A Match Made in Hell

by Terri Garey

  "No," Kelly said, sounding surprised.

  Spider started to ask another question, but Kelly interrupted him. "Peaches, is that you?"

  The pendulum swung no.

  She frowned, concentrating. "Bijou? Is it Bijou?"

  A continued slow, steady swing indicated no.

  Kelly leaned back and shot me a look that was hard to read. Then she asked, "Is your name Sammy?" and the world went still.

  Icy fingers trailed their way down my spine. "Sammy? You know Sammy?"

  Kelly didn't answer.

  I'd never said a word to Kelly about Sammy.

  "It's changing," Spider whispered, enthralled. The pendulum slowed, then started swinging in a different direction. Within seconds it was circling again, indicating a yes.

  "What are you doing, Kelly?" I grabbed her shoulder over Spider's lean back, forcing her to look at me.

  "He needs our help," she whispered, keeping an eye on the pendulum. "I knew you wouldn't understand."

  "He doesn't need our help," I said. "What've you gotten yourself into?"

  "Do you need our help, Sammy?" Kelly was talking directly to the pendulum now, defiantly asking it to confirm what she'd said.

  It clearly circled yes.

  "Is what you want in this room?"

  The circling seemed to speed up.

  "Stop it!" I stood up, ready to snatch the pendulum from Spider's hand.

  Joe rose, too, placing a calming hand on my back. "Nicki? What's going on?"

  I couldn't hold still. Before I could lose my nerve, I plunged into the darkness outside the feeble circle of candlelight and fumbled for the light switch. Relief flooded me when it came on, and I leaned against the wall, aware I was trembling.

  "How do you know Sammy?" I directed my question to Kelly, knowing Joe and Spider were wondering what was going on, but letting them wait for an explanation right along with me.

  Kelly sighed. She looked at Spider, then at Joe, then sighed again. Reluctantly, she said, "He came to me in the mirror. He asked me not to tell you I was helping him because you'd try and make me stop."

  I let my head fall back to hit the wall, mind working furiously. Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

  "Are you talking about the guy you thought you saw in the mirror Halloween night?" Joe asked. "You think he's here? Now?"

  "Cool," Spider said, sounding very impressed.

  "Not cool," I snapped. "He's not who he pretends to be, Kelly."

  She shot me a resentful glance. "He said you'd say that."

  I wanted to strangle her.

  But not in front of witnesses.

  "Hey, what's this?" Spider moved his bottle of beer and picked something up from the coffee table. "I didn't see it here before."

  A tarot card.

  "Wow," he said, looking closer. "Look at that."

  I couldn't help it—I had to see, so I came over to the couch and looked at the colorful card in his hand.

  A horned demon sat on a throne, two chained figures at its feet.

  "What is it?" Joe didn't seem any more pleased at the image than I was.

  I read aloud from the bottom of the card, unable to stop myself.

  "The Devil.'"

  * * *

  CHAPTER 13

  "That's it, Spider man," Joe said. "You're outta here." He stood up, looming over Spider, who was still sitting on the couch. "Grab your stuff and get out."

  "Hey, man," Spider shot to his feet. "I had nothing to do with this."

  "Right." Joe wasn't buying it. "You just happened to stop by, you just happened to carry a 'pendulum' in your pocket, and you just happened to find that tarot card. Scare the girls and make them cry. Probably works great with the tourists. Great way to meet chicks, huh?"

  "Who's crying?" I snapped, nerves jangling. "Nobody's crying." I turned a fierce glare on Spider. "Did you put that card there?"

  Spider kept his cool. "I didn't. I swear I didn't. It was just there." He glared at Joe.

  "That's right." Kelly pulled her feet up onto the couch, hugging her knees. "This isn't his fault."

  Joe's frustration showed in the way he ran a hand through his hair. "Whose fault is it, then?"

  As if in answer to his question, a series of thumps and bumps came from the ceiling above our heads. I flinched at one particularly loud crash, then there was nothing but silence.

  "Oh, man," Spider groaned, "I think that was the camera."

  "The camera?"

  "The one we set up in the Delft Room," Kelly said. She met my eye, unapologetic. "Spider was hoping to catch something on infrared."

  I opened my mouth to tell her what she and Spider could do with their infrared, but there was a loud pop, and the lights went out.

  "Shit," I muttered. Darkness enveloped the house like a cloak, thick with tension and heavy with silence. Now I was actually glad for the candle, though I didn't like the way it cast shadows high on the wall.

  "Sounded like a blown fuse," Joe said calmly. "We need to find the fuse box." He held out his hand, and I took it, letting him guide me back to the couch. I sat down again, while he remained standing, but I felt a lot safer knowing he was so close.

  Kelly was still sitting at the other end of the couch, but I was so pissed I couldn't even bring myself to look at her. How long had she been talking to Sammy? What lies had he told her?

  He's a liar. Don't listen to anything he says. Peaches in the backseat of my car, warning me about the "liar" who was coming. I'd stupidly assumed she was talking about a real, live person. He'll strike where you're weakest… he'll go after Kelly first.

  Oh, shit. She'd been warning me about Sammy.

  Spider hesitated briefly, then moved toward the front door. "We'll need a flashlight to find the fuse box. I have one in the trunk of my car."

  Joe gave a grunt, then sank back down on the couch, right between Kelly and me. "You do that," he said. Surprisingly, he put an arm around each of us and pulled us closer. "We'll wait right here."

  I couldn't help but notice that Kelly didn't seem to mind being handled like Joe's personal possession. I, for one, didn't care to be treated as part of a threesome, but I was too spooked to pull away. I snuggled closer to Joe, laying a hand on his thigh for good measure.

  Spider glanced at Kelly, scowling as he turned away. He went out, leaving the front door wide open.

  "You two okay?" Joe glanced back and forth between Kelly and me.

  "Yes," Kelly said, while I said, "No."

  Figures.

  "Everything's fine." Joe gave us both a squeeze, but I wasn't sure I liked him squeezing Kelly. "The camera just fell over or something. That guy doesn't look like the brightest bulb in the pack."

  And just like that, the lights came back on.

  "Wow," I said, blinking at the sudden assault on my pupils. "Talk about the power of suggestion."

  "He's actually very smart, Joe." Kelly seemed more concerned about Joe's assessment of her new friend than she did about the lights. "I don't think you're giving him a chance."

  I sat up straight, easing from beneath his arm, and waited for Kelly to do the same.

  Was it my imagination, or was she taking her time over it?

  "Oh, really?" Was it my imagination, or was there a hint of jealousy in Joe's voice? "The guy walks around carrying a pendulum. And what kind of guy expects people to call him Spider man?"

  Kelly gave Joe a sideways glance as she started to rise from the couch. "Spider. His name is Spider."

  Another heavy thump came from upstairs, and all three of us glanced up at the ceiling.

  "I guess we should go see what's making that noise," Kelly murmured.

  "I guess we should," Joe said, but nobody moved.

  Spider came in the front door, holding a flashlight. "Did you guys find a breaker?"

  "No," Kelly said. "I thought maybe you did."

  He shrugged. "No, but whatever. Let's go check out the camera."

  "Uh… you go," I said. "The three of us will w
ait."

  Kelly got up. "I'll go with you. I want to see what's going on up there."

  To my surprise, Joe also got up. "Yeah, me, too."

  I looked back and forth between Joe and Kelly, not liking the ugly thoughts I was having. Joe had never been particularly eager to confront any spirits—was he worried about Kelly's safety, or her obvious attraction to another guy?

  "I'm staying here." I had no desire to go looking for trouble.

  Joe frowned down at me. "Come with us, Nicki. I don't like leaving you alone."

  "Don't go, then," I said lightly. "Stay with me."

  Spider was already moving toward the stairs, Kelly following in his wake.

  "Don't you want to see what was making those noises?" Joe glanced toward the stairs.

  "Not particularly." Stay with me, Joe.

  "Okay." He bent, patting my knee as he turned away. "I'll be right back."

  In hurt silence, I watched as the three of them disappeared up the stairs.

  Get a grip, Styx. Jealousy doesn't become you.

  "Knock, knock."

  I didn't move, didn't blink. I'd heard that slightly mocking, extremely sexy voice all too often in my dreams lately not to know who it was.

  "You're supposed to say, 'Who's there,'" Sammy murmured, his breath warm in my ear. I shot up, twisting to find him standing behind me, leaning one arm casually on the back of the couch.

  I opened my mouth to shriek, but nothing came out.

  "Uh, uh, uh." Sammy waggled a finger at me like I was a naughty child. "This is between you and me, Nicki."

  Swallowing hard, I found my voice, but just barely. "Wha… what are you doing here? Who are you?"

  Sammy straightened, trailing a hand along the couch as he rounded the corner. "That should be fairly obvious by now, shouldn't it?" He gave me the wicked grin that never failed to make my knees weak. In this instance, they were shaking. "Wasn't the tarot card enough, or do I need to draw you yet another picture?"

  "This can't be happening," I whispered, feeling like a rabbit caught in a trap, watching the wolf get closer and closer.

  Tight white T-shirt under a black leather jacket, even tighter jeans, showing off an impressive bulge. Big silver rings on both hands, a thick silver chain with a heavy cross.

  "You're wearing a cross," I said stupidly. "You can't be wearing a cross if you're the Devil."

  Sammy laughed, a throaty chuckle that should've made me run for the hills, but my feet were frozen to the floor. "An old wives' tale, Nicki. Probably one of my old wives, in fact." He waved a hand carelessly, rings glinting. "But it hardly matters. Out with the old, in with the new, I say."

  "New wives' tales?" I was stalling for time, barely aware of what I was even saying.

  "New wives."

  Holy shit. Fear gave my feet the jolt they needed, and I was finally able to take a few steps back.

  Sammy followed, grinning all the while. His blond hair was shorter than the last time I'd seen him, and stiffly spiked, the way mine felt at the moment.

  "We'd be so good together," he murmured. "Just think of all the naughty things we could do." One bright blue eye closed in a wink. "But then, you've already been thinking about it, haven't you?"

  I said nothing, taking another step back, but I couldn't stop the images that flooded my brain.

  Sammy and I naked, my hands moving over his broad chest and flat belly, the salty taste of him in my mouth, on my lips …

  "Stop it," I said sharply, wishing I was safe in my bed, alone, so I could wake up and know that this was just a dream.

  Sammy and I entwined on satin sheets, his hardness thrusting in and out of my softness while I threw back my head and screamed my pleasure to the world. . .

  "That's not what I want." I shook my head, feeling a traitorous tingle between my thighs.

  "Liar," Sammy whispered. He was only a foot away now, close enough for me to smell his scent, dark and rich, radiating heat.

  "Get out of my head. Leave me alone."

  "Don't worry, Nicki," Sammy murmured, leaning in. "A gentleman never kisses and tells."

  Two steps back. "Now you want me to believe you're a gentleman?" Another step back, and the realization that I could go no farther—an overstuffed chair blocked my retreat. "How many mind-blowing revelations am I expected to handle in one night?"

  Sammy tipped his head to the side. "Revelations. I've always loved that word." Thankfully, he came no closer, but the look he gave me sent a chill down my spine. "You should've taken me up on my previous offers, Nicki."

  Another image popped into my brain, that of Psycho Barbie back at the funeral home in Atlanta, talking about her "master."

  Money, power, eternal youth. Fame and fortune. Fashion designers falling at your feet while the public screams your name … wealth beyond your wildest dreams…

  Sammy finished my thoughts out loud, with a knowing smile. "Anything your heart desired, Nicki, anything at all."

  I couldn't help but notice he'd used past tense.

  "With your talents, I could've gained quite a few souls for my army. That pesky Light keeps drawing them away." Sammy shrugged, leather jacket creaking. "But if you won't help me, I'll have to focus my attentions elsewhere."

  Swallowing hard, I rasped out, "What do you mean?"

  His smile wasn't quite so charming this time. "You're not the only one who can see the spirits of the dead, Nicki."

  Kelly. My blood ran cold.

  "And she's so eager to be used, too," he said, knowing I understood the threat. "Give the girl a simple little mirror and she becomes completely mesmerized. I wonder what she'd do with some real power."

  Without thinking, I blurted, "Stay away from my sister or I'll… "

  "You'll what?" Sammy laughed, but it was an ugly sound. "Send me to Hell?"

  "What the H-E-double-L is goin' on in here?"

  I spun, giving a small scream. Odessa stood in the open doorway, hands on her hips. A pink and blue flowered robe was belted around her ample middle, the cheerful print not matching the scowl on her face. She eyed the beer bottles on the coffee table. "You girls only been here one night and you throwin' a party like you own the place." She came inside the house, muttering and shaking her head. "Miz Bijou must be spinnin' in her grave." Catching sight of the still flickering candle, she snapped, "You trying to burn the house down?"

  She leaned forward and blew it out with one quick breath. A thin trail of smoke curled toward the ceiling, leaving the not-so-pleasant odor of burnt string.

  Or sulfur. Sammy was gone, and it was obvious Odessa had. seen nothing but what she wanted to see.

  "Well, where's the rest of 'em, girl? I know you ain't here by yourself."

  Hurried footsteps on the stairs saved me the need to answer. I sank down in the chair, grateful I didn't need to go any farther to find a seat, as Kelly, Joe, and Spider came into the room.

  "Nicki? Are you okay?" Joe looked worried, glancing at Odessa. "We heard a scream."

  I nodded tiredly. "I was just startled, that's all." I'd tell Joe and Kelly about Sammy later, in private.

  "And who might you be?" Odessa planted herself in front of the coffee table, eyeing Spider with disdain.

  "Spider," I said sourly, "meet Odessa."

  He offered his hand. "Pleased to meet you."

  Odessa clasped her hands over her belly, leaving him with his arm outstretched.

  "We met Spider earlier today," Kelly offered. "He told us there were rumors that the Blue Dahlia was haunted, and he came by to see if we were okay."

  "Huh. Ain't that special."

  Silence for a moment, then Odessa said to Joe, "You look like you could use a slice of pie."

  How she pulled that out of the air was beyond me.

  "And I know you could use one," she said to Spider. "You need some meat on your bones. A man ain't supposed to be so skinny. Them jeans about to slide off your behind."

  Joe grinned at her. "I'd love some pie, Odessa."

&n
bsp; "So would I," Spider added, not to be outdone.

  "Come on into the kitchen, then, while I fix you up a slice."

  She'd never offered to cut me a slice of pie.

  "You girls get busy cleaning up that mess on the coffee table." Odessa turned away, waddling toward the kitchen. "Act like ain't nobody never taught you nothin' 'bout manners," she muttered as she went. "Beer bottles in Miz Bijou's parlor. I ain't never seen the like."

  Joe was still smiling. "I like her," he said.

  "So do I," said Kelly.

  "Oh, geez."

  I had the feeling that I was well and truly screwed.

  And not in a good way.

  "So you tellin' me you need this here fool to help you figure out this house is haunted?"

  Odessa lifted her double chin toward Spider. Her hands were busy slicing up pie. "Huh. Anybody coulda told you that."

  Spider didn't seem to mind her opinion one bit, taking a huge bite of pie, a blissful expression on his thin face.

  We were sitting in the breakfast nook in one corner of the kitchen, staying out of Odessa's way while she fed and watered Joe and Spider. Nobody else was hungry.

  "Why didn't you, then?" I dared ask. Having just sparred with Satan himself, I had no patience for Odessa. "You and Leonard could've saved us a few gray hairs. Instead, we got a lot of cryptic doubletalk and a couple of tarot cards."

  The closest thing I'd seen to a smile yet flitted across Odessa's face. "Miz Bijou had her reasons for what she wanted done after she passed, and we honored 'em."

  "Miz Bijou seemed to have a twisted sense of humor." I got a perverse pleasure in seeing Odessa's scowl come back. "She could've at least left us a letter or something."

  "She did leave you something," Odessa said placidly.

  "What? Where is it?"

  "You girls want everything laid out all nice and easy, don't you?" Odessa sent me a scornful glance. "Sometimes you got to find things out the hard way."

  I wished Odessa would quit referring to Kelly and me and "you girls." We might be twins, but we were hardly a matched set. And I wished she'd stop talking in riddles.

  Kelly was sitting next to Spider, across the table from Joe and me. "You've lived here, a long time, Odessa. What is it that Bijou wanted to teach us when she asked us to come to Savannah? What can you tell us about her? About our mother?"