by Deanna Chase
The beer turned stale on my tongue. “Awful. Betrayed. Horrified.”
Kat reached her hand out and clasped mine again. “You made a mistake. It’s understandable, given your history, but don’t let your fears get in the way of a good thing with Kane. If he’s so easily scared away, he isn’t good enough for you.”
I gave her a sad smile. “I really like him.”
“I know, honey. That’s why you need to tell him.” We sat in silence for a long moment, until Kat said, “You’ll find a way.”
“I hope so.”
She grabbed my arm and pulled me back inside. “Enough. Let’s go in so I can keep rummaging through your beads.”
Hours later, after Kat had left, neither Ian nor Bea had returned my calls.
Chapter 16
A variety of Voodoo dolls lined the windows of The Herbal Connection. I did a double take and checked the store sign.
“I thought you said this was a new age shop?” Pyper stood next to me, a skeptical frown on her face.
I’d offered to conduct a cleansing ritual on Pyper to neutralize any negative energy. It was a long shot, but at this point we were ready to try anything. “It was the last time I was here.”
“Looks more like Marie Leveau’s.” The shop named for the famous Voodoo Priestess was located at the other end of Bourbon Street.
I shrugged. “They’re probably trying to cater to the tourists.”
The door jingled as we walked in, and my skin tingled with pleasure as I inhaled the strong fresh rain scent. Kane’s scent. But he was back at the club, which only meant one thing. The store’s ‘happy place’ charm had evoked it. Damn, I was in trouble.
“Do you think that cinnamon chocolate scent is a candle or incense?” Pyper asked.
“I’m sure you can get it in either.” If Bea could charm a whole shop, certainly she could do something as simple as a candle. Though I wasn’t sure why Pyper would need it. Clearly her happy scent was the café.
A woman at least half Bea’s age clad in a chic, stylish, bohemian tunic and leggings greeted us. Now this is the kind of person I expected to see in an herbal shop. Her energy had the same lightness as Bea’s, but as I tried to get a read on her emotions all I sensed was a cool void. Weird. I’d never had that happen before.
“Hi,” I said. “Is Bea around?”
“Sorry, she didn’t come in today. Can I help you?”
“Yes, we need a Desert Sage smudge stick.” I pulled a bill out of my wallet, but Pyper put her hand over mine.
“I got it.”
I smiled and turned toward the clerk. “I hope Bea isn’t sick.”
“I’m not really sure. She left me a note letting me know she wouldn’t be here, so she either came in last night or this morning. I can leave her a message if you like.”
“It’s all right, I have her number. Thanks though.”
“Anything else?” the clerk asked.
I shook my head.
As she finished the transaction, a small twinge of curiosity flowed from her. I reached deeper to find her emotions and was rewarded with a brilliant white light bouncing off the honey-colored hair piled on top of her head.
“Wow,” I said and stepped back.
“What?” Pyper asked.
“Oh, sorry. Nothing.” I bit my lip.
The clerk’s energy went from white to purple and back to white as she studied me. Realization seemed to dawn and she smiled. “An empath. That explains the bright purple pulsing around you. I can see auras and,” she waved her hand, “other things.”
I froze. Who was she?
She leaned in close to me. “You’re friend has something attached to her. Something dark.”
“Dark?” I repeated. Did Bobby follow us everywhere?
“Really dark. The worst kind of dark. I’m not sure the smudge will work, but you can try.” She looked unconvinced.
“Can you tell what it is?” Pyper turned her head, checking over her shoulder.
“I don’t know. It’s just black, but it isn’t your aura. Yours is red, with tinges of yellow. Very dynamic.”
Pyper straightened and smiled. “Really? That’s so cool.” Apparently her aura trumped the dark thing following her.
“Anything else you’d suggest, besides the smudge?” I glanced around the shop, hoping something would jump out at me.
“You’d be better off asking Bea. If I see her, I’ll let her know you could use her advice.”
“Thanks.” I handed her a card. “I’m Jade, and this is Pyper.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Lailah. Come see me sometime, and I’ll read your auras more carefully.” She slid a card in the bag and handed it to Pyper.
I waved and tugged Pyper out of the store.
***
Pyper grabbed a piece of cheese pizza. “Auras, huh? Do you think that stuff is real?”
“Sure, don’t you?” I sipped my lemonade. It was just wrong to have pizza without beer, but I couldn’t drink and smudge and expect it to be effective.
She shrugged. “I guess I should be open to anything now. Dreamwalking, ghosts and now smudging. Why not auras?”
“Doesn’t all this freak you out?” If I hadn’t been exposed to all kinds of odd occurrences growing up, I’d be running for the psych ward right about then. Pyper’s ability to take everything in stride left me in awe.
“No. Not really.” She paused. “All right, the ghost shit does, but the other stuff, no. I think it’s kinda cool. It reinforces my belief of all of us being connected. Some of us just see it better than others.” Her calm energy floated in soothing waves toward me.
“How can you be so cool about it, with everything happening?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s an act.” She grinned.
“It’s not. I can see it isn’t.”
“You’re that good at reading people?”
“Yes. I am.” I saw no point in denying it.
“Interesting. Anything you want to share?” She peered at me.
“Like what?” I pretended deep interest in my veggie pizza slice.
“Like maybe you want to tell me what an empath is and what was going on back there?” Her eyes gleamed.
Shit. I’d been hoping with the whole aura thing, she’d forgotten that comment. Lailah pulled me out of the closet with one reading of my aura. I’d had my aura read once before and already knew it was purple. But that just means intuitive. It doesn’t mean empath. How did she know?
“Come on, Jade.” Pyper set her food down, giving me her undivided attention.
I took a deep breath. The last person I’d told about my gift was Dan. Look at how well that had turned out. “I guess Lailah can see people’s auras.”
“That part I got.”
“She also said she sees other things, and apparently she saw something dark attached to you.” I stalled.
“Right, I have a dark ghost following me. That isn’t news. That’s why I’m staying with you. What’s so special about you that makes him behave?” Her eyes bored into mine.
“There isn’t anything special about me!” Warped maybe. Or flawed. But not special. And certainly nothing that would keep evil ghosts away.
“That’s crap, and you know it. Hell, I knew it the first time I met you. Look at Kane and how he’s fallen for you. And Charlie, she’s friendly and outgoing, but she doesn’t respect a lot of people. And she respects and admires you, Jade Calhoun. There’s something very special about you, even if you don’t see it.” She stopped to catch her breath. “Now, what’s an empath, cause I didn’t forget.”
Stunned, I let her words sink in. For the first time in my life, I had a network of friends and hadn’t even realized it. Something unlocked in my heart, and the last of my resolve melted. “An empath is someone who feels other people’s emotions as they feel them.”
“Kind of like being around a happy person can make you happy? Infectious energy stuff?”
“Yeah.” I laughed humorlessly. “Only norma
l people get a small fraction of that transfer. Empaths, people like me, get a full force version whether we want to or not.”
Pyper leaned in, giving me her full attention. Curiosity bubbled up, replaced by empathy gliding off her and swirling around my center. “So when people near you are upset, you feel their pain?”
I nodded. “And for people I have a close relationship with, like Aunt Gwen, sometimes I feel her emotions no matter where she is.”
“Oh, Jade. You poor thing. Is there anything you can do to block it out?”
Her sympathy wrapped me in a blanket, and I let myself cherish the sensation. Not that I wanted to be pitied, but I’d never had someone understand that terrible part of my existence so quickly. I cleared the newly formed lump in my throat. “Yes, I can build defenses, but it’s draining. And sometimes if an emotion hits me too hard, I can’t block it out.”
She squeezed my fingers and let go. “But you also feel joy and happiness too, right?”
“Sure. Those are great, kind of like a natural high, but that wears me out, too. Too much outside emotional energy is exhausting. Then I can’t block anything, and that can be destructive.” I looked down at my half-eaten pizza and pushed it away, no longer hungry.
Pyper didn’t say anything and when I risked a peek, she met my eyes and said, “It’s a gift, Jade. But it isn’t what makes you special.”
One tear rolled silently down my face.
She moved her chair next to mine and used a napkin to catch it. “Honey, I don’t know what happened in your past to make you think this was something to be hidden or ashamed of—”
“I’m not ashamed.”
“Okay, guarded. How’s that?”
I nodded. “Guarded.”
“But you’re part of our family now. You must know we accept you for who or what you are, no matter what. There’s no need to hide from us. Kane, me, Charlie, even Holly.”
“Holly hates me.” I sniffed.
“Of course she doesn’t.”
I raised an eyebrow.
Pyper smiled. “Hate is a very strong word.”
“Right, but I don’t think she sees me as part of the family.”
“Well, maybe not, but she likes you better than you think.” Pyper stood up. “Come on, let’s get out of here and get this smudge thing done. I’m tired of my black shadow.”
***
Two days later I stood at the cash register of the café, stifling a huge yawn.
“You look like you’re ready to fall over,” Pyper said.
I nodded, wiping down the counter. I’d seen my reflection in the mirror. It wasn’t pretty. The smudge hadn’t worked, and Pyper had taken up residence, sleeping on my couch. She was no trouble, but the dog was constantly barking at her—or, more likely, her black shadow. I’d performed a ritual to ask the dog to move on, but it hadn’t worked. Without any other options, I’d been afraid Pyper would feel pressured to leave. So, I just didn’t tell her about it.
“Am I keeping you awake?” Pyper stepped close to me.
“No, no.” Another yawn took hold, causing my eyes to water.
“I don’t believe you. I should stay at my own place tonight.”
“No! That’s not an option.” We were stuck in a holding pattern. Bea and Ian were still MIA. We’d each called Ian, with no answer. I’d called Bea and left numerous messages. When she didn’t call back, I’d stopped by her house, but she hadn’t been home. Then I’d tried her shop again. Lailah didn’t know much. She’d gotten a message Bea was unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, I wouldn’t let Pyper out of my sight.
“It’s Kane, right? That’s what’s keeping you up. I know he hasn’t called you or stopped by. The ass.”
“No. It isn’t. I asked him for space.” It was true. I had asked him, and he was giving it to me. Be careful what you wish for. He hadn’t even shown up in my dreams. Though Bobby was still there, watching.
“But—”
“It’s the ghost dog.” I cut her off before she could work herself up farther. “Duke, the ghost dog. He barks all the time while you’re there. He just won’t stop.”
“Oh.” She chuckled then sobered. “I’m sorry, it’s not funny.”
“It’s kinda funny, except I’m about to pass out.”
Pyper looked thoughtful. “Do you think it would help if we had separate bedrooms? I mean, if we stayed in my apartment, do you think I’d still be able to sleep? Maybe the dog will sleep in your room with you. Do ghosts sleep?”
“I don’t know about ghosts, but Duke certainly looks like he does. That dog lies around all the time.” I shrugged. “I’m up for trying it, if you are. You have a lot more to lose than I do.”
“It’s worth a shot.”
Later that night, while Pyper went to work at Wicked, I curled up in Kane’s bed once again and was rewarded with the faint whiff of his scent. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed him until that moment. A hollow ache formed deep in my heart.
I closed my eyes and did my best to put Kane out of my mind. Within moments Bobby’s soothing image stood before me. I don’t know how long I slept before the barking started. Damn dog. I got up and followed the noise to the living room.
“Hi, Pyper.” I waved.
“Did I wake you up?” Her worry seeped into my consciousness.
“No. It was the dog. I’ve come to collect him. Come on, Duke. Let’s go.” He trotted over to me and disappeared in the bedroom. “Want me to stay up until you go to sleep, just in case?”
Worry swirled around her, but stubbornness quickly took over. “No. I’ll wake up fast if it doesn’t work.”
Too tired to argue, I nodded. “Okay. Goodnight then.”
“Night.”
I fell right back to sleep. Bobby watched over me as usual, with Duke lying at his feet. The bliss seemed to last for hours, until the light around Bobby brightened to a reddish glow and the calm turned anxious. I rolled over, restless and knocked my head against something hard.
“Ouch. Damn it.”
“Hey,” a gruff voice said. “Are you all right?”
Kane’s distinct energy engulfed me. “Was that your head?” I asked.
“Yes.” He ran his hand lightly over my skull. “No large bumps. I think you’ll live.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and I snuggled in closer.
“Good.” I closed my eyes hoping for more sleep, but his intruding desire snapped me awake. “Wait, why are you here?”
“There’s a storm raging and rather than take a cab home, I decided this sounded much nicer.”
“But you’re avoiding me.”
“I was giving you space.”
“And now?” I sat up.
“Now I’m not giving you space.” He pulled me back down into his arms and crushed my lips with his.
Shocked, I didn’t move, but when I felt his tongue searching I kissed him back with just as much intensity. His heart pounded against my breast. I pressed closer as his desire overpowered all my other senses. That alone was enough to send my blood pumping.
Kane rolled me over, trapping me beneath him, hands everywhere. My thoughts jumbled, and I wanted nothing but him.
“God, Jade, I’ve missed you. I’ve been—”
A high-pitched screaming sounded through the wall.
Kane froze.
I pushed him off of me, jumped up, ran to the other room and yelled, “Pyper! Wake up, honey, wake up!”
Her screams stopped, and a second later her eyes fluttered open. “There you are.”
“Jade. What happened?”
“I don’t know, sweetie. You’d been sleeping for a while, but then you just started screaming. Can you tell me anything?”
Kane brushed my arm as he moved to sit next to Pyper.
“I don’t know. I was feeling peaceful, like I always do when I sleep at your place, then all of a sudden the calm disappeared and hell took over.” She clutched the covers to her chest. Kane reached out, running a hand over her leg.
I joined him on the edge of the bed. “I dreamt of Bobby and the dog and had the same peacefulness. Then right before I woke up it got tense and uneasy.”
“Right after I joined you in the bed?” Kane asked, his eyes crinkling with worry.
“How long had you been there?” I asked.
“I’d just gotten there when you knocked me on the head.” He turned to Pyper. “I’m sorry.”
“Why?” Pyper looked from Kane to me.
I slumped. “The ghost has a problem with me and Kane, ah, getting close.”
“Oh.” Realization dawned in her eyes.
“This has got to stop!” I jumped up and paced. “We can’t wait around until Bea and-or Ian shows up. We don’t even know if they can help.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Pyper said. “I wonder if Lailah might know someone or be able to do anything.”
“I don’t know. When we asked her about it she said our best bet was to ask Bea.” I flopped back onto the bed.
“It’s worth a try,” Pyper said.
“It is. In the meantime, why don’t the two of you stay here? I’ll take the other room.” Kane got up to leave.
“Won’t work. My ghost dog likes to bark at Pyper. He’s doing it right now. I won’t get any sleep.” I glared at the door where Duke stood.
“I guess it’s the couch for me then.” Kane kissed me on the forehead and left.
Back in Kane’s room alone, it took me a long while to go back to sleep.
***
The next morning, Pyper and I walked the short distance to the Herbal Connection.
“Hello,” Lailah sang from the back of the store. “Are you here to get your auras read?”
“Thanks, but not today. We’re here about something else,” I said.
“The black thing still following your friend?” Lailah frowned, studying Pyper.
“Yes,” Pyper said.
“We haven’t been able to get a hold of Bea, and things are getting out of hand. We were hoping you might have some suggestions for what to do, or know someone else who might be able to help us.”
Lailah focused on Pyper. Her white light energy took on a grey hue, and then shown bright white again when she looked back at me. She bit her lip. “I don’t know. That shadow is really strong, and it’s not going to be easy to get rid of. I know a way, but I’d feel a lot more confident if Bea were here to help me.”
