1 Broken Hearted Ghoul (21 page)

I was feeling a little better by this time, despite everything. I stood on my own, and walked to the door. Debbie came with me.

“We have Jasper’s sword,” I told Abe. “Do you want it back?”

“It belonged to him. To the victor go the spoils. Perhaps Lucas would like to have it.”

* * *

Debbie still had to drive us home. I wasn’t sure of my skills at the wheel, and Lucas had no idea how to drive. She dropped us off at the house again—this time with no sword-wielding necromancer confronting us.

“Just call me when you’re ready. I’ll bring the van over,” she promised. “It was nice to meet you, Lucas.”

Neither one of us made a move to go inside after she was gone. I stared at the trees and the sky behind them as I thought about everything that had happened. The zombie life, driving the Taxi for the Dead, had sounded very uncomplicated. And it had been, until Lucas, and the ghoul, had entered the picture.

Maybe some of what I was feeling transmitted itself to him.

Lucas took my hand. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. I really have no idea why that man came after me. Despite what your master thinks, if I have ever killed another man in such a way, I have no memory of it.”

I looked into his clear, green eyes. “I believe you. I don’t think you remember who you were before this. But we have to consider that because you don’t know, you could be anyone.”

“So now you think I could be a killer sorcerer for hire.”

“No. Not exactly. But maybe you could help with the ghoul.”

“I cannot work for Abe. I am sorry. I would be more than happy to go out with you in case you need assistance.” He smiled. “I can’t promise to know what to do if we find a ghoul. But I can be there, and perish with you.”

I laughed at his pessimism. “You knew what to do with Jasper today. Maybe if you see a ghoul, your magic for that will kick in too.”

“I would be honored to fight at your side—not because Abe pays me—because our lives are entwined.”

“That sounds good to me. Thank you.” I kissed him. Shaking his hand to seal the deal seemed—awkward. We were beyond that, right?  

“Your lips are like wine, Skye. I could gladly drown in them.”

I laughed, unused to his flowery prose. “And your eyes are like emeralds, sir. Shall we go forth into the house?”

“You mock me, my lady.”

“Only good naturedly, sir.” I curtsied slightly, and almost fell.

He caught me, and brought me up close to him. “Yes. I believe you call it
joking
. Let us go into the house, lady. Your brain is sorely addled this day.”

Addie and Kate were eager to hear what had happened. I explained in the shortest, easiest terms I could think of, and then I went upstairs to take a shower. I hoped not to hear anything from Abe the rest of the day while I recovered.

But it was no use. Showering, dressing—all I could see was the ghoul’s baleful yellow eyes staring into mine.

I knew Mary would come for me unless I found and killed her first. I was on her radar after Lee and I had attacked her at the apartment building. There was no doubt in my mind that she would find me. She seemed to have an extra sense at finding Abe’s zombies.

About an hour later, Lucas came up to check on me. “Lady Debbie called and said someone should make sure you did not go into a coma after your head injury.”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen. I have a very hard head.”

He sat on the bed beside me while I finished drying my hair. “Were you ill that your hair was shorn so?”

It took me a minute to translate. “No. Women wear their hair short now. They were pants too. And go to school. Just like real people.”

He nodded and smiled. “What if I truly am a killer sorcerer and have simply not realized it as yet?”

“Then you must be Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” I touched his face. “You would have two competing personalities in there.”

“You are correct, it would seem, about me killing ghouls. I did not believe I could kill Jasper. I was hoping I would not need to. He simply would not stop. Who knows what other knowledge is in my head?”

“Tell me again—what do you remember before you ended up here?” I wasn’t sure I was ready for all of the truth today, but at some point, I would have to find out.

“It was like going to sleep. I remember the place that I showed you—the place I think I’m from. I was there one minute—fighting, I believe—and here the next.”

“Could another sorcerer have done that? I’m just spitballing here. I have no idea what sorcerers can and can’t do.”

“I suppose it is possible. You could also be an illusion while I am locked away in a prison somewhere.” He kissed my forehead. “If so, I shall accept the illusion.”

“Thanks. Maybe we should do some research. We could look up the name that Jasper called you, and go from there. I really don’t want to think that you’re an evil sorcerer in a prison somewhere.”

“How would you envision that we would do this research? Have you a grimoire of some sort?”

“Yes. We call it Google.”

We went downstairs and had a snack with Addie and Kate. My head felt clearer. I was thinking about calling Debbie to come over and bring the van. The backyard felt naked without it.

Abe called, and even apologized for disturbing me. “If you’re up to it, I have a job for you.”

Addie frowned, and Lucas shook his head. But a job is a job. “Text me the information.”

“Done. Be careful, Skye. I hope you can take your sorcerer with you.” As usual, he was simply gone, and the conversation was over.

Kate groaned. “I thought I could go to the mall today if I was feeling better. I have to go back to school tomorrow, Mommy!”

“I know.” I hugged her. “I’m sorry. We’ll have to go next weekend. Or maybe we can go one night after school.”

“You always have to work!” She stamped her foot, and stormed out of the kitchen, crying.

“That went well.” Addie sighed. “Go on. I’ll see to her—like I always do.”

*  *  *

I called Debbie and let her know we had a pickup. She wasn’t thrilled about it since she and her kids were baking cookies, but she understood, and said she’d be right over.

Lucas was waiting at the back door when I was ready to go.

“You’re going?” I asked.

“I am ready, yes. The necromancer may have been the only thing standing between you and the real death.”

I smirked at the way he said that.
The real death
. “You know, I really
am
dead already. I’ve experienced the real death.”

“My apologies.” He bowed. “I sometimes forget.”

“Brandon said you need a sorcerer to paralyze the ghoul with some charm and then you can cut the head off and burn the body. Does that sound right to you?”

He shrugged. “I would not be telling you the truth, lady, if I said I ever recalled doing such a thing. However, the theory sounds like standard practice for killing
any
creature. I believe even your zombie master would die if someone cut off his head, and burned his body.”

“Funny. What about the paralyzing charm?”

“I do not have one, so far as I know.”

Great! Why do I get the sorcerer who doesn’t know what he’s doing?

“I guess we’ll figure it out when we get there—if we run into her.”

Debbie honked the horn from the back of the inn.

“I’m still not letting your drive,” she said when I walked to the driver’s side. “It’s bad enough I have to take a chance on my life with sorcerers and killer ghouls. I’m not risking a head-on collision!”

“That’s fine.” I got in on the passenger side. “But drive faster, huh? I’d like to do this pickup, and be back sometime today.”

“I’m a very good driver,” she told Lucas, glancing into the backseat.

“Because you drive like a snail.” I fastened my seatbelt.

“Did he bring anything to kill the ghoul?” she whispered, looking at him again. “I know we have the sword, but we need the other part to use it on her, right?”

“We’re working on it.” I checked my Beretta. “If we can’t paralyze her, maybe we can distract her with a few shots to the head.”

“Yeah,” she scorned. “Because
that
went so well for you and the police detective.”

“It’s all we’ve got right now, unless you have a magic charm I’m unaware of.”

“You should expect her to be there.”  Lucas’s tone had an edge to it.

“Why? Have you remembered something?”

“Uncertain. Perhaps.” He put his hands in his pockets. “Ghouls target their victims, as she has Abe. Since she has seen you, and not killed you, the chances are you are next.”

“I’ve seen her before.” I told him about the encounter at the bar, which had probably cost Martin his life. “She didn’t come after me then.”

But didn’t I have the same impression? I knew in my gut that Mary was coming for me.

Chapter Twenty-eight

Debbie drove to the address Abe had sent. It was a diner, not too far from The Parthenon where Jacob and I had visited once on a date. The building, completely replicated from the old Parthenon in Athens, Greece, was impressive. I considered that I’d have to bring Kate there one day. Jacob and I had loved it.

I had to start thinking of other things to do with Kate besides going to the mall. I knew she liked shopping, but there were plenty of other interesting things to do in Nashville. We could visit the Grand Ole Opry, or go to the zoo.

It was just a matter of creating those opportunities for us. I needed to take advantage of our time together. I wanted her to remember me that way when I was gone.

Debbie parked the van on the street in front of the diner. She had a hard time doing it too. Lucas finally got out, and guided her into the spot.

“Don’t say it,” she warned when I got out. “I’m not used to driving a white elephant like this. You should get Abe to buy you something newer and easier to drive.”

“Thanks. I’ll get right on that.”

We walked into the diner, nothing more than a greasy spoon with a big grill and a Formica counter at one end, and about a dozen tables and booths in the other. It smelled like French fries and burgers—nothing wrong with that.

“Look! They do fresh peach shakes!” Debbie was excited by the idea. “Maybe I’ll have one while we’re waiting.”

The diner wasn’t busy with the lunch crowd gone and not many customers before dinner. The place probably didn’t have much of a dinner rush anyway. There were too many other nice places to eat close by.

It was an odd place for a pickup. I’d never had anyone who wanted to leave from the place they worked. Maybe she was homeless. Or maybe she lived with someone who didn’t know about her twenty years of service to Abe.

“What can I get for you all?” The waitress had black hair streaked with gray. It was piled up on her head, and held there with a silver clip. Her uniform was pink and white, and her nametag said she was Elaine Talos.

I looked at the name on the phone—Elaine Talos.

“I’d like a peach shake,” Debbie said with a smile. “Are the peaches really fresh?”

“Fresh as they can be coming out of a can,” Elaine said.

“Oh.” Debbie was disappointed.

“We’re not here for something to eat and drink,” I said. “Abe sent us for you.”

She blinked a few times. Maybe she’d lost track of what day it was. She seemed surprised. Her big blue eyes were confused. “Is it that time already? It goes so quickly. You hardly realize it, and twenty years is gone.”

“I know,” I whispered back. “But you know how this goes. You have to come with me.”

“I can’t. I haven’t had a chance to tell my family goodbye. Let me call him. He’ll give me a few extra days.”

I’d never known Abe to do that, but it didn’t matter to me if she tried. I nodded, and she walked away, taking her cell phone out of her pocket.

“I hope he gives her some extra time.” Debbie sympathized. “Maybe he should start doing a pre-pickup phone call or text so people are ready.”

“You should talk to him about that.” I looked around. No sign of Mary anyway. That was good news.

Elaine came back out of the kitchen. “He won’t take my call. I don’t understand. Why is this happening? I did everything he asked of me. There’s no reason for this.”

I hated it. I’d been stone cold a few times with zombies I’d picked up. I’d learned to be. It was probably having my brain rattled by the ghoul. “I’m only doing what he told me. I’m sorry. Today is your day.”

 “Please. You have to let me say goodbye. I have everything set up, but the kids weren’t getting’ together until later tonight.” She smiled at me as she wiped tears from her face. “They planned a big going away party, you know?”

This was an impossible situation. Abe wanted her back right away. He was worried about Mary waiting out there for us. Elaine wanted time to say goodbye. What was I supposed to do? This one was hard.

Debbie nudged me with her elbow. “Maybe we could give her more time, huh? So she can say goodbye.”

I looked at Lucas. He shrugged. I didn’t blame him for not wanting in on this one.

“How fast can you get your family together?” I sighed heavily, knowing it wasn’t a good practice to give people extra time. It was never easy to leave your life. Maybe that’s why death usually sneaked up on you.

“It would take a few hours. Two of them live in Knoxville. Another one lives in Sevierville. They’d come if I told them what was happening. Can you let me do that?”

I was going to hate myself for this. Abe would make sure of it. “Call them. Have them meet you where you live, not here. I won’t take you until after you’ve said goodbye. I’ll make up some excuse for Abe.”

“Thank you so much.” She hugged me as she cried. “I’ll tell my boss there’s an emergency. He’ll let me go. Not that my standing with him matters much now. I won’t ever forget that you did this for me.”

“Give me your address and phone number.” I took out my cell phone and put the numbers into it. “Here’s my number. My name is Skye. Call me as soon as you’re ready.”

“What about Abe? Will you be all right? I know how he can be.” Her laughter was tinged with regret. “I was his lover for several months after he first took me. I would’ve been dead from pneumonia if he hadn’t given me the deal, so I felt like I couldn’t complain.”