Obesssion (23 page)

I scowled back.
“Let’s get a few things straight. One—you didn’t summon me, I was passing by anyway. And two—how the fuck did you guess that name?” I gestured to his tea lights, the salt pentagram. “A séance, right?” He nodded. “And you’ve spoken to someone called Raphael before?”

“
I’ve spoken to
you
before.” He was eager to explain now. “You were older. And, uh, dead. But you only drifted in and out, so I thought I’d try here, in the heart. And here you are.”

The heart of what? He clearly believed this story. Maybe he was high after all. He looked harmless enough, scrawny and underfed. As I looked round the kitchen I spotted a sleeping bag unrolled next to a small backpack. Something clicked into place.

“You’re the one sleeping rough in here?” He nodded. Beneath his bravado, I could sense his nervousness. He reminded me a lot of myself when I was younger. “Okay, Dante, let’s talk. What exactly were you hoping this spirit would do? And why here? What’s so special about this place?”

He licked his lips, hands twisting nervously in his lap.
“Do you mind if I have a smoke?”

I shrugged.
“Dope?”

“
No,” he sounded disappointed. “I’ve only got roll-ups.” He lit a cigarette with one of the tea lights, inhaling deeply before blowing a sequence of perfect rings. I waited, keeping my face neutral.

“
I’m here because this is where he—you—Raphael– died.” He sighed, shifting position. “Well, not here
exactly
, it was the bedroom. The one that’s permanently locked.”

I couldn’t stop my laughter this time.
“Oh come on,” I scoffed. “
The one that’s permanently locked
,” I mimicked. “What have you been smoking? And Dante. Not a bad moniker, but I’ll bet it’s not your real name.”

I’d hit a nerve. His face shuttered and he scowled again, his brows dipping low in a dark V.
“I don’t tell anyone my real name, okay?” That shut me up. I was still unnerved by the coincidence of him calling me by a name I’d never revealed to anyone. “Come on, then,” he challenged, scrambling to his feet, squashing the cigarette into the tiled floor with one boot. “I’ll show you the freaking room. See if you believe me then.”

He produced a small torch, switched it on and pointed it towards the doorway. Tall and slim, a typical overgrown youth, he stood as high as my shoulder.
“Well? What are you waiting for?” He led me to the stairs, looking back to make sure I was following.

I knew without him saying which room he meant.
That
bedroom. With the door that opened easily to my hand.

He gaped as I pushed the door open and felt a surge of recognition again. This time, it was even more like my dream. It was dark outside, the moon playing across the sea in a silvery trail, the pungent woody smell drifting up the stairs. Not sandalwood, not incense after all.
“What’s that smell?” I snapped the question, a thousand shivers running down my spine.

“
Smudging,” he muttered, staring round the empty room. He met my eyes and must have seen my confusion. “Burning sage. It’s a cleansing ritual, clears away the bad spirits.” He shrugged.

My attention was drawn to the window. There was no Suki this time. My heart lurched as I thought of her, my knees buckling. I took a deep breath and staggered to the window, to lean against the glass. An image of her came to me—crying softly, her hands were restrained somehow, she couldn’t wipe her eyes. I could hear a voice inside my head.
Gabriel
.

“
You don’t want this, do you?”

“
Nuh,” she stammered her reply.

As before, I could feel her, the sensation of her heart banging, the nausea and fear as she lay frightened and helpless. I could have been paralysed, I couldn’t move, could hardly breathe. Time slowed down. I watched a fat tear oozing from her eye, rolling down her cheek. I couldn’t help her—I didn’t even know where the fuck she was. I hadn’t been able to feel her or hear her thoughts recently. Was this even happening, or was it a hallucination?

I blinked. Dante crouched before me, clicking his fingers in front of my face. “Dude, you okay in there? This is it. This is where it all happened.”

I shook my head, my breath still coming in painful bursts.
“You’re wrong. It hasn’t happened yet.”

CHAPTER 12

12.1 Josh

“I have to go.” I stood up, noting the flash of anxiety on Dante’s face. “There’s something I have to do.” Already, my mind was leaping ahead. I didn’t have Suki’s mobile number and I shied away from phoning Gabriel, but I would ask Anita to text her. Dante followed me as I trotted back down the stairs, fumbling for my car keys. I stopped abruptly at the bottom. He managed to halt before he bounced off me.

“
Will you be here later?” I turned to face him. “We need to talk, but this is an emergency.” He might be able to help with my intense curiosity about this house. He certainly seemed to know something of its history.

He looked evasive, scuffing his boots against the stairs, gazing over my shoulder.
“I don’t know, man. You kinda freaked me tonight. I think my work here is done.”

“
What?” I held my temper, forced a calm I didn’t feel. “I’ll be back in a few hours, can you wait that long?” Silence. I took a deep breath, contemplated dragging him with me and leaving him in the car at Jon’s house.

“
Give me a retainer.”

I stared, narrowing my eyes.
“For what?”

This time we made eye contact, he raised his chin in a defiant gesture.
“For my services.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake
. I dug into my pocket for my wallet, flicked through the small amount of cash. “Fifty quid. It’s all I’ve got.” Eager fingers snatched at the bills, but I held them out of reach. “I want your word you’ll wait here. Do you have a pen, so I can give you my number?” He produced a biro with a well-chewed tip. I jotted my mobile number on the back of his hand, then passed across the money, watching as he shoved it into his pocket, eyes gleaming in the reflected torchlight. “And what do I get in return?”

“
A full session. Here’s my card.” He passed me a dog-eared business card. I glanced at it before tucking it inside my wallet. I itched to contact Suki. I couldn’t hang around any longer.

Ten minutes later, I burst into Jon’s kitchen, finding him heating a pan of milk. He raised his eyebrows at my sudden entrance.
“I’m making cocoa, would you like some?”

“
Is Anita still up? I need to use her phone.” I took a quick breath, injected a note of calm into my voice. “I’d like to use Anita’s phone to contact Suki. It’s, ah, urgent.”

“
Yeah, I guess it must be.” He removed the pan from the stove, pouring the contents into a waiting jug. “Come on through.” He grinned over his shoulder as he left the kitchen. “And would you fetch the mugs please?”

Anita sat curled on the sofa, her legs tucked beneath her, chatting in an animated fashion to a couple of strangers. I dumped the mugs on a coffee table next to the jug, nodded politely to them and crouched by her side. She smiled at first, worry quickly crossing her face and swirling around her.
“Joe? Is something wrong?”

I kept my voice low.
“I have a bad feeling about Suki and I need to make sure she’s okay. I can’t ring her, and I’m pretty certain Gabriel won’t speak to me, so will you please text her?”

She nodded, already reaching for her phone and patting the seat next to her.
“Sit down. What do you want me to say to Suki?”

I sat, accepting the mug of cocoa offered by Jon.
“Start with asking if she’s okay? If they’re back in Manchester?”

Anita nodded, tapped away. Her phone beeped.
“It’s sent,” she murmured. “Oh and Joe, I’d like you to meet our friends Alex and Sylvie.” She smiled at them, a young and attractive woman, with dark hair tumbling around a lively face, she leaned against a familiar looking man. I stared a moment. His long dark hair and beard reminded me strongly of someone… I’d ponder that later.

“
Alex, Sylvie, this is Joe. I mean Josh.” I detected a note of warning in her voice. I figured they’d probably been talking about me. “Sylvie’s been having some terrible headaches for the past few days, I wondered if you could do anything to help her. You know, like you do with Suki.”

Huh?
“I, um, don’t know.” I hate being put on the spot, and this felt as though I had a thousand-watt light glaring down at me. Sylvie stared at me. I noted the shadows under her eyes, the way her jawline seemed clenched. “I could try,” I added lamely. I could sense her uncertainty, curiosity and a general reluctance towards me.

She leaned forwards, leaving her partner, although she kept hold of his hand.
“What do I need to do?”

I had no idea. For all I knew, this trick might only work on Suki. I sighed inwardly as I moved to stand behind her.
“Just, um, relax.” I stretched out my hands to rest them gently on her shoulders, almost recoiling as a sharp jolt zapped through me. She gasped and flinched, her partner growled and turned towards me. “Static,” I murmured, amazed at what was happening. As with Suki, once I’d made contact with her I could feel it, a hot, angry pain at the base of her neck, rippling out across her shoulders. I could almost see it. Closing my eyes I took a quick breath. The burning sensation crept up my arms, jabbed tiny pinpricks of pain across my shoulders and settled at the back of my head.
Fuck
, that hurt. Seconds later, with the feeling coming back into my arms, I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as the pain tightened and dissolved. I blew out the last of my breath and opened my eyes, a dizzy sensation of pins and needles persisting for another moment.

“
It’s gone,” she sounded awestruck. “How do you do that?”

I rubbed my forehead. It felt like being in a dream.
“I’m not sure. But listen, have you, um, hurt your shoulders recently? That’s where it stemmed from. You might have a trapped nerve.” I shrugged, trying to produce a smile. “Maybe you should see an chiropractor or something.”

“
I’ll do that. You’re right, I was lifting something out of the car and I felt it pull across my shoulders.” She turned to smile at me, a brilliant beaming grin lighting  up her face. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.” Before I could move, she stretched towards me and dropped a kiss on my cheek. I smiled back, her delight was infectious. The beeping of Anita’s phone grabbed my attention.

“
Okay,” she said, “I’ll read it out. Can’t talk now, Gabe’s asleep. We’re off to Spa tomorrow.”

“
That’s it?” I was disappointed, and still worried. I gazed at Anita, idly scratching my stubbled chin. I hadn’t shaved in a few days. “Why don’t you suggest meeting up with her? Or just tell her you’re worried.” I groped for inspiration. “Ask if her backache has gone.”

Anita stared at me, visibly perplexed.
“Backache?” I nodded. She tapped some more. We waited only a few seconds before the reply came back.

“
Back is fine now, thanks. Will be too busy with Gabe to meet up. Sorry. Maybe another time.”

Anita spoke slowly.
“I didn’t know she had back problems.”

I sank my head into my hands.
“She doesn’t.” I stayed there a moment, my fingers massaging my skull, wondering what the hell I could do next. I looked up to see four pairs of eyes fixed on me. “I think Gabriel was replying for her.”

12.2 Gabe

I took care to delete the replies as well as the two text messages from Anita. I’d give Suki no more opportunities to see Jon Craigowan.

She was quiet at the moment, the panicked shrieking giving way to a muffled sobbing. Some might have considered it to be a harsh treatment, but it was for her own good. Once she’d had a taste of captivity she’d understand all the more clearly, how freedom should be valued. My father had been driven to use similar methods on my mother, but look how well they’d turned out. She’d become an excellent wife and mother, perfect in every way. Could I be blamed for wanting Suki to be the same? I was truly my father’s son.

All the same, I stayed in the den, the furthest point in the house from our bedroom. I was hunched over, with my hands covering my ears, pressing my palms against my head and squeezing hard, but it still didn’t block out the cries. They continued to ring inside my head.

By 3:00 a.m., she’d either passed out or fallen asleep. I sat beside her, stroking her hair and wondering how long it would take her to submit to me. Was it too much to ask? We’d been so happy together, so well suited. We would be again.

I unfastened the leather cords from her wrists and ankles, kissing the skin beneath, regretting the raw patches. I hadn’t expected her to struggle so much. Fetching a damp cloth, I tenderly wiped her face, bathing her swollen eyes. She was exhausted. Like an overtired child, she didn’t wake as I tended to her, but whimpered when I eventually slid into bed, gathering her in my arms.

“Shush,” I murmured in her ear, “I’ve got you.” I heard her whisper.

“
Please, don’t let me go this time.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps the worst was over? Suki would give up work and travel everywhere with me, we’d start our own family and I’d finally take the Championship.
God
, how much I wanted that, and now it was tantalisingly close.

It would get even closer as I edged Craigowan out of the way, to leave me with a clear shot.

12.3 Suki

I dreamed of Josh.

After yelling for Gabe until I was hoarse, I finally closed my eyes, drifting into a restless dream-filled doze. Was Gabe right about me taking the pills earlier? I certainly had the leaden sensation in my body as well as the metallic aftertaste, but I hadn’t taken them, I’d swear to it. Maybe it was just the champagne. I forced my mind to stay alert. I would not give into panic, not this time. But my struggles were useless and at some point I blacked out.

That’s when Josh came to me, soothing me, caressing me. Loving me. I never wanted him to leave.

In the soft morning light, things looked very different. Gabe held me close, pressing a sleepy kiss against my shoulder. For a moment, I wondered if I’d imagined it all—the theatre, being sick, being tied to the bed… No, there were red friction burns on my wrists. My heart began to pound.

“Morning. How do you feel?” I kept myself very still as he murmured into my hair. One hand swept up to caress the underside of my breast. “You were pretty out of it last night.” A hot kiss beneath my ear. “You were amazing, Suzu. I had no idea.” One hand stole between my legs, inching up the inside of my thighs. “I can’t wait to do that again.”
What
? A new, cold fear crept over me. In the distant recesses of my mind, I remembered my dream, of Josh making love to me, urgent and passionate. Had that been real, but with Gabe?

I wriggled free of his wandering hands and rolled over to face him. A lazy smile greeted me.
“You have hidden depths, my little Suzu.” Before I could speak, his mouth descended and claimed mine, his tongue seeking entrance, his body weight pushing me back against the bed. I could feel him hard against my thigh, one knee nudging my legs apart. I broke free and shifted my head, scrabbling against the pillows to move away from him. “No! Not right now.” I took a deep breath, I couldn’t let this slide. “Gabe, why did you do that last night? Why did you”—my voice caught—”tie me to the bed? Why, Gabe?”

A hurt look crossed his face. He actually pouted.
“We were doing a little role-playing, that’s all.” He cupped my cheeks gently with both hands. “You were into it last night, couldn’t get enough of me.”

I swallowed, my mouth dry as the bottom of a budgie’s cage.
“I was drunk.”

“
D’you only want to make love now, when you’re pissed? That says a lot for me, Suki. Thanks.” He leaned back against his own pillows, arms folded. I eyed him carefully, not sure how to proceed.

“
What I mean is, I don’t remember it properly.” I paused, waited until he looked at me. “I remember waking up and I couldn’t move. I was scared, Gabe. You acted like a bully.”

His eyes closed. Next thing, he’s crushing me against his chest, pressing tiny kisses on every patch of skin he could reach.
“Suzu, I’m sorry, so sorry. I didn’t want to scare you. I would never want to do that. I love you. You mean everything to me.”

“
Why did you do it?” I wanted an answer. He wasn’t going to get away with this.

“
We talked about doing some role-playing last week, when we watched the porn together.” He eased back, smiled at me and kissed me tenderly on the lips. “You said you were keen to try it, I’d bought the ties and it just seemed like a great opportunity when you were so chilled out after the theatre.”
Chilled out? What planet was he on?
“And baby, you were so uninhibited, you were scorching. I’ve never been as turned on by you.”

I stared at him. Smoke grey eyes gazed solemnly back.
“Please don’t do it again,” I whispered. His eyes opened wide, he started to argue but I spoke over him, finding my voice now. “It might have been scorching for you, but I don’t remember it like that.”