It made Ali wonder what had happened to her own parents. Had they moved on quickly to whatever afterlife awaited? Or were they trapped in one of the mortal realms? She hoped they’d moved on and were enjoying a peaceful afterlife in some beautiful paradise.
Ali pulled into a parking spot near the condo complex they’d been called to. A man greeted them as they stepped out of the car. He wore a large blue sweater with a menorah stitched on it. He shifted his weight from one foot to another.
“Are you the one who called about a haunting?” asked Lyn.
He nodded and showed them to one of the doors. “I’ve known the condo’s haunted for years now, and it’s never been a problem, really. Usually, it’s just little things, like unexplained noises. I’ve got family in town though, and after dinner, things started getting weird.”
“What do you mean?”
“We can see it, and I think it’s angry because it scratched my niece.”
The two women exchanged stunned glances. If this Ghost was causing injury, then this was definitely a problem that should be dealt with tonight.
The man opened the door and beckoned them in. The living room had nearly a dozen people in it, but they were all huddled in small groups and talking in hushed tones. Their eyes were wide, and they jumped at the slightest sound.
Lyn nodded to them as she entered. “Don’t worry, we’ll get this taken care of in no time. For now, I’d like everyone to leave the apartment. Is there somewhere you can wait outside?”
The homeowner nodded. “We can wait down by the pool.”
Ali looked around the apartment for any sign of the Ghost as the others pulled on jackets and left. The condo was warm and cheerful—nothing like the dark, foreboding apartment they’d entered earlier.
Lyn was kneeling on the floor in the middle of the room pulling out salt, candles, and other supplies.
“Here, look around with this. It should reveal the Ghost.” She tossed Ali a little piece of glass with a gold frame.
Ali peered through the enchanted glass like a lens, searching for anything out of the ordinary. The living room and kitchen were clear, but Ali paused when she reached the hall. At the far end was a shadowy form of a young girl. She was pale and transparent like mist. The little girl wore a plaid dress and her hair was white and wispy. Her eyes were empty and hollow like the Wraith’s had been, and even though she looked all of eight years old, there was something undeniably menacing about her.
“Found her, she’s in the hall—”
The lights went out.
“Shit,” muttered Ali as her eyes struggled to adjust.
Lyn looked up from the runes she was drawing with chalk. “She’s feeding off the energy. Look.”
Ali narrowed her eyes in the gloom, and there was the ghostly child at the end of the hall—no enchanted objects were required to see her now. The temperature dropped and a shiver trailed down Ali’s spine like a cold finger. She had a feeling the Ghost wanted them out of her house.
“Now what?” hissed Ali as the Ghost took a step down the hall.
Lyn rushed to complete her spell. “Keep it busy.”
Ali was afraid she was going to say that. She took a step closer to the Ghost with her hands up.
“Hey, it’s okay, we’re here to help you—”
Crack! Something slammed into Ali’s head. She stumbled into the wall, rubbing her head.
“What the—?” She picked up a book that was lying at her feet: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. There was no bookshelf for it to have fallen from. The only explanation was that the Ghost had thrown it at her.
Ali glared at the Ghost. “Hey, kid! Didn’t anyone tell you it’s not nice to throw things!”
After the words left her mouth, it occurred to Ali that she probably shouldn’t provoke the spirit. It was already becoming violent. Then again, she needed to buy Lyn more time. If the Ghost left the apartment before she’d completed the spell, they’d have to go chase it down.
It took a step closer, then another.
“S-stay there!” stammered Ali.
The Ghost snarled and lunged for Ali. She scrambled backward as she was enveloped by shadow. It seeped into her skin, and she was struck with a feeling of faintness. She gripped a side table for balance and caught her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes looked hollow and ghostly. She tried to take a step back, but her body refused to listen.
A wave of emotion crashed over her consciousness. Anger, confusion, and betrayal. These were not Ali’s emotions, but that of the dead child. They were overwhelming, and Ali had trouble focusing through the cacophony of feelings in her head.
She was possessed, and the Ghost was taking over her body. Ali felt like a puppet as the Ghost reached for Ali’s gun and aimed it at Lyn.
“Stop!” Ali screamed, but her body was no longer her own.
Lyn backed away, her eyes darting to the sides in search of cover. “Ali, you’ve got to fight it.”
With her magic, Ali wrestled for control of her body. Wrapping the foreign presence in charm magic, she tried to soothe it.
“You don’t want to hurt her!” Ali told the Ghost.
“Get out!” hissed the Ghost. “Leave me alone.”
With some effort, Ali managed to lower her arm. “We’re trying to help. You’re trapped here—”
“They took me away! I won’t let you do it again!”
Ali struggled to understand the child. A series of memories flashed through her mind. A man with a gun. A mother holding the child. The mother bleeding on the ground as the child was child loaded into an ambulance. The girl alone, dying, in a hospital bed crying for her mother.
Abandoned.
Lost.
Scared.
Ali wrapped the child’s consciousness with her own, like a hug.
“It’s okay, we’re going to find your momma. You’re stuck and lost, but she’s waiting for you on the other side. Let us help you, okay?”
The child’s Ghost released its hold on Ali, and she felt it leave her. Ali fell to the floor, gasping as she recovered control of her body. Lyn was speaking her incantation, and the runes on the floor were starting to glow.
“Anna?” called a faint, disembodied voice.
“Momma?” The Ghost looked around.
“Anna, it’s time to go.”
A warm, orange light enveloped the Ghost with a flash and Ali swore she heard a child giggling as it faded. The little girl had been reunited with her mother.
Ali and Lyn sank down onto the sofa, and for a long time, neither of them spoke.
“Are you okay?” Lyn glanced at Ali.
She nodded. “If you’re wondering what to get me for the holidays, I’d love an anti-possession charm.”
Lyn laughed nervously. “Yeah, for a second there I thought I was toast. Children’s Ghosts can be dangerous and difficult, especially if they don’t understand the consequences of their actions. Good job handling that one.”
Ali stood and picked up the copy of A Christmas Carol.
Lyn joined her. “Why that book?”
Ali ran her fingers over the worn, leather cover. “She needed someone to help her, just as Ebenezer needed someone to show him why Christmas was so important.”
“A plea for help that she couldn’t put into words.”
“Exactly.” Ali set the book down on a side table. “We should get that family. They’re probably getting cold out there.”
Lyn dug around in her bag and pulled out a bundle of dried sage. “I’m going to do a quick cleansing ritual. Can you go get them?”
By the time they’d gotten the family situated, performed a cleansing ritual, and assured them the Ghost was gone from the condo, it was getting late.
As Ali started the car, she glanced at the clock on the dash. It was after midnight and Ali still h
ad so much to do at home. There was also the matter of her sister to deal with. Perhaps she’d been a little harsh on Erin, but her sister couldn’t seem to comprehend how dangerous Los Angeles was these days. If nothing else, Erin should have been upfront with her about this concert’s location.
When they pulled into the garage, Ali was surprised to find that Erin and Frej were still awake. They were practicing magic in their little fireproofed practice space. Beside them was a mountain of boxes.
Ali squealed as she climbed out of the car and peered into the nearest box of decorations. There were magical garlands of evergreens enchanted to stay fresh for years, silver and gold fabric and bows, and delicate glass snowflakes. Everything was just as she remembered it!
“Geeze, you don’t even get that excited when you see me!” chuckled Mato from the doorway.
Ali’s Werebear lover wore a red and green flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His hair was disheveled from running his fingers over it, and he wore a pair of jeans that were tight in all the right places. Mato had one of those roguish smiles that left her weak in the knees.
“Thank you!” Ali slid her hands over his chest before reaching up to tease him with a kiss.
“Ahem,” coughed Erin as she gave an irritated look. It reminded Ali that there were several matters she needed to discuss with her sister…and her sister’s mentor.
“Frej, a word?” Ali nodded towards the door to the kitchen.
The male Dragon cringed but followed her into the house. Lyn and Mato found something to busy themselves within the kitchen as Ali confronted Frej.
“I get why Erin wouldn’t tell me the concert was in the Old City, but you? You know the Demons are looking for any opportunity to hurt us. Look what happened to Lyn!”
She’d been attacked in her own home just for helping their team with investigations. Luckily, Ali and Laila had shown up and dealt with the intruders, but Lyn’s shop and home were destroyed. It was why she was staying with them for the time being.
Frej passed a hand over his face. “Look, I know I should have warned you. Erin didn’t even tell me until tonight, and as she pointed out before, it was only on the edge of the Old City. You had so much on your mind already that I figured I could handle it.”
Whether it was the stress of the party or the experience of being possessed, Ali was tired—too tired to argue with him.
“I know she wants independence, but just tell me next time.”
Frej nodded and Ali could see him relax. He opened his mouth to reply—
“HELP!” screamed Erin from the garage.
The door opened with a bang as Ali flew through it, Frej on her heels. Ali expected attackers but found a pile of burning boxes instead. Before Ali could reach for the fire extinguisher, Frej had smothered the fire with his air magic.
For a moment, no one said anything. It was like they were frozen in space. Ali stepped up to the nearest box and picked up a half-burnt wreath from within.
“No, no, no!”
Ali looked through box after box, but it seemed that the fire had spread rapidly. All of her mother’s decorations from Alfheim had been ruined.
“Ali?” Erin placed a hand on her shoulder tentatively.
Ali swatted it away.
Her sister recoiled with wide eyes. “I-I didn’t mean to! They were too close to my practice area. I didn’t see them—”
Ali was gripped with icy-cold anger.
“Is this because of what I said at the concert?” she demanded, shaking the wreath.
“No, I—”
“You knew what this party meant to me.” Ali was trembling.
Erin reached for her sister. “Ali, I—”
Ali shrugged her off and stormed into the house. She climbed the stairs to her room, needing some space. It wasn’t until she’d reached her room and sank down onto the bed that she let what remained of her composure drop.
Ali placed her head in her hands. Why was it so damn difficult to pull off this party? Sure, she probably shouldn’t have waited until the last minute, but things had been rough lately. Colin—her supervisor and partner—was in prison, Laila was away for training, and there had just been too many issues at work. That’s why she’d taken today and tomorrow off—not that it mattered much since she’d been called in anyway.
A knock on the door startled her. Ali glanced up and saw Mato standing in the doorway looking concerned.
“Hey, are you okay?”
She quickly dashed away the tears that escaped her eyes. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
He shook his head, and a small, sad smile tugged at his lips. He knew she was lying. He strode across the room and sat beside her on the bed.
“Do you want to talk about it?” He glanced at her sideways.
Ali hesitated. She didn’t like people seeing her like this, but she knew he just wanted to help. She was Fae, and Fae were controlled by their emotions. It always felt like she was overreacting, so she did her best to hide it from everyone when she was overwhelmed.
Ali wasn’t really used to guys sticking around like this, let alone getting involved in her life. Normally the men she slept with were just casual flings. By morning they were gone and life resumed as normal. She’d expected Mato to be like the others, but he wasn’t just interested in sex. He seemed to genuinely like her.
Ali had been reluctant to enter a relationship like this. She had baggage and responsibilities—not to mention the fact that her life was anything but normal. Despite her attempts to keep their relationship purely physical, Mato eventually started to grow on her.
She sighed and gave in. If Mato was serious about sticking around, Ali would have to learn to let him in.
“Why is it so hard to throw a damned party? My mother always made it seem so effortless.”
He studied Ali for a moment. “Did she throw a party every year?”
“Yeah, Solstice was always a big deal for my family. After they passed away, it never felt the same. Those decorations—” her voice caught. “Even though I’d had them shipped here, I hadn’t been able to put them up until now. I thought it was finally time to move on and celebrate again.”
But now the decorations had been destroyed, along with her dream of a perfect Solstice party.
Mato wrapped one of his large, muscular arms around her and pulled her close. She couldn’t stop the tears streaming down her face, staining the soft flannel shirt he wore. He rested his cheek against her head.
“I miss them so much,” she sniffed as she leaned into the comfort of his embrace.
“You know, maybe this is just a sign that it’s time to start your own traditions? The important thing is bringing people together. The holidays aren’t about fancy decorations. They’re about gathering with the people we care about. ”
Perhaps he was right. Ali supposed that she didn’t need her mother’s decorations to make the holiday special. Still though, it didn’t feel right to have a holiday party without them.
Mato tilted her chin up and slowly kissed away her tears. “We’ll figure something out. I promise.”
Part 4 -The Dream
“Ali? What’s taking you so long?” chided her mother. She wore an opulent lavender gown and her long pale hair was pinned in a bun atop her head. They were standing in the parlor of their family’s house back in Tír na nÓg, and preparations were underway for their annual Winter Solstice party.
“This is the last one.”
Ali stuck the white, long-stemmed rose into the floral arrangement and gave the centerpiece a final adjustment. The entire house had been decorated with silver, gold, and white for Solstice. Garlands of evergreens and glowing silver bobbles were perched on any empty surface and hung around the doorways. Delicate glass snowflakes that glowed with magical enchantments floated in the air while matching lanterns rested on the tables. There were swags of pa
le-gold fabric framing the windows and draping the tables, with tiny gold stars embroidered in them. Even the plates were rimmed with silver and gold.
“Lovely!” chimed her mother as she checked the table settings one more time.
“You’d better get ready. The others will be here soon!” called her father as he checked his appearance in the hallway mirror. He was in a dark, midnight blue suit with a silver bow tie that matched his hair. A smile lit up his eyes as always, and he was clearly eager for the guests to arrive.
Ali hurried past him and up the stairs where Erin was waiting in the hall. She looked regal in a black satin gown that accentuated the subtle curves that had developed over the last few months…
Ali halted on the stairs. What was going on? Their parents were dead. Was this some sort of a dream? It had to be.
“Come on Ali, we’re missing the party!” insisted Erin as she grabbed her sister’s arm and pulled her down the stairs.
“I have to get dressed—”
“You are dressed, silly!” chuckled Erin.
Ali glanced down; instead of her casual clothes, she wore an elegant teal gown. The satin shimmered and rippled with each step, like the surface of a lagoon. Where had that come from?
The crowd greeted them in the parlor dressed in dark jewel tones. Everyone she knew was there from her coworkers and friends in Los Angeles to—
“Laila!” Ali squealed, wrapping her friend into a hug. “What’s going on? What are we doing here?”
“Having a party of course! Come on!”
Laila pulled her into the crowd. All around them people laughed, danced and drank, but something about it felt off. The colors were too bright, and the expressions were distorted. Ali was feeling dizzy like the floor was moving beneath her.
Someone grabbed her shoulder and she spun around to find her mother frowning.
“Ali! You said you would handle the flower arrangements!”
“I did,” Ali motioned toward the table, but there was no centerpiece, only an empty vase with a pile of dead flowers beside it. “What? But I—”
Erin came running from the kitchen looking horrified. “Ali! Didn’t you check the cake? It’s burning!”
Haunted by the Holidays Page 3