Coldhearted (9781311888433) Page 16

  Madelyn scanned Edie’s room with wide eyes. “Your house is amazing. I wish I lived here.” She gestured at the ceiling. “So when’s the renovation going to be done upstairs?”

  Edie shrugged. “My uncle doesn’t really talk about it. The downstairs is big enough and it’s only the two of us, so I guess he’s not in any hurry.”

  Diana was blushing. “Okay, I’ve got to say this: your uncle is hot!”

  Edie grimaced, embarrassed.

  “Yeah,” Madelyn agreed. “For an old dude, he’s cute.”

  “He looks like my dad,” Edie informed, “except he had shorter hair. He grew it long one time and my mom didn’t like it, so he always kept it trimmed.”

  Edie didn’t divulge that she suspected her uncle had been in love with her mom. There were some things that she’d keep a secret. Another one was Russell. She’d been thinking about him on and off throughout the night, wondering where he was, what he was doing. Her feelings for him weren’t the same as her feelings for Mason, but if she were being honest with herself, she did like Russell, as scandalous as that was. In her defense, it was hard not to like a handsome (and yes, sexy) man, who wanted nothing more than to take care of her.

  Diana gasped. “I think I just saw something.”

  Edie whipped her head at Diana, and then followed her friend’s gaze toward the corner of her bedroom, but Edie didn’t see anything.

  “What’d you see?” Madelyn asked her, looking too.

  “It was like a shadow,” Diana said, “darker against the already dark corner, but….it was moving.”

  Edie waited for the ghost to confirm this, but he stayed stubbornly mute.

  “Maybe it wasn’t him,” Madelyn said. “Maybe it was just your imagination.” She turned toward Edie. “Do you sense anything?”

  Edie shook her head. “And he’s not boasting, either. Usually when he does something to freak people out, he’ll go on about their fear, and how it gives him pleasure.” Edie sighed. “If it were him, he’s being awfully tightlipped about it.”

  Diana briefly closed and rubbed her eyes. “Maybe you’re right, Maddie. Maybe it was just my imagination.” She looked at Edie. “But that’s just the thing, isn’t it? I mean, let’s say you believe in ghosts, and you’ve seen evidence of their existence, but then when anything happens that can’t be explained, you automatically assume it’s some sort of paranormal activity, when it could be explained…eventually. Like if a curtain were to move on its own, but if you investigated it, you’d discover it was just the wind from an open window. But all those constant what-ifs could drive someone so insane that a ghost or a poltergeist wouldn’t even need to bother with the spooks.”

  “I know,” Edie agreed, clutching onto her pendant for comfort. “At first, when all this started happening, I thought I was going insane. Then after being accused of witchcraft, there was a part of me that thought I was a witch too. Neither was true. The truth was: I was being haunted by a ghost the whole time.” She shook her head. “There are times when you don’t want to know the truth, you know?”

  Madelyn pointed at the pendant Edie was holding. “I saw that on you when you first came here. Was it a present?”

  Edie nodded. “My parents gave it to me for my seventeen birthday right before they died. Even though I know it’s an inanimate object, when I hold it, I feel safe, you know? It’s like they’re here with me, protecting me.”

  “They are,” Diana said with conviction.

  “I hope so,” Edie said, smiling.

  Madelyn started shaking. “Ooh, it just got cold in here.”

  Edie noticed that Madelyn wasn’t particularly nervous, rubbing her hands together for warmth, but then, Madelyn became still, paralyzed with fear, as her red hair began rising above her head, as if invisible fingers were pulling the strands up.

  Diana gasped, her breath creating a misty trail. “Maddie?” she called out, concerned.

  Madelyn was wide-eyed, scared. Finding that she could move again, she placed her hands over her mouth. “Is it him?” she asked through the gaps between her fingers.

  “If it’s not,” Diana said, “then we’ve got a bigger problem.” She stretched her hand up and tried to tame Madelyn’s flyaway hair, but it was no good. It just kept popping back up. “I don’t know what to do,” Diana said to Edie, anguished.

  “Stop it!” Edie barked at the ghost. “Stop it right now!”

  “In exchange?” he asked. Only Edie could hear him.

  “For me,” Edie replied. “You can mess with me, but don’t mess with my friends.”

  “But it’s so fun, Edie. Oh, they came here all so brave—girl power and all that—but as you can see, they’re positively frightened.” He sighed in her ear, and she shivered from the blast of cold air. “But I’ll grant your request. I’ll let them be…for a little while. Are you sure you want to trade yourself for them?”

  “Yes,” Edie said without hesitation.

  “So be it.”

  Madelyn’s hair fell and she grabbed it, making sure it was secure, before letting go. She flopped back on the bed. “That was scary.” Then she bolted up and looked at Edie. “You were talking to him. What did you say to make him stop?”

  Diana was looking at Edie too, waiting for her answer.

  “I-I just told him to stop messing with you, and if he wanted to haunt anyone, to haunt me.” Diana and Madelyn opened their mouths to protest, but snapped them shut when Edie’s hand went up. “He’s already ruining my life, so it’s not like I’m throwing myself into the fire. I’m already boiling in the cauldron,” Edie said miserably.

  “Well, we’re here to protect you,” Diana said. She moved beside Edie and got under the covers. “I’ll flank your left.”

  Madelyn went on the other side of Edie and got under the covers too. “And I’ll flank your right.”

  Edie chuckled. “I didn’t know this was a military operation.”

  Diana nodded. “Oh, it is. Operation Sleepover, remember?”

  “Or how about Operation Ghostbuster,” Madelyn offered.

  Edie chuckled again and flopped back on the bed. “Who you gonna call?” she quipped. Then she bolted up. “Oh, no!”

  “What?” Diana and Madelyn asked in unison, concerned.

  “Mason wanted me to call him if anything happened.” Edie looked at her two best friends. “What should I do?”

  “If you call him, I’ll be really, really nasty,” the ghost warned.

  Edie blew out an exasperated breath. “Well, that’s settled.” Diana and Madelyn looked at Edie, confused, again. “The ghost said he’d go all ‘Boo!’ if I called Mason,” Edie informed, flopping back down on the bed.

  Diana and Madelyn took up positions beside Edie, lying down, and then looped their arms around Edie’s.

  Diana said, “Well, I don’t like giving in to this ghost, but I don’t want Mason to get hurt, and that’s exactly what will happen to him if he comes over.”

  “You think?” Edie asked.

  “Oh, yeah,” Madelyn said. “Didn’t you see what the ghost did to him at Di’s house? You see, the ghost hates Mason—I’m sure he hates all of us—but he especially hates Mason.”

  “Why?” Edie asked.

  Diana said, “Because the ghost wants you all to himself and you’re with Mason. He’s jealous.”

  Edie threw out her hands, which was tough, because Diana and Madelyn were practically restraining her with their concern. “But why me?”

  “Maybe he’s got a thing for blondes?” Diana threw out, and then smiled. “No, it’s probably because you’re so pretty. All the psychos love the pretty girls. At least that’s what I see on those cable crime shows.”

  “Di, you and those shows!” Madelyn admonished. “They’ll give you nightmares.”

  “And a poltergeist won’t?” she countered, biting back.

  “No, he won’t,” Edie assured, “’cause I made a deal with him, so you two sleep tight, and don’t let the bed bugs bite.” />
  Diana reached over and turned off the lamplight. They were veiled in darkness.

  There was a long silence until Madelyn broke it by saying, “If I say anything incriminating in my sleep, remember I’m just sleeping. I have no awareness of anything that I admit to.”

  Edie could feel Diana turning over. “Anything incriminating?” she repeated. “Maddie, what have you done?”

  “Nothing,” Madelyn denied immediately. “I’m just saying.”

  Diana resumed her earlier position, but just when Edie closed her eyes, Diana opened her mouth. “I have been known to latch on while I sleep…so…just warning you in advance.”

  Edie was confused. “Latch on?”

  “She’ll crush your bones,” Madelyn warned. “That’s why she has the futon in her room. When we were younger and used to have sleepovers, it was a way for me to stay alive until the next morning,” she said dryly.

  Edie saw a pillow fly across the bed. At first, she assumed it’d been the ghost until Diana said in a tone, “You were never in any danger, Maddie. Don’t scare Edie away.”

  “Don’t worry,” Edie said, seeking to prevent a pillow fight. “Diana, latch on, and Madelyn, divulge what you want. Your secrets are safe with me.”

  ****

  Diana and Madelyn had fallen asleep in no time, but Edie stayed frustratingly awake.

  Diana had latched onto Edie, but she wasn’t in any danger. Her bones stayed intact. Madelyn had mumbled something about a guy named “Damian” and the words “kiss” and “love.” Edie didn’t know anyone named “Damian” at school, so she assumed that he was someone from Madelyn’s past. Even though Madelyn was broadcasting her feelings, Edie felt it was wrong to eavesdrop, and considering she couldn’t sleep, she slipped out of bed, managing to detach herself from Diana.

  After she’d taken care of business in the bathroom, she remained standing before the mirror, scanning her face. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, and she thought she looked pale, but not dead, which was some relief. Her blonde hair was a bit disheveled, but not a mess. Her blue eyes, like her mom’s, were dimmer than normal. They’d always been lively, electrifying even. Edie assumed that her change in eye color had to do with all the stress in her life.

  Yet even in such a sad state, Diana still thought that Edie was pretty. Was that really the reason the ghost wouldn’t leave her alone? She didn’t think that she was ugly, but she knew for a fact that there were prettier girls out there than her. Like Diana and Madelyn. They were very pretty. Why hasn’t he latched onto them? Edie immediately shook her head, ashamed that she’d even thought that. No, she didn’t want that for them. She didn’t want her misery to befall anyone else.

  “Why me?” she asked herself in the mirror, thinking that she had all the answers.

  She gave no reply and Edie closed her eyes to fight back the tears. When she opened them, she gasped in terror, and then rounded, waiting for the intruder in her bathroom to lunge and grab her. But no one was there. She was all alone.

  She turned back toward the mirror and stifled a scream, not wanting to wake Diana and Madelyn. He’d returned, but then again, he’d never left to begin with.

  “Hello, Edie.” The ghost smiled at her in the mirror. “I’m glad we can finally meet…face to face, so to speak.”

  He was right. They were each facing the mirror, but he was inside the mirror, while at the same time, standing right behind her, from the reflection. He was wearing a white dress shirt, unbuttoned at the top with the sleeves rolled up, and a pair of black pants. He looked like he’d been to a business meeting and now wanted to relax. His hair was dark brown and long, parted to the side, hanging past his ears. His eyes were striking. They were dark blue like lapis lazuli. He was naturally tan with a five o’clock shadow. Edie put his age around nineteen or twenty. They weren’t that far apart in age, yet she felt like a helpless, little girl, as they stood there in silence, staring at each other.

  “Well?” he finally continued. “What do you think, Edie?”

  She swallowed, nervous. “About what?”

  He smiled. “About me?”

  “You’re hideous,” she lied.

  He leaned forward and brushed his cold cheek against Edie’s, staring at her in the mirror. “Tell the truth, Edie, or else I’ll become very naughty.”

  Edie bit her lip, and then said, “You’re all right-looking, I guess. Not my type, though.” She gave him a crooked smile. “I prefer guys who are alive, and oh, yeah, ones who don’t get their jollies by scaring people.”

  She waited for him to do something “naughty,” but he just smiled at her. Although that gesture was naughty coming from him.

  “I admit,” he said, “that I tremendously enjoy scaring people, but it’s not just for kicks. I have a plan.”

  “A plan for what, world domination?” she asked sarcastically.

  He tsked. “Don’t be ridiculous, Edie, and I’m not telling, so there.”

  She folded her arms over her chest. “Have you always been a jackass, or did you turn into an arrogant son of a bitch after you died?”

  “Ooh, language.” Yet he didn’t seem offended and planted a cold kiss on her cheek. “I like this side of you, Edie. As to your profanity-laced question, I’ve never been anything but a gentleman when I was alive. I still am.”

  She blew out a breath of disbelief. “Now who’s lying…what’s your name anyway?”

  He smiled and stuck out his hand. “I’m Tristan, Tristan Lockhart.” When Edie didn’t stick her hand out in return, he said, “Edie, please.” It was more like a warning, an order, even.

  Edie found it weird, but she lifted her hand, and then reached behind her to shake his, while still looking at him in the mirror. His freezing hand gently clasped hers and he planted a kiss. She jerked her hand back and stuck in under her armpit to quickly warm it up.

  “I would say: ‘nice to meet you, Tristan,’ but I won’t because it’s not nice. Why do you keep bothering me, my friends? Why don’t you attach yourself to someone else?”

  “I don’t want anyone else,” Tristan said. “You released me and I’ll be forever grateful.”

  Edie squared her shoulders, trying to look tough. “Don’t be. I didn’t do it on purpose. If I could, I’d find a way to tear you from me, or put you back inside Lockhart Manor.”

  Tristan pressed his cold cheek against Edie’s. “It’s too late for that, sweetheart. I’m yours and you’re mine. Forever.”

  Edie opened her mouth to protest, but her voice was gone. Her sight went next, as Tristan shielded her eyes with his hand, forcing her into darkness. Finally, she was paralyzed, as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed his chest against her back.

  Tristan whispered in her ear, “Sleep, my dear, sleep, and dream of me.”

  He kissed her, leaving her lips shivering, as she fulfilled his desire, and fell unconscious into his arms.

  Chapter 16

  Edie woke the next morning to discover that she was in her bed with Diana and Madelyn, flanking her sides.

  They looked peaceful and she didn’t wake them. There was still some time before they had to get ready for school, and she needed some time alone to process what’d happened the night before.

  Her ghost had a name: Tristan Lockhart.

  He was wicked and gorgeous. And she’d dreamt about him.

  The dream had been “very, very naughty,” as he liked to say.

  They’d been in a room, in a house—presumably Lockhart Manor—and they’d done things that even as Edie thought of them now made her blush. She could lie and say it’d been rape, but it hadn’t. Her actions had been entirely complicit. There’d been only one instance when he’d done something that’d made her mad. He’d been gently cupping her neck, and then in a flash, he’d snapped her necklace off like it’d offended him. She’d slapped his face and he’d growled, but somehow they’d gotten over that little fight and continued their union.

  Remembering what they’d done even in
dream form was enough to make Edie almost vomit, despite the charged scenes of exquisite sensuality.

  She felt something cold in her clenched fist and opened her hand to reveal a piece of jewelry. It was her necklace, broken, the chain snapped. She slid quietly out of bed and looked at it under the lamplight. She needed a new chain and didn’t have one. She didn’t know if the dream had been real, and Tristan had torn it off, or if she’d torn it off. It was in her hand, after all, and not discarded, as she assumed Tristan would’ve done. She didn’t know why in the dream, he’d ripped it off her neck. It was from her parents, not Mason, nor any other potential mate. Tristan knew that. He’d been with her long enough to know what that pendant meant to her and who’d given it to her.

  “Why?” she asked aloud, but low, as not to wake her friends, who were dead—figuratively speaking—to the world.

  Tristan refused to answer.

  “What?” a familiar voice said, sleepy-sounding from afar.

  Edie turned to see Diana getting off the bed. She yawned as she approached Edie.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, covering her mouth, afraid of possible morning breath.

  “I didn’t mean to wake you,” Edie said.

  Diana waved a dismissive hand. “I needed to get up anyway.” She turned toward Madelyn, lying on her back, arms splayed, mouth hanging open. “Hey, Maddie, get up!”

  Madelyn jerked up, but still had her eyes closed like a newborn kitten. “Wha?” When she forced them open, she looked at Edie and Diana. “What day is it?”

  “A school day,” Diana said.

  Madelyn flopped back down on the bed and moaned.

  Diana turned back toward Edie, and then noticed the broken necklace in her hand. “Oh, no, what happened? I didn’t do that, did I?”

  Madelyn said, “What’s going on?” She was fully awake now and advanced toward Edie and Diana in no time.