The Life & Death of Jorja Graham

by Brynn Myers

  Silence again.

  “Jorja, you’re so stupid, she’s dead, she can’t talk to you.” I shook my head and walked back over to my bed. Before I could curl up and forget all about this, the light went out and the double doors to the master slammed shut with enough force to send a whoosh of air across the room. My hands shook uncontrollably as I tried to turn on the lamp. This wasn’t really happening. I had to be sleep walking and I really, really wanted to wake up. The room remained still and I stood motionless, lacking any ability to function. I’d never been this scared in my entire life.

  The bulb flickered and suddenly the room was aglow with a soft light. Oh thank God. I looked around but couldn’t see anything out of place. Even the doors to the room were open. I knelt down and looked under the bed to check on Lulu but she’d burrowed her way past the under the bed boxes and was hovered in a crouched position next to the wall. The terror in her eyes matched what I was feeling but I knew there was no way I was getting her out of there anytime soon. “Shhhh, shhhh, shhhh, it’s okay.” I reached out to pet her but she hissed. “I’d crawl in there with you, but I doubt that’ll help. I’ll see you in the morning then.”

  I left the light on and got back under the covers, pulling them tight to my chin. I felt like a little kid who was afraid of the dark but there was no way I was going to be able to fall asleep in the pitch black. I’m not sure how long it was before my eyes finally closed but when I woke the sun was beaming in through the new shantung curtains and I was elated it was morning. When I scanned the room, it was as if nothing had ever happened last night. The perfume decanter had indeed broken but I was sure that was just Lulu and not some ghost haunting my house.

  I inwardly scolded myself and headed for the shower. I had another full day ahead of me if I had any intention of being finished by the time Corbin returned tonight. As I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my skin was pale and the circles under my eyes made them appear sunken and gaunt. Damn. I stepped out of my pajamas and gasped. There were grayish markings up and down my arm and a yellow bruise near my hipbone. Had I taken a beating during the move yesterday? Great, this is super sexy. Eh, nothing a little makeup can’t cover.

  The shower felt amazing as the steam cloud rose around me. I let water flow over my skin for a few minutes before I made quick work of washing my hair and shaving my legs. I wanted tonight to be a perfect homecoming, so I had to do the whole nine yards. I missed Corbin and after last night’s fiasco, I really missed having him around.

  I slipped into my silk robe and sat down at the vanity to put on the lotion I knew drove Corbin wild with desire. I envisioned him nuzzling next to my ear and then had a thought as I reached over and opened a small silver box, pulling out the ruby pendant and clasping it around my neck. Maybe he’d prefer it if I was the gift wrap. The pendant had fallen out of view, so I opened the robe to really look at how stunning this piece of jewelry was. It was heavy as it nestled in the space between my breasts and was a sharp contrast to my pale skin.

  As I stared into the mirror, admiring the ruby, I wondered what Corbin would say about me finding it. I ran a few scenarios of his reaction in my head and all of them ended with us naked, which of course worked for me. I couldn’t understand my feelings for him. It was like he looked beyond me. There were times when I actually felt like he could see my soul. There was such a deep connection between us and despite how insane it sounded, I didn’t bother to question it…it just was. Corbin made me feel like there was no one else he’d rather be with and what woman didn't want that?

  I went to take the necklace off but my thoughts began to muddle. My stomach clinched and rolled as an acrid taste filled my mouth. I tried to move but my heart became sluggish, my body unresponsive, and then I felt myself falling to the floor. When I woke, I felt odd and flu-like. I guess I’d passed out which was strange because I don’t think I’d ever lost consciousness. I felt my forehead, no fever. Checked my pulse and while it felt as though my heart was fluttering, the beat was consistent. I guess I’d overdone things these past few days but everything was finished now and I could relax. Maybe I’d even take Corbin up on his offer to get away for a while.

  I tried to stand but still felt woozy. I looked over at the clock and decided to lay down for a bit. Corbin wasn’t going to care if I made dinner or if we ordered take out so I gave myself permission to sleep for a bit longer and go to the store later. Last night had been nuts and I doubted I got more than an hour’s worth of sleep. When my head hit the pillow, I crashed.

  My dreams were vivid. I was seeing a stark white room where only certain items showed up in Technicolor and everything was disjointed. An LP lay broken on a cedar chest and was covered with a red spray; a pink rectangular make-up kit sat on a white cabinet as clay-colored ooze slid toward the drain, and a butterfly necklace hung from a mirror with paint splatters covering the reflective surface. It was the last object coming into view, though, that perplexed me the most. Unlike all the other items, this one was floating while the others remained stationary.

  As I got closer I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what it was and what it would say on the back when I picked it up. It was my daddy’s pocket watch, the one I’d given him when he became tenured. This was like trying to solve a puzzle but I still had no idea how all the pieces fit together. They weren’t cohesive and I couldn’t fathom why I was dreaming about them or what they could all mean.

  The white began to dull and faces began to emerge until I could see their bodies walking towards me. A young man with a Doors T-shirt and long hair stepped forward first, followed by a woman in a pale pink dress suit circa 1960. They both smiled as they looked at me but then turned to welcome the next two people. An older black woman in a grey and white maid uniform began to emerge from a golden light shining in the background. She paused and waited for the final person to show themselves and this one I recognized. My daddy’s smile beamed as he came into focus.

  Dreams were funny things. I knew they were the subconscious trying to work through issues our minds locked down during our waking hours, but this was a surprise. I used to see Daddy in my dreams when he first passed but then he slowly faded away until I couldn’t feel his presence anymore. Here he was though, in this dream, in this moment. I ran to him and wrapped my arms around his neck.

  “Oh Daddy, I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I’ve missed you too, Jorja, but I don’t have much time, none of us do. I need you to listen to me.” I stared at him perplexed but listened as he spoke. “You’re in danger and I need you to leave this house. It’s not safe here. Rhetta means to do you harm so when you wake, leave here and never return.”

  “Rhetta? But Daddy, I don’t understand.”

  “Don’t question me, Jorja.”

  The woman in the maid uniform stepped up and reached her hands towards my chest. “You need to let that go, too. It will only cause you harm.” My hand went to the pendant just as the light hit the butterfly necklace around her neck.

  It was then that I looked at the other two people standing behind them. I hadn’t noticed before but the woman in the pink suit was carrying a matching make-up case and the young hippie was carrying a stack of records. These people were connected to the objects I’d seen in the white abyss and now they were all here.

  “Daddy, this is just a dream and when I wake, I’ll be happy that I saw you but that’ll be it.” I looked at the others. “And I am not sure how you fit into this but again you aren’t real.”

  The woman in the suit spoke. “We are a part of this house and we don’t want you to suffer our same fate. Listen to your father and Ruth, she speaks the truth. That pendant is evil and will be your ruin.”

  I looked at Daddy and noticed he was fading, or was it I who was vanishing? He called out but his words were silent as they all became nothing more than figments. I woke to the sound of the doorbell ringing. I moved sluggishly but managed to make my way to the window and saw a man walking back to his van, the side reading,
Flo’s Florist. I waited until the he’d driven out of sight before I ambled down the stairs to open the door. There on the porch was a vase overflowing with the most perfect red blooms I’d ever laid eyes on. I opened the card and beamed. “Counting the hours until I taste your honeyed kiss. ~Corbin”

  I pressed my lips together, imagining that kiss, and set the flowers on the table in the foyer before I made my way back upstairs. The delivery had distracted my thoughts but the moment I saw the silver box on the vanity, I remembered my dream with expert clarity, could feel the truth in the words they all spoke but was still uncertain as to why. I reached around and went to undo the clasp but my fingers ceased to work, instead everything went black.

  I had no idea how much time passed but when I woke I was lying on the floor next to the vanity stool. The room was still well-lit, but I could tell the sun had shifted in the sky by the way the shadows danced in the room. I used the edge of the vanity to steady myself but when I caught a glimpse in the mirror, I couldn’t see my reflection.

  I looked down at my body: my arms, my legs, my hair, and saw nothing wrong but when I looked into the mirror, I found a blank canvas. Bit by bit a face began to emerge, it was my face at first but then it began to morph into something else––someone else entirely. There was another image staring back at me, black hair, long wavy curls, and bright green eyes that haunted. I’d seen that face, recognized it even, her image was just as it was in the old albums I’d found. The photographs were black and white but as with the time, they were hand-colored to show more of what she would’ve looked like in person. I, however, didn’t need a photograph anymore; I knew I was looking at Rhetta Rhyland.

  I turned to see if she was standing behind me but nothing happened, my head didn’t move. I tried to speak but found that I couldn't. I quickly realized I no longer had control over my body and began to panic. My heart raced and my stomach turned.

  “Oh good, it seems you're finally coming around. You certainly are a weak minded thing, so easy to manipulate,” Rhetta said as she pulled the cap off the red nail polish and stroked it across my thumbnail. “Now stop all that jittering, you’re going to make me mess up our nails.”

  What? What the hell was this woman talking about? Could this just be another dream? Maybe I was sicker than I thought. I watched as she continued to swipe the glossy color over each nail, ignoring me as she did. Maybe I had food poisoning or something and was stuck in a feverish sleep. My mind was running through a thousand scenarios at once but none of them seemed plausible.

  Rhetta ran her hand...my hand, over the ruby pendant and then flashed her eyes towards the mirror; she was looking right at me as she scoffed. “You foolish girl. You played so easily into my plan. Your daddy and those other spirits tried to warn you but it was too late. This locket binds you to me; I’m the one in control now. I win,” she said rhythmically as she pulled my blonde locks up and stared at herself.

  Bound to her, she’s in control…what? I reached over to pinch my arm. It was time to wake up because these were not normal dreams. Rhetta was dead and would’ve never known my father. This wasn't happening, whatever this was.

  “I’d assumed the perfect girl Gavin talked about was his daughter, but I had no idea it was actually you. What a bizarre twist of fate that I'd been talking to your daddy all along.”

  Her words slammed into me. I screamed but she just continued to rearrange the items on the vanity. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I could see, hear, and feel everything and yet I was not the one in control of any of it.

  “I bet you are wondering how I knew him. He was quite the lover, that one, so starved for a woman’s affection that he was an easy target when we seduced him. The first night we met him it had been over drinks after a social affair in town. He said he wanted to learn more about my estate, that it had always been his daughter’s favorite place to visit and that as a child you dreamt of living here. I’m pleased that you liked my home so much, Jorja. And look at you now; guess you finally acquired your greatest desire. Too bad about the circumstances, but that’s life now isn’t it...a real bitch,” Rhetta said as she blew on our nails.

  “Are you even listening to me? Things were different with Lura and I. I could hear her every thought. Hmm, maybe we just need more time together.”

  She stood and walked over to the wardrobe and admired her new figure––my figure, in the full length mirror. It was my reflection but I could also see her face shining through. It was like looking at a mirage, an optical illusion that distorted with each of her movements. “By the way, how dare you bring that demon into my home, he and that guard of his. I’ve had to bide my time until they finally left you alone. I couldn’t risk them finding the necklace before I had time to use it on you.” She twirled a strand of hair and pinned it.

  Who the hell was she talking about? Corbin? This woman was insane…delusional in fact.

  “And then you had the gall to try and make a name for yourself selling my things. Too bad about the auction but I wasn’t about to let my stuff walk out the door and especially not to those self-indulgent asses.”

  I scoffed at how utterly insane this entire conversation was, demons, Rhetta knowing Daddy, and not just knowing him but knowing him in the biblical sense. NO! None of this was real. I wanted to vomit. I wanted to wake up and run as fast as I could back to my townhouse and forget I’d ever stepped foot into this house. I shifted my thoughts and began telling myself…sleep, sleep, sleep. If you said it enough times, your mind began to listen, right? Nothing happened. Nothing changed. Instead, I watched as she let the robe slide off my shoulders and down my body. She stared at the reflection for a bit before she began to move her hands over my bare skin, under my breast and down my waist.

  Rhetta leaned in again to the mirror, her green eyes a sharp contrast to my pale blue. “Get used to watching because I am never giving up your body. It’s so young and pert. Once the binding is complete, you’ll eventually just fade away,” she said, smirking. “I thought it would be awful being a ghost until I realized I could possess someone and take over their body, making it my own.”

  My soul felt as though it had exploded within me. Binding? My God, what was happening to me?

  “Oh, I forgot, such bad manners on my part.” She rubbed her thumb over the ruby locket. “I’m going to have to kill that demon lover of yours before I can get on with summoning my queen. I have a lot of work to do, but I think I’ll let myself indulge just this once. I’ve seen the way he looks at you and I think after all this time I deserve a good rousing.”

  She laughed manically and I wondered if she’d finally heard me? “I bet you don’t know.” Her laughter continued. “The man you think is so wonderful has played you for a fool.” She lifted the pendant. “This is what he has wanted all along, not you.”

  Shock set in and there it was. The bottom had just fallen out. I knew better. No man falls for a woman so completely in a matter of days, but women certainly can be wooed into believing Prince Charming actually exists. I was a fool and I knew in that moment her words were true. I had been tricked. I was fairly certain Rhetta was speaking metaphorically about Corbin being a demon, but then again how could I not believe her when I was forced to watch myself from behind my own eyes, trapped within my own body. This was a nightmare and one I doubted I’d be able to wake from. I was going to die and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

  c h a p t e r

  EIGHTEEN

  Rhetta had spent quite a bit of time “preparing” herself for Corbin. I guess he wasn’t too much of a bastard if she’d put on my silk stockings and garter and nothing else. Easy access she’d said.

  “It’s been a long time since a man claimed me and I can only imagine from the things I saw you two do that he’ll be more than satisfying.” She pursed out her lips at me in the mirror. “Oh don’t worry, he won’t be cheating––technically.” She winked as if that would fix this fucked up mess. “Besides, now that you know his true nature I can�
�t imagine that you’d care if he screws me or not.”

  I didn’t, or did I? I wanted, no needed for Corbin to not be the son of a bitch she’d made him out to be but my hope was quickly waning. I knew he’d be here soon. He’d texted a few times but since Rhetta was clueless about cell phones she just let them sit. He’d even called but she’d let that go to voicemail, which from what I do know about Corbin was probably driving him mad. No response from a text or call was grounds for him to be all over me. The countdown was on and as soon as he arrived I’d have my confirmation. Maybe Rhetta had lied and this was all part of some other insane plan. Either way, I needed the truth.

  The knock at the door was frenzied and I felt sick, which apparently she could feel too because she scolded me as she walked down the stairs, her heels clicking as she cinched the tie on my robe. My robe, her robe, this was insane.

  Another pounding at the front door and she opened it with a huff. “It takes a minute to get down those stairs especially in these heels, my love.” My love? Oh he has to know I’d never say that.

  “Why didn’t you answer my calls or respond to my texts?” He scowled.

  She pulled him inside and pressed into his chest. “I was getting ready and I thought that that was more important than answering the phone.” She tried to kiss him and he recoiled. Oh thank God, he knows.

  He leaned in and nuzzled her neck, a moan escaping her lips as he did. “I’ve missed you.” His tone seemed off somehow, but I doubted Rhetta would’ve recognized it.

  “I’ve missed you, too,” she said as she pulled the robe to the side to let him catch a glimpse of the stockings, garter, and bare hip.

  Normally this would be the moment where he’d growl low and seduce me with one of his kisses but instead, he just looked her up and down, his arms crossed in front of his chest. He has to know, he just has to. Corbin stepped back and scanned the room. “The place looks great.”