Ghost Dancer (A Modern Magics Story)

by Maer Wilson

  “Well, he must have followed us. We were just too complacent. We’ve gotten too used to the dead, Fi and forgotten that live people can hurt us.”

  Thulu held his 9 mm Glock, barrel pointed at the floor, finger off the trigger.

  I tried to remain calm, but my heart pounded fiercely. Parker floated nearby, his face full of concern.

  “Where exactly? Does he have the boy with him? Did you tell Lassiter he was here?” I kept my voice quiet and was glad we had the shades pulled in the downstairs windows.

  Thulu tracked his quarry, and I watched him as his eyes followed someone neither of us could see.

  “Yes, I told Lassiter we might have been seen taking the dog. The man is making his way slowly around the house and no, the child isn’t with him.”

  I nodded, wondering how long it would be before the cops got there. I didn’t hear any sirens and hoped Lassiter would act on Thulu’s vague information.

  “Did you unlock the back?” I asked Thulu, whispering.

  “No, it’s still locked from when we left this morning.” Thulu paused. “He’s almost to the backyard, but the fence is blocking him.”

  The old house had a seven foot tall block wall fence that previous owners had put up. It enclosed the small yard that connected the house with the garage.

  “He’s going along the fence line to the back.”

  There was no way he could get in by going around. There were no gates in the fence. The only way into the yard was through the garage, the house or over the fence. I guessed that he’d try to climb over once he realized that.

  My heart continued to pound, and my breathing came in rough hitches. Thulu was completely calm. His Karate training had kicked in, and there was no indication that he was bothered in the least.

  I briefly wished I’d at least gotten into the meditation part of the Karate classes Thulu had wanted me to take. His own fifth degree Black Belt and ability to stay calm stood him in very good stead when he had to deal with situations like this. Fortunately, we hadn’t had very many of them. Well, actually we hadn’t had anything like this. This was the closest someone had come to threatening us in a long time, and the first time they had actually come near our home.

  I jumped when my phone sang its ring tone to me. I hurriedly grabbed it from the table and checked the screen.

  It was my empath grandmother. She had picked up on my distress I was sure. I quietly answered.

  “Nana, we can’t talk right now.”

  “Do I need to call the police?” Her voice was calm, but concerned. My grandmother always seemed to know what to do.

  “I don’t think so, Nana. Thulu already told them there was an intruder.”

  Thulu’s phone rang, and he answered it as I quickly disconnected from Nana, promising to call her as soon as I could.

  “Yeah, I thought I saw someone skirting the fence around the backyard from the upstairs window.” He paused.

  “No, we aren’t looking out of any of the windows right now. Just a few seconds ago he was headed back to the garage.”

  Lights exploded all around the house, and I heard a helicopter come in above us that sounded like it was on the roof.

  Thulu and I instinctively hit the floor as we heard a flurry of shots fired from the back of our house. Within moments they stopped, but we stayed on the floor. Neither of us was in a hurry to move. Thulu looked beyond me and smiled grimly. I turned to see Parker stretched out on the floor. He shrugged and gave me a rueful grin, but he didn’t move.

  It seemed like we stayed there forever, but it was probably only a few minutes before there was a knock at the front door.

  Thulu and I exchanged a look, and we both moved to the front door. Thulu looked through the peephole and must have been satisfied because he nodded. He started to open the door, but realized we were both armed. He motioned for my gun and quickly took them both to the study.

  He was back in seconds and opened the front door just as someone knocked again and yelled, “It’s okay to open the door. This is the police.”

  It took hours, but eventually the police left. Some of them didn’t seem to know our part in the situation. Lassiter took the lead as much as he could. I got the impression he was shielding us, but couldn’t imagine why he would do that. They came to the conclusion that the man had seen us take the dog and followed us throughout the day. Neither Thulu nor I contradicted that theory.

  Lassiter told us that the man was dead. Shot down in the alley when he raised a gun to the cops and refused to drop it. I couldn’t say I was sad, but I did nervously look around to see if the man’s ghost would make an appearance. I wish I’d known if he had moved on when he died. Most people did, but that was no guarantee.

  I never asked his name. I preferred to think of him as a nameless monster. Even though I could have used it to verify that he was gone. The dead responded to their names more often than not. But a name would have humanized him too much. Thulu talked to Lassiter privately for a while. I was sure Thulu got a lot more information than I needed or wanted.

  His expression was grim when he came back into the family room after Lassiter left. I took a fortifying sip of wine, steeling myself for what I knew was going to be bad.

  “There were over two dozen bodies found in his homemade crypt. Bodies of young girls between the ages of eight and thirteen,” he paused.

  I didn’t want to know what had been done to them, but of course my husband knew that.

  “Some of them have been there for over five years, but they don’t know exactly how long, yet,” he continued.

  I watched him, knowing there was something coming that I really didn’t want to know, but that he felt I needed to know.

  “They also found the recently deceased body of one male child. They identified the child as the man’s son. La Fi, he must have followed us, then gone home and killed that boy before coming after us.”

  I felt the tears fall as Thulu pulled me close and held me tightly. We had just seen the child only hours before. As I took his dog away from him. That thought looped through my brain, and I wondered if it was my fault. If I’d left the dog, would that baby still be alive? Thulu kissed the top of my head.

  “This wasn’t our fault, Fi. We can’t think that.”

  “But Thulu, it is, you know? If we hadn’t taken the dog --”

  “Then he would have done something else. Or continued killing more girls. We gave him no indication that we connected him to Danika.”

  “But he had to know we would be suspicious with the burns to Rudy. Even if he believed we lost Rudy and Danika had rescued him. He had to know those burns would at least get some sort of investigation.”

  “That’s way too many suppositions, Fi. I’m not convinced he thought that far ahead, love.” Thulu’s tone was soft, reasonable.

  But I knew better. Why else had he followed us? That child’s death lay directly on my doorstep. I just had to be so clever with my little act about the dog. I’d gotten an innocent child killed.

  I wished I could believe that it wasn’t my fault, but that child’s death would haunt me for a long time.

  Parker left when the cops did, telling us he’d keep an eye out. Not that there was any reason to be concerned at that point. He said he’d also check in on Danika.

  We called Nana Fae and filled her in on what had happened, declining her kind offer to come over. I was exhausted, but sleep was a long time coming that night.

  Thulu and I sat in the window seat in our bedroom, looking out over the lights of the city, tears slipping down my face. I fell asleep from sheer exhaustion soon after we were settled in bed. I felt safe with Thulu tucked around me protectively.

  I woke the next morning safely encased in his arms. When I stirred, I felt him kiss the top of my head. The sun’s angle told me it was late morning. Very late.

  I’ve been surrounded by death almost every day since I was ten, but the dead didn’t usually make me feel uncomfortable. The night before was death as I’d
rarely experienced it - real, immediate and senseless. I was more than ready to put it behind me and focus on getting Danika on her path.

  I took a long, hot shower and washed the cobwebs and darkness from my mind. When I finally went downstairs, Thulu had my morning Coke ready for me and had fixed me an omelet and toast. I hadn’t eaten much the day before, and I was starving. I dug into the egg to release the melted cheese as Thulu brought me up to speed.

  “Reo called. He said Danika is very good and they spent the night putting together a little show. They want us to come to the hotel around two this afternoon. Parker came by and told me that he is letting the supernatural world know that there will be a special show this afternoon.”

  “Wow! You’ve been busy. You did all that while I was in the shower?” I slathered blueberry jam on my toast.

  Thulu dimpled at me. “Of course not, love. I was up early and got everything done. I only went back to bed when I thought it was getting really late, even for you. Especially if we want to be at the hotel in a couple hours.”

  I looked at the clock and realized it was almost noon. “No kidding.” Waking up was not my best time of the day. It took me a while to become fully human on a good day. Let alone one following as much drama as we’d had the day before. Even with a shower and food it was a slow process. After brunch, I answered email and took care of a few bills before heading upstairs to get ready for the show.

  I didn’t often wear a lot of makeup, in spite of being blonde and having pale skin. But I wanted Danika to know I took her seriously, so I dressed up a little more than I usually would for an afternoon. Wearing a good pair of jeans, my leather boots with actual heels and a pale green silk blouse, I finally pronounced myself as good as I was going to get that day and met Thulu downstairs.

  My husband had gone with khakis and a long sleeved, soft brown shirt with his leather jacket. We locked up, set the alarm and headed for the SUV. Parker appeared in the backseat just as we pulled out of the garage, telling me he told everyone he could find about the show.

  When we got to the hotel, one of most exclusive in the city, the guard at the express elevator let us go up. The maître d’s stand was empty when we stepped out of the elevator, and as we looked around I didn’t see any live people at all. However, the lobby and showroom were crowded with the dead, I was happy to see.

  Ghostly heads turned as Thulu and I walked into the room. Parker pointed to a table just below the stage.

  “Reo said you should sit there. I’ll let them know you’re here.” I recognized the table as the same one Thulu and I had sat at the night we had first met Reo.

  Thulu and I nodded to the dead who had come to the show. We settled in at the table which held a pitcher of ice water and three glasses. The grand piano and Reo’s chair and table had been moved to one side of the stage. Within moments the house lights dimmed and the stage lights came up. Pop music came from speakers set around the room and Reo appeared in a gorgeous tux. The music faded out, and I wondered who was controlling that just as I saw him pocket a small remote.

  “It gives me great pleasure to welcome to the stage the fabulous, tremendously talented Danika Samms!”

  The music started once again and Reo moved to join us at our table as Danika appeared on the stage in a sequined and feathered dress in shades of blues and greens. After a moment she began to dance. And man, could that girl dance! I wasn’t sure what her style was, not being a dancer myself, but it appeared to be a mix. I only knew she was graceful, controlled and her “moves” were incredible. The audience went wild as she executed steps I could barely follow.

  Song after song Danika danced. I watched her expression go from uncertainty to pleasure to exultation to the purest joy I’d ever seen. I was grateful to get to watch this incredible girl, but saddened to realize that no one else would ever enjoy her talent. I was pretty sure she could have had a good shot at winning the contest had she lived to enter it.

  As her show progressed and her sheer joy in the dances increased, I realized that the stage was taking on a glow aside from the stage lights. The Light began to pulse and finally settled blindingly on the stage. Danika danced over to our table.

  “Thanks again for saving my dog. And thanks for giving me my show. You guys are all great!” She turned to her audience.

  “Thanks for coming to my show!” She waved and blew kisses, and we all applauded and blew kisses back at her. Danika danced back toward the Light turning at the last minute to call out, “Don’t forget the money under my bed.” And then she was gone.

  The Light remained a few minutes longer as some of the audience slipped into it. After it faded the remaining dead popped out until there was no one left, but Thulu, Reo, Parker and me.

  I hugged Reo. “Thanks for doing that for her, Reo. It was truly awesome.”

  “She was incredible wasn’t she?”

  “She was indeed.”

  The four of us sat staring at the stage that had recently witnessed one of the most beautiful dancers I’d ever seen. Maybe that anyone had ever seen. I smiled to myself, feeling we’d done well by our client. I had no intention of collecting our fee. As far as I was concerned, her dancing was all the payment we needed. The memory of it would stay with me the rest of my life.

  The End

  Acknowledgements

  With deepest gratitude to the usual gang.

  To all of the fabulous writers of Purgatory for their inspiration, support and friendship, especially Lisa Brackman, Rick Campbell, Kim Taylor, R. M. Clark, LynDee Walker, Cindy Pon, Jennifer Nelson, Kell Andrews and Jennifer Walkup.

  A very special thank you to my awesome beta readers: Derek Rost, Danielle DeVor, Zachary Matzke, Cheryl Rodgers, Dr. Kim Farrell and Sharda Garrett, Erric Zdzchowski and Diane Zdzchowski. Their honesty and support is appreciated more than words can say.

  And to all the OTGers, my fabulous guild and friends. Yay, gamers! Yay, Asylum!

  To Carla Clifton for all she does. Thanks so very much!

  To Jen Ryan, my editor and friend, whose skills are appreciated and whose friendship is so valued.

  And of course, to my family and extended family who are always awesome and loved: my brother, Shawn Wilson, Shawn Woodrich, Todd Myers and Andrew Dolle.

  About the Author

  After a successful career being other people, and later teaching others the many tricks of that trade, Maer Wilson has decided to be herself for a while. Turns out she's a writer. She's always loved stories, especially fantasy, mystery and sci fi. Maer was born in the Year of the Dragon and has a dragon-themed room in her home, but sadly no dragons in the back yard. When she's not writing, Maer plays online video games, teaches college and reads. Maer is a partner in Ellysian Press, a small publishing house. She also co-hosts the literary podcast MythBehaving. Maer lives in the high desert of Southern Nevada with her three dogs, a chihuahua and two poodles.

  Her books include Relics, Portals, and Magics in the Modern Magics series. There are four prequel novelettes in the series - “Ghost Memory,” “Unwanted Ghost,” “Ghost Dancer” and “Wedding Ghost.” A recently released box set includes all the novelettes plus a new story, “Lost Ghost.” You can find all books and novelettes in the Modern Magics series at Maer’s Author Page on Amazon.

  For more info, you can visit Maer’s website at http://maerwilson.com/. You can also follow her at the social media links below:

  Maer on Facebook

  Maer on Twitter

  The Modern Magics Series

  Maer Wilson

  Relics, Book 1

  Most of Thulu and La Fi's clients are dead. Which is perfect since their detective agency caters to the supernatural. But a simple job finding a lost locket leads to a big case tracking relics for an ancient daemon.

  The daemon needs the relics to keep a dangerous portal closed. His enemy, Gabriel, wants the relics to open the portal and give his people access to a new feeding ground – Earth.

  Caught on live TV, other portals begin
to open and the creatures of magic return to Earth. The people of Earth are not alone, but will soon wish they were.

  When Gabriel threatens their family, Thulu and La Fi's search becomes personal. The couple will need powerful help in the race to find the relics before Gabriel does. But maybe that's what ghostly friends, magical allies and daemonic clients are for.

  When the creatures of myth and magic return to Earth, they're nothing like your mother's fairy tales.

  Portals, Book 2

  For supernatural detectives Thulu and La Fi, “normal” is a relative term. La Fi is a medium, Thulu is a finder, and their usual clients are already dead.

  But when their friend Reo is shot, and a group of stranded angels show up at their house for help to find a missing child, things are striking too close to home.

  And the portals that let the magical races return to Earth have started opening on their own.

  With trips off-world, a kidnapped psychic and changes to their own abilities, Thulu and La Fi are hit with a lot more than they usually handle. Of course, their magical friends are there to help, but even they may not be enough to save an increasingly unstable Earth.

  Portals is the cross genre (Sci Fi/Urban Fantasy) sequel to Relics and is Book 2 in the Modern Magics series.

  Magics, Book 3

  In Relics, the creatures of magic returned to Earth.

  In Portals, magic itself returned.

  In Magics, we’ll wish it hadn’t.

  The laws of magic have become as real as the laws of physics, and humans with magical powers are becoming the norm.

  But human magic is out of control - powerful, wild, unpredictable. Five ultra-powerful humans rise above the rest to begin a reign of terror, and entire cities fall. The elves and other Elder Races are desperate to find and stop these magical terrorists. But for the first time, the magic of the Elder Races is surpassed.