Page 42 of Séance

Rue blinks, seems to register what’s happening, then shakes her head. “No, um, I don’t…” She pauses as if listening to something, then shrugs. “Maybe thirty minutes?”

Before anyone can ask any more questions, the girl wakes up and immediately begins sobbing. I breathe a sigh of relief and hug Rue closer, knowing my grip is a little too tight, but I can’t seem to loosen my hold, not that she complains. She burrows against my chest with a shudder, ducking her head against my shoulder.

When she speaks into my shirt, I barely hear her whisper. “She was hungry. She heard someone coming and ducked into the freezer. When the door closed, she wasn’t strong enough to open it. She looked for a different way out, then got lost.”

I run my hand over the back of her head soothingly, then I squeeze the back of her neck. “You found her. She’s safe now.”

It does bring up one question…

We only arrived twenty minutes ago.

How did she know what happened, or that the little girl was even in danger?

Instead of voicing my questions, I keep my mouth shut.

Now is not the time.

I nudge Rue until she turns, and we watch as they rush the girl through the crowd. Before we draw any more attention, I nod toward Gunner and gently pass Rue over to him. “Get her out of here. I’m going to grab our shit and meet you out front. I’ll distract anyone if they try to follow.”

Gunner nods, his face hardening with determination, then he scoops Rue up bridal style and whisks her away, no one daring to stop the big man. When the manager opens his mouth toprotest, I pop up before him with a bright smile. “Since we saved your ass, does that mean we get free groceries for a year or something?”

Chapter Thirteen

RUE

I’m numb as the guys drive me home, barely conscious of the world around me. The vehicle rings with oppressive silence, the weight of it crushing my lungs, and it’s a struggle to find enough air to breathe and not pass out in sheer panic.

I promised myself this morning that I would ignore the spirits today, pretend that they don’t exist.

I was just congratulating myself on my success when a lost little girl appeared in the aisle, wandering around while sobbing her heart out. Young spirits are tricky, often not understanding death and what it means.

Most are too young to have any unfinished business, passing right through to the afterlife. The only reason any linger in our realm is if they suffer a violent death. Unfortunately, their souls are bright and shiny. It often leads them to be targeted by dark souls who crave their energy to remain in the human world.

The little girl kept flickering in and out of existence, like a stereo unable to lock onto a signal. As much as I wanted toignore her and pretend I couldn’t see anything, the large tears trailing down her cheeks broke my heart.

While Gunner turned to grab something from the last aisle that I said I forgot, I approached the girl, then freaked out when I realized she still pulsed with a faint touch of life.

She was still alive, but barely.

It didn’t take long to get the story out of her. I probably looked like a crazy idiot when I insisted on being allowed access to the freezer section, nearly decking the manager who tried to stop me. I saw a vicious spark enter the bastard’s dark eyes, recognizing it often enough in my father that I knew he was seconds away from hurting me.

Thankfully, Gunner arrived in time to stop the asshole from laying a hand on me.

It only took one second of distraction for me to slip past them and rescue the girl.

While I’m not sorry I did it, my throat is tight from the inevitable questions I know will follow. Speculation already swirls in Jameson’s eyes whenever he peers in my direction. The guys will demand answers that I’m not ready to give them—none that they’ll believe, anyway.

If I lie and tell them it was just dumb luck, the hint of doubt will remain.

If I tell them the truth, they’ll either call me a liar or demand that I prove it.

I’ve never willingly shown my abilities to anyone, my mother’s disgust and father’s avarice permanently scarring me. I’m not ready for them to toss me out of their life or look at me and wonder what I could do for them.

They would eventually stop seeing me as human.

I would be a tool, something they could own.

I shudder at the thought, closing my eyes as if I could prevent either future from happening. I’m not even aware that the carhas stopped until Gunner opens my door, and he crouches at my side. “I know we were supposed to cook today, but if you’re not up for it, I can take you home.”

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