The Haunted

by J. A. Templeton

  I could have kissed him, but instead I squeezed his hand. “Not at all. Dreams can be hard to interpret,” I said, wishing I could tell him about Ian without making myself sound crazy.

  Dana walked by us, her lips quirked as her gaze dropped to our linked hands. “Hey, Kade.” She gave me a lethal stare.

  “Hey,” he said, his thumb brushing over mine, reassuring me in his own way.

  I smiled at him, and missed a step when I saw Laria standing directly between me and the door to my classroom. Thank God I was holding hands with Kade.

  Her appearance was more frightening to me—her eyes more sunken in than I remembered, the almost purple circles more pronounced, making her dark eyes appear black.

  “You’re trembling,” Kade said, his expression concerned.

  Cold air enveloped me, chills working their way up my legs and arms. I wanted to run in the opposite direction.

  Laria reached out for me, her fingers running down my arm…directly over the now nearly healed scratches. I bit back a cry. It felt like someone poured alcohol over the cut. I winced against the pain and mentally repeated the words, you have no power over me, you have no power over me, you have no power over me.

  She laughed cruelly, her face inches from mine, moving backward without taking a step. “I’m fine,” I said to Kade.

  “You sure?”

  I nodded. “I’m sure.”

  I brushed a hand over my face. Laria vanished, and I sighed in relief.

  We stopped at the classroom door. “I’ll see you tonight, okay?”

  “Sounds good,” I replied, dropping his hand. I watched as he walked in long strides down the hall. Dread filled me seeing Laria at the very end of the hall. Kade was walking straight toward her.

  My heart hammered in my chest. Oh my God, was she going after Kade now?

  Kade glanced back over his shoulder, looked at me and lifted his hand.

  I waved back.

  “Miss Williams?” The teacher watched me, brows lifted. “The bell is about to ring. Please take your seat.”

  I looked one last time down the hallway…to find it empty.

  Chapter 16

  The castle was quiet, surprising since every member of the MacKinnon household was home. It reminded me of the inn in a way—so large that a person could move around without anyone else hearing.

  I sat beside Kade on his bed, his foot sliding against mine. His mom said she’d come get us when dinner was ready. She didn’t seem to have a problem with us being in Kade’s room alone…as long as we kept the door open. I had to smile at that, because my mom would have been exactly the same way.

  I wondered if Kade knew how lucky he was to have her; to have a stable home life with parents who were attentive and who put their kids first.

  His fingers brushed lazily along my thigh, up and down, sending the best kind of shiver through me. Aside from Miss Akin, he was the bright spot in my world, my comfort and shoulder to lean on. And I was falling hard…

  He went in for a bone-melting kiss that had my heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it. And he was an incredible kisser. Soft lips. Perfect pressure, and I loved the way his hands always cupped my face. He made me feel fragile and cherished.

  Footsteps sounded on the spiral steps, and as they drew closer, Kade sighed and put some distance between us.

  “I made cookies,” his mom said, popping her head in. I could tell by her expression that she wasn’t exactly comfortable with me being on her son’s bed, and I felt my cheeks turn warm as she placed the plate on top of the dresser. “Now don’t eat too many. I don’t want you to spoil your dinner.”

  Feeling awkward, I stood up and sampled a cookie. “Excellent,” I said, even though the cookies were definitely dry and had a strange baking soda aftertaste to them. No wonder Kade had devoured Miss A’s shortbread cookies.

  She beamed. “I’m so glad you like them. I’ll package some up for you to take home to your family.”

  “Thanks. That’s nice.”

  “Dinner will be ready shortly, so if you’d like, you can come to the dining room.”

  She wasn’t asking us, she was telling us. I obediently followed her out the door. Behind me, Kade sighed heavily.

  I glanced back over my shoulder and caught him staring at my butt. He gave me a sheepish smile.

  “Hey, Riley,” Madison said the second we entered the dining room. She sat in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. She grinned, looking genuinely happy to see me.

  “Hey you.” I don’t know why I expected Hanway to be hanging around, but when he wasn’t, I was disappointed. I wished there was a way for me to talk to him about Laria.

  Cait walked in, head down as she texted. She glanced up, and seeing me, she stopped short and smiled. “Hey Ri. When did you get here?”

  “Riley is your brother’s guest tonight,” Karen said before I could respond.

  “Ah, I see…” Cait flashed a cheeky grin and sat down at the table, patting the chair next to her and telling me to sit.

  The second Mrs. MacKinnon left the room, Cait said, “So what’s the deal with your brother? Last I heard he broke things off with Joni?”

  Wow, word traveled fast.

  “I haven’t had a chance to talk to him, but I do know he’s going through a rough time right now.”

  Madison watched us closely, and she opened her mouth, but closed it a second later.

  Cait took a sip of ice water, and set the glass back down. “So what did your dad say?”

  “Nothing, he’s out of town. I know Miss Akin will have to tell him about the suspension, and I dread when she does. I mean, it’s been tough for Shane since my mom died.”

  “I’m sure it’s been tough for both of you,” Kade said, sitting across from me.

  I nodded. “It has been, but we deal with stress in different ways.”

  I don’t know if it was just my imagination, but I swore I saw Madison’s gaze shift to my arm where the scratches were…the same arm where I had cut before. Since she spoke to spirits, had they told her my secret? Did they all know my secret? I wondered.

  Mr. MacKinnon walked in and we all fell silent. Just like the last time I’d visited, he was warm and welcoming. During dinner, he talked about the time he’d taken Kade hunting and he bagged his first buck within the first hour. He was a natural with a bow, he had said with pride, and I remembered how Ian had told me he’d loved to hunt. I suppose it made sense that if we had a hobby in one life, that we would carry that hobby to the next life.

  When I glanced at Kade, the sides of his mouth curved. “He exaggerates.”

  “I don’t exaggerate. The boy is a natural, I tell you.” Duncan dropped a few spoonfuls of sugar into his tea. “And fishing. He puts everyone else I know to shame. Our lucky charm, my friend Richard calls him.”

  “Everything Kade touches turns to gold,” Cait said sarcastically, although she was smiling.

  That’s when I heard the chanting begin.

  My insides clenched. Oh my God, not now. Not here.

  “Riley.” My name had been whispered in my ear. I sat up straighter, pressed the napkin to my lips and tried to get my racing heartbeat to slow down.

  “Riley.” It was clearer this time, and deeper, like a growl.

  I glanced at Madison, whose face had gone ashen.

  Did she hear it, too?

  Cold air surrounded me, the hair on my arms standing on end.

  I felt the spirit behind me, could feel the pressure of someone there. Across the room there was an intricate mirror on the wall. It was at eye level, so I couldn’t see myself, but I could see someone standing behind me. Someone wearing a black cloak, a cowl covering their head, the features of their face hidden in shadow.

  Hands settled on my shoulders. My gaze dropped to Madison and she was looking up—at someone behind me. I swallowed hard and our eyes met.

  I intentionally knocked my water over onto my lap. “I’m so sorry. I’ll go to the restroom,�
� I said, standing abruptly.

  “I’ll show you where it’s at,” Madison said right behind me.

  Cait frowned at her. “Seriously, Maddy. She—”

  “No, that’s fine,” I said, my voice almost snappy. “I forgot where it was.”

  We said nothing to each other until we reached the bathroom. I stepped in and shut the door behind us.

  “You saw it too?” I said.

  She looked on the verge of tears. “What do they want?”

  “I don’t know. Did you see who it was?”

  She shook her head. “No, the hood thingy hid the face. I’m scared, Riley.” She took the step that separated us and buried her face against my shoulder.

  “He’s not after you,” I said reassuringly, hugging her close.

  “Hanway,” Madison said, her eyes screwed tight. “Hanway, help.”

  Within seconds the tall Scot was standing before us.

  I was so relieved to see him, and so was Madison who released a sigh.

  Now that I had a chance to stare at him, he wasn’t at all scary…just big. Massive, really.

  “He’s gone, lass,” he said reassuringly, putting a hand on Madison’s shoulder.

  She rested her hand over his, and I couldn’t help but smile. Hanway was what Ian had been to me.

  “He won’t be troubling you any longer. I’ll see to it.” He looked at me. “You are haunted by some black souls, my dear.”

  Souls as in plural.

  “You said it was a man. Who is he?”

  “Friends and allies of the one who seeks to destroy you.”

  I didn’t want to say Randall Cummins’ name aloud. “The servant in the picture?”

  Hanway nodded. “Aye, the very man who introduced Laria to the dark arts.”

  I shifted on my feet, wondering if I should ask questions in front of a twelve-year-old. I weighed my options and knew I had no choice but to go for it. I didn’t know when next I would have the opportunity. “Can the dead take over a living person—like literally become that person?”

  “Of course,” he said, sounding like the question was ridiculous. “Especially the weak.”

  There it was again, that reference to weakness. Shane didn’t seem weak to me.

  “A person does not have to be physically or emotionally weak to be a target for the dead. Sometimes believing in nothing is the perfect invitation to a spirit to prove that there is another dimension beyond what that person believes in.” He watched me closely. “And when a spirit wants revenge—he or she will look to those closest to the person they wish to harm.”

  “So are spirits able to take over a person’s body for long periods of time?”

  “Aye, if they are strong enough. But remember—even the most powerful among us must find energy in order to possess another.”

  Which explained why sometimes Shane seemed fine, and other times he didn’t.

  I knew very well how strong Laria’s power was. And she had friends helping her, witches that were as dangerous and frightening as she was.

  “If she could take you over, she would. You must remain strong, lass. Do not let her see your fear and always protect yourself.”

  Easier said than done, I thought.

  Footsteps approached. “Cait comes,” Hanway said.

  Madison grabbed a hairdryer out of the drawer and handed it to me.

  “Did you fall in?” Cait asked, trying the door.

  Hanway held the knob firm. “You’ll be all right, lass. Be strong.”

  He faded, and I was sorry to see him go. I had a million other questions for him.

  Madison looked up at me, and I could see the fear in her eyes. She was scared for me. Actually, I was scared for myself.

  ***

  The house was silent when I got home from Kade’s house.

  Clutching the bag of cookies Karen had sent me home with, I rounded the corner into the kitchen, turned on the light and stopped dead in my tracks.

  Shane sat on a barstool.

  He’d been sitting in the dark?

  “Hey, what are you doing?”

  He blinked a few times and frowned at the counter, before finally making eye contact with me. “I don’t know.” Dark circles bracketed his eyes and he looked exhausted.

  “I heard about you getting suspended,” I said, wondering exactly when he had come home.

  There was no expression on his face as he watched me. I set the cookies on the counter. I remembered what Hanway had said about ghosts being able to manifest for certain lengths of time. Who exactly was Shane right now?

  I noticed Shane’s hands were trembling. I also noticed his eyes seemed darker than they’d been seconds before. Almost a slate color. Not a good sign.

  “When did Miss A go to bed?” I asked, going to the fridge and pulling out juice. “You want a glass?”

  Once again he just stared. I poured a glass of juice and set the decanter back in the fridge. I could feel Shane watching me, and even more, I felt hatred come off of him in waves. It was strange to be terrified of your own brother.

  I turned and he was right behind me. I gripped the glass tight. I hadn’t even heard him move. “Did you want juice?”

  He stared at me, not blinking, his face inches from mine. “He will hurt you and when he does, you will wish you were dead.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  The sides of his mouth curved into a slow, cruel smile. “Because it’s the truth.”

  Shane walked away before I could reply.

  I had to end this. I had to find a way to get my brother back. I had to keep reminding myself that I had brought Laria into our lives.

  I just had to fix it. No matter what it took. Shane was being robbed of his life and manipulated by pure evil.

  I looked in the address book that Miss Akin kept in a drawer in the kitchen and I dialed Anne Marie’s cell number.

  The phone rang four times before she picked up. “Hello.”

  “Anne Marie, it’s Riley.”

  There was silence on the other end…for a second. “How are you?”

  “Anne Marie?” Nothing but dial tone.

  I dialed the number again and it immediately went to voice message. I waited a few minutes, and when my phone didn’t ring again, I tried one more time. The phone rang this time. I put the address book away and Anne Marie answered. “Riley?”

  “Yes, it’s me.”

  “My dear, you are in gr—”

  I could hear nothing but static on the line. “Anne Marie.” I stayed on for another minute and hung up, my heart pounding out of my chest. Her voice had been intense, like she was warning me.

  I went upstairs to my room and hit Redial again. Anne Marie picked up almost immediately, but after she said hello, the line once again went static.

  Chapter 17

  Something was wrong—I could feel it in my bones.

  I’d grown accustomed to the smell of a five star breakfast. Today there was silence in the kitchen, and there were no signs or smells that Miss Akin had been there. Not even a cereal bowl. “Hello,” I said, and my greeting was met with silence.

  I rushed through the house, and finally raced up the steps and walked down the hallway toward Miss Akin’s room, trying to ignore the sense of foreboding that was quickly overtaking me. I knocked on her door, and I heard shuffling inside.

  “Please be okay,” I whispered. I couldn’t fathom losing her.

  “Come in, dear.”

  Hearing her voice, I breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door.

  Miss A sat on the edge of her bed holding a tissue, her shoulders slumped.

  “Miss A, what’s wrong?”

  She glanced up. Her glasses sat on the nightstand, and she reached for them while she dabbed at her eyes. It tore at my insides to see her in pain, and I was actually terrified to learn what had made her so upset. I immediately thought of my dad. Had something happened to him?

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, steeling myself for the worst
.

  “I received some distressing news.”

  I took the steps that separated us, sat down beside her. “What is it?”

  Her throat convulsed as she swallowed. “Anne Marie passed away this morning.”

  “But I just called her last night.”

  Miss Akin’s eyes widened. “Did you speak with her?”

  “Just for a second. There was too much static on the line.” I didn’t like where my thoughts were headed. Anne Marie had sounded like she was trying to warn me about something, and now she was dead. Was there a connection?

  “What happened, Miss A?”

  She picked at the edges of the tissue. “Her family isn’t sure. She told them she wasn’t feeling well last night and she went to bed and never woke.”

  I put an arm around her, rested my head on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Miss A.”

  “That’s not all. Last night I dreamt about her death. She stood right here—right there in this room,” she said, nodding toward the end of the bed.

  Miss A had told me about her precognitive dreams before. She’d often seen events before they happened. “What did she say?”

  “She just smiled and said she was at peace, and then told me to protect you…and Shane. There was a sense of urgency. I kept asking her what she meant, and all she did was smile. When I awoke, I knew she was dead. I felt her absence. I know it sounds strange…”

  “No, it doesn’t.”

  She shook her head and started crying all over again. I felt horrible for her. Anne Marie was Miss Akin’s closest friend. I knew too well the feeling of having someone you care about die. A piece of you dies with them.

  “Look at me making such a fuss. She would hate that.”

  “You’re allowed to cry, Miss A.”

  She turned to me, her gaze searching my face. “Are you all right, my darling? I mean, is there something or someone who is bothering you or your brother that I should know about?”

  I couldn’t bring myself to tell her about Laria and my suspicions about what she was doing to Shane. Especially now that Anne Marie was dead. “No, I’m doing better than I’ve been in a long time.” At least it wasn’t a total lie. “Listen, I’ll stay home with you today.”