“Tomorrow, someone needs to visit the Sisterhood and Marty will tackle the Dark Side. Let’s try to meet up around dinner time to debrief each other on what we find,” said Sterling.
“Well, with that out of the way, let me show you to your rooms,” said Lochlan.
My room was one of the first ones, so Lochlan pointed me in the direction and I went to explore. I stepped across the threshold, not sure what to expect. The room was icy cold and my breath made smokey plumes with each exhale. I felt the lightest touch brush across the back of my neck. I turned, but saw nothing. Weird. I’m more stressed than I thought.
I walked further into the cozy room. It was done in greens and other earth tones. While I’d have thought such a color combo was masculine, it was actually very neutral and calming. A large dresser and mirror were against one of the walls. The oversized bed with curtains was centered in the room. I could fit Sterling, Callie, and myself easily in the bed and still have room. There was a wall of bookshelves and a window that dominated almost the entire outward facing wall. The grounds the window revealed were hills dotted with wildflowers.
I felt another touch and whirled around. This time a tinkling laugh accompanied the sound. What the hell?!
I stormed out of the room and into the lower level. Lochlan was in the kitchen making a meal and the others were sitting at a twelve-person table.
“When were you going to mention this place is haunted?” I asked
“Did I forget to mention that?” asked Lochlan.
“It’s haunted?” asked Callie, who slunk down in her chair.
“What better security is there? Our ghost, Giselle, won’t let anyone other than us in here.”
“So she’s going to be lurking around and she’ll be all peachy about us invading this place. Very unghost-like. She’s the least territorial ghost I’ve ever heard of,” I said.
Ghosts were notorious for claiming a place as their own. They scared off anyone that got too close and the stronger ones could affect people and harm or kill them.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t say anything sooner. I didn’t think it was a big deal,” said Lochlan.
They might trust Lochlan, but I no longer did. If Sterling hadn’t insisted this was the only way we could get by, then I wouldn’t be here.
Muffin and I left the house, ignoring Sterling’s call for me to stop.
16
Betty was cranky. She sputtered and coughed the whole way back to Something Sweet. Muffin sharpening his claws in the back seat couldn’t have anything to do with the car’s attitude.
When Leia saw me walk in with Muffin, her smile slipped.
“I didn’t realize you were bringing your pet.”
“We’re kinda a packaged deal. Is that going to be a problem?”
“It might be, but we don’t have time for you to take him back. The meeting starts in ten minutes.”
I followed her out and we walked to an area of the Mid Line that looked oddly familiar, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember when I was in this part of town.
“Is this your first time in Merchant’s Row?”
“Yes. I haven’t been here before.”
“You wouldn’t unless you have a charm that lets you through. You’re either with me or you don’t have access.”
We stopped before a granite building complete with gargoyles on the roof and iron on the bars. A ward shimmered around the building.
“Don’t worry. It looks scary, but it’s safe. No one will harm you. Then again, with a dog like yours, most people will stay away.”
I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the first time I’d been here. Sensing my unease, Muffin pressed himself against my leg and started growling low.
“Is he going to attack? Is he going to be okay to have around people?” asked Leia.
“He’ll be good.”
She cast me a doubtful look, but tapped on the door with the metal knocker. It had a ring held in a wrought-iron dragon’s mouth. It was detailed down to the scales. Who has a knocker like this? Only a creepy house did.
The door opened, but there was no one there.
“Neat, isn’t it? It’s enchanted. Wait until you see the inside. This place is the best and so good for channeling and opening up to the higher power,” said Leia.
The house looked like a museum and was full of display cases, walls filled with art, weapons and other decorations. The red carpet was a distinct shade that was somewhere between a burgundy and blood red. It was hard not to stare at it. Stairs were near the back corner of the room, but I was distracted from studying them further.
Before I could sit down, the questions started.
“Oh you brought someone new,” squealed the girl. “This is your first guest. How exciting.”
Yeah, positively thrilling. This better not be a waste of time.
“Can I pet your dog?” asked the same girl.
“You can’t pet a devil dog. They aren’t friendly,” said Leia.
“But it looks so cute.”
She had a weird idea of cute. Muffin was downright ugly and fierce, but I was proud of that last trait. Although, the elevated social standing Julia Huntington thought I’d get from having him never occurred.
“No, no one pets him,” I told the girl, who was foolishly inching towards Muffin.
Being new, I could get away with studying everyone. They would assume it was my curiosity at being with new people. That’s the thing about people. They believe what they want to and assuming the obvious was easier than thinking everyone has ulterior motives.
A small and delicate young woman fluttered into the room. “Hello everyone. I’m so glad to have you all here tonight. And, I have a treat for you,” she chirped.
“Leia brought a guest,” said a short girl with glasses and a youthful face.
“I see that. Welcome. If you’ll all follow me, I have everything set out and ready for you.”
I leaned towards Leia, “Who is that?”
“Why that’s Emma Lynn.”
I took a closer look at
