Grave Refrain: A Love/Ghost Story (44 page)

“Hell. It’s been a long time, sister. Hate to offend, but Lillian was never into such feats.”

Zoey’s face paled as she stared at the hard-boiled voice coming from Christian’s mouth. The room fell deathly still.

“Nice digs, this place. Always liked this house. Nick and I got drunk in that attic too many times to remember and played that gramophone of his till all hours. If people only knew how much I lifted off that man. They don’t make ’em like that anymore. Not like Mr. Nicholas Chamberlain, that’s for sure.”

Not one soul bothered to shut their eyes anymore; they were all staring in horror at Christian, who was no longer Christian. Zoey appeared the most on edge, having just given a foot job to a dead man.

Neil sat up straight, his fingers clenched around the hand of an increasingly stricken Claudia.

“A heartbreak what happened with him and Nora, though. Now that was some dame. You could learn a thing or two from her, sweetie.” Zoey recoiled in her chair and crossed her legs. “Nick didn’t stand a chance, no man did around Nora. They were one of a kind, those two. Damn shame though, first the cliffs and then not being able to be together, even in fucking death. Uh, sorry there, Mrs. Hayes.”

Claudia squeaked in fright.

“Now, which one of you fillies is Emily? Nora said she looked like a bookish version of Gene Tierney with good teeth, so that would be…” Christian scanned the circle, his expression sharp and shrewd, and his eyes glowed white in the darkness. They stopped dead, fixated on their target. “That would be you.”

Emily was so scared she couldn’t breathe, but she couldn’t look away either. Andrew grasped her hand more fiercely.

“Hell. It’s true, isn’t it? She told me, and I wouldn’t believe it. It’s happening all over again. Damn,” the spirit muttered.

“What’s—what’s happening again?” Andrew demanded. The spirit said nothing.

“He can’t tell us, Andrew. There are rules, right? Nora told me about the rules.”

“As smart as you are stunning, Miss Thomas.”

“Is Nora all right? Is she in trouble? What does she need to tell us?”

“I can’t say much, but I can give you the goods on who will. She’s got it all in spades—all the information you’ll need. But I’ve got to warn you, if you find her you’re in for a world full of hurt.”

“Why?”

“’Cause she wants you dead, sugar.”

Andrew launched up from the table. Emily tried to seize hold of him, but he pushed her away.

“What the hell is going on?” he demanded through fixed teeth. “Christian, cut this shit out.”

“It’s not Christian you’re talking to, lover boy. What’s the matter? You want me to move locations?”

With that, Zoey seized and Christian’s eyes flashed open. “Jesus, I feel sick,” he groaned, blinking in confusion.

“There, you happy now?”

Andrew spun to face Zoey. She was speaking in the same exact voice that had come from Christian. He sat down in shock. “How? How are you doing this?”

“I hate to tell you, but all that medium bullshit is true. There’s something about a drug-induced consciousness that allows us to break through. We can fry the less malleable mind.”

“But you’re not speaking through one of them, you’re speaking through her.”

“Yeah, I am. The medium’s the conduit, but I can choose another body once I’m through. Hey, blackie. God, you’re a looker.” Christian and Simon stared in perverse fascination at the sight of Zoey hitting on Margot.

“Why not show up as a ghost?”

“We’re limited to whom we can speak to in that form. Once we got a body, we’re golden, as long as you don’t die on us.”

“Why?”

“It’s near impossible to escape a suicide, and if we do survive, what’s left is pretty gruesome. So, you want to sit here and talk about rotting ghosts, pal? Or you want to save your woman?”

Andrew nodded.

“I’ve only got limited time, so I’ll cut to the chase. Nora is out of her mind, and she can’t tell me why, but I’ve got my suspicions. If it’s anything like last time, it can’t be good. She wants you to find this Lady in Red, that’s what people call her. The Lady in Red. Nora says you’ll understand if you follow the message in the ring. The Lady in Red knows where Nick’s ashes lie—and she knows all about the curse.”

Suddenly Zoey convulsed. Christian launched to his feet and grabbed hold of her as she lurched back in her chair. Her eyes flew open, and she gasped; then just as quickly they rolled back into her head. “Shit, shouldn’t have said that. Information overload. You need to act now. Follow the clues, that’s the best you can do. If I tell you any more, I could hurt this girl. But listen, Emily, you are in some seriously bad danger.”

“Why?”

“The ring. Use it. Nora’s engagement ring. Your lover’s gift to you, use it to solve what you haven’t been able to.” Again Zoey contorted. “The connection’s ending. I’ve told you too much. I won’t be able to pass through again.”

“What danger? What danger am I in? Tell me!”

“Emily, don’t fail. You can’t fail!”

“Why? What will happen? Please!”

Zoey thrashed as though she was being beaten in the gut. Her hands flew to her hair, her face twisted in pain. Christian began yelling but not loud enough to block out the last two words that fell from her bloodless lips.

“You’ll die.”

With that, Zoey lashed backward like a contorted ragdoll, then fell forward, her multi-colored hair tumbling over her face. Egan cried out and collapsed onto the table as Andrew looked at Emily in horror.

The circle had ended. Dwayne grabbed another joint.

They were all alive. That’s the best that could be said, Emily thought ruefully.

Huddled in the girls’ kitchen, some were smoking while others were drinking. With the notable exception of Andrew, Claudia, and Neil.

Neil had departed immediately after the circle, pale and somber; he didn’t even bid them good night. Lord only knew what he was thinking. Maybe they would all receive an eviction notice the next day.

The stoners, on the other hand, were heading out to party, totally jazzed that they had connected with the “next plane of consciousness.” Before they left, they made Emily promise to use their services for any further spirit communications, and even tried to offer her a joint in thanks. Andrew had slammed the door shut in their faces.

After a wordless but forceful hug, he promised to join her as soon as he could and went off to get his mother situated for the night. Emily shuddered to imagine what that conversation would entail.

“If you ask me, it’s all bloody bullshit,” said Simon, scrambling eggs. The coffee had finished its hissed percolation and warmed the air with its familiar aroma. “And what did that Egan bloke mean about ‘the spirit delving in areas far outside his purview’? Or why the hell did Andrew introduce you as…oh never mind.”

Christian had his arms around Zoey, who was wrapped up in a blanket. He hadn’t left her side since she’d convulsed on the table. Luckily she was unharmed, only pale and shaking and prey to periodic fits of laughter.

Margot, meanwhile, was deep in thought as she started to pour the coffee. Emily would have sworn her PhD mind would have dismissed everything as mumbo jumbo, but that wasn’t the case. “It’s all physics,” she mumbled to herself. “The greater the force the spirit exerts on this world, the greater the natural world forces its way back. Rules. To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

“Rules, really?” Simon chided her, holding the frying pan out ready to serve. The kitchen clock read four a.m. They all looked like death warmed over.

“I don’t know what to believe, honestly. All I know is that whatever it was, it wasn’t Christian or Zoey. And it frightened me. And I don’t do frightened.”

Simon cast her a smile. “Nothing’s going to happen to you, blackie.”

“I’m not worried about myself. I don’t have a death sentence hanging over my head. And what was all that talk about a ring?”

With great reluctance, Emily slipped the ring off her finger, sure something must be inscribed inside. No one said a word about its significance, though she was sure that would come soon. Simon, however, seemed especially irritated by the sight of it.

“Nothing that I can see.” She shook her head, feeling tired and hopeless. A sense of panic was bubbling up inside of her. A ghost had just warned her that if she didn’t act, and soon, she would be dead. Dead. Suddenly things had taken a horrible turn that she never could have expected. She needed to find Andrew and talk to him. She kept looking toward the dining room hoping to see him enter, but there was nothing there save shadows.

“Can I take a look at the ring?” Christian asked.

Emily handed it to him, and the diamonds and platinum refracted rainbows into the night. It was hard to believe it was truly Nora’s ring. Had she worn it in this house? Had she ever taken it off her finger? Emily’s hand felt naked without it, and she had only worn it for a few hours.

Christian ran his pinkie around the inside and frowned. “Hmmm.” He reluctantly returned it. “So you need to find this Lady in Red, who not only wants you dead, but knows where Nick’s ashes are located?”

“And this ring is supposed to show you how to find her?” Simon interrupted. “And if not, somebody’s going to pop a cap in your head? Bullshit, I’m telling you. Hocus-pocus bullshit. It’s fucking ridiculous, all of it.”

“But Simon, I was talking with his voice, and you heard Zoey,” Christian argued. “I keep telling you, you can’t dis the ghost world, man. It’s powerful stuff.”

Simon shoveled a forkful of eggs into his mouth. “Where’s Andrew? The food is getting cold.”

“I think he’s still with Claudia,” Christian replied discreetly.

“Jesus, that can’t be good.”

Christian smacked him on the arm and nodded toward Emily.

“Well, it doesn’t help that she met her old boyfriend and her son’s nearly-dead muse all in one night.”

Christian smacked Simon even harder.

“Maybe I should just stay away until I can figure this all out,” Emily mumbled into her coffee. “Maybe it would be safer that way.”

“Andrew won’t let you out of his sight now,” muttered Simon.

“I’ll admit it was awkward,” Christian said. “Claudia couldn’t keep her eyes off you, and Neil couldn’t keep his eyes off her. There’s a story there—you’ve got to be blind not to see it. Did you see the look on Andrew’s face when they shook hands good night? I thought he was going to punch Neil.”

“Wonder if our old boy Neil dipped his wick where he shouldn’t have?” Simon cut in.

“You are a tactless idiot. You know that?” Margot told him.

“You ever taken a good look at the two of them? Andrew and Neil? They even speak the same way.”

“Of course they do, they’re British. They sound like you, only more intelligent.”

Simon took a big bite of his toast and rolled his eyes. “Nowha I ment.” He washed it down with a swig of coffee. “Hey, listening to Andrew is my job. I’m merely saying that there are some uncanny similarities between Paulie and Lainey there. Yeah, and what was all that with the Lainey stuff if there wasn’t something wicked in the state of Denmark?”

“Maybe it was his nickname?” reasoned Margot. “Like people undoubtedly call you ‘clueless moron.’”

“Ah, but you’re taking me to see the stars tomorrow night, so I must rate, right?”

Margot didn’t respond, but Emily noticed how her cheeks blushed slightly as she made a point to busy herself with cleaning up the kitchen.

The crowd eventually dispersed, and Zoey and Margot trudged off to bed, but not before they each gave Emily a heartfelt though exhausted hug. All the while, Andrew had never showed. Emily knew he was done in and probably wanted to visit with his mother in private, but that didn’t lessen the aching loss she felt for him. The house seemed so still, so full of shadows. With his mother hating her and ghosts wanting her dead, she desperately needed some peace of mind.

It was five a.m., and she lay awake in bed, unable to sleep. The room was entirely dark except for the light of her laptop. She was trying to Google
The Lady in Red
but kept coming up with old songs. Was it a person she was supposed to find? A ghost? She had no idea. And time was running out.