by Lelana Croft
Making a call to the local auto parts place, I was lucky they had the battery in stock. I hopped on the scooter and made my way down as fast as I could. The battery was an easy fix. I hurried home and crossed my fingers. After hooking up the new battery, I hopped in and turned the key. The truck turned over and startled me, but didn't stay on. I knew it was probably bad gas or could be a multitude of things, but knowing it would turn over made my mind wonder just how much it would take to get this thing running.
Patty was pretty good at knowing things and places around town. I sent her a text to ask her which of the mechanics' places would be the best to fix the truck. She told me about a small mom and pop shop that always did the best work.
I put in a call and had them come out with the tow truck. I was surprised at how fast they showed up. I guess in a small town, there aren't a lot of cars that need to be towed in. The guy that hopped out of the tow truck had on dirty coveralls and a few teeth missing, but was as nice as could be.
“Howdy, ma’am. I’m Rosco. Whatcha got there?”
“It’s my mom’s old truck. It’s been sitting in storage. The tires are all rotted, but might hold enough air to get it on the truck and into the shop. I need all new tires, and then the whole thing needs a good working over. New fluids and filters, then test and see if she will start and run. I know the engine will turn over because I just tried it with the new battery. But I imagine the gas is bad.”
Rosco took a look at the Bronco. “Now, that’s a purdy truck! I’ll make sure to take good care of it…fix it up real good.”
I smiled as he backed up the tow truck and began to pull it on. Once it got into the sun, I could see just how nice it looked. The paint was in excellent shape, and the colors were black and tan. Classy.
“How long do you think it will take to check everything out?” I asked.
“Prolly ‘bout two days. We’re pretty busy right now, but I’ll try to get this started today. Did you make sure there was nothing in the back? Personal items and such?”
I hadn’t looked, but I couldn’t imagine there’d be much in it.
He hopped up on the back of the truck and noticed a box in the backseat. Opening the door, he pulled it out and handed it to me.
I thanked him, gave him my phone number and other information, then I watched him drive away.
If they could get that running without it costing thousands, I’d be super happy to have something other than the scooter. The winter would be brutal, trying to get around on it. So having the truck would be a godsend.
I laid the box on the back porch and went back into the garage to see what else was out there. Other than being covered in cobwebs, everything was pretty clean. I swept it out and made sure the side door was functioning with a little lubricant. There was a work bench on the back wall and all kinds of drawers with tools in them. I wondered if my father had been out here at all when he was younger. Or maybe even my mom. She’d always been mechanically inclined and power tools didn’t scare her away from projects.
After closing up the garage, I grabbed the box and went inside. Putting the box on the counter, I opened it up and inside, I found several old books, some newspaper clippings, and a wooden box with some carvings on it. I tried to open it, but it was stuck.
I gave the wooden box a shake and I could hear something inside. Now I had to get it open. I pulled my knife from my boot and tried to pry it open, but it wouldn't budge. The wood was hard like a rock and didn’t take any damage.
Opening the everything drawer, I located a hammer and looked at the box. I really wanted to see what was inside, but didn't want to break it. I decided to just put it up on the mantle for now. Maybe I could figure out what the markings were. Perhaps they were some kind of riddle or code or something.
The books inside were just a couple of old text books that looked like they’d been from high school. I wondered why they had been saved? Flipping through the clippings, I noticed most of them were stories about witches, and about one in particular that caught my eye. It was about two young girls who were sisters and both of them were in the county spelling bee. Then, I got to the names.
Chloe and Christina Thorn. I looked hard at the picture as the tears welled up in my eyes. It was my mother when she'd been a little girl, and Chloe. I had to show it to Katie. She wouldn’t believe it. I hoped it would make her feel better that she had a photo of her mother, even if it was before she’d been conceived.
The rest of the clippings were about different goings-on around town. But nothing stood out to me. I put the clippings back into the box, except the one of the spelling bee, and put the box on the top of the fridge. I'd look more at it later.
I folded the one to show Katie carefully and slipped it into my back pocket.
Using the rest of the afternoon, I decided to be domestic and do some chores, like cleaning the bathroom and changing the sheets. I kept thinking about that box and wondered if there was some kind of special lock that I needed to open it. Every time I passed by the living room, I'd look at it sitting on the mantle and wonder what secret it held.
Eight o’clock rolled up and I heard Katie pulling up in the driveway. I grabbed my things and ran out to meet her and we took off for the morgue.
We pulled into the parking lot and I pulled the newspaper clipping from my back pocket.
“I found this today when I finally went out and looked in the garage. There was an old truck out there and inside was a box of things. In one of the books, I found this,” I said as I handed her the newspaper clipping of our mothers in the spelling bee as kids.
She turned on the dome light and looked at the photo. I saw her swallow hard as she looked at me with tear-filled eyes. I knew she was appreciative, without having to say a word. I just smiled at her as she carefully put the clipping on the dashboard and gave me a nod.
We hopped out and went to the back door of the morgue.
“I’ve never been down here,” Katie said as she followed me inside the back entrance.
“It’s okay once you get used to it. Things like this have never bothered me. Although, Hobbs showed me a really messed-up kid the first day I was here. It was pretty gruesome and sad. He'd been killed by a drunk driver.”
“Oh, that’s horrible. I hate that. With so many ways to get around these days, you’d think people would just call an Uber or taxi or something, instead of getting on the road drunk.”
“I agree…” I said as I opened the cooler door where the mummies were. “You still doing okay? Because this is where it might get a little weird.”
She nodded as we walked over to the table where Marilyn had been placed.
“Why are they all wrapped in plastic like this?” Katie asked.
“It helps to keep down the smell and keep them from drying out more,” I explained. “The ones in here, we have a problem with. Either they are unidentified or…?”
I opened up the plastic over Marilyn’s face. Katie gasped as she clasped her hand over her mouth.
“This is what I needed your help with. This is Marilyn Hastings.”
“Marilyn? But she was only like forty or something. Why does she look so…old?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out. You can’t breathe a word of this to anyone. Only you and Miles know. Well, other than Hobbs and the Sheriff. They think people are doing body switches. I'm trying to prove that this is actually Marilyn and I’m hoping that by having you here, I can do that,” I said.
“Sure…but I’m not sure how I can help,” Katie said, rubbing her arms and shivering a little. It was chilly and I figured she probably was getting creeped out a little.
“You don’t have to do anything really but touch me, while I’m doing the memory walk on her. So you'll just be touching me. Okay?” I asked, hoping she wasn’t about to back out.
She nodded and I took her hand in my left hand while I put my right hand on Marilyn’s forehead. I closed my eyes and allowed my power to sink deep into her brain. There was no
activity from the anklet. It was going to work and I was going to be able to see into Marilyn's mind with ease. Maybe I’d finally be able to put this in perspective and find out what was happening around here.
As I closed my eyes, I drifted deep into her mind, passing decades of life. I wanted to go back to the 1800s when I'd seen her looking at Ste. Geneva for the first time. Back to her standing in the muddy street in the middle of town.
Once I found the memory, I began to play it forward. This time, as if I was standing on her shoulder. I watched as she walked across the muddy road and was having a hard time with the high-laced boots getting stuck. A man came rushing out to help her, his strong arms easily lifting her and carrying her across the mud and onto the porch of a large building.
“There you are, madam,” the strong male voice said.
“Why, thank you, kind sir. To whom do I have the pleasure?” she asked with a southern drawl that sounded like it came from the Carolinas.
“Me? Why, my name is Canon. Canon Roche. And the pleasure is all mine!”
As Marilyn looked up into the face of the man that had carried her, I recognized him instantly. It was the same man in the photo that I'd printed off from the newspaper.
Suddenly, there was a jolt and my ankle was on fire, pulling me out of the memory walk and back to reality. I looked up and Katie had both hands covering her mouth and her eyes were wide.
“What happened? Why did you pull away?” I asked.
“I…I could see him! I could see Canon Roche!”
Chapter 26
“What do you mean you could see him? And how did you know…”
Katie interrupted me. “I wanted to see if I could see what you were seeing. You were in there for a long time. So I put my hand on hers…Marilyn’s. When I did, I could see what you were seeing. It was awesome and scary at the same time. It was almost like I was there, floating behind her. I could sense what she was feeling and see what she was seeing. I could even smell the smell of the mud and the manure of the horses!”
“How…I mean, I don’t know how that is possible. Although, I’ve never actually had someone try to do this with me before, so I didn't know it could be done to begin with. I wonder if it has to do with us being related?”
“I don’t know, but it’s super cool. Were you able to find what you needed to find out?” Katie asked.
“Not yet. I need to go back in and find out a few things. But I need to use you for that extra power. Are you okay with that?” I asked.
“Yeah, no problem. Can I go in with you?”
I hesitated. I wasn’t worried about her finding out everything, but I worried that what she learned might put her in danger. At the same time, I didn't think I really had a choice.
“Okay, but you have to promise just to sit back and watch, and don’t freak out when something happens. You may feel like it's happening to you, but it isn’t. Remember, you’re like a little angel sitting on her shoulder. Nothing bad can happen to you, no matter what you see in her mind,” I reassured.
She smiled and nodded and we clasped our hands once again. She put her hand on Marilyn’s and I put mine back on her forehead. I took us back to the same timeframe, but a few weeks later.
When we appeared, we were in a room and Marilyn was sitting at a vanity, brushing her hair. She was sitting in her corset and underthings by candlelight.
A male figure walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them gently before bending down and kissing her gently on the neck. He looked up and into the mirror. It was Canon.
“You look ravishing, my dear,” he said as he went back to inhaling her scent. “And I love your taste. You really should let me turn you.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to be a vampire. I like being human. I like being able to eat real food and feel the warmth of the sun.”
“I can make you a medallion to keep you safe from the sun. I have that kind of power,” he said as he knelt down beside her and looked at her longingly.
“There must be another way for us to be together forever,” she begged as she turned to him, brushing the curl from his forehead and kissing his lips.
He looked down and then laid his head in her lap. Her fingers stroked his head gently as she ran them through his hair.
“There is one way. But it has not been done for centuries, and isn’t something that is easy to maintain.”
Canon stood up and paced the floor as she turned to watch him.
“I need the blood of a virgin girl. If you bring me the girl, I will drain her of her blood. It will mix with mine and then you'll drink it. As long as you are drinking this, it will keep you alive and keep you as you are now. It will heal anything that ails you. You will never be sick,” Canon explained.
He paced the floor as he was describing what needed to be done. I could sense Marilyn’s desire to be immortal, as well as her love for Canon. I could also feel her struggling with the concept of having to find virgin girls for their blood.
“What is to become of the girl whose blood is taken?” she asked.
Canon looked down at her before taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, feeling her warm body against his and lighting his desire.
“Once she is drained, she cannot be healed. It is a sacrifice that has to be made to give you your wish.”
Canon looked deeply into Marilyn’s eyes and I felt her need for him. It was so strong, like a pull that I'd never felt before.
Canon leaned back and his fangs protruded, his excitement and desire for her rising to the surface. She pulled down her bodice to reveal the top of her breast where he fiercely forced his way into her flesh, tasting the nectar of her blood.
She leaned back her head as he picked her up and took her to the bed, relishing in her beauty.
“Yes, I’ll find the virgin. I’ll bring her to you and you’ll make the blend. But I abhor the taste of blood. Can I mix it with wine?” she asked as he leaned his body onto hers, letting her feel his need.
“Yes, we can make our own special blend. It will be our own secret,” he said, as he nuzzled her neck once again and began popping the rest of the buttons on her bodice.
I pulled my hand away from Marilyn’s forehead and brought Katie and I back into the present. Both of us took a deep breath as we stood there, stunned at what we'd just witnessed.
“Wow…that was…amazing!” Katie said.
“How are you feeling? Are you feeling okay? Not drained or anything like that?” I asked. I wanted to be sure this hadn't drained her of any of her powers.
“No, actually. In fact, I feel more powerful than ever. It’s bizarre, almost like a recharge.”
I felt the same thing, which was inexplicable. I made a mental note to see what I could learn about relatives and their powers.
“So, they must have done it. They must have created the elixir to keep her alive for all this time. Can you imagine being forty years old for over a hundred years? That is mind-boggling,” Katie said as she leaned against the cooler wall.
“No, I can’t. I don’t want to assume anything yet. I need to come forward a bit and see how far they took it. Care to go in one last time?” I asked.
“Sure!” Katie said.
We placed our hands on Marilyn and went in once more. This time, it was several months after where we’d been before. We found Marilyn standing inside a wine cellar, surrounded by bottles of wine with no labels on them.
Canon came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close and nuzzling her neck. I could sense the love for her, exuding from him. He truly loved Marilyn.
“We did it, darling. We created the finest, most exquisite wine in the world. This will be the one wine everyone will want and no one can afford, except those elite,” she said, turning around toward him and he smiled down on her.
“Does this make you happy?” he asked.
“Incredibly. You’ve given me the gift of l
ife forever. You’ve given me health and wealth and immortality. What more could I want?” she gloated as she twirled around in the middle of the room, admiring it all and softly stroking one of the bottles with the tips of her fingers.
He looked at her with a little frown and a sadness took over his face.
“Love? What about my love for you, darling?”
She turned and smiled at him. “Of course, my love, Of course! It is a given that our love is the one thing I could not live without. That's the whole reason for doing this, is so that we can be together forever.”
As she moved toward him, she smiled softly and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a hug. I felt a difference in her this time. Something had changed. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
She pulled away and kissed him deep and hard, forcing his body to respond regardless of his will. She had mesmerized him with her charm.
Katie and I were pulled out of our memory walk by the sound of footsteps. I put my finger up to my mouth to tell her to be quiet. I wasn't sure who else would be there this late, but it could be Hobbs. Then again, it could be someone else.
Katie and I tip-toed over to the cooler door. There was no window, so I couldn’t see who might be in the hallway. This is when I wished I had x-ray vision.
I carefully pushed the door open and listened. The footfalls stopped. We slipped quietly outside the cooler and carefully closed it, so it doesn't make any sound. I think both Katie and I held our breath until we heard the sound of the main door open and the footsteps go outside, closing the door behind them. Whoever it’d been, had just come in to get something and then leave.
“’T’was probably Ruby. She probably forgot something and had to come back and get it,” I said, as both of us let out our breaths. Katie walked over to the exam room and pushed open one of the double doors.
“What goes on in here?” she asked.
“This is where the bodies come in first. Hobbs examines them and determines cause of death. Then they come to me and I do their makeup.”
