Wraiths of Winter (The Haunting Ruby Series Book 3)

by Joy Elbel

  Willing, but not able. Zach made me promise to stay away from Lucas at least for a while. “Sure,” I said, “But we can’t go anytime soon. I want to go but I’m not willing to skip school for it. Maybe over spring break?” Spring break wasn’t until March. I would have my feelings sorted out by then and Zach would have absolutely nothing to worry about.

  “Sounds good. Hey, I have to go now—my mom needs me to do some things for her around the house. I’m glad we talked, Ru.”

  “Me too, Lucas, me too.” Sharing my secret with him was liberating. With that weight off of my chest, I curled up with my laptop and worked on my book.

  Two hours later, I went to the mini fridge for a can of diet soda and found nothing but the empty box they came in. I could pick up more on my way home from work tomorrow but for now I would have to hit up Shelly’s stash in the kitchen. As I passed through the entrance hall, a sudden noise startled me.

  Thump, thump, thump! Someone was knocking on the front door. Who would be out in this storm? The snow was still falling and the wind was whistling a death march through the trees. I opened the door to find a package on the porch and caught a fleeting glimpse of a delivery truck retreating down the road.

  A square box about the size of a toaster sat on the mat at my feet. It was wrapped in plain, brown paper but tied with a red velvet ribbon. There was a card attached to the ribbon with my name on it. Zach. It had to be from Zach. That was just like him. Even at the height of a raging blizzard, he found a way to make me feel special from a distance.

  I brought the box inside and sat down on the bottom step of the grand staircase to open it. He was far too creative for me to try to guess what it might be so I didn’t even attempt to. Once the ribbon was free, I tore off the wrappings to find a plain white box. I lifted the lid and gasped at the sight of the contents.

  A crisp, white card lay on top inscribed with elegant, calligraphic handwriting. “For my future bride—something to keep you warm until we can be together.” There wasn’t a signature but there didn’t need to be. Mr. Perfect strikes again.

  Under the card, I found the most beautiful scarf I’d ever seen. It was snow white cashmere and sparkled with the most delicate sequins. As I lifted it from the box, each one caught the light from the chandelier overhead and danced with a pearlescent glow. I wrapped it around my neck and stroked the soft fabric with my hand. You could tell by touching it that it was expensive. I absolutely loved it but he shouldn’t have spent so much money on me. He better have bought himself a spare tire before plunking down the serious cash this scarf must have required. I wanted to ask him if he did, but I didn’t want to remind him of the fight we had that night. Regardless, I still had to thank him immediately for such a heartfelt gift.

  I ran upstairs and snagged my phone. I dialed Zach’s number then stood in front of the mirror to admire my new fashion accessory. Being white, it would look good with almost every piece of winter clothing I owned. When Zach picked up, I was busy rooting through my closet and trying to decide what I wanted to wear it with first.

  “Hey, Ruby! What’s up, sweetie?” Sweetie. He hadn’t called me that in a while. My nightly mwahs had disappeared as well. I noticed he seemed to stop after Lucas and I started spending more time together. Was this gift his way of letting me know that he wasn’t insecure about my feelings for him anymore?

  “I just wanted to let you know that you’re the best boyfriend in the whole world. Or should I now start calling you my future groom?” I giggled at that last word. Of course we had discussed our future plans together before but not quite so blatantly. Whatever spurred this new confidence in him, I liked it.

  “Um…what?”

  So after sending that note, he wanted to be coy now? Fine. I can play along. “Oh Zach, you know what I’m talking about! I love it by the way but I’d rather it was you here keeping me warm.” As a matter of fact, just talking to him was starting to heat me up.

  “I wish I was there too but, honestly, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “The scarf, silly! It’s beautiful but you shouldn’t have spent so much money on me.” His tone of voice changed from confused to suspicious. “What scarf, Ruby? And what was that future husband stuff all about?”

  Nice. He just capsized the Love Boat by taking the game one step too far. “The scarf you sent me and the note that was with it!” “I didn’t send you anything, Ruby. But I can probably guess who did.” Dammit! He wasn’t just playing—he was serious. If he didn’t send it, that left…Lucas. If I’d only known that it wasn’t from Zach! But it was too late now. He was going to be so pissed at Lucas. And he was already pissed at me.

  “I’m sorry,” I stuttered, “I assumed it was from you.” If only there was a way to backpedal my way out of this one. But there wasn’t.

  He demanded that I read him the note word for word so I did. I couldn’t believe that Lucas would call me his future bride, though. Was this the reason he ended our conversation? After I opened myself up to him, did he take it as a sign that I wanted there to be more between us? Did he actually risk life and limb on those snowy roads to go buy me a gift and then pay some delivery service to bring it out here? My love life was officially out of control now.

  “He seems quite confident, Ruby. Does he have a reason to be?”

  “NO!” I shouted back. “Trust me—I’m just as shocked by this as you are!”

  “Really? I don’t have anything to worry about here, do I?” Did he? No. Well…. No, he didn’t. “Of course not, Zach! Don’t forget—when I opened that box, I automatically assumed it was from you. Lucas never even crossed my mind.”

  “Good. Just remember what that ring stands for, Ruby. I love you.” I twisted my promise ring around on my finger until it caught the light. Then, I caressed the scarf with my other hand. “I love you, too—I won’t forget.” But I was afraid that part of me already had.

  21. That’s A Wrap!

  The storm passed, the roads cleared, but my heart felt like it was snowed in until the spring thaw. What was I going to do? I had two boys madly in love with me and I didn’t know which way to turn. The worst part was knowing that someone I cared about was going to get hurt in the end. And I would be the one doing the hurting. I needed advice fast and preferably from someone who didn’t have preconceived notions about either boy. But who? Zach instantly charmed everyone he came into contact with. Damn him for being so irresistible!

  When I arrived at Something Wick-ed, I was surprised to see that the lights were already on. Great. Was I now going to have to deal with a burglar who was too stupid to bring along a flashlight? On the bright side, there was a good chance the intruder wouldn’t know Zach. “Excuse me Mr. Burglar, but before I open this safe for you, would you mind giving me an objective opinion on my love life? What’s that? Yes, I am Zach Mason’s girlfriend. Never mind.”

  But instead of finding a masked robber, I found Rita. The weather stymied her trip to the haunted hotel in the Poconos so she decided to come in to work. Even though she knew Zach, she didn’t know him well. She wouldn’t be completely objective but she was closest thing I had to it. I waited until the store was officially open and then I let it rip.

  “So, Rita, I need some advice. Can you help me?” I asked as I helped her drag the valentine display out of the backroom and onto the sales floor.

  “Absolutely, but you already know where I stand on this issue.” Rita paused as she pondered where she wanted to place the new rack.

  Great. Mark another ‘W’ on the scoreboard next to Zach’s name. For real, what was it about him? I wasn’t someday going to find out that he was a vampire running about town compelling people, now was I? Because that was where I drew the line! No half-breed blood sucking babies for me, thanks.

  Rita made her decision and pushed the display about a foot to the left and then nodded with approval. “I’ve already told you not to go back into that theater. Gerald, my friend from Texas, is investigating in Guatemala for a few
weeks so I haven’t been able to reach him.”

  Oh, right. Of course she assumed that I was asking her for paranormal advice. It made sense that a vengeful wraith would take precedence over my silly boy troubles. Except it didn’t. Solving my dilemma with Zach and Lucas came first. I mean, really, a girl has to have her priorities straight.

  “No, not about that. I kinda have another problem. A boy problem.” “Oh, sure we can talk! I’m just not used to you having normal problems, I guess.” Rita tossed her thick mane of red hair into a ponytail and sat down behind the counter. “Business slacks off until the last week in January and the weather is still fairly crappy so we should have limited interruptions.”

  When I took a seat next to her, I noticed she’d gotten highlights in her hair since the last time I saw her. They looked great but what was with her newfound beauty regimen? First nails, now highlights—what was next, a Botox injection?

  So between customers, I told Rita everything. And I do mean everything. It was the first time I told the story without feeling the need to censor information of any kind. It felt good. All I needed was a mostly unbiased opinion and that was what I got.

  “Well, you know I like Zach. He’s a good boy and he really seems to love you. But I can understand your attraction to Lucas. Honestly though, I don’t think it’s really about Lucas—it’s about Lee. You’re looking at Lucas as though he was his brother and that’s not good. Two people can look exactly alike on the outside and be completely different on the inside. And that scarf, I don’t think it was from Lucas either.”

  I wrapped my fingers around it and held it tight. Not from Lucas? If he wasn’t the one who sent it, then that took me back to Zach. Why would he lie? What could he possibly have to gain from it?

  “So you think Zach sent it but wanted me to think that it was from Lucas? Why would he do that?” Was this another example of twisted boy logic? And I thought I was confused before.

  “Maybe he wanted to see your reaction. Or maybe he didn’t send it at all—maybe there was a mix up at the delivery service. Either way, I just don’t think Lucas sent it,” she announced with conviction.

  A mistake? Possibly. But it was more likely that Zach did lie to see what I would say. A test of my affections—did I pass? Of course I did. It was sad, though, that he felt he had to spend so much money to test my loyalties.

  “I suppose you’re right. It would have been an incredibly bold move on Lucas’s part.” We weren’t even dating let alone talking marriage. So why did it make me sad to know that it wasn’t from him? Damn that scarf! If it weren’t so fabulous, I would toss it in the Goodwill box on my way home.

  “Yes, it would. One other thing—I think Zach is right. There is something a little sneaky about Lucas. I’m positive he broke that vase on purpose on New Year’s Eve. I watched him knock it off when he thought no one was looking.”

  No. It was an accident—he wouldn’t have done something like that on purpose. And besides, I saw the condition Rita was in at midnight. She couldn’t walk straight and therefore she couldn’t see straight, either. Poor Andy had to put his arm around her just to keep her from falling down. She was wrong about the vase. Dead wrong.

  When the day was over and I left for the theater, Rita issued a complicated farewell.

  “Watch your back—and not just because of that wraith.” This time I was the last one to arrive for rehearsal. I got to the theater with plenty of time to spare but I had to find the courage to walk inside. I was no closer to finding Crimson and even further away from deciding what to do about Lucas. I was running out of time on both accounts. If Drake was the killer, Crimson was already dead. If he wasn’t, she soon could be. And for the sake of my own sanity, I had to settle my conflicted heart. No matter what, I wouldn’t solve anything by hiding in my car.

  I walked into the theater with the scarf hanging like a dead albatross around my neck. Lucas didn’t send it—I believed that now. But that didn’t erase the fact that he told me he loved me. Or the fact that I told him about my connection with the dead. If Allison surfaced tonight, Lucas would know by my reaction. Seeing the theater made me realize I forgot to ask my dad about the legend of the Phantom. Hopefully, Rachel was a little more responsible than I was.

  With rehearsal already in full swing when I walked in, I didn’t have an opportunity to find out. I didn’t even have a chance to sit down. Jonas immediately handed me a fifty dollar bill and said he had an errand for me to run.

  “I need you to go to the dollar store and pick up some artificial flowers for me. The bouquet I had as a prop is missing.”

  Anything to get out of that theater. “Sure, what kind do you want?” “Just pick out something nice, something suitable for a wedding scene. Get two—just in case. You have good fashion sense,” he said pointing to my scarf, “I trust your judgment.”

  Why did he have to remind me about that dumb, beautiful scarf? I did have good fashion sense but that scarf wasn’t proof of it. Should I confront Zach about it, tell him I knew that he was the one who sent it? Again, I was tempted to throw the thing away. If only it weren’t so soft and sparkly….

  I picked out the two best arrangements I could find— one a soft pink, the other a deep crimson. When I got back to the theater, the air felt thick like something was about to happen. No sooner did I make that determination than a horrible groaning noise rose up through the theater. I assumed Allison was ready to make an appearance until everyone turned their heads to locate the source. Suddenly, the floor beneath my feet began to shake, nearly toppling me over. An earthquake here in Central Pennsylvania? Not likely. But it sure felt like one.

  Panic ensued. Screams erupted from more than one throat and the stage emptied. As the entire theater shook on its foundation, I scrambled to turn around and get out of the building. Then someone called my name.

  “Over here, Ru!” Lucas yelled above the frantic screams. Lucas was standing by the stage, motioning wildly for me to join him. It would be foolish to run further into the chaos, wouldn’t it? I was much closer to the exit than I was to the stage—I could be out of the building and out of danger’s path in a matter of seconds. Where was Zach? Was he safe? I wanted to find out. But with a split second hesitation, I chose to backtrack to the stage, to Lucas.

  I took one step and another violent shake rocked the theater. A deafening crash sounded behind me. Something lay on the floor under the balcony in the very spot where I’d been standing. The rumbling ceased and the building returned to normal.

  “OMG, Ruby! It barely missed you!” Rachel exclaimed as she approached with Lucas right behind her. She lowered her voice and whispered, “Do you think it was Allison?”

  Shaken but curious, I inspected the object that lay on the floor behind me. It was a cast iron mask. The bolt that should have held it securely in place was sheared in half. I flipped it over to see that it was the face of a woman—a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Allison.

  Holding the mask up for Rachel, I confirmed her suspicion. “It definitely looks like it.” Rachel gasped at the likeness. “That’s her! That’s Allison!” She mouthed the words silently so Lucas wouldn’t hear her.

  “You can speak up, Rachel. Lucas knows everything— I told him yesterday.”

  “YOU DID WHAT?” she roared. Her reaction was extreme but not unexpected. “I told him about Scarlet, Garnet, Allison—he knows everything.” Even more than Rachel did, actually.

  “If you’re afraid I’m going to tell—” Rachel pointed her finger at him menacingly. “You— stay out of this! This is between me and Ruby! You’re sneaky and sly and I don’t trust you!”

  “Rachel! Back off—Lucas hasn’t done anything wrong! And if you want to talk about sneaky and sly, go talk to your brother. He’s keeping a few secrets himself!”

  “Zach? How dare you try to defend this snake by throwing my brother under the bus instead! Zach loves you! This one,” she said gesturing to Lucas, “just wants to slither into your pants!”
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br />   Our argument caught the attention of, well, everyone else in the theater. Jonas strode up the aisle to where we stood. He reached for the mask in my hand and I gave it up willingly.

  “How did this even fall? It was bolted firmly to the corner of the balcony—I checked it myself not more than a month ago.” He flipped the mask over and furrowed his brow at the sight of the broken bolt.

  “You know a lot about this theater, Jonas. Do you know whose face that is?” I asked.

  “Oh,” he muttered, “This was the face of the owner’s one true love.”

  “And who was that?” I pressed. After a moment’s hesitation as he stared into the hollow eyes of the mask, he replied, “Charlotte Baker, of course.”

  While that wasn’t the answer I was expecting, I didn’t really think he would declare it to be Allison, either. The mask was old—too old for Allison to be the inspiration for its design. Jonas’s hands shook as he held onto it and stared up at the spot where it used to hang.

  I handed him the flowers I’d bought and what was left of the fifty dollar bill. He shoved the money in his pocket and stuck the bouquets into the eye sockets of the mask. As if in a daze, he wandered back to the stage and called out, “That’s a wrap!”

  From my peripheral, I caught sight of movement in the balcony. A large figure retreated into the shadows before I could identify it. The answer to the mystery was here—I could feel it practically breathing down my neck.

  Rachel broke the spell by shouting my name. “Ruby! We have a lot to talk about—you’re coming with me.” She was right—we did need to talk. Zach wasn’t innocent. Did she know he followed me to Pittsburgh? Did she know he sent me this scarf and then lied about it? Well, she was about to.

  I said goodbye to Lucas and he reciprocated. As Rachel led me out of the theater still ranting about how much she didn’t like Lucas, he came up behind me and whispered something in my ear.

  “You look beautiful in that scarf, by the way.” He winked and was gone before I could wrap my brain around what he’d just said.