Whispering Hearts (25 page)

“I recommend you go fuck yourself.”

She dropped the sheet and held up the witch's ball, directing all of her rage and grief through it. The ball acted as an amplifier for her already enormous pain. She wanted Michael to hurt, like she was hurting. Worse.

The emotion blasted through the room. She could feel it. And even without that, the way Michael screamed let her know it was working. The remaining glass in the window exploded out into the yard.

That was unexpected…

Still holding the ball in front of her, she walked toward the empty space. Water and glass slid out of her way as she approached, pushed by the force of whatever the hell she was doing.

Outside, the alligator was already leaving, heading for the canal at the back of the property. She could sense that Michael had left—for the moment. Her heart was racing, but even that sensation was muted at the stark reality she was left to face.

Garrett was gone.

“Rachel!”

Rachel looked around the room. That was Garrett's voice. But he had crossed over… Hadn't he?

“Rachel!”

Someone was pounding on the front door.

Garrett!

She flung the door to the room open and ran through the house, chucking the witch's ball onto the couch as she passed it. Garrett was still pounding on the front door. It sounded like he was trying to break it down.

“Garrett! I'm here!” she shouted as she unlocked the door and threw it open.

Time seemed to pause. Garrett was standing on the stoop, his hair plastered to his face, rivulets of red streaking across his forehead and down his cheek. His clothes were pasted to his body and his chest was heaving as his gaze roved over her as well.

“Jesus…” he gasped.

He crossed the threshold and picked her up in one movement, crushing her to his chest as she wrapped her legs around his waist to hold on to him. He kicked the door shut and turned so that her back was against it, then he kissed her.

His lips crashed down against hers, his fingers firm against her backside as he held her tight. She wrapped her arms around his neck, returning his kiss, wanting to feel him, all of him, to know he was truly all right.

With their chests pressed together, their hearts were so close—only a few inches of flesh and bone between them. She could feel their energy mingling, merging.

She needed more.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

This didn't seem like the time to start something. Both of them were bleeding, though it all looked superficial. Who knew what kind of danger they were in. But Garrett could feel how much Rachel needed him, needed this. He sure as hell needed it too.

Her legs were wrapped tight around his waist, her tongue delving into his mouth and fingers burrowing through his hair. He pressed her against the door, grinding against her till she groaned.

How could this be happening? Gators outside, ghosts everywhere…

And Rachel opening herself up to him completely—heart, body, and soul. He could feel her fear, her relief, her grief. And a hell of a lot of lust and love thrown into the mix.

Just about the same as him.

But he was only getting the tip of the iceberg of what she was feeling. He sensed the weight of it lurking under her skin.

She arched her neck as he trailed his mouth along her trachea and down to her collarbone. Her hips were already moving on him. She was aching and hurting and needed an outlet for too many emotions. Quickly.

“Garrett…”

“I know,” he murmured against her skin.

She hadn't bothered with underwear when they threw on clothes to make breakfast. Stretching his arm around her thigh, he pulled down his waistband and lined himself up. He plunged in deep, holding on to her thighs. Their gazes locked.

Her body relaxed against him as she let out a shuddering breath. And then another.

“Kiss me,” she said.

“Any time.”

A faint smile crossed her lips before he claimed them. He thrust his hips, her body warming him, sending frissons of pleasure all along his nerves. With the adrenaline already coursing through his system, he knew he wouldn't last long. Lucky for him, he could feel she was in the same boat.

Using her arms on his shoulders for leverage, she moved in synch with him, arching her hips away then back with each of his thrusts to get every drop of stimulation possible from their union. She sped up and he matched her, until the sensations were blurring together in a cascade effect.

All the adrenaline that had coiled in his body focused around where they were joined—on the primal energy of this act of love and longing. It gathered deep in his gut, pressure building until it burst through his body.

He felt himself shifting, like part of him was moving into her as they came and part of her merging with him. Something beyond the physical, something new and bright and full of possibilities. It left his skin tingling and his legs weak.

He leaned against her, pinning her to the door, while he pulled himself back together. She was still pulsing around him, holding him tight everywhere she could. When he slid from her at last, he lowered her feet to the ground, then reached down to pull his pants back up.

Her face was burrowed into the side of his neck, the vibration of her voice traveling through him when she spoke.

“I thought I'd lost you. He said…” Her voice broke. “He said you were dead.”

“Look at me.”

He waited for her to straighten up so they could look in each other's eyes again. Tears streaked her cheeks, tugging at his heart.

“Never gonna happen.” He kissed her again, then rested his forehead against hers. “While you're here, this is where I belong.”

She nodded and sniffed. He gathered her up in his arms and carried her to the couch in the living room.

After setting her down, he pulled his T-shirt over his head. He should really get the First-Aid kit, but he couldn't leave her. At least the wounds were as superficial as he first thought. They must sting like crazy, though.

He knelt in front of her and dabbed at her legs with his shirt. “What happened?”

“It's Michael. He's back. He never really left.”

Garrett nodded. “Yeah, I figured that out when he tried to drown me in that storm and sent some gators after me.”

“How did you escape?”

“Broke a window and climbed on top of my car, then jumped off and ran like hell. They chased me farther than I thought they would, but when I reached the house, they sort of lost interest. Good thing too, because I left my keys behind in my hurry.”

He chuckled and glanced up at her, hoping he could ease her worry even a little bit. Nope. There was a crease wedged between her brows and she was getting ready to cry again.

“I'm so sorry,” she said.

“Michael's the one that needs to be sorry. And we're going to see to that next.”

There had to be something in one of her books that would help them. Otherwise, they were trapped in his house with no way of calling for help. He didn't like the idea of that at all.

“How did he hurt you?” He could hear the change in his voice as he asked the question. The low tones almost hitting a growl.

“He didn't. I broke a window too.”

“With your arms?”

They seemed to have taken the worst of the damage, but all the scratches were shallow. She had a few scrapes on her knees and the outsides of her legs, and needed to stay off her feet for a few days. Those were the cuts that worried him the most. None were deep enough to need stitches, at least.

“I used the reading chair in the guest room.”

“I didn't know you had it in you.”

“He said he was going to kill Jazz. The door to the guest room wouldn't open and I couldn't think of another way to get to her. God, Garrett, the things he said…”

Garrett held her face so she had to look at him. “We're going to stop him. Do you hear me? He's not going to hurt anybody else.”

“But he already
is
hurting people. The women he killed—they were right. He's able to get to them again. He's torturing their spirits in the afterlife. And Jazz…”

Garrett's stomach curled in knots. “What about Jazz?”

Rachel gripped his hands and pulled them into her lap. “She called me right after you left. The signal wasn't very clear, but she was trying to ask me about possession. And then Michael told me that he's already taken someone. He's going to force the person he's possessed to kill Jazz if we don't stop him. That poor man… What he must be going through right now.”

Garrett's thoughts were spinning. All his friends were in danger—again. And even though he knew it was happening, he had no way to get to them. No way to help.

“He'll go after Elsa next. He's going to kill everyone I care about to punish me. I know it.” Rachel leaned forward as if she was getting ready to jump up.

“You need to stay off your feet.”

“I need to get to my friends!”

Garrett let out a deep breath, knowing how upset she was going to be when he told her the truth about their situation. Knowing he had failed her again.

“The car's stuck in the sand. There's no getting it out. And I'm not sure how far away those gators went.”

And his phone was in the car along with his keys. Shit. He didn't bother bringing up that cheery point. They would check her phone for a signal as soon as they could.

“For the time being, we're stuck here,” he said. “And that means you stay off those feet.”

“No. There's more we can do.”

“Rachel, you're going to start bleeding again if you walk around.”

“Good. I can use that.”

His heart sank as he saw the determination in her gaze, felt it echo in his soul. There was no talking her out of whatever she was thinking, even if it meant more danger, more harm to herself. All he could do was make a stand with her.

“Tell me what to do.”

Chapter Thirty

Blood magic was powerful. One of the most powerful magics.

Michael might have been a ghost long enough to figure out tricks and gimmicks, but Rachel had been studying the paranormal her entire life. She had just never opened herself up to her powers before. Powers she had grossly underestimated.

She remembered the water—red with her blood—moving away from her and taking the broken glass with it as she walked to the window. Psychokinesis.

Yes. She could use her blood. But she would need more if she was going to put a stop to Michael.

Runes. Definitely something with runes.

She wasn't naïve enough to think that she could get Garrett's car out of the sand. But she could make the wards incredibly stronger if she reinforced them with her blood. That helped her and Garrett, but no one else. Michael was still free to go wherever he wanted at the speed of thought.

She surveyed the room, taking stock of her resources. Censer with incense, salt, saltwater spray bottle. Those were small-scale compared to what she was facing.

If Chloe were there, she might be able to channel Michael's spirit into her own body and banish him. Rachel had heard of séances for that purpose. But she had never been part of one. Never been taught how to do it.

Sometimes, other people were used as receptacles for the spirit while the medium remained outside and could focus fully on banishing the ghost. Rachel looked at Garrett kneeling in front of her.

She knew he would have faith in her ability to keep him safe. He would jump at the chance to help, even putting himself through that hell. He was probably the most powerful resource she had, but she couldn't—wouldn't—use him like that. It wasn't safe. It wasn't right.

There had to be some other way.

She glanced down at the couch, her gaze caught by the witch's ball. Caught…

The tunnels of glass within the orb were meant to trap malicious spirits. What if she could lure Michael back and somehow trap him in the ball?

She picked it up, wiping her hand over its surface. How could she possibly get him into it? If she hung it back in a window, he'd simply stay outside or find another way into the house. He could wait them out, like a siege.

She couldn't stop staring at the witch's ball. It was the key. She knew it. But if she couldn't use it in a window…

“A mirror!”

Garrett started and fell over backward. His eyes were wide, but he must have been encouraged by the smile she felt pulling on her face.

“Warn a guy next time,” he said.

Her grin turned wicked. “Oh, there will be no warning. What I have planned will be a total surprise.”

From the guest room, a tinny sound called out to them. Her phone again.

“Like that?” Garrett asked. He jumped up and started toward the room.

“Wait! I'm coming with you.”

She ran to the counter, ignoring the pain in her feet and the way she slid on the bamboo floor as they started to bleed again. She grabbed up the container of salt and the spray bottle, pinning them to her body with the arm that held her witch's ball. She didn't dare drop it with what she had planned.

“Dammit, I told you to stay off your feet.”

“I'll heal. Now let's go before we miss the call.”

She pushed past him, running down the hallway to the guest room. Garrett was right behind her. She made sure they crossed the threshold together. Being trapped in the room alone with Michael once had been quite enough for her.

Her phone was still ringing, buried in the sheets that she had dropped near the window. Garrett threw them aside and picked it up, then hit the speaker button while Rachel set down what she carried on the bed.

He held the phone up between them and said, “Hello?”

“Garrett?” Jazz's voice. She sounded wrecked. “Where's Rachel? Is she okay?”

Rachel's stomach started doing flip-flops again. She had never heard Jazz sound so upset. Nowhere close.

“I'm here. I'm fine.”

Garrett glared at her, but Rachel stared him down. Now wasn't the time to go into details. They could lose the connection at any moment.

“Thank God.”

At the same time, Rachel and Jazz both said, “Listen to me,” then paused.

“Me first,” Jazz said. “He'll find me any second.”

“Who will?”

“Finn. I mean Michael. I don't even know anymore! I'm losing him. He's losing himself. Michael is possessing him.”

Garrett let out a breath like he'd been punched in the stomach. As if that and the feeling of loss and dread pummeling through Rachel from Garrett wasn't bad enough, Jazz sniffed loudly, her voice hoarse as she continued.

“He's coming for you and Elsa. You have to warn her. He's going to kill you and… You don't want to know what he has planned then. If I can't save Finn—”

“Stop,” Rachel said. “We're saving everybody. And we're taking Michael out in the process. Permanently.”

As in
eternity
. Michael was done hurting people Rachel cared about. He was done hurting anyone.

Even without their bond, she could see that Garrett was barely holding it together. With it, she could sense how much he cared. He loved Finn like a brother. She wouldn't let him lose another one. And whatever Finn was to Jazz…

“Where are you?” Rachel asked.

“I don't know exactly. I was knocked out. But I'm in a swamp. Probably somewhere near Clearview.”

“Why Clearview?”

“Finn and I were trying to find out more about Michael's other victims. It's Michael's home town. We found the house where he grew up.”

“Listen to me carefully. I am certain that Michael's body was cremated but there must be something of him left behind. Something acting as an anchor in the physical realm. With how powerful he is, it can't just be a lock of hair. It has to be something with more substance.”

For a brief moment, she was actually sorry she and Michael hadn't been intimate. She hadn't had a chance to check him for surgery scars or find out if he'd ever had something removed. All those jars of
keepsakes
in his garage… Maybe one of them held an organ. Even his tonsils or appendix would be enough.

If Jazz couldn't find an anchor in Clearview, they at least had a lead on where to try next. In the meantime, Rachel had a plan to keep him contained.

“I think I know where it is,” Jazz said. “What do I do with it?”

“Burn it. Can you do that?”

“Yes. But what about Finn?”

“Once you destroy the anchor, I'll be able to take care of Michael and Finn will be free. We'll be working from here to try to weaken Michael, but we need you to help Finn keep fighting.”

If Finn was half as worked up about Jazz as she was about him, they stood a good chance.

“Jazz, you have to reach him,” Garrett said. “Any way you can. He won't be able to live with himself if he hurts anybody.”

“I know.”

Garrett was frowning deeply, his brow lowered over his eyes. “Watch out for wildlife too. Michael can control snakes and gators and the swamp's full of them.”

“It's good if he's spreading himself thin,” Rachel said. “The more fronts we can hit him from, the better. Work on your connection to Finn. Try to reach him and help him to hold on.”

Jazz's voice dropped to a whisper. “Hurry.”

The call ended.

“Tell me your plan is going to work,” Garrett said.

“It's going to work. But you're not going to like it.”

“What do you need me to do?”

She wasn't entirely sure. She was cobbling things together from all the different books she'd read, everything Hiram and Chloe had taught her. Mostly, she was going on instinct.

“I don't know. I'm not sure how this will play out. I just know I need you with me.”

So much was at stake. She had never been more frightened in her life. If she failed, everyone she loved would die. And that was just the beginning. What Michael had planned, the lives he would take, the people he would destroy—

No. Just…no. She was going to stop him. Right now.

Garrett nodded. “What is it you're going to do?”

“Ask you to trust me.”

She pulled him down for a kiss, lingering more than she probably should. A small part of her warned that it might be their last one. She pushed the thought away.

The witch's ball sat on the bed with her other supplies. She handed the container of salt and the spray bottle to Garrett, then picked up the glass sphere and headed to the bathroom with him right behind her.

This is where it had to happen. The mirror and the witch's ball were her best weapons. Plus her blood and her knowledge.

She made a line of salt across the door's threshold and another along the back of the sink's counter underneath the mirror, then handed the container of salt to Garrett. It was starting to feel disturbingly light.

“Mix up more saltwater, please,” she said.

As he did that, she pulled some towels from the shelf and wrapped the witch's ball, then set it on the floor in a corner where it would be safe. When Garrett was done using the sink, she put in the stopper and filled it with warm water, then added more salt. Having the saltwater easily accessible would help with her work.

“Close the drain in the tub and then spray it down. Put a towel over the toilet tight enough that nothing can crawl out of it. See if you can find something to put on top of the toilet seat too. Just in case.” She thought about that, then added, “Maybe make a salt line around the whole thing as well.”

Garrett raised an eyebrow, but did as she said. He put a sturdy metal trash can on top of the seat when he was finished spraying and salting everything. Hopefully anything that might try to come up from the toilet wouldn't be strong enough to lift it.

“What next?” he asked.

“Spray me down.”

He hesitated. “With those cuts, it's going to hurt like hell.”

“I'll deal. And you're next, by the way.”

She didn't let herself wince, even though the salt stung each and every wound. Turning in a circle and spreading her arms, she made sure he was able to get her covered in a fine coat of saltwater. Then she did the same for him.

It didn't feel like enough.

Using her blood to protect him was out of the question. Not only would he not stand for it most likely, but with what she had planned, it would make him a target. Their connection already opened him up to Michael more than she liked.

If he had her blood on him, it would act like a beacon—like the one she was about to set up. But a saltwater symbol on his chest would hopefully be lost among the others she was about to draw. She had just the rune for the job.

She dipped her fingertips in the saltwater in the sink, then lifted them to his chest and traced the shape of Eihwaz—like a backwards letter “Z”—a powerful rune of protection. She visualized him being surrounded by a bright golden light, strengthening his aura and keeping him safe.

She wished she could do the same for herself, but the saltwater spray would have to be enough. She didn't want to scare Michael off.

“Help me get the sheet down.”

“Won't Michael be able to see what we're doing or use it as a door if we do?”

“The salt line should act as a barrier.”

The way he scowled let her know that he didn't like the idea of taking down the sheet as clearly as the waves of apprehension flowing from him. Still, he moved to one side and carefully lifted the sheet off the corners of the mirror, making sure he didn't disturb the line of salt. He dropped the sheet on the floor behind them.

Rachel bent and picked up the witch's ball, then set it on the counter within reach but not too close to the edge.

“I'm going to need a few minutes of silence,” Rachel said.

Garrett nodded and she went to work.

First Thurisaz—a straight standing line with a triangle jutting out from its middle pointing to the right. Thorn. She traced it in the top left-hand corner with the saltwater from the sink.

Upright, it was another rune of protection. As she drew it, she thought about herself and Garrett—all her loved ones, even the people she didn't know who stood to lose their lives if Michael was free.

Then she drew it in the corner opposite, with the arrow pointing to the left—a mirror image of the first rune. Reversed it meant ill-fortune, things not turning out as one hoped. She focused her thoughts on Michael.

The next rune was Sowelu, the sun. A symbol of victory. It had always looked like a lightning bolt to her. She thought of Michael's narcissism and played into that. Let him think this energy was for him—let it lure him in, make him feel secure.

But it wasn't for him. Or even for her. It was for Fate.

The next rune finished her thought. Jera—two arrow-heads facing away from each other, touching so they defined a sealed space between them. It also looked a bit like a “Z”, but with an open rectangular space in the diagonal line. The harvest time for karma.

“Reap what you sow,” she murmured as she traced the symbol.

She continued to tell their story through the runes. Kenaz reversed, a single arrow-head. Darkness. Loss. Symbolizing both what she had felt during her time chained up in his garage and what Michael was about to experience at her hands.

Each rune flowed from her fingertips onto the mirror, her skin buzzing with energy, her arms crawling with it. Uruz, a little like an upside-down “U”. The wild ox. Untamed. She wanted Michael to know he hadn't broken her.

In the mirror, she noticed her grim smile as she traced Tyr—justice. A single arrow pointing up.

She was placing the runes in a spiral pattern, visualizing a vortex, a spinning whirlpool of energy that would trap him.

And finally, in the center of the mirror, a single vertical line—Isa, the ice that held the whirlpool in check. The stick that held up the cage. The snare beneath the leaves.