Page 18 of Séance

It’s an eerie feeling to be alone with my own thoughts.

As I exit the bedroom, I grab the rings Nan warded for me. While they won’t keep spirits out completely, they will mute them. The metal rings feel chunky on my fingers, and I love their weight—a reminder that I’m safe.

I grab the purse on the table, then drop my phone inside it. Thankfully, Ellis emailed me the time for supper. I have ten minutes. If I leave now, I should have enough time to cross the yard. Just as I sling the strap of my purse over my shoulder, the doorbell rings, and I freeze.

Panic that my father has found me is paralyzing, and I suddenly wish I had a spirit nearby so they could take a peek and tell me who’s waiting on the other side. I take a step away fromthe door, as if the person on the other side will break it down at any second to get to me.

I’m just short of hyperventilating when a knock sounds and Ellis’ sweet voice rings through the kitchen. “Rue? Are you okay?”

Lightheaded, I bend over and try to get enough air in my lungs before I pass out. When he knocks a third time, I snap upright and stare at the door with wide eyes…then I recall his question.

“Yeah,” I croak out, rubbing a shaky hand down my face. “Just getting ready. Give me a second.”

When I’m sure I can move without passing out, I plaster a smile on my face and unlock the door. I must not be doing a good job of pretending that I’m fine, because Ellis takes one look at me and pushes his way into the house. He shuts the door behind him, then cups the back of my neck and pulls me close. “Is there anyone in the house with you?”

“No, I’m alone.” Heat fills my cheeks at my overreaction, and I shake my head, completely humiliated. “Sorry, I thought you might have been…” I trail off, unable to even say his name out loud for fear that it might conjure him. “It doesn’t matter.”

Unable to meet his penetrating gaze, I look down at my purse and fiddle with the zipper. When Ellis rubs the back of my neck with his fingers, the tension in my shoulders gradually eases, and I end up in the circle of his arms. I’m not even completely sure how it happened, but I like the comfort of his touch more than I should.

I reluctantly pull away and clear my throat, then risk a peek up at him. Though he’s not as tall as the others, he isn’t any less intimidating. Intelligence gleams in his brown eyes—eyes that see way too much.

Shaking off my ridiculous thoughts, I frown and look at the clock above the stove. “I thought I was supposed to meet you.”

It’s his turn to look bashful, and a rueful smile tilts the corners of his lips. “Would you believe me if I said I couldn’t wait to see you again, so I snuck over to escort you to supper?”

I mentally swoon at his words, and pleasure warms my chest. “Really?”

“Really.” His smile blooms into a full grin, displaying a dimple in his left cheek, and I don’t know if I hate or love the way my breath catches at its appearance.

Wanting to put some distance between us, the intensity of him just a little too much to deal with all at once, I snatch the keys from the counter and head toward the door. “Let me lock up.”

As I walk outside, he follows a step behind me and quickly grabs my keys. “Allow me.”

Not used to people doing nice things for me, I gawk at him. Part of me feels special, while the more cynical part of me wonders about his angle. From my experience, no one does anything for free.

Yet, when he locks the door and holds my keys out to me, I still can’t find an ulterior motive. That should sooth my unease, but I find myself even more suspicious. Wanting to run away from my overactive imagination, I grab the keys and scramble down the stairs. I only stop when I notice Ellis doesn’t follow. I glance at him over my shoulder, and my heart drops when I find him scowling.

Since getting in trouble usually equals a beating, I hate feeling like I did something wrong, and I can’t stop from tensing. “What did I do wrong?”

“What? Nothing.” That is the last thing I expected him to say, and some of the tension leaves my spine. “What makes you think you did anything wrong?”

I don’t have an answer for him that doesn’t make me sound crazy. When I don’t respond, he looks at the door, then me, and I wince.

Damn, he’s far too perceptive.

Father never cared one way or another about my opinions. As long as I followed his orders, he mostly left me alone, accepting fake smiles and false accolades as his due. Appearances were all that mattered.

I tug at my newly pink hair, then force my fingers to let go, not wanting to give anything else away. Ellis gives me a patient look that says he wouldn’t budge without an answer, so I admit the truth. I point toward the door, the keys in my hand jingling with the motion. “I’m not used to people being…nice.”

Sadness floods his features, and I almost flinch. The only thing that keeps me from running back to the safety of the house again is the complete lack of pity. The tightness in my chest eases a fraction, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Eager for a distraction, I head down the rest of the stairs, then halt abruptly when I see a fancy car parked in the driveway. I slide a confused look toward Ellis. “I thought we were just going next door.”

I swallow hard, not ready to venture beyond the house at this point, not only because of my father, but because I’m also uncertain if I trust the rings to protect me. Spirits can be vicious when they find someone who can see them, and I’m not ready for others to be exposed to that part of my life.

Ellis stops by my side and cups my elbow. I’ve been so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t even sense his approach, and I jump at the contact.

“Trust me?” He waits patiently for my answer, his earnest brown eyes never leaving mine.

I fiddle with my keys, the jingling sound helping with my nerves. If I really want to live, I can’t hide in my house. Nantrusts them. She wouldn’t have left if she didn’t. Swallowing hard, I take a leap of faith and give a jerky nod.

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