Shane glanced back at me. Eyes wide, he swatted the candle out of my hand. It flew across the kitchen and hit the window, where it extinguished. “What were you doing?”
I blinked a few times. “I don’t know.” But I did know. I had nearly burned myself. I had wanted to burn myself. I had wanted to hurt myself and experience that familiar sensation of pain.
My brother was terrified. I could see the concern in his eyes. We had both grown up a lot in the year since our mom had died, but the past months had made us grow up even more. We were different people now from when we had been when we arrived in Braemar.
Suddenly, the lights flickered and then went on.
“Thank God,” Dad said from the dining room.
Miss Akin walked around the kitchen corner at the same time. Her gaze moved from Shane to me and back again. Shane walked over to the window and picked the candle off the sill. Miss A put her hand out. “I’ll take those.” She stopped short seeing the opened cupboards and drawers. “I think I’ll be drinking some lavender tea tonight to settle my nerves. Anyone else care for a cup?”
Shane lifted his hand.
“Everything all right here?” Miss A asked, looking directly at me.
I nodded.
“We need to figure this out once and for all,” Shane said, as he sat on a barstool and pushed the other one out for me.
“There must be a solution. We need peace in this home.” Miss A put on a kettle of water, and Dad and Cheryl walked in a second later.
Cheryl’s body language said it all. Her arms were crossed tightly across her body, and she struggled to make eye contact with me.
I wasn’t about to tell Miss A that Shane and I were going to head into the hills to find Laria’s grave in the hopes of binding her spirit.
Dad kept staring at me and Shane like he expected us to shout “surprise” at any time, and a film crew would walk out and announce he’d been the victim on a hidden camera show.
Miss A poured everyone a cup of tea, and we sat in silence, listening to the ticking of the clock on the wall. I normally didn’t like tea, but Miss A swore by lavender to help calm her nerves.
As the minutes wore on and the lavender tea started kicking in, Dad sat down beside a silent Cheryl.
“Do we know of anyone who could come in and help us?” Dad finally said, breaking the awkward silence.
“You mean like an exorcist?” Shane asked, and Cheryl choked on her tea.
“I may know of someone who can help.” Miss A was vigorously wiping down the counter. “I took the liberty of calling some people this past week. I found a Catholic priest out of Glasgow who comes in and does cleansings, but he’s in London for a few weeks.”
“Tell me he’s discreet,” Dad said under his breath, looking more than a little pissed that Miss Akin hadn’t been forthcoming about what had been happening at the inn while he’d been away.
Shane shook his head, and opened his mouth, but I nudged his foot and he bit his bottom lip.
“He is well respected and comes highly recommended,” Miss A added.
As they talked I knew that Laria and her friends were listening to every word. I would never underestimate the spirit world again. I knew the power they had, that once fear took hold of the victim or victims, that nearly anything was possible.
“Then it’s settled,” Dad said, like all was well. We’ll get this matter cleared up and then hopefully life can get back to normal.”
Get back to normal? What did he consider normal, I wondered.
From the corner of my eye I saw a flash out the window, a light in the distance, and then another and another, like lanterns coming toward us yet again. There were so many, close to a couple dozen, and every single time I blinked it was like they were suddenly ten feet closer, and then another ten feet closer.
“I think it’s best if everyone heads to bed,” Dad said. “It’s been a long day and you have school tomorrow.”
Miss A shifted on her feet. “I need to wash the dishes.”
Cheryl immediately jumped into action and started clearing the dining room table. I met her in there. She watched me pretty closely, and I noticed her hands trembling. Was she actually scared of me? “I’m sorry you’re going through so much.”
“I’m not the only one going through it,” I said, and wished I could take the words back when she blushed.
“Yes, of course.”
When we returned to the kitchen, Dad was rinsing off dishes and handing them to Miss A to put into the dishwasher, and Shane was sweeping the floor.
There was an undercurrent of tension in the room, and I felt so much of it directed at me. I understood the fear. I’d been living with it for weeks now.
Chapter 17
Shane crashed on the floor in my room. He lay on his back, arms folded beneath his head. “Maybe I should just bring my mattress in here.”
“Or we could break through the wall and make it one big bedroom,” I said sarcastically.
He barely cracked a smile. “I’m glad Miss Akin has someone who can help us.”
Honestly, I was up for anything, even if it was a full-on Catholic exorcism. “We still need to bind Laria’s grave, though.”
I needed help…desperately. Tonight, I had wanted to burn myself, and those weren’t my thoughts. Just like my behavior of late. I wasn’t me. I knew that, and I sort of understood now the cases I’d read about for so long about how people had woken up from a dream to find that they’d done some weird, twisted, and sometimes, horrible things. I mean, my brother slept five feet away and I wondered if he was safe doing that. Thank God, I had Anne Marie and my mom, because if I didn’t, I’d feel completely lost.
Shane fell off to sleep almost immediately, his soft snores filling the room.
I read for a while, said a protection prayer, and made an attempt at some relaxation visualization exercises that one of my books talked about, but I still couldn’t sleep.
I rolled over onto my side and faced the door, and in the corner I swore I thought I saw someone standing there.
It wasn’t Laria. It was too tall to be her. Too broad of shoulder.
My thoughts were confirmed when Randall stepped out of the darkness. A scream froze in my throat. There was no color to his eyes. Just the whites of his eyes was all I could see. His hands were out to his sides, facing upward, almost like he was praying to some force.
The sound of footsteps, like someone being dragged across the ceiling caught my attention. I glanced up. I blinked and then Laria was there, directly above me, her arms flung out to her sides, hair hanging down around her, eyes wide open, staring at me.
Shane. In my mind I had said my brother’s name, but nothing came out.
Laria fell from the ceiling, dropping quickly toward me, and stopped inches from my body. It was like I was paralyzed. I couldn’t move.
A slow smile spread across her face. In her hand she held a razor, and that razor dripped with blood. I glanced down and saw the gashes in my wrists at the same time I heard the cruel laughter. Blood was everywhere, pouring from the wounds onto my comforter, staining it bright red.
I grew more lightheaded by the second.
Laria turned and glanced to my right, and I realized too late that she was looking at Shane, who was still asleep on the floor beside my bed.
I opened my mouth, but when Laria glanced back at me, the scream died in my throat. I hit the headboard, right above where she’d etched the word ‘DIE.’
Shane sat up abruptly. I expected him to see Laria or Randall, but it was obvious from his expression he didn’t see anyone else…or my slashed wrists.
He frowned. “Can’t you sleep?”
I closed my eyes for a few seconds, and when I opened them, Laria and Randall were gone. I glanced down at my wrists. There were no gashes. No blood. My heart thudded against my chest.
I sighed with relief, even as I realized that I was quickly coming undone.
“Riley, what’s wrong?”
&nb
sp; “I had a bad dream,” I said, glancing at the clock. It was only just after two a.m., and it would be tough to get back to sleep.
“Maybe you should take one of those pills the doctor prescribed to you. They seemed to work and at least let you sleep.”
As tempting as it was, I didn’t want to be so medicated I couldn’t help myself should the need arise. Plus, I always felt a little groggy the day after taking them. “I’m fine. Go back to sleep.”
“You sure?” he asked, already pulling the comforter tighter around him.
I stayed awake for hours, and the last time I looked at the clock it was after four.
***
I entered the dining room, embarrassed to be late. The food had already been served, the smell reminding me that I had not eaten all day.
The family seemed not to notice my tardiness as they laughed at something Laird MacKinnon had said.
Seeing me, the men stood and waited as I took my seat.
Ian looked incredibly dashing in a white shirt, black breeches and knee-high boots. He had been out riding with his brother most the afternoon and still had a windswept look about him that nearly stole the breath from my lungs.
“Miss Murray, how lovely you look tonight,” he said, his husky voice sending a delightful shiver up my spine.
I felt myself blush and grinned at him. I knew my emotions were there for all to see, and yet I did not care any longer. I loved Ian MacKinnon with all my heart and soul. I wanted to shout my happiness from the rooftops.
From the corner of my eye I saw Laria approach the table. I immediately sobered as she poured ale into Ian’s goblet. Her hand trembled.
Ian took a long drink and set the goblet back down.
Conversation continued, and yet I noticed that something was not right with Ian. He placed a shaky hand on the table and blinked a few times in rapid succession.
Fear raced through me.
“Ian, what’s wrong?” Lady MacKinnon asked, concern on her face as she looked at her son with alarm.
The blood seemed to drain from Ian’s face.
Laird MacKinnon stood slowly. “Son, what is it?”
Duncan shot to his feet, knocking over a chair in his haste to get to his brother. He reached for the goblet, brought it to his nose. “Poison!” he roared, and all eyes turned toward Laria, who ran for the door.
I don’t remember moving, and yet I was running away from the dining room, away from the horrible sight. Away from the panic and the screams that filled my ears.
In my room, I paced, hugging my arms to my body, not sure what to do when a terrible wail filled the castle.
The breath froze in my lungs. I knew what that cry meant.
Lady MacKinnon mourned for her beautiful son.
Chaos ensued.
There was screaming, yelling, and a commotion in the stairwell.
The sounds continued out into the castle courtyard. I watched it all from my bedroom window. Laria was screaming. That bloodcurdling shrill made the hair on my arms stand on end.
The family wanted blood, and they were seeking their own vengeance.
Laria’s father pleaded with the family to be lenient, to put her in the dungeon, to send her away, but they would not hear of it.
The noose was thrown over the tree branch, and Duncan tested it, making sure it would not break.
Laria kicked her captors, in an effort to escape one last time.
I turned away, unable to look any longer.
“Margot.”
I flinched, glancing over my shoulder and scanning the room. I had clearly heard my name being whispered in my ear. My God, that voice had sounded so much like Ian’s.
A woman’s scream pierced the night, and then there was silence.
When I next looked out the window, I saw the small group of men, along with a horse and a body flung over its back, making their way toward the river.
I gripped tight to the window frame, unable to believe I was caught up in such events. Even more, I found it impossible to accept that the beautiful young man I had met and fallen in love with was dead.
Chapter 18
I gave myself a final once-over in the mirror. Cass’s stepmom had hired a cosmetologist to come in and do makeup and hair for the party. I stared at my reflection and barely recognized the girl with the haunted, smoky eyes. I normally didn’t wear a lot of makeup, and I never put so much effort into my hair. The stylist had done an intricate updo and she’d put a gloss on it that made the blonde strands shine. The cobalt blue dress cut in the Grecian goddess style did wonders for my pale skin tone, but also made the dark circles beneath my eyes more obvious.
For the past week I’d had the same dream about Ian’s death. Every single night. No matter what, I always woke up in the same place, and I always felt a sickening sensation…like I was just waiting for Laria to show up.
But she was surprisingly absent, as was Peter and even the blonde woman who had appeared from time to time.
I felt like it was the calm before the storm.
At school this week, three of my teachers had asked me to stay after class, and each repeatedly asked if everything was okay at home because I’d been quiet and withdrawn. I was agitated and pissed off, tired and sleep deprived, but it’s not like I could explain that to my teachers.
Kade and I had even gotten into a stupid argument last night. It was ridiculous, over him being five minutes late. All evening he kept asking me if I was all right. I was sick of everyone asking me if I was all right.
Thank God my dad had left for Edinburgh to spend the weekend with Cheryl. I’d told him that the activity in the house had calmed down, and he seemed relieved. So relieved he had left us alone, which still kind of stung. Given what had been happening, my mom would have never let us stay by ourselves, but Dad figured we had Miss Akin, and that she would call if we needed him.
This morning when I woke up, I considered not going to the party, but Megan, apparently sensing that I was going to bail, had put the brakes on that. She’d picked me up and from the second we got to Cass’s, I was getting sucked into the whole party theme. It was going to be fun, and Cass’s dad had gone out of his way to make her day special.
The party was set up in the basement, and already the DJ was playing techno music; our steps all fell into rhythm with the beat.
Megan wore a cute red dress with a plunging neckline, and Cait a black dress with feathers on the skirt and a halter top that showed off her athletic back. Cass, not to be outdone, wore a long, shimmering gold dress that was red carpet ready. She looked amazing, and much older than a seventeen-year-old girl.
The DJ announced her, and a loud cheer went up. I recognized a lot of people from school, and a few faces I didn’t know at all. I lingered back from the spotlight with Cait, and Megan waited as Cass posed a few seconds at the bottom step to take it all in. I had to admit that Cass’s stepmum, better known as Bitchzilla, had done a great job on the decorating, or hiring the event planner, because the place was off the chain. Stars glimmered on the dark ceiling, and a disco ball twirled over the black and white checkerboard dance floor.
“This is sick,” Cait said, huge smile in place.
I nodded in agreement. I was happy to be part of this night, to have found this group of girls, and to have been accepted into their circle.
The party at Cass’s was in full swing by the time Kade showed up with Johan and Tom. I saw him over the heads of the others, and as he came walking toward me I felt a sense of pride. Pride that he was mine. That he had stuck by my side. That no matter what, we were going to stay together.
He was dressed in a long-sleeved slim-fitting black shirt and dark jeans. His hair had gotten longish and I liked how the strands curled up at the collar.
“You look amazing,” he said, pulling me in for a kiss.
I grinned, pleased by the compliment. “So do you.”
“Look at that,” he said motioning toward a group of girls who were pouring a bottle of vodka into the
punchbowl when Bitchzilla wasn’t looking.
I was excited for Cass. I knew how much she wanted to drive. When her dad came down the stairs and asked everyone to head to the driveway, she was all smiles.
Cass had already practiced her surprise face in the mirror when we were getting ready in her suite of a room, and I had my camera ready to capture the moment. Kade’s fingers tightened on mine as we walked outside.
Cass’s dad was tall and barrel-chested, with a grey comb-over and a penchant for wearing cowboy boots and jeans. He walked behind her, hands over her eyes, and signaled for everyone to count to three. Down the driveway, headlights turned on. Everyone cheered as a brand new pearl white BMW rolled up the cobbled drive, chrome wheels shimmering.
I have to admit, Cass did herself proud with the over-the-top reaction, even managing some tears. Who knew, maybe they weren’t all for show. After all, she had wanted a Beamer.
I met Megan and Cait’s gazes and we all shared a smile, happy for our friend, and knowing that we were going to enjoy the perks of that car as well. “Score,” Megan said under her breath. “She can drive now, and use Daddy’s gas card while she’s at it.”
I had little doubt Cass would be driving from here on out.
While Cass and her father took the BMW for a quick spin, we were all ushered back inside by Bitchzilla. I was stunned, not to mention extremely irritated when I saw Dana in the crowd.
“How the hell did she sneak in here?” Megan asked.
Cait shook her head. “I’m sure she snuck in when we were all occupied with the big reveal.” She didn’t hesitate and walked straight over to her. They talked for a few minutes, Dana glancing past Cait’s shoulder toward me. Shaking her head, Cait headed back toward me. “Seems her mum is an acquaintance of Bitchzilla’s.”
“But this is Cass’s party,” Megan said, stating the obvious.
“Maybe Cass will tell her to leave,” Cait said, sounding hopeful.
The Departed - J A Templeton Page 13
