PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

  "Yes dear, but remember, we don't even know if said demon knows a doppelganger, we don't, and if 'e does, well it's a sticky situation, it is. See, we still don't know if y'can summon 'im because 'e most likely'll be in possession o' a 'uman form and we may 'ave t'go lookin' fer 'im."

  "This is kind of huge. I mean, I want to slap the shit out of Gran, but kill her? I'm not comfortable with that, Ruth."

  "Well, I'm thinkin', purely fer yer sister's sake, we should at least see if we can get some information from the demon. Y'don't 'ave t'use the doppelganger if we find 'im, y'don't."

  "I am not talking with a demon!" Martin shouted.

  Ruth's brows dropped. She glared at Martin. "Well, Martin I won't force ya, I won't. I'll 'ave a talk with 'im myself. I'm hopin' the demon will know o'the doppelganger that killed Terrence, I am. Then maybe we might find out why Bartholomew 'ad y'kill 'im dear, and in turn find a way t'send Bartholomew t' 'is rightful place before 'e 'as 'is way with Toni, we might."

  Martin's eyes took on the shape of two sunny-side-up eggs, yokes popping out from the whites surrounding them. "I don't ever want to see that doppelganger again! I mean I got rid of its host and I just know he's-"

  "Martin, 'e can't 'urt y'anymore; y'are dead," Ruth said, and turned to Sara. "Ready, dear?"

  Sara took several breaths before answering, "Okay, but if we find him, he's gonna be a last ditch effort to stop Gran. Got it?" She pointed at the circle, Ruth stepped into it, and Sara chanted the spell.

  "Oh honey, this is such a bad idea," Martin muttered.

  "You've said that way too many times," Sara warned, as Ruth disappeared with her fingers waggling at them. "And don't worry; I'm not lettin' this thing kill Gran unless she tries to hurt Toni."

  "Sh-yeah, not like Gran's doing anything to hurt her at the moment, right?" Martin used a tad-bit too much exaggerated facial expressions.

  Sara hooded her eyes and glared at Martin. "Maybe this thing can stop Bartholomew and then I'm all over Jessica's ass and that damn video!"

  "We can only hope," Martin huffed. "I mean, God forbid we don't have time for your homosexual agenda, held together by rubber bands."

  Two hours later, Ruth was back in the circle.

  "Well, that was quite an uncomfortable experience," Ruth chirped.

  "Did he know where we can find the doppelganger thingy?" Sara asked anxiously.

  "Yes 'e did, but I 'ad t'bargain with 'im, I did. Demons don't give somethin' fer nothin', they don't."

  "That doesn't sound good," Martin moaned.

  "It isn't that bad, Martin," Ruth said, and quickly moved on to the topic at hand. "The doppelganger, e's livin' through a body not seven miles from 'ere. A Charlotte Frank, and said double is already dead, she is, but then o'course none o' 'er acquaintances knows that since she appears t'be walkin' around lookin' well and alive. I 'ave the address where the alternate identity is residin', right 'ere." Ruth tapped her fingers in and out of her temple.

  "Usually they live through the double, enjoyin' the 'uman's life fer as long as a month, sometimes more, they do, so we 'ave plenty-a-time t'think about talkin' t' 'im. But we'll 'ave t'give 'im a really good reason fer droppin' a woman in 'er thirties fer Gran's tired old body since a doppelganger gains nothin' but livin' out a few months o' a mortal's life."

  "This is getting out of control," Martin squawked.

  "Do y'want t'move on, Martin? Do y'want t'get off this earth and reap the glory o'the ever after?" Ruth asked, floating out of the circle.

  "Yes, but-"

  "Look, first things first," Sara said as she began to put all her grandmother's things back the way they were. "What bargain did you make with the devil-thing for all this information?"

  "Y'needn't worry yerself with that, dear."

  "Spit it out, Ruth!" Martin said.

  "Yes dearies, well, all 'e asked fer—let me say I was very pleased with 'is final request—was fer us t'spend one night down there."

  "Aw, shit!" Martin cried.

  "I am so not going to be sucked on again!" Sara said, floating the spell book back into the dresser drawer and then closing it.

  "'E just wants 'is wards t'see our experience with the doppelganger, 'e does. Not such a bad bargain, I'd think, considerin' the alternatives 'e suggested."

  "Well, I'm not going," Sara huffed.

  "Yes y'are, dear. 'E'll be callin' us, 'e will, as soon as everythin' is resolved," Ruth said with a coy smile.

  "Perfect!" Sara said, "Well, we sure as hell are gonna use this doppelganger for something, I tell you! I'm thinkin', if not Gran, maybe Jessica'd like to meet him," her voice echoed as she passed through the bedroom wall.

  Ruth and Martin exchanged a look of consternation.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Toni walked down aisle after aisle of shelved books, her eyes playing over titles as Sara, Ruth, and Martin passed through the shelves following her.

  "She's wearing my friggin' skinny jeans, and they're too damn tight on her!" Sara snapped.

  "This coming from a girl who-"

  "Now, now, Martin, Godblessyerspitefulsoul, let's not get 'er all worked int'a dither," Ruth warned.

  "This is a huge store, Paul. How many others did you say your father owned?" Toni asked, favoring him with a smile. His eyes are so blue, just like Paddy's, and his hair is so black. What a beautiful contrast.

  "We have twenty stores throughout the United States." Paul grinned and Toni's heart skipped a beat when he put his hand on her back and guided her toward the back of the store.

  Sara scowled as she watched Paul's eyes play over the back of her skinny jeans. "Get your smutty eyes off my sister's ass!" Sara growled, sliding in front of Paul and putting her hands in front of his eyes.

  "Oooh girl, you do know he can see right through you, right?" Martin teased.

  "Wow, twenty stores," Toni said, as she walked beside him, very aware of the heat his hand was generating on her back. "That's great. Will you be working here after you graduate?"

  "We can only hope not," Martin said, floating after them.

  "Like it makes a difference," Sara snorted, as she buzzed around Paul. "He's here now, isn't he?"

  "Yep, I'm going to stay right here and help Dad with marketing," Paul answered, coming to a stop at the end of the aisle. He turned away from Toni and shuffled his feet. "Can I ask you something?"

  Oh, please don't ask me if I want you to stay here. I am so not ready for that question. "Sure," Toni said.

  "Um . . . nothing big, I just . . . well . . . I was wondering how you and Paddy are doing?" Paul blurted.

  "Oh yea! Just what I wanna hear!" Sara screeched, hovering closer to Toni.

  Martin rolled his eyes.

  Ruth clicked her tongue.

  Why would he ask that? "Um, just fine, I really like her and Reggie. They're so nice."

  "Ask her about the video!" Sara yelled, getting up in Paul's face.

  "Will you ever give it up?" Martin shook his head into a scrambled cloud. "Own it!"

  "Martin, godblessyerilliteratesoul y'ave an annoyin' 'abit o'carryin' on in incomplete sentences, y'do."

  Sara curled her lips back and snarled.

  "So what have you girls been up to?" Paul asked, stroking a trail up Toni's arm with the tips of his fingers.

  "Um, well," Toni said, her eyes riveted on his fingers. Should I tell him about Sara? Why not? I mean, it's certainly not a secret; and, well, it's better coming from me. "Remember the night of the wake when you asked me why I was so upset?"

  Sara sucked in a breath and started whipping around Toni.

  "And she's off," Martin wisecracked.

  "Leave 'er alone, Martin," Ruth warned.

  "I do. What happened?" Paul asked, frowning as he rubbed her arms.

  Oh God, here goes. How do I say this? And can he get any closer? "Well, Sara's friends put a . . . well . . . a . . . they filmed something that..." This is so hard and I'm turning red again, dammit!

  "Oh for Christ's sake
, just spit it out!" Sara said.

  Toni fidgeted with the buttons on her blouse. "Sara was with Reggie, and they were kissing and stuff, at a party. Jessica filmed them with her cell phone and texted it to all of her friends. She's still texting it." Toni lifted her eyes to Paul's. "I have to get Jessica to make this right and destroy that video."

  "Yessss! You go girl!" Sara sang, doing her mini-tornado, happy-dance thing.

  "See there, dear, we can leave 'er t'it and get on with the doppelganger, we can," Ruth said.

  Paul sighed. "So that's what it's all about. High school can be so cruel. Poor Sara." His hand went around Toni's waist and he put his forehead against hers, a smile on his lips. "Can I help you?"

  "Oh, you helped, all right," Sara mumbled. "Shit for brains. You did a fine job!"

  Not able to see or hear her sister, Toni stayed focused. She shook her head. Paul pulled back, lifted her chin and tilted her face up to his. "You sure?"

  He's sooo sweet, but I'm sooo not ready to get him into all of this. "No, we've got it. Jessica and her friends are having another party and Reggie has something incriminating on Jessica. I think she'll listen to reason."

  "Oh yeah! The bitch is finally going down!" Sara said, pumping a fist in the air in front of Martin.

  Martin let out a shrill giggle and they tried to grasp hands while both bounced a circle of connected smoke.

  "And you're going to this party?" Paul asked, running his hand up and down her back.

  Toni's eyes locked on Paul's. His hand feels like fire on my back. And right now, I really want him to kiss me. Maybe Paddy's right. Maybe I just... "Yes I am."

  "Can I go with you?"

  Oh, that is so not going to happen. "Umm . . . well, right now that would just make me uncomfortable," Toni said placing her hand on Paul's chest and snuggled closer.

  "Get away from the possessed guy!" Sara screeched.

  "Ohhh, sweetie, he's possessed all right, but not by Bartholomew at the moment," Martin chided.

  Sara growled.

  Paul smiled, his lips inches from Toni's face. "Will you at least go out with me for your birthday? I know you probably want to spend Tuesday with your mom and grandmother, so I thought maybe we can go out the night before and celebrate."

  "Sooo not a good idea! Just say no, Toni," Sara screamed, floating around her sister.

  "I'd like that," Toni said. And it will give me a chance to be with Paddy and Reggie on my birthday.

  Sara bolted in and out of Paul.

  Ruth floated over to Sara with a warning. "Remember, dear, Gran said no possession. Y'don't want another trip t' 'ell, y'don't."

  "And that's coming from the one that already got us another ticket to Hell," Martin muttered.

  Paul smiled, slipped his other arm around Toni's waist, and pulled her to his chest.

  He's going to kiss me again! Paul's lips covered hers, wiping away the rest of her thoughts. Toni ran her hands up his chest and around his neck.

  "This is a freakin' nightmare! Three days until B-day and he's already priming her! And he can't do her the day before her birthday either. What's he up to? I'm sure B has already clued him in."

  "Unless it's after midnight, dear," Ruth enlightened. "Do y'know yer sister's curfew?"

  "NO! Well shit! Just shit!" Sara growled. "And I bet we're in a circle of salt and Bartholomew will probably be in the damn cat! Gran is such a bitch!"

  "Bless'eruntappedhymen, I think it's gonna' happen, it is."

  "Screw that! And I better not be in no salt circle on Wednesday, 'cause I'm goin' to that party!"

  "Oh joy, we get to go to a teen-bash," Martin sang. "Such fun!"

  "Well, dear, if all goes well fer Paul, at least Toni'll know we're 'ere, she will," Ruth said, her eyes on Sara.

  "I totally didn't think about that! Oh yeah! I can finally tell my sister everything!"

  "Or not!" Martin screeched. "At least not until we take care of Antoinette and Bartholomew."

  "What does he mean?" A trail of smoke followed Sara's head as she jerked it in Ruth's direction.

  "Gran can still send us t'that crypt fer an eternity, she can," Ruth answered, "Maybe we should 'ead over t'Charlotte's 'ome, we should."

  "Will they ever stop kissing?" Sara asked with a look of disgust as she glared at Toni and Paul.

  "Just because you prefer girls, doesn't mean she does," Martin taunted.

  Sara showed transparent teeth, but instead of tearing Martin a new one, her eyes lit up, and she snapped her head in Ruth's direction. "Hey, maybe Toni will be able to bring us back from the crypt! Did you ever think of that?"

  "Not if Bartholomew is in possession of her," Martin educated, "because once she does the deed, honey, her mind is an open book."

  "That is so not going to-" Sara started, but turned back to her sister and screeched, "His hand is up her blouse! Somebody do something!" Sara streaked toward her sister.

  Martin and Ruth exchanged an apprehensive look.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  It was Monday morning and Toni woke with visions from last night's dream still running through her mind. Her whole body tingled as she remembered Paul's heated passion.

  She pulled out her diary and pencil and scribbled:

  July 23; one day before my eighteenth birthday!

  Well diary, I had another dream about Paul last night and it was so intoxicating that I've made a decision! I have a date with him tonight and I if he wants to take our relationship to the next level, namely sex, I'm going for it. I will not be the only virgin in my senior class!

  Toni nibbled on the pencil eraser as she thought, Okay, so basically I'm trying to talk myself into sex based on my own stupid dreams and dumb homophobic paranoia! The way I looked at Paddy...the feelings I have when Paul kisses me... Crap, I need to find out. Is this how Sara felt?

  Toni placed the pencil on the page, held it there for a minute, and then wrote:

  No matter what, I will not act like Sara!

  ***

  On the other side of town, Paul stood at the kitchen counter, pouring himself what was left of the morning coffee, while reliving the dream he'd had the night before. Heat embraced his body and a huge grin spread across his face when he remembered how good Toni had felt in his arms.

  Bartholomew cleared his throat and Paul whipped around to find the seer ghost behind him. "If you're here to remind me that tonight's the big night, don't bother. I'm going to do what you've asked."

  "Good boy," Bartholomew said with a snide grin, "and after your little interlude you will be rid of me and can carry on your relationship with Toni, that is, if she wishes to."

  "The only way I'll be rid of you is if Toni becomes whatever the hell she's gonna become and decides she wants no part of you," Paul said.

  "And you better not guide her or your sister will be six feet under the roses of guilt you lay on her grave every week." Bartholomew warned with a snarl.

  "I don't have to. Toni's a smart girl, she won't need my help. I'm sure when she gets to know you; she'll make the right decision."

  "That remains to be seen; but, nonetheless, it is none of your business. I have more working for me then you have, my boy. Toni will embrace what I have to offer and, in return, give me what I have been waiting for."

  Paul shook his head. "I don't think so, but have at it. I'll be there to pick up the pieces."

  ***

  Seven miles from the Farrell house, Sara and Ruth stood in front of Charlotte Frank's double, who was sitting at Charlotte's dining room table with a cup of coffee in her delicate hands and a smile on the face that was not who it appeared to be.

  They'd made the doppelganger aware that they knew he was in possession of Charlotte, explained everything about Toni, Bartholomew and Gran, and now seemed to be at a standstill.

  "Well, dear," Ruth said, "we know sheddin' that beautiful body fer a much older one's a bit o'an imposition, but we're willin' t'give y'somethin' in return, we are."

  "And what wou
ld that be?" the doppelganger asked from Charlotte's thick rose colored lips. He bounced Charlotte's crossed leg, tiny foot flashing red toenails beneath the hem of her black silk robe.

  "Look, we need your help, so just give it up," Sara said, "or we start blabbing to Charlotte's friends and relatives that she's really dead and you killed her."

  Charlotte ran five, long, red acrylic fingernails through blond curls and smiled. "Do I look dead?"

  "You will when we take the police to Charlotte's dead body," Sara said. "I'm sure it's lying around here somewhere. She's a ghost, we're ghosts. Whaddaya think?"

  Charlotte's double ignored the remark and turned toward the kitchen door. "You can come out, Martin. I know you're there."

  A squeal emanated from the other side of the door.

  Charlotte took a sip of her coffee; put the cup down lightly on the oak table in front of her. "I hold nothing against you, Martin. I know Bartholomew made you do what you did."

  Martin peeked around the door. "I didn't know I was going to slit your host's throat, and I didn't even know that you were inside him."

  "I know," the doppelganger said. "Bartholomew's a bastard."

  "Blesstheunfortunateincident, why did Bartholomew make Martin destroy yer 'ost, dear?" Ruth asked with a raised brow.

  Martin cautiously floated out of the kitchen and stopped behind Sara.

  Charlotte's eyes moved slowly from Martin to study Ruth. A smile formed on her lips. "After I killed Terrence and assumed his identity, I was bit by a vampire and, much to my surprise, Terrence's form was infected with the virus. I found myself in an immortal dead body, and I was so much enjoying the longevity of the visit . . . " She turned to Martin. " . . . until you cut his head off."

  Martin screeched, "I did not! Bartholomew was controlling my body."

  Charlotte lifted the china cup to lips that were no longer controlled by her and took a sip, eyeing Martin with a casual expression.

  "Give it up," Sara squawked, "why did Bartholomew make Martin kill him? He has a right to know."

  Charlotte's eyes scanned Sara. "What a small world this is."

  "And can y'embellish on that a bit, dear?" Ruth queried with a look of warning in Sara's direction.