by Ruby Raine
“Um, yeah, let’s do that,” agreed Charlie. “Michael and William, why don’t you start where Mr. Jordan began his tour and Eva, do you mind tagging along with me? We can start on opposite sides, and if we find nothing, meet up in the middle.”
“Whatever we need to do, Charlie. I’ll drive,” she offered. He smiled kindly, agreeing.
Michael shot Charlie a smirk but let it fall as they headed outside.
“I’m parked around the corner,” said Eva. “I’ll drive around and pick you up.”
Charlie followed as Michael and William hopped into the Howard’s jeep. Michael opened the dashboard and grabbed a couple of the potion-filled vials. “Just in case,” he stated, handing them cautiously to his brother. Charlie caught a hint of a gleam in Michael’s eye.
“It’s best this way,” Charlie argued his brother’s unsaid statement. “I have the ring, I’m protected. I can protect Eva. You two can take care of yourselves.”
“Uh huh. Just admit you like her already,” said Michael.
“Not the time,” bemoaned Charlie. “Besides, I’m still in the making up for nearly killing her phase.” And the not quite trusting her phase...
“Yes, there is that,” cautioned William. “Be careful, Charlie. I won’t be there to stop you should anything smelly occur.” His eyes teased, but also warned.
“Whatever was causing that to happen, me wanting to basically devour her, the ring keeps it in check, promise.”
“I trust the ring,” William spoke, satisfied.
Charlie lifted his hand fiddling with the ring, wondering if its power somehow masked the intoxicating smell, which caused him to want to do terrible things to Eva Jordan, or if it was just gone now. A part of him hated to admit that he wished he could smell it again. Just once more. There was something freeing about it. No need to care about anyone or anything. A way to release all his primal urges without a single care.
He shook off his thoughts and looked up to see William’s gaze eyeing him sternly.
“It’s all good,” Charlie had the need to say. He caught the corner of the vampire’s mouth turn up in the tiniest of smiles.
Charlie cleared his throat as Michael and William sped away, making room for Eva to pull into their spot and grab him. He hopped in, telling her to make a tight turn in the street and head out of town.
“You okay?” she pried out of the blue. “You look... flustered all of sudden.”
“Fine. It’s nothing.”
Her eyes said she didn’t believe him but she didn’t vocalize it.
“Really, it’s nothing.”
“Insisting twice always means it’s something,” she retorted.
“How about you just focus on driving,” he advised, as she nearly missed sideswiping a car while making the U-turn.
She cast out a frown and continued toward the first lighthouse.
MELINDA WOKE WITH A start, sitting up in her bed. She had fallen asleep, soon after submerged in a dream; a dream she knew instantly was a prophetic vision. She caught her breath and stood up, unsure what to do. There was a little boy that needed saving. She also knew that her brothers, William, and Mack were busy helping Eva Jordan.
“I’m just going to have to handle this one on my own,” she decided, slipping on a pair of tennis shoes. She grabbed a light jean jacket and headed outdoors, glad to see the sun trying to overtake the clouds. The outside surfaces were still damp from all the recent rain. The extra humidity made her normally wavy brown hair curl into tight ringlets.
She stood at the bottom of her porch for a long minute, her heart pounding nervously in her chest.
“I have to do this,” she whispered determinedly. Regardless of her fears of running into Riley, she needed to do whatever necessary to save this little boy. She had never done this on her own before though. Typically, she would have called Mack and had her, as the sheriff, suddenly appear and save the day.
“Should be simple enough,” she mumbled. “There’s nothing magical involved.” Melinda walked with a determined gait, soon passing by the Wicked Muddy Cafe. A hot coffee sounded good but she could not fathom facing Grace and kept going. Instead, she relived the dream hoping not to forget any important details.
It seemed pretty straightforward... a vacationing family was on the beach and their son was playing in the water. A large wave crashed over the boy, dragging him out into the ocean. His father attempted to swim after the boy but the boy drowned before the father could reach him. The father in turn, hit his head on a rock, and drowned before the lifeguard could save him.
“I just need to get the boy out of the water before that wave hits.” She could really have used Mack’s help on this one. The sheriff could have ordered an evacuation of the beach, or some such thing. Melinda glanced up at the sun, and started to jog her way toward the beach. Why hadn’t her dream given her more time? She’d be lucky to make it. In her dream, the sun had been at two o’clock. It wasn’t far away.
“I can’t believe I thought about getting coffee. Can I do anything that’s not just stupid ass stupid?”
I really need to stop asking myself that.
Then stop getting yourself into ridiculous and avoidable situations!
But confrontation sucks.
Are you really going to sit here and argue with yourself?
I need a freakin’ vacation from my brain.
Melinda darted through crowds of tourists, making her way to the beach. She veered down a walkway that threaded two shops, popping out at the back of the buildings, closer to the water’s edge. She raced along a cobblestone pathway behind the shops, which straddled the beach.
This wasn’t the right section of beach though. The family would be at the far edge of this particular beach, near a rocky shoal that branched out of the ocean and onto the shore, serving as a wall that ended the beach.
Her breaths came out heavier with each step she ran.
“Man, I’m out of shape! I really need to work out or something.” Yes. Let’s find something else we hate about ourselves!
Exhausted, and pissed at her brain for not just shutting the hell up already, she veered again, this time heading onto the sandy beach toward the rocky shoal. Her eyes scoured the beach searching for the family or the boy.
Melinda froze.
Atop the rock wall sat Riley Deane.
“Son of a bitch! Seriously?”
A shadow grew out of the corner of her eye.
“The wave...” She scurried to the shoreline. The boy played in the sand just at the edge of the waterline. Small waves were whirling around his feet. His parents’ backs were turned as they unpacked a picnic basket.
People started shouting up and down the beach as the oversized wave came into view, rushing toward the shore. The lifeguard blew his whistle loudly, sounding a warning.
Melinda flew past the boy’s parents, hurrying to reach the boy before the wave did. The parents jumped as she ran past, hearing the warning whistle of the lifeguard. Their eyes opened wide with dread as they witnessed the wave charging the beach; they screamed for their son.
Others on the beach had already headed into shore or braced themselves for the impact. But the little boy had not. Melinda heard the boy’s parents pleading behind her. They would never catch up.
Even if I reach him, I’m not going to have time to run.
As she leaned over and snatched the boy, the wave came crashing over them. “Hold on,” she cried out, wrapping her arms around him. The wave hit her hard, her footing swept out from under her. Nevertheless, she didn’t loosen her grip on the boy.
The force of the current dragged them away from the beach and farther into the ocean. Her head slipped under the surface. She kicked with her feet as hard as she could, pushing towards air, but the current swept them in circles, pulling them down instead of up.
Melinda was finding it harder to breathe, her grasp of the boy, loosening. She tried to boost him upward, to get him above the water. She opened her eyes, salt sting
ing for a second, and all she could see was water whooshing around their bodies.
Finally, the wave subsided and the current slowed, just enough for her to kick upward. Something pushed against her back and she panicked for a moment that they’d been thrown into the rocky shoal. It didn’t feel hard enough though.
The next thing she knew, they were being pushed upward, their heads peeking above the water. She gasped for air and lost her grip on the boy. She tried to reach for him but her arms gave out.
Melinda realized there was a person behind her, keeping her above water. “I lost him,” she choked out.
Someone else appeared in the water. The lifeguard. He dove underneath and got hold of the boy, swimming him to safety.
Melinda’s eyes wanted to close. She feared she might pass out. Her vision sparked with colorful splotches. A cold sweat sent a shiver ravishing through her. The chilled waters of the Atlantic did little to help.
Someone tugged her towards the shore and once she was able to touch bottom, a voice called out her name. When she opened her eyes an alarmed looking Riley Deane faced her; his haunting, molasses eyes searching hers for signs of encouragement that she was all right.
Even though she knew it was wrong, relief swam through her. Her head collapsed on his shoulder. “I’m okay,” she breathed out, though weakly. He embraced her, relieved, gently pulling her onto the shore.
Once on the beach she fell backwards onto the sand, trying to catch her breath. The lifeguard hopped over and took a glance at her. She gave him a wary, thumbs up.
“Are you sure?” he grilled.
“Yes,” she mustered out. “Really.”
“She’s just out of breath,” Riley told him.
“She saved that little boy’s life,” the lifeguard spoke gratefully. “By the time I saw what was happening there was no way I could have gotten over here in time. Rogue waves,” he shook his head. A lifeguard’s worst fear.
Riley looked down at Melinda with a wry smirk. “I guess you can add lifesaver to your list of jobs.”
Someone threw her a towel, and she dried her salty wet hair and legs. She peeled off her jean jacket, along with Riley’s help, hoping her clothes would dry out quickly. Although with all the humidity, maybe not.
Once on her feet and breathing normally again, the parents of the boy came to Melinda and gushed for what seemed like forever. The mother had tears streaming down her face and her thanks came out in gracious sobs.
Melinda was glad the boy was okay, but just wanted to leave. She had no idea what to do about Riley, but the look on his face said, I don’t care that you’re a Howard and I’m a Deane. There’s no way in hell I’m leaving you alone right now.
MICHAEL DROVE THE JEEP into the parking lot for the lighthouse closest to the Jordan’s home, aptly named Mermaid Point Light. Mermaid sightings were periodically reported. Of course, the Howards made sure that their underwater friends were never truly revealed to the outside world.
The lighthouse was already crawling with tourists. Mermaid Point was still in use, as were all The Demon Isle lighthouses, and at this particular light, the keeper lived in quarters beneath the lighthouse.
“I just had a thought, William,” said Michael as they hopped out of the jeep. “I was thinking Emily could do a bit of research, see if any stories pop up.”
“Such as the missing boy that swore he went somewhere else?”
“Yeah, like that, or anything out of the ordinary.”
“Good idea, although, I do not personally recall any others.”
“I’ll have her check anyway, just in case.” Michael dialed her number as they approached the entrance to the lighthouse.
“Well hello,” she sang into her phone, as she picked up his call. “I didn’t expect to hear from you until I found you hiding under my bed sheets later.”
“Something I am more than looking forward to. But actually, I was wondering if you could do a bit of research, if you’re not too busy.”
“I love research,” she squealed. “Especially for you. What do you need me to do?”
“Do you have any idea how hot that is?” he got sidetracked. “When you get all worked up over doing research for me.” William eyed Michael, hard. He shot him an apologetic shrug. “Sorry, Em. William doesn’t want to listen to sexy talk.”
“Geez, Michael. Give the poor man a break! What do you want me to look up?”
“Could you see if there are any strange stories surrounding The Demon Lights?”
“Strange like what? Ghost sightings?”
“No, not so much ghosts, but disappearances. People going missing, or reporting strange sightings, other than ghosts.”
“Is that where Eva’s dad disappeared? At a lighthouse?”
“We’re not sure yet, but it’s a possibility.”
“Okay, I’ll get on it and call you if I find anything.”
“Thanks, Em.” Before disconnecting, he relayed the story that William had told them, about the boy that had gone missing and sworn he had gone somewhere else, as well as the supposed existence of a map that allowed magical travel between the lighthouses. She was just as curious as everyone else to find out more about this situation. He finished with far too cute and lengthy a goodbye, which earned him an annoyed eye roll from the vampire.
“Sorry,” said Michael upon hanging up. “I just cannot help myself when I’m talking to her.”
“Yes. I can see that,” mumbled William. “Although I suppose we can all deal with your sexy talk, seeing as you have to put up with most everyone else’s emotions, all the time.”
“This is true,” he acknowledged. It was kind of William to say, seeing as Michael’s empathy didn’t actually work on vampires.
William stepped into the lighthouse. Over the door was a sign that said, Gift Shop. The shop was attached to the lighthouse and was an addition that had been added long after the original lighthouse had been built.
Just inside the entrance was a small information desk. You had to walk through the gift shop to access the public area of the lighthouse, which was a long spiral staircase leading to the observation deck and lantern.
“So what exactly are we searching for?” William’s gaze grazed through the shop.
“No idea.” Michael stepped out of the way of a tourist trying to exit. “Anything that could be a supernatural sign of some sort, I guess,” he spoke quietly.
“Honestly Michael, with all the tourists that come and go from this place, I simply do not see how anything supernatural would go unseen for long.”
Michael had to concur. It was only logical. He stood in thought for a moment, cocking his head to one side.
“You’ve thought of something?” picked up William.
“Only that because of the tourists, whatever we’re looking for must be in a non-public area. Somewhere people don’t normally go.”
“I would wager you are correct. Surprised I didn’t think of that myself.”
“Outwitted the vampire,” mused Michael, while walking over to the lady sitting behind the information desk.
“Well hello there gents,” she greeted cheerfully. “Would you like to sign up for a guided tour? There’s one starting in just a few minutes.”
“That depends,” replied Michael, flashing his brightest smile. “Does the tour cover all of the lighthouse, or just the area we can see on our own?”
“Same tour you can do yourself, but with our resident expert lighthouse keeper as your guide.” Her cheeks turned rosier the longer she looked at Michael’s dazzling smile.
“Do they ever do tours of the non-public areas?” inquired William. He looked intently into her eyes. The woman cleared her throat, her face turning from rosy to red, as she wiped a bead a sweat from her brow.
“No,” she responded, sounding out of breath. “I’m afraid they don’t. It’s the keeper’s private quarters and also holds the inner workings of the lighthouse, not really safe for tourists, you know.”
“Of course. Th
anks for the information,” said Michael, suddenly walking away, tugging at William’s side.
“I could have easily used my power of persuasion and had her show us the rest of the lighthouse,” he reminded Michael as they departed the gift shop and headed out to the parking lot.
“Yeah, but I was thinking we could just sneak away and do that ourselves. No need to take the woman away from her desk.”
“Fewer prying eyes,” agreed William, again thinking he should have thought of that himself.
“You all right, William? You seem a bit, not so on your game today. Worried about Melinda?” he guessed.
“The truth is, Michael,” lamented the vampire, “I worry about each of you. But where Melinda is concerned, I admit she takes me to the limit.”
“You’re not alone.”
“No, I doubt very much I’m alone in that sentiment. However, I am confident that whatever is going on, it will work itself out. We should give her the opportunity to come out of it herself.” He didn’t believe a word of it, but pretended for Michael’s sake.
“I suppose. But you’re going to have a hard time stopping Charlie from picking her up and carrying her out of that bedroom if she doesn’t come out on her own, soon.”
“I almost did that very thing this morning,” the vampire noted dryly.
Michael chuckled.
“In the meantime,” William started, “the rosy-cheeked lady behind the desk revealed that a tour was beginning momentarily. If things go as I believe they should, she will remain behind her desk while the lighthouse keeper performs the tour.”
“Leaving the inner workings of the lighthouse unattended,” finished Michael. “I was thinking I’d keep watch and you go do your super speedy stealthy thingy and take a peek.”
William lifted his eyebrows in irritation over Michael’s description of his vampire abilities, but in the end, agreed. They first confirmed that the tour had begun and slipped around the backside of the gift shop, searching for the entrance to the actual lighthouse keeper’s living quarters.
“My suspicions tell me that what we’re looking for would not be located in the keeper’s quarters,” advised William.