A Strange There After Read online

  “So Cora crossed over and brought something back with her?”

  “It’d be my guess.”

  Jackson considered Boone then added, “I have to agree. I’ve seen enough over the years, as hard as I’ve tried not to, to recognize this is as close to the truth as we can get without confirmation.”

  “Maybe not,” I said. “This loa said he came through as a result of whatever spell she did in her dying moments. She brought him here.”

  “And things have never been the same since,” Jackson confirmed.

  We fell into silence, save for the rhythmic pattering of rain around us. Slowly, the puzzle pieces were beginning to fill in. No wonder there’d been so much tragedy surrounding my house. The woman who’d started it all was buried right under a neglected peach tree. Broken and vengeful, what else did she have but to torment my family?

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Arms crossed, I stared Boone down, ignoring how uncomfortable Jason looked. Abby fidgeted on the couch, practically bouncing up and down with excitement. Catherine perched in the corner, giving herself a pedicure, only offering her pithy comments when the mood stirred her.

  After Boone filled them in on the events of the morning, shock took over. Even Catherine, who claimed she didn’t know what resided in the carriage house. I didn’t believe her. Not only was she sneaky and conniving, but guilt shone in the depths of her eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” Boone said. “But I really don’t think a séance is the way to go.”

  “There may be other spirits hanging around who can talk to us.” Abby glared at him. “We have to find out more.”

  “That’s what you have me for.”

  “Please,” my friend snorted. “Like they can get past your giant ego.”

  “We don’t know what we’re dealing with,” Boone continued to argue. “Do you think opening up a door into something we don’t understand is smart? In a house with a backyard full of horrors?”

  Abby paled. “Point taken.”

  “Not saying it’s a bad idea. It just doesn’t seem smart to do it here.”

  “We wouldn’t have to if she helped,” Jason added.

  Sighing, Catherine screwed the cap on her nail polish and flipped her braid over her shoulder. She stood and folded her arms across her chest.

  “Any hope I had of getting out of this house and city alive is evaporating second by second. Either way, I’m screwed.” She pursed her lips. “I can try to share information, but I’m not responsible for how angry he gets when I do.”

  “I know you’re scared,” I said.

  She glared at me. “We’re not going to bond over this, so get the ridiculous notion out of your head.”

  Well, that took the wind out of my sails. Determined not to let her see me pout, I stiffened my spine and said, “Like I’d want to bond with you.”

  Abby sniggered and mock-elbowed me in the ribs. To Catherine, she asked, “How are you going to help us?”

  “I can give you a name.”

  Everyone waited. We should’ve been used to her not elaborating. She continuously left us hanging, but we all stood there, waiting, like morons.

  Finally, Boone inched closer to her and prodded her, “A name?”

  “Sure, handsome.” She flashed him a brilliant smile. “You’ve all been wondering what Cora called forth. I know.”

  “Well?”

  “Forget it, Abby. She won’t give us anything,” Jason said as he leapt off the couch and glared at Catherine. “Quit playing games.”

  She merely tilted her head to the side and said, “Kalfu.”

  None of us had a chance to react to the name. The entire house shuddered, nearly knocking everyone off their feet. Creaks and groans exploded around us, and I worried the old building would implode. Floorboards rattled, dust drifted from the ceiling and a deep guttural moan surrounded us. Pictures and vases crashed down, shattering and adding to the din.

  As quick as it started, the disturbance stopped. I glanced around to make sure nobody was hurt. My heart stuttered as my gaze landed on Jason, protecting Catherine from falling objects, shielding her. Too late, he noticed what he was doing and shoved her away, stalking over to the fireplace.

  “I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it’s a valid name.”

  I laughed at Boone, and he shot me a relieved smile.

  “Quinn laughed at that, didn’t she?” Abby asked, offering a grin of her own. “It’s the kind of bad joke she enjoys.”

  “Bad joke?”

  “It wasn’t good,” I teased him.

  “And you could have done better?” he shot back.

  “How can you guys be so cavalier about this? Did you not just witness what I did?”

  We all fell silent at Jason’s outburst. He stared at us as if we’d lost our minds. And, at this point, maybe we had. I was close. There was only so much gloom and doom a girl could handle.

  “What else are we supposed to do?” I asked, knowing full well he wouldn’t hear me. “I have to stay positive and light-hearted. It’s the only way I’ll get through this.”

  Boone repeated it. “She says she has to find the humor in this mess. It’s how she copes.”

  “I wish I could see her, talk to her,” Jason said.

  Boone snorted. “Don’t pout. It’ll all be over soon, one way or another.”

  It hit me. Neither Boone nor Abby had offered to include Jason in the live EVP sessions Abby used to communicate. They probably had their reasons, punishing him for not believing, but it would make things incredibly easier.

  “Let him use the...”

  Jason glared at Boone, cutting off my suggestion. “I have to get out of here for a while.”

  He strode past us and out the front door. My heart went out to him. I missed his support, the unyielding faith he had in me when we met. I got that he was coming to terms with the situation, probably guilty over not realizing, but I had no clue how to make it better. Not to mention worrying about his feelings distracted my attention from more important matters, like getting my body back and solving the mystery of this Kalfu character. I sighed. My life sounded like a mystery novel, paranormal, of course. It was turning out to be such a struggle to keep all the pieces of my life from falling apart.

  “What did I say?” Boone asked in shock.

  “He’s having problems adjusting,” Abby said.

  “Does anyone care what I think?” Catherine interrupted us.

  A smile played on my lips. I’d forgotten she was there. How surprising.

  “By all means, Catherine, share your wisdom,” I drawled.

  “Not everyone is cut out for this kind of drama, a life full of ghosts and things that go bump in the night. He may be rich and famous, but at the core, he’s a simple guy.”

  She lifted her shoulder in indifference then rose to leave. I hated how true her insight was. Since first meeting Jason, I worried he wouldn’t understand the world I lived in. His brother’s death made him curious, but his interest was small. This was something I’d never be able to walk away or get closure from, not with my abilities. I wished I could talk to him, find out what was really going on in his head.

  As she passed by, Catherine shot me a glare before continuing up the stairs. My mouth fell open in shock.

  “What color were her eyes?” I squeaked, suddenly overcome by a tremor.

  Boone looked confused, but Abby considered it. Horror bleached her face of all color, and instantly, I knew I hadn’t imagined things. “Blue.” She gasped. “But yours are...”

  “Green,” I finished for her.

  “Holy crap!” my friend screeched. “What is going on?”

  Shaking his head slowly, Boone seemed less inclined to jump to the same conclusion as fast as we had. “Maybe the longer Catherine is in your body, the more it actually becomes her.” He paused. “Sounds like bad science fiction, but you’re both right. Her eyes are remarkably bluer.”

  “Contacts,” Abby said, trying to convince herself.
r />   “I’m losing myself,” I whisper.

  Boone stomped over to plant himself inches from me while Abby sniffed behind him. “Don’t think that. I won’t let it happen.”

  “I’m running out of time.” Then it hit me. It wasn’t just the eyes. Her personality, the hair I thought was highlighted, even how her fingers seemed longer than mine, elegant. I didn’t voice my observations. They were entirely way too disturbing to give voice to.

  I glanced at Abby, her ever-present earphones in her ears attached to a device that allowed her talk to me, her eyes welling with sadness.

  “Don’t let it get to you,” my friend said. “Boone’s right. We’ll figure it out.”

  “I know,” I sigh. “And there are more important things to worry about, such as finding out who this Kalfu person is.”

  “I’m on it. I’ll go down to the library, see what I can find.”

  “The library, Boone?” I teased half-heartedly, tucking away Catherine’s changing appearance for later when I was alone. “Can’t you find that kind of stuff on the internet?”

  He grinned. “I’m old-fashioned. I happen to love the library, the smell of old books, the history. What can I say? I’m a Renaissance man living in a modern world.”

  “Wow.”

  Abby laughed then pulled out her earbuds. “I’ll go with you. Two sets of eyes are better than one.”

  I watched them leave, and let the silence of the house calm me. Brushing my fingertips along the top of an antique desk, I hated the encroaching loneliness. Everyone had gone off to do something productive, and here I was waiting, as usual.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Catherine and I were alone in the living room. It’d been six hours and thirty-nine minutes since Abby and Boone left. But who was counting? Glaring at a small framed photo of Catherine and Jason, my gaze roamed over her appearance. It must have been taken in the beginning. Her eyes were still more green than blue, the hair blacker than it was now. Spinning, I blurted a question that had been burning me since earlier.

  “You’re wearing contacts, right?”

  She crossed one leg over the other and cocked her head. “I’ve always had perfect vision.”

  “Then, why are your eyes blue?” I practically shouted.

  She didn’t have a chance to answer. Boone and Abby returned, with company. The second Boone came in the door his eyes sought me out, and he offered me an encouraging grin.

  Abby sighed dramatically. “Those photographers are crazy. They know Jason’s staying here, so it’s like there’s blood in the water or something.”

  Jason slipped quietly into the room, as I studied our newcomer. Her light brown skin glowed with youth, while her eyes displayed a vast depth of wisdom. It was impossible to guess her age. She had black hair, pulled back in a bun and a long flowing skirt. Strangest thing—when she scanned the room, I swore her gaze rested briefly on me.

  Finally, Boone introduced the older woman. “This is Meena. She’s a voodoo priestess who’s agreed to try and help us.”

  Meena inclined her head in way of greeting and focused on Catherine. “There is evil in this house.”

  I couldn’t stop my grin. The lady sure didn’t mess around, getting straight down to business. I liked her already.

  “Well, ma’am, you’re not wrong,” Jason answered. “We need some assistance. This is important.”

  “Before I go any farther, I need to secure this room. The only spirits I will allow in are the one who doesn’t belong and the girl standing near the sofa. I assume the latter is who ya’ll are concerned about?”

  She had seen me! Boone glanced over and winked. Catherine hopped out of her seat, bringing my elation to a halt.

  “I can’t be here.” Panic laced her voice. “He won’t be happy if he thinks I’m part of this ridiculous plot.”

  Meena ignored her, letting Jason and Abby try to subdue her. Instead, the woman reached into her canvas tote and pulled out a variety of items. Using a small bottle, she sprinkled some kind of liquid over the threshold going out into the foyer, the only entrance into the living room. Next, as she hummed an off-beat tune, she opened a container of red dust, creating a line separating our space, using her fingers to mix it with the wetness on the floor. Lastly, she pulled out a packet of what looked like herbs and hung it from a bare nail.

  The simplicity of what Meena did surprised me. Had I been able, I would have asked her a million questions. Maybe I could. If she’d seen me, more than likely she’d hear me. But I didn’t want to interrupt. She waited patiently as Catherine calmed down and reluctantly sank down into the couch. The others took their seats as well, but I remained standing, on high alert. Boone stared openly at Catherine, a heavy mask of curiosity on his face. My fists clenched. I didn’t want him to fall under her ‘poor me’ spell.

  Finally, Jason said, “The best way to proceed is for Abby or Boone to explain what’s happened, what they’ve learned, then we can listen to what Meena has to say. I’ve only known for a day so my input is worthless.” Bitterness laced his tone.

  Something drew me toward the woman as Abby started with Marietta and the night in the cemetery. I felt safe with her, and I appreciated how she kept her body angled, as if she needed to keep an eye on the rest of the house. She listened closely, her expression never changing.

  Once Meena was caught up, Abby asked, “So, can you give us any information?”

  Boone laughed, kind of an ironic, ‘are you kidding me’ laugh, cutting in before Meena’s answer. “No one’s ever heard of anything like this. It’s similar to a possession but a million times worse. I have a feeling the solution will be as unique.”

  Disappointment settled on the faces of everyone in the room, except Catherine whose gaze constantly strayed to the threshold of the room. Her eyes were wide, wild, reminding me of a trapped animal. Fear pulsed between us, through the connection, and it became so intense, I almost believed it was my heart pounding in my chest. But no, it was merely an illusion.

  When Meena spoke, her answer rang with wisdom. “No exorcism will cure this, at least not the traditional kind. What do any of you know about voodoo?”

  “I did some research yesterday at the library,” Jason offered, explaining where he disappeared to for so long and surprising everyone. “But there’s more than one kind, and it got a little confusing.”

  Meena paced, never straying far from the doorway. “All forms have roots in African religions, brought to our continent by slaves and adapted by them as they morphed with their new environments. New Orleans Voodoo is pretty specialized to that part of the country. It mixed with the French Creole population and became its own subset. It’s also become the most commercialized and misunderstood.” Her lips quirked up in amusement. “Stores catering to tourists and mass marketed love potions. Such nonsense.

  “I am a practitioner of what is commonly referred to as Haitian Voodoo and am a priestess, or Mambo. We believe in a central god named Bondye, who is worshipped by lesser, but often just as powerful, spirits called loa. The loa are who we call upon to aid us in our lives, as each is responsible for a particular aspect. We do this by offerings and rituals. As with any religion, we have our good and bad spirits since balance is a vital aspect. It’s not all about animal sacrifices and sticking dolls with pins.”

  She paused, pursing her lips. “If you say the spirit tormenting you is named Kalfu, I believe you. When this slave woman died, she must have used a powerful incantation, a death spell, to connect with the other side. I have heard rumors of the crossroads being in disarray for quite a while, strange things happening to souls who are supposed to pass through. Kalfu is the keeper of the crossroads, controlling who comes and goes.”

  “So Cora invited him into our world?” Jason asked. “Is he trapped?”

  “He may very well be. I’m more concerned with the possibility he isn’t. That by aiding her, he got a taste of this place and its freedoms.”

  The room was silent as they mulled over h
er statement. I knew what it meant.

  “It means he’s here by choice,” I muttered.

  Meena turned to me, a warm smile transforming her features. “Exactly right, my dear.”

  I gaped at her. “You can hear me?”

  “And see you. At least, I notice a slight shimmer.” I expelled some of my tension with a deep breath. “Now I sense your relief.”

  “You’re talking to her?” Jason’s question carried a sharp tone and interrupted us.

  “Maybe you don’t care enough about Quinn to really hear her,” Catherine supplied, her tone laced with sadness. Was she really talking about me and Jason or someone else? Like her mama or Jackson.

  Jason shot her a glare and let the subject drop, returning instead to the task. “Please tell me we can reverse this.”

  Meena was quiet as she considered it, mumbling to herself a couple times. I wandered over to sit beside Jason, who appeared a little overwhelmed and drawing a frown from Boone. I laid my hand on Jason’s, happy when he flinched in response. After a couple seconds, he relaxed.

  “I may be able to accomplish what it is you ask. Defeating Kalfu benefits us all. I need a few days to gather what I require. It will take each of us to overcome him, but in the end, I am confident we can rid you of this dark presence and send her,” she nodded in Catherine’s direction, “where she belongs.”

  “I’m confused,” Abby said. “It sounds ridiculously complicated. Cora sought help for getting revenge on Catherine’s family from Kalfu. Catherine, in turn, made a deal with Kalfu, who decided he wanted to set up shop in our world, to make her family suffer. It seems a bit excessive.”

  A tiny sliver of my conscience wanted to argue. Everyone’s talk of beating Kalfu, of banishing him from our world, made me nervous. So far he’d been the only one to offer me an out, a viable form of assistance. If he left, he took his promises with him and any chance I might have had at recovering my life. I didn’t fear him, in particular. I feared the unknown associated with him.

  “It does, but as Cora died, she called upon Kalfu. In doing so, her and her son’s subsequent deaths acted as a blood sacrifice. She used their blood to seal the deal, so to speak. What power that gave him over this world and the Roberts family, I cannot say because this is unprecedented. Sending not only Catherine, but Cora as well, where they belong may not be enough to shake Kalfu’s hold.”