7. CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER SEVEN
Calista
W ednesdays were a religious holiday for Gina and me. Our favorite show posted to the streaming app that she, Kaiden, and I shared. Before we settled in to indulge on snacks and sexy vampires, I went about cleaning and putting away groceries that were delivered to my doorstep. Then, I moved on to gathering the laundry for tomorrow’s pickup. It was a service I hated taking advantage of since my car didn’t run. Another bill siphoning my precious funds. I guess my wish for money would go ungranted. Figured.
I grabbed the bags from the floor of my nearly empty closet and tossed them on my bed. That familiar pulsing struck me immediately, as if searching me out. The second I felt it, a chord trilled inside me and resonated through my body. Intoxicating. No. I refused to let myself feel anything but disgust, especially after his little mirror trick. Chills of shame followed swift on its heels. I rubbed at my arms to rid myself of both feelings that drove me insane for years before I stopped wearing the damned thing then hid it.
“Calista.”
I spun so fast I wasn’t sure if it was the voice or my movement that lodged my heart in my throat. There was no one behind me.
“Kaiden?” I called out and went back to the living room. Empty. “I am losing it.”
Light footfalls thumped in my bedroom, and I whipped back around. A shadow moved over the hallway wall coming from inside my room before the door creaked. “What the hell….”
I tiptoed toward it. The door, previously open, stood ajar. And I wasn’t sure, but it looked like it swayed an inch or so. I focused intently, but it didn’t do anything but make my eyes hurt.
I glanced back down the hall, gauging my ability to make a run for it. My front door was locked. That would take extra time to get open. I needed to be ninja silent. I started back down the hall on those same tiptoes, silencing the part of my brain that screamed at me to run. I fought every muscle in my body to move slower and purposely when the floor creaked behind me.
We all have those moments. Fight or flight. Depending on the situation, we never know what we will do. At that moment, my body froze and the loud-ass voice in my mind silenced. A pin dropping would be excruciating. The hairs on my neck prickled to standing.
The door opened again. This would be the moment most people hightailed it out of there. Me? I grew a backbone of bravery built on fear. It’s not sturdy, in case you were wondering. As quiet as a mouse, I returned to the door and listened. The only sounds I could hear were my refrigerator and the cord of the ceiling fan clicking as it spun.
“Hello?” I said quietly as I stepped into the room. My equilibrium felt off, and I wobbled. Trees surrounded me. I knew this place. My heart raced, and I couldn’t catch my breath. There was only one… being… who could completely rewrite reality and screw with my head. I bolted to the door without caring where he was. It slammed shut and vanished before I could reach it.
His voice tinkled as he called to me, similar to the necklace, almost tickling my eardrums. I resisted the urge to reach up and rub them. I could sense his presence all around me, waiting for me to turn and find him.
I want your firstborn child.
My hands flew to my stomach as the tears pricked my eyes. The test was faulty. He offered me an easy out, a choice to join him, and I refused it. Now he was playing with me like a cat plays with its dinner. He planned to take me from the exact place he took my brother.
My entire world began to crumble beneath me. I swayed and nearly dropped to my knees. This had to be one of the nightmares plaguing me lately. It’s so real, though, I thought and steadied myself against a tree. I shouldn’t be here. This place doesn’t exist anymore. It was bulldozed after grandma died and turned into a subdivision.
Movement in my periphery startled me, and I juked behind a tree and peeked out. Black horns emerged from a dark shadow within the cluster. I didn’t need to see what was inside. I didn’t forget all the crazy I encountered in the labyrinth.
His oddly distant, whispered voice came again, “You can run, but you can’t hide.”
Rough bark bit into my forehead as I hid against the tree. Was I breathing too loud? Could he hear my heart thundering against my ribcage? The whooshing in my ears made it impossible to listen for his steps.
Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!
With courage the size of a mustard seed, I peeked around the tree. He wasn’t there. I looked over my shoulder. All clear. When I looked the other way, a black horned mask was mere inches from my face. I screamed. Then I ran.
This was not a dream. If it were, the bits of rock wouldn’t dig into my soles. The twigs slapping my face wouldn’t hurt. No, this was very fucking real. I took off down the trails that I knew like the back of my hand. Most of my childhood was spent at grandma’s house playing in these woods. I knew every nook and cranny, every hiding spot, and every exit which I navigated toward. If the woods were here, so was her house. At least I hoped so. But every time I checked behind me, he was there, motionless, yet gaining ground. I was trapped in a horror movie, and he was my personal Michael Meyers.
I skidded to a halt when he appeared in front of me out of nowhere. His crossed arms and wide stance said he was done with my fleeing. I wet my lips and looked around. We were right back where we started.
Did I miss the exit? No, I swear I turned onto it.
“This is a dream,” I croaked. “Another horrible nightmare.”
That creepy Cheshire smile came over his face, nearly touching the edges of his equally creepy mask before returning to normal. “You dream of me.” His melodic voice held a trill with an accent I’d never heard anywhere else, except from him.
“No.” I shook my head so hard my brain rattled. “No, I don’t.”
His eyes twinkled as he stepped closer. “I don’t believe you.”
Electricity danced over me, tickling my skin in the most delicious way. I leaned in to feel more of it before catching myself and shuffling back to put more space between us. “Don’t use magic on me.”
The playful smile disappeared, and he snapped his fingers. The woods vanished. Once again, I was in my bedroom. It did little to soothe me with him standing in my home. I shouldn’t have touched the necklace. I shouldn’t have made that wish. I damn sure shouldn’t have brought it here. Aside from random dreams, I was free of him for the most part.
He spun around, horns almost scraping the ceiling, and took in my bedroom. His focus ended on my messy, rumpled bed covered in laundry. My eyes widened when I saw what he was looking at.
I tossed a t-shirt on top of my underwear and grew a backbone. “Get out.”
Instead, he went to the vent and stuck his hand straight through the metal. “I liked your other room better. This one is… bland.” When he pulled back, he held the pouch in his hand.
What did that even mean? I didn’t remember him in my old room. “Leave!”
He ignored me and poured the necklace into his hand as he approached. I scooted backward and nearly fell inside my closet. His words ricocheted through my mind when he looped it over my head. A gift for all you have endured, and what you have yet to give. More like the ol’ ball and chain.
I wanted to jerk away when he tipped my chin up. I focused on the dark outline of his lips as they puckered when he spoke. “Wear. It.”
His head ticked to the side as if in deep thought before he disappeared.
The seriousness of the situation crashed down on me. I took a deep breath that quivered and raised my hands. Tremors wracked my body. I slipped the necklace off and cried. I cried for the future I’d never have and for the one I’d have to live. The pendant warmed against my palm like it did when my wishes came true. Only this wish wasn’t mine. It was his.
“There you are.”
I jumped and almost screamed. “You scared the shit out of me, Gina,” I said, swiping at my cheeks and blinking away the oncoming tears.
“I don’t know how. I yelled your name when I came in. What are you doing?”
“Bagging my laundry.” I snatched my underwear off the bed in case he decided to get a second look. Creep. “You got back fast.”
“Fast?” Gina came around to stand in front of me. “I’ve been back an hour. I knocked on your door, but you didn’t answer. I figured you were napping. I finally got your spare from Kaiden.” The keychain jingled between her pinched fingers.
I glanced at my watch. Two hours had passed.
Gina followed my hand and pointed at it. “What’s that?”
I squeezed the necklace, cursing myself. I had to talk my way out of this one. No way was I making another wish with it. I opened my hand, and she tilted her head in recognition. Shit.
“Is that the necklace your grandma gave you?”
Double shit. “Yeah, it is.”
“I thought you lost it.” She reached out to touch it but at the last second pulled back.
“So did I,” I mumbled.
“Awe. I know you miss her. It’s awesome you found it, though. Like she’s watching over you.”
More like he was. I suppressed the quiver working through me.
Gina wrapped me up in a hug and rubbed my back. I soaked up the comfort the lies were buying me. “Things will get better. I promise. You’ll find a job that suits you, have some stability, and maybe meet someone you’ll actually like for more than dick.”
Swallowing the knot in my throat, I said, “You’re right.”
She pushed me to arm’s length and gripped my shoulders. “You better put that on so you don’t lose it again.”
Would it be easier to wear this, or tell Gina the truth about me and Kaiden’s past? I frowned as I lowered my head and slipped the chain over it. It vibrated like a gong when it hit my chest. My heart fluttered with it, and I clutched the pendant, silently praying for it to stop when it warmed in my hand. I stiffened and swore under my breath.
“Come on,” Gina said, leaving the room. “Let’s watch our show.”
I went to close the door behind me when I felt someone there. Gina kept walking, oblivious to what was happening around her. In my periphery, a shadow spun wildly inside the closet. Not wanting to hang around and find out, I closed the door and quickly followed her.