by Dana Davis
Soon, a flickering, transparent Native man in a loin cloth and sandals stood before them on the mountain. Daisy’s heart took up a frantic beat in her head as well as her chest. Wil Miller had Native ancestors, which was how he knew about the ancient skinwalker specter he’d conjured. And the gold mine in the Superstitions that people had searched out for over a century, the one where his body lay buried and now guarded by the ancient Kachina, was once owned by one of his ancestors. That last encounter hadn’t gone well for any of them, especially Wil.
This specter turned his transparent head toward Daisy, dark eyes looking right into her. She sucked in a breath that hurt her lungs. Shit. This can’t be good.
Something that looked like transparent cheesecloth arced and pulsed outward from the specter’s body like sun flares. Ectoplasm. Had to be. At one time thought to be nothing but a fake special effect, ectoplasm had turned out to be real. It just didn’t manifest from the orifices of mediums the way photographers had once tricked others into believing. A medium back in the day had mentioned it to a photographer and he ran with the idea, scamming loads of people out of money.
I read about it in one of my magick books. Funny she should actually remember that. And especially now.
“What is it?” Noah said in her ear. “What’s happening? I don’t see it anymore.”
“Not sure, exactly.” Noah tried to squeeze in front of her to put himself between her and the specter he could no longer see, but she wouldn’t let him. Her husband had no powers, couldn’t defend himself. Oh, like you know what to do if this thing attacks you again. It’s a ghost. A powerful one. She had no desire to feel that pain again. Other than sapping her energy, the specter hadn’t harmed her. She was beginning to believe he had used her to gain energy in order to manifest. I didn’t feel anything sinister about him when he was doing – whatever that was. “He’s taken form. Bridge, can you see him?”
“Not anymore. But I saw the orb earlier.”
The specter moved his head to Scarlet when she stepped closer to him.
Daisy’s heart tap danced against her ribs. Just because I didn’t feel anything sinister, doesn’t mean he won’t try and kill one of us. “Careful, Scarlet.”
“It’s okay.” The medium stopped about four feet from the Native visage and reached behind her. “Take my hand, Daisy.”
“Um, yeah, I don’t think so.”
One shadowy arm beckoned. “He won’t hurt you again.”
“He better not.” Bridgette’s threat echoed in the night air. She might have no control over a ghost, especially one she couldn’t even see, but she certainly could do something nasty to Scarlet. Even a medium wasn’t immune to spells.
“Do as I say, witch.” Scarlet’s tone brooked no argument this time. “Come closer and hold my hand.”
Daisy had agreed to let Scarlet tutor her, whether or not she liked the lessons. She reassured Noah that she’d be fine then took two steps forward on shaky legs, just enough to reach Scarlet’s outstretched fingers.
The medium pulled her forward, like a naughty child who dallied too long, and she nearly lost her balance. “Everyone else stay where you are. And keep quiet.”
They stood that way for what must have been several minutes, Daisy’s heart thrumming in her ears the entire time. What the hell’s he going to do now? She leaned toward Scarlet’s ear. “Wh—”
“Shh.”
She bristled at being shushed like a child but kept her mouth shut. You listening, Bridge? Daisy twisted around to see her cousin’s shadowy head nod, which made her feel a bit better. Even though Bridgette couldn’t hear a ghost’s thoughts, she could sense their presence. Usually. Bridgette had admitted she couldn’t hear everything from Scarlet or Kali. But she hears me. Now anyway. I’ll take what I can get.
Kali, Daisy noticed, stayed close to Bridgette and Noah. To protect them? Could the necro control a specter here in the living world? Daisy didn’t think so. From what she’d learned, they could only seek souls out in the afterlife by putting part of their own life force on the other side. A disturbing thought, given what Daisy knew about the afterlife. Necromancers could also control Charon reapers on the other side, with the right ritual. That’s how Rebecca had soulnapped Daisy’s mom.
Right now, Kali might be as vulnerable as Noah. Damnit. I should’ve come up here with just Scarlet.
“Can you speak?” Scarlet said.
Daisy, her hand still in the medium’s firm grasp, heard what sounded like mumbling from the specter. She couldn’t make out any words. “What’d he say?”
“I don’t know. He’s very old. We can’t understand you.”
More mumbling. Scarlet released Daisy’s hand and reached into her pocket. Daisy aimed her flashlight beam onto a small recorder. Scarlet then pressed a button, took the flashlight, and handed Daisy the recorder. “Hold it out toward him.”
“Okay.” She held the recorder toward the specter, whose light was growing dimmer by the second. He leaned away from her, as though afraid. So, maybe he’s not going to attack me again. She sucked in a breath and forced her hand to stop trembling.
“This device won’t hurt you, specter,” Scarlet said. “But it might help us hear you better. Please, say your message again.”
He moved toward Daisy and it took all her strength not to back away. Well, that and Scarlet’s hand pressing firmly on her back. The specter’s dark irises held flecks of gold, or maybe light. Daisy couldn’t tell which. His mouth worked in some quiet message that she hoped the recorder caught. In a sudden movement, he threw his head back in what looked like agony. Instinct prompted Daisy to reach out for him.
Scarlet held her back. “Don’t touch him.”
Within seconds the specter melted down to an orb again, a brilliant white light with golden threads of illumination at its center. The light flickered and pulsed. Then it just winked out. Gone. As though it had never been there.
Daisy started to move but Scarlet’s hand stopped her. The medium aimed the flashlight on the ground where the specter had stood. “What is it?” Daisy said as Noah stepped to her and placed a protective arm around her waist. “Isn’t he gone?”
“Yes, he’s gone.” Scarlet pointed to the ground where the flashlight beam hit the dirt. “That’s for you, Daisy.”
“What is it?” She hesitated, patted Noah’s hand to let him know she was all right, then stepped toward the object. The rest joined her as she squatted. Her leg muscles screamed at her and she grunted.
“You okay?” Noah said.
“Just sore.” Best to ignore the pain for his sake. “It’s just a rock, Scarlet.”
“Are you sure? Look closely. Specters don’t make appearances lightly.”
Daisy smirked, despite her aching muscles and fatigue. “This one did. Sorry. Bad light joke.” That got a faint chuckle from Kali. She felt better joking about this now that it was over. Her hand still trembled slightly and her legs felt watery but she didn’t think the specter had harmed her, just taken her energy. Though that hurt like hell at the time. “Is it safe to touch?”
“Of course. But it might be—”
Daisy sucked in a breath and dropped the rock when it burned her fingers like dry ice. “Shit.”
“ – cold,” Scarlet finished.
“Thanks for the warning, Scarlet. Next time, talk a little faster, will you?”
“Here, hon.” Noah pulled a tissue from his pocket and handed it to her. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah. Nothing a good soak in the spa won’t cure.” She used the tissue to scoop up the rock, which was flat and about the size of her palm, and held it under the flashlight beam. It looked like a plain rock, one of millions along the hiking trails. Until she turned it over. “There’s a carving on it. Some kind of swirl.”
Noah leaned close. “It’s a spiral petroglyph. My dad studied these.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen them in pictures. What does it mean?”
“No one knows. The ancient Hohokam le
ft them all over the valley.”
Daisy turned to the medium. “Scarlet, you said orb specters appear where they died. So this one died here in the McDowell’s, right?”
“That’s right.”
She focused on her husband again. “Were petroglyphs found someplace here in the mountains?”
“Probably. Why? You think he wants you to go there?”
“Could be. I really don’t know.” She thought of something. “Scarlet, this is the message you said I’d get about the hitchhiker, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“But what does it mean? That the hitchhiker was once an ancient Indian?”
“Just because the spirit guide is ancient, doesn’t mean the hitchhiker is. Once you find out what that rock means, you’ll have your answer.”
“Just what I always wanted, another mystery to solve.” Now that the immediate danger was over and her body recovering from the adrenaline rush, a vicious yawn escaped.
Noah took her arm. “Let’s get you home, honey.”
She stuffed the rock into the pocket of her jeans. “Wait. What about the recording?”
Scarlet played back the track and held it to her ear. She shrugged and handed it to Daisy, who couldn’t make out much at all except static.
The medium sighed. “I can clean it up on my computer. We might get something. We might get nothing.”
“That’s encouraging.”
Bridgette sniffed. “If we climbed all the way up here in the dark for nothing but a fucking rock, when I finally get to the afterlife I’ll find that spook and kick his sorry ethereal ass.”
Daisy took her cousin’s arm. “And that’ll be many, many years from now, Bridge. But if it’s any consolation, I’ll take you all to lunch tomorrow. On me. I want to talk to Paul Manny about this.” She patted her pocket that bulged from the rock. “He might know something.”
“Daisy.” Noah’s voice seemed to plead with her. “You need to rest.” He turned on Scarlet. “Just what the hell did that thing do to her?”
The medium was silent for a moment. “Care to make a guess, Daisy?”
“I think he was using me for my energy. So he could manifest.”
“Very good, witch. It hurts but it’s not fatal. At least that’s what I’m told.”
“What do you mean, that’s what you’re told?”
“Well, I’ve never had an encounter like this one. And the way you took this specter into your body well, that’s something most mediums can’t do. But after what happened at the cemetery today with that shadow spirit, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
Noah stiffened beside Daisy. “What? Daisy, you can’t be letting ghosts possess you.”
“I didn’t let them do anything.”
Scarlet waved a dismissive hand. “Not possession. Transference.”
Daisy’s heart tap danced against her ribs. “Like a psi-vamp?”
“No. Not at all like that. Sometimes ghosts feed on a person’s energy, in a manner of speaking, to help them do things in this world. But it’s temporary. They don’t feed on the life force itself.”
“What the hell’s the difference?” Noah’s tone told Daisy he’d been scared out of his mind for her. Again. After almost losing her on Halloween, she didn’t blame him, but they couldn’t panic. Not here. Not now.
She placed a comforting hand on his arm. “He just needed a jump start, babe. I was the battery. That’s all.” At least ghosts can’t suck out my life force. That’s something, I guess.
He studied her a moment in the shadowy darkness. “And you’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. Really. Just tired.” And achy as shit.
He let out a breath she recognized as relief. “Okay, but I want you to stay home tomorrow and rest.”
“I’ll rest tonight but I can’t stay home tomorrow. A restaurant and museum visit won’t tax me. Now, let’s go.” Before I fall asleep right here. She stopped when her phone vibrated against her butt. “Hold on. I’m getting a call.” She pulled the phone from her back pocket and flipped it open. “Hello?”
“Daisy, it’s Zoey. Sorry to call so late but they found another body.”
Holy crap, not another one. “Where?”
“Outside a Scottsdale hospital.”
She forced herself not to look at Bridgette. Chesh!
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* * * *
Chapter 12
When He's Gone
Even in the dim light and with her senses plugged, Bridgette could tell something was wrong. She didn’t know who had called or why but Daisy seemed spooked. More than anything, Bridgette wanted to get off this fucking mountain.
Hitchhikers. Orbs. Ancient specters. Fuck knows what else will decide it needs Daisy’s attention. And this one was supposedly a good guy. For a moment, Bridgette had thought that orb thing was going to kill her cousin. And why the hell do they insist on coming out only at night? It took all her will not to reach over and shake the crap out of Scarlet and Kali, make them spill everything they knew about ethereal nasties, good and bad, the Fates and their idiotic rules be damned. But she didn’t.
Instead, she stood silent as Daisy spoke on the phone. Watched the shadowy form of her cousin-in-law, Noah, stand protectively nearby, even though the man had no active powers whatsoever. Waited as Kali shifted from foot to foot, like practicing some sort of dance step. Kept quiet as Scarlet said absolutely nothing with her head bent toward the spot where the specter had been just moments before.
“No, I can do that,” Daisy said. “Thanks. And be careful.” She shoved her phone into her back pocket.
Okay I’ve been patient enough. “What is it, Daisy? Who was that?” She studied her cousin’s shadowy form. “Daisy?” You better fucking tell me what’s got you spooked. Her nerves seemed a bit raw now and she forced herself to remain calm. It won’t help her if I panic. Won’t help any damn one of us. But I really want to get the hell off this mountain. “Daisy? What’s wrong?”
Her cousin took in a deep breath and let it out. “That was Zoey. There’s another body. Outside a Scottsdale hospital.”
Bridgette let out a string of curses that would’ve made her half-troll father proud, pulled her phone from her pocket, and immediately pressed in the number for the hospital. When Hattie answered, Bridgette told the woman what she’d just heard.
“No, it wasn’t here,” Hattie said. Despite the relief at that news, adrenaline pumped through Bridgette at bullet-like speed. “But I was just going to call you.” Hattie sounded worried about something.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” You just told me the body wasn’t found at your hospital.
“Liam’s missing.”
Okay, I didn’t see that one coming. “What? How?”
“I’m not sure, Bridgette. He got past the gate, somehow. The guard swears he only left his post for a bathroom break once the patients were asleep. We’ve got every available person looking for him, even the local police. They put out an APB, or whatever it is they do. We’ll find him.” A noise like someone crying filtered through the phone. “I’m sorry but I have to go now. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear something.”
You better. “Thanks, Hattie.” Bridgette disconnected and let out a frustrated breath. The only place Liam had been in the past twenty-two years was that hospital. The city had changed a lot in that time. He still faded in and out and could get hurt out here on his own.
“Bridgette? Is it – one of Hattie’s patients?”
She swallowed and turned to Daisy. “No. Not there. But Liam’s missing.”
“Missing?” Noah said. “How? That place’s tighter than a jail.”
“Wish I knew.” She grunted. “Wait, I do know how. He bragged to me about picking locks when we were kids.” That’s how we got the damn booze in the first place.
Daisy stepped close. “Do you know where he might have gone?”
“No fucking idea, unless he’s having another flashback and is out looking for his pa
rents.”
“You think he’s gone to his old house?”
“Could be.” It’s an excellent place to start looking. Bridgette’s phone vibrated in her hand, followed by the Jaws movie ring tone. Figures I’d get a great signal up here. Now what? “Hi, Mom.”
“Bridgette, I know you’re busy but can you stop at the store on your way home tonight? You’re out of green tea.”
“Sure. Anything else while I’m there?” Because I so love being an errand girl. Especially after my cousin was just screaming in pain on a mountain and now my friend has gone missing.
“That’s it. But get the loose kind not that teabag stuff. Thanks, baby. Love you.”
“Love you too.” She disconnected and sudden determination filled her. I can’t let Liam get hurt again. I owe him that much. She said a silent prayer to the universe to keep him safe. To keep her entire family safe.
Daisy put a hand on her arm. “You want to look for him tonight?”
“Yes, but you’re not coming. You’re going home to rest.”
“I’ll go with you, Bridgette,” Kali said.
Daisy turned on her. “You’re not a witch, Kali.”
“No, but I’m a reverse empath, remember? I can distract anyone if needed. Even you witches aren’t totally immune to me.”
Bridgette let out a grunt. “Can we please finish this discussion after we get off this fucking mountain?”
* * * *
Bridgette sped along Hayden Road, top down on her BMW. Hers was one of three cars in this residential area. Kali sat in the passenger’s seat. The necro hadn’t said more than a few words since they left Daisy’s house.
“You okay, Kali?”
“Yeah. It’s just surreal. A couple of weeks ago, I was a simple paranormal. Working at my family’s mortuary during the day and belly dancing at night. Since then, I’ve helped a witch get to the afterlife and back, let a hitchhiker specter loose, hiked a mountain at night looking for another specter, and now I’m out looking for a medium who broke out of a mental hospital.”
