Southern Spirits

  Southern Spirits

  Book Three in the Southern Series

  By Shelley L. Stringer

  Copyright 2014 by Shelley L. Stringer

  ISBN 13: 978-1505217513

  This is a work of fiction.

  Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locals in this novel are either a product of the author’s imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  “For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.”

  Judy Garland.

  Chapter One

  Loneliness is a funny thing. I was surrounded by family and friends, but my loneliness and longing for Banton trumped everything else in my life. Married only six months, my husband had been deployed twice. Apprehension had almost become a sickness as the days passed with no news from Banton or the rest of his SEAL team--Ty or Ben. The fact John had been excluded from this latest mission to allow him a period of mourning only made me worry about Banton’s safety more. I’d always considered John and Sam Banton’s protectors, and their absence from this mission made Banton the oldest and most experienced of the team.

  John moved some things down from his house and took up residence in the nursery. Everett and Stephan stayed at the house too, taking turns as our resident Aldon protectors.

  As if I didn’t have enough to worry about, my dreams returned. I was determined to handle them on my own, and I’d become quite successful at waking myself up.

  My house was a cold, gray tomb. The light eerily played tricks through the mottled, broken glass at the front door. I stood, dumfounded, clutching the doorknob in the front hallway. Ghostly shapes greeted me as I peered into the living room. All of the furniture in the once-cheery room had been draped with white sheets. The house was cold, tomblike and empty.

  “Banton? Kids…where are you?” I called and called, but only the lonely sound of my echo in the shadows answered me. Where was everyone? What had happened to my family…my life? I moved back toward the stairway, and sensed someone behind me. I heard the dreadful low, deep guttural voice from my past.

  “Everyone is gone. You are my last victim,” the Tariq rasped out as he raked his teeth down my neck. “I’ve waited a lifetime to have you, and now you are mine! You will taste as sweet as your babies did,”

  “No…NO! I screamed as I fought against the arms crushing around my ribcage. His teeth hovered against the vein in my neck, his hands roughly grasped my breasts. My chest heaved with sobs as I pushed against his chest, trying to break free from his hold on me.

  “Give in, little girl…you have no one left…your lover is dead…” The words were more painful than his hands digging into my flesh. I hung my head in defeat.

  “Banton…no…please, Banton…I love you,” I sobbed. I felt his teeth sink into my neck…

  “Andie-girl, hey…you okay?”

  My eyes opened to the soft moonlight of a southern Louisiana night shining across the foot of my bed. John pushed my bedroom door open wider, slipping through and then making his way across the room to stand beside me. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. It had only been a dream. As I took a deep breath, the tears had gathered behind my eyelids in sleep pooled and spilled over.

  “Hey…Chandler. What is it? What’s wrong?” John questioned softly, sinking down on the bed.

  “I just had a nightmare, that’s all.”

  “Want to talk about it? You were calling to Banton,” he whispered.

  I shook my head. He reached up and wiped a tear from my cheek and then added, “It’s just because you can’t talk to him right now. He’ll call soon, I just know it. They can’t stay on communications lockdown forever.”

  “It’s been two weeks! Two weeks since he left that morning for a simple meeting. I need to hear his voice,” I sobbed as I let go of the emotions I’d been holding in.

  He sighed, and then pulled me into his chest. “I’d give anything if Reed had sent me instead. Banton would be here with you right now. I don’t have anything left here,” he whispered wistfully, stroking my hair as he tried to soothe me.

  “Oh, John, I don’t wish that. And you are wrong. You have me, and you have Constance and Everett. I know it’s not the same, but if Banton has to be gone at least I still have you here. I’m sorry you’re on babysitting duty.” I sniffed and wiped my eyes with the back of my arm.

  “Okay, now, don’t start that. If I can’t be deployed with my team, then at least I have a job here protecting you. There isn’t anything I’d rather do right now, I promise.”

  I shivered; the cool air conditioned draft through the vents in my ceiling blew a fresh blast of air as the unit kicked on. As I pulled the comforter up under my chin, John readjusted on the bed and pulled both his legs up, relaxing back on the pillows beside me on top of the comforter.

  “Snuggle down here and go back to sleep. Banton will have my hide if he calls tomorrow and you aren’t well-rested.”

  “Kay,” I answered sleepily. Just like that, John’s calming presence was enough to relax me.

  * * *

  “I never heard her. I wonder if her stalker is back. We might need to stay with her when she sleeps.”

  “Stalker? Are you talking about the Orco Banton killed? He said something about her dreaming about him,” John’s voice drifted quietly through my closed bedroom door.

  “Yes, but it’s a bit more than that.”

  “She didn’t say. I only heard her call out for Banton. I hope we hear something soon.”

  “And so do I, dear boy. So do I.” Everett sighed as he pushed the door open.

  “Well good morning, Sweet Bebe! I see you are awake!”

  I sat up in bed and flung the covers back to rise.

  “Yes, I’m waking up earlier and earlier these days. The babies won’t let me sleep late anymore,” I grumbled as Everett chuckled. I padded over to the bathroom to dress and meet another long, tedious day sans Banton.

  I returned from brushing my teeth and dressing in our little bathroom nook, finding Everett had already made my bed and tidied my room.

  “Everett! Why do you do that? You act like my maid sometimes, and it makes me feel bad,” I scolded.

  He raised an eyebrow. “You ought to know by now; it’s just a nervous habit. My hands always have to be doing something, and I wanted to wait for you to come back so I could talk to you. How would you like to go to lunch with me today and maybe go and visit our secret patient? I think she
needs a little push toward her reunion with John.” Everett’s eyes sparkled.

  “Yes, yes I would. I would love it! Maybe it would get my mind off Banton.”

  “Good. Then I will meet you downstairs.”

  After Everett the cheery godmother left, I picked my laptop up off the nightstand and sank down on the bed. I said a silent prayer, and then flipped it open to check my e-mails. I scanned my inbox hurriedly --one from Laurilee, one from LSU admissions, nothing from Banton or Ty. I let out my breath and picked my cell up to check. No missed calls, no text messages. I teared up again, just as I had every morning for the past ten days. After closing my laptop gently and placing it back on the nightstand, I grabbed my purse and slid my cell in the side pocket.

  I found Everett waiting for me at the foot of the stairs.

  “All set? Let’s be on our way,” he urged cheerily, motioning me out the door. John honked and waved, backing out of the driveway.

  “Where is he off to?” I asked as Everett escorted me over to his Mercedes.

  “Gym. He said he wanted to get a little workout time in while you were with me.”

  “Oh. Everett, how much longer? How much longer do you think it will take Brie before we can finally reunite her with John?” I pleaded with him for the hundredth time.

  “Bebe, I just don’t know. We take two steps forward and then three steps back. All last week, she fought human scent issues again. She fanged on numerous occasions and her emotions were all over the place. We couldn’t seem to put a finger on it. Then this week, she seems much better again. She is like a roller-coaster, and I’m beginning to wonder if she will ever level out. She fangs without warning now, and I thought we’d almost conquered that.”

  “Oh, no. I should have been spending time with her every day.”

  “I don’t know if this is the best idea. We’ll see how it goes. I don’t want you taking any unnecessary chances,” he warned as we pulled up into the driveway at the safe house.

  “I promise. I will be careful.”

  Once inside, I could sense an aching feeling. The closer we came to the basement stairs, the more aware of it I became. The hair stood on the back of my neck as I realized the same fear and emotion I’d felt inside the funeral home when my parents had died. Why was Brie emitting these emotions?

  Everett jiggled the keys in the knob loudly, announcing our approach. When he finally opened the door, Brie stood facing us in the center of the room. She stood tall, her shoulders pulled back in a silent show of strength.

  “Hey, Brie…it’s good to see you. How are you?” I asked softly.

  Staring at me for several moments, she seemed as if she were trying to decide on the most appropriate reply. Oh no, she’s having trouble putting responses with feelings, I thought.

  Then her eyes lit up, sparkling like she just remembered some delicious secret.

  “How am I? Let’s see --I’m a newbie, blood-sucking horny-as-hell vampire, locked away in a stinking basement going on month four. My newly-married husband, love of my life, thinks I’m dead…and I have no idea how he’s doing. The life I knew is slipping though my grasp and I doubt I will ever be able to make any of it right. If I have one loving thought of John, I fang. If I smell a human, I fang. If I get mad, I fang. If I cry, I fang. I fang, fang, fang, fang…and I have nothing to bite. If I fang once more, I think I will go mad. That about sums it up, how are you?

  “Good,” I replied softly as I shrugged. What could I say to that?

  We stood silently staring at each other. Giggles erupted from her as I smirked.

  “I feel better already.” She moved toward me and held her hand out timidly to me. “I’ve missed you.”

  “Oh, Brie…I’ve missed you too!” I took her hand, and as she breathed in I could see her upper lip quiver, her teeth trying to fang. I knew the scent of my blood was having an effect on her.

  “Is this too much for you today? I can go,” I hesitated. Everett placed his hand on Brie’s shoulder as a precaution.

  “No, please! I’m in control physically, it’s just these darned fangs. It’s an emotion I can’t control, much like your tears. Once they start, I can’t seem to get them to stop,” she muttered as I nodded.

  “Do you want to sit?” I asked as I pulled her over to one of the sofas.

  “Actually, Bebe…we have a courtyard outside. Mr. Philippe will be along any minute with Olivia and Patrick. We thought we might take Gabriella outside for some fresh air and sunshine today.”

  Brie took several steps back and dropped my hand. “What…no, no I can’t,” she shook her head slowly, terror evident in her eyes.

  “Why are you afraid, Gabriella? The Aldon would never let anything happen to you.”

  “It’s not me I’m worried about. What if I…what if I escape? What if I smell a human! What if I can’t control…”

  “Whoa, slow down, mon chere. We will be with you every step of the way. We won’t let you get in any trouble,” Everett assured her as I nodded.

  “I think it would be good for you, Brie. Really. You need to do this.”

  I watched her panic level rise.

  As if on cue, Mr. Philippe, Olivia and Patrick appeared in the doorway.

  “Ladies, we have wine, cheese and sparkling water waiting on a blanket in the garden. If you will follow me,” Mr. Philippe offered, and I took his hand. Over my shoulder, I observed Everett as he pulled Brie along reluctantly, with Patrick and Olivia urging her forward.

  We moved through the house to the backyard. I’d never been back this far into the safe house before. Several glass patio doors opened into a garden room, and then that room spilled out to a large courtyard surrounded by ten foot ivy-covered stone and brick walls. We seemed quite secure and secluded.

  Once outside, Brie seemed to relax. She took a turn around the small yard, and then came to sit down on the quilt Everett had laid out on the patio.

  “I’d forgotten what the sun felt like,” Brie murmured as she held her face up to let the dappled light through the trees above bathe her face. She took in a breath of fresh air, and then released it slowly.

  “Wine, Gabriella?’ Everett asked as he held the bottle up for her inspection.

  “Please,” she replied, continuing to gaze around the courtyard in wonder. She seemed like a small child, taking in something wondrous for the first time.

  “Brie, are you okay?” I asked after a few moments.

  She turned back to me and nodded. “I’d forgotten how the outside smells…I thought…I really thought I’d never get to see it again,” she murmured. Her eyes filled with tears.

  “Everything is going to be all right, Brie. I just know it. We just have to work with you more,” I began as she held her head up higher, appearing to catch a scent. Every muscle in her body stiffened as she turned to full-alert mode. I glanced hurriedly up at Everett, alarmed in the subtle change in her mood. He was talking in low tones to Mr. Philippe, totally oblivious to the changes taking place. Before I could call to him, Brie bolted, flying to the wall opposite where we sat in the courtyard.

  “Brie, NO!” I screamed as she clung to the top. Everett moved almost simultaneously, reaching her in a split second and pulling her down from almost scaling the wall. They both fell to the ground, Brie on top of him. He struggled to keep her contained in his arms - she seemed to be much stronger than Everett. Mr. Philippe and Patrick reached him, helping him to subdue her. As the situation came under control, I realized Olivia stood at my side, my hand in hers. She was ready to pull me from the courtyard.

  “Brie, what’s going on?” I finally managed to breathe out.

  Everett helped Brie up. As I made eye contact with her, I gasped. Her eyes were wild, like the fiercest Orcos I’d encountered. Her eyes looked…oh God, they looked like Lucien’s had looked, the night he’d taken her life. Visions of his gaze, the blood on his teeth as they’d hovered over her neck, came flooding back.

  She gazed at me for several moments, not herself at al
l, but seeming more like one of the creatures the SEALs hunted. She focused on me, and without warning, lunged toward me. Olivia flew toward her, grasping her by the neck and flinging her backwards violently just as Brie reached within an arm’s length of me. Her fangs throbbed with her need for blood. I stood frozen, horrified at her reaction to my presence. This was not Brie. She was not the Brie I knew, but an Orco. I was sick to my stomach.

  “Chandler, back away! Go inside, NOW!” Everett yelled, struggling toward me. I was frozen, unable to move. Patrick and Mr. Philippe streaked toward Brie and managed to help Olivia pull her back into a corner of the courtyard. Everett grabbed me up in his arms and flew inside the house.

  Once we were indoors, Everett sat me down on a sofa in the main room.

  “Bebe, are you hurt?” he asked as he checked me for injuries.

  “No,” I whispered. I was still in shock from Brie’s violent reaction to being outdoors.

  “What was she feeling?” Everett asked calmly.

  “What?”

  “Could you feel her emotions, when she bolted for the wall?” he probed as I realized his game.

  “You knew how she would react. You wanted me there as a sensor,” I accused, feeling angry when his plan became clear to me.

  “No! Well, not exactly. Bebe, don’t be angry with us. I was hoping you could sense some inner emotions for us, so we could push her further. I thought you might be a barometer for us in respect to how she reacted to sounds, smells, sensations. But I never thought she would fly at you. We wouldn’t have tried this if I’d known.”

  I nodded slowly. “It was so sudden. She was apprehensive, but happy to be with me. All I sensed was her fear as we went outside. Then, it was like…like her mind went blank. I saw her mood change, but didn’t feel it. It was as if her emotions left her body.”

  Everett studied me for several moments, and then grasped my hand.

  “As I suspected. Orcos behave as they do, because they lose their human emotions. Brie has retained a great many of hers, but she still battles the beast…the beast that has killed a part of her.”