Deadly Chaos (14 page)

“With me?” Of course there was. She had a stalker ghost and a trail of death and tragedy followed her since birth.

“Hmmmm,” Linda circled her and studied her carefully.

Chaos felt like a bug under a microscope. “What’s going on?”

“When did you get that necklace?”

Chaos instinctively reached for the Winged Victory pendant hanging around her neck. She clutched the necklace in her right hand. “My mother left it for me. She was wearing it when she died. It was a gift from a friend.”

Linda shook her head and tsked. “Wasn’t a friend that gave it to her.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s cursed.”

This time Chaos couldn’t resist rolling her eyes. “Cursed. Come on. That’s bullshit.” She started to turn and walk away but forced herself to stop. These people were trying to help her. “I’m sorry, but I don’t believe you.”

“That’s not surprising. Take it off for a moment. I’ll show you.”

Chaos reluctantly unclasped the necklace and handed it to Linda. Linda set it on the rock salt and the darn thing sizzled. “What the…?”

“I told you. It’s cursed. The salt can’t handle the black energy contained in that necklace.”

She gestured for Chaos to sit on the couch. Not wanting to disturb Dakota and risk being the recipient of his scowl, Chaos moved to sit on the end of the couch.

“When did you start wearing it?”

“I don’t remember ever not wearing it. I have pictures of me wearing it when I was two.”

Linda nodded. “I suspect that necklace is what earned you your nickname.”

“What do you mean?” Chaos was having a hard time believing that her mother’s necklace was cursed. If she even believed in the concept of cursing something. Why would her mother wear a cursed necklace? And why would she give it to her baby daughter?

“She means that the necklace has caused you nothing but trouble since the day you put it on. It’s brought trouble to you every single day of your life,” Dakota muttered.

“I thought you were asleep,” Chaos grumbled. She resisted the urge to push him off of the couch. Chaos looked to Linda for confirmation. “Is that true?” She didn’t want to give up the only connection she had to her mother. Giving up the necklace would tear her apart.

“I think so. Would you mind leaving it with me? I think with a little research and some help I can figure out how to cleanse it so you can wear it again.”

Anger tickled her toes. Needling its way up her legs, it reached her stomach and blossomed. Chaos was ticked. An ugly thought slid down her spine and joined the roiling anger. Her mother was wearing that necklace when she died. “Did that necklace kill my mother?”

“She was wearing it when she died?”

Chaos nodded. If someone killed her mother, there would be hell to pay. She knew with the certainty an old oak tree has that one day it would fall, that she would find her mother’s killer and make them regret it.

“It probably didn’t help her,” Linda said. “I’m so sorry. Do you know who gave it to her?”

“No, and there’s no one I can ask.” Her dad was dead and her mother didn’t have any siblings. Her dad had a brother but they’d never been close. Chaos could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen her uncle in her lifetime. “Would Sheila be able to tell?” Chaos knew she was taking a big leap of faith here but if she was going to believe that her darned necklace was cursed then why not jump all the way in and believe in psychics? Maybe Sheila could do her thing and see who gave her mom that necklace.

“She generally sees the future but anything’s possible. First, let me see if I can make it safe for you to wear. Just give me a few days, okay? Dakota, you’re up.”

Linda knelt down in front of Dakota, who was still slumped on the couch. Chaos noticed that his eyes were open but barely, just enough to let some light in. Something inside her urged her to touch him but she fought the urge. He made it clear that he didn’t like her. She should just stay away.

“So, Dakota,” Linda said. “What happened last night? We cleansed the house from top to bottom but I need to know if I was dealing with something other than a very strong shithead ghost.”

“Nope. Just a ghost,” he grunted. “A strong one.”

“What did it want with Chaos?”

Dakota shrugged. “She gives off energy like heat emanating off of the Las Vegas pavement in August. It practically burns your eyes.”

“In a good way, dear,” she said turning to Chaos. “It just wanted some of her strength?”

“I think so.”

“Sure did a number on you. Did you explain what happened to Chaos?”

“She didn’t ask.”

Linda cocked an eyebrow at Chaos and then turned back to Dakota.

“Go ahead and tell her,” he said.

“No, dear. That’s for you to tell. I will tell her that it wasn’t Bill that attacked her last night.”

“She already knows. Got to meet good old Dead Bill this morning.” Dakota pushed himself a bit more upright. He moved slowly and grimaced with each motion like he was in a lot of pain. “Nasty guy. Strong.”

“He showed up in the room while you were there?”

“No. The shower.”

“How did you know he was in the shower,” Chaos asked. She hadn’t screamed or yelled.

Dakota looked her in the eyes. Black as obsidian, his eyes fixated on her and held her attention. Chaos felt her body respond.

“I just knew,” he said. “The air in the room changed.”

“So what did you do?” Linda asked. “I need you to move to the floor, Dakota. Can you do it?”

He nodded. Their gaze broke and Chaos was left wanting. He slid off the couch onto his knees. Chaos desperately wanted to reach out to help him but he didn’t ask and she didn’t want to interfere. Linda circled Dakota with the sage. Chaos noticed he was starting to look green.

Dakota swayed. He closed his eyes. “I told him to go. He flipped me off and disappeared.”

“He’ll be back,” Linda said.

“Undoubtedly,” he mumbled.

“I’m surprised he was brave enough to manifest while you were there. I didn’t expect that. I’ll have to rethink my plan.”

Chaos watched Dakota’s skin turn an ashy shade of grey, like the bark of a dead birch tree. She couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “You okay? You don’t look good.”

Dakota didn’t answer. Chaos looked at Linda for help. Linda tipped her head in the direction of a large yellow bucket sitting on the floor. Chaos jumped up, grabbed the bucket, and set it on the ground next to him.“Is this all because of what happened last night?” Chaos asked. “Or is there more? Can you get rid of Dead Bill with this stuff?

“Bill is not with you now so no, I don't believe this is the answer you're seeking. When you asked your family spirits for assistance last night a few stragglers came along. They attacked Dakota.”

“I don't understand.”

“You know that all matter has energy and that energy doesn't vanish when a person dies. You know this because you've seen it. Bill isn't anything more than a big bunch of negative, very negative, energy. He’s not solid matter anymore.”

“And he's pissed about it.”

“Apparently. The spirit that attacked you last night was pissed about it, too. When you sought help last night to help extricate you from its negative energy your father came.”

“I guess.” She’d been too terrified to have an emotional reaction to the presence of her father and when it was all over, she assumed she had imagined him. If Linda had seen him too then it had really happened.

“You know,” Linda said, daring Chaos to contradict her. “You saw him. I saw it in your eyes. When he answered your call, which was the strongest call to a spirit I have ever encountered, by the way, he opened a portal or a door between the spirit world or heaven and our world. Spirits can do that once they've passed over into the spirit realm. However, on their quick journey through the door they opened they also let in a few negative beings. They sort of linger and wait for portals to open. They’re not spirits of the dead. They’re, well I’m not sure what they are. They’re like little insects that feed off of the positive energy of strong people.”

“Like leeches?” She’d come across a few leeches in her life, human and worms.

“Yes. Perfect. You had a few leeches. I took care of them.”

“What about Dakota. He has leeches too?” She glanced at Dakota, still kneeling on the floor. He looked tired but his skin had returned to its normal amber hue.

“Dakota, why don't you tell Chaos about it while I get everyone a cup of tea?” As she passed by Chaos on her way toward the stairs she whispered. “Take care of him. He’s not as well as he looks. I’ll be right back.”

“I don’t need to know,” she said unsure why she was giving him a way out. After the way he treated her she should be delighted to have him on the hot seat but he just looked so miserable kneeling on the floor. “I’ll just tell myself you have a twin. I’m good with that explanation.” Chaos sat down on the couch next to him. If she stretched out her arm she could touch him. She noticed that his shirt was drenched in sweat.

“Last night you saw two of me, right?”

“Yes. One in the middle of the kitchen chanting and one trying to free me from...um....from that ghost.” Swaying on his knees, he looked like he was going to tip over. “Can I help you onto the couch?”

He nodded. Chaos held out her uninjured hand for support. Dakota took it. She felt warmth zing through her. It filled her chest and made her feel like she was bathing in warm honey. His eyes met hers. He pulled on her hand. It tugged her off balance. She fell forward. Her injured arm curled against her body and trapped in a sling, Chaos knocked Dakota over and landed on top of him with a thud. She lay against him for a few seconds, enjoying the feel of his body against hers. “I’m sorry,” she said, pushing up.

Dakota held her against him. “You don’t believe what you saw?”

His black eyes implored her. The answer meant something to him. It was the perfect time to push him away. They were getting too close. She was getting too close. It was dangerous. Chaos pulled away. “Would you believe it if you were me?”

“No.” Sitting up, he leaned back against the couch for support and closed his eyes. “You’re managing it all much better than anyone could expect.”

Was that a compliment? Surely she had heard him wrong. Maybe he really was quite sick, she thought. “How were there two of you?”

“You saw my spirit body and my physical body separated. I can separate the two, like astral projection. Have you heard of that?”

“No,” she said, afraid of what he was going to tell her.

“Native Americans and some other cultures believe that the spirit can leave the body and travel.”

“They believe it or they can do it?” Chaos asked, already knowing the truth. She’d seen two of him last night and one of them had been illuminated like an angel.

“Some can. I can. I can control my spirit outside of my body. My physical body usually stays where the spirit leaves it. Last night I was in the van when I heard the screams. I sent my spirit into the bakery to help. But I was able to move my physical body as well so you saw two of me. It’s never been possible before last night.”

Questions assaulted Chaos. Why did he separate? What was the purpose? Why send his spirit into a place, surely it was dangerous. One question stood out above the others. “Why?” she asked. “What made last night different?”

“You.”

Chapter Eighteen

Evil Inside Me

“Me? What makes you think I had anything to do with your experience last night?” she asked. “Maybe it was the, uh, ghost. You said it was strong.”

He could hear uncertainty and skepticism in her voice. She wasn't a believer - yet. She was close but the simple fact that she stumbled over the word ghost when she'd been literally lifted off of her feet by an unseen presence hadn't convinced her of the reality. “A ghost like that isn’t new to me,” he said. “Being able to move while I’m divided is. The only difference was you.” It was true. It had to have something to do with her but he didn’t know how or what. She clearly wasn’t aware of it. Or she was a really good actress. He didn’t think that was the case though, which was why he had to get closer to her. He needed to learn her secrets so he could protect his team, and stay alive. If his dreams were right, this woman would be the cause of his death. Worse, she would stand by and watch him die. He looked over to see Chaos deep in thought, like she was trying to solve a riddle. Her brow was furrowed. She chewed on her bottom lip. The attention on her mouth caused a stirring deep inside him. He looked away and instead focused his attention on the bowl of rock salt sitting on the coffee table in the center of the room.

“Isn’t it dangerous to leave your body open - without your soul inside? Couldn't something take over your body?”

It was a good question and one he hadn't expected from her. But it terrified him. That is exactly what happened in the dream his ancestors sent him. “Yes. It has happened before. Most of the time I can sense it happening and snap back inside my body. I’ve had to fight for it before but I’ve learned how to win. Sometimes, though, and this is why Linda wanted me to tell you about this, sometimes dark energy gets inside. It hides. I don't know it’s there except for the fact that it drains me of energy. I don't feel like myself. There’s evil inside me.”

“Evil?”

“Yes, lustful, vengeful, hateful, greedy. Evil.”

“Oh,” she said, waving her hand and dismissing him.“That’s just human nature. Maybe you’re just weakened to fight that part of your nature.”

“Maybe.”He wondered if she was remembering his offer to fuck earlier. Wondering if that was negative energy or if it was really him.

“And this cleansing stuff, it cleans the dark energy out of you?”

“Yes. It can get pretty ugly and Linda probably wanted me to warn you about what you’re going to see.”

“You mean we’re not done yet?”

“Nope.”

“What am I going to see?”

“Depends on how much darkness got inside. Don’t worry; it won't be like the exorcist or anything. My head won't spin around. I usually get sick and sometimes I have a seizure. I really wish you weren't here for this.” Dakota pushed to his feet to put some distance between them.