Of The Ashes: A 'So Fell The Sparrow' Sequel Novella

by Katie Jennings

  He watched himself stumble backward away from the room in reaction to the shadow, then turn to chase after it with the Spirit Box. The gurgling growl that came next was loud and clear on Alex’s camera.

  “Whoa,” Brian murmured, his eyes wide.

  Even Mia looked impressed. “Maybe you should take a break and let me go chat with this demon.”

  “No,” Ian replied curtly. “Until we have a priest come into the house, I don’t think we should taunt this thing any further.”

  Mia pouted angrily. “Oh, so you got to have your fun but the minute I want a stab at it you say no? That’s not fair.”

  Ian scowled. “I’m just trying to be cautious.”

  Her hands rested on her hips as she squared off with him. “We came all the way out here, didn’t we? We should take advantage of having the house to ourselves to capture as much evidence as possible.”

  “Normally I would agree with you, but this thing has proven itself to be violent,” Ian countered.

  She let out a derisive sniff. “The Ian I knew wouldn’t have backed down from a fight like this. Since when are you so scared of everything?”

  His hands clenched into fists on his knees, wanting to argue with her but knowing she wouldn’t understand even if he tried. The truth was, he’d started to fear things the moment he had something to lose. Something that mattered.

  Or really, someone that mattered.

  Grace hovered in the doorway of the kitchen, watching the exchange. She chewed her lower lip, overcome with anxiety. She wasn’t sure where it had come from, but it swelled within her until she could barely breathe. Chills raced up and down her spine as her heart pounded in her chest, and she wondered briefly if she was about to pass out. Needing to be alone, she slipped out of the room and into the darkened parlor, resting her hands on her knees to catch her breath.

  There in the shadows, she sensed the evil energy that infested the house. It swarmed over her like a sea of locusts, penetrating her thoughts. She wanted to fight it, but was too weak to move. Too frightened to do more than stand there and allow it to take hold of her.

  She grasped for the silver cross around her neck, her hand shaking violently. As soon as she touched it, a wave of nausea swept over her. Her head spun and a ringing began in her ears, drowning out the sound of Ian and Mia’s argument. Somewhere in the far distance, she could hear both Jackie and Alex’s voices join in the dispute.

  The ringing quickly turned into a long, drawn-out scream, and Grace wondered if it was her own. Suddenly, she was compelled to move. One foot in front of the other, right toward the stairs.

  A sweet release awaits, came a whispered voice in her mind. Upstairs, all is safe.

  She wandered up the stairs, not fully aware of why she was doing it. It seemed no one else noticed she was gone, as none of them followed her. Some strange part of her was glad. She wanted to be alone.

  Death was better in private.

  At the top of the stairs, she automatically went left toward the room where Ian had seen the dark shadow and where Jackie had experienced her vision. Though it was pitch black, she knew where to go, precisely when to turn to enter the room without running into anything.

  The room itself was encased in blackened silence. She knew that against the far wall stood double French doors covered with layered curtains. She approached them purposefully, pulling aside the curtains to open the doors without hesitation. A small, wrought iron balcony greeted her, facing the street and concrete sidewalk below. Swiftly and without a care in the world, she placed both hands on the railing and hoisted up a leg, preparing to jump.

  * * *

  CHAPTER SIX

  Ian was on his feet now, standing before Mia in confrontation. Alex was between them, struggling to keep the peace.

  “You guys offered to help us—and we’re grateful—but we still call the shots,” Alex was saying, his eyes darting back and forth between Mia and Ian.

  Things had escalated quickly between them, but, then, Ian remembered that things always had. Mia was as hot-headed as he was, if not more so. She was also quite a few years younger, still in possession of that fearless streak he realized must have died out in him a year prior. It made her vibrant and fun, but it also made her recklessly foolish.

  He wouldn’t risk the well-being of those he cared about simply to get proof of the paranormal. Not anymore. But if Mia wanted to put herself in jeopardy, then maybe he should just let her.

  “Fine.” He tossed up his hands, losing his patience with her. “Go up there and see what this demon’s made of. I dare you. I promise you’re in for a rude awakening.”

  A triumphant smile crossed Mia’s face. “A dare, huh? Trust me, I can handle myself. Unlike you, I don’t run away from danger.”

  She twirled on her heels, dragging Brian and Rob with her. Ian started to follow, only to notice Grace was missing.

  “Hey, where’s Grace?” he asked Alex, searching the living room and the parlor.

  Mia stopped at the base of the stairs, a cruel smirk on her face. “Probably got scared and ran away.”

  Ian glared at her. “That woman has witnessed some hellish shit in her time. You don’t know the half of what she’s been through.”

  One of Mia’s brows rose. “We all got problems, honey. I don’t see anything special about hers.”

  They heard a sudden, ear-splitting scream, coming from somewhere upstairs. Ian’s heart leapt into his throat, Grace’s name a whisper on his lips. He charged past Mia and up the stairs, too focused on finding Grace to worry about the demon. He halted at the top of the landing on the third floor, unsure which way to look first. When he heard the scream again, more frantic this time, he bolted toward the same room where all the activity had been occurring.

  It struck him like a bullet to the chest to find the room empty. He quickly scanned the untouched bed and vacant wood floor. When a breeze whipped in from the open French doors, he spotted Grace dangling from the wrought iron railing of the balcony, terror in her eyes.

  “Ian!” she cried out, desperately trying to get her footing on the balcony.

  He wasted no time rushing to her, his hands gripping her arms. “I got you. I got you.”

  He lifted her up and helped her ease over the railing and back to safety. She collapsed against him, sobbing uncontrollably.

  “It’s okay, I got you,” he repeated, clutching her against him and stroking her hair. Tears stung his eyes at the sounds of her distress, the fear still gripping his heart in a vice. Her entire body trembled, and he wondered if he would ever get the image of her terrorized face out of his mind.

  Alex and Jackie flew into the room, looking just as panicked as Ian had felt. He caught Alex’s eyes and gave a slight shake of his head. He didn’t want to answer questions. He only wanted to get Grace out of that house.

  He knew what the others would say, supposed it was possible that Grace had simply wandered upstairs and stood at the railing to get fresh air, accidentally tumbling over the side. But his gut told him there were sinister forces behind it.

  “Come with me, baby,” he murmured, rising to his feet with her cradled in his arms. She’d stopped crying, but was still shaking with her eyes tightly closed, her ear pressed against the beating of his heart. “I’m taking you away from this place.”

  She nodded, her grip on his shirt tightening as he walked past Alex and Jackie and out of the room.

  Mia and her crew were in the hallway, confused by what had happened. He paused when he saw Mia.

  “You’re welcome to stay if you want, but we’re done here. We’ll be back in the morning with a damn priest.”

  He didn’t give her the chance to respond before continuing toward the stairs, eager to be free of the house and the demon who had tried to kill the woman he loved.

  The realization that he had brought her to the house and encouraged her to stay and bear witness to the paranormal activity, all for the sake of his own ego and ambition as a ghost hunter, weighed h
eavily on him in that moment.

  His life’s passion had nearly gotten her killed. He knew he would never forgive himself for it.

  * * *

  Jackie sat on the edge of the bed in their hotel room, her face buried in her hands. She had known what the demon was capable of, yet even still she could never have imagined it was strong enough to do this. To compel a living being to kill itself was more frightening than anything she had ever heard of before.

  Alex paced the room, distraught. She wished desperately that he would calm down. His agitation was only causing her more stress, but she knew better than to expect anything less from him. He was worried for Grace, but also concerned for Ian. They had both seen the anguish lining Ian’s face as he carried Grace out of the house. Nothing like this had ever happened, not in all their investigations. Even at The Sparrow House, where they had faced two of the most malevolent spirits Jackie could remember, it hadn’t been as dangerous as this demon.

  Needing to do something more than sit, Jackie went to her duffle bag and began digging through it.

  Alex paused beside her. “What are you looking for?”

  “My book on dispelling demons and my Bible,” she responded quietly, finding both books underneath her extra pairs of socks. She pulled them out, holding them to her chest like the cherished items they were. “I had a feeling we would be needing these.”

  Alex pulled her into his arms and she closed her eyes on a long sigh. At least he was safe—for now. If the demon dared cause any harm to her Alex, her light…but no, she couldn’t even think of it.

  “I love you, darling,” she murmured, breathing him in. He always smelled faintly of fresh soap, and the scent comforted her in ways she couldn’t describe. She needed that comfort now as she focused all her energy on how to banish the demon.

  He framed her face in his hands, his green eyes soft with concern and affection. “I love you, too.”

  “Come sit with me while I read,” she requested, guiding him toward the bed. They curled up beside each other, safe and warm with the lamplight casting a pale-yellow glow throughout the room.

  She cracked open the demon book first, heading straight to a page she’d bookmarked days ago. Somehow, she had known, perhaps by the content of her nightmares, just the chapter she would need to study.

  “Combating Demonic Oppression,” Alex read, his voice tense. “Geez, Jackie, what if we’re not able to fix this?”

  “We can and we will,” she replied with as much confidence as she could muster. “I’m afraid we’re the only chance they have.”

  * * *

  At Grace’s request, Ian left all the lights on in the hotel room. She curled into a ball beneath the covers, his body warm against her own. She wanted to find comfort in it, in him, but for the life of her, she couldn’t chase away the ice that rattled her bones.

  The time between Ian and Mia’s argument in the kitchen and her traumatizing jump from the balcony was completely lost to her. It was as if a black screen had filtered over her mind, blocking out all her senses for a five-minute span. All she could remember was waking up to see the ground teetering up at her as her body began its perilous fall to the garden below.

  Thankfully, she’d managed to twist and grab hold of the railing, steadying herself long enough to scream for help. It had felt like an eternity that she’d dangled there, struggling to pull herself up all the while hoping someone had heard her. When Ian had shown up and dragged her to safety, she remembered breaking down in tears, helpless to do anything more.

  Now that the ordeal was over and she was away from that nightmarish house, she was embarrassed she hadn’t been stronger, braver. Then again, how many people had courage after something like that?

  The question of what exactly happened remained constant in her mind. She was certain she hadn’t simply blacked out for no reason and gone to jump to her death. She vaguely remembered the symptoms she’d experienced before wandering away from the kitchen, but she had no explanation for them. A panic attack, maybe? A seizure? Extremely low blood sugar levels?

  She wanted to believe it was something plausible, something she could assign to a condition in one of her textbooks from medical school. But nothing could explain why she’d nearly jumped to her death without even being conscious of it.

  A shudder ran through her, and she felt Ian pull her in closer. He pressed a gentle kiss to the curve of her neck, as if to remind her of his presence. He’d barely spoken at all since he had saved her from the balcony, almost as if he couldn’t find the words to say. She didn’t blame him—she was at a loss for words herself. But now that the shock and fear were wearing off, she craved answers.

  There was only one possibility that made sense, even though her brain rebelled against the very thought. It was almost too frightening, too fantastical, to believe.

  And yet there it was, glaring at her like a blazing neon sign.

  “Was I possessed by the demon?” she asked softly, the words sounding odd coming from her mouth. It was certainly a phrase she’d never expected to say.

  Ian sighed. “You tell me. What do you remember?”

  Her eyes fluttered closed as a sick feeling washed over her. Recalling the moments before the incident nearly had her in full panic mode again. “I was standing in the kitchen, watching you and Mia argue. My anxiety was through the roof. My heart rate skyrocketed. I felt lightheaded, so I snuck into the hallway to try and catch my breath. I think I felt nauseous. Then, nothing. I came to just as I was about to fall from the balcony, and barely had enough sense to grab the railing on the way down…”

  Ian held her tighter. “Christ, Grace, I’ve never been so scared in all my life. I almost lost you.”

  A tear slipped down her cheek. She resisted the sob that rose in her throat, not wanting to break down again. She needed to be strong, if not for herself, then for him. “I’m okay…I think. But I need to know what happened.”

  “Well, it’s common to black out and lose time when possessed. The other symptoms you describe sound about right, too.”

  “Why me?” she asked, unable to help herself. She fingered the tiny cross necklace Jackie had given her to wear, wishing it had helped.

  “It probably sensed your anxiety watching me argue with Mia, and latched onto you in that moment. You were an easy target for it to show what its capable of.”

  She stared listlessly at the dull beige wallpaper of the hotel room, unable to help feeling violated and used. “Do I need to be exorcised or something?”

  Ian sat up, urging her to face him. She looked into his troubled blue eyes and couldn’t help recalling the feeling of relief when he’d lifted her to safety and held her tightly in his arms.

  “Jackie doesn’t think so. The demon didn’t form an attachment to you, it merely influenced your behavior. While still scary, it’s not permanent.”

  “Okay.” Grace wanted to be reassured, but still felt cold as ice. “So, what happens next?”

  “Jackie got a hold of a local priest who agreed to meet with us tomorrow at the house. Alex will stay here with you while Jackie and I go.”

  Her brows furrowed as she rose into a sitting position. “I’m not staying behind. You said yourself that I’m okay.”

  “I won’t put you in harm’s way again,” he argued firmly. “You could have died, Grace. I’m not letting you within a hundred yards of that house again.”

  She pursed her lips, not wanting to be treated like a child. Especially since she knew Mia would most likely be going back to face the demon. If Ian’s ex-girlfriend could handle being at The Abby Ford House, then, damnit, so could she.

  “I’m not going to sit here and twiddle my thumbs while you and Jackie take this thing on by yourselves,” Grace contested, crossing her arms. She knew she probably resembled the petulant child she didn’t want to be compared to, but she couldn’t help but feel defensive. “We’re a team, Ian. Either I can handle being a part of what you do or I can’t. I’m not fragile and I won’t be br
oken so easily. You of all people should know that about me.”

  She saw a flicker of admiration in his eyes and held onto that, knowing he would give in. He had to. He could be a stubborn ass most of the time, but if there was one thing he respected, it was courage and a sense of duty.

  For him, she would possess both in spades.

  He cupped her face in one hand, his thumb tracing the smooth slope of her cheekbone. A long sigh escaped him as he shook his head. “You’re going to be the end of me, you know that?”

  She couldn’t help the faint smile that crossed her lips. “And here I thought I was your new beginning.”

  A sadness came into his eyes. “I want you to be, Grace. More than anything. But if this thing hurts you again, I’ll—”

  “Stop it,” she protested, leaning in to capture his mouth. The kiss was stormy and fueled by frustration. He dragged her against him, the act mad and desperate. She responded to it with a flare of heat, breaking free of his mouth to whisper in his ear. “I’m here with you in this moment, Ian. I’m not going anywhere. It can’t take this away from us, and it can’t take me from you.”

  He hung his head, breathing heavily, and she could tell he was tormented. Needing to ease his mind, she climbed into his lap and kissed him again.

  “We face this together or not at all,” she declared boldly, her eyes meeting his. “Now stop resisting and give in.”

  He gave a quick nod before his lips sought hers. He flipped her onto her back, the weight of his body pressing eagerly against her own. She gasped at the rush of need, the burst of joy that filled her. It chased away the last remnants of ice the demon had left behind, and soon she’d forgotten about it entirely.

  * * *

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  In the cool hours of morning, with the sunlight shining softly through the windows, The Abby Ford House felt no less oppressive than it had the night before.