Forever and Beyond (13 page)

“I remember sitting here only a few days ago, flicking through a book with the most beautiful beaches in the world,” Julie said flatly. My gaze fell on the shiny cover of a coffee table book depicting a beautiful white beach under an impossibly blue sky. As I looked up, I noticed the shelf display carved into the wall. I came to my feet slowly, my eyes narrowing on the cabinet. On the top shelf was a shiny object that shimmered in soft, dark-green hues.

Interested, I inched closer to inspect a ring sitting on a black cushion. The emerald stone was set in an intricate gold setting adorned with tiny symbols. My breath caught in my throat. It looked just like the ring I once saw dangling from Aidan’s chain and on Rebecca’s finger after she had taken it with her to her grave. The gold was infused with witch’s blood and could trace any person or object, dead or alive, which is how Rebecca tracked me down in Hell at Cass’s birthday party. Aidan told me three rings were created but he didn’t know where the third was. Could I have just located the missing one? This place needed security big time, and yet I couldn’t see a burglar alarm or shatterproof glass. I couldn’t even sense an energy field that might indicate the ring was protected by magic. It was strange.

“Have you found anything you’d like?”
Elyssa
asked from behind me.

I pointed at the ring. “That one.”

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The detail is exquisite.” She opened the glass door and retrieved the black box. “Would you like it gift-wrapped?”

I nodded. “Yeah, that’d be great.”

“I bet it’s something you’ve never seen before,” she said, suddenly eager to make small talk.

“Oh, I have.” I smiled mischievously as I thought back to the morning when Aidan first showed me the ring and told me its story.

“Really?”
Elyssa’s
brows shot up.

“My boyfriend has one of those,” I said. Aidan would be so surprised to know I found another that looked just like it.

“How lovely.”
Elyssa
walked over to her counter and wrapped the box in red tissue paper, then handed it to me. I retrieved my wallet to pay but she shrugged it off. “It’s a gift,” she said.

“Thank you but I couldn’t possibly accept it.”

“But I insist.
Think of it as a token of my appreciation for looking into my dear Julie’s death.” Gazing into my eyes, she pushed the tiny package into my hand. “Namaste, Amber Reed. I hope we’ll meet again.”

Elyssa
had not behaved the way I expected but I attributed her cagey and secretive attitude to not wanting to raise suspicion. And who could blame her? A girl she knew was dead, a girl who had frequented her shop. It was a natural reaction to keep one’s mouth shut so I didn’t dwell on it. BELLS, BOOKS & CANDLES had been a dead end, but not a complete waste of time. Hurrying my step, I almost bounced through the narrow streets, barely noticing the vendors’ colorful booths and stands that had fascinated me only an hour ago. I might not have gotten rid of my bloodlust, but I had discovered a way that might just work, which I had to share with Aidan. Right after I gave him the package in my hand. I couldn’t wait to see his expression.

The way home seemed to take forever, not least because Julie just wouldn’t shut up. Nodding every now and then, I tuned out and focused on my own thoughts…until a strong jolt jerked me out of my reverie.

“What?” I muttered, rubbing my arms. I hated it when ghosts got physical to get my attention.

“You’re not listening!” Julie yelled in my ear.
“I’ve been thinking.”

I took a step to my right to put some distance between us, and sighed, sensing I was forced to listen now.

“I think we should forget about all of this murder stuff for a little while,” Julie continued. “Let’s do what I’ve been dying to do for years.”

“Okay, I’ll bite. What’s that?”

“Let’s leave this city and let the wind take us where it will.” Like on cue, a soft breeze wafted past, ruffling her hair. I shook my head, wondering how she did that.

“We’re not leaving,” I said and hurried my pace. Even if I tried, I couldn’t outrun her, but pretending felt good enough.

“Fine, then let’s talk about Kieran because I think he was totally checking me out.”

“He can’t see you, Julie.”

She shrugged. “He can sense how hot I am.”

I felt like I was sixteen again. “He probably can,” I said to appease her.

Thick clouds darkened the sky above, then cleared again. The air smelled damper than before. In a few hours, rain would pour down on
Morganefaire
. I loved to feel the charged particles on my skin.

We walked in silence for all of a minute, Julie lost in her thoughts, me enjoying the feeling of oncoming rain. And then she started again. “You know, I’ve got a million questions. Could garlic keep you and your clan from devouring my friends?”

“I have no plans to devour your friends,” I said slowly, irritation creeping up on me.

She tapped a finger against her lips. “How did you become a vampire?” I opened my mouth to answer when her face lit up and she floated up and down, making me think she had come up with something meaningful to ask. “How about a large black cape? Do you wear one?” She tilted her head. “It’s kind of out of style now with vampires. Even though your wardrobe needs a little shape and color, you seem quite modern and you definitely talk like my generation.”

I groaned inwardly. “Seriously, that’s your important question? Asking me whether I’m wearing a cape? Why don’t you just ask me if I sparkle while you’re at it?”

“Sparkle? Since when do vampires sparkle?”

I waved my hand. “It’s a
Twilight
thing.”

She shrugged and then continued, “So do you think if I’m stuck in this world you could set me up with a hot ghost?”

“I don’t know.” My shoulders slumped. Why wouldn’t she just shut up? I was ready to start begging.

“You should be able to do that because you’re a necromancer and all,” Julie said, completely unaware of the effect she had on me. “Can you call a ghost any time you want?”

“I’m new to all of this,” I muttered. “Besides, I really doubt this gift was given to me so I can hook up people.”

“You mean you weren’t born with it?” She sounded genuinely surprised. “I don’t get it. How does the whole summoning thing work? Do you need candles? Do you want me to chant? Because I’m really good at it.”

“Julie—” I stopped in mid-stride, ready to talk some sense into her. Several people turned to watch the loony woman talking into thin air, but I didn’t care. It was a matter of keeping my sanity intact. “Look, I’m still trying to deal with it. It’s not been easy. So, please, can we talk about it another time? It’s a touchy subject for me.”

“Fine,” Julie said smiling. For a whole second I thought she sympathized with me…until her grin turned into a grimace and she opened her mouth again. “I’ve never met a necromancer afraid of ghosts. Although, I never met a necromancer before at all. How does one get that title and become a vampire at the same time? That’s so cool. I’d love to be a vampire. But I’m not sure about the whole sleeping in a coffin thing. Wait!” She slapped my arm, sending an electric jolt through it. I could almost see the metaphorical light bulb going on over her head. “How come you’re not sleeping in a coffin?” Her brows shot up. “Or are you? A coffin must be difficult to hide…unless it’s in the basement or the morgue. Is that why you ventured down there?”

“Julie, please.” I sighed exasperated. “Just shut up.”

“Fine, you don’t want to talk about it,” she said, taking off through the busy streets. I hurried after her, lest I lose her in the crowd and have to teleport home. Come to think of it, maybe teleporting with its nausea and weakening effect on me wasn’t such a bad idea compared to Julie’s rambling. “Let me tell you this funny story,” she continued. “There was this guy who sold animal manure and he had this hot son. I mean, flowing blond hair and smoldering dark eyes.” She started to fan herself. “I was hoping he’d ask me out to the Moonlight Dance at the harvest festival. So I was like...”

My hands clenched into fists. Counting the seconds, I bit my lower lip until the thin, protective layer burst. Drawing my own blood was a dangerous thing that could turn me into a rampant killer, but I had to do something that would help me tune out the irritating ghost.

When we finally reached the front door, I breathed out relieved. Probably tired of her own chatter, Julie told me she wanted to sit on the porch…and think, God bless her.
I breezed into the living room, expecting Aidan and Kieran to be sitting on the sofa, waiting for me. To my disappointment, I found Maya dusting the shiny cherry wood table. A plastic cleaning box with a bare minimum of cleaning supplies—an unlabeled bottle of clear fluid, paper towels and a rag— was sitting at her feet. She didn’t raise her gaze as I walked in.

A swirl of gritty dirt fell off my shoes as I neared the sofa. Maya rolled her eyes and reached for a broom and dustpan.

“I’m so sorry. I’ll clean this up.” I hurried to help her but she shooed me away.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re our guest,” she said, finishing up. “Can I get you anything?”

She said all the right words but her tone sounded annoyed. I could see right past that fake act of hers. That eye roll said it all. “I’m fine, thanks.” I set my purse down and looked around.

“They’re not back yet,” she said. I could see that much so I nodded.

She pressed her mouth into a thin line. The silence between us became downright embarrassing. I hovered in the doorway, unsure whether it’d be rude to excuse myself and head upstairs. In the end I decided my mother had taught me better than that. So what if she was a bit shy? Maybe she had yet to warm up to me. In the last few weeks, I had met my share of crazies. If she turned out to be a bit crazy, one more was no big deal.

“Do you live nearby?” I asked, slumping onto the sofa.

Maya mumbled something that sounded like ‘yes’ and began to rearrange the cushions on the sofa, keeping a good distance between us as she worked her way around me. I wondered whether I looked like I had the plague or something. Ignoring her downright derisive attitude, I put on my brightest smile and continued, “Today I visited the market. It’s such a beautiful place.”

This time she didn’t even bother to answer. I fought back a frown and kept my smile in place even though my mouth was slowly beginning to hurt from the effort. But I wasn’t ready to give up yet. “We’ve never thanked you for taking such good care of us. So, thank you.”

She nodded, then started to polish the already sparkling glass cabinet. Her back was turned on me, but I could see her face in the reflection of the glass. The woman was about as social as my cupboard. I heaved a silent sigh and drummed my fingers on my thigh.

“I bought my boyfriend an awesome present,” I said.

Maya ignored me. I couldn’t tell whether it was just an act or whether she didn’t hear a word I said. Either way, I was bored enough to want to find out. I shuffled in my seat to get a better glimpse at her face. “On the way home, I was chased by giant demon dogs. And now you ask me...how did I survive? I pulled out my magic sword, jumped on their back and slayed them.”

No answer. Her expression remained the same. No twitching lips, no irritated eye roll. Heck, not even a shift in gaze. How could anyone switch off like that? Maya was creepier than I thought. She reminded me of a robot on automatic, continuing to polish the glass cabinet, which was already as shiny as new.

Okay, she didn’t want to talk. I decided to give up and turned my attention to my nails. I always did that when I was nervous: inspecting them, cleaning them, biting them. Something stirred in my line of vision. I looked up at the glass cabinet and noticed Maya staring at my reflection. Her dark eyes shimmered unnaturally bright. When she noticed me looking she averted her gaze, but not fast enough. In that brief second I could swear a shadow crossed her features and her eye color turned from brown to a dark shade of green.

The whole situation reminded me of what I went through only a few days ago around the time my bloodlust flared up. My heart beat so hard I almost shook in my seat. It couldn’t be happening again. Not after I just experienced a full-blown confrontation with a poltergeist and almost died at the hands of her werewolf pet. I couldn’t go through it again. Jumping up, I excused myself and dashed out the door, and only stopped when I reached the backyard. “Get a grip,” I mumbled, my feet pounding the grass. “You’re being paranoid.”

I took slow and deep breaths to steady myself. Only a few days ago, when I was possessed, my eye color had changed, which scared the crap out of everyone who knew me. But Maya showed no signs of being possessed. No screaming in horror and jumping out the window...like me. No rambling something about seeing blood pouring down the walls…like me again. Basically, I was a crazy whack job. It came as a surprise Aidan didn’t throw a straitjacket on me. But Maya wasn’t like that. The only thing that seemed strange about her was her unwillingness to communicate, but if an anti-social attitude is an indicator of ghostly possession, then half the world’s population might be haunted.

I ran a hand through my hair as I sorted through my thoughts. Eventually, I decided there was nothing wrong with Maya. The eye color occurrence was nothing but a reflection of my own fears—and ever since entering Aidan’s world I sure had accumulated a lot of those. My mind was basically playing a trick on me. Yeah, that had to be the answer. Unless Maya was some new supernatural creature I hadn’t met yet.