For a moment, I wondered if it was okay for me to touch the gold. It still hadn't quite sunk in yet that it was all mine. Oh god, the thought made it hard to breathe. You think that you want to be rich until you find yourself suddenly responsible for a fortune. Had the intruder the other day been looking for this? Was I going to have to deal with people trying to break in and find the Stonebridge Manor treasure? Surely something as good as this had sprouted its own urban legends by then.
I'd seen a hardware store near the Target. I knew that I needed new locks for the doors and a new chain and padlock for the sub-basement. No one was getting my gold.
As I waited for the bus, I made a mental note that I needed to purchase a car. I got a sideways look from the old woman sitting next to me on the bench because I chuckled at the thought of taking a gold bar into a car dealership.
Jareth arrived looking exhausted. He'd been working a lot lately, and it looked as if he hadn't been sleeping well. I was pretty tired too, but that was because I'd replaced three deadbolts and rechained the sub-basement door once I’d returned from the hardware store. That meant there was no one in the world who had keys to Stonebridge Manor besides me.
"You look beat. Let me make you some coffee." I said. "Maybe we could order a pizza too. Would you like to have dinner here?"
He looked a little crestfallen, but I wasn't sure why. It crossed my mind for a moment that he'd expected this to be a date, but I'd given him no reason to expect that.
Jareth was the kind of guy I could see myself longterm, and I couldn't sleep with him while I was having sex with Brian and Pierce. I couldn't live with myself.
I might have been imagining it. Perhaps he was just tired, because after a few moments, he perked up considerably.
"Okay, but only if you let me pay for the pizza. That new cave monster movie is on pay per view now too, so you should let me rent that for us."
"Pizza and a monster flick? Sounds like a plan to me." I said with a smile.
Instead of coffee, we made a beer run to Target. There was a pizza place across the parking lot too, so instead of ordering delivery, we stopped in and picked up a pie to go.
The rest of the night, we watched the movie, drank beer, and chatted about books. It was almost too perfect and exactly what I needed. Jareth seemed genuinely interested in my thoughts on things, and his warm eyes and gentle demeanor made me feel comfortable and protected.
He left fairly early with nothing more than a hug and a kiss to the top of my head. "We should do this again." Jareth said.
I looked up and noticed the corpse woman standing at the top of the steps staring at us. I must have tensed up but I was distracted by Jareth grabbing my hand and giving it a quick squeeze.
"I'd like that." I said, and as I did, the corpse woman turned and walked down the hall and away from the top of the stairs. It was as if she approved of Jareth. I felt myself relax, and seeing her was almost completely wiped from my mind by the time I closed the door behind him.
Chapter Thirty-Five
By Saturday, I was still in debate about whether to tell Brian about the gold. Part of me couldn't wait to share the information with someone. Not telling Jareth had been one of the hardest things I'd ever done. I knew that he was an outsider, but he felt like family. It was weird. I'd been so physically attracted to both Brian and Pierce, but Jareth felt like someone I could marry.
He was the kind of guy you settled down with, and some part of me wanted to sow my oats with Pierce and Brian so that I could move on to something real with Jareth. It felt like that was exactly what was happening too. Like someone had set up the perfect situation for me. Three amazing guys who were all in my life for different reasons had just fallen into my lap. Oh, and I was rich too. All of the scary things that had happened seemed like a small price to pay for the good the leaked out around the edges.
I'd even abandoned my couch sleeping ways and moved into one of the bedrooms on the second floor. There was a lovely bathroom right next door to my room with a clawfoot tub and what would be an awesome view of the backyard. I had the money to return Stonebridge Manor to its former glory, and that is what I intended to do.
Something had shifted inside of me. I'd shaken off the skin of my former life. I was at that time fully at home in my new house. It had seeped into me and become a part of who I was always meant to be.
Since I was no longer broke, I ordered groceries from the fancy supermarket Pierce had taken me to on my first day in Loburn. That was when Pierce was still Johnathan. Funny how quickly things had changed.
Brian deserved a meal fit for a king, and I wanted to make sure that he felt special. I'd decided that I wouldn't break things off with him that night. I wanted to indulge in the fantasy, and in his rock-hard physique, one more time. I felt I deserved that. Wealth has a way of making you feel like the world owes you whatever you want. And why not? Millions of dollars was enough to set me free. I was beholden to no one anymore.
The grocery delivery arrived and I inspected the meat and produce before I let the delivery guy leave. The large tip I gave him brought a light to his eyes and a smile to his face. I liked that. It wasn't because I'd made his day. It was because he'd remember me and treat me well in the future. Money could do that.
I cooked the filet mignon in gourmet garlic butter and roasted some baby red potatoes with rosemary in the oven. Meat and potatoes was a meal fitting a real man like Brian, but I felt that I elevated it to something special.
An hour after I expected Brian to show, the steaks sat on the plates drying out while the potatoes congealed. I felt like a balloon that had been stabbed by a large knife. All of the air rushed out of me at once. I'd become so confident, and I'd never expected to be stood up.
I thought about calling him, but I knew that would seem desperate. I didn't think Brian had been using me for a one-night stand, but perhaps he'd only said he was coming over on the weekend to be polite.
"You still have two options." I soothed myself. "Don't let one stupid man ruin your high."
I felt adrift. My sense of self drained out of me like water through a sieve with every second that passed. I took two shots of the whiskey that Brian was most definitely not getting back and then took out my phone.
Come over.
I didn't have to wait long for Pierce to respond.
Yes, ma'am.
While I waited for Pierce, I cleaned up the food and put it in the refrigerator. While it was true that I was supposed to be having a date with another man that night, I didn't need to make it obvious.
Chapter Thirty-Six
When the doorbell rang, there were two men standing on my front porch. One was Pierce and the other was a FedEx delivery guy. I wasn't expecting a package, but when I looked at the return address, it was from the hospital.
"You must have left something behind." Pierce said as he walked into the foyer.
"I don't remember leaving anything there, but who knows. I don't remember going there either." I said and set the box down on the entry table. "Must not be important if I don't even remember leaving it. Do you want a drink?"
"Sure, but only if you answer something for me?"
"Okay." I said hesitantly. The way he was looking at me made me feel scrutinized.
"What were your plans for this evening? I don't believe for a second that a beautiful woman like you had nothing going on. I don't mind being your second choice." He said. "I'm just curious."
"I wouldn't call you my second choice." I said and took his hand. For a split second, it seemed as though he might pull back. "I made the plans with Brian before we happened." I said.
"Ah, Brian from down the street?"
"Yeah, do you know him?"
"I do. We have a few mutual friends. I've had a beer with him a time or two. If he was your date, that explains why he didn't show."
"What do you mean?" I felt a humiliated heat rise in my face.
"There are rumors going around that he hurt you. I've heard over th
e last couple of days that people are saying he's the reason that you're in the hospital."
"That's impossible. He'd already gone home for the night. It's not like he was here when Jareth found me. Otherwise, he would have been questioned or something? Right?"
"He wasn't here in the house. But, I've heard that he was walking home when Jareth drove here. He didn't think anything of it because Jareth didn't know that Brian had been at your house earlier. You told him you had family over."
That stopped me in my tracks.
"Wait, I told Jareth I had family over when you were here after the accident." I said and took a step back.
"Oh, right. I guess it's hard to keep track, isn't it, Vi?" His surly tone caught me off guard.
"Excuse you?" I said feeling angry bile rise in my throat. "And, I've told you not to call me Vi.”
All of the fight drained from Pierce's face and demeanor. He suddenly looked embarrassed and ashamed.
"I'm so sorry, Violet. I'm acting like a jealous asshole. There's no excuse for my behavior. I should go. Perhaps you could straighten things out with Brian."
"You don't have to go, and I don't deal with cowards. If Brian was the target of gossip, he and I could have set the record straight. I could have helped him if he'd been man enough to talk to me. But, he chose to hide. He's skulking in the shadows, and that makes me wonder if he did have something to do with what happened to me. I thought there might have been someone down there with me."
"You don't want me to go?" Pierce asked hopefully.
"No, and in fact, I wish I'd cancelled with Brian in the first place." I was lying. "I would much rather spend my time with you."
Pierce grabbed me and kissed me hard. There was a hunger there that felt almost dangerous. But, when we pulled apart, I noticed he was staring at the box that had been delivered.
"What do you think it is?" He asked with a childlike delight.
"You act like it could be a present or something. It's just something I left at the hospital." I said without paying the box any mind.
"Still, aren't you curious? Especially since you said you didn't leave anything? That would eat me up inside."
"Okay, well, now you've got me wondering." I said. "Let me get a pair of scissors."
I came back moments later with the scissors and found Pierce turning the box over and over in his hands. Before he saw me standing there, I saw him give it a shake. He looked like a kid trying to size up his Christmas present.
"Let me open it." I said with a laugh.
He handed me the box and I cut the tape. Inside was a tiny handstitched doll wearing a white and black striped dress. Her eyes were little cross stitches, and her mouth was a frown. She had long yarn hair and little slipper shoes on her feet.
I picked her up out of the box and turned her over in my palm. I felt something trying to creep into my mind. It was like memory slithered up my arm trying to reach my brain. Just before whatever was trying to make it into my head reached its mark, Pierce slapped the doll out of my hand and it fell to the floor.
"Why did you do that?" I asked.
"I'm sorry." He said. "It looks like it's cursed or something. I don't know why I hit your hand like that. I'm sorry." He said again.
"It's okay. I'll just put it away."
Before I could pick it up, Pierce reached down and snatched the doll up. He put it back in the box and set the box on the table before pulling me into a kiss. I felt an electric tingle shoot down my spine when his tongue touched mine, and all of the weirdness with the doll was temporarily forgotten. Then, I felt his pocket buzz. When I opened my eyes, for just a moment, I could swear there was something huge and dark standing right behind Pierce. I almost jumped, but it vanished.
Pierce pulled out his phone and gave me a forlorn look. "I'm sorry, babe. I gotta go. My wife says the kid is sick. I can't stay."
I felt my stomach clench. "Your wife?"
"Yeah, but don't even think about it. We're just staying together for the kid. I haven't fucked her in months. Raincheck on the date? I'll see you soon." He said and kissed me again.
I didn't kiss him back. But, I was too stunned to shove him or hit him. By the time I fully recovered, Pierce's car had backed most of the way down my driveway.
When I looked in the box, the doll was gone. "What the actual fuck?" I whispered. But there was something Pierce hadn't noticed. The box also contained a note.
Come see me as soon as you get this. - Molly
Chapter Thirty-Seven
I didn't know Molly's home address, but a quick Google search did the trick. I called a cab and was standing in front of her small brick house in less than a half hour.
When I rang the bell, I didn't know what to expect. "Come in, sweetie." She said and ushered me into the house quickly. I noticed her looking around to see if anyone was watching us.
"I got your package." I said as Molly lead me into her kitchen.
"Do you have the doll? You should keep that on you at all times." She said and indicated I should have a seat.
"I don't. Pierce, I mean Johnathan Sabre, my aunt's lawyer, was at my house. I think he took it with him when he left. He didn't see the note in the package. Why didn’t you call?"
"I was worried one of them might be there when I called. I didn't want them using their powers to distract you. I figured the doll would get your attention. He didn't see the note because I added a little something extra to it, sweetie."
"I don't understand what's going on." I said. "You know, a guy named Nick followed me home from Target the other day. He tried to warn me that something bad was happening. Brian dragged him off and said that he was a known crazy."
"More likely that he knows your new friends are up to no good. Most people around Loburn don't notice what's going on right around them. People who do notice are afraid to speak up."
"What is going on?" I asked. "What was my family involved in?"
"Honey, I'm not sure. But, what I do know is that something isn't right. I can feel it. If you've got anywhere else to go, you need to leave. Get out of Loburn and never come back."
"Just leave? Leave everything behind?" I asked more to myself than to Molly. Other than the house, she had no way of knowing what I'd be abandoning.
"It's better than being dead. As long as you live, you can send people in to get whatever you want from the house. The police will meet you at the house to collect whatever you need to get away. Call the dispatch and have a patrol car meet you there. Get your purse and your suitcase and go."
"You have to tell me why." I demanded. "I know you know more than what you're saying. Tell me please."
"It's going to sound crazy, but please hear me out. Okay? I don't know how much you know or believe about the supernatural, but Loburn is a gate. I don't believe it was always that way, but there was a group of people who opened it up. Those people have been using that gate to perform rituals for generations."
"A gate to what?" I asked, but I had the feeling that I already knew.
"The other side. Hell. I'm not sure. It's not good things that come out of it." Molly said.
"But, you live in Loburn. Why do I have to run away?"
"Because from what I understand, the Stonebridges are the keepers. Your family has had a parade of young women come through Stonebridge Manor. Your Grandfather and Aunt would act as patrons to young artists and musicians. The would bring them here for residencies where they would support them while they created. The girls were gifted the best materials and instruments, and they had access to some of the best music and art teachers. The problem is that these girls never left the same as they came in. "
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Some died. Some are in prison for violent crimes. There are a few that have gone on to be incredibly successful, but if you look closely at those girls, dark rumors follow them around. They've been suspected or implicated in violent crimes, but there isn't enough to prove it."
"But, my Grandfather and Aunt are de
ad." I said.
"They are, but I don't believe they acted alone. Their coven or whatever is still out there. They haven't just quit doing whatever evil they were doing because your aunt died. I'm sure once the head of the snake was cut off, another grew into its place."
"And no one had considered that any of this points back at my family?"
"Fear and money are powerful protectors."
Chapter Thirty-Eight
I left in another cab, and instead of calling the police dispatcher, I called Jareth. I asked him to meet me at the house so I could get my things. I was worried about leaving the house and the gold behind, but I figured that I could put a few gold bars in my suitcase. That would give me enough money to make a new start somewhere and then send a crew back to clear out the house. I was sure that with enough money I could hire private security to bring my gold to wherever I ended up. At least, I used those thoughts to soothe myself about taking off.
Jareth was standing in my driveway when I got home. "Let's get in and get your stuff and get out." He said.
I'd told him that I was fleeing from a stalker and begged for his help. I thought he'd assumed that when I'd been hurt the other night, it was the stalker’s fault.
He followed me inside. I grabbed my suitcase and went to the upstairs bedroom I'd been using. I had a few of the gold bars stashed up there, and I was thankful for that. I trusted Jareth to protect me, but I wasn't sure I trusted anyone to see my gold stash. That kind of money can make people do crazy things.
Jareth stood guard at the front door while I packed. I was relieved that I wouldn't have to answer questions about the gold. They were heavy, so I wheeled the case instead of carrying it.
I made sure all of the doors were locked. I felt weird leaving the gold. Like, I actually wanted to go visit it before we left even though I was worried my life was in danger. Living in that house had already changed me.
Dark Ends: A Horror Collection Page 7
