Haunted By The Succubus

by Michelle Dorey

  He shook his head and smiled. “Most of it was done here today. That’s what you pay me for. I will have any final paperwork prepared for your signature in a few days. Until then... well, I’m sure you need some time to adjust to all this.” He put the folder back into his case and stood up. When he reached to shake my hand, his eyes were solemn behind the round spectacles. “I’ll miss your grandmother. Again, I’m sorry for your loss.”

  When I went to stand, he shuss’ed me back to my seat. “I can see myself out. I’m sure you and... Gwen, have a lot to talk about.”

  When the door closed behind him, I turned to Gwen. My heart was in my mouth. If she didn’t agree to do this with me, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to on my own. “Will you do it? I’ll pay you lots of money so you—”

  “It’s not the money! You know that. It’s my dad... and even my mother—in a weird way. I don’t think I can be away from him for long periods. A few days, sure—but a month at a time?” Her hand covered mine. “Look I want to but I don’t see how it’s possible. You know I took this job delivering mail to have more time with him, rather than working long hours in a lab doing research.”

  “But this is important Gwen. Your dad’s important too, don’t get me wrong, but wouldn’t he want you to be happy, doing something like this? Can’t you even give it a try before you out-and-out say no? If my grandmother thought this was a big deal—transitioning in order to protect the order of things—then I don’t know how you can turn your back.”

  “I’m skeptical about all that, Keira.”

  “What?!” Before I could say another word about The Veil, she held up her hand.

  “Look, I can accept helping spirits move on, okay? But I really don’t want to be responsible for protecting the universe.” She dropped her hand. “I can’t get my head around something like that.” She sighed. “Look, I’ll think about it, okay? That’s as much as I can agree to at this stage.”

  I sat there dumbfounded. “But... but...”

  “That’s all I can say, Keira.” She sighed. “I’d better get going. You’ll be okay with your parents. It’ll give you guys a chance to talk.”

  She got to her feet and I walked with her to the door of the dining room. She turned and gave me a big hug, running her hand softly over my back. “I’m really sorry, Keira, about your grandmother. I wish I could be more definite, but I need time to digest all this. I’m not the type to jump in feet first.”

  I pulled back and nodded. “Are you going to talk to your dad about all this?” Since it would affect him, he needed to know.

  She looked at the ceiling and then shook her head. “There’s a good question! I can’t tell him everything, now can I? He’d think I lost my mind... having dinner here and the hosts were actually ghosts!” She squeezed my arms. “Sorry, didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”

  The truth was certainly stranger than fiction. It had been, ever since I’d been summoned to my grandmother’s house. “You’re right. You’ll have to figure something out. Just let me know what you come up with before I see him again.”

  I opened the door and as we walked to the entry, my parents appeared from the living room.

  “You’re leaving, Gwen?” My mother walked over and gave Gwen a warm hug. “Thanks for being here for Keira.”

  Gwen’s eyes shot to me and then away quickly. She felt guilty after the conversation we’d just had. “I’m here for her as much as I can be. But I’ve got to get going to check on my dad.”

  When the door closed, my father turned to me. “She’s a nice girl. I’m glad you had her to turn to, today.”

  “Me too.” I just hoped some kind of miracle would happen that she’d accept the offer I’d made.

  “I know you probably don’t feel like eating but you should, Keira. I’ll see what’s in the freezer and rustle up something for dinner.” Mom put her arm over my shoulder and walked me back into the kitchen. She was right about one thing. Even though I hadn’t eaten all day, food was the last thing on my mind.

  When I took a seat, watching my parents rummaging through the fridge, it hit me. This was a big house and once they left, I’d be pretty lonely. The tears once more welled in my eyes. How could I continue here on my own? The place was too empty without Nana and Lawrence.

  I took a deep breath trying to shake off the tears. “How long are you staying?”

  THIRTY FOUR

  IT TOOK TWO DAYS BEFORE WE FELT UP TO THE TASK of honoring Nana’s last wishes. We took the two urns from the sideboard and went out to the front yard, to the rose which always bloomed. Gwen had taken a sick day to be with us. It was the first that I’d seen her since we’d learned the news about Nana and Lawrence.

  Now here we were on a brilliant summer day, the four of us standing in a circle around the flower bed. That red rose bush was covered with flowers in various stages, from buds to spent blooms which drifted down to the dark earth.

  Mom stepped close to the brick wall and lifted the top from Lawrence’s gray urn. As she poured his ashes to the base of the plant, a tear rolled down her cheek. “Goodbye Lawrence, old friend. I know you’re with Pamela, your one true love.” She sobbed and added, “My mother. May you find peace and happiness for all time.”

  She turned to me. I held my grandmother’s urn close to my chest. Even though it was her wish to join with the rose, I clung to her essence. A monarch butterfly landed on the wall, its orange wings completely still. The last time I’d noticed a butterfly was the day I was expelled from the acting school. I’d taken it as a harbinger of goodwill at that time. Was it a sign from Nana, now?

  I stepped forward and my vision was blurry as I removed the top of the urn and set it on the wall. “Goodbye Nana. I’m glad I spent the time with you. I love you.” My shoulders wracked as I tipped the urn.

  My father stepped over between my mother and I and his arms went over our shoulders.

  “Goodbye Pamela and Lawrence,” he said.

  “Farewell, Mrs. York, Lawrence,” said Gwen.

  I sniffed and then we dispersed, turning to go back into the house. Mom and Dad went into the kitchen while I led Gwen to the sunroom. It seemed a fitting place to talk about serious matters.

  She wandered around the room, touching and sniffing the plants which lined the shelves. “This really is a beautiful spot.”

  “Yeah. It was her favorite place, that’s for sure.” I could almost see her sitting in the wicker chair across the table, when I took my usual spot. I took a deep breath. “So, have you come to any decision?” I realized how cold that was and quickly added. “I’m sorry; how is your dad?”

  “He’s great.” She took a seat next to me, leaning close. “I told him your grandmother and Lawrence died. He knows there was a private ceremony today and sends his condolences. He just doesn’t know it was weeks ago.”

  It was hard to sit so patiently when my future was so dependent on what she would say next.

  “I told him your grandmother was really rich. That she has business interests all over the world and that she often traveled to them.” She smiled and rolled her eyes. “I hate lying. I don’t think I’m all that good at it. I also told him you are going to continue doing that... checking up on your grandmother’s businesses.”

  “Do you think he bought it?”

  “I’m not sure but he didn’t ask too many questions. It was only when I told him you wanted me to go with you that he surprised me. He insisted I take you up on it. He’s always wanted to travel and he told me I was a fool to walk away from it. He even came up with the same idea that I had—for Aunt Elizabeth to retire in Kingston and live with him.”

  As she spoke, I stopped breathing in case I’d jinx this. Devon was totally on side with this! This was going to work!

  She saw the excitement on my face and her smile dropped. “I arranged for a six-month leave of absence from work. I’ll try this but I need to know if it’s too hard on me not seeing Dad as much, that I’ve got a job to go back to.”

  I
grasped her arm barely able to keep from popping out of my chair. “It’ll work! I just know it. But I respect that it’s on a trial basis. You know, if your aunt comes to live with your dad and you don’t get along with her, there’s plenty of room in this house for you!” The house was way too big even for two people.

  Her hand rose. “Hold on! One step at a time. I’ll call Aunt Elizabeth tonight. I’m not even sure she’ll do it!”

  “Does she know about the household allowance? That will tempt her.” My mind was working overtime.

  “What allowance? There’s Dad’s disability and my earnings, that’s about all.”

  “Wanna bet?” I waggled my eyebrows. “The allowance that is going to make its way to your father’s bank account. Ten thousand a month should let them live comfortably don’t you think?”

  “Keira! He’d never accept that!”

  “Say you won it in the lottery then! You’ll think of something. And as for you, will a cool mill a year be enough to get by on?”

  Her mouth fell open and she blinked. “That’s too much.” She grinned. “But… on the other hand, I’ll just suck it up and deal with it.” She put the back of her hand to her forehead. “Now I’m going to be really bitching about paying taxes!”

  We both had a laugh and I sat back and looked around the room. Everything was falling into place. There was just one other thing...

  “You know, I haven’t been out of this house except to see you, since I’ve been here. I spent a week with my dead grandmother and her dead companion and before that I was kicked out of school and then banished by my parents! I need a vacation!”

  Gwen’s face lit up and she laughed. “Oh yeah? Where are you going to go?”

  “Unh unh. Where are we going to go? It’s no fun going alone.” The more I thought of it, the more I could sense that Nana would approve. It was time to join the living before we took on the job of the dead.

  My mother and father strolled into the room and seeing the looks on our faces, they smiled.

  “What’s going on? You two are up to something.” My dad held out my Nana’s chair for my mother to take a seat.

  “Gwen and I are taking a vacation.”

  “Hold on! I never agreed. I’d have to call my brother and get him to come down from Toronto. And then—”

  “I’m seeing me on a beach drinking Mai Tai’s, the liquor cool and the guys hot.”

  My mother’s face flushed pink. “Ewwww! Parents here!”

  Gwen shook her head. “Not a fan of the beach. After the first day that would be boring. I like to get around and see historical things. That’s my idea of fun.”

  I swatted her arm playfully. She was considering this! “The beach, baby!”

  Dad leaned over the table and grinned. “Why not do both? The Mayan Riviera has awesome beaches and is packed with history. You should go!”

  “They have pyramids there, you know,” Gwen said.

  “The Mayan Riviera’s in Egypt?” I asked. The rest of them burst out laughing. “What? What’s so funny?”

  Mom made a small wave with her hand. “Nothing, dear; sometimes you’re silly, that’s all.” Mom reached into the pocket of her blouse and placed a small white box on the table. “I had this made for you Keira. Actually I had one made for myself as well.” She pushed the box toward me.

  I opened it and lifted a gold tear-shaped pendant with a loop of gold chain. I lifted it out and looked at it closely.

  “Some of your grandmother’s ashes are embedded in it. She’ll always be with you.” Mom reached over and her hand covered mine. Grinning, she arched an eyebrow. “She’d always liked the Mayan Riviera.”

  My fingers closed around the small tear drop. Nana would always be with me.

  The End

  Author’s Note:

  Keira has come a long way from a partying college kid. The psychic gifts she inherited from her quirky Nana are still growing. She’s still trying to get a handle on that and this Veil thing that she’s somehow going to have to protect? It’s a good thing she met Gwen to help with that because things are about to heat up real fast. It’s sink or swim for the two young women. (Keep reading...)

  If that’s not bad enough, she’s inherited her grandmother’s enemy along with the millions of dollars. David Holmes is not only twisted, he’s possessed. He’s also Keira’s grandfather.

  In book 2 of the Mystical Veil series - Heritage- Keira and Gwen must confront this evil or die trying.

  Just click this link to find out more!

  Thank you for reading this book, I truly hope you enjoyed it. Many, many hours went into its creation. Not only by myself, but also on the part of those near and dear to me. If you enjoyed it, please leave a review for it on Amazon. Honest reviews from readers such as yourself help authors, yes; but more importantly, your voice helps other readers a great deal in making their decisions.

  Click Here For Other Works by Michelle Dorey

  An invitation…

  I’d love for you to become a member of my Readers Group!. I’ll keep you updated about new releases and special offers of my works. In fact, if you take me up on this offer, I’d like to give you one of my books for free—my first book, Crawley House. It’s been a strong seller for me and I think you’ll enjoy it!

  Just click this link and follow the easy peasy directions!

  Warmest Regards,