Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92996 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92996 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
The house sat at the end of a tree-lined street that seemed dark and desolate, the gas streetlamps providing a subdued, eerie illumination. During the past week, we’d had a lot of summer storms, lots of rain and wind that accounted for the debris-strewn sidewalks, many of which were raised and cracked by roots of trees older than the town.
Lorne parked his police vehicle on the street, and the two of us got out and started up the many steps leading to the house. All the homes on the street were elevated, the driveways all on hills.
“I should have driven up there,” he said when we were on our third set of six brick steps. The manicured terraces flanking them boasted beautiful roses, peonies, shrubs, and ornamental pieces. I preferred the lush greenery and wildflowers of Corvus, but I could appreciate the planning and attention to detail it took to maintain something so perfect even in the face of blustery weather.
“This way we get to admire the landscaping,” I offered, smiling at him when he turned to look at me.
At the top, a heavy chain blocked the driveway, which meant Lorne would have had to park at a sharp angle. I pointed to it, and he nodded in agreement. Climbing the steps had been smarter after all.
Lorne eyed the uncanny, shadowy recess of the front-door columns. “Why are we here when it looks like this whole street is asleep for the night?”
“Ring the doorbell and see,” I suggested.
“Do you see a doorbell?”
“Actually no. Just use the knocker.”
“What?”
I grinned at him and pointed at the polished brass lion head.
“Why is this creepy?” he asked as he used it, the sound louder than he was expecting from the way he jerked away.
“Because the sky is dark, so is the street, and it’s eerily quiet. Also, you’ve had a weird evening before this. I’m sure everything feels a bit surreal.”
There was thunder in the distance then that made Lorne turn and scowl.
“Cue the storm,” I teased him.
“Why aren’t you on edge?”
“Because you’re here with me,” I replied honestly.
At that moment, sconces on either side of the door lit up, and the door opened to reveal Lynette Fornell in her Aurora Moon attire.
I did not agree with Diana Flint on much, but she was right that Lynette dressed like a Gothic vampire. But if you looked like Lynette, then you could. She was stunning, the black lace dress hugging her curves and accentuating her long, sculpted legs. The deep V framed lush breasts, and her long black curls contrasted strikingly with her smooth, pale skin. With her big blue eyes staring at Lorne, I wondered if perhaps he wasn’t speaking because he was overwhelmed by her beauty. I wouldn’t have blamed him.
“Ms. Fornell?”
She nodded quickly, and only then did I realize she was shaking.
His scowl surprised me. “We got a call that there was some kind of disturbance here. Are you in distress?”
“I think there was someone—a prowler, maybe—in the backyard by the pool. I called, and I think my neighbors did too.”
“Okay,” Lorne said, pulling his flashlight from his duty belt and flipping it on. “Go inside and lock the door while I check around out here.”
She turned to me then. “Will you come in and wait with me?”
“I should go with—”
“That’s a good idea,” Lorne cut me off. “Wait with Ms. Fornell, and I’ll be right back.”
Before I could argue, he went left, stepping off the side of the porch and dropping the three feet or so onto the pavement, then disappearing from sight.
“Xander,” she said, and when I looked at her, I again noticed the shaking. “Aren’t you wondering why I’m dressed like this?”
“It’s none of my business.”
“I was supposed to have a séance tonight at the stroke of midnight. But I canceled it.”
“Why?”
“Could you come inside?”
I didn’t groan, which I was proud of myself for. I stepped into the foyer of the mansion and waited while she shut and locked the front door. The moment she was back beside me, she slipped her hand around my bicep.
“What is this?”
“I know we’re not friends, Xander, and I’ve never been anything but dismissive of you, but I also know that you’re probably the one person in town who won’t think I’m insane.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“There’s something in the house.”
“What do you mean?”
Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I think because of all the séances I’ve had here, all the spirits I’ve invited in, some got trapped here with me.”
But it didn’t work that way. Spirits crossed through the veil if they wanted to, if there was something to say, to reveal, but walls did not hold them. They stayed for the same reasons people did—out of loyalty, love, fear, or simply having no other choice.
“I think there’s something in the house that’s using me to call them here and is now preying on them.”