by Rose Pressey
I hoped that spell I’d cast actually worked and kept any evil intentions away from the manor. I watched as Liam disappeared around one side of the manor and Thomas disappeared around the other side. I hoped they would be okay. I turned and walked down the driveway, shining the light along the edges of every tree and hiding spot. The gravel crunched under my feet as I walked halfway down the driveway. I paused and looked around. If someone was out there they were doing a good job of hiding. The heavy magic that had hung in the air had dissipated so that was a good sign. Maybe we were in the clear and all of this chaos would settle down. I shone the light around one more time, sweeping it across my path from left to right. Nothing out of the ordinary showed up except for the glowing eyes of a crow perched in the treetop.
I spun around to head back toward the manor when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I flashed the light in the direction where I’d seen movement. There was nothing there, but I sensed someone was hiding behind that tree. Did I have the nerve to go over and look behind the tree? I supposed that was my job. I had no choice. I sucked in a deep breath and took a couple steps toward the tree.
Should I call out to the person and let them know that I was about to discover them or let it be a surprise? I supposed surprising them would be better. Then they wouldn’t have time to be prepared for me to pop up around that tree trunk. My heart beat faster as I got near the tree. Surely, they saw my flashlight and knew I was about to approach.
Maybe I should’ve gotten Liam and Thomas for backup first. My heart beat faster as I got closer to the tree. Now I was right next to it. I was about to discover who was waiting behind the tree. I took a couple more steps and shone the light on the tree.
The woman screamed and held her hands up. “I’m sorry. Don’t shoot me.”
“It’s just my phone,” I said. “What are you doing here?”
It was the woman from the club. The psychic Monica Myers. This was more than a little creepy. Had she followed me home? Was she stalking me? She’d said she was excited to meet me. Now she was taking it to a whole new creepy level.
“I came to find you because I have more information. I didn’t mean to scare you or mean any harm.”
“You can put your arms down now.” I turned the flashlight off her face, but I wasn’t fully prepared to let my guard down just yet. “Again, what are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“Well, I left right after you and I followed you here.” She peered down at her shoes as if she was embarrassed to make eye contact.
“That’s a bit creepy, don’t you think?” I asked.
“Yes, but I felt like I needed to do it.”
I wasn’t sure what to do next. Should I invite her in the manor? I wasn’t sure I was comfortable with that. After all, she had followed me.
“We’ll walk back to the manor,” I said, motioning for her to follow me.
At least I’d have Thomas and Liam with me. We could find out exactly what this woman was up to. We would just stand on the porch. That was better than being out here in the dark by the trees.
Monica walked beside me. “I’m sure you think this is super creepy and I apologize for that, but I just had to come and find you. After what I told you at the club I felt like maybe you needed to know the other information.”
Chapter 23
Monica and I stepped onto the porch. Where were Thomas and Liam? Now I was getting even more anxious. Monica looked around. No doubt she was wondering why we weren’t going inside.
“I’m waiting for a couple of people. I was with them at the club,” I said.
“All right,” she said. “Where are they?”
“Oh, they went around the back of the house looking for you actually.”
“How did you know I was here?” she asked.
“We sensed something. Were you using magic?” I asked.
“I don’t do magic. I’m just psychic.”
So she said, but I wasn’t sure if I believed her. An awkward silence settled between us as we waited. I sure hoped they hurried up. I wanted to know what else she had to say. But I really wanted the guys here as we talked. I didn’t want to miss anything she had to say and if they were here they could be my second and third set of ears.
A few seconds later, footsteps sounded across the night air. I looked to the left and to the right but saw no one. Now I was becoming scared all over again.
“Is that them?” she asked with a bit of fear in her voice.
“I think so, yes,” I said, trying to sound confident.
Perhaps it was the neighbors coming to attack us. If it was Thomas and Liam then what was taking them so long to walk around the side of the house? It was almost as if the person was moving slowly so they could stalk us and then pounce. I grew more fearful by the second.
“Liam? Thomas? Is that you?” I called out.
I received no answer, which made me even more anxious. If it was them they would surely answer. They had to have heard me.
“Perhaps I should come back at a different time,” she said.
No way. She wasn’t going anywhere without giving me the other information.
“Everything is just fine,” I said as I moved toward the steps.
Maybe I needed to go look for them myself. If I left her alone, she might take off without giving me the information. Just as I was ready to make the decision to leave the porch or stay Thomas and Liam appeared from around the side of the house.
“Thank goodness,” I said.
They immediately noticed the woman and strange looks came over their faces.
“Is everything all right here?” Liam asked.
“I think we found the source of the noise.” I gestured.
“Were you banging on the back door?” Thomas asked.
That was right. I’d totally forgotten about that.
“No, of course not,” she said. “I would never do something like that.”
“Well, it’s awfully odd that you were hiding behind a tree,” I said.
“Like I said, I was on my way to your front door and then when I saw you I hid. I wasn’t sure if I should go through with it and actually let you know I was here.”
“I mean, it’s kind of creepy, don’t you think?” I asked.
“I admit that,” she said.
“At least she’s honest,” Thomas said.
“But you weren’t at the back door and making noise?” I asked.
“No, I promise.” She held her hand up.
I turned my attention to Liam and Thomas. “And you guys didn’t find anything else back there?”
Liam shook his head. “We didn’t see anything unusual.”
This was disturbing. But I didn’t want to scare off Monica until she told me the new information, so I kept quiet.
“Maybe it was that big dog,” I said.
“There’s a big dog?” she asked with wide eyes.
“I’m sure he was just looking for a snack,” I said.
“Yeah, like my leg,” Thomas said under his breath.
I motioned for him to be quiet.
“Monica came by to tell me something else about her visions.” I gestured at her for confirmation.
“Yes, I had more information. It was a message. But I forgot.”
I stared at her, not quite sure if I understood what she’d just said. I mean, I understood, but I couldn’t believe she was saying it.
“You don’t remember?” I asked. “You came all this way to tell me and now you don’t remember?”
“I’m sorry. I guess I just got so anxious about talking to you again that I forgot what the message was.”
“Well, can’t you remember it again?” Thomas asked.
“It’s not that easy. Maybe it’ll come back to me though. I am tired and hungry.”
I looked at the guys. I was pretty sure she was insinuating that she wanted to come in the manor and have a little snack. I supposed it was the polite thing to do. She had come all this way to give me a mess
age and now I wasn’t going to give her refreshments? That was kind of rude of me.
“Would you like to come in for milk and cookies? We have plenty,” I said.
“That would be great. Thank you,” she said.
I guided her inside the manor with the guys right behind me.
She stopped in the foyer. “Wow, this is amazing. I’ve heard how beautiful the inside is, but I never thought it would be this great.”
“Thank you. The kitchen is right back here,” I said. “But maybe we should just enjoy refreshments in the parlor now.”
“I’ll get everything,” Thomas said. “You all just hang out in the parlor.”
“Thank you, Thomas,” I said.
Liam sat by the fireplace. Monica took a seat on the sofa and I sat on the opposite side.
“I never thought I would be in your manor tonight,” she said.
“Funny how things happen.” I looked at Liam.
“Yes, very funny how things work out like that,” Liam said.
I sure hoped I hadn’t made the wrong decision by inviting her inside.
Monica turned her attention to Liam. “Is this your husband?”
Don’t cry, I reminded myself. Don’t break down in a slobbering ball of mess on the floor.
“No, that’s not my husband,” I said.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I heard you got married recently,” she said.
“That’s not true,” Liam said, breaking in.
“Sorry,” she said.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said.
Just then Thomas saved me by coming back into the room with a plate full of cookies and milk.
“I hope you like vanilla soy almond,” Thomas said.
“I love it,” she said, taking a glass from the tray.
I hoped when she ate some of the cookies she remembered the reason for her visit. I grabbed a cookie and a glass of milk from the tray as well.
“So do you go to the Bubbling Cauldron often?” I asked.
She finished chewing her bite of cookie and then said, “Actually, no. Tonight was the first night. What a coincidence that you would be there too.”
“Yes, what a coincidence,” Thomas said sarcastically.
“What made you decide to go there tonight?” I asked.
“My friend suggested it. And someone told her that there was a new owner.” She nibbled on her cookie. “And so we decided to go.”
“Is your friend a witch?” I asked.
“Well, yes, she is,” she said.
Liam and I exchanged a quick glance. Now we might have a break in the case. Maybe the friend was trying to get the book.
“And who is your friend?” I asked.
“Her name is Mary.”
“Is she a part of the Enchantment Pointe coven?”
“Oh, no, she’s from Atlanta.”
“Wow. All the way from Atlanta they heard about the Bubbling Cauldron being bought by new owner?” Liam asked.
“I guess word spreads,” she said.
“I would love to talk with your friend Mary,” I said.
“You would?” she asked.
“Yes, if she’s still around.”
“I’m not sure. She may have left with her boyfriend.”
“Well, isn’t she your ride back to Atlanta?” Liam asked.
“No, I drove myself.”
“How convenient,” Thomas said.
She looked at Thomas, but I wasn’t sure she picked up on his suspicious tone.
“Perhaps you should call your friend and tell her that I’d like to talk with her.”
“I can do that,” she said with hesitation in her voice.
It sounded as if she didn’t want to call. I was suspicious that she was hiding something from me. We all stared at her, letting her know that she should place the call now.
Monica pulled her phone from her pocket. “I’ll just send her a text.”
I raised an eyebrow. “That sounds like a good idea.”
I watched as she typed out the message. I wished I could lean over and see what she was actually writing. But I supposed asking to read it was taking it a bit too far. I would just have to trust that she was really texting her friend.
After a few seconds, Monica looked up from the phone. “Okay, I’ll just wait for her to answer now. If she’s nearby should I have her stop by here?”
Now I was torn on how to answer. Since I didn’t know her or her friend, I wasn’t sure I wanted her to stop by. What if she was trying to get the book? But also, I wanted to get to the bottom of this. What if her friend was actually the one who was next door and this was all some kind of setup? It was possible. I should just come out and ask her. Yes, that was exactly what I would do.
“You know, it is a big coincidence that you just happened to find me in the club and now your friend the witch might be coming by. Are you sure you two aren’t working together to try to get the book from me?” I stared at her.
Her expression remained blank for a moment until she said, “I would never do that.” She pushed to her feet. “I think it’s time I left.”
Chapter 24
I wanted to stop her from leaving, but I really couldn’t do that. What would be my reasoning? Just because she was acting suspicious? Or because she hadn’t given me the information she claimed to have? That wasn’t enough to keep her from leaving.
She walked toward the foyer but stopped in her tracks, backing up a few steps. I knew immediately something was wrong. I jumped from the sofa, dashing over to her. When I grew near I spotted what had caused her to stop. It was the ghost.
He walked across the foyer and into the library. Normally Monica would’ve just thought this was a man walking through the house, but the fact that he was see-through now was what had caused her to stop in her tracks.
“It’s a ghost,” she managed to sputter out.
“Yes, there’s a ghost in the manor,” I said.
When Thomas and Liam heard what I said, they rushed over. We all stared as the man walked around the library. What was he doing in there? Furthermore, who was going in there to confront him? Oh, yeah, that was my job.
“I’ll see what he wants,” I whispered.
I didn’t want to talk too loudly and scare him away. He hadn’t even acted as if he noticed us. Maybe he hadn’t.
“I’ll go with you,” Liam said.
I held my hand up. “No, let me go alone. If too many people confront him I might not get answers.”
Liam nodded in understanding. I tiptoed from the parlor into the foyer. The ghost still hadn’t noticed me. I wasn’t sure if that was more terrifying than if he’d actually looked at me. I didn’t know what to expect. How would he react when I spoke with him? Would he react at all?
“Okay, everybody wait here. I’m going to talk to him,” I said.
“Be careful,” Monica whispered.
As I tiptoed across the foyer one of the boards squeaked under my feet and I froze. The ghost still didn’t turn to look at me. That was a relief. I continued my slow movements toward the library. When I reached the library entrance I stopped. The ghost was still beside the window looking out over the side yard. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go in the library with him there. Perhaps I would stand at the door and talk.
“Excuse me, Mr. Ghost,” I said.
Laughter came from somewhere over my shoulder. I looked back and frowned at Thomas. He held his hand up as if letting me know he wouldn’t do it again. Okay, I had to be serious this time.
“Excuse me, sir, may I help you? Why are you in my house?”
He still remained focused on outside the window. He never answered.
All right, I had to try this one more time. Maybe he couldn’t hear me. Was I too far away? I didn’t want to walk closer to him. As if he would turn around and be some kind of monster instead of the normal man he appeared to be now. I sucked in a deep breath and released it. I placed one foot in front of the other. Now that I’d taken a few steps I figured I was i
n the room far enough. This had to be close enough for him to hear me. Unless there was something wrong with his hearing. Maybe he had lost his hearing before or after being a ghost. There was no way I was walking up to him and tapping him on his shoulder. Would he even feel that if he was a ghost?
“Excuse me, sir, why are you in my house?” I asked.
My pulse quickened as he slowly turned, facing away from the window and focusing his attention on me. All I wanted to do now was turn around and run. His dark eyes were focused right on my face. I swallowed hard.
“Why are you in my house?”
I had to sound tough. I couldn’t let him know that I was scared. Without saying a word or answering my question he disappeared. Right before my eyes he vanished. Poof, he was gone. Sadly, I lost my balance and tumbled backward onto the floor. I landed on my butt. I wasn’t sure if it was the shock of having him disappear in front of me or if it was the force of the energy that it had taken for him to disappear. Nevertheless, I was flat on my butt.
“Are you all right?” Liam asked as he ran toward me.
“Hallie, let me help you up,” Thomas said from my other side.
Grabbing me by the arms, Liam and Thomas helped me to my feet. I still felt a bit woozy. I supposed I’d gotten dizzy. I wasn’t sure what was causing the dizziness though.
“Are you all right?” Liam asked again.
I brushed the hair out of my eyes. “I’ll be fine. Did you see him disappear?”
Thomas nodded. “That was something spectacular. It was like right out of a movie. Have you ever seen that before?”
“Actually, I have, but never up so close, I don’t think. And the energy coming from him was crazy strong.”
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Monica standing in the foyer with wide eyes staring into the room.
“That was a ghost,” she said.
“Yes, it was a ghost. I told you the manor has a ghost.”
I looked around the room to see if he was really gone. Well at least if he wasn’t truly gone then he wasn’t letting himself be visible. He could be in here and we might not even know it.
“It’s almost as if he disappeared by magic,” Thomas said.