A Strange There After (25 page)

“You let him die.”

She played with the hem of her shirt. “I
can’t offer an excuse. Kalfu played with my anger. He stoked the
fires, so to speak, same as he does with you. When I saw Jackson,
so unexpectedly, my happiness and loneliness twisted into something
else. Blackness swept over me, and the next thing I knew, his body
lay at the bottom of the stairs, broken and bloodied. Nothing was
ever the same after that day. I’d gone too far to ever earn
forgiveness. I gave in fully to what I’d become. It’s not so
different from what you just did to Jason.”

“It’s not the same. I don’t love Jason.” My
admission caught me by complete surprise. “I mean, I could, one
day. Whatever. It’s not the same,” I repeated forcefully.

“Keep telling yourself that.”

The sorrow in her voice didn’t sound like the
Catherine I knew. Where was her contempt and cockiness? Sitting
before me, her selfishness had all but disappeared. Even though I
said it wouldn’t, her vulnerability changed my perception of her. I
did not want it to. Not after hearing she stole my virginity from
me. Still, she looked so lost and alone.

“I’m tired,” she said, interrupting my
reflection.

“You can sleep later. I’m not done with
you.”

She scowled at me. “I don’t mean physically.
I mean spiritually, emotionally. I used to think if I got what I
wanted, I’d be happy. It’s what I was promised after all. But even
in this great body and interesting life, I can’t let go of the
past.”

“It’s called a conscience, Catherine. Most
humans have them.” I ignored the fact she indirectly complimented
my body and life.

“I’m not like other people.”

She had me there.

“This modern world is intimidating.
Everything is so loud, fast, crowded. It’s been so hard to adapt to
it. Cell phones are devices of the devil, so simple yet their power
frightens me. The nonstop bustle exhausts me.”

Studying her perfectly wavy hair and trendy
clothes, I had to disagree. “Seems like you have it more figured
out than I did.”

The friendly tone of my words shocked me, in
a lot of ways more than her and Jason’s secret did. I never, in a
million years, would have convinced myself I’d be having a normal,
unsnarky conversation with Catherine. It left me unsettled.

“I’m beginning to see I don’t have a choice
in this. I’m going to lose.”

I stared at her with my mouth hanging open.
“What are you saying?”

“Don’t get me wrong. I am in no way giving
up, but the odds are stacking in your favor now.”

A long silence descended. I found myself at a
loss for words. This human version of Catherine seemed more
unnatural than anything.

“You have to teach me how to do that with my
hair,” I blurted.

“It took me a while.” She scrunched up her
face. “Why do they call it a flat iron if it makes curls?”

The laugh bubbling up out of me was
impossible to stop. The last half hour had been such a roller
coaster of emotions. Now here I sat laughing, and soon, Catherine
joined me. She might have said the modern world was hard to adapt
to, but this spirit world was pretty tough, too.

A thump rattled the door, yanking me out of
the moment. I grew uncomfortable, realizing I was able to maintain
the hold on it, keep everyone out, all while having a conversation.
I was getting way too familiar with using the anger. As I thought
about it, I became aware of the heat, still pulsing under the
surface.

“Are they laughing?” Abby’s baffled voice
passed through the door, eliciting another round of giggles from
Catherine and me.

Surprisingly, Catherine sobered first,
smoothing her hair to the side. “I guess it’s back to reality.” She
stood and shook out her hair. “Now let’s be done with this
temporary truce. Just because I admitted this may end badly for me,
don’t expect me to roll over and play dead. I’m a survivor, and if
pushed, I’ll use every trick I have to keep surviving.”

Sick of listening to her, unable to look at
her any longer, I dashed out of the room. Anger, my now constant
shadow, followed.

Chapter
Twenty-Eight

There was no sign of Jason when I left
Catherine’s room, but Abby and Boone were hot on my heels as I
darted up the narrow staircase to the attic. Each question they
peppered me with was like a barb into my back.

“What did you do?” Boone asked.

“Why’d you hurt Jason?” That one was
Abby.

“Are you even going to talk about what
happened?” Boone again.

On the top step I spun on them, my arms
trembling. “Just give me a second to breathe!”

Startled, they paused and regarded me warily.
Guilt crept in. I hadn’t meant to snap, but it seemed better than
giving them the truth. That the anger had won out momentarily.
Instead of answering, I passed over the threshold and into my
sanctuary. As soon as I was clear, the door slammed shut behind
me.

“Quinn!” Boone shouted, immediately banging
on the door.

I reached out to open it before I thought the
action through. Of course I couldn’t. Figured I’d be used to that
by now.

“It’s time for us to talk. In private.”

My spine stiffened as I turned to face Kalfu.
He stood in the middle of the room, top hat tilted rakishly on his
head. Even in this man’s presence, the heartbreak I’d just
experienced leaked through. A sob burst out of my throat, and I
clung to my midsection, trying not to fall apart. With Catherine,
I’d put on a good show. Here, I couldn’t pretend anymore.

Behind me, the banging and yelling continued.
Desperation rang in my friends’ voices, but I made no move to let
them in. I felt a tear slip down my cheek as Boone’s and Abby’s
attempts suddenly stopped.

Nausea pinched my stomach as I regarded
Kalfu. “What did you do to them?”

“Oh, they’re still there, wailing
incessantly. The noise was beginning to give me a headache.” I cast
a glance back at the door. “Don’t worry. They won’t be harmed.”

Swallowing past the hot lump of despair, I
struggled to get myself under control. My intention had been to
escape to the attic and wallow in self pity, to lament my losses.
It wasn’t just my virginity I mourned. I’d never been the kind of
girl who clung to it and dreamed of rainbows and angels singing as
it happened. What I’d lost was the choice. I’d lost the ability to
have any control over my life.

Sniffling, I wiped at my nose. I hated
showing Kalfu weakness, but I was so sick of feeling like I was
losing.

“Things are spiraling out of your control,”
he said matter-of-factly. I blinked a few times, unaware I’d said
that last thought aloud.

“What do you mean?” I grumbled, rubbing at my
damp eyes.

“How much more do you want to lose? Are you
going to wait until she marries, carries a child to term? These are
milestones that should be yours. They belong to you.”

The anger, which had continued humming under
the surface, returned. “I can’t do what you ask of me.”

“Cora is dead. What does it matter? It’s not
murder.”

I wanted to find a rational argument, but I
couldn’t. Exhaustion weighed me down, caused everything to hurt.
“Even if I agreed, I wouldn’t know how to do it.”

Kalfu sauntered forward, jabbing a cold
finger into my chest. “It lies here, within you. I am merely giving
you motivation. You have the tools.”

My mind raced, and so soon after discovering
Jason’s betrayal, the temptation called to me more than ever. An
idea occurred to me, one born of jealousy and spite. There might be
a way to have all I wanted and more. A tiny voice called out,
cautioning me that this was the rage and hurt talking. I ignored
it.

“If I help, you will give me my life back,
exactly the way it was?”

He nodded. “Catherine’s effects will remain,
but yes, you will be Quinn Roberts again, body and soul.”

“I want her gone,” I blurted, before losing
my nerve. “Catherine. I do not want her haunting my town, my house
or my boyfriend. Get rid of her.”

Kalfu smiled at me, gold glinting. “Easy
enough. An admirable request, love. Once Cora is no longer tied to
this land and rotting where she belongs, I will dispose of
Catherine. She will never threaten you again.”

I hesitated. I wasn’t this person, one fueled
by revenge. My pause made Kalfu’s mouth fall. He waved his hand,
and the room around us faded, morphing into another. I turned, only
to glimpse flashes of Jason and Catherine kissing. His hotel. I
remembered visiting it before. His hands lifted her shirt then
caressed down her spine. Next, I saw them lying on the bed, a shaft
of moonlight illuminating only bare skin.

Fire erupted in me, hot and ugly. It pierced
my chest, pulling a groan from my throat.

“Fine. I’ll do it. Just make this stop.”

Instantly, the images vanished, revealing a
smug Kalfu. The joy on his face made me sick, but I didn’t take my
agreement back.

“What now?” I asked, unable to stop
trembling.

He reached into his moth-eaten vest and
pulled out a roll of ancient parchment. As he opened it, I noticed
it was blank.

“Once you sign it, the details of our
arrangement will fill in.”

“I get rid of Cora and you give me my life
back.”

“Along with ridding you of the lovely
Catherine.”

“What else?”

“What do you mean?”

“It can’t be that simple. I’m not stupid,
Kalfu.”

He shrugged. “It also means I may call on you
from time to time. Do not fret, child. Once Cora is gone, I will
not have as much need for a servant as I do now. Basically, you
will not have the option to turn me down.”

“My entire life?”

“No, no, no. There is a limit to the favors I
may ask. Does three sound fair?”

I ran a trembling hand through my hair. So
many emotions swirled through me. It was impossible to think
straight.

“Allow me to grant you a favor for free. Your
precious Jason has joined the ruckus at the door. Let him in, only
him, and I will show you how great my mercy is.”

He inclined his head, and warmth spread into
my limbs. I knew this feeling. Glancing down, I noticed my body was
solid. In my chest, my heart beat strong and steady. I was me
again. Too happy to care where the gift came from I strode to the
door and grasped the knob. Joy caused my breath to catch in my
throat at the simple sensation of iron in my hand. Swinging the
door open, I prepared for the shock.

Abby reacted first. “Quinn! How?”

“I need to talk to Jason. Alone.”

Jason started at me, jaw slack, but it was
Boone who spoke.

“What are you going to do?”

I glared at him. “Trust me.”

“How is this happening?” His expression
hardened. “Don’t give in to anything without thinking it
through.”

“Jason? Please?”

He nodded quickly, brushing past Boone as if
afraid I’d change my mind.

Boone grabbed him by the arm. “Be
careful.”

“I’m not going to hurt him, you idiot,” I
ground out.

I yanked on Jason’s other arm, loving the
electricity in the touch, and pulled him into the attic before
Boone had a chance to reply. Right as I slammed the door shut
again, I was rewarded with his heavy scowl and Abby’s bewilderment.
Either Kalfu’s trick was still working or they gave up, because all
was quiet on the other side of the wood.

Suddenly nervous, I released my grip on Jason
and put a couple feet between us. Once I felt strong enough, I
faced Jason who stared at me in awe.

“You’re real.”

Eating up the distance, he stepped forward
then reached up and cupped my cheek, running his thumb across it. I
gaped at him, at a loss for words. As he finally wrapped me up
tight, I burrowed into him. Everything about his embrace was
exactly as I remembered—the scent, the way I fit, the safety.
Regaining my wits, I clung to him, afraid Kalfu’s gift would end
too soon.

I wasn’t sure how long I stood there, tucked
into Jason’s arms, but as time passed memories assaulted me. Not
the good ones either. Choking back a sob, I shoved away from
him.

“I can’t do this.”

He flinched and ran a hand over his face. “I
wasn’t expecting you to actually be here, like physically.”

“Sorry to make it harder for you.” I couldn’t
stop the words.

“I had everything I wanted to say set in my
mind. Seeing you threw me for a loop. This is the Quinn I
remember.” He gave me a cautious grin. “I always loved the purple
in your hair.”

“Yet, you didn’t seem to mind when she took
it out.”

“Girls, women, change their styles
constantly. Like an idiot, I didn’t really think anything of it. It
certainly wasn’t enough to make me think you’d been body
snatched.”

“Obviously nothing was.”

He took a hesitant step forward, and I held
my ground.

“Okay, fine, yeah, I worried when you stopped
taking pictures or wore something pink, but all I wanted was to be
there for you, to support you as you got back on your feet. I
assumed you were going through a hard time.”

This was the part I could almost forgive him
for. I understood him accepting the changes as me adjusting to life
on my own and letting me spread my wings.

“When I lost my brother.” He paused to sigh.
“When I lost Dylan, I knew he was gone. I watched it happen, minute
by agonizing minute while trapped in the car with him. As terrible
as it was, I got it. I understood the second he was dead he’d never
come back. With you, since I’ve learned the truth, it’s hard to
accept. I see your body, can touch it. Knowing it’s not really you
doesn’t always compute. Ghosts mean death, and I don’t want to lose
someone else.”

Which explained the mooning glances I’d
witnessed.

“You haven’t said anything yet.”

“I don’t know what to say, Jason.”