by Joy Elbel
Wraiths of Winter
Book Three of The Haunting Ruby Series By Joy Elbel
Wraiths of Winter, Book Three of The Haunting Ruby Series
© 2014 by Joy Elbel ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. transmitted mechanical, information
No in part of this book may be reproduced or any form or by any means, electronic or
including photocopying, recording, or by any storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
You kissed me a paragraph, I replied with a novel Prologue
Choices. We all face dozens of them every day— sometimes without even realizing it. Should I wear jeans or a skirt today? Should I watch a movie or read a book? Should I go with chocolate or vanilla ice cream? Most of these choices don’t affect our lives beyond that moment—we merely choose and move on with our day. But some choices aren’t that easy.
Sometimes what you choose today can have a lasting impact on you. Should I get that tattoo my parents will hate? Should I drink that beer because everyone else is drinking? The wrong choice could get you into a lot of trouble but usually nothing a laser and some rehab can’t eventually fix. Other times, the choices you make today could change the entire course of your life. Then, they become something a little different.
Decisions. Even the word sounds ominous. Decisions are reserved for the big things. Should I follow my own dreams or the ones my parents have for me? Both paths result in disappointment for someone involved. But which is worse—disappointing them or disappointing yourself? Luckily though, most of the time parents are pretty forgiving.
But what happens when that decision involves your heart? What happens when you have to decide who to give your love to? Those decisions can be permanent. Once you break someone else’s heart, is it possible to unbreak it? Can you put together the shattered pieces once you realize you made the wrong choice? If you can’t, then you’re the one who ends up broken. And you can spend the rest of your life in regret, lamenting what could have been.
There will be a moment when everything becomes obvious, when you know exactly what you should do. Seize that moment—recognize it for what it is. Deep down, you’ve always known the answer. Follow your heart and don’t let your head get in the way. Don’t do what you feel obligated to do. Because if you do, you may wake up years later wanting what you could have had from the very start.
1. The Impending Frost
Voices. Muffled at first, but slowly returning to a normal pitch. I recognized them both. It had to be a dream.
“Look man, I already said I was sorry!” That was Lee.
“For real though, don’t you own a cell phone?” That was Zach. “Of course I do! How was I supposed to know that my service would cut out all over this hick town? I’ve only lived here for a few days—gimme a break! Back in Pittsburgh, I always had coverage.”
“So is your dad on his way or what? Feel free to wait in your car—I can take of her myself. And Charlotte’s Grove is no hick town, by the way.”
“I told you—he’s on his way and he’s meeting me here. And besides, I would really like to apologize to her when she wakes up.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll apologize for you. Go wait outside on the porch—I don’t want her to see you when she wakes up.”
“Too late, man—look.” When I realized it wasn’t a dream, I was afraid to open my eyes. How was this possible? Lee died in the accident— my own father called his time of death. I even talked to Lee while in that shadowy realm between life and death. He told me it was too late to save him—could he have been wrong? No, he wasn’t wrong. His mother held a funeral, bought him a headstone. If only she’d waited until after I was out of the hospital—if I’d actually had the chance to see him in that casket, I wouldn’t be doubting this. But if he wasn’t Lee, who was he? I opened my eyes slowly to find myself on the couch in Shelly’s study with Zach’s arms around me and an eerily familiar face before me.
“Ruby! Are you okay? You’ve been out cold for almost five minutes!” Zach said, his blue eyes wide with concern. “Do you need anything? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”
But I couldn’t focus on Zach—all I could do was stare at the boy behind him. “Who are you?” I asked him, holding my breath while I waited for his answer.
The boy stepped out of Zach’s shadow and replied, “I’m Lucas. Lucas Seeley. I’m sorry if I scared you.”
Lucas Seeley. Lee’s full name was Seeley Lucas—was it a coincidence or something more? Fate? Destiny. The sound of a car pulling up out front yanked me back into reality. “That’s okay. It’s not like you did it on purpose, right? It sounds like your ride’s here. I’ll walk you out now.” I rose up from the couch only to have a muscular arm gently push me back down.
“Don’t worry, Ruby—I’ll make sure he leaves.” Zach was a quarterback when he played football but he was definitely playing defense now. Yes, I learned a lot about football since I moved to Charlotte’s Grove but I learned even more about Zach. I knew there was a part of him that wanted to show Lee—I mean Lucas—to the door with his fist.
Lucas laughed casually at Zach’s response. “I guess I’ll see you in school tomorrow, Ruby.” He waved and walked out the door with Zach right behind him, clearly on a mission to get Lucas far away from me as fast as possible.
School? He was definitely new in town. Even through all of the torture Garnet put me through, there’s no way I could have passed this boy in the halls and not noticed him. It wasn’t every day that a dead ringer—pardon the pun—for your dead boyfriend popped into your life. I knew who he wasn’t, but that left me with the burning question, “Who was he?” Whoever he was, I was going to be seeing more of him. A lot more. I had to find out everything about him, including his connection to Lee. It had to be more than mere coincidence that they looked and sounded so much alike.
A few minutes later, Zach returned alone. He sat down on the edge of the couch and took my hand in his. “He’s gone now. Are you alright, sweetie? Can I get you a glass of water or something? You didn’t hit your head when you fell, did you?”
I ignored all of his questions because I had more important ones of my own. “Did he tell you anything about himself or what he’s doing here? He looks exactly like Lee! Do you know where he lives? What did he say when I fainted?” I could have gone on for hours but I paused for some answers.
Zach dropped my hand and stood up. “I take it you feel okay. A little too good maybe.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” I thought for sure that he had his jealousy under control. Maybe I was wrong. Yeah, a few months ago he would have just ripped Lucas’s head off and thought nothing of it but this cold and blatant sarcasm wasn’t a whole lot better.
Zach took a deep breath. “Nothing. I’m sorry. But when I woke up this morning, coming face to face with some guy who’s a dead ringer for Lee wasn’t on my agenda. No pun intended.”
Wow. Yet again, he seemed to be able to read my mind. I usually found that odd connection we had with each other to be fun and special. At the moment, though, it was oddly grating on my nerves. But I wasn’t in the mood for a fight so, with his apology, I backed down. A little. “Zach, you have to understand, you have to see things from my perspective! I definitely didn’t expect this
either. When I first saw him, I thought he was Lee! The only thing that convinced me that he wasn’t a ghost was the fact that you saw him, too.”
“You’re right, Ruby. It must have been horrifying for you to open that door and find what you thought was your dead ex.” Did I still detect a slight note of sarcasm in his voice?
He didn’t understand—not the way I needed him to. “Lee’s not my ex. We didn’t break up—he died!” “So what are you telling me here? Are you telling me that you still think of him as your boyfriend? Even after everything we’ve been through together?” Zach cocked one eyebrow and studied my face.
Slow down, Ruby. Speak carefully. This was a can of worms I never really wanted to open. But since fate puckishly held that can upside down and dumped them at my feet, I had to wrangle as many of those slimy little critters as I could and stuff them back inside.
“No, Zach! You’re my boyfriend—my only boyfriend! But my relationship with Lee didn’t end in the normal way. Part of me will always love him—just not in the same way that I love you.” He had to put aside his petty jealousy and see things from my point of view.
“I know that and I’m okay with it,” Zach said as he sat down beside me again. “I would never expect you to forget about him altogether. He was an important part of your life— I get that.”
Well, at least he understood—sort of. My lingering feelings for Lee went far beyond complicated and I couldn’t completely understand them myself. “I love you, Zach. But I still feel at least semi responsible for Lee’s death and seeing Lucas made me realize something. When Lee found out he was adopted, it changed his whole life. He died before he could find his biological family but I think I just found them— or at least one of them. If I could find the answers Lee never could, I could put the whole thing to rest. I feel like I owe him that much.”
“You don’t owe him anything, Ruby—Lee’s at peace now. And if death is anything like you described, then he probably already has those answers. Be honest with me and with yourself. Pursuing this isn’t for Lee’s benefit, it’s for yours.”
I wanted to insist that he was wrong, to swear that digging around in Lucas’s life was for Lee and not for me. But I swore never to lie to Zach again and this time, I really meant it. No secrets, no dishonesty.
“I didn’t get to say goodbye to Lee—not the way I should have, anyway. Finding the truth would be my way of honoring his memory. Once I do that, I can leave it, and Lee, all in the past.”
Zach rubbed my shoulder comfortingly. “Thanks for being honest. I can respect that. I’ll even help you, if you want. Just do one thing for me in return, okay?”
Anything. I would do anything Zach asked me to do. I nodded my head in agreement. “Sure, what is it?” “Don’t forget—Lucas isn’t Lee,” Zach said in a serious tone. “No matter how much he looks like Lee, Lucas is still a stranger.”
Of course he is. I knew that. But if hearing that from my lips was what Zach needed to feel better, I would give him that. “I know, Zach. I won’t forget.” I kissed him on the cheek as a thank you.
“Good,” he said then sat there in silence. Okay, so silence wasn’t exactly the word for it. It was more like an awkward pause, a pause broken rudely by my growling stomach. As soon as my ordeal with Garnet was over, my appetite came back with a vengeance. I needed to eat—now!
“Hey, Zach, how do you feel about going out for some Chinese? I’m starving and I could definitely use some fresh air. My treat—but only if you agree to drive,” I added. “I’m not sure if I’m ready to get behind the wheel on snowy roads just yet.”
“You have a deal. I spent a lot of money….” Zach trailed off in mid-sentence. “Let’s just say I’m totally broke until Andy pays me on Friday.”
I knew that money was a sore subject for Zach so I didn’t poke and prod for details. “I just need to grab my bag from upstairs and I’ll be right back.”
“Okay. I’ll wait for you in the car.” “Okay,” I called as I took off up the grand staircase at full speed. The sooner I got my bag, the sooner we would be on our way to Chow Ming. Their food was delicious every day of the week but Sundays were extra special. Why? One word—buffet.
When I flung the door to the attic open, a familiar scent struck me instantly. A heavenly cloud of Midnight Kiss hung in the air. Did I really spray that much perfume after my shower this morning? I tugged my sweater closer to my nose to see if it smelled that strong on me, too. One whiff told me it didn’t—it was definitely noticeable but still subtle. Oh well, the attic hadn’t smelled that good since I smudged it with vanilla incense over the summer in the hopes of ending Scarlet’s haunting. Quickly, I snatched my bag from the futon and flung the door shut behind me.
The buffet at Chow Ming was just what I needed. I piled my plate full of Crab Rangoon and Szechuan Chicken and slid into the booth across from Zach. Looking across the table, I saw that his plate was half the size of mine.
“I thought you liked Chinese,” I said pointing to his plate. “You barely got anything from the buffet.” Zach jabbed at a mushroom on his plate, first missing it and then chasing it around the rim until it was securely on the end of his fork. “I love Chinese. I guess I’m just not as hungry as you are.”
“Yeah, I have been extra hungry lately, you know, since Garnet.” I popped a Crab Rangoon into my mouth and chewed slowly, savoring every single bit of it.
“I’m just happy to see you eating again. I felt so helpless just watching you waste away, like I was losing you and there wasn’t anything I could do about it,” Zach replied sadly. “It was a horrible feeling. I hope I don’t ever have to feel that way again.”
“You won’t, Zach,” I replied between bites, “Garnet’s gone for good now. That was a scary time for me, too, you know. I wasn’t exactly in control of the situation either.”
“Two ghosts in six months—that’s a lot. Hopefully, the worst of it is behind us now.” Zach laid his fork down on his plate and settled back in the booth.
Talking about ghosts brought a comment from Rachel to mind. The one where she said that the only way I could help her was if I could talk to the dead. As much as I hoped that Crimson was found alive and well, I was done dealing with all things supernatural. “It is Zach. Rosewood’s been quiet since August and now that Garnet got what she wanted, the school will be, too.”
“I hate to bring it up but what about Clay?” Clay Roseman. It was hard for me to think of him as a ghost—he was so different from Scarlet or Garnet. He completely annoyed me and I wanted nothing to do with him, but there was nothing about him to suggest that he wasn’t alive. Now that I knew that he was dead, though, I was definitely curious about him. No! I didn’t want to know anything about him. Not a single thing. All of my spare time would be spent trying to track down Lee’s biological parents. Clay didn’t seem to want anything from me anyway. Did he?
“I don’t think Clay is anything to worry about. The only places I’ve ever seen him were at the cemetery and Silver Lake. As long as I avoid both, I’m in the clear.” Why couldn’t all ghosts be as easy to avoid as he was?
Zach’s eyes lit up when I said the words “Silver Lake”. “So that day at the cemetery—that wasn’t the only time you saw him?”
“No,” I stuffed the last bite of rice into my mouth and put my fork down. “I saw him at the lake the night you broke up with me.”
“You did? Did you see anything else?” Zach leaned forward over the table, obviously eager for my reply.
“No—well, yes, I guess. He was standing beside a beat up old Mustang. He waved when we drove past him.”
“Really. That makes sense though because he loved that car and the night he died—” “Stop! Stop right there!” I held up my hand in protest. “I don’t want to know anything more about him. The less I know, the less chance there is of me getting involved. There’s something more important to focus on.”
Zach gave me a big smile. “I was starting to think you forgot all about that.”
“Forget? Lee’s clone knocked on my door today and you thought I would forget about it so quickly?” Zach’s face fell. “Yeah, you’re right. How could I think you would forget about something so important?” He pushed his plate away from him leaving half of his food uneaten. “So how exactly do you plan to find Lee’s family? Lucas may not even know he’s adopted. You don’t even know him. You can’t just go up and tell him, you know.”
“I know that. Don’t forget—I saw what it did to Lee when his mom dropped that bomb inappropriately. I’ll definitely have to make friends with him first, gain his trust.”
“Friends,” Zach said quietly. “Just don’t forget what I told you. Be careful—he’s not Lee and you know nothing about this guy.”
“Don’t worry, Zach. I’ll be fine.” I slurped the last of my soda through the straw and tossed my napkin on the table. “Are you ready to go? There’s still something we have to do before Dad and Shelly get home.”
“Yeah, there is.” Zach’s mood brightened. “We still have enough time before they’re due home.”
“I hope so but we have to leave right now because The Village closes in an hour.”
He gave me a strange look. “The Village?” “Yeah. We have to replace the glasses we broke before Shelly notices they’re gone. I can’t remember exactly which store she bought them in but I think I can narrow it down to one or two possibilities. We’ll still have to hurry, though.”
Zach nodded his head in agreement and dug his keys out of his pocket. “Let’s go then.” The fortune cookies our waitress gave us lay on the table untouched so I tossed one at him and said, “Here—I know you never eat them, but you at least have to see what your fortune is.”
We cracked them open simultaneously. Zach chuckled as he read his fortune aloud. “Everyone has a photographic memory. Some people just don’t have film.”
“That’s for sure,” I said as I looked down at the tiny slip of paper in my hand, fully prepared to recite its words of wisdom back to him—until I read what it said. What I found inside that cookie was something Zach would surely take the wrong way. So instead, I repeated the strangest saying I’d ever found inside one.
