Haunted (Witches of the Big Easy Book 3)

by Susan E Scott

  Gage’s phone began ringing, and he took it out of his pocket to look at who was calling. “I’m sorry everyone, but I need to take this.” We all nodded, and he walked into the dining room. He was back in a couple of minutes and looked straight at me. “That was Luc. He finally got in touch with another person from the church that we need to interview, and I need to meet them at the station. I’m sorry I have to leave, but…”

  “It’s okay. We won’t be starting the séance until eight or nine o’clock, probably closer to nine. I prefer it to be dark when I do one of these. The energy is better. Do you think you’ll be done by then?”

  “I’m pretty sure I will, but if something comes up, I’ll let you know.”

  “Okay, keep me posted because I’m going to need to have six people—or only use three of us at the table and the others can observe. Now, go, and I’ll ride out to Ravenwood with Nic and Beau.”

  “Okay. So long as you’re not there by yourself. I think it might be dangerous.” Beau gave us both a concerned look as Gage left.

  Beau looked at me and squeezed my arm. “He’s very nice when he’s not being a detective, isn’t he? How is he handling all this stuff?”

  I chuckled. “About as well as can be expected, I guess. It’s a lot to take in, I know, but I think everything is going to be okay.”

  I spent the afternoon visiting with my brother, while Nic and Gabriel went out to the patio to have a private talk. I don’t know what was said, but Gabriel left after a while and went back to his place. Nic came back in looking tense, but told Beau he didn’t want to talk about it just yet. Beau nodded, and Nic went to their bedroom and didn’t come back out for a while.

  At about six o’clock, we left to go to Ravenwood. It wasn’t even dark yet, but it was supposed to be a full moon that night, which seemed fitting. Everyone was quiet on the way out to the house. Nic sat in front with Taylor, and I sat in the back with Beau. I felt good having them with me. Nic hadn’t always been my favorite person, I admit, but I’d never questioned his power. And he was a Législateur, so he could handle anything that might come up. With Gabriel coming too, I was confident we could rout any and all spirits from my home.

  Nic had called Gabriel before we left, and he said he’d meet us there, so we had all the bases covered. I called Gage, and he told me that they’d be done by no later than seven o’clock, and he’d come straight to Ravenwood. It looked as if everything was in place. I had everything else I needed at the house. But after all my bold talk about being good at this, I was beginning to get a little bit nervous. I hoped this would work, because if not, I didn’t think I’d ever get Gage to go back to Ravenwood again.

  When we pulled up to the house and got out, I stood there for a moment, looking at the upper windows, half expecting to see someone standing there. Of course, there was no one, but there was a sense of expectancy, like the house was holding its breath. Beau noticed it too, and I saw him look around the yard before he touched my elbow to usher me inside. I noticed that same bad smell on the porch as before. Not as strong this time, but definitely there.

  “Dark magic,” Nic said softly. “Nasty too, but feels unskilled. Has anyone else been here today?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  He nodded and gave Taylor a look. I noticed him opening his jacket, and I knew from past experience that he carried a revolver in a shoulder holster under his jacket. Nic took Beau’s arm, and he led the way inside the house.

  After the buildup of tension, there was nothing apparent inside the house. I’d left Loki at Gage’s apartment, so the place was quiet, and the smell less intense inside. Beau went into the library, where we’d hold the séance, and began arranging chairs around a small reading table. I put out three white candles in their holders, whispering a spell of protection over them. And then we sat down to wait.

  Gage didn’t make it by seven o’clock, but I heard him coming in about fifteen minutes after that. Gabriel had arrived just a few minutes earlier. We were assembled, and I got up to go meet him in the foyer.

  “Sorry I’m a few minutes late,” he said. “Is everything, uh...set up?”

  “Yes. Everyone is in the library, waiting for it to get a little darker. I don’t think it’ll be much longer. I’ve closed the drapes over the big window so it’s already shadowy in there. As a matter of fact, we’ve already had to turn on a couple of lamps.” I stopped and motioned for him to follow me to the kitchen. “I’m fairly certain that you’ve never been to a séance before, so I want to tell you what to expect.” He nodded, and the fact that he didn’t make a smart-ass remark indicated to me that he was nervous—which I completely understood since he was way out of his comfort zone.

  “Okay, there will be six of us seated at the table, and you know who they are. I’ll light the three candles in the center of the table, and that will be the only light in the room, and then we’ll all join hands. Now, there’s no guarantee that we’ll be able to make contact with any spirit, but I usually do. I don’t anticipate any problems, but remember that there are some powerful witches at that table, and you’ll be perfectly safe. If there’s a complication of any kind, I’ll tell everyone to break the circle of hands, and I’ll extinguish the candles. That will end the séance.”

  He sighed. “Okay, but I’m still having trouble with all this. If you ask me, this is all creepy as fuck.”

  I reached up and kissed his cheek. “I know, sweetheart, but I’m trying to get some answers. Someone has been here in my space, watching and waiting for something. Threatening us both, and maybe trying to kill us. I don’t like it one damn bit, and I want it gone once and for all. With Nic and Beau in town, this is the perfect opportunity. Even if Beau decides he wants to sell the house, we can’t pass this problem on to someone else. Now, let’s go join the others.”

  As we walked into the library, I could see that it was just about dark enough in there. “I’m going to go ahead and light the candles on the table. Then, we’ll all take a seat, and I’ll turn off the lamps so we can begin.” Once we were seated, I snapped my fingers and said “Averte lux,” turning off the lamps. The only light in the room was the three candles in the center of the table.

  I looked around at everyone and said, “Everyone please join hands.” Once that was done, I began to summon the spirit. There’s not any real process to it—I just close my eyes and wait. Sometimes I feel a tap on my shoulder or a cold breath by my ear. I took a deep breath and summoned whoever wanted to come forth.

  “If there’s any spirit here, I ask you to move among us and communicate with us.” There had been times when I’d had to summon the spirit more than once before anyone came through. But not tonight. Of course, never one to be left out, Celeste made an almost immediate appearance.

  She stood beside me, in her long dress, and whispered in my ear. “Be careful, mon chou. There’s danger nearby.”

  “Danger from who, Celeste?”

  “There is one here who is not a spirit. He practices the dark arts and has learned to hide himself. Be very careful of him, cheri.” She ran a cold finger down the side of my face, and then she vanished as quickly as she’d appeared. I tried to call her back, but she was gone, and I couldn’t get her to reappear.

  By this time, it was fully dark in the room. It smelled comfortingly of the mingled aftershaves of the men assembled, all of whom I trusted with my life. It began to rain outside, just a soft drizzle at first and then harder, the rain beating down on the roof and tapping at the windows. Time stretched out in complete silence. It must have been at least ten minutes, and I could feel the tension building in the room. Any minute now, Nic would call this off. On my left side, Beau squeezed my hand reassuringly.

  “If anyone is here who wishes to speak to me, come forth and make yourself known to us.”

  From near the doorway, a ball of mist began to form. It looked like just a shapeless swirl of fog, floating slowly toward us. I could have sworn the room grew colder.

  It hung besid
e the table, but nothing else stirred. “Spirit,” I called out. “Make yourself known.”

  The fog began to swirl again, unfolding itself and spreading, taking form. It was taking the form of a man. Then suddenly Abel was there, faint and see-through, but there, looking much the same as he had the last time I had seen him, wearing the suit we’d buried him in. And he was angry. I heard Beau gasp beside me, and I held onto him tightly so he wouldn’t leave the table.

  From the other side of me, I heard Gage give a similar gasp and start to rise from his chair. I yanked him back down. “Don’t break the circle! Everyone be calm!”

  Beside me, Gage fell heavily back down, and I heard his harsh breathing. “Be calm. They’re only shadows and can’t hurt us.”

  I gave my attention back to Abel. I didn’t want to see him, because I was still furious about what he’d done to Beau, but there the old arrogant bastard stood, nevertheless. “Speak, Abel. What do you want?”

  “I want to be left alone!” he thundered. “That’s what I want. Why do you people keep disturbing me? Go away!”

  Ignoring all that, I kept my voice low and calm. “How did you die, Abel?”

  “Get out!” he yelled at me, ignoring me right back. He banged his fist on the table. The table jumped, and I heard gasps from those around it.

  “Okay, so maybe he can interact with us. Just stay calm. Nic?”

  In the dim light from the candles, I saw his lips moving as he put a spell of protection over us. Gabriel joined in, and a feeling of peace swept over me. I was grateful, because I knew how freaked out Gage must be. Hell, I was pretty freaked out myself.

  “Abel,” I said as firmly as I could, trying to take back control. “You’re dead and interred in St. Louis Cemetery. No one here is afraid of you anymore! Who was it who killed you?”

  I could see him plainly now as he leaned toward me, and his bushy eyebrows rose dramatically. “Camille, that bitch stabbed me from behind. And Emmanuel! Then the two of them disturbed my rest by trying to raise my corpse! And you!” he pointed a bony finger down at me. “You’re no better! You were there! I saw all of you, and I know what you want! The diamonds are all gone. I spent the money on this house and feeding the lot of you! Now go! Leave me in peace!”

  I was furious at him, but I tried to hold it together. “Go back to your precious peace then, and leave us alone. No one wants you here anyway! No one needs you!”

  He leaned over and roared—there was no other word for it—right in my face. I blanched backward, and that’s when I heard Beau speak up beside me.

  “Go back to hell, you wicked old man! Leave him alone. You were never a grandfather to any of us, and your son would have been ashamed to know he left us in your care! We’re done with you—go away, evil spirit! Begone!”

  I could hear Nic and Gabriel both muttering spells beside me. Gage had a death grip on my left hand, but Beau seemed to remain calm now that he’d said his piece. I could barely see Taylor in the dim candlelight, but I knew he was on the other side of Gage. He wasn’t freaking out either, come to think of it, but then I knew he’d seen a lot through his association with Nic.

  “Why is he here?” Abel yelled, suddenly glaring toward a corner of the room that was in complete darkness. I glanced over to where he was staring, but I couldn’t see anything. Then, Abel’s spirit glided toward the corner where he’d pointed. “You bastard! You ungrateful spawn!” He swirled back toward the table and pounded on it with his fist again, making the table jump and shudder. “He has the Rauskinna and he’s used it to hide himself from all of you! You fools! You idiots!”

  Abel turned, and I could see his mouth working but no sound came out. Suddenly he rushed toward the corner, the air rippled the same way it had in the hallway that night, and all of a sudden Emmanuel was standing there, looking furious and surprised. He glared around defiantly at all of us, but most of his attention was on the old man. He must have thought he could handle him, because I saw him raise his hand and try to cast some kind of spell, no doubt. But suddenly, Abel struck him a mighty blow, and he fell to the floor.

  There was a collective gasp from around the table, which I took to mean that everybody could see him, just as I could, so I knew in that moment that he wasn’t a spirit. This couldn’t be Emmanuel. It had to be Emil, the twin. I watched in horror as Abel grabbed him around the throat, and they began to grapple together. They were both shouting and falling against the walls, but not a sound could be heard. Nic jumped to his feet, breaking the circle, and I felt a sudden wind blow into me and knock me back in my chair.

  “Don’t break the circle!” Beau yelled, but it was too late. I was pretty sure I was about to pass out. I could hear people yelling all around me. “Put out the candles! Somebody get the lights!”

  I was aware of the wind sweeping around the room, and then Emil ran from the room with Abel right on his heels. Nic and Gabriel ran out after them.

  I felt Gage’s strong arms go around my waist, and I fought to stay conscious, but it was no use. With a rushing sound like a sudden storm, wind began beating at my face, and I fell into Gage’s arms and passed out cold.

  Chapter Eleven

  Gage

  Rafe scared me to death when he passed out. Beau jumped from his chair and helped me lower him to the floor. He was the one who loosened his collar and checked his pulse, while all I could do was chafe his hand between mine and kiss his face. I can see why police departments won’t let relatives work together. I was totally useless.

  “Should I call an ambulance?” Taylor said from beside me, but Beau shook his head.

  “No, he’s coming around now. Rafe, can you hear me?”

  He slowly blinked and then opened those pretty eyes of his, and I sagged with relief. I kissed the back of his hand I was holding, and he managed a weak smile at me.

  “He’s fine. You better go after Nic and Gabriel. Both of you,” Beau said, and, reluctantly, I got to my feet. I still felt shaky as I followed the sounds of yelling coming from the foyer. Taylor and I rushed through the door and saw the man who had been standing hidden—and I was still shocked about that—in the corner of the library. He was backing slowly up the stairs and beside him and in front of him was a swirling cloud, like fog, only darker. He seemed to be arguing with it, but no sound was coming from his mouth.

  “He’s still cloaked in his spell,” Nic said to no one in particular, as he and Gabriel watched the unfolding scene in fascination. It was a little like watching a movie on a tv with bad reception. The images even flickered in and out.

  “Should we interfere?” Taylor asked, drawing his gun.

  “No,” I said, putting my hand out to push down the barrel. “If we get involved, I don’t know how the hell I’d ever explain it. Put the gun away.”

  Suddenly the spell or whatever it was broke, and a blood-curdling scream came from the stairs. A body came hurtling down, crashing into the railing and the wall as he fell before smashing facedown onto the tiled foyer floor. The cloud of fog came down behind him, hovered for a second over the body as we all backed away a step. And then it just...disappeared.

  Taylor shoved his gun back in his holster and ran over to the body to feel his throat. He looked up at us and shook his head. “Dead, boss. I think he must have broken his neck.”

  I went over to kneel beside him, checked the pulse myself, and pulled out my cell phone to call it in.

  ****

  Ravenwood was swarming with Forensics and police officers. Before they arrived, I had stood by while Nic and Taylor and the others straightened up the library to hide all the evidence of the séance. I helped Rafe sit on the couch in the library and watched as he drank a cup of tea that somebody had magicked up—literally—from somewhere. I didn’t even ask any questions. I had seen what these people could do, and I was kind of in shock, I guess. At least that’s what Beau said. Before I knew it, I had a cup of tea in my hand too.

  My partner, Luc, had arrived, and I had trouble talking to him, so h
e just gave me a concerned look, and let Nic handle most of the answers to his questions. Nic told Luc we had been having a friendly little family get together when this Emil guy knocked on the front door., He started acting crazy, ran to the second floor and fell, coming crashing back down to the foyer floor and breaking his neck. He said none of us had any idea why he was there or what he hoped to accomplish. It was a mystery.

  Luc looked to me for corroboration, and I nodded. “That’s about it,” I said. “That’s what happened.”

  I didn’t exactly lie, but I didn’t tell the truth either, because what was I gonna say? No, the guy has been coming in the house, knocking on walls, turning into a mist and looking for diamonds. He made us think the house was haunted. So my boyfriend held a séance, called up some ghosts, and oh yeah, this guy Emil was hiding in the corner the whole time, but none of us could see him. He used some dark magic spell to hide himself. Then the ghost of his father came in and chased him out of the room, up the stairs, and probably pushed him back down so he would break his neck.

  Yeah...no. Luc would have had me hauled off to the hospital for a psych evaluation so fast it would have made me dizzy. Hell, maybe I needed to go. But I didn’t want to leave Rafe when he was sick and drooping on my shoulder, his sweet breath ghosting on the side of my throat. I sat there with my arm around him, drank my tea, and kept my mouth shut. Luc was the last one to leave, after giving me some long looks. I managed to tell him I’d talk to him in the morning, and he finally left. I dreaded that interview, but I guess this was my life now, if I wanted Rafe to be in it. And God help me, I did. In fact, I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it now.

  After everyone left, Nic and Taylor rounded us all up and took us home. Rafe and I were dropped off back at my apartment, and Rafe squeezed my hand reassuringly as they drove off, promising to see us in the morning. We went upstairs, and Rafe wouldn’t talk to me about any of it, just saying, “No, not now. We both need to rest. We can talk in the morning.”