Chapter Ten
Haunting Seth
“Bristol!!!”
Seth was screaming, and I went running to get him. I nearly knocked Archer down as I passed him in the hallway, and when I reached the edge of Seth’s bed, he threw himself into my arms.
“I’m here,” I said. “I’m right here.”
He was shaking like a leaf, and sobbing as I held him tight. I cursed myself for having left him alone. He’d been dead asleep. I thought I could make it to the bathroom and back before he even knew I was gone. Payne was right there.
But Payne wasn’t me.
As I held him, everyone else was sticking their heads into the room to check on us. Each person had the same look on their face; a combination of sympathy for Seth and hatred for those people who did this to him.
After about ten minutes, he calmed down.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I know you think I’m a wuss.”
“Shush,” I said. “You’re no such thing. And there’s nothing to be sorry about. I’m here for you. Always.”
He nodded as I slowly rocked him. I could feel his shaking start to subside. Payne sat silently nearby, doing the only thing he could do—be present. I don’t think Payne knew how much that meant to us both.
It had been a rough five days since we’d rescued Seth. At first, we were taken to a local hospital. It had taken all of Varick’s clout and Agent Williams’ authority to get them to let me stay with Seth for the exams. The doctors had also wanted to keep Seth for a week, but again, Varick worked his magic. I was pretty sure by the time we got out of there forty-eight hours later, Varick had paid for a brand new wing for that hospital.
Seth didn’t want to let anyone but one of us near him, let alone touch him. And he went into a state of panic if I wasn’t right by his side. He trusted the group of us to a certain extent since we had all rescued him, but it was me he needed to be with him. He and I shared a bond none of the others could understand.
We were both friends with the dead.
For so long, the only ones who showed him kindness and love were the ghosts that came to him. Dealing with flesh and blood humans was hard.
He was getting better. After me, Payne and Seth were closest. Seth didn’t get that initial stab of fear when Payne walked into the room anymore.
The others were making some headway.
I wasn’t sure what would happen when we got back to Spirit, whenever that might be. We were still in California, in what Grandpa called the Magical Kingdom of McKnight. Legally, the state wasn’t ready to let us just leave with Seth. Varick had to present evidence that Seth was a lost member of the Blackburn clan. He decided this argument would be easier since Seth was super-glued to me.
It would take months to get DNA confirmation, since the third cousin of mine who was allegedly his father had disappeared years ago. Somehow, Varick managed to produce “evidence” that we’d been looking for Seth for years. The courts were examining these documents and were coming to see how Seth was doing.
So far, all of the Social Services people seemed confident that Seth should be allowed to stay with the people who made him feel safe.
Me.
After a few more minutes, I asked Seth if he felt like he could go back to sleep. He shook his head. He wanted to go out and see everyone.
We went out into the living room area. Everyone was out there, waiting for us. Everyone but Grandpa, who was snoring loudly in another room, exhausted from all the healing he’d done. Not only had he healed Archer’s broken bones and burns, but he’d also helped Seth, who had two broken ribs, three broken toes and several fractures that had never fully healed.
Of course, Grandpa’s ability could only heal so much.
“Seth,” Varick said gently. “Are you hungry? We can warm up some food.”
Seth nodded. He never said no to food.
“I’ll get it,” Archer said, and ran into the kitchen area.
When we had gotten Seth to the hospital, one of the first questions the nurses had asked him was if he was hungry. He had still been too frightened to answer, but I knew he had to be. Those two pieces of bread with peanut butter had been all he’d eaten since the week before those monsters had left him.
Hooked up to an IV, we were warned that nutrition had to be slowly reintroduced back into Seth’s body. There was something called Refeeding Syndrome that could actually be fatal, so they monitored Seth’s fluids and gave him small amounts of food, supplemented by vitamins.
I remember watching Varick as Seth tore through the small portions of food he was given. Varick had kept a friendly look plastered on his face the entire time, but I could sense his emotions. The fury within him as he watched this starving child was nearly overwhelming. His fist had remained clenched at his side, hidden from Seth’s view as the boy licked up each and every crumb from his plate.
By the time we got back to our hotel suite, the kitchen, which had only contained a few small items when we had arrived, was stocked full of foods of every kind. Roasted chicken, roast beef, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes. Not to mention the desserts. Ice cream, a big chocolate cake, and Varick’s personal favorite: apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top.
That first day we had gotten back, most of us still had no appetite, but Seth never said no when he was offered food.
Archer returned with a plate of food which Seth accepted and ate. He wasn’t devouring it as quickly as he had the first few days. I think he was beginning to believe Varick when he promised Seth that there would always be food for him.
“Tell me about your home,” Seth said as he shoveled in pieces of chicken and forkfuls of potatoes.
Seth spoke so infrequently, it always took everyone off guard when he did so without being prompted.
“It’s nothing like this,” Uncle Mark said with a smile. “But I promise, our fridge isn’t empty. Zack can put it away pretty good as well. He’s—”
“Your son,” Seth interrupted. “Do you think he’ll like me?”
“Absolutely,” Uncle Mark said. “He’s looking forward to having you share his bedroom. You’re okay with that, right?”
Seth nodded as he made sure he got each and every crumb of food on his plate. I actually believed he liked the idea. It would be like having a brother.
“And Simon’s the really smart one,” Seth said.
The fact was that Uncle Mark wasn’t telling Seth anything new. I couldn’t tell if Seth simply enjoyed hearing about what a real family was like, or if he was just trying to make sure he understood where he was going.
After about an hour, Seth curled up on the couch and fell asleep on my lap.
“Are you all right?” Uncle Mark asked me. “I know it can’t be easy, being attached to him like this.”
I nodded. “I don’t mind.”
“He’s getting better,” Archer said. “He was a little calmer earlier when you slipped out to go to the bathroom. Every once in a while, he’s okay if you’re not right there.”
I smiled at Archer. “You weren’t as alone with him as you think you were.”
Archer blinked in confusion. “There was nobody else there,” Archer protested.
I slowly stroked Seth’s hair. “Well, you couldn’t see him. It was an older man. He didn’t talk much, but Seth knew he was there.”
It took a moment for Archer to work out what I was saying. When I did, his mouth dropped open. “There was a ghost there? Really?”
“Didn’t you notice that about halfway through your third game of checkers, Seth started to get the hang of it? He had help.”
Archer replayed his afternoon game of checkers with Seth in his head.
“Holy crap,” he mumbled.
“Bristol,” Uncle Mark said. “How often have there been ghosts in here with us?”
I shrugged, trying to not feel self-conscious. I was afraid they wouldn’t understand, and I didn’t need them to be constantly freaked out. “About fifty percent of the ti
me,” I said. “More or less.”
Everyone gawked at me.
“More or less?” Varick asked.
“Probably more,” I said. “Seth needs them, and when I was growing up, they were there when I needed them, too.”
There were a few more bewildered looks.
“Anyone we know?” Archer asked.
I didn’t answer. I just continued to stroke Seth’s hair as he stirred in his sleep. Yet another nightmare being chased away.
“Bristol?” Uncle Mark said. “Who’s stopped by? You can tell us.”
“Do you really want to know?” I asked. “It can be hard to hear. They’re not usually here long enough for me to grab everyone and have a conversation.”
There was another group glance, full of nods to show their agreement.
I glanced at Varick, who was standing in the corner.
“Your wife stopped by late last night, while everyone else was asleep. She told Seth what a good man you were, and that you’d see he’d never be hungry again.”
Varick’s eyes filled with tears. He sank slowly into a nearby chair.
“Archer,” I said. “Earlier tonight, when we went to bed, I saw your mom. I was going to tell you when I had the chance. She wanted me to tell you how very proud of you she is. You’re becoming the man she always hoped you’d be.”
Archer was shaking. Payne went over and put his hand on his cousin’s shoulder.
“Blasé and Eric came by, too,” I said, to lighten the mood as much as I could. “They made Seth laugh a little.”
Then I looked to Uncle Mark.
“Aunt Eve was here too,” I said. “She stopped by with Grandma two nights ago. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you alone, but they sat with us until he fell asleep.”
Uncle Mark stiffened and turned away from me so I couldn’t see his face. I couldn’t stand the fact that I had hurt them.
“I’m sorry,” I said, trying to keep my voice down so we didn’t wake poor Seth. “I can’t help who or when people appear to me. I can’t help how I am. But Seth needs them. He needs to see the ghosts, because in all of his life, he’s only been hurt by the living.”
“Hey,” Uncle Mark turned to face me. I could still see wetness on his cheeks from the tears he’d wiped away. “Nobody here is angry with you. There’s nothing to be sorry about. It’s just—”
He looked around for the right words to complete his thoughts, like he wanted someone else to help him out.
“It’s staggering,” Varick said. His voice was shaking as he spoke, but his eyes stayed steady, and were focused on me. “Our love for the people that have visited you and Seth was enormous, but to know that their love was powerful enough for them to find their way back here to help...it astounds me. Yes, it may hurt our hearts to be reminded of the empty places in our lives, but that pain is always there. We simply miss them because we loved them so much. And you’ve given us a tremendous gift – you’ve let us know that their love is still here, with us.”
Varick got up and came over. He leaned down and kissed the top of my head.
“You undo me. But I believe I speak for everyone present when I tell you that neither you nor Seth should ever feel the need to apologize for the gifts you possess. And even less for being the person that you are. We are very blessed to have you in our lives.”
I blushed.
“Thank you,” I said.
Uncle Mark was smiling. “Well said, Varick. Well said.”
Varick was already walking toward the nearest door. “I also like to think we do not want our wives, mothers, or anyone else from our pasts coming back to haunt us, should we forget it.”
I laughed. Was he serious, or was he trying to make a joke? “They can’t haunt you. Just me and Seth—and we don’t mind.”
“You clearly did not spend enough time with my late wife,” Varick said. “If I displeased her, she’d find a way to notify me. Goodnight.”
We all said goodnight as he disappeared. Uncle Mark and Archer followed a few minutes later, leaving me all alone with Payne and Seth.
“Do you want to try and go back to bed?” Payne asked. “I could carry Seth in there, so you’re both comfortable.”
I thought about it, but shook my head.
“No,” I said. “Let’s stay here. He needs the sleep. I’ll get him in there after the next night terror.”
Payne nodded. It broke my heart to know it was a matter of when the nightmares came, not if. Payne got up and went into the bedroom. He came out with a couple of pillows for my head and a pair of blankets; one for me, one for Seth.
He then dragged over an ottoman for my feet.
And as if I wasn’t absolutely, positively head over heels in love with him already, he then pulled over a chair for himself, and started to rub my feet.
Seth stirred again. I wondered if I should wake him, but he settled so I let him sleep.
“Payne,” I said. “Things are probably going to be very different with Seth. Your grandfather seems to think he’d do best in my uncle’s house, with me. I think he’s right. I know this isn’t exactly going to be normal, but I’ve got to think of Seth first.”
“Bristol,” he said. “Nothing about us is normal—never has been and probably never will be. I’m right here with you. And with him. He’s not just yours. He’s ours.”
Chapter Eleven
In A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Journal of Bristol Blackburn,
Seth’s asleep, but I don’t know how much longer that’ll last. I just found out that Varick flew Mrs. Carter to California today – one of our school counselors. She was the one I talked to a few months ago, who hinted that she’s aware of the uniqueness of our two families. She’s going to help Seth, and more importantly, she’ll help us get the State of California to let us take Seth back to Spirit, where he belongs. I think that getting Seth into a normal home and routine is the best thing for him and—
I saw Seth stir.
“I’m right here,” I said as I closed my laptop and went to his side.
He had another nightmare last night. Thankfully, since I was right there, he didn’t wake up anyone but me. Payne was there, still rubbing my feet. (Have I mentioned how much I love him?) After a quick run to the bathroom for both me and Seth, Payne had carried him to the bedroom.
“Are you hungry?” I asked, even though I knew I didn’t have to.
He nodded and ran to the bathroom. He left the door ajar as he went, then returned a minute later.
“Did you flush?” I asked.
He ran back in. I heard the flush of the toilet as he came back out.
“Did you wash your hands?” I asked. He rolled his eyes at me, which I scowled at, even though I thought it was adorable. “Go. And if you want to avoid another trip, use warm water and soap.”
Two minutes later, we joined the others outside.
“Well, good morning,” Varick said as he looked at his watch. “If you’d slept any longer, it would have been good afternoon. How are you feeling today, Seth?”
Seth just shrugged, but he didn’t avoid eye contact when Varick spoke to him. Uncle Mark was standing at the stove, making one of his amazing omelets for everybody, as I grabbed utensils and cups, plus the coffee for me and milk for Seth.
“I think last night went a little better,” I said. “Will Mrs. Carter see Seth here?”
Seth’s face went white at the mention of a stranger.
“It’s okay,” I said. “We know her. She’s just someone to talk to. She’ll be here at three.”
“No,” Varick said. “I’ve arranged for her to have the suite downstairs. We’ll bring Seth to her when she’s ready. And she should arrive by two. I hadn’t realized I’d mentioned she was coming to you.”
I quickly swallowed the piece of toast I’d bitten into and washed it down with coffee.
“You didn’t,” I said. “Although she’ll be late – which isn’t her fault. Flight problems. She’ll be lying when she tells you she h
ad a good flight.” Then I turned to Seth. “But she’ll like you.”
“Who is she?” Seth asked. “Why do I have to go down there to see her?”
I ruffled his hair.
“She’s a counselor,” I said, “and she’s here to help you adjust. Just give her a chance. And it’s better for you to see her downstairs. Besides, you can’t stay here in this suite forever.”
“Why not?” Seth asked. “I like it here. There’s a lot of food and TVs in every room. Even the bathroom.”
“That there’s a good enough reason to get out of here,” Grandpa said as he limped into the room. Each step looked painful. “You sit in there watching TV, and you decide not to get up, and you get yourself—”
“Good morning,” I said cheerfully, cutting Grandpa off.
Grandpa glared at me, but thankfully was distracted by Archer helping him to the chair. The old man was still in a lot of pain. His limp had become far more pronounced, and his leg seemed stiffer than before. He even looked older now. Frailer.
Archer came back over to make Grandpa a cup of coffee. He was so grateful to Grandpa for healing him, as was Varick.
“Gregory,” Varick was saying, “won’t you please reconsider allowing me to arrange for a massage for you? I have people who are quite excellent and could ease much of your distress.”
“No, thank you,” Grandpa said as he accepted the coffee Archer handed him. “How am I supposed to relax with some young Swedish guy named Sven oiling me up and rubbing me down? What am I?”
“A grumpy old man?” Uncle Mark offered with a snort.
“As you know,” Varick continued calmly, “it needn’t be a male massage therapist. There are plenty of women in this field who are quite skilled.”
Grandpa scowled. “And I’ll just bet you know ‘em all. Again. No thanks. I haven’t had a woman touch me that way since my wife died, and I’m not planning on ending my streak of perfection.”
Varick sighed, but didn’t continue to argue.
“Do I really have to talk to some dumb woman?” Seth interrupted. “I didn’t do anything.”
Vision of Sacrifices Page 12
