by C. D. Gorri
“Right.”
How could she have fun with that hanging over her head?
It wasn’t like she liked being a conduit to the souls of the dead. If anything, they were fucking annoying.
Their initial stint at the costume shop hadn’t been all peaches and chocolate cake, either. More like an episode from an old creepy black and white spook-a-thon. She thought back to last week’s epic fail of an afternoon hunt and grimaced.
Vie had dragged her into a dilapidated costume shop that looked like it had been in business since sometime in the last century. A sign offering costumes for rent or sale hung in the dingy window, and when they opened the door to go inside, the stagnant air rolled over them in a stale wave of decay.
Even Randall had clambered along behind her, eyeing the place with distain.
“I don’t know, Zoe. This place feels like trouble.”
She couldn’t have agreed more.
“Is that damned ghost talking shit about my choice of destination?” Vie side eyed where Randall was standing, even though she couldn’t see him.
“Yep.”
“Well, tell your invisible buddy he can be the one to find the costume shop next time. Because we, my friend, are almost out of options.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Zoe groaned. It had been her fault that they couldn’t RSVP faster, and now they were stuck with whatever they could get.
“I couldn’t help it that one of the baristas went out on medical leave.”
With a heavy sigh, Vie held the door open for her to enter the shop. “I know, girl. Just…well…I’d hoped to get something hot to show up that bitch Jazmyne. She’s been sniffing around Dre and I know she ain’t trying to take my man.”
“We’ll find something.” But the more she looked, the more she just wanted to haul butt out of there.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could feel spirits watching her and she didn’t like it.
Not one bit.
“Oh! I think I found you something.” Vie called out from a few rounders over.
Oh boy.
One glance and she narrowed in on the bug and she started shaking her head.
“Nope. I hate it.” Zoe glanced at the tiny metallic spider on the skimpy red dress and barely stifled a shiver. The idea of throwing a sheet over her head and strapping some gears around her waist was beginning to sound better and better.
“Oh no. You are going to see if it fits. But just in case, let’s find some other choices.” Vie copped a pose and Zoe closed her eyes. She was in for it now if she didn’t at least try on the thing.
“Fine.” She snatched the hanger out of her hand and stomped toward the dressing room.
The stench of sweat permeated the darkened room and for a moment, Zoe felt the constricting sensation of not being able to breathe. The thought of one of the moldy old costumes touching her flesh made her skin crawl.
The gaunt orbs of the sales person followed her, eyes lighting up as she moved toward the next rack of costumes. God, he was creeping her out more than the weird old coats and Marie Antoinette dresses.
Freak.
And that didn’t even count the two or three ghosts flittering around the shop. Zoe refused to look and instead kept her eyes on the prize. She had to find something to wear. Something that wasn’t going to make her lose her mind.
Her friend and counterpart in crime, Vie, picked up the white robes and grinned. “Steampunk Egyptian!”
The giant silvery scarab on the head piece stared at her. Its beady little bejeweled eyes glinted in the half-light of the room and she felt slightly ill. She hated bugs. Like hated them. Zoe shuddered and swiveled her body to glance another rack. Anything to get some distance between her and it. “No way.”
“It’s part of the costume, you idiot.” Vie looked at her and snorted. “Egyptian Princess, you know?” She twirled around, letting the full effect of the diaphanous robes take effect.
“You can practically see through them.” Zoe laughed and waggled her eyebrows.
“Come on spoil sport. If you even want one of the guys to look at you, you have to wear something hot.”
“I'm not wearing a giant freaky bug on my forehead.” Zoe pulled out a witch costume and smiled. The barely there skirt and lavender and black tights would cling to every curve she had. It was perfect. “What do you think of this one? I could find a broom and I'm all set.”
Vie rolled her eyes. “That is the lamest idea I've ever heard. Every girl there is either going to be a witch or a vampire. Get in there and try it on. Now. Hurry up. I still need to find my costume and the store is closing in a half hour.” Her grin was infectious, the brightness of her smile dazzling against the dusky tones of her skin.
“Why does everything you pick for me have a bug on it?”
“I don’t know. Why does every comment out of your mouth have to be an argument?”
“All right.” Zoe snatched the cursed thing from Vie's hand and stalked off into the dressing room, the two costumes swinging from her hand. “I'm only doing this under protest.” And because I want to get the hell out of here, she thought to herself.
“Just do it. God!”
Zoe grumbled, slamming the door to the changing room. Stupid party.
Why did she ever agree to go?
Because Vie begged her to go so she wouldn’t be alone. That's why. She quickly disrobed, shucking her jeans and tossing her tee shirt on the bench. Zoe unhooked the white robes and searched for the snaps but didn't find any.
Odd.
She scanned the folds of fabric and found where they separated and pulled them apart. She slipped the dress over her head, yanking the costume down over her curves snugly, smiling at the image. Vie was right. It was sexy. All she needed was the headpiece to complete the outfit. It would be simple, but the best costumes were. Besides, she wanted whoever she connected with to be looking at her assets, not a costume.
She angled her head, leaning slightly toward the mirror, and pulled the elastic band out of her hair, letting the waves of ebony curls tumble down her back. Zoe studied herself in the mirror, her lips curving into an inviting smile. Nice. The men wouldn't stand a chance.
The silver scarab gleamed in the half-light of the dressing room, all clockwork springs and menacing simplicity. It was a hideous thing. Zoe's hand shook as she picked up the headpiece and slid it over her head. Catching her finger on a sharp point near the scarab's head, she winced, drawing back a bloody finger. “Ouch!”
“You okay in there? Get a move on!”
“Alright! I'm coming.” Zoe stuck her finger in her mouth and eyed the headpiece with loathing. Something about the thing set her off. She didn't know what, but it gave her the willies. Movement out of the corner of Zoe's eyes dragged them back to the mirror and she froze.
What was that?
The scarab sat on her forehead, surrounded by silver and lapis stones. It was just a stupid metal bug stuck on a headband.
So why did it appear like it had just moved?
Icy numbness crawled up Zoe's back as she gazed at her image in the glass. The scarab had been facing upward. Now it was pointing to the side. Zoe squinted harder. Her breath caught in her throat. The cool metal resting on her forehead felt hot against her flesh.
“What the Hell?” she whispered. “No way.”
The bejeweled eyes seemed to bore into hers through the glass. Zoe watched in horror as the creature began to twitch. Metallic gears hummed to life. The smear of blood near the tip of the pinchers was an invitation, an awakening. Its mechanical jaws opened and closed in anticipation.
Zoe screamed.
The fucking thing was haunted.
Or possessed.
She didn’t care which. Damned costume shops. She should have just ordered something off Amazon and saved herself the trouble.
“Oh God.” Zoe pulled the headband off with a disgusted snarl, flinging it to the floor. The scarab thrummed, popping off the band, it landing on the carpet, the soun
d of metal gears reverberating in the small, enclosed space. Its beady eyes focused on their prey, lunging for her in a violent burst of energy. Clicking and whirring, the creature flew at her, a mechanical nightmare from Zoe's darkest fears. She screamed again, scrambling to get away. Her feet couldn't move fast enough. The flimsy sandals caught on the long cotton fabric of the gown and she fell, twisted in the folds of the costume.
Sage. She should have brought her damned sage. Or swiped the salt shaker at the restaurant where they had lunch. But in this case, she had neither.
“What are you doing in there?” Vie's voice echoed through the door.
Zoe tried to crawl, but the thing was upon her, all mechanical legs and gnashing pinchers.
She screamed as she fell, face forward. The creature crept up the back of her leg. Zoe tried to shake it off, but it was unstoppable. The fabric of the gown ripped, the loud tearing sound filling the small room. Zoe clawed at the door, her screams turning to whimpers.
The thing was haunted and wanted blood.
“Get off me!” Zoe sobbed, her hand fumbling on the changing room door in her panic. She twisted it with all of her might, falling onto the carpet in front of her friend, shaking. Fear turned her mind to jelly as the creature began to burrow into her soft living flesh.
Pain, white hot and brutal made all rational thought flee.
“Zoe! Oh my God!” Vie grabbed a satin covered costume shoe, batting at the mechanical bug. Vie tossed the satin slipper, sending it flying across the room and picked up a combat boot to smash the scarab. The mechanical sounds of clicking and whirring began to slow, as a high-pitched cry echoed in the darkened room.
Vie helped Zoe climb to her feet. “Jesus. What was that?”
“It was the scarab. On the costume.” Zoe's voice shook. “Get it off me. Get it off!”
Vie pulled the dress over Zoe's head, leaving her in her bra and panties. She reached to grab her clothes but Zoe shook her head.
“No. Let's go. I don't care.”
“Where the hell is the manager?”
“Vie! Get me out of here. It doesn't matter.” Zoe stared at the mechanical bug on the carpet, not trusting that it was really out of commission.
“The hell it doesn't. That thing tried to kill you.”
Zoe watched helplessly as Vie stalked back to the dressing room and retrieved her purse and clothes. “Vie. Hurry.” Eyes never leaving the scarab on the carpet, she thought she saw it twitch. “It moved!”
“It did not. I crushed the holy fucking crap out of it. Now. come on. We're leaving.” Vie thrust Zoe's clothes and purse into her arms and steered her to the door. “No guy is worth this, hon. We'll do mail order.”
It sucked.
No doubt about it.
Zoe rubbed the spot on her arm that was still healing.
What was it about her that seemed to wake up the cursed objects and ghosts wherever she went?
There were reasons she didn’t go out much.
Undead ones.
Or incorporeal ones, at any rate.
Ogling the house they were driving toward, she didn’t have much hope for the evening. Haunted looking houses meant one thing.
Ghosts.
More of them.
As if she didn’t have enough specters in her life.
“You’re sure we have to do this?” The nervous butterflies twisted in her stomach and she sucked in a deep breath, wishing she was back home in bed with the newest acquisition to her library.
Chapter Two
Vie leveled a sideways glance in her direction. “Come on, girl. You never go anywhere. All you do is sit home and read those damned books of yours. You have to, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“But…” Zoe had sputtered. She was curled up on the couch with her e-reader and the newest thriller loaded up and ready to roll. It was going to be the perfect night. Her roommate was out and she had the apartment all to herself. Well, except for Randall but he didn’t exactly count. All he needed was the Logo channel and he was fine for hours.
“No buts. All you do is sit on your arse. Live a little. This will be a great feature article for the magazine and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“I told you I don’t like haunted houses. And the last place you dragged me to had killer possessed ghost bugs, if you don’t recall. I like reading. Nobody tries to kill you when you’re reading.”
“Oh, don’t be silly. It’s just a tourist trick. I seriously doubt the house is haunted, but if it is, you have to let me know so I can write it up in the magazine.” Vie waved her off, her red painted nails flashing as she flipped on the interior car light. “Damn. Where did I put that parking pass?” She pointed at her purse next to Zoe’s feet on the front floorboard.
Randall chose that moment to shove the seat forward as Zoe bent down and she fell forward against the glove compartment.
“Ouch!”
“You okay over there?” Vie slid into the parking space and sent Zoe a worried glance.
“Here,” Zoe replied wearily. She hefted the massive bag off the mat. “God, woman. What do you have in here? Bricks?”
“Yes.” Vie shot her a dark look, the blood red vampire lipstick adding a nice air of menace. “Now, would you just dig around at the top and find the pass please?”
Uttering an oath, Zoe did as she asked and grabbed at the thick folder she found inside. She set the purse back on the floor and opened the folder. The pass was nestled right on top.
“Bingo.”
“Awesome.” Vie snatched the pass from her hands and stuffed it under the driver’s side glass between the windshield and the dash. “Now, let’s get our butts in there. I don’t want to miss the opening night party.”
Vie opened the car door and stepped out onto the darkening parking area. The sun was fading and the cool autumn twilight was setting in.
“Yes. Let’s.” Zoe sighed and started to close the folder, but something caught her eye. “Meyer Cliff House.” Once owned by a prominent citizen in town, the house was sold after the murder of their only son and the servants that were home at the time of the crime. After that, the place had fallen into disrepair until it had been refurbished as sanitarium for tuberculosis patients.
More recently, it had been abandoned and left to ruin when a local buyer snapped it up and made it into an event venue. There was a legend of a great deal of money secured away and a hidden deed. Over the years, many people had tried and failed to find the treasure, but they’d all been handed their hats by whatever haunted the place.
Hidden treasure and a murder weekend.
Hmmm.
What could go wrong there?
Uh.
If there were ghosts inhabiting the place, she bet they were going to be pissed at all the people tromping through the house like elephants.
This was getting better and better.
Vie poked her head back into the car and frowned. “You going to sit here all night?” She slammed the door and stalked around to the trunk. The woman had packed enough clothes for three weekends.
“No.” Zoe slapped the folder shut, but instead of putting it back inside of Vie’s megaton bag, she reached around to the back seat and slipped it into a pocket in her luggage.
Randall grinned. “Stealing files, huh?”
“Shut up. I ought to exorcise you to the North Pole for kicking me in the back all the way here.”
“You could feel that?” His washed out gray eyes were hopeful.
“Yes.” Zoe opened the door and swung her feet onto the pavement. She picked up Vie’s bag, hefted it onto her shoulder and groaned.
“Bricks.”
She reached back inside, snagged her small clutch purse and wedged it underneath her arm. Zoe closed the door and moved to the back to collect her suitcase.
Opening the back door, she leaned inside.
“Move it, Randall.” Zoe hissed. “You’re sitting on my bag.”
“Sorry!” He yelped as she yanked t
he suitcase out of the car and booted the door shut with her backside.
Damned ghosts, Zoe fumed. She didn’t want to say anything with Vie standing there, but after they got to their room he was in for it big time. Why, for the love of all things holy, couldn’t he have stayed home like she asked? This was why she couldn’t get a date if she tried. Insert one socially awkward ghost and her love life was toast.
Her one and only dating experience of late had been with a ghost—and she hadn’t even known it. Sulking, she shook her head. He’d disappeared on her, too. No wonder she preferred books to men. Alive or dead, they didn’t seem to stick around for the long haul.
Randall grinned at her, half in and half out of the car. “Oh…I hope they have some hunky guys here. It’s been a real dry spell with Thomas being a fake and all.”
“Oh, shut up,” she growled. It was his fault she’d even been at that stupid ghost walk in the first place. If she hadn’t, the humiliating episode with Lowell would never have happened.
Lowell…
Just thinking about him brought heat to her cheeks. She’d never connected with a guy that fast before. I mean, laying her head on his shoulder and falling asleep? If it had been anyone else, she would have worried he’d put something in the food. But not with him. With him, she just wanted time to last forever.
Oh well.
“Come on! We are so going to be late.” Vie slammed the trunk closed and rolled her luggage behind her. Two full sized bags with travel cases perched precariously on top.
Zoe glanced at the upwardly winding trail up toward the house and wondered how long it was going to be before one of them took a header.
Chapter Three
Lowell stood on the widow’s walk, staring down at the madness descending on the front yard of his family’s home. In fact, the whole house had become something out of his worst nightmares since the new so-called owners had turned it into a DIY experiment.
But they weren’t the owners, he was. Ghost or not, he wasn’t going to stand idle while they ransacked his home.