by Rachel James
Adrian’s lips twitched to a broad grin.
“Guilty on all counts.” He found himself sobering suddenly. “And I don’t relish making love to a woman when I don’t know I’m doing it.”
“Exactly,” Muriel concurred, “then we’re both agreed. You and Janice will stay with the rest of us.” Adrian found himself nodding, although he wished he hadn’t when Muriel’s next words washed over him. “You’ll have to tell Janice. I haven’t the heart. I don’t think she will take it well. She seems sure that this is the only way to end this predicament. I’m not sure I don’t agree with her.”
“I’m not making love to Janice,” Adrian stated flatly.
“Yes, I can see you’ve quite made up your mind.” Muriel eased herself from the chair and Adrian came to his feet, gently taking her elbow. As he did so, she slanted a peek at him. “You know, of course, when you tell her, it will end any chance you have of winning her?”
“Winning her? “ He looked down at the eyes boring into his.
“She’ll never forgive you. And when the rest of us become victims like Ginger, she’ll do everything in her power to see that you pay for it.”
“Is she as bloodthirsty as all that?”
“This is not a laughing matter, Adrian. Think carefully before you turn down Janice’s suggestion. If, as she says, we are taken down like Ginger one by one, the result will be the same. You and she will be left alone to face Lisette and the baron.”
Adrian gripped Muriel’s elbow tighter.
“I’ll talk to her. I’ll judge for myself whether she’s got a point or not.”
“And if she does?”
“We’ll separate from the rest of you.” A long sigh emanated and Adrian sucked in his own breath. “No promises, Muriel. I think my answer will be the same. I’ll not make love to Janice.”
“Not even to save my life or Jasper’s?”
An ice-cold chill trickled up Adrian’s spine. Put so baldly, his words proved him to be a horse’s ass, uncaring and unfeeling. Did Muriel think him that way?
“I don’t intend you or Jasper to come to harm, Muriel. You have my word on it.”
Muriel gave a grave nod.
“Janice knows you far better than you realize. She said you’d do the right thing.” Adrian chuckled, and hearing his amusement, Muriel urged, “Now, don’t make me cross, Adrian. My part in this discussion is ended. You and Janice must make the decisions from here.”
“You’re washing your hands of us, eh?” He stepped forward and Muriel did the same.
“I should say so. Old folks should leave young folks to work out problems by themselves.”
“Yes, Grandma,” Adrian mocked. “Well, let’s go and see if we can convince Janice to give up this hysterical crap she’s suggesting.”
“I hope you’re going to be more subtle than that with her.”
“Of course.”
He saw her skeptical glance and pinched her arm good-naturedly.
“Trust me, Muriel. I’ll be discretion itself. C’mon.”
Chapter 19
SATURDAY — 4:30 AM
What was keeping Muriel? Surely a simple yes didn’t take a full five minutes. He was refusing to agree to her plan. That was all there was to it. Janice choked back a despairing sob, willing herself not to cry again. What would she do if Adrian refused? Lord, she hadn’t figured on that. She’d strike out on her own, that’s what. Then Adrian would have to follow her. Her runaway thoughts stopped in midstream as Janice felt nauseous at the thought of traveling the house alone. No, she wasn’t going anywhere in the house alone. No one could make her. As if to prove it, she snuggled deeper into the folds of her chair. Absently, she began to pluck at the textured arm. There had to be a way to convince Adrian she was right.
“How long have you been playing nursemaid?”
The crabby question startled Janice. Her head shot up and whipped around. Probing eyes met hers and she immediately sprang from her chair in relief. Across the way, Jasper shot to his feet, charging around the bedpost directly opposite her. In a flash, he was bending over Lloyd.
“How are you feeling?”
“As if the top of my head has been sawed off,” Lloyd exclaimed. “How long have I been out?”
Janice’s hand glided through the air to his shoulder.
“About thirty minutes.”
He gave another muttered groan and let his head sink deeper into the pillows. Janice knew he was experiencing the same feeling of disorientation and time lag as the rest of them.
“Feels like a century,” he remarked. He swiveled his head to keep Janice in view. A bleak look came into his eyes and he raked his fingers through his hair as if trying to push something aside. Seeing the movement, Janice tensed, steeling herself for the possibility of a recurring attack of madness. Madness was tricky, she knew. It could come and go at will, like the cushioning silence of fog. “Did I hurt anyone?” The question was sane and sensible and Janice felt an instant spark of relief. Lloyd couldn’t be going mad if he was worried about harming them.
“No,” Janice assured him quickly. “No one is hurt.”
“Thank God!” His relief was immense and so was Janice’s. For a brief moment, she felt invincible. Lloyd had beaten the evil mist at its own game, and if Lloyd could come back from the brink, there was hope for each of them when their turn came.
“Do you remember anything at all?” Jasper asked, dropping onto the edge of the bed and studying Lloyd’s face.
“I heard a snap in my head, followed by a tremendous flood of hate and an insatiable desire to kill someone … anyone … everything goes blank from there,” he finished.
“Are the voices still bothering your head, Lloyd?” Janice asked, trying to keep the conversation light and away from murders and mutilations.
“No, they’ve gone.” He rolled over and propped himself on his elbow and Janice saw him survey the shadows again. “I’ve got to see Ginger,” he muttered, suddenly. Again, Janice pushed him down into the pillows.
“Ginger’s fine, Lloyd. She’s in no pain.”
“It’s all my fault,” he stressed, grasping her fingers and pushing them away from his chest. “Don’t coddle me as if I need babysitting. I’m back among the living again. I won’t hurt you.” He struggled to a sitting position and Janice took a step back, stung by his sharpness.
“I never thought you would, Lloyd.”
He didn’t believe her. Janice could see it in the set of his chin and the scrutiny of his gaze on her face. His next words confirmed it.
“I’m no fool. You all think I planned this damn insanity — brought you here for it.”
“Lloyd, I assure you none of us believes that for a moment,” Janice stated.
“Janice is right,” Jasper added. “None of us believes this is your fault.”
“Lloyd, how wonderful to see you awake.” Janice turned, suppressing a sigh as Muriel breezed through the doorway and charged the bed, pleasure written all over her face at the sight of Lloyd sitting up and chatting. Rounding the bedpost, she flicked her fingers at Janice, who slid gracefully from the bed. “You’re looking much better, Lloyd,” she said. “We were so frightened for you. How are you feeling?”
He was ready with a curt reply.
“Spaced out.”
“Yes, well, you have a right to be. Your mind has certainly taken you for a ride.”
Janice saw Lloyd nod again and his shoulders slouched as he commented brusquely.
“I’m tired.”
“Of course you are,” Muriel soothed, “that’s why you’re going to take another short nap.” She reached for the coverlet and he started to object but her clucking defiance cut him off. Capitulating, he dragged his body back to the center of the bed, gave them all a brief smile, turned his head a
nd closed his eyes.
“I’ll sit with him,” Janice offered.
“No, you go and sit with Adrian. He needs cheering up.”
Janice cast a glance over her shoulder to the doorway where Adrian lounged. He certainly didn’t seem as if he needed cheering up. He was watching the proceedings with his usual disinterested expression.
Reluctantly, Janice crossed the carpet. As she passed Adrian, she had the uncanny feeling she was going to be the one to need cheering up. By the look on his face, the next few minutes would not be pleasant. At least not for her. Behind her, she heard movement and knew he had hoisted himself from the doorframe. She quickened her steps.
Heading for the ottoman by the sofa, Janice reminded herself she could be very persistent when she chose and she had no intention of letting Adrian browbeat her into submission. She sank to the ottoman only to find her wrist snatched roughly and her body propelled back up and pushed toward the outside hallway.
“We can talk out in the hall,” Adrian stated.
They were out the door in seconds with Janice barely remembering how they got there. He was being polite, she noted, extremely polite. Intuitively, she sensed Adrian was at his deadliest when being extremely polite. What was she in for?
Stepping onto the corridor landing, Janice heard the door slam closed behind them. Deep inside, she heard a similar slam, as if the door to her heart had suddenly shut, too. She began shoring up her reasoning for the battle to come. What argument could she offer Adrian to make him see the sense in separating from the others?
Studiously, Janice looked out over the banister to the floor three stories below. The distance between hers and Adrian’s hearts was as far from where she stood to the ground floor below. How could she ever hope to win Adrian over when he so plainly refused to like her?
Beside her, Janice heard a cough and knew Adrian’s patience was wearing thin. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him begin to pace the corridor. He strode away, past pewter candlesticks and back again. He repeated the pattern a second time, his rapid pacing that of a caged animal, anxious for release. Yes, he resembled an animal ready to pounce while she was a coiled spring ready to snap. She withdrew her gaze from Adrian and searched the ceiling overhead again.
“Where do you suppose the mist will strike from next?” she asked, finally breaking the silence. Adrian halted his stride and gave her a dismissive shrug.
“It won’t for a while. We aren’t stressed enough yet. It’ll give us plenty of time to imagine the worst. It wants us to anticipate our downfall.”
“I understand the cloud’s behavior,” Janice stated. “As you say, the longer it stays away, the more effective its power over us. But what holds Lisette at bay? She knows I’m willing to help her.”
Adrian stopped pacing and perched his bottom on the banister rail. He hooked one leg around a brass pole to hold his balance. His countenance turned thoughtful before he announced brusquely:
“Fear.”
“Of her soul being snatched from her?” Janice saw Adrian’s nod. “No, I can’t buy that. It’s against all the principles I know to be true about the other side. Something else keeps her away.”
“Release of her soul is a pretty powerful hunger. Don’t underestimate it or her. In her own way, she’s as dangerous as the sparkling lights. It would be a good idea for you to remember that.”
Janice swung about, reflecting on Adrian’s remark. Lisette did have a powerful motive, she wasn’t denying that. So why lay back? What was Lisette really waiting for? Approval! The word flashed into Janice’s mind and her heart leapt in surprise. Yes, that was it. She was waiting for approval. Not hers but Adrian’s approval. She wondered why she hadn’t thought of it before. Swinging back to Adrian, Janice couldn’t keep the eagerness from her tone.
“She’s waiting for you, Adrian. She knows you’re reluctant to help me. Until you agree, she’ll stay away.”
“She’ll have a long wait,” Adrian stated. “I have no intention of making love to you to get us out of here.”
Two hours ago, Adrian’s pronouncement would have thrilled her, but at the moment she found it disconcerting. Quite suddenly, she wondered what she had done to make Adrian change his mind. Muriel had been so sure that Adrian was attracted to her, she had let herself believe it too. Had Muriel been mistaken?
Janice quieted her racing thoughts. Who cared what Adrian thought? You do, her pride nagged stubbornly. Her marriage to Jimmy taught her that men never refused an offer of free sex, so why was Adrian turning her down?
When no satisfying answer came, Janice let the small of her back rest gently against the banister. She began to chew on her lower lip. She stole a peek at him out of the corner of her eye. Like her moments earlier, he was studying the ground floor below showing the same thoughtful intensity. She looked away. Why didn’t Adrian want to make love to her anymore?
“Janice?” He snapped his fingers to catch her eye. She picked up the threads of conversation instantly.
“I don’t know why I’m surprised. Muriel did warn me you would refuse.”
“How could you think I’d agree?” Adrian asked. He shifted his torso as if to relieve a knotted kink.
“I guess I thought you of all people would see the sense of it,” Janice replied.
“Sense! Where’s the sense of putting our minds purposely in danger?” As if shot from a cannon, Adrian hopped from the banister, sliding past Janice to an alcove surmounted with a huge Georgian shell. He fingered the shell absently. “If you were so eager for me to put my life in danger, why couldn’t you ask me first instead of going to Muriel? You’ve worried her unnecessarily.”
“I knew you wouldn’t agree if I asked you myself,” Janice argued. Foolishly, she found herself staring at the edges of the brass rail instead of Adrian. She began to finger it. “You’ve been as nasty as you can be to me. And all because of an image in your head. Though I didn’t put it there, you blame me for it. I went to Muriel because I thought she could accomplish what I never would. You seem so genuinely fond of her.”
“I am. And because I am, I don’t upset her needlessly.”
Janice flushed, hearing the censure in Adrian’s remark. Blast it! Why did he have to be right? She had been extremely inconsiderate of Muriel but it was just as rude of him to point it out. What did they do now? She stopped fingering the banister, coloring even more fiercely. She lifted her gaze and caught Adrian’s eye.
“I was wrong. I see it now. I’m sorry, Adrian. Fool that I am, I believed that you wanted this nightmare to end, too.”
“I do want it to end. Apparently more than you do.”
“How can you say that? I have a child waiting for me at home and the thought of never seeing her again hurts so much that I am willing to risk my sanity to get home to her.” Janice pushed her point. “If we separate from the others, you know the ghosts will follow, Adrian.”
“You’re damn right they will and so will our murderous friend. What’s to keep it from possessing one of us?”
“Lisette will.”
Intense astonishment stained Adrian’s face and Janice knew her words had floored him. Not to her surprise, he stopped fingering the shell and riffled his hair in exasperation.
“How can you stand there and tell me you’re putting your faith in a ghost who not more than a few hours ago displaced your mind and abused your body?”
“I don’t know but I am.”
Adrian’s fingers trailed down his temple.
“You’re nuts, you know that? As crazy as Marks in there.”
“Why? Because I’m willing to end this madness right now and you aren’t?”
“No. Because you’re willing to end it by giving yourself over to Lisette and the baron without a fight. And you expect me to do the same.”
“I don’t expect you to go wi
llingly, Adrian.”
“That’s a relief. You’re not a total airhead!”
Janice shot up from the banister with an annoyed hiss. Why had Adrian’s jaded wit chosen this moment to resurface?
“You can’t fight off the baron, Adrian,” she snapped.
“I won’t know until I try. And neither will you.” He advanced a few steps toward her and Janice saw his hands arc through the air in emphasis. “We have the ship’s log and Lisette’s diary. They contain all we need to get out of here.”
Janice’s disdain turned quickly to exasperation. Was she the only one with any brains left between the two of them? Couldn’t he see they wouldn’t have time to decipher the logs? She took a deep breath, hoping to disguise her irritation long enough to reason sensibly with him.
“I don’t believe we’ll be allowed the time to decipher the logs. If we piece together the events in their correct sequence, we will have identified Lisette’s murderer. Knowing that, we will have the power to release her soul. The cloud isn’t going to let us get that far. No … ” Janice added, with a slight smile of defiance. “We’ve reached a dead-end here. What’s it going to take to make you see that? When Muriel’s mind is spun around like Lloyd’s? Or Jasper’s? And Ginger … ” Janice broke off, stepping forward. “Change your mind, Adrian, please! How can either of us be so selfish as to leave Ginger like that? Let’s separate from the others and save them. Let’s face the ghosts one on one. If we don’t, the others will be shut down and in the end, we will still face the ghosts one on one.”
She paused to catch her breath and Adrian seized the moment to comment brusquely.
“Suppose we both blackout and only one of us wakes up? Have you ever thought of that?”
Janice disguised her unease. She had thought of that. In fact, she thought the possibility was quite likely. But if she admitted as much to Adrian, he would never agree to help her. Mulishly, she remained silent, withstanding Adrian’s penetrating gaze without dropping her own.
“Has it ever occurred to you that we could both blackout and neither of us wakes up?” Adrian persisted.