by J. E. Taylor
“I’m sorry about today.”
Chris nodded. “Me too,” he paused. “By the way, you gave me a hell of a gift.”
Jessica’s mood grew dark and she narrowed her eyes.
“I’m not talking about the beach, Jess. I’m talking about the power you gave to me.”
“What are you talking about?”
Chris lifted his hand where she could see it and she watched as the toothbrush levitated up into his palm. His eyes never left hers. “It’s not just mirrors anymore. In case you hadn’t noticed today, I undid the buttons on your shirt without touching you.” He blushed and smiled a little. “It’s gotten stronger, Jess. Each time I break a mirror or move something, it gets stronger.”
That’s why the power felt different inside her. It was pure light, not tainted with the darker more dangerous power she harbored all her life. The power she locked away for a reason and now he had it. Fear laced her blood, bringing a metallic tinge to her mouth. “Last night, did you make me...” she trailed off.
Chris shook his head. “No, Jess. That was all you. Besides, I haven’t figured out how to manipulate people with this yet.”
“Yet?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
Chris nodded. “I figure if I can control a person, I can control a ghost.”
Jessica tilted her head a little. “I’m not sure it would work the same.”
“Why not?”
“A person is physically here, a ghost really isn’t.” She looked at him. “Even though Frank can physically hurt me, I’m not sure we can hurt him, unless we can get him physically in the room with us.”
Chris took a deep breath, the fortuneteller’s words came back to him and he shook his head a little. He didn’t want to go there. He sighed and put his hand on the mirror. “I can try.”
Jessica put her hand against the reflection of his, expecting to feel the cool glass but instead she felt his skin, the jolt of touching him flaring heat in her soul and he laced his fingers through hers. “You can try,” she agreed and slowly pulled her hand away.
“Good night, Jess.”
“Night,” she whispered. The image faded and she looked back into her own haunted eyes.
Chapter 26
Emily glanced at the clock on the nightstand; it was after one in the morning. “Oh shit, I need to get going,” she said to Sara. “If my mom comes in, she’s going to kill me. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” She hung up the phone and plucked her hairbrush out of her bag and turned toward the mirror. Her breath caught in her throat.
Someone stood behind her.
She whirled around to nothing but a pocket of frigid air. She snapped her head back toward the mirror and a cold hand grasped her throat.
Black eyes looked back at her with a wicked smile. The ghost yanked her bra off and she stared at his reflection with wide frightened eyes.
“If you scream, I’ll kill everyone in this house.”
His ice-cold hands ran over her skin.
Terror beyond anything she ever experienced gripped her and the shakes began aided by the ghost’s arctic touch.
“You’re hotter than your mother.”
He tossed her onto the bed and she rolled, trying to get away but the form materialized above her, slamming her on her back and tying an invisible rope around her wrists, yanking her arms over her head, binding her to the headboard.
She struggled but she didn’t cry out even when he peeled her pants off. “Please don’t.”
Emily felt the rope tighten around each ankle, anchoring her legs wide. She tried to struggle but it was no use, whatever was in the room wasn’t letting her go. Instead, the frigid hands began exploring.
A small sob escaped. “I’m a virgin. Please don’t.”
“Not anymore.” He laughed in her ear and shattered her innocence.
Pain flared in her lower abdomen and she bit down on the scream that wanted to give life. “No!” The word hissed out of her chest, no more than a whisper and hot tears of humiliation leaked from the corner of her eyes.
The ghost’s laughter echoed in her ear and his cold hands roughly assaulted her with their callousness.
“I will definitely be back for more of this.” He bit her neck. “And if you tell anyone, I will kill your mother and your brother, slowly and painfully. Understand?” he hissed in her ear and then the frigid pocket of air dissipated.
Emily felt the bindings around her wrist and ankles release and she rolled onto her side, curling into a tight ball, silent sobs racking her and blood trickled down her legs. Slowly, she got up and slipped her nightgown over her head. Grabbing her underwear, she bolted to the bathroom, turning on the shower. She stripped and stepped in before the spray warmed, more concerned with feeling clean than the water temperature. She ran the bar of soap over her skin but no matter how hard she scrubbed, she knew she’d never feel clean again. When her skin was red and her fingers shriveled, she shut off the water and stepped into the steam-filled bathroom. Rifling through the cabinets, she finally found what she was looking for, a package of panty liners. She ripped open the box and affixed one to the crotch of her underwear and slipped the garment on.
She hesitated in front of her bedroom door and turned away, too frightened to go back in, she opened Eric’s door and crawled into the bed next to him.
Eric woke up and looked at Emily. “What’s wrong?”
“Nightmare.” Emily rolled so her back was to him.
Eric looked at her for a few minutes. “You sure?” he asked, sensing the fear radiating off her.
“Yes.” Emily closed her eyes and Eric put his hand on her back.
“Night Emmy,” Eric whispered.
“Night squirt,” Emily answered and the tears trickled down her cheek, dampening the edges of the pillowcase.
Chapter 27
Jessica stretched the sleep from her body and leaned over, planting a kiss on Tom’s cheek. He didn’t stir. She hopped out of bed, threw on her jogging clothes and walked down the hall to check on the kids.
When she pushed Emily’s door open, her eyes went wide. She wasn’t in her room and there was blood on the bed. Jessica bolted to Eric’s room with her heart in her throat. A sigh of relief escaped her at the sight of both Emily and Eric back to back, light snores alternating in unison.
She went back to Emily’s room and stripped the bed. Her period sometimes surprised her as well. She nervously looked at the mirror as she passed by, depositing the dirty sheets in the laundry room before heading out for her run.
The sun was low on the horizon as she stepped onto the beach. It wasn’t long before she got lost in the music and the rhythm of her feet on the sand. Her eyes half open under the sunglasses, she didn’t notice at first when he moved next to her and kept pace. A shadow crossed hers and Jessica glanced over in surprise.
“You snuck out on me.” Tom smiled and his blue eyes sparkled. He had a baseball hat on backwards and morning stubble still graced his face.
Jessica smiled. He always looked so sexy in the morning and today was no different. “I didn’t want to wake you at the crack of dawn,” she said and pulled the speaker out of the ear farthest away from Tom and handed it to him.
Tom put the speaker in his ear. “I didn’t get my snack last night.” He smiled over at her.
Jessica blushed slightly. “Play your cards right and you just might get one tonight.”
“You’re killing me Jess.” Tom grinned and grabbed her around the waist, interrupting her morning jog by pulling her to him and planting a kiss on her lips. “Morning babe.”
“Morning, now get your ass moving.”
They trotted to the house after running the length of the beach twice. Both kids sat curled up on the couch watching television when they walked in.
“Mind if I go down to the beach?” Eric stood and stretched.
“Sure, go ahead,” Jessica answered with a smile, but the smile faded when she glanced at Emily’s pale face. “Em, you all right?”
&n
bsp; Emily looked up at her and nodded. “I was on the phone really late with Sara and then had a nightmare.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, Mom,” she sighed, rolling her eyes.
“Just making sure,” Jessica replied and ducked around the corner into her bedroom, closing the door behind her.
The shower was already running and she peeled off her clothing, and crossed into the bathroom, quietly stepping in the shower behind Tom. Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed his back, closing her eyes against the fine mist.
Tom rotated in her grasp and ran his hand into her hair and leaned down to kiss her. “Snack time,” he purred and lifted her in his arms.
Jessica wrapped her legs around her husband and he kissed her, sliding inside. She closed her eyes and moved with him as the hot water beat down. He turned and pressed her back against the wall, kissing her neck and then her lips again, quickening his pace. She moaned softly under his lips and arched into him as her first orgasm ripped through her. “Yes,” she whispered and quickened her pace, feeling the release building again. Tom arched into her and came, causing her next orgasm and she arched back, trembling and whispering, “Ty.”
She opened her eyes to Tom’s wide-eyed, mouth agape stare.
“You just said his name.” Tom blinked and set her down, stepping away.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Jessica reached for him.
“Jess, you said his name.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“Bullshit.” He stepped out of the shower, slamming the door behind him.
“Tom,” She turned the water off and opened the door.
He glared at her. “You said his name,” he growled. “While I was making love to you, you said HIS name.” He wrapped the towel around his waist and shook his head. “I can’t do this Jess. Not with him.”
Jessica grabbed a towel off the rack and wrapped it around her. “I’m sorry.”
“Look Jess, I’ve heard you call out his name in your sleep for years.” He ignored the surprise on her face. “It was hard enough to deal with knowing you still had feelings for that monster when I thought he was dead.” He shook his head and turned his back to her. “Finding out he’s alive, and now this? I can’t do it Jess.” He leaned on the sink, his head down.
“Tom, I’m with you.”
“Are you?” He looked over his shoulder. “Are you really with me?”
Jessica walked to him, putting her hand on his back. “Yes. I’m really with you. I am your wife and I love you.”
“But you still have feelings for him.” Tom continued to look at her over his shoulder.
“He saved Emily.” Her eyes pleaded for him not to push.
“But you still have feelings for him.” He turned toward her.
Jessica went to say something and closed her mouth. She looked into his angry blue eyes and nodded a little.
Tom closed his eyes and blew his breath out. He inhaled and opened them, the anger now mixing with heartache. “If he touches you, I’ll kill him.” He clenched his teeth. “So help me God, Jess, I will kill him.”
Jessica nodded again and stepped toward him putting her hand on his cheek. “Tom, you have my heart.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
Reluctantly, he put his arms around her.
Neither one of them saw the flicker in the mirror.
Chapter 28
Chris stepped away from the mirror and slowly walked out of his bathroom lost in thought. She said his name. His name.
With a steaming cup of coffee, he drove to the beach and climbed down the stairs onto the sand. A fair amount of people gathered on the beach, walking, jogging, playing Frisbee with their dogs. There were even a few yoga freaks stretching and contorting for their morning exercise.
Sighing, he focused on a group of teenagers playing soccer. The ball bounced beyond the goal and one of the kids ran after it.
Chris concentrated on the boy. “Trip,” he whispered.
Nothing happened.
Disgusted, he shook his head and picked up a couple of stones, walking to the water. He skimmed the first stone and willed it to continue to skip. The inanimate object obeyed his silent command, bouncing off the waves over and over until he could no longer see it.
He skimmed a second stone and put his hands in his pocket, watching the surfers on the waves. The overwhelming sensation of being watched tickled his skin and he glanced to his left, toward the bluff, his eyes falling on a familiar face a few feet away.
“Ty.”
Chris tilted his head and raised an eyebrow at the awe in the boy’s tone. “Please call me Chris.” He extended his hand.
Eric’s eyes dropped to his hand and he reached out, shaking it. “I didn’t know if you were real or not.”
Chris laughed and looked back at the ocean. “I’m just flesh and blood, Eric, so stop looking at me like I’m the second coming of Christ.”
“Sorry,” Eric mumbled. His hands slid into his pockets and he stood silently at Chris’s side.
“How’d you know I’d be here?”
“I know a lot of things.”
Chris inhaled and turned his gaze back to the boy. “Like what?”
“Like you’ve got to be the one to save my mom this time and you know how.”
Chris broke out in goose bumps. “Eric, I don’t know how...”
Eric rolled his eyes. “Yeah you do.”
Chris shook his head.
“Yes, Ty, you know.” Eric stood square in front of him. His eyes bore into Chris’s.
“No,” Chris said. The thought of using Jessica as bait raked a new wave of fear over his skin.
“I don’t like it any more than you do,” Eric said. “And you’re gonna have to help her open the door in her mind so she doesn’t die.” He pulled an old skeleton key out of his pocket and extended it to Chris.
“No. I’ll find another way.” He didn’t want to accept that key. The last time Eric gave it to him, he nearly died. They all nearly died.
Eric sighed, taking Chris’s hand and dropping the key in his palm. “There isn’t any other way. If you don’t, he’ll kill all of us.” He let that settle for a moment. “That includes me and Emily.” The colors in his eyes swirled, just like Jessica’s.
Chris slid the key into his pocket and stared at the ocean for a while in silence. Eric’s words, along with the fortuneteller’s directive, created a storm in his mind. A storm clouded by the memories of Frank carving her tender skin while he watched. A crippling dread made his knees weak and he had to take a step back to steady himself. “I don’t know if I can do this Eric, besides Tom will never let me use her like that.”
“Tom doesn’t control my mom.”
“But she loves him. He has her heart,” he said, repeating the words she said to Tom this morning.
“He may have her heart, but you, you own her soul.”
Chris shivered and closed his eyes. If he owned her soul, she was just as damned as he was.
“You love her?”
“Yes, more than life itself,” Chris whispered, looking back at him.
“I’m betting on that.” Eric’s eyes slowly cleared. “I gotta go.” He started to walk away.
“Eric?”
“What?”
“You know how to call me if there’s trouble, right?”
“Yes. The same way I reached you before,” he answered.
“That’s right. If you think he’s in your house, call. Understand?”
Eric nodded. “Thanks.” He paused. “For everything.”
“No, Eric. I’m the one who should be thanking you. You gave me my life back.” He put his hand out and Eric shook it.
Chris watched Eric until he was out of sight and then looked back at the ocean.
“Sweet Jesus.” The thought of using Jessica, putting her in harm’s way, was not one he wanted to entertain ever again. He slowly walked back to his car and headed home.
He slumped on the couch and leaned his h
ead back.
“I can’t do this,” he whispered and looked around. His eyes landed on the bar in the corner and he got up, crossing the room. It was fully stocked and he reached for an unopened bottle of Grey Goose.
Jessica’s poison. Well if it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for me.
He slipped a DVD into the player and poured himself a drink before pressing play.
The screen filled with the first time he made Jessica regret the phrase ‘Never in a million years.’ The seduction unfolded and he watched, aroused and bitter. He poured another glass and sat back with the bottle in one hand and the glass in the other, watching the only flick he put together that never made it to the street.
The scene changed and he drained his drink. Onscreen, she swayed to the music in the concrete cell and he poured another glass, downing the fiery liquid and trying to drown the need thrumming in his veins. The need to be with her, to hold her, to make love to her again and again for the rest of his life.
Chapter 29
Jessica stood with a glass of orange juice in her hand, staring out the slider when Eric walked in the front door. “Where’ve you been?”
“I took a walk on the beach,” he answered.
She turned and gave him a smile. “See any girls?”
Eric blushed and shrugged, his gaze moving from hers to Tom’s and back. Worry lines creased his forehead and Jessica gave a slight shake of her head, silently relaying not to ask. With a nod, he disappeared in the kitchen.
Tom sat in the lounge chair, his eyes pasted to the script in his hand attempting to work, but Jessica knew better. The tense set of his jaw along with the stress ball he squeezed in his right hand told her he was still angry.
Jessica made up her mind; she had to tell Chris good-bye.
“I need to run to the store. Anyone want to come?” Jessica asked and relief washed through her when no one volunteered.
Jessica pulled up to the gate, staring at the control pad. She hesitated with her finger a millimeter from the bell. Instead she punched the first four letters of her name and pressed send. She inhaled when the gate opened.