I had another dream last night. About you…us. It felt so real, like it really happened. That house is evil, Lana. I wish you’d get out.”
“I had the same dream, but I stopped it.”
“So it did happen.”
“I don’t know, maybe in a dream state. You never actually came to my room.”
“How do you know?” He stared at her now, his blue eyes probing hers for answers she didn’t have.
“I don’t. I just don’t want to accept that anything happened. It was just a dream.”
“Right. A dream. I’ll get my things together and go back home tonight. Because if I stay, I’m afraid it won’t just be a dream anymore. My mind is a little clearer out of that house, but when I walk into it, these thoughts rush in and I see you in a different light than I did before coming here. I want to drag you up to my room and keep you there.”
“I understand. No need to explain. I know it’s not you.” She could see it was affecting him again, the quickening in his breathing pattern.
“But I think in some small way it is me. The house knows what’s in our hearts and colors it black. It brings it to the center and enhances it. It doesn’t put anything there that isn’t already. It just forces you to acknowledge it.” He gazed at her, his hand reaching out to run his finger across her jawline. “All you Lock women are so bewitching…so beautiful.”
“Don’t associate me with being a Lock or anything to do with Richard. I’m a Stone.” She could see his heavy breathing, the glassy look, and she moved toward him this time to meet some primal need in her girlhood fantasies.
Their lips pressed softly together at first, like butterflies, and then a little firmer. His glasses fogged up, making her smile. Gathering her senses, she ended the kiss and pecked him once more on the cheek before she moved over to the passenger side. “Let’s go.” She gave a small smile, knowing he wanted more. There would never be anymore.
Eric sat back against his seat and ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “You’re killing me, but I understand,” he admitted, giving a lopsided smile. He looked at his old house once more and pushed the gear into reverse.
***
They drove around town until they found a spot in front of the local library. Townspeople cluttered the outdoor cafés and walks, shopping bags at their sides, eating lunch and laughing. The March sun was bright in a cloudless blue sky giving off a crisp cool air.
Lana jumped out and waited for him to come around to her side. “Let’s check out the library, Eric. You need some new books anyway,” she said, winking and dragging him to the small library.
“Fine, fine,” he said, laughing, letting it go.
The sign read Golden Hills Public Library – Hours ten to five. She pushed the glass door open to the heated hallway and up the few stairs to the main landing. An unattended desk holding a computer and a few books was centered to the right of them. Lana tapped the bell on the desk.
“I’ll be right there, just making some copies!” a woman’s voice yelled out.
“No problem. Take your time,” Lana responded. She smiled at Eric who still carried a hurt look. She stuck her lips out in a teasing pout, trying to get him to laugh. A small smile cracked his lips, his eyes filling with humor. She laughed, feeling better.
A pretty, petite woman with a cloud of shoulder-length dark hair came out, carrying a stack of papers, her large black-rimmed glasses perched on her nose. She looked to be late thirties. “Oh, my God. You’re Lana Stone!” She laid the papers down and bowed.
Lana laughed as did Eric. “That’ll take time to get used to,” she admitted quietly to Eric, regarding the bowing.
“I’m so sorry. If I knew you were coming today, I’d have the whole staff in to meet you. I’m Diana Billows, head librarian. Welcome to our library!”
They shook hands. “Hi, Diana. This is Eric Wessington. He used to live here a long time ago.”
He blushed. “Don’t make her think I’m that old,” he said, holding his hand out.
Diana shook it and smiled. “You don’t look old. And nice to meet you, Eric.” She fluttered her lashes, giving a shy smile.
He continued to hold her hand, smiling.
Lana wanted to laugh but just grinned. “I’m going to go look for a book. You two can talk more.” Lana waved at them and walked toward the rows of bookcases. She glanced back to find Eric leaning over the counter, flirting. She smiled and walked to a row of books about horror, her favorite genre. She also looked up some books on haunted houses.
When she found a few books she liked, she walked to the back, near the ceiling-to-floor window filled with sunlight, and sat at one of the round tables. After slapping her books down, she glanced up at one wall and saw the portraits of her grandfather’s family. The whole Stone lot. There was William looking regal by himself in the nineteenth century, the year of 1898 under his name.
Then a portrait of him and Lana, th
e first immortal lady next to his side. The love of his life. She did have a striking resemblance to her grandmother except for her dark brown eyes that her father had inherited. The next portrait was of her father sitting on his mother’s lap with William standing tall and strong next to them, looking very much proud, his chin jutted out.
And then there was her with her hair piled up on her head in a golden knot, her tight face void of laugh lines. The same one of her at Jack’s Den, cold and soulless. She would need to get that down. That was not her. Not the real her, anyway. Dragging her eyes from it, she opened a book and began to read.
About two hours later, Eric found her asleep in the chair. “Hey, sleeping beauty. Wake up.”
Her lashes fluttered opened and she looked around. When her eyes met his, she was confused and then realized where they were. “Wow, I can’t believe I fell asleep. What time is it?”
“Three. Must be tired from all that dreaming.”
She scoffed and closed her unread book, wiping drool from her mouth. “Ready, hot pants?”
“Yep. I have a date later,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
“Oh, really? With one hot little librarian?” She grabbed her books and stood.
“She is hot, isn’t she? Smart too, like I like them.” He followed behind her to the front.
“You almost have matching glasses. Made for each other.” They passed Diana at the desk before leaving. “Nice to meet you, Diana. I’d like to check these out.”
“I’ll just mark them down. Come any time. I trust you’ll return them.” Diana smiled at Eric, turning a shade of pink. “See you later, Eric.”
“Eight?”
“Make it seven.”
“Yes, ma’am!” He saluted her, the same thing he used to do to her mother when teasing her. That bothered Lana a little, and she didn’t know why.
Diana giggled and played with her hair.
“Okay, let’s get going, Romeo. I need to check on Papa.” She tugged Eric’s arm out into the bright sunlight.
***
When they drove through the gates and up the driveway, they saw a black limo at the curb. After Eric parked, they glanced at each other, jumped out and ran into the house. As they pulled open the doors, Mark was slowly coming down the staircase with a man next to him carrying bags, they presumed to be the limo driver.
“Papa, what’s going on?”
“Lana girl, I’m so glad you’re home. I’m feeling good enough to leave. I’m not wanted here, child,” he huffed in between words. “I’ve been given too many warnings and I’m heeding them.” He was out of breath from the walk down the stairs, but he did look pinker, with a healthy glow.
“I’m so sorry. I should’ve been here for you. I can stay more during the day if that’ll…” but she stopped when his hand went up.
“Like I said, nothing you can do. I worry for your soul, Lana. Please reconsider and get out before it gets you like it did Rose and Daisy. Or at least go see my mother. She’ll help you.”
She nodded, running to him for a hug. “I’ll go see Marissa. I’ll visit you at the church, too.”
He chuckled. “You and my church? Never much cared for it growing up, but I’d like that. I also wish you’d wear a cross. Make an old man feel better.”
“Papa, you know how I feel about that. We’ll see, okay? That’s all I can give.”
“Good enough. Well, Eric, take care of her, will ya? And don’t let those dreams bother you. I wrote down a prayer next to your bed to say each night that should ward off those…thoughts. You love each other. Don’t forget it. Don’t let this house destroy that, you hear?”
Eric hugged Mark and nodded. “I hear you, sir. I’m not much of a praying man, but I’ll consider it if it’ll help. Take care.” He shook his hand.
“Ready, Bishop?” the chauffeur asked, taking his arm.
“I love you, Lana girl. May God be with you.”
Tears sprung in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around him once more, allowing the tears to run free. “I love you so much, Papa. Please be well. I need you!”
“You’ll be just fine. I worry for you, but not like I did with your mother or grandmother. They weren’t as strong. You hold your head high when you go to Mr. Red’s church on Saturday.” He looked deeply into her eyes. “You show them who’s really in charge here.”
She nodded and wiped her tears away. A need to be strong flooded her. An understanding of what lie ahead became clear. This town needed her.
After the door closed, she turned and leaned against it, to find Eric watching her. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your date?”
His lips tightened and he turned to take the stairs one at a time, slamming his bedroom door behind him.
This house was taking its toll on Eric, changing him. Those prayers better help him, or she’d be fighting him off in her dreams again. She grabbed something to eat and brought it to her room for the night. Of course, she locked her door.
***
A wolf’s howling woke her up, bringing her to a sitting position in messy, sweaty sheets. Again, the dreams. Her mysterious man made another appearance, as she’d hoped. At first, he came by scent, a fragrance mixed with wood and spice, drawing heat to her belly, her body preparing for his wanted touch.
Still feeling his hot breath on her neck from an unseen mouth, she touched it, wanting to savor the sensation. She slid out of bed and walked to the window, pushing the heavy drapes aside.
Yellow eyes glowed in the darkness. There were a few wolves this time, and they looked directly at her. A warning of some kind, but what? They howled once more and ran off in their pack, disappearing into the trees.
The clock flashed three in the morning. She wondered if Eric was still out on his date. She heard him say goodnight through her door and that he was leaving, and pretended to be asleep. Relief filled her that he would be out of the house and not fighting off dreams in his bed.
Excitement rose in her for Saturday for some reason. She hadn’t seen Jack since their meeting. There was something about him, other than what she knew, that sucked her in, made her have certain feelings. That had to be his doing. Her mother warned her of his charming ways, but she liked them. The darker side of him supercharged her. She wanted to see the real him so she could stop thinking these thoughts.
She thought of that prayer her grandfather had given to Eric and decided she needed to learn it herself. Running to his room, she slipped in and located the piece of paper on his nightstand. It gave words of love and help against any evil thought. She scoffed at that, wondering how these words could possibly keep bad thoughts away. After memorizing the short verse, she went back in the hall and to her room.
On the way to her room, she heard whispering and children giggling. She spun around to glare at the walls, the figures moving fast back into their positions. A picture was placed right next to her door that she needed to walk past and always gave her the chills. Something crashed behind her, forcing her to rotate and notice the painting above William’s room on the floor.
Scurrying to her room, she ran past the haunted picture, but not fast enough. Decayed, charred hands broke through the soft material, grabbing her neck. She struggled against them, trying to pull out of its grip. Howling could be heard through her bedroom window, a protective howling, giving her strength. Stars appeared in her vision. “Let go…now!” she ordered, and the hands slithered back into the painting, the hole filling up and back to normal.
She rubbed her swollen neck, catching her clipped breath, and stumbled to her room, slamming the door shut. In the mirror, she was horrified. Not by the bruises and swelling, but by the way they were disappearing right before her. At that moment, her neck was as perfect as before. Did she dream all that?
After finishing up and getting ready for bed, she slipped in the cool sheets, now understanding the power she carried and learning how to use it. A string of howls sang from outside again. This howling went on for fifteen minutes straight and the
n tapering off to every five minutes, lulling her to sleep.
She knew she was in more danger than she realized. The portrait was of Charlotte Roberts, in all her bitterness toward Daisy, and she was coming for her.
Chapter 7
Of all the unholy days, this had to be the most invigorating. A nervous but exciting rush flooded Lana, for today was Saturday. A day to meet and greet the whole town in one place. This was the only church, and to live in Golden Hills, you must attend church. Every Saturday night at seven. Didn’t matter what anyone believed in.
To think her mother was terrified of falling into an abyss of true evil in the disguise of caring people and attractive leaders, gave Lana a new perspective on what she wanted from this town, from Jack.
But Lana was ready for it. There was no fear, no guilt since she didn’t have a particular faith, and Jack Red just didn’t scare her like he did her mother. With an unshakable strength, Lana would walk into that church and own it. These people would bow to her and not him. They would believe in her.
She barely saw Eric as he was mostly at Diana’s the rest of the week. He did promise to be there tonight for her, having no fear of Jack or his townies. Having heard him on the phone a few times with Jack, she started to think they were actually friends, talking about golfing in the near future.
Fear should be infused into her heart for the premonitions she had growing up, and the dreams that whispered a future of dominance by a darker force. That force could snap his fingers and have dictatorship control their world. Democracy would be no more.
In her earlier dreams, she would see herself happy and in control of an unknown town. Always upon awakening, she’d be a little saddened because her parents were never part of those dreams. A forewarning of sorts, but she wouldn’t allow herself to believe that until it actually happened.
On her twenty-first birthday, right after midnight, the dreams were wilder than the previous ones, a showcase of demented faces and distorted visions. And then nothing. No memory of any dream at all, just a black hole as if her soul was too frightened to allow her to see what really happens on twenty-first birthdays, even in dreams.