Shadows of the Past: A Supernatural Suspense Mystery (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 1)

by Nellie H. Steele

  “Check this out. It’s a picture of Gray.”

  “Oh, yeah. There’s no date or anything but that’s definitely him.”

  Damien turned the page. “Look!” he exclaimed, pointing to another picture. “Josie!” On the page was a picture of Gray and Josie. His arm was around her, both smiling.

  “There’s another one on this page, too,” Michael said, pointing to the next page. Damien looked, seeing another picture of Josie standing with the man they had met yesterday, Alexander.

  “So, Josie has been here, some time. Or at least someone who looks a hell of a lot like her,” Damien said.

  “Let’s work off of the premise that someone who looks like her was here, perhaps her mom? I mean, this picture…” He referenced the painting of Wilhelmina. “Is a dead ringer for Josie but we are certain this can’t be Josie, right? This woman lived two hundred years ago. It’s got to be some kind of family resemblance.”

  “So, you think her biological mother was from this family. That makes sense, but why call her Celine and why say she’s married to Gray?”

  “I’m at a loss, the more evidence that we find, the less this all makes sense. Just when we close one loop, two more spring open, I can’t…” Michael was interrupted by a shout in the hall. “What was that?” he asked.

  Both of them hurried to the hall. They found Max standing in the middle. “Hello, my good sirs, I hope you can help me,” he said.

  “Oh, hey, Max,” Michael said, “did you just shout?”

  “Shout? I don’t recall shouting. Now, I say, are you able to help me or not?”

  “Help you with what, buddy?” Damien asked.

  “Could you point me in the direction of the brandy? My nerves are on edge, I feel as though I need one.”

  “Brandy? I don’t think so, buddy, you’re kind of young.” Michael laughed.

  “How dare you laugh at me! Never mind, I’ll find it myself.”

  “Hey, you okay, buddy?” Michael said, grabbing Max by the shoulder. “Whoa, you’re burning up. We should get someone, he’s really warm.”

  “I’ll try to find someone,” Damien said, turning and heading down the hall. As he left, Max almost collapsed, mumbling and moaning as Michael caught him. He carried the boy to the sitting room, laying him on the couch. Millie raced in with Damien moments later.

  “How is he? Is he conscious?” she asked.

  Michael moved out of the way, “I think so, but it seems like he’s delirious. He was talking weird before, asking for brandy, then he collapsed.”

  Millie checked his pulse, placed her palm on his forehead, looked at his pupils. Gray entered the room as she looked at him. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m not sure, he seems very ill. Get Celine, she may have a better idea. Would one of you carry him to his room, please?” she asked Michael and Damien.

  “Sure, I can,” Michael said, lifting the boy into his arms. Michael carried him upstairs and to his room, laying him on his bed. Damien followed them. A few minutes later, Josie and Gray entered the room.

  “What happened to him?” Josie asked, feeling his forehead and looking to Millie for answers.

  “Michael says he was acting strange then collapsed. Now he seems feverish and delirious,” Millie answered.

  “Acting strange? How?” Josie asked Michael.

  “Ah, he was talking weird. Asking for brandy,” Michael said.

  “Yeah, he was talking funny,” Damien added, “calling us good sirs and stuff.”

  Josie turned back to Max, taking his hand in hers. Damien noticed the ring on Josie’s finger. “Max? Max, honey, can you hear me?”

  Max moaned, as though in pain. “What is it, Celine? Do you know?” Gray asked. Avery burst through the door before Josie answered.

  “MAX!” she screamed, racing to his side. Josie stepped aside to give her room. She put her hand on Avery’s shoulder.

  “Millie, can you give him something to keep him quiet for now.” Josie turned to Gray. “Let’s talk outside.”

  The two exited the room, Michael and Damien followed. Josie was sure she couldn’t get away to speak to Gray alone, so she chose her words with care. “It’s not good. It’s what happened to Avery as a child.”

  “You’re sure?” Gray asked.

  “Yeah, I’m sure.”

  “Can you help him?”

  Josie shook her head, “I doubt it. There are a few things I can try but I’m doubtful they’ll help.”

  “What about Celeste? Can she help?” Gray pressed.

  “No.”

  Gray closed his eyes. “I’m not giving up, Gray,” Josie said, taking his hand. “I’m going to check on Maddy.”

  Josie proceeded down the hall and disappeared into another room. Michael and Damien weren’t sure what to do but decided they would return to their rooms. Before they disbanded, Gray said, “Could I have a word with the two of you? In private?”

  “Sure,” a confused Michael said.

  Gray glanced down the hall where Josie had disappeared to. “Let’s head downstairs to the office.” Michael and Damien followed him downstairs and to the office. He closed the door behind them, locking it.

  “I have a favor to ask of you.”

  “A favor?” a still confused Michael said, glancing to Damien.

  “Yes. Celine, uh, Josie asked you to leave tomorrow morning. I don’t know what your intentions are regarding her request but I’m asking you not to go.”

  “Wait, let me get this straight. Josie wants us to leave and you’re asking us not to leave?”

  “That’s right. Can I count on you?”

  Both Michael and Damien furrowed their brows, glancing at each other. Was this some kind of reverse psychology? Did Gray ask them to stay with the hopes they hated him enough to do the opposite of whatever he asked and leave? Michael answered for them both, “We have no intention of leaving Josie here, so unless she’s going, we’re not going anywhere.”

  “Good, I’m glad that’s settled,” Gray said, turning to leave.

  “Wait a minute,” Damien said. “You can’t just ask us for a favor and continue to keep us in the dark, we need some answers here.”

  “I can’t give you any, I’m sorry. I can only ask you to stay. Ah, we’ll say there are no trains on account of a washout on the tracks, let me handle it, just go along with me. Oh, and I’d expect Celine, Josie, sorry, to be angry, you’re just going to have to deal with that.” With that he departed, leaving the two speechless.

  Recovering his voice, a bewildered Damien said, “And this just continues to get weirder and weirder.”

  “Tell me about it. Josie definitely doesn’t want us here and until like five minutes ago, that guy didn’t want us here either, now he’s asking us to stay?”

  “Yeah and did you notice the wedding ring on Josie’s finger?”

  “What? No! Seriously?”

  “Yeah, when she was holding Max’s hand, there was a wedding ring on her finger.”

  “Well, I’d say we need to ask her about that but I’m sure she won’t have anything to say on the matter.”

  “I’m sure. But being asked to stay is a win in my book so maybe we’ll get something figured out soon.”

  “Okay, well, after that morning, I need a drink.”

  “A drink? Seriously?”

  “Yeah, seriously, hey, it’s five o’clock somewhere, come on.” They headed down to the sitting room. Opening the double doors, they walked in to find a woman seated on the couch.

  “Oh, hello,” she said, standing. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Celeste VanWoodsen, Celine’s sister.” She extended her hand. An astonished Michael was the first to shake it, followed by an equally flabbergasted Damien. Both of them were already dumbfounded by the conversation. This was the woman they had seen earlier talking to Gray. The resemblance between her and Josie was striking; indeed, they looked like they could be sisters. Celeste noticed the lack of response from both men and added, “Let me guess, my sis
ter has never mentioned me. How typical.”

  “I’m sorry to say, she hasn’t mentioned you, no,” Michael said, recovering a little faster than Damien.

  “Well, as I said, that’s typical.”

  “I’m Michael Carlyle and this is Damien Sherwood.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet both of you,” she said, clasping her hands in front of her. “How are you enjoying your stay here so far?”

  “It’s going just great,” Damien answered her, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “The house is really, uh, interesting.”

  “Oh, yes, it’s a lovely old house. Built hundreds of years ago. They don’t make them like they used to, as they say,” Celeste answered.

  Before the conversation went any further, Josie entered the room. She took a moment to stare at the scene before her, taking note that both Michael and Damien were conversing with Celeste before speaking. “Hello, Celeste. I’m sorry, would you both excuse us? I’d like to have a private conversation,” she said, turning to Michael and Damien.

  “Sure,” Michael said, “we’ll be in the library. Speaking of private conversations, could you stop by after? We needed to talk to you about something.”

  “I’ll do my best, but I’m rather busy,” Josie answered, pouring herself a drink. She waited until both men left the room, closing the doors behind them for privacy.

  “So, you are back,” Celeste said. “It’s good to see you, Celine.”

  “Yes, I’m back, and still dealing with the mess that you and Teddy created so long ago.”

  “Straight to business, is it? No sisterly greetings?”

  “Sisterly greeting?” Josie huffed at her. “I didn’t even want to see you, Celeste.”

  “So I was told. Gray mentioned it earlier, but I had to come. It’s been years since I’ve seen you, and you are my baby sister.”

  “Hmm, where was this sense of familial obligation all those years ago?” Josie murmured.

  “Always back to that. Well, let me tell you, Celine, I’ve thought long and hard about it all those years you were gone. I am sorry for what happened and the position it put you in, truly I am. I have missed you, I’m glad you are back.”

  “Is that all?”

  “I hope you’re here to stay, Celine, I really do. Gray has missed you, too. You’re wearing your ring, I hope that’s a good sign.”

  “Unless you have something meaningful to say, Celeste, I am very busy managing the mess here.”

  “All right. I can accept that you’re still upset and I’ll leave it be. But I meant what I said, I hope you are here to stay. And on that note, I think it would be wise for you to stop pretending to be this other person and become who you truly are. For all our sakes’, Celine,” she said, putting her hand on Josie’s arm and squeezing it. “I do love you, sister dear.”

  Celeste left the room; Josie heard the main door close a few moments later. She closed her eyes, reflecting on the conversation. It had been so long since she had seen Celeste, her older sister. There was a strong connection between the two of them. The inner child in her had wanted to throw her arms around Celeste in a sisterly hug. But even with the time and distance, she wasn’t sure she would ever forgive her sister.

  Exhaustion still consumed Josie, having only caught a short nap before Max had taken a turn for the worse. Maddy still seemed to be okay, only tired from her long night, but so far she was doing much better compared to her brother. Josie thought of the poor child, lying in bed upstairs, feverish, disturbed. She shook her head, she had to help him. She just didn’t perceive how, at least as long as she still clung to who she was now.

  She took a deep breath, remembering that Michael had asked to meet her in the library. She didn’t want to deal with him or Damien but if she didn’t she worried they wouldn’t leave the following morning. She forced herself to walk to the library. “You wanted to talk to me?” she asked, pushing through the doors.

  “Hey, Jos, yeah, we did,” Damien said. “How are you? You look tired.”

  “I am tired, and I don’t want to deal with the twenty questions game at this moment, if you don’t mind.”

  “We just want to help. Is there anything we can do for Max?” Damien said.

  Josie let her eyes sink to the floor. “Unfortunately, there isn’t. Pray and hope for the best.”

  “Does he need anything? Medicine, something for the fever or anything?” Michael asked. “We could run into town and get anything he needs. Might help more than a sedative.”

  “No, no, Millie has everything we need to take care of him.”

  “Josie, he’s feverish, burning up and delirious from it, and the best you and the good doctor can come up with is a sedative?” an incredulous Michael asked.

  “It’s not what you think, okay?”

  “Then tell us what it is, because I sure don’t understand why anyone would not give a fever reducer to a feverish kid,” Michael continued to argue.

  “His fever isn’t from a virus or illness, it wouldn’t help.”

  “Then what is causing it, Jos?” Damien asked.

  Josie shook her head, “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Try us,” Damien said. “Please, Josie, we want to understand. We want to help, you, him, anyone at this point.”

  “He’s possessed,” Josie responded, staring straight at them.

  “What?” Michael said, shocked.

  “You can believe me or not, but I’m telling you that’s what’s wrong with him.”

  “It’s okay, Josie. We believe you,” Damien said, trying to be reassuring. “We believe you. If there’s anything we can do to help, please just ask. In the meantime, you should try to get some more rest.”

  Josie nodded. “Thanks.” It sounded like the storm had passed, she thought some fresh air may help her. She moved toward the door. Turning back before exiting, she said, “You guys might want to use the afternoon to pack up. I think the first train leaves early in the morning.”

  After leaving the room, she continued to the front door. Ominous clouds still filled the sky, but it was not raining at the moment. She pulled her cardigan closed against the damp air as she exited the house. She wandered the grounds for hours, spending some time gathering various natural ingredients to help Max with the fever.

  After preparing them and leaving them with Max, she returned outside, making her way to the gazebo. She sat on the swing, gradually gliding back and forth. Her mind was a jumble. She thought once she had all her memories back her life would be easier; instead it felt like she had two separate entities warring inside of her. She had been Josie for just shy of twenty-five years, but Josie still clung fiercely to her life, to its simplicity. She longed to be only Josie again, to only deal with what Josie had dealt with and considered problems.

  But she realized this would never be, even if she made it past her twenty-fifth birthday, she now had all her memories. Could Josie’s life fulfill her? Would she ever truly be happy? Would she be able to return to that life without guilt or concern for her family? Would she always be drawn back into this dysfunctional fold? Could she live here as she was? Her mind was being torn in two different directions.

  “There you are,” Gray said. Her thoughts had preoccupied her so much she had not even noticed him approaching. “Mind if I join you?”

  She shook her head. “You’re wearing your ring. I hope that means you’re considering staying?” Josie didn’t answer him, searching for the right words. She pondered how to tell him she didn’t have an answer to his question. “It’s okay, you don’t have to answer.”

  “I’m sorry, Gray, I don’t have an answer. How’s Max?”

  “Holding his own. Not great, but no worse.”

  “It will not stop. It’s just going to get worse.”

  “Then we’ll fight, like we always do,” he said, putting his hand on her knee.

  “But, I can’t really fight, not like I used to,” she said, tears forming.

  “Celine, it’s okay. We’ll fight
the best we can. I support you no matter what you decide.”

  Josie rubbed the ring on her left hand with her thumb. It seemed Gray had learned some patience over the last twenty-five years. She eyed him, considering his words then nodded, grabbing hold of his hand. She would take the time-buy for now.

  Chapter 23

  Josie sat at Max’s bedside. Avery had fallen asleep long ago, but Josie wouldn’t let herself sleep, she had to be on constant watch. Despite her eyes being heavy with sleep, she forced herself to stay awake. As morning approached, Charlotte came in, waking Avery and telling Josie to go get some rest. Josie stood in the hallway for a few moments, unsure of what to do before deciding that she wouldn’t be able to rest even if she tried. Instead of heading for her room, she went the opposite way, spending the final hours of darkness roaming the property.

  She returned to the house at daybreak, moving like a zombie. Gray was already up, heading down to breakfast. “Are you okay? Where were you?” he asked as he watched her walk through the door.

  “Out for a walk,” she said.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked. Michael and Damien appeared on the stairs.

  “Good morning,” they both said.

  “Good morning,” Josie answered. “Heading into town today?”

  “Ah,” Michael began before Gray interjected.

  “No, the train is not running today. Won’t be for the better part of the week. Something about the tracks being washed out. Looks like they’re stuck here.”

  “What? Are you serious?” Josie asked. “Perhaps we can have Henry drive them to Portland and you guys can get a car there,” she continued, spit balling ideas to get them home.

  “We’re happy to stay!” Michael said.

  “Yeah, no problem here,” Damien said.

  “Well, I have a problem! I don’t…” Josie started, becoming perturbed.

  “Celine, Celine, it’s okay. We’ll get them on their way as soon as we can. It’s fine, nothing to worry about,” Gray said, putting his hands on her shoulders and giving them a rub.