by Dana Davis
The girl’s smile faded. “You’ve changed since you got back from the afterlife.”
Yeah, into a freaking medium. “I know that, Zoey.” She kept the disappointment out of her voice. Barely. This girl had been through so much in her young life, including losing her parents and her guardians, an aunt and uncle who took her in after her mother abandoned her and the box, leaving her without a mentor for her new powers. She’s just a college kid with the world on her shoulders. I won’t add to that pressure.
Zoey smiled and crossed her long legs, giving a smug look women her age managed so well. “There is more. What? You thought I’d come all the way over here just to tell you what you already know?”
This time Daisy smiled. She might be young but she’s not stupid. Or oblivious. “So, enlighten me, oh great Dream Catcher cousin.”
“That’s better. Could you bow too? It’d really make my day.”
Daisy raised a brow. Okay, she’s still got her sense of humor. Good. “Better watch it or I’ll make your day with a ghost or two.” Scarlet’s right. If I’m stuck being a medium, maybe I could have some fun with it. She spotted punk girl standing by her fireplace, still annoyed the ghost could invade her home any time she liked. Zoey, who’d once seen Great-Uncle Ian’s ghost, didn’t seem to notice this one.
Zoey chuckled and held up her hands. “No thanks. I like my home ghost-free, thank you very much.”
Daisy leaned forward, all humor gone from her own face. “So, you don’t see them now?”
“No, why? Oh, you mean because I saw your Uncle Ian at my house that time?”
“Yeah.”
“That was an aftereffect of that whole underworld trip. He’s the only ghost I’ve ever seen without Scarlet’s help.”
Because she touched death through the underworld. Daisy hated to admit it, but she felt a tad disappointed. What, you’d wish seeing ghosts on poor little Zoey? Bad witch. “So, what’s got you worried?”
Zoey studied her. “I’m not clear on that exactly. But your – different. I mean more different. Differenter? Whatever.”
“I’m a medium now.” What the hell else could be going on?
“It’s not just that. It has to do with this hitchhiker.” Her eyes grew distant, an indication she was communicating with the box again. “When I see your dreams and wishes. Your hopes. I see his too.”
What the hell? She sees that bastard’s dreams and wishes? No wonder she’s so damn spooked. “I don’t understand.”
Zoey shook her head, her ponytail moving side to side. “Neither do I. I shouldn’t be able to see a – well, a dead guy’s dreams. He’s dead, right?”
“Yeah. Maybe you’re seeing the mortals he’s been using since he got here. Their hopes.”
Zoey smoothed her hair back with one hand. “No, I don’t think that’s it. What I see is – consistent. From a single person – entity – whatever. But alongside yours, Daisy.”
A psychopathic killer ghost as my very own shadow twin. Splendid. “No medium has ever crossed over.”
“What?”
“Something Scarlet said to me. I crossed over and brought this hitchhiker back and I’m a medium now. She said no medium would ever cross over like that. She also said the hitchhiker is repelled and attracted to me at the same time. Maybe he’s being pulled back to me because of this connection you’re seeing.”
“I don’t know,” Zoey said. “Could be. I’ve never seen anything like it, not even with identical twins.”
Daisy wondered if that would hold true for a shadow twin, like Liam’s. At the thought of talking about that incident, her throat warmed. It seemed the Fates wanted that little afterlife secret kept as such – a secret. Even from the Dream Catcher. Another thought occurred and she shifted her weight with anticipation. “What are his wishes? Do you see what he wants to do?”
Zoey looked as though she’d been dreading those questions. “I can’t say.”
“Zoey, if you know what he’s planning, who he’s going after next, you have to tell me. Maybe we can stop him before he kills again.”
The girl looked sick. “Shit. Don’t you think I know that? It pisses me off but I fucking can’t tell anyone. Not even you. I’m sorry.”
Damn you, box. Daisy suspected the box would abandon the girl if she started tampering with hopes and dreams to change the future. And without a Dream Catcher, we’d all be screwed. Guilt rose up at seeing the pained look on Zoey’s face, so Daisy reached over toward the chair and laid a brief hand on her young cousin’s arm. Her skin looked pale compared to Zoey’s. “It’s okay. I understand. I don’t like it, but I understand why you can’t tell me.”
Zoey looked relieved. “Good. There’s one more thing I can tell you. I have to be with you when you confront this hitchhiker.”
“What? No way.” The last thing I want is to put her in danger again. She’s a strong paranormal, maybe stronger than me. A hitchhiker would love to feed on that power. Even if the box protects her, I won’t use her like that. “You helped me when I crossed over. That’s enough. This hitchhiker’s too dangerous.”
Zoey looked like she agreed. “It’s not up to me.” The pained look in her eyes said everything.
Well, shit. The box is making her do this, damnit. Dream Catcher box, if you’re listening or seeing my hopes and wishes or whatever the hell you do, you better keep her safe. I need her to stay safe. Hell, the world needs her to be safe. Zoey looked worried that she might continue to argue. “Well, if you’re going to help, then maybe you should come with us to the lake tomorrow.”
The girl’s face relaxed and she offered a sly smile. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“That’s hilarious.” Daisy smiled and shook her head. This just gets better and better. Why don’t I just take the whole damn family? “Okay, be here by seven. That’s morning, college girl. No sleeping in. I have a stop to make first.”
“I’ll be here.” Zoey glanced at her phone. “I have to go. Thanks for the tea.” She downed the remainder in her bottle.
Daisy called Noah, who was already on his way back to the house, then walked Zoey out to her baby blue jeep.
“I’ll call you later.”
Daisy pointed a finger. “You better. And drive careful.”
“Yes, Mom.” Zoey stuck an arm out the window and waved as she drove off.
Noah, Bridgette and Scarlet were chatting as they walked up the drive, Perky in the lead, and Daisy turned to Scarlet. “Tell your friend we’re coming over in the morning. I want his opinion.”
“He might not see you.”
She glanced around to make sure no neighbors were around then leveled a gaze at Scarlet. “Then tell him a very pissed off witch-medium, who’s not in the mood for objections, is coming to see him. And I’m bringing my kick-ass witch cousin with me as backup.” That got a smirk from Bridgette.
Maybe Scarlet’s aura-reading friend can tell me something. Maybe he can’t. But I’ve got to stop this hitchhiker. One way or another. And I can’t leave any stone unturned. She cringed inwardly at that unintentional pun as she rested her gaze on Noah. My wonderful, protective Noah. My lover and husband and best friend. I’ll do everything in my power to protect you. I won’t let that bastard use me as his own personal paranormal Uzi.
And the hitchhiker would do exactly that if he got control of her.
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* * * *
Chapter 26
Secret
Daisy hadn’t driven since her trip to the afterlife and it felt good to be behind the wheel of her mint green VW bus again. Something familiar and serene about tooling up the Beeline Highway in the early morning. Traffic was light, the air cool, and the areas of open desert added to the feeling of serenity.
Scarlet sat in the passenger seat, spouting directions. The medium refused to put them into the GPS, claiming privacy issues for her aura-reading friend. Noah had helped Daisy install the spare bench seat they kept in the garage, so he, Bridgette, and Zoey could rid
e in the back. They had passed the turnoff to Saguaro Lake a ways back and Daisy wondered just how far out of town Scarlet’s friend lived.
At least he’s not far from the lake. Her next stop. She wished she could tell the rest where they were headed and why but she couldn’t say anything about auras. Not for lack of trying, either.
“Can’t this hippy shit car go any faster?” Bridgette said from the back, getting a chuckle from Zoey.
Daisy eyed the redhead in the rearview mirror. “Quit insulting my baby. She’s a classic.”
“Keep telling yourself that. Noah, when are you going to talk her into getting a real car?”
“Hey, don’t bring me into it.”
“Slow down,” Scarlet said. “The turn is coming up on the right.” She looked a bit antsy and distracted.
Daisy slowed and eased into the turn when Scarlet pointed it out, which put them on a dirt road. Without Scarlet’s directions, she would’ve passed it, thinking it was made by weekend four-wheelers. For some reason, certain mortals got a kick out of destroying the pristine desert.
Her vintage ride bumped along as she veered to avoid the bigger potholes. To her delight, the surrounding desert here looked healthy. Giant saguaro grew wild among the brittlebush, palo verde trees, cholla, and other desert brush, with an occasional wooden post from some long-ago fence. This area probably looked much the way it had a hundred years ago when natives and settlers lived here. If Scarlet hadn’t pointed out the house and driveway, Daisy might have passed them too.
The dirt driveway that ended near a small adobe house the same color as the surrounding desert. Other than a motorcycle parked on the side with a brown tarp over it, and a line of solar panels in the yard, there didn’t seem to be evidence that anyone lived here.
As they filed out of her van, the front door of the house opened, and a short man stepped outside. “Stop there,” he said when they were a few feet from him. He scratched at graying stubble on his chin as he studied Daisy and the others in her group. He looked a bit older than Noah, with a few strands of gray in his shoulder-length hair. Hard muscles under tanned skin stood out beneath his faded green tee-shirt. Handsome in a rugged way.
“Mitchell,” Scarlet said in a scolding tone.
“Yeah, okay. Come on in.”
Mitchell? Daisy leaned toward Bridgette. “Why does that name sound familiar?”
The redhead shrugged as they followed the man inside his small home. They entered straight into the living area and Daisy spotted her answer. A photo of the man when he was a teenager sat on a beehive fireplace mantle. Next to him in the picture stood a younger girl – Scarlet. Oh, now I remember.
The medium turned to Daisy and her eyes flicked to the photo. “Yeah, he’s my brother. Another Mendoza creep.” She gave a playful smack toward Mitchell’s head.
He ducked, causing her to miss her target, then turned and grinned at her. This close, Daisy could see that his eyes were bloodshot and rimmed with red, like he hadn’t slept well for days. “Hey, at least I’m not the Mendoza with the dead cronies.”
“You never come up with a new line, do you?” Scarlet introduced each of them and Mitchell nodded, hands stuffed in the pockets of his camo shorts. Her smile faded as she studied her brother. “Did you make it?”
Mitchell’s voice grew soft and serious. “In the kitchen.”
Scarlet motioned for Daisy and the rest to sit, while she and her brother disappeared through a swinging saloon door that looked like it was original to the 1800s. Probably a salvaged piece from the looks of this place. The furniture looked handmade, some old, much of it covered in cowhide. She sat on a soft cowhide couch, worn down from decades of backsides.
Daisy admired anyone who lived close to nature, leaving a small footprint on the planet. She wished she had the balls to live this way but she was too hooked on modern conveniences. At least I reuse and recycle.
A tapping on glass caught her ears and she turned to see a woodpecker clinging to the screen outside the open window. The red crest bobbed as the bird hunted for insects. The window glass looked antique, with ripples, not the smooth type of their modern counterparts. The room smelled odd, like something had burned in here and the open windows had cleared most it out of the air, leaving a slight residue on the furniture. That, coupled with a vanilla scented candle burning nearby, meant Daisy couldn’t quite place the smell.
Noah sat next to Daisy. “Mitchell’s her brother?”
She turned to her husband and raised her brows. “I knew I recognized the name. He’s listed on the family tree.” But since Scarlet was only related by marriage, Daisy hadn’t looked at that line in a very long while. And she’d never met Mitchell. Not even once. Guess he’s a real hermit. She caught movement out of her corner vision. Oh no, not here. But it was just Zoey meandering toward one of the whitewashed walls that helped keep the place bright and cheerful.
The tall girl leaned close to something – Daisy couldn’t tell what. When she pulled back, she turned and offered a wide-eyed grin. “That’s a bullet.”
“Really?” Daisy got up to see for herself. Sure enough, the butt end of a bullet stared back at her from the small hole. “Probably came with the saloon doors.”
Zoey chuckled and leaned close. “I’ll take bullets over talking saguaros any day.”
“Agreed.” Daisy still had nightmares about their encounter with the ancient Council. Was that only a few months back?
Before they could chat any longer, Scarlet and Mitchell came back through the saloon doors. Daisy had thought perhaps they’d gone to get refreshments for everyone, but Mitchell was the only one holding a cup.
After placing the cup on a coffee table that was actually a large tree stump, he sat in one of the cowhide chairs and raised his chin toward Daisy. “She the one?”
“Yes,” Scarlet said. She took a chair next to her brother.
Daisy sat back on the couch again and when no one said anything else, she cleared her throat. “So, what do we do? Do I need to drink that?”
“Not for you.” Mitchell put the cup to his lips, hesitated for a second, then tipped back whatever was in it. He closed his eyes for a moment, sucking in shallow breaths as though in pain.
When he opened his eyes again, he kept them at half-mast, as though light hurt them, then he motioned Daisy to stand. He spent several minutes looking her up and down before making a swirling motion with his forefinger. She turned around to face the spot where Zoey sat. The girl seemed to be studying her aura too.
It took all of Daisy’s will to keep still, while being inspected like a prized antique at an auction house. Movement behind her made her turn around just in time to see Mitchell race toward a doorway to what she guessed was his bedroom, since she could see a bedpost from her vantage point. A door slammed, followed by strangled noises like someone throwing up.
“Is he okay, Scarlet?”
“He’ll be back in a minute.”
“Did I make him sick?”
“Not you. The potion. He needs it to clear his head long enough for a reading.”
It was at that moment Daisy placed the odd smell of this home. “He smokes to dull his senses.” And she didn’t mean cigarettes.
“It’s the only way he can be around people.” Scarlet didn’t seem the least apologetic. If anything, she looked sympathetic.
What the hell does he see that makes him use drugs?
She glanced back at Zoey but the girl wasn’t looking at her. Zoey seemed to be communing with her Dream Catcher box at the moment, a distant look Daisy was used to seeing on that pretty, tanned face. The engagement ring on the girl’s finger caught the light when she moved. Daisy thought twenty-one was too young to get engaged, especially for a paranormal, but Zoey was an adult and could live her life however she pleased. Besides, the girl’s future marriage had been planned by the Fates before she was even born.
Mitchell strode back into the room and took his seat again. He still looked a little green.
&n
bsp; “Well,” Scarlet said.
Daisy wasn’t sure exactly what her aura would reveal about her new powers, but then she’d never actually encountered an aura reader. At least not that she knew about anyway. There weren’t any in her genetic family line. She held her breath as she waited for Mitchell to tell her what he saw.
He eyed the others. “We need to talk in private.”
Noah and Bridgette frowned. They must hate being left out like this. Zoey looked disappointed but seemed to understand. She’s probably got way better secrets than I do. Daisy offered a sympathetic look. “Please wait outside, will you? I promise to fill you in on anything I’m allowed to.”
The three rose to their feet. “You can stay,” Mitchell said. He pointed to Zoey and she sat back down, a perplexed look on her face.
“Here, babe.” Daisy gave Noah her keys as he passed, following an irritated Bridgette out the front door. After a moment, she heard the sliding door on her vintage van open.
Bloodshot eyes focused on her. “You’re connected to the dead, Daisy,” Mitchell said in a soft voice.
We came all the way out here for that? “Thanks, but I already got the medium memo.” She worked to quell her rising frustration. Well, I’m the one who insisted on coming here. Scarlet didn’t promise I’d learn anything new.
“Yes, there’s that.” The man blinked several times. “Your aura is different.”
“You mean the blackness in it? I know about that.”
“No. That’s normal for a medium.”
Her heart pattered in her ears. “Then what?” She’d seen that blackness in her aura when she and Scarlet moved Liam’s shadow twin back to the afterlife. She tried to say something about the shadow twin, but her throat warmed and her voice wouldn’t work. Okay, so he can’t know about that. Or maybe Zoey can’t know.
Mitchell sniffed and rubbed at his chin stubble, then leaned his elbows on his knees as he peered at her. His gaze wasn’t nearly as intrusive as his sister’s, but Daisy shifted in her seat, nonetheless. What the hell does he see in my aura?