Possess (14 page)

Emily

Alannah was standing behind the counter in the back when I walked into Morrigan's Realm that evening.

“Ah, there you are.” She motioned for me to come over to her, “I talked to my friends at the police station. They said they would be able to bring over his case file for me to look over and see if anything pops out.”

“That's good then, right?” I gave her a hopeful smile. She nodded encouragingly.

“Yes, it certainly can't hurt.” She patted my cheek. The tightness that had been building in my chest on the walk over eased slightly at this gesture. She reminded me of an older version of my mother with the way she talked and her mannerisms.

“So then, should I just come back tomorrow?”

“Yes, they said they would stop by early in the afternoon, so by the time you get off work I will hopefully have some news for you.”  She said, moving out from behind the counter then heading for the stairs. “Come on up. I was going to fix some tea. Do you like chamomile?”  She looked back towards me. She really,
really
reminded me of my mother.

“I love chamomile.” I grinned as I followed her up the stairs. The small charms hanging from the handle jingled as she pushed the door open.  Her apartment upstairs was an enchanting little treasure trove of rich purple, blue, and green fabrics and textures. The chairs and sofa were all mis-matched but fit together perfectly. Various tables and shelves lined the walls, all filled with little trinkets and statues – some of fairies, others of gods and goddesses.

Maybe after all this mess was behind me I could have my mother up for a visit so that they could meet. I still couldn't believe how hard it had been to hang up with my mother. You spend so much time ready to move out from under your parents' protective wing, yet once you are finally on your own, all you want to do is go swooping right back under it. Funny how that works sometimes.

Alannah motioned for me to sit down as she made her way into the kitchen, setting the kettle down on a burner as she turned on the stove. I continued to look around her living room as I waited. My eyes found a picture of Alannah, a bit younger, holding onto a small girl with similar strawberry blonde ringlets.

“Is this your daughter?” I asked, holding up the picture frame as I looked to her.

“Yes dear...that's Emily. She was such a sweetheart.” There was a sad fondness in the way in which Alannah spoke that made me wonder.

“Was?”

“Mmm, yes. She went missing shortly after that picture was taken.” She answered me as the tea kettle began to whistle behind her, then busied herself with setting up a tray of tea and cookies before carrying it over to me.

“So, you never found her?” I ask as she handed me a cup of tea then settled onto the chair across from me.

“Never,” Alannah let out a sigh as her sad gray eyes looked over the picture of her and Emily. “She is one of the cases I was never able to help with. Never got any sort of feelings of where she might be or what might have happened. She just vanished.”

“I’m very sorry, Alannah.” I reached a hand out to her and she took mine in hers, her lips pulling into a big smile.

“It’s alright dear. Maybe I can help you though, I think Emily would have liked you. She was a very special girl. She had an inner glow to her. Just like you.” Alannah’s words tugged at my heart. Until yesterday evening, she and I had been complete strangers, but right now she felt like the closest friend I had in Midtown, and the only other person that knew what I was going through.

“I don’t know how to thank you enough for helping. I have no idea how I’m going to find Brody’s killer.” I took a sip of tea, attempting to soothe the anxiety that lingered with my words.

“I’m going to do whatever I can, I promise you that. I just don’t know how much it will end up being until I get my hands on those papers. What is important for you right now, Harley, is to keep yourself open.”

“Open to Brody?” I looked at her a bit confused.

“Yes, now that you know Brody is trying to communicate with you, keep your mind open to it. Keep an eye out for signs, warnings. The more open you are, the more he can come through.” Alannah took a sip of her tea, her gray eyes still on me.

“But, I’ve seen him multiple times. How would that have happened if I wasn’t open enough?”

“He was coming through much stronger then. Sometimes, they can come through stronger, drawing on the energy within that place or person. Other times, unless we are completely open to them, they can’t get through.” Alannah paused for a moment, thinking over her words. “And Harley, sometimes when we are really having trouble hearing them, sometimes we need to give them a bit of our own energy. Don’t be afraid to let him in.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Sometimes you just have to let them in, Harley. All the way. Just let go, and let him in.” She nodded, “If all else fails and you can’t seem to understand what he is trying to tell you, or you just don’t know where else to look, invite him in and he will show you.”

I didn’t know if I liked the sound of that. Maybe her search tomorrow would come up with something and I wouldn’t have to resort to “letting Brody in.” It was bad enough knowing he was haunting my apartment. I didn’t need to become possessed by him as well. Alannah and I finished our cups of tea without much more talking, each of us lost in thought. Mine were of Brody, and I’m sure hers were of Emily. After I finished my cup, I placed it on the tray.

“Thank you for the tea. I should probably get going now.” Alannah pulled herself to her feet to see me off.

“Be safe, Harley.” She pulled me into a hug when we reached the bottom of the stairs, and it took everything in me to let go of her. I didn’t want to go back to my empty apartment where who knew what sort of dreams I would have that night.

“You will be okay tonight. I can promise you that.” She whispered in my ear before letting go. “There is something very different about you, Harley. That’s why Brody reached out to you. And although it won’t be easy, I think you’ll make it through all this mess okay.”

“Thank you, Alannah.” I needed her words more than she would ever know.

“Keep your chin up, girl. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She winked at me, her gray eyes dazzling. I smiled back and she gave my hand one last squeeze before I walked out the door.

Comforted

By the time I finished my morning shift the next day, it was still too early for me to go see Alannah. I made a detour to the apartment first to check on Remy and put down some food in case I was out later than planned. I spent a few minutes petting him, and he seemed quite content to be left alone to his usual conquests, scampering out of my arms with a toy mouse in his teeth. At least one of us was content being here. For once, I thought I had found my own haven. Somewhere I felt comfortable and safe, far away from Jackson. Clearly life wouldn’t be that easy on me. I was beginning to dread every moment I had to spend here, but I didn’t have any other options currently. Besides, according to Alannah, there was nowhere I could hide.

I stood to leave the apartment feeling tired and sore. Despite Alannah being right about my undisturbed night of sleep, I still felt exhausted and restless when I woke up. Work blurred by in a fog of equal uneventfulness. Nolan ducked out early to take care of some errands and Aggie was working the evening shift so I felt pretty much on my own, left to mull over my possible untimely demise. I was anxious to find out if Alannah had any clues as to who murdered Brody, and who planned to murder me.

I still didn’t know if I really believed her vision. I wanted to trust her, and I wanted to believe that if there was a threat to my life, she might be able to help me find it. As I made my way toward Morrigan’s Realm, I tightened my scarf around my neck. Winter was well on its way now.
Great
. Twenty minutes later I pulled open the heavy door, and nearly tripped over my own two feet as I walked into a room full of police officers.

“What the hell is going on?” I blurted out. Several of them spun around, narrowing their eyes at me suspiciously. Then I saw it. The gray eyes that were staring lifelessly at me from the floor. I gasped, falling back against the door as I took in the sight of Alannah’s body. Her neck twisted at an unnatural angle, eyes wide and unseeing, and mouth agape in a frozen scream as she lay in a dark pool of blood.

“Miss, you need to step outside.” One officer grabbed my arm but I pulled away.

“What happened?” I asked, unable to look away from the gray eyes that had started to cloud over.

“The woman tripped on the stairs and fell. Were you family?” He asked, clamping a hand on my arm once more.

“No. Just a friend.” I shook my head. “She couldn’t have just fallen like that. Are you sure someone didn’t do it? Someone could have shoved her!” My voice exploded with emotion, as I tried in vain to pull out of his grasp again. Several of the other officers exchanged looks with each other, still watching my every move. I didn’t care though. It couldn’t be a coincidence. One day she warns me about a murderer and offers to help, the next day she is dead.

I froze at the thought, unable to move. Ice ran through my veins as I remembered what she’d told me. She’d worked with the police in the past. She’d asked a couple of them about Brody.
Had one of them done it?
My heart thudded hard within my chest as I looked around the room at the glares now watching me with interest.

“I’m sorry. I’m just upset. I think I need to go.” The officer’s grip loosened as I backed away and my hand grasped for the door handle. He followed me as I slipped outside.

“Miss! Can I speak with you for a moment?” He called after me, his footsteps echoing my own.

“I’m sorry, but I have to get to work.” I kept my head down as I quickened my pace. I could hear his steps slow as he dropped back and I chanced looking over my shoulder to see him turn back toward Alannah’s store. Maybe he was the cop she had talked to, or maybe he was just concerned that I was emotionally distraught, but I couldn’t afford to find out. My pulse was racing by the time I stepped from the curb and crossed the street. I continued at a brisk pace, staring forward, my eyes unfocused as I tried to process what had just happened. I heard someone calling my name behind me, but refused to look.
Did she tell them my name too? Great.
I might as well have glued a bull’s eye to my back.
Of course, screaming in front of a room full of officers was probably the equivalent.

“Harley!” The voice yelled again. Panicked, I broke into a sprint, shoving past a teenage couple. They shouted a few obscenities my way but I didn’t look back. “Harley, wait!” The voice called out once more and I turned my head as it finally registered who it belonged to. Just in time to trip over the curb.

“Sonofabitch!” I growled as my knee bashed against the hard asphalt and sent shooting pain running up my thigh. A few seconds later Nolan slowed his pace, breathing heavy as he stared down at me.

“Why the hell did ya start running like that when I called ya?” His eyebrows knitted together as he knelt down beside me. “And ya really ought to watch where yer going.”

“I don’t need a lecture right now, Nolan!” My words came out harsher than I intended them to, but with the pain I was in, I didn’t really care.

“I’m sorry,” he said in a more sympathetic tone. “Come on, I’ll help ya up.” I tried to pull myself to my feet, but it only caused more pain to surge through my leg. Giving in, I grabbed onto his arms as he lifted me to a standing position and steadied me so I could keep my injured leg off the ground. With one arm, he reached down and grabbed the shopping bag he was carrying then hailed a taxi. I didn’t object. Finley’s wasn’t too far, but stepping on my foot at all seemed like a bad idea. Nolan held the door open for me and I climbed in, curling up against the other door as the seat shifted and he climbed in behind me.

“Harley, what’s wrong?” I could feel him lean toward me, but I kept silent, my forehead pressed against the glass as I stared blankly at the passing buildings.

“I’m fine.”

“Ya always say that, but yer not fooling me if ya think I'll believe it.” His hand tentatively touched my back as I curled my shoulders forward. “Please tell me what happened.”

I wanted to tell him, but of all people, I could not tell Nolan what was really going on. He kept his hand on my back, gently stroking his fingers down my spine, waiting for me to say something. As the cab pulled up in front of Finley’s, I finally turned toward him and he grabbed my hand, carefully helping me out of the cab without hurting my leg. He didn’t say anything, but slid an arm around my waist and guided me as I hobbled into the pub. Aggie looked up from the bar and glanced toward Nolan curiously. He only shook his head at her and continued towards the back as I limped next to him. Once we reached the kitchen, Nolan stopped in front of the door to his apartment.

“Put your arms around me,” he commanded. I scrunched my forehead, my eyes narrowing at him suspiciously. Nothing in his eyes, however, showed any ulterior motive, so I did as he said. His strong arms slid underneath my thighs and my back and he gently lifted me off the ground.

“I can just sit at the table down here.” I told him as he pulled the door to the staircase open.

“That wouldn’t be very comfortable, Harley.” He looked down at me as he climbed the steps. I avoided his gaze, as difficult as it was, while he held me. He nudged the door open with his shoulder then stepped into the living room and lowered me onto the couch, taking extra care with my injured leg. “Hmm. It doesn’t look broken, but it’s definitely pretty swollen.” He said after he had managed to push my pant leg above my swelling knee.

I nodded, not really hearing him. All I could think about were Alannah's lifeless eyes staring up at me. Whoever had killed her, it was my fault. I had gone to her and she had died trying to help me.

“Harley?” Nolan repeated my name a couple times, trying to reel me back to the present. I hadn't even realized he'd left the room for ice until he pressed the icepack to my knee. He’d wrapped it in a dishtowel so the sudden cold against my skin didn't startle me. I looked down at the dishtowel covered in an assortment of painted fruit. Another left-over from his mother, no doubt. If I were capable of it, I would have laughed. Instead, I kept my gaze away from his. He watched me, waiting for me to open up, but what could I tell him?

“I saw a woman. She died.”

“Did you know her? Where did this happen?” Nolan's forehead creased and he sat forward on the coffee table, his other hand reaching for mine. I didn't pull away, barely aware of his thumb brushing over the back of my hand in a light soothing motion. I took slow breaths as I thought of those gray eyes staring at me bright with life just the night before.

“We'd just met...but she was a good friend.” My voice escaped in a whisper, barely concealing the sadness that pulled at my heart. His hand squeezed mine, enveloping it in the warmth that only a caring touch could give. I looked up to find his eyes watching me, a shared sadness deep within them.

“I'm sorry.” His voice was soft. He didn't bother questioning me further. Whatever else I was hiding, it didn't seem to matter right now. I squeezed my eyes shut as I felt tears finally escaping from the corners of my eyes, followed by the feathery touch of his finger as he wiped one away. Instinctively, I turned my cheek into his palm, his touch pushing everything else I was feeling away. He kept his hand there, his fingertips brushing my hair behind my ear. “I’m really sorry, Harley.”

Even Nolan’s voice was soothing to me. Maybe it was the fact that he didn’t placate me, he didn’t tell me everything would be okay. Someone was dead because of me. That would never be okay. More tears came now, and I couldn’t hold them back. Nolan didn’t attempt to quiet me or shush me. He kept his hand on my cheek, gently stroking along my cheekbone, his other hand still resting over the icepack on my knee.

“Is there anything I can do for ya? Anything at all?” He asked after my tears had quieted to a sniffle. I nodded as I opened my eyes and carefully lifted myself up, scooting back into the couch a little before motioning for him to join me.

“Can you lay here with me, just for a little bit?” I wasn’t sure what I was thinking as the question left my lips but I knew that at that moment, more than anything, I just didn’t want to feel alone. Nolan’s eyes conveyed some surprise at my question, but he quietly slid onto the sofa next to me, one hand carefully placing my injured leg over his as he turned on his side. Nolan tentatively moved one arm behind me as he watched me. I curled into him, laying my face against the contour of his chest and breathed in the crisp, clean, citrus scent that clung to his shirt as I closed my eyes. As his other hand gently rested on my lower back, cradling me to him, I felt oddly at peace. I didn’t think about Brody or Alannah, I just concentrated on the slow rhythm beating within Nolan’s chest and the warmth of his body holding mine. I didn’t think about the fact someone might want me dead and I had no idea how to stop them. I just let everything fade into the background, closing my eyes as his hand gently stroked up and down my back.

“Yer safe here,” Nolan whispered against my ear, “whatever happened, yer safe here.”

I looked up at him. As much as I wanted to believe that he could keep me safe and as much as I wanted to trust him, I knew better. I wouldn’t be safe anywhere. Not if Alannah’s vision came true. Still, in that moment I did feel safe. I forced those thoughts back, allowing myself to enjoy the brief escape.

“Thank you, Nolan.” I smiled up at him as my vision blurred with leftover tears still caught in my eyes. Nolan smiled back and his hand moved to my cheek once more, cradling it in his palm. I closed my eyes again and turned my face into his warm touch with a sigh, but his sudden, sharp breath drew my attention back to him. I blinked my eyes open to find Nolan raking his teeth over his bottom lip, staring down at me. He tilted my face up to his with a longing gaze as he pressed his lips to mine.  My whole body felt warmed and dulled of any unpleasant thoughts or feelings. Even the pain in my knee felt numbed by the feel of Nolan's soft full lips gently pulling at mine.

After a minute he pulled away, pressing his forehead to mine, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’ta —”

“No don’t –” my fingers twisted into the fabric of his t-shirt as I pulled his face back to mine. Nolan’s lips crushed against mine as his mouth moved with more purpose. His stubble scraped against my face as he kissed me, his arms pulling me closer. His tongue brushed against mine, and I found my body reacting to his as an unfamiliar heat spread through me.  I ran a hand up his chest and a low groan escaped from deep within his throat as he rolled himself on top of me.

“Mmmph, Harley.” My name on his lips in a ragged whisper sent another wave of heat through my body as his breath moved over my neck.  I felt consumed, unable to focus on anything but him as his mouth returned to mine with an increased hunger. My fingers gripped the back of his neck, gently tugging at the curls at his nape. I wasn’t sure if I wanted Nolan, or if I just wanted to feel this content for as long as possible, but I didn’t want to let go. From the feel of his body, neither did he. Nolan’s lips tugged at mine as he pressed his hips down against me and I rolled my head back against the cushions, a moan shivering past my lips. The reaction only made him shudder as another low groan rumbled from him and he thrust himself harder against me.

“NOLAN!” The sudden sound of Aggie’s voice slammed us back into the present, ripping away whatever spell had come over us. Nolan flung himself off of me, nearly stumbling backwards over the coffee table. His face was flushed, lips red and puffy. Even if she wasn’t within view from where I lay on the couch, I could already see Aggie’s expression. Nolan’s eyes stared towards the door with the look of a wild dog, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.