Styx (The Four Book 1)

by Layla Frost

  She has a point.

  Though I could admit she had a point, it was still an absurd one my logical brain refused to entertain.

  “Maybe you need to ease back on the Jensen and Jared,” I suggested. “No more Buffy marathons. Actually, I think Casper should be off limits for a while, too.”

  “Hardy har har. You’ve always been so close-minded about anything bordering on the supernatural.”

  “It was a regular, boring airplane,” I argued for the millionth time since we were twelve and caught a glimpse of flashing lights in the night sky.

  “I know what I saw! There were no scheduled… And what plane has…” Riled, Lula’s arguments were unfinished and jumpy before she stopped to take a deep breath. “You know what? I’m not letting you distract me. If you really thought it was your subconscious, you wouldn’t be making your butt numb on the hard floor just so you could talk without him hearing.”

  Once again, she has a point.

  The voice sounded like it could be my subconscious. Dessert for dinner, no more nasty smoothies, and having fun were all things I wanted.

  But he didn’t feel like my subconscious. He felt like he was… there. When he’d whisper in my ear, it was like something physical was standing close to me. Even knowing no one was there, part of me expected to see him when I turned around.

  “Do me a favor,” she said, grabbing my attention back. “Don’t rule anything out. Follow Doctor Malik’s advice, but don’t discount the idea it could be something more. Pay attention to it all, okay?”

  “Yeah,” I agreed reluctantly, though I rolled my eyes.

  “Good. I’ll see you tomorrow at seven?”

  “Definitely. Jalapeño, corn, and cheese dip?”

  She gave a dramatically swoony sigh. “You know the way to my heart.”

  “See you.”

  Hanging up, I hurried to turn the wasted water off, vowing to take two-minute showers for the following week to make up for it.

  I got changed into my pajamas before going downstairs to finish some work.

  “So,” the voice said as soon as I sat, “what’s Lula think of it all?”

  I whipped the chair around, though it was pointless since there was no one for me to look at. Still, I glared in a general direction. “I thought I told you to stay out while I was showering?”

  “One, you weren’t showering—you were just running the water. Very wasteful in our current need for global preservation in the face of climate change. Two, you were right near the vent.” His voice lowered, the wicked tone of it curling my toes and making me react in a not subconscious way. “Your words traveled down so clear, it was like you were right on my lap.”

  Oh.

  Chapter Five

  Top Hat Hookers and a Stoner’s Curse

  Denny

  ARRIVING AT LULA AND Chase’s the next night, something felt off. I’d triple checked I had everything—including pulling over to get out of my car and tear through my bags—but I still couldn’t shake the feeling I’d forgotten something.

  As I stood in their driveway, I ran through the items as I grabbed them, once again finding nothing missing despite the pit that sat heavy in my stomach. I carefully balanced it all—second trips were for chumps—and walked to the door and kicked it.

  “I know you’re against making multiple trips,” Chase said, taking some of my load, “but I’d have helped.”

  “Where’s the fun in that?”

  He just shook his head as he carried the bags into the kitchen.

  Lula sprinted out of their dining room, her socked feet sliding across the wooden floor. “You’re here!”

  It wasn’t like she was ever angry to see me, but her level of enthusiasm was suspect.

  Eyeing her warily, I said, “I came early to help. Why, what’s up?”

  She tilted her head, her small nub of a ponytail bobbing. “Is it only you?”

  I looked around before patting my front pockets. “Uh, pretty sure. Was I supposed to bring a guest? If there’s a virgin sacrifice planned, you know I’m your girl. It’s definitely grown back.”

  “I didn’t know if your…” she widened her eyes and lowered her voice, “bad influence would be here.”

  Missing.

  Holy shit.

  The thing that had felt off the whole ride.

  He wasn’t with me.

  The logical part of my brain reminded me that I was out and would be having fun. If that had been my subconscious’ goal, then the silence made sense. There was no need for all the yammering because its mission was accomplished.

  Except it wasn’t that.

  I hadn’t heard the voice since he’d called me out about my shower ruse the night before. He’d been quiet, but it was different than what I was experiencing right then.

  It wasn’t just the silence of a satisfied inner self. It was an absence, as though I was separated from someone.

  In the shower, my bedroom, or even the therapist’s office, the connection may not have been as strong, but it’d been there. I’d known he was close, even if it was subconsciously.

  It was a convoluted mess, but until that moment, I hadn’t realized how accustomed I’d become to his nearness. Him being gone made me realize how often he was with me.

  Always.

  That sensation at the back of my neck, as though I’d turn around and see him, was always there.

  My mind was racing as I tried to come up with some logical excuse or explanation for it.

  And when it hit me, I smiled.

  No, I grinned.

  Comfort, warmth, and love spread throughout my body.

  Grandma.

  “What’s happening in your head?” Lula asked, her confusion clear even as she mirrored my grin.

  “Nothing.” I gave a short shake of my head before grabbing her into a quick hug. “I’m just happy to be here. It should be a fun night.”

  When I pulled away, her eyes were the size of saucers. “You hugged me.”

  “I’ve done it before.”

  “Rarely. And usually it’s when you’re drunk. And even more usually, it’s you returning a hug not giving one.”

  I rolled my eyes, but she was right. Affection wasn’t something I was comfortable with. Some people hugged about every little thing, but mine were reserved for special occasions.

  Or drunken nights of bonding.

  “I’ve gotta get the dip in the oven or there will be rioting.” Heading to the kitchen, I raised my fist over my head and shook it. “Rioting, I say.”

  Taking the foil off the casserole dish, I sprinkled some freshly grated cheese on top of the corn and jalapeño dip. I put it in the oven before turning to Chase. “Need help with anything?”

  “Nope, Lula’s been at it all day. I think she’s prepared enough food for an army and cleaned enough for a visit from the Queen.” He handed me a fluorescent blue cocktail. “You driving home or crashing in the guest room?”

  I raised my brows and chugged half the drink in one go. Wiping my mouth, I said, “I sense a sleepover. We’ll do our hair and nails, watch the latest romcoms, gossip about boys… All that good stuff.”

  “Sounds good… But where’s Lula gonna be while you and I do that?” he deadpanned.

  Laughing, I gave him a one-armed hug. “You stole my joke!” I was still snickering to myself as I poured chips into bowls. “Hey, did Lula make those crescent roll chicken puff thingies? I could eat like twenty right now.”

  When he didn’t respond, I peeked over my shoulder to see him giving me an indiscernible look. His gaze went past me, and I followed it to see Lula standing in the entryway. They were locked in one of their super-secret-silent-couple-communications that told an entire story in one glance.

  Keeping my attention on the important things in life, I asked, “So are there or are there not chicken puffs?”

  “Huh?” Chase looked back at me. “Oh, yeah, she made three batches. Cajun deviled eggs, too.”

  I gasped, clutchi
ng the chip bag to my chest as I gave Lula lovey eyes. “You love me. You really love me.”

  She snorted. “I owe you for the invitation work. Our magnets should be delivered in less than two weeks.”

  “Told you I’d knock that bad boy out with enough time to order.”

  “You’re always kicking ass. Speaking of, did you bring Catch Phrase?”

  I scoffed. “Did I bring Catch Phrase? How else are we supposed to dominate and ensure no one wants to play with us again?”

  The fast-paced game depended on players knowing how to quickly describe a word to their team. Chase and Lula may have had their secret, meaningful glances, but her and I had long ago mastered our chatty skills. We knew each other so well, we could often guess the answer in an obscure word or two.

  We were undefeated, and we weren’t modest about it.

  Smirking, she said, “It’s not a game night if we don’t make at least one guest hate us.”

  Savage and heartless.

  She really is the best.

  _______________

  During a break in the action a few hours later, I went into the kitchen to refill the bowls and pitchers. I hadn’t realized anyone else had followed me in until I turned and saw one of Chase’s friends, Dan, leaning in the doorway.

  “Hey,” I muttered, trying not to burn myself as I scooped out the hot dip.

  “You know,” he started, his expression and voice both bland, “I wish Chase would’ve given me a heads up that his lovely fiancée brought in a ringer. I would’ve studied or something.”

  I laughed, grabbing a towel to wipe off my hands and the counter. “Wait until we play Trivial Pursuit. I suck at that one.”

  “Somehow I doubt it. It’s even on your shirt.”

  My Throne of Games tee was a spoof of Game of Thrones. Rather than an iron throne made of various swords, it featured one made of different game logos.

  I loved it.

  Tapping a logo on my rib, I pointed out, “Yeah, but so is Monopoly, and I’m the worst at that game. I buy too many properties then can’t pay rent. My poor top hat ends up on the corner doing unspeakable things for thin paper money and get out of jail free cards.”

  Dan grinned. “I don’t remember that part of the game, but I haven’t played in about fifteen years.”

  “Yeah, it gets crazy once you play the drinking version.” I grabbed a pitcher of beer and held it up. “Speaking of, did you come in for a refill?”

  He shook his head. “No, I came in to see if I could snag a minute alone to talk to the girl with the beautiful laugh who’s been charming a whole room of people, including us uptight lawyers.”

  It was my turn to grin. “And now that you have?”

  “Now I’m disappointed I have to leave early. But I’m hoping I can get your number?” At my nod, he took out his phone, typing across the screen as I rattled off the digits. “Thanks. I know this is sudden, but would you like to grab dinner next Friday?”

  Though I’d sworn off dating, I was feeling optimistic.

  Happy.

  I let my good mood call the shots. “Sure.”

  “I’ll be in touch.”

  As he left, saying his goodbyes to everyone, I couldn’t stop the grin that spread across my face.

  Thanks, Grandma.

  _______________

  Once everyone was gone, Lula and I sprawled out in the living room to talk and drink.

  Mostly, we drank.

  Waving her hands around, Lula shook her head. “I’m pretty drunk, and this shit’s crazy—”

  “But here’s some Motrin, so call me…” My sing-songed parody trailed off as I tried to think of an ending.

  “Some good dick?” Lula filled in before bursting into a fit of hysterical giggles.

  I nodded so enthusiastically the room began to spin. “Yes, exactly.”

  Once she could speak again, she said, “Let me see if I got this straight. Your theory is that your grandma is haunting you?”

  “No! I think she sent the voice as a… I dunno, a fairy god voice or something. She’d hate that I’m, like, three cats and a tinfoil hat away from becoming a total recluse. I work from home. I have you and Chase, but my friendship pool is more of a friendship puddle. And dating has been such a disaster lately.” I paused, working hard to think through the drunken chaos in my brain. “Actually, it’s been a mess since Seth.”

  Thanks to my overbearing father, I hadn’t dated much in high school. Once I was in college, I’d had some awesome relationships away from his watchful eye. All of them had been good from start to finish, except for Seth. He’d been intense and attached, pushing for more of a commitment than I’d been willing to give.

  At first, it’d been flattering that he was so into me. But when that attention had shifted from romance movie to Lifetime stalker flick, I’d contemplated breaking up with him. Surprisingly, he’d beat me to it by dumping me on the same day I’d lost my grandma.

  After I’d gotten the call that she was gone.

  It’d been the worst day of my life, but not because of him. The shock and devastation of losing a woman I’d just really started to know was what’d crushed me.

  The smidge of pain I’d experienced at losing him had been like a fart in a monsoon.

  Still, there was no denying he’d started the wave of bad luck.

  Lula picked up her drink. “We should get one of the witch enthusiasts in town to curse Seth.”

  Nine out of ten Salem residents swore they had some supernatural ability, but the only thing they had in common was an affinity for patchouli and weed.

  “I don’t think they could curse anything more than their empty bongs,” I pointed out. “Anyway, back to the voice. When you brought him up earlier, I realized I usually know when he’s close. I think I’ve gotten so used to that weird feeling, I stopped paying attention until tonight when I noticed because it wasn’t there.” I pursed my lips to the side as I mentally reviewed my drunken gibberish. “Does that make sense?”

  “Strangely, yes.”

  “At least it makes sense to one of us.” I drained my drink as I gathered my thoughts. “If we’re entertaining the idea that Supernatural is a documentary and this really is paranormal hocus pocus, then I think the voice is linked to my grandma. She hated my dad and how he treated me, but there was nothing she could do. If she didn’t play his games, he wouldn’t let her see me. I know she felt guiltier and guiltier as she saw how his parenting had affected me. Maybe when she died and saw how bad it really was, she sent the voice to talk some sense into me.”

  “Why wouldn’t she just talk to you herself?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe there’s some rule. Like, you have to be in heaven for a year before you can communicate with the living.”

  “So many rules,” she groaned.

  “I know. I’m gonna sneak in dye for my robes. White always washes me out.”

  “Bring some for me.”

  “Deal.”

  Lula was quiet for a moment before asking, “Does he have a name?”

  “I don’t know.”

  She grinned, squealing with excitement. “We should give him one. Like Ragnar. Or Jax. Or Khal. Or—”

  “I’m not naming him after my Hollywood crushes.”

  Especially since that’s how we name vibrators, and I don’t want lines getting any more blurred.

  “Anyway,” I continued, “he’s gone so it doesn’t matter. I didn’t name him, so I also didn’t get attached.”

  Liar.

  “Okay, let me sum this up.” Lula grunted as she tried to do a single sit-up before just rolling onto her side instead. “Grandma worried about you being alone. Sent sexy-voiced ghost to guide you. He did his job, you realized what the message was, and now the voice is gone. Do I have it right?”

  “Basically.”

  Her bottom lip pushed out into a pout. “All my grandma left me was a doll collection that’s in storage because I’m one-hundred percent certain they’ll come to life and e
at me. Or worse, turn me into one of them.”

  I laughed before my stomach rolled. “Oh no.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Squeezing my eyes shut, I inhaled deeply. “Can you flip the switch that stops the room from spinning? I wanna get off the ride.”

  “I told you not to eat Melinda’s casserole thingy.”

  “No one else was. I felt bad.”

  “We weren’t for a reason. She might be a hell of a lawyer, but her cooking will earn her a manslaughter conviction one day.”

  “No, no, no.” Bolting up, I ran for the bathroom.

  Stoner witch’s curse on you, Melinda.

  Chapter Six

  Mysteries at Slutty Sleepaway Camp

  Denny

  CLIMBING MY PORCH STEPS the next morning, I may have felt like death, but I still let out a quiet squeal when I spotted the waiting package. I pulled my phone from my pocket.

  Me: Guess what came in the mail.

  Lula: A new Jason Momoa?

  Me: Your vibrator training is going well, young Jedi.

  Me: But I’ve decided to name this one Charlie Hunnam. That should break the curse, right?

  I unlocked the door and pushed it open. It barely closed behind me when I began literally throwing off my clothes, leaving them strewn about for future me to deal with. A hot shower was much-needed, and ever the efficient one, I planned on multitasking by bringing my new battery-operated-boyfriend in with me. Then, I would crawl into bed to sleep for a couple hours… or years.

  I was down to only my panties when I felt it.

  Felt him.

  “Hellion, where have you been? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” His voice was no longer as airy and echoey as it’d been before. There was so much concern and ache in it, I forgot about the fact I was nearly naked.

  “You’re still here?” I was confused, but there was a surprisingly large surge of relief and happiness that spread through me, too.

  I’m just going to pack that emotion away to be dealt with… never.

  “You left while I was…” His words trailed off, replaced by the sound of a breeze.

  Looking around, I saw the curtain rustle. “Are you by the window?”