A Match Made in Hell

by Terri Garey

  I didn't dare move, though, unsure of what might happen next. "Hey!" A peasant blouse hit me in the face, while my jeans flew into a far corner as if they'd been wadded up and thrown. The bottle of shampoo just missed my head.

  "Stop!" I covered my head with my hands, cowering as a heeled sandal flew past my ear. I slid off the other side of the bed and crouched there, waiting for things to stop flying.

  Then the room itself began to vibrate.

  "Stop!" I shouted again.

  A picture fell off the wall. It hit the floor in a tinkle of glass, followed by the picture on the opposite wall, which was bigger. All bravado flew out the window when the heavy antique dresser began to vibrate, rattling the beautiful porcelain pitcher and bowl that graced the top.

  Surely someone would hear the commotion and come running—but then I remembered. I'd left everyone outside when I ran up the stairs.

  I stood up, ready to bolt, but on impulse, I snatched up the pitcher.

  "My master says I have to give you a choice," Barbie hissed, taking a step toward me.

  I froze, pitcher in hand.

  She was practically snarling with rage, and for the first time, true fear crept in. "Choose to serve him and I'll leave you alone. Choose the life of a do-gooding doctor's wife, and he'll take your sister instead." Her eyes burned into mine, neck corded with the effort of rational speech. "It's up to you."

  With a sound like the sharp crackle of electricity, Psycho Barbie vanished. But the smell of ozone lingered, stinking up the air.

  It was a good ten minutes before I could pull myself together enough to pick my things up off the floor. I spent it slumped on the bed, at first trying not to cry and then giving in to tears completely. The rose-patterned pillowcase now had streaks of mascara and smears of lipstick on it, but Odessa would just have to get over it.

  This was bad. This was really bad.

  Joe thought I'd kissed Spider, and even if I ran after him and begged him to believe me, I couldn't explain the truth to him now even if I wanted to.

  Which I wasn't sure I even wanted to, because he thought I was a slut.

  But of course I wanted to, because I loved him. And I'd only just realized it and I hadn't had a chance to tell him yet. So he didn't know I loved him because I'd never told him, which probably made it a lot easier for him to believe I was a slut.

  I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling.

  But if I told Joe the truth now, then Sammy would go after Kelly, who was all too eager to be seduced by the dark side. She didn't stand a chance against a guy like Sammy—sexy, charming, with an edge of wildness that made you wanna see how deep it ran.

  I already knew it ran straight to the depths of Hell. And because of that, hot as he was, I was pretty sure I didn't want the Prince of Darkness to be my sister's • boyfriend.

  But I didn't want him to be my boyfriend either.

  "Shit," I sighed, scrubbing my face with my hands. I sat up, surveying the destruction in the room. A pair of my undies was lying on the floor right by the bed, and I snatched them up, still crying. A tube of lipstick rolled off and under the bed.

  "Shit, shit, shit."

  I bent to pick up the lipstick, but didn't see it, so I got down on my knees and lifted the dust ruffle.

  And nearly had a heart attack.

  "Holy—" I jerked back, scrambling to my feet. "What are you doing under there?"

  Perfect. Just perfect. There was a little blond girl lying under my bed, head on her arm, like she'd hidden there a thousand times.

  "You said a bad word," the little girl said, her voice coming from behind me now. "Lots of times."

  I turned around, and there was she was, standing by the dresser. She looked about seven, blond hair in braids, bare toes peeping beneath the hem of a flannel nightgown.

  I could see right through her.

  Not past her. Through her—the dresser drawer pulls shone a dull gold behind her back, the top of the bureau level with her head.

  "Why are you crying?" she asked. Her braids were mussed and tied with strips of blue ribbon.

  My mouth went dry, my throat tight. Such a pretty little girl, so sweet, so young… too young to die.

  I shook my head, lifted my chin. "It doesn't matter," I said, trying to smooth out my features. After the little pity party I'd just had, I probably scared her more than she scared me.

  She looked at me solemnly, as though expecting a scolding. "Are you a lightskirt?"

  "A what?"

  "Chloe says lightskirts paint their faces and dress all fancy. You have all kinds of paint on your face, and pink stuff in your hair."

  I was pretty sure I'd just been insulted, but I was too drained to care. What had happened to me today wasn't this poor little spirit's fault, and I wasn't going to take it out on her. My earlier anger had been washed away with tears.

  "Who's Chloe?" I asked, swiping my damp cheeks with the undies I still clutched in one hand.

  "Chloe sleeps in my room."

  A maid, no doubt, maybe a nanny. Long dead, either way.

  Careful to make no sudden moves, I squatted so the little girl and I were at eye level. "My name is Nicki. What's yours?"

  "Sarah," she said, eyes cautious. "Sarah Montgomery." She paused, clasping both hands in front of her. "Have you seen my brother?"

  Montgomery. I was pretty sure I'd heard that name earlier in the day, when Spider mentioned the man who'd built the house. The sea captain who'd come home to find his family dead of yellow fever.

  "I haven't seen him," I answered truthfully. And I hope I don't.

  "He was supposed to meet me here," Sarah said. "I've been waiting and waiting, but he never comes. Do you think he's forgotten?" An anxious look crossed her face. "Do you think he's lost? He got lost once at the market. Mama was very cross."

  "I'm sure he's fine," I soothed, though I wasn't sure of anything. "You know how boys are. They get distracted easily. He probably found a—" I cast around in my mind for something a nineteenth century boy would do, but the only image that came to mind was Huck Finn. "—a new place to go fishing or something."

  Sarah gave me a shy smile, as though relieved by the explanation. "Old Cletus used to take him fishing. Johnny says Old Cletus knows all the good fishing spots."

  "Well there ya go, then." I was happy to have that settled. I didn't wanna be the one to tell a little girl ghost that everyone she ever knew was long dead.

  But if I didn't, who would? Sarah Montgomery had been waiting a long time for something that was never gonna happen.

  Damn, damn, and double damn.

  "That's a very pretty nightgown, Sarah." This might take some easing into. "Have you been sick?"

  She looked down at herself and shrugged. "I was sick yesterday, but I feel better now. Mama never came to brush my hair or help me get dressed. Do you think she's fishing, too?" A giggle escaped the little girl, quickly stilled behind a hand. "No, that's silly. Mama doesn't like to fish."

  This was gonna be hard. "Was your brother sick?"

  Her smile vanished. "Yes, but Mama said he'd get better. She said he'd come play with me as soon as I could get out of bed." Sarah frowned, thoughtful. "So the next morning I got out of bed, but everyone was gone."

  No, they'd probably still been here, grieving the beautiful little girl who'd died in her sleep. Or perhaps they'd all been stricken with yellow fever by then, unable to care for her, never knowing that Sarah was already gone. In a way, I hoped that was the case—she was a heartbreaker, this one.

  "Sarah, would you like to see your brother and your mama again?"

  Her face brightened. "You do know where they are! I was hoping you did—you look like the other one, the lady who knew things—but I can't find her anymore."

  "The lady who knew things?"

  "She was nice, even talked to me sometimes, but she couldn't see or hear me when I tried to answer," Sarah said. "You can." She took a few steps toward me, her tiny form a faded veil I could see r
ight through. "Where's my mama?"

  Without thinking, I reached out a hand, but stopped before I touched her, losing my nerve.

  "Your mama is in a good place," I murmured. "She's waiting for you, and she can't wait to see you."

  Sarah made a noise of frustration. "But where is she? Why doesn't she come get me?"

  I smiled, giving a shrug. "Because you have to go to her. You have to be a brave, big girl, and go to her."

  Solemn blue eyes, clear as water and almost as transparent, regarded me intently.

  "Will you go with me?"

  My heart skipped a beat, but I kept a smile on my face.

  "I can't. I've already been there once, but I had to come back."

  Sarah's face fell. I could see she was about to cry. She was seven years old, eight at best. "Where do I go?"

  "You have to go into the Light." It was the only answer I could give her. "Have you ever seen the Light, Sarah? It's very beautiful, a bright white light, sparkling like the sun, only bigger. Your whole family is there, in the Light, waiting for you."

  I watched myriad expressions flit across her face—dismay, disbelief, fear. "I won't go without Johnny." She turned her face away, lashes sweeping down to cover her eyes.

  Then she was fading, until all I could see was the pale blond of her braids, and then nothing. Except her voice.

  "He promised he'd meet me here—he promised. I won't leave without Johnny."

  * * *

  CHAPTER 16

  I had no choice.

  As much as I wanted to cry over Joe, to wallow in my misery, to pack my things, to leave the Blue Dahlia behind and go cry some more, I left my room and went down the hall toward the room Kelly had chosen. I couldn't leave poor little Sarah Montgomery alone to wander around this house for another hundred years, could I? I had to find out if her brother's spirit was still here, and I needed Kelly to do it.

  Besides, it took my mind off dark-haired doctors and fair-haired demons. I was neither a slut nor a recruiter for Satan's evil army, and I was gonna "do unto others" if it killed me.

  I sure hoped it didn't.

  The upstairs hallway was wide and well-lit, hardwood floors gleaming on either side of a carpeted runner. The hall sconces were shaped like flowers, frosted glass tulip bulbs casting a warm glow on the cream-colored walls. The Blue Dahlia really was a beautiful old house.

  Shame everything and everybody here was so whacked out.

  A shadow moved at the far end of the hallway, where the corridor branched right.

  "Kelly?"

  No answer, so I walked closer. "Hello?"

  When I reached the corner, I felt a chill that raised goose bumps on my arms. Whether they were caused by a drop in temperature or just the good old-fashioned creeps, I had no idea. Before I could lose my nerve, I stuck my head around the corner, but the hallway was empty.

  Way to spook yourself out there, Styx.

  I backtracked a few steps to the door of Kelly's room and raised my hand to knock.

  "There must be some kind of mistake, Joe." Kelly's voice was muffled through the door, but hearing 'Joe' got my instant attention. "Her room is right down the hall. Go talk to her."

  What was Joe doing in Kelly's room? Did they do this often ?

  Eavesdropping shamelessly, I lowered my hand and pressed an ear to the door.

  "I've got nothing to say to her," I heard Joe say. He still sounded pissed. "Here's the keys to her car." A faint jingle reached my ears. "As soon as my cab gets here, I'm gone."

  Kelly was silent for a moment, then, "I'm really sorry it didn't work out for you and Nicki."

  Aw, how sweet.

  Not.

  I knocked a little harder than I might have a few seconds earlier.

  "Who is it?"

  "Who do you think it is?" I snipped. "The Ghost of Christmas Past?"

  There was a pause, and then Kelly opened the door. Joe was standing with his back to me, glaring out the window into the night. He didn't spare me a glance.

  "Sorry to break up the party, Kelly, but I need to talk to you." Not wasting any time, I grabbed her by the hand and pulled her out into the hallway. As I did, I heard a noise behind me, like a sigh, and felt something touch my hair.

  Spooked, I turned to look, but there was no one there.

  No matter. "There was a little girl ghost in my room," I said to Kelly, whispering. "Her name is Sarah." I didn't care to share the news of my latest ghostly encounter with Joe. He'd probably think I was making it up just to get his attention.

  It's too late to play the ghost card, Nicki, he'd said. I'm not coming to your rescue anymore.

  "Sarah's looking for her brother, Johnny, and she won't go into the Light without him. I need you to look around for Johnny and see if he's here."

  Kelly's eyes went wide. For a moment I dared hope that I'd scared her into changing her mind about this spooky old house—that she'd snatch up her suitcase and join me in getting the hell out of there.

  "Oh, wow," she breathed.

  And I knew we weren't going anywhere.

  You girls are bound to each other, two halves of a whole. Peaches's words came back to me, and for the first time actually made some sense. If we were going to send these children into the Light, it looked like we were going to have to work together to do it.

  Oy.

  "Excuse me," Joe said roughly, shouldering past us. He strode down the hallway toward the stairs. "I'll wait for the cab downstairs."

  "Joe." I couldn't help it. It was too hard watching him walk away a second time.

  He turned, face like stone. The light from the tulip-shaped bulbs showed the darkness in his eyes all too clearly.

  "I didn't kiss Spider." One more shot—I'd take one more shot at fixing things. If I hadn't been all cried out, the waterworks would've started again, so I was glad the well was dry. "Why won't you believe me?"

  "Because you seem to make a career out of holding back the truth, Nicki," he said bitterly.

  He had me there. Including the truth about my feelings.

  "I'm never quite sure where I stand with you, or what's going to happen next," he said. "And I'm tired of trying to read your mind."

  It might've been an opening for me to say something dramatic, but I was hardly going to declare my undying love under these circumstances. It would cast a cloud over something that was now crystal clear, at least to me.

  "I didn't kiss Spider," I repeated stubbornly. "It wasn't me. You can believe me or not."

  "That's the problem, isn't it?" Joe swung his overnight bag over his shoulder, gripping the strap tight with one hand. He shoved his other hand into his pocket. "It's always your way or no way, Nicki. Believe me or don't believe me; accept me as I am or don't accept me at all; don't tell me what to do or what not to do." He shook his head, making a disgusted noise. "There's only so much I can accept in a girlfriend, and you making out with other guys is too much."

  I wasn't going to cry—I wasn't. No matter how much it hurt to learn what Joe really thought of me.

  "Joe, please don't leave." Kelly's plea surprised me. I'd almost forgotten she was there. "It's late, we're all tired—let's work it out in the morning. Don't go away mad."

  Just go away, I thought spitefully, but I didn't mean it, even to myself. I was just angry at him for being so damned stubborn.

  Joe quit glaring at me long enough to look at Kelly. His posture softened a little, and I found myself even angrier than before.

  Kelly could talk sense to him, but I couldn't?

  "I'm scared, Joe." To my complete surprise, Kelly walked to him and laid a hand on his arm. "Something strange is going on in this house, but it's really important for me to stay here tonight. I know you don't understand, but I have my reasons. Please don't leave us here alone."

  Well, would you look at that?

  Kelly had Joe completely figured out—a nice guy like him could never refuse a direct appeal for help. I couldn't help but wonder how many times she'd pulled th
at ploy on him when they were married.

  The thought made me wanna throw up. Joe and Kelly had a past that up till then I was willing to ignore, mainly because I'd been so busy dealing in the present. But the past was there, nonetheless. If I dwelled on the particulars, it would drive me crazy.

  Joe shot me an angry look, but spoke nicely enough to Kelly. "For you, then. I'll stay for you, but I'm leaving in the morning."

  I sucked in my breath and held it. He'd said it to hurt me, and had accomplished that, but no way was I gonna play that game.

  "Is there an empty bedroom where I can get some sleep?" He was back to ignoring me now. "You can wake me up if you need me."

  Huh. She better hope she didn't need him.

  "There's another room at the very end of the hall," Kelly said, "just past the staircase." She pointed him in the right direction, and he swung that way, still ignoring me.

  The set of his shoulders as he stalked away was enough to discourage any attempt to call him back, so I let him go, fuming.

  "You're scared?" I hissed at Kelly, keeping my voice low. "Since when? You've been dying to do a little ghost-busting, and now you get your wish. Joe has no idea what a sucker he is for batted eyebrows."

  Kelly gave me a bland look. "I got him to stay, didn't I?"

  I did my best to ignore another stab of jealousy.

  "You could've done it yourself if you'd handled him right, Nicki. You need to appreciate what makes Joe tick. He's an honest, straightforward guy, and he expects the same in return."

  I bit my lip. "Did he expect you to run off and join the Peace Corps?" A bitchy thing to say, I know, but I couldn't help it. I didn't need Kelly's advice on how to deal with Joe—I knew what kind of man he was.

  And if I thought about it too much, I'd start crying again.

  Kelly was quiet for a minute. "Let's stop this before one of us says something we'll regret. We have better things to do than fight."

  "Like what?"

  "Like have a séance," she breathed. "Down in the basement. We'll call up Johnny's spirit and send him and his little sister into the Light."

  Oh, crap.