“Hi there! You must be new here,” a woman’s voice said, interrupting my thoughts.
“Oh, hello! Yes, I just got settled in today and thought I’d check the menu out at the restaurant. Is it a good place to eat?”
“Oh yes, the food is excellent,” the man with her said. “You can’t get any fresher seafood than here.”
“Be forewarned, though, if you plan on walking back alone after dark this way, you’ll probably get picked on quite a bit by the spirits. For some reason, the ones that hang out here are quite a bit more aggressive than anywhere else in the park we’ve been,” the woman said.
“Oh no! Is this a dangerous place? I was told the total opposite!”
“No, no. Not dangerous, but they’ll do their best to scare you right through here. Even the goofballs with the ghost detectors stay away from here unless nothing is happening anywhere else. They tend to be, shall we say, more touchy-feely around here.”
“But nobody gets hurt, right?”
“Oh heavens no, but don’t panic if they touch you. That happens a lot right through here, especially to women.”
“Okay then, thanks for the heads-up on that.” We walked along in silence until we were far enough away from them, then I asked Rand, “Can you protect me from other ghosts if I need help?”
He laughed and said, “Probably.”
“What the heck is that supposed to mean, mister? You mean you might not or you can’t?”
He laughed again. “No, I will do my absolute best to protect m’lady, but if the forces of evil are too numerous . . . I can’t guarantee success.”
“Oh, so now we’re a comedian, huh?” I elbowed him playfully. “Damn it, Rand! Brrr!”
“Oh, so that was somehow my fault now, was it?”
I just rolled my eyes at him because there were too many people around for me to be seen talking to myself now.
The place was quite different than I expected. It had a modern maritime theme to it on the outside, to some degree—but the inside was luxurious. If it wasn’t for all of the other patrons in casual camping attire, I would have felt woefully underdressed.
Chapter 11
When we were seated at our table by a poodle shifter in a dress, I tried to maintain a proper poker face, but I quickly realized that she only saw me. Not that he could eat anyhow, but it was rather awkward for me when she pulled my chair out and pushed it back as I sat, placed my menu in front of me, and made her recommendations of what was best on the ‘fresh daily’ section, and totally ignored Rand. In her defense, she didn’t know he was even there. He didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. When she’d told me my server Gregory would be right here to take care of me, she also added, “It’s a pleasure to have you here, Ms. Roxanne. Mr. Jeremy told us all about you, and to expect you.”
“Your reputation precedes you, m’lady!” Rand chuckled.
I just raised an eyebrow at him. With this many people around, I didn’t dare respond. Gregory arrived within seconds, and brought a fresh, full bottle of wine with him, already open. “Good evening, Ms. Roxanne, it’s a pleasure to serve you—”
“Wait. How did you know I was in the mood for wine?” I asked, looking around me as if there would be a clue.
“I did not, Ms. Roxanne. I have been instructed by Mr. Jeremy that when you sit in this restaurant you are to be treated the same as if you were he. This is Mr. Jeremy’s pick-of-the-week. Please enjoy! I’ll be back in a few moments for your order.”
“Dang!” Rand chuckled. “He’s really laying it on thick. Don’t go getting a big head on me now, Ms. Roxanne!”
I could get used to being treated like this. Glancing over at Rand, I gave him the slightest shake of my head, letting him know to knock it off, as I caught myself watching Gregory walk away. He looked incredibly suave in his formal attire. He was tall, athletic, handsome—and a black cat shifter.
Dinner was amazing. I let Gregory choose for me. He brought the seafood sampler platter, which had a bit of everything, prepared several ways. He kept my wine glass filled religiously, so that by the time I’d eaten entirely too much food, I had a pretty good buzz going. When I asked for the bill, he just waved his hands at me. “No, no, no. Is courtesy of Mr. Jeremy, Ms. Roxanne. Him say your money no good at his establishment,” and he walked away smiling.
“Oohhh!” Rand teased. “Him gots his eye on you, Ms. Roxanne!” When he gave me an exaggerated wink, I wanted to smack him, even though nobody else could see him.
“I think it’s time for me to quit drinking for the night. This is the second time this month I’ve gotten carried away with good wine. You ready, mister?”
“Yes’m, Ms. Roxanne, I am,” he smiled.
“Knock it off, you bonehead!” I blurted out, just as an older gentleman walked past me on his way to the restrooms. He looked quite surprised, stared fixedly straight ahead, and kept going. I hung my head in shame. There was just no explaining this to him. No way at all!
Standing up was an experience. I put one hand on the table until my head stopped spinning and then did my best to walk a straight line to the door. Rand was quite entertained. I almost did it again . . . but I caught myself just as I was about to call him—a name—when I realized there were people all around, waiting to get in.
When we’d passed beyond the line I asked, “Hey. Hey Rand . . . when you’re grayed out—can other ghosts, like, see you?”
“No, not really. I mean if they were right with me and knew where to look, yes, but that’s hardly ever the case. Why do you ask?”
“I’m curious about what that older couple said on our way over here. Would you be insulted if I asked you to disappear, but stay with me? You know, just in case?”
He chuckled again. Apparently I was pretty amusing to him. He’d been laughing at my expense most of the evening. “Of course not. I’d be glad to. No idea what you’re getting yourself into, but I imagine it’s nothing we can’t handle.”
“Good. Thank you. Go poof now!” I told him, shooing him away. He vanished immediately, but it was reassuring to think that he would be right beside me if I got in over my head. Nobody was on the long stretch of sidewalk between the restaurant and the campground, so I relaxed and walked without trying to look sober.
About halfway, I heard a cat-call and a cackling giggle. I stopped and looked around me. I heard it again, just ahead of me so I deliberately walked toward the voices with my poker-face on. Ahead, two older gentlemen stepped onto the walk in front of me. I knew they were ghosts, but I was careful not to let on.
“Whoa . . . check this out, Curtis!” the heavier of the two said. “What a babe! Looks like she’s had a little too much drink, too.”
I stopped and removed my heels, carrying them in my left hand.
“Damn . . . did you see that cleavage, Tom?” the thinner one said, moving directly in front of me, very close. He raised his hands, palms up like he intended to cup my breasts, waiting for encouragement from his friend.
“You touch my boobs and I’ll banish your perverted old asses from this campground forever, Curtis! You too, Tom!” I said loudly, while looking Curtis directly in the eyes. They both went poof before I could blink an eye. I laughed so hard, I regretted drinking all of that wine. I really should have used the bathroom before leaving the restaurant.
Rand reappeared, also laughing. “You kill me, Ms. Roxanne! You scared those old geezers straight, if I had to guess. I doubt they’ll be bothering anyone else tonight.”
“Did you see the look on Curtis’ face right before he disappeared?” I asked, almost choking I was laughing so hard. “Oh shit Rand, take me home before I pee myself.”
Leaving the paving brick walk for the boardwalk where the campers began, I barely managed to control myself enough to avoid making a scene. Immediately, we came upon several small groups of people with those Ghost Detector things held out in front of them. Rand hammed it up directly in front of them, but nothing happened with the detectors.
T
oby met us at the door with an urgent whine, needing to go outdoors worse than I needed to go indoors. I snapped his leash to his collar and headed for the designated doggie area. While standing there waiting for him to do his business, a younger looking woman—another poodle shifter—walked past, dressed in the same type of uniform the restaurant wait staff had worn.
“Hello. You’re Ms. Roxanne, right?”
“Yes, I am. Hello back at you!” I thought my buzz had worn off, but apparently not from my speech and lack of caution.
“I’m Gloria. Just heading toward the gauntlet, on my way to work. I close tonight, so I get to look forward to unwanted advances from those jerks that haunt the bricks in both directions.”
“I don’t think you’ll see either of them tonight, if ever again out there,” I told her, feeling cocky.
“Oh yeah? Why is that?”
“Because I just scared the ghost poop out of them! And I threatened to banish them from this park if they so much as touched me. They poofed out so fast, it’d make your head spin.”
“You could do that?”
“I think so? I’m kind of new to all this, but I’m learning fast. I’m here to find my Aunt Stella so I can learn more.”
“Stella, as in Madame Devraux? Whoa! Cool!”
“You know her?”
“No, only of her. She’s the one that cast the spell of protection over this land. That’s what draws the spirits here.”
“Protection against what, exactly?”
“Turned witches. Supposedly, they prey on spirits and other paras, but they can’t do it here. That’s why we have so damn many spirits hanging around here sometimes. Only thing is, they’re getting out of control. The only one that can even talk to them is Jeremy, with his magic earring. He bought it from your aunt a long time ago, according to the rumors. He can hear them, but he can’t see them. Even if he could, though, he can’t control them, so there are zero consequences if they don’t do what he says.”
“Well, maybe all that’s about to change,” I told her. “I’ll bet Curtis and Tom are spreading the word now.”
“Who’s that?”
“Curtis is the short, fat ghost that thought he was going to get both his hands full of my boobs earlier. Tom is the tall skinny one with him.”
“Bastards. They do that to me all the time, but nobody ever knew their names.”
“I’ll be giving a message to Jeremy and that Suzette in the morning for those two. I think their groping days are over.”
“Oh, thank you, Ms. Roxanne! I’ll pass the word at work.”
“Um, Gloria? Can I ask you a question?”
“Anything you want, Ms. Roxanne.”
“Is everyone that works here . . . um, a paranormal?”
“Yep. One-hundred percent. Mr. Jeremy goes out of his way to employ shifters, especially. Keeps them out of sight and out of trouble. He’s been around for a long time, too. Not as long as your aunt, but still a long time. Oh! I’ve gotta run, Ms. Roxanne. It was sure nice to meet you! I hope I get to talk to you again some time!”
“Same here. Bye.”
“Hey . . . Can you, see my animal?” she called back.
“Poodle,” I said. She smiled and trotted off toward the bricks. As for myself, I practically sprinted for the bathroom.
***
Thank goodness for the healing ring, or I would have had a raging hangover this morning. At least I’d been smart enough to not wear anything else with it this time and cause another incident, like I did the last time. The only problem was, without the other ring, I definitely felt the drain Rosemary had referred to. But it still beat a hangover.
“Are you coming with me down to the store this morning, Rand?” I asked as I switched out my rings.
“Sure, if you’d like me to. What have you got in mind?”
“Going fishing for information is what I’ve got in mind. I thought having you there to listen, and think of things would be a good idea . . . you know, the old two heads are better than one thing?”
“So you want me for my mind today, not just for my body, huh?” He couldn’t keep a straight face at that one.
“At what age do male ghosts generally outgrow being a pain in the ass?”
“I don’t know yet. I’ll be sure to tell you when I do.”
“C’mon . . . let’s go while we’re still young.” Out the door we went, teasing back and forth the whole way there. We found Jeremy in the store this time. He was attending to the needs of several older couples, helping them find what they were looking for, so I browsed while I waited.
When they had gone and we were the only ones left in the store, he came straight over to me. He was dressed pretty formally for what he was doing—dark slacks, shined shoes, and a long-sleeved white shirt with the cuffs rolled up once. Like an old time Chicago gangster, I thought.
“Good mornin’, Ms. Roxanne! Is good to see you dis day! How you likin’ dat trailer? Is okay, is it?”
“Oh, yes! It’s a beautiful trailer and the lot is gorgeous. How could I not like it? And thank you for the extra attention I seem to get everywhere I go here. Your staff treat me like I’m royalty or something!”
He smiled at that while he moved around the small store rearranging the stock on the shelves so it was perfectly positioned. As he made his way closer to me, he caught sight of the Power Ring I was wearing—suddenly he looked like a deer caught in headlights. He seemed fascinated as he continued staring at it.
“Is beautiful, it is. So sparkly!” Giving his head a shake, he shuddered as he took control of himself and continued what he was doing. “I hear you have unpleasant encounter wit’ unruly spirits last night. Fir dis, I am truly sorry. How can Jeremy make it up to you, Ms. Roxanne?”
“Oh Jeremy, it wasn’t your fault, by any means! Why would you even think that? Besides, I enjoyed your wine of the week a little too much with dinner, so I may or may not have egged them on just a little. I doubt that they’ll bother anyone like that again. At least, not while I’m here.
“I threatened to banish them from this place forever if they touched me like they intended. It was a bluff, but it seemed to work quite well! They disappeared quicker than the blink of an eye.”
“Dey dared to try an’ touch you in bad way? Oh, sheet, oh, sheet . . . I kill dem if I could. Sadly, I no can. I no can do anyt’ing ‘tall t’ dem.” He lowered his head and shook it lightly. “Dis is t’anks I gets fir pay protection fir dem all. Dey no behave.”
“What exactly do you pay protection for?”
His entire animal flashed at me that time. He shook his head again, looking down. “Oh, sheet, oh, sheet! I say too much!”
“You’ve already told me that my aunt cast a spell of protection over this place and that you bought your magickal earring from her in order to hear spirits. I did not realize however that they were a bunch of ingrates taking advantage of your generosity, or that you had to pay her to do it!”
“I say too much . . .”
“No, actually, I think I need to hear more about this—before I find my aunt! Speaking of which . . . do you have any idea where I can find her?”
Suzette appeared just beyond Jeremy with two other ghosts I hadn’t seen before. They just looked at me. One waved. I waved back, and they both disappeared. Suzette stayed. Looking at me, she said, “Hello, troublemaker.” Turning to Rand, she purred, “Helloo, handsome.” She gave him an exaggerated wink just to embarrass him. I rolled my eyes. “He pays your aunt for protection on a monthly basis. He has for almost a hundred years. When I was still alive, Jeremy and I were an item. When I fell ill and died during the 1918 Flu Pandemic like so many others in the world, my sweet man was heartbroken. Your aunt discovered that I wasn’t offered the light and told him that I was still here. He had no way to communicate with me and couldn’t see me so she Made a pair of magick earrings that allowed him to hear me at least. He doesn’t need to see me when I visit his bed at night—”
“Suzette! You say to
o much!” Jeremy gasped, shaking his head.
“Oh nonsense, sweet man . . . this woman knows exactly what I mean. The world has changed over time, Jeremy. I can’t help it if you insist on living by turn-of-the-last-century mannerisms. I’m a modern girl! Sort of.
“Anyway, Ms. Roxanne, at that time there were two other witches here in Louisiana who Turned. They were after spirits, though we have no idea how or why. My sweety here struck a deal with Madam Devraux for some sort of protection spell just to protect me from them. As long as I stay on this property, and sweety here keeps paying her, I’m safe.” She smiled at him and kissed his cheek.
“It not jus’ for you, you hussy, is for Jeremy too. I safe from dem, too, here now.”
“What do you need protection from, Jeremy?” I asked.
“The turned witches, they don’t just go after the spirits, they come after the shifters, too,” Suzette said.
“You go ‘way!” Jeremy said, getting a little testy with her now.
“I think I remember Elmer mentioning something about that. But you still didn’t answer my question if you knew where I could find my aunt,” I reminded him.
“He knows exactly where she lives, don’t you sweety?” Suzette blurted.
“Suzette! Go ‘way! You have big mouth!” She grinned at him before she disappeared. “Yes. I draw map for you. Hope Stella no kill Jeremy for dat.”
“I’ll make sure and tell her it was all my fault, Jeremy. Thank you!” Now we were getting somewhere, but this was a lot to take in. “So, how many shifters and ghosts do you have here now, Jeremy? I’ve heard about you only hiring shifters, to give them work and to help keep them out of trouble. They’re all protected here, too, then?”
“Yes. Dey safe, too. Are dozen shifters works here wit’ me now. Sometime are one hunnerd ghosts here. Dey come and dey go. When dey go, mostly not see dem again. T’ink dey get gobbled up. Is getting too many now.”
Seeing Witchy Things Page 10
