The Ghost Hunter (27 page)

She moved back a step…then another. “No!”

Cristian paused.

She spun around and raced through the door. She wouldn’t hear anymore lies, she wouldn’t hear his ridiculous stories. She’d open that damn vault herself. She’d tear it open and show them there was nothing in there. No demon, no dad.

Strong fingers bit into her upper arms, jerking her to a stop. Cristian spun her around and pushed her up against the wall, holding her immobile. His face was set, stoic, slightly furious. “He wanted it. Binding him was the only way.”

Ashley’s throat went dry.

“I’m not lying,” he said, his face softening. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

His silver gaze was hard, but underneath there was something there…a truth she was forced to accept. “I couldn’t stop him. I tried.”

He wasn’t lying. Her legs gave out and she sank into his hard body, choking on a breath. Her lungs seemed to have shrunk. His strong arms wrapped around her, holding her upright.

“His spirit?” she whispered against his chest.

“Aye.”

The blood rushed to her feet and her body grew numb. “Which means…he’s…dead.”

Camile opened the cottage door, took one look at Ashley and frowned. “Balls, Ashley, what’s wrong? You look like shite.”

Ashley laughed, a sort of deranged strangled laugh that spoke of insanity. Hell, maybe she was finally going off the deep end. Her mom would be thrilled, knowing she’d been right all along and Ashley was crazy.

“Sorry,” Camile mumbled.

Ashley shook her head, and moved to Rose’s wicker chair. She’d run most of the way. Emotionally and physically, she was exhausted. She felt like
shite
. She sank onto the weathered seat with a thud. Around them, birds and insects chirped their goodnights. A sweet sound that spoke of beauty, of life. Even the sun seemed reluctant to leave, hovering on the horizon and spreading its pastel fingers across the sky. She usually loved sunsets; today the splendor was lost on her. Perhaps it would be forever.

“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered.

Camile stuffed her hands into her short pockets and started down the steps. “What is it? You need me to get my aunt?”

Ashley shook her head. What could Rose do? What could anyone do? Besides, Rose was on Cristian’s side. “They’re gone. All my ghosts, gone.” She’d always hated ghosts, so why did she feel like she’d lost her family? She hugged herself, feeling small, alone.

Camile knelt in front of her, the woman’s wide eyes showing her surprise. “How? Why?”

“Cristian sent them back. The demon was infecting my ghosts and he said he had to send them back or they’d be destroyed.”

“Oh.” She rested her hand on Ashley’s arm. “I’m sorry.”

Ashley nodded, knowing by the sound of her voice that she wasn’t sorry. She agreed with Cristian’s decision. Deep down, Ashley knew she did as well. What she couldn’t accept was why Cristian had kept the death of her father a secret. “That’s not the worst.”

Looking weary, Camile lowered herself into the wicker chair across from Ashley. “Okay.”

Camile was patiently waiting for her to continue. She wasn’t sure how to continue. Ashley stared at the sunset, willing her body to react to the beauty, willing her mind to understand how a world that could be so wonderful, could be so evil as well. How badly she wanted to enjoy life, to see the glass half full. “My Dad… he’s dead.”

Camile flushed and dropped her gaze to her lap.

Suspicion sent a sharp pain through Ashley’s gut. “Did you…did you know?”

Camile lifted her gaze. “No, I didn’t know. I mean…I laid out cards the other night and…well…I thought…maybe.”

Ashley should have been mad. She should have been crying. Why wasn’t she crying? Instead, she felt this odd numbing buzz in her brain. Of course Camile knew about her dad. It seemed everyone knew but Ashley.

“Ash,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you, but I worried I was reading the cards wrong.”

Ashley nodded. “It’s okay.”

“How’d you find out?” Camile asked.

“Devon hinted, Cristian admitted.”

Camile jumped to her feet, her movements quick and agitated. “They knew and just now told you?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Ashley murmured. And it didn’t. Truth was, deep down, she’d known all along her father was dead.

A brown sparrow landed a few feet from them, tilting his head right and left as if wondering over their conversation.

“He’s in that vault,” Ashley said. “That vault in my basement where the demon is. My father’s spirit is the only thing holding him contained.”

“They want to destroy the vault,” Camile rushed out. “That’s their plan.”

Ashley nodded, not in the least surprised. Of course they did, what was their choice? The sparrow flitted from plant to plant looking for food. Such a simple life. Rest, eat, procreate. Why couldn’t life be that simple? Then again, it could have been simple for her if she’d married Matt.

Camile leaned forward, resting her hand on Ashley’s arm. “Which means, Ashley, they could destroy your father’s spirit as well.”

Cold realty pierced her soul. “No.”

Camile took her lip between her teeth. She didn’t agree or disagree, she didn’t need to. The truth was written all over her face.

“No.” Ashley jumped from the chair and pushed through the gate. Anger burned through her body, spurring her forward. He’d taken her ghosts. He wouldn’t destroy what was left of her father. She wouldn’t let him.

“Ashley! Ashley, come back!” Camile’s footsteps thudded behind her, but Ashley didn’t slow. Camile would not talk her into being rational. Screw rational.

“Ashley.” Camile grasped Ashley’s hand. “Slow down. Please. We just need to think things through.”

She was tired of thinking things through. Time to take action. Ashley jerked her hand away and continued up the trail. “There’s nothing to think about. I won’t let my dad’s spirit be destroyed.” Determination had her heart racing, or was that fear? Either way, she wasn’t going to stop until she gave Cristian a piece of her mind.

Camile held up her hands, palms out in surrender. “Okay, that’s fine. We’ll…we’ll figure something else out instead.”

Ashley pushed aside low hanging birch branches, not slowing, but Camile kept pace beside her. She didn’t have a plan, but it didn’t matter. Adrenaline kept her moving.

Camile slipped her hand into Ashley’s, her touch warm and comforting. “I promise, Ash, we’ll figure something out.”

Ashley’s feet faltered. She felt ridiculously close to tears and she wasn’t sure why. She’d made few friends throughout her life and Camile’s loyalty humbled her. She didn’t have a mother or father to talk to. She had no close friends. But she had Camile. When all was said and done, she was better off here than she’d been back home, wasn’t she?

“Camile, I just wanted to—”

“Did you hear that?” Camile interrupted.

Ashley frowned, tilting her head to the left, then the right, attempting to catch that allusive noise. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Insects chirped amongst the field to the west of them. A few birds squawked as they flew overhead. “What?”

“Shhh.” Camile’s fingers bit painfully into Ashley’s arm.

Annoyed, Ashley was just about to shake off her hold when a low growl vibrated from the beech trees just beside them. They froze. “What was that?”

Camile’s eyes were wide, her breath coming out in harsh pants. “A dog…or…something.”

Or something
. Dear God, Ashley knew what that meant. Something was tracking them, something otherworldly. Camile wouldn’t be hyperventilating if it was just a dog. A shiver of unease whispered over her skin.

“We’re fine,” Camile continued. “They have a safety perimeter around the town, remember?”

“Yeah, tell that to Jean,” Ashley muttered.

Leaves rattled from somewhere behind them. Camile’s hold tightened, practically cutting off the blood supply to Ashley’s arm. “Probably just the wind,” Ashley whispered, for some reason too afraid to speak louder.
 

A branch snapped.

Ashley’s heart leapt into her throat.

“What should we do?” Camile squeaked.

“Run?” Ashley said the first thing that came to mind.

But Camile was trembling so hard, Ashley doubted she’d be able to walk, let alone run. “Won’t that only entice it to chase us?”

Okay, so she had a point. “It’s…it’s probably just a cat.” Ashley reached out, palm up. Her hand was shaking, but she hoped Camile didn’t notice. “Here kitty, kitty.”

A low rumble vibrated through the air. Unless it was a Tiger, it was definitely no cat.

“So what do we do now?” Camile whispered.

Ashley wanted to laugh and at the same time cry. What do we do? As if she had any idea! “Shhhh.” She squeezed Camile’s hand. “Face it and walk backward very, very slowly.”

A completely lame plan, but her back was up against a wall. Camile nodded, looking at her as if she’d just uncovered the mystery of the Sphinx. Her belief in Ashley’s abilities was humbling. She had no idea what the hell she was doing.

They turned, still clutching hands. In the shadows of the trees they saw… nothing. Leaves. Branches. Shadows. No monsters. Ashley paused, frowning. Maybe it was just a mutt, or a fox. Or maybe their already crazed minds had imagined the growl.

“I don’t see anything,” Camile whispered.

Neither did Ashley, so why did instinct still scream for her to flee? “Yeah, but we should go, just to be sure.” Camile nodded her agreement. “Okay, move back.” They stepped back, the grass crunching under their feet sounded unusually loud. “Keep going.”

The leaves rattled again, definitely not the wind and definitely not something small.

“Oh God,” Camile whimpered.

“It’s all right, just keep walking.” But it wasn’t all right. Ashley couldn’t seem to catch her breath. Her body was trembling, making her feet trip over themselves and she knew she was as close to panicking as Camile. The urge to run overwhelmed her, but her body couldn’t seem to comply.
 

A branch snapped.

They froze.

Then silence.

Neither of them spoke for one long moment. Suddenly, the branches parted. Brilliant green eyes peered at them from above a long, black snout. The animal’s lips lifted, baring huge, white teeth.
 

“A dog?” Camile said, her voice high-pitched with fear.

But he was almost as tall as they were and there was certainly something more about this beast; an intelligence combined with an animalistic need that shone in his brilliant eyes. “That’s no dog. It’s too big. Shit, that’s a freaking wolf.”

Camile shook her head. “We don’t have wolves here.”

Frantically, Ashley searched the area for a weapon. “You do now.”

“No, it’s impossible.”

At the same moment their gazes met and the truth flashed between them.

“Werewolf,” Ashley whispered.

Camile nodded. Ashley’s limbs went numb. She forced her body to stay still, forced her suddenly dry mouth to work. “What do you know about werewolves?”

Camile was shaking so hard her teeth were chattering. “Not much.”

“Great.”

Sweat slipped down between Ashley’s shoulder blades. The wolf inched forward, his massive paws silent as they settled on the path. The low rumble of his growl vibrated through the air, those eerie eyes piercing them, holding them captive.

“I thought they only came out on a full moon,” Camile said.

Ashley’s gaze slipped from the wolf to the horizon. “Yeah, nice big, full moon rising right now.”

“Hell,” Camile cursed.
 

Every step back, every breath, even the entire world seemed to be moving in slow motion. But Ashley’s mind spun, attempting to make sense of the situation, frantic to come up with a plan that didn’t involve walking home backwards and praying not to die. “Okay, stay calm. What else is there? What do you know? Anything.”

“Full moon, silver bullets…”

“And here I am fresh out of silver bullets,” Ashley whispered.

He bounded toward them. Camile screamed. He landed softly, only ten feet away and immediately lifted his lips into a snarl. Up close he was even larger than she’d realized. On all fours, he was almost as tall as them.
 

“He’s huge,” Camile whimpered. “We can’t fight him and you know we can’t outrun it.”

Ashley could hear the finality in her voice. Camile expected to die. The werewolf hunkered down low, but his eyes…his eyes were pinned on Ashley. An oddly strange calming sensation swept through her body as realization dawned. He wanted her. Only her. Not Camile, but her.
 

He hunkered back onto his hunches, as if preparing to jump.

Ashley jerked her hand from Camile’s. “Run. Go without me.”

“Are you mad?”

Camile didn’t understand and Ashley didn’t have time to explain the situation. Damn it, why couldn’t she just listen to her? Ashley pushed at her friend, sending Camile stumbling off balance. “Run. Now, go.”

Camile regained her footing and glared at Ashley. “I’m not leaving you.”

Frantic for her to understand, Ashley dared to take her attention from the wolf. “It’s our only chance, Camile. We can’t both outrun him. His eyes are locked on me. He wants me. You have a chance. Go!”

Camile shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. “No.”

The wolf growled.

“Damn it!” With all her strength, Ashley shoved her hands into Camile’s shoulders.

The woman flew backwards into a patch of wildflowers. The wolf leapt straight at Ashley. She knew he was coming. She knew he wanted her, but that didn’t prevent the scream from slipping from her lips. His paws hit her chest. Like someone had thrown a boulder at her, she flew through the air and landed with a thud to her back.

The wind burst from her lungs. She couldn’t catch her breath. Gasping for air, she stared into those eerie green eyes. Heavy paws settled on her shoulders, crushing her. She couldn’t move. Ashley bit her lip, refusing to whimper. His snout rested only inches from her face, the black hairs moving back and forth with each breath he took. His spittle, warm and wet, dripped onto her neck, sliding down her collarbone. The pressure was so great, that only a thin trail of air could slip down her throat.