PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

  Jessica let go of David's hair, wiggled down between his legs and brought her knee up hard. David howled and clutched his scrotum.

  The whole room was one big gasp.

  Jessica leapt off the couch and yelled, "Yeah, go ahead jerk-wad, haul those babies back into first gear on your own, 'cause you know these hands ain't touchin' that shit no more!"

  "You know that had to hurt," Martin said, scrunching up his face, legs forming one appendage from the knees down.

  "Yes, dear, and bless'isfornicatin'soul, I'm thinkin 'e won't be usin' those babies fer a while, 'e won't."

  Everyone's eyes followed Jessica as she strutted across the room toward the entertainment center. She jerked the plug from the wall and the room fell into silence. Then she yelled, "David, you scum sucking bottom feeder, you just had to ruin Sara's reputation, didn't ya? Just because she preferred Reggie to you! And you dragged me along for the ride."

  "You're talkin' shit," David grunted, still holding himself. "You're the one that wanted to screw with her, wanted everyone to know how she felt about Reggie! You're the one that was jealous of her!"

  The whole room sucked in a breath.

  Someone dropped a glass, breaking the silence with a clatter of tinkles.

  Reggie burst out in laughter.

  Toni and Paddy's eyes were riveted on Jessica.

  Jessica snarled, "Who sent the video to everyone's cell phone? Huh? Go ahead, answer that one why don'tcha!"

  "What the hell are you talkin' about?" David groaned, getting into a sitting position. "You did and you know it! Just to piss off Reggie!"

  Reggie took long strides toward Jessica, pumping her fist at her. "You bitch! Couldn't you just leave it alone? You got what you wanted. She's gone. I loved her and you made her kill herself!"

  To everyone in the room but Toni, it looked like Jessica was crying. But Toni knew it was her sister who swiped Jessica's tear-tracked cheeks, and meant it when she howled, "I loved you, too!"

  The whole room wheezed.

  In control of Jessica's body, Sara flung arms around Reggie's neck and attempted a kiss, but just grazed her lips.

  Reggie pushed her away and backhanded her across the face. To an array of surprised clamors and gossipy whispers, she wiped her mouth, and spit. "Yeah, and I got the text messages to prove it! But I never wanted no part of you, bitch! Still don't!"

  The tears ran heavy as Jessica whimpered, "I guess I deserved that."

  Toni held her tongue—knowing Sara would want her to—as Reggie whipped out her cell, fiddled with the buttons, then tossed it at David.

  David caught it and the crowd moved in his direction like a cloud of swarming locust.

  "Holy shit! Is that what I think it is?" someone asked.

  "Gimme that!" someone else shouted.

  "Move your big ass, Karen," a dark-haired boy barked, "I can't see the screen."

  Jessica crumpled to the floor, smoke, only Toni could see, wafted from her body, and she looked around the room in a stupor. Everyone laughing was pointing at her, giving Reggie a thumbs up.

  Sara hovered above Jessica, sniffling. "Well, my job is done here," she said, rubbing knuckles into her eye sockets. She smiled at Toni, but her eyes moved to Reggie, and she whimpered, "Let's get the hell outta here."

  Chapter Thirty-five

  After an uncomfortably quiet elevator ride, they walked out the front door and Reggie jogged off down the drive.

  "Is she gonna be all right?" Toni asked Paddy as they headed down the front steps.

  "Yeah, she's gonna wait for me at the car," Paddy said, glancing at the yellow cab coming up the drive. "Give her some time. She hates confrontations and Jessica really showed her ass tonight. That had to hurt."

  "I hope she doesn't blame herself," Toni said, watching Reggie fade into the shadows beside the garage, "because it wasn't her fault."

  Jessica burst through the front doors, down the stairs, past them—her face wet with tears—and around the cab slowly circling the garage.

  Sara, Ruth, and Martin floated up behind Toni.

  "She better not be heading for Reggie," Toni said, shooting Sara a concerned look.

  "Reggie's a big girl, she can take care of herself," Paddy said as they arrived at Toni's car. "Besides I want to talk to you."

  "I'm on it," Sara shouted over her shoulder, whizzing toward the far side of the garage and Reggie.

  "Oh, come on!" Martin rolled his eyes so far back, that he floated backwards a few inches.

  "I'm thinkin' we should strike a chord, dear," Ruth suggested. "Come along, Martin, bless'ermaliciousnature, we need t'fetch 'er, we do. With 'er job done and Bartholomew in 'is rightful place, we should be seein' that light, we should."

  "She's such a drama queen," Martin said, floating after her. "Do you really think she'd head toward enlightenment?"

  The spirits disappeared around the side of the garage as Paddy opened the car door and touched Toni's shoulder, taking her attention off the ghostly trio. Then it happened. As if in slow motion, Paddy leaned in with a kiss.

  Toni jumped back, wide eyed.

  "I'm sorry if I scared you, but I thought it was time to either open something or close it," Paddy stammered, blushing.

  Toni took in a deep breath.

  Paddy laughed.

  Toni grinned.

  "So?" Paddy teased.

  "It was a nice kiss." Toni giggled. "I mean, kinda sorta." They both laughed. Toni looked at her feet. "It wasn't like all icky or anything." A giggle burbled between them. "Just the same, I think I'll give your brother a chance."

  "Yea!" Paddy said, palms clapping, a bounce in her step as she backed up a bit. "It was Reggie's idea. She knew you'd say that."

  Toni took up the space and threw her arms around Paddy. "You and Reggie are the best things that have happened to me and I don't intend on losing either of you as friends." She looked into Paddy's eyes.

  "Yep," Paddy said, hugging her. "We kind of like you too."

  Sara, Ruth, and Martin flitted toward them and Sara looked pissed. Toni smiled at Paddy. "Hey, I've got to get home. I'll call you later, okay?"

  "Yeah, call me tomorrow. I need to make sure Reggie's okay tonight. Maybe we can hook up in the afternoon," Paddy said, giving her a peck on the cheek. Then she laughed. "That was cool as hell up there. Wasn't it? I wouldn't want to be Jessica right now."

  "Right? It's gotta be hard to be knocked down that far. I hope she didn't get into it with Reggie again," Toni said. And I hope my sister didn't do anything stupid.

  "I'm sure Reggie handled it. And I know she'll tell you all about it tomorrow," Paddy said, heading toward the side of the garage as Sara, Ruth, and Martin flew over the hoods of the cars toward Toni.

  ***

  Across town, at the home of Charlotte Frank, Gran lugged the last two containers of cat litter into the bathroom, looking awfully spry for a woman of her age. From behind Antoinette's eyes, the doppelganger watched the cat litter fall into the bathtub covering the bodies of Antoinette Maestro and Charlotte Frank.

  "That should keep the smell down for a few days," she remarked as she walked out of the room rubbing her hands on a towel. A horn blared out front. She tossed the towel on the dining room table and plucked her plane tickets up, grabbed her luggage, and headed for the front door. "Three hours until my flight leaves. Hmmm, whatever shall I do for three whole hours?" A manic laugh uncharacteristic of the old woman escaped between perfectly spaced dentures.

  Gran glanced around the room, making sure she hadn't forgotten anything. With a smile on her lips, she flipped the lights off, walked out the front door, and headed down the walk, lugging her suitcases toward the taxi at the curb. Halfway there, a man jumped out of the cab.

  "Here, let me help you with those ma'am," the young man said, tucking back his long black hair and smiling at her, his gray eyes sparkling.

  Gran admired the muscles on his arm as he hefted the luggage into the trunk. "You look awful young to be driving a ca
b for a living," she said as she sized up his butt when he bent over to get the last bag.

  "Just a part time job, ma'am," the young man said through luscious lips. Dimples popped out on both cheeks as he smiled up at her. "I graduate from Ferris this year and then it's off to medical school."

  ***

  In the crypt, Bartholomew stood in front of the demon. "I know a doppelganger that would make a nice addition to your crypt. He has hundreds of memories that would feed your zombies for years. But I am in no position, at the moment, to orchestrate his capture."

  "And how would you get him to me?" the demon asked.

  "I know a necromancer. I believe with my help, she would be able to banish him here, but I can't do that unless you send me back."

  The demon rubbed his claws across his chin. "And if you are unable to fulfill your part of the bargain?"

  "If you do not remove your mark on me," Bartholomew said, eyes on the small tattoo of a hooved paw centered over his naval, "you will be able to bring me back at will. But I warn you, if I deliver him to you, the mark must be removed."

  The demon smiled. "Maybe we will talk about this in a decade or two. For now, you make a wonderful addition to my tombs. You've seen so much in your lifetime." Azakeor's cackling laugh echoed around the crypt as hundreds of creatures hobbled toward the seer. "Come my children, Bartholomew is going to feed you."

  ***

  At the Farrell house, Belle was already in bed after having a heated argument with Toni in regards to Bartholomew, and her inability to reach her mother. Everyone else was gathered in Toni's bedroom.

  "It's time, Sara," Ruth said. "Yer sister 'ere can guide us toward the light, she can."

  "Huh? What about Gran?" Toni asked, climbing on her bed and tucking her feet up under her. "She might try to get Bartholomew out of the crypt."

  "Blessyeruneducatedmind, no dear, Gran can't let Bartholomew outta the 'ell we put 'im in, but she can and certainly will-"

  "Oo-kay, enough about Gran," Martin said, waving a hand at Ruth, his gaze jumping around the room. "How ya doin', Sara? Ready to take the plunge?"

  Sara scrunched up her nose, staring at Ruth and Martin. "Why the hell are you two so-" Her eyes got big and round. "Ohhhh-mi-GOD! You did it! That's why Gran was acting so weird!"

  Martin and Ruth exchanged an uneasy look.

  "What?" Toni asked. "Why do I feel like you guys are hiding something?"

  "We're good," Martin said, "just eager to leave."

  Ruth clucked her tongue at him, and then turned to Toni. "Blessyerblameless'eart, see, we 'ave somethin' to confess, dear."

  "Weee . . . are sticking around just long enough to say our goodbyes," Martin said. "That's what she's trying to say."

  "Aw, hell yes! I get it! You did it! Who's bad? We're bad!" Sara said, slapping a hand through Martin's, doing her mini-tornado thing as she turned into a puff of swirling smoke.

  Toni covered her chest and gasped. "Ohmigod, Sara! What did you do?"

  Sara came to an abrupt stop glaring at her sister. "We got rid of Gran! So what! Come on! Somebody had to do it! And it's only for a little-"

  "Not Gran! That!" Toni crab-scrambled against her headboard, pointing behind the three ghosts.

  Everyone's gaze followed her finger.

  Jessica floated over the dresser and sneered at Sara. "We need to talk. I ran into your grandmother, started to give her some shit about Toni, only she wasn't Gran. Do you know a doppelganger? 'Cause he sure as hell knew you, and after he shucked Gran, he sucked me up like a Macky-D's vanilla shake! I'm dead, Sara! He was wearing my skin and humping some dude in the back seat of a cab when my spirit floated out of my body!"

  "That's enough!" Antoinette's ghostly form passed through the wall behind Jessica.

  "Gran!" Martin yelped, "how's it goin?"

  "Shit! Shit! And double shit!" Sara said, doing a little Michael Jackson backward slide right through Martin to the other side of the room.

  "That's what I wanted t'discuss with ya," Ruth said, "Said doppelganger movin' on, 'cause as y'can see, 'e did just that, dear. And 'ow clever was 'e to 'elp us out with yer friend, there, Sara?"

  "I want to go on record as saying," Martin echoed, his form vibrating a puddle of smoke, "I was not the one that made the deal with the doppelganger and I sure as hell did not want to summon the demon."

  "Well somebody did," Antoinette growled, "and somebody is damn sure going to answer for it!"

  "Screw this doppelganger shit!" Jessica screamed, heading right for Sara. "You want to see a demon, bitch? Huh? 'Cause, you're gonna see one, alright, the minute I get my hands on you!"

  "I think it's time to get out the spell book," Martin squeaked, wafting out of Jessica's way as she whizzed by.

  "Send her to the crypt, Toni!" Sara shrieked, flattening herself into a corner where the ceiling met two walls. Jessica threw three good punches through Sara's face before the ceiling absorbed the girls.

  "Bless'is'orriddeprivedsoul, I'm thinkin' the demon might be o'some help, 'e might," Ruth suggested.

  "Hold on! Back off! You had it coming!" Sara shrieked, as she whipped back through the wall, Jessica right on her ass. "Can we just talk? We've got tons of time to make this right!"

  "Damn right! I got an eternity to whip your ass." Jessica cornered Sara again.

  "Oh joy, now we have two of them," Martin said. "Could it get any better than this?"

  "I haven't even begun to show you how good this can get," Antoinette growled.

  "I'd be a little less ornery, dear. I mean, bless'ernecromanin'soul, Toni could send y'right where y'sent us, she could."

  "What?" Jessica turned toward Toni.

  "I was thinking, the light," Toni mumbled.

  Jessica threw up her hands. "Hey, I just got here. So not going to Hell, or any light thingy."

  "Works for me," Sara said, "'cause I was thinking of having a Patrick Swayze-ghost-like moment with Reggie."

  "Cool," Jessica conspired, "but then we fly right through David's bedroom wall and-"

  "Ain't no we, girl," Sara said. "You took the 'forever' right out of BFF."

  Martin and Ruth exchanged an aura of hesitantly.

  Toni sighed, her eyes passing over each transparent figure. All I really want to do is call Paul. Dammit, I just want to live a normal life.

  While the apparitions argued amongst themselves, Toni picked up her book of spells, hopped off the bed, and headed for the salt circle in the guestroom. She fanned through the pages of the book as she walked down the hall. "Let's see—helping spirits pass over." She walked into the guestroom and sat in the rocking chair in front of the salt circle. "Here it is on page 364; sending unruly spirits toward the light."

  Toni stood up and placed the book on the flowered bedspread by the rocker. She picked up several candles lying on the dresser and began to place them around the circle as she muttered, "And I'll need to check on Bartholomew. I'm not certain he's in a safe place. I don't trust that demon." She picked up a pointed object from the floor and started to puncture her index finger. "I wonder where Rufus is. I might need his help."

  Martin floated into the room and tried to look casual as he leaned into Gran's cherry wood bedframe. "You know, with a little work the six of us could be quite the paranormal investigation team. Take it from me, sweetie, boyfriends are overrated." He yelped twice as Sara and Jessica flitted through the wall, his body, and out the bedroom window.

  When Toni didn't comment, he added, "Think of all those poor souls that could use our help. You got a God given gift, girlfriend—use it."

  The phone rang beside the chair. Toni smiled at Martin as she picked it up. "Hello, Paul. I was just going to call you."

  Outside, below the window, Rufus hissed, tail batting at the air above his rump, attention on the smokin' catfight in the middle of the front yard.

  About the author

  One's real life is so often the life that one does not lead—Oscar Wilde

  I've always been weird, ev
en as a child—might've been influenced by all those fairies and trolls living in and around the streams behind Grandma's house. Today I live with my husband and three King Charles Spaniels on 50 acres of woods, fields, and streams in upper Michigan.

  http://thegratefulundead.blogspot.com/

  More Books by Susan:

  Gator Baitin' (The Grateful Undead series Book 2)

  Blood, Sweat and Demon Tears (The Grateful Undead series Book 3)

  Day-Tripper (Dark and Deadly, a novella series)

  Mirror, Mirror (Dark and Deadly, a novella series)

  When the Bough Breaks (Dark and Deadly, a novella series)

  The Other F Word

  A Visitor to Sandahl (Troubadour Tales)

  Forget Me (Purgatory Book 1)

  A Visitor to Sandahl

  Lie To Me

  by

  Angela Fristoe

  Prologue

  “I want to see them.” Zoe winced and a hoarse croak struggled from her lips. Hours of laboring had ravaged her throat. She fought against the urge to close her weary eyes. “I want to see them. I need to.”

  Michael went to the door and spoke to a nurse outside the room. Zoe gazed at his strong features when he returned to her side. “They’re bringing them now.” Even as he said the words, three nurses entered the room rolling the carts.

  Her babies.

  He handed her the first baby and she cradled the infant in her arms, smoothing a hand over short raven curls. “Phoebe, my little truth teller.” The baby’s eyes opened and the deep blue twinkled as Zoe whispered, “I love you.” She knew.

  “Truth teller?” Michael asked. He nuzzled Phoebe’s hand which had wrapped itself around his finger.

  “She knows I’m telling her the truth. It’s her gift. To hear the truth of the words.”

  Phoebe would be a challenge for Michael. Her gift was rare and a difficult one to understand. Zoe smoothed a finger along the baby’s soft, gently wrinkled face. Little Phoebe was so at peace knowing her mother spoke with love, and truth. She would be spared what was to come and Zoe was grateful that at least one of them would be. She gave Phoebe another kiss on the forehead.