Vanquishing Ghosts (Tess Schafer-Medium) Read online

  "There's nothing deviant about wanting each other, Tess. We do this quite well, it's only natural we are going to want more of it." One of his wonderful hands came around the front and cupped a breast, squeezing gently as his thumb slipped inside my bra to rub against an aching nipple. "Christ, Tess, I feel like a horny teenager."

  We laughed together and then our mouths became quite occupied in trying to devour the other. It was hot and thrilling and both of us were soon panting for air. I think we would have done it right there in the kitchen if we hadn't heard the sudden blood curdling screech which was immediately followed by a series of thumping sounds.

  Kade and I drew apart, stared at each other in dismay for the interruption and in alarm because of the interruption. "What in hell is that?"

  Rattling noises filled the silence and sounded like they were coming from the back of the house. Kade helped me off the counter and then we both raced along the short corridor to the main hallway taking note when we entered it that the banging noises were in fact coming from the great room.

  "Something's in the great room." I was quite disturbed about that because I really thought it would be the one room in the house where negative activity would not take place.

  Kade and I stopped in the hall, uncertain of our next move. He turned to quirk an eyebrow at me. "The great room?"

  "Well, that's what I'm calling it. It is pretty great and it's the largest room in the house." Before we could take another step, another high pitched screech filled the air and the banging that followed sounded frenzied.

  "Stay behind me, Tess. This doesn't sound like a ghost."

  I grabbed his hand but did as he requested and stuck behind him. When we entered the great room it quickly became apparent that the banging noise was coming from the screen door. Slowly we approached the door and just before we got to it, a huge grey face with glowing eyes was suddenly staring at us through the window!

  "Jesus!" It was so sudden that Kade drew back, banging into me and nearly knocking me on my ass. His grip on my hand tightened, steadying me from my fall and then he pulled me close to wrap an arm around my waist. The face was gone but the low agitated growls were not.

  "It's that cat again." I knew he was still around, but why?

  With great caution we approached the door and looked through the window. The cat had torn through even more of the screening and he wanted into the house. A movement from the lawn told us why. A black and white dog was sitting a short distance away, his tongue hanging out, his body poised with eagerness to make contact with the cat. I didn't think he was a threat in any way and immediately started to open the door but Kade stopped me.

  "We don't know anything about these animals, Tess."

  "They aren't going to hurt us, Kade. Look at them. The cat is terrified but the dog looks like it’s only hoping for a friend, nothing more."

  Heaving a sigh and giving me a resigned look, Kade slowly opened the door. The cat came through it and raced off into the hall. We heard his pounding steps as he made his way to the stairs and then bounded up them as if he knew exactly where he was going.

  "What kind of cat do you think that is? It's the biggest one I've ever seen."

  Kade's attention was now on the dog which had sunk down to all fours and was worming his way slowly towards the porch steps. "I'm pretty sure it's a Maine Coon Cat. They are known for being big." He pushed at the frame of the wrecked screen door and stepped out onto the porch. The dog stopped moving and lowered its head to the ground, keeping eye contact with Kade and wagging his bushy black tail with fear and hope.

  Kade knelt down and held out a hand. "Come."

  The dog did as he was bid though he did it cautiously. He looked as if he feared any moment we were going to lash out at him and yet getting close to us was worth the risk. Once he made it to the top of the stairs, he again squirmed toward us on his belly, keeping his head bowed but his eyes on Kade's.

  It was a scruffy looking dog. He was rather thin and his fur, which was medium to long hair, was matted in places. His floppy ears looked like they had a few sores on them. My heart went out to him immediately and I knelt next to Kade and added my own cooing voice to his reassurances. "It's okay, come here. It's okay."

  As soon as the dog was close enough, it licked Kade's outstretched hand and then wriggled until he was nearly beneath his bent legs. We both patted him gently and the dog made whining noises that were both joyful and mournful at the same time. It seemed to me he was happy to be near kind humans again but lamenting the horrible time he's had of it until now. It nearly broke my heart listening to it.

  "It's a male dog and I don't see a collar. He has sores around his neck so I'm going to guess that he was tied with a rope without the use of a collar and he somehow managed to get free." Compressing his lips in anger for whoever had abused the dog, Kade continued to examine the squirming body. "He has ear mites and I can feel his ribs. He probably hasn't had a decent meal in a while."

  "We are keeping this dog, Kade. I don't care who he belongs to, he's ours now."

  Smiling at my fierce expression Kade straightened up and pulled me along with him. We entered the house and encouraged the dog to come with us. Though he did so with much excitement, he also remained cautious. "I think first thing we'll do is feed him. Although we don't have anything but bagels and cheese. Then we'll see if we can find a vet. They might know who he belongs to since all dogs are supposed to be registered in Maine."

  We entered the kitchen and I headed for the counter where the bagels were located. After slathering one generously with cream cheese, I then tore it up into small pieces and put it all on a plate. The dog wolfed it down so fast I was sure he didn't taste a single bite.

  "I don't care if the vet knows who he belongs to. It is obvious that he has not been properly cared for and I'm not giving him back." I knelt beside the dog and was quite pleased when he began to rub and wiggle against me in excited pleasure. "Besides, I'm willing to bet whoever owned him was of the sort that don't concern themselves with laws. He's probably not registered or vaccinated."

  Kade's own expression was grim. "Nothing pisses me off more than seeing defenseless creatures ... be they of the animal world or the human one ... getting treated like shit."

  I gave Kade a quick hug then headed for the door. "I'm going to go get ready and we can be on our way. I'll call Barbara and ask her where we can find a vet and then maybe afterwards we can stop by that metaphysical shop you mentioned and talk to ... Robin is it?" At Kade's nod, I held up a finger. "Give me just a minute. I need to put on some shoes and get my cell phone."

  Five minutes later, we were in Kade's Honda Civic, the dog sitting quietly in the back seat, which we covered with an old blanket, and looking content enough to trust us. The private road leading through the trees looked so peaceful it was hard to believe that evil lurked nearby. But it did. I could almost feel his spirit eyes watching us as we drove away. It knew we'd be back. In the meantime, I hoped it didn't terrorize the poor cat.

  Chapter 7

  The veterinary clinic was easy enough to locate thanks to Barbara's instructions and Kade's GPS. The dog was not familiar to Amy Adamson, the veterinarian on duty. Meaning she had nothing on file and a quick call to the town office told her they didn't have a dog registered that fit its description. After a quick examination and chart consultations, Amy determined the dog was a mix between a Wheaton Terrier because of his shaggy fur and bone structure and a Great Swiss Mountain because of his coloring ... mostly black with a white star shape on his chest and the white patches under his chin and on the tips of his paws.

  Since the clinic also offered grooming services and, as luck would have it, there was an opening, we left our new dog to be shampooed and groomed. We were told to pick him up in a couple hours which worked well to our favor as it gave us plenty of time for a stop at the metaphysical shop to chat with Robin and then the grocery store for supplies.

  Robin's store was near the top end of a street bui
lt on a steep hill and all I could think as we drove up to it was that I'd hate to own a car with a standard shift. Tucked amongst the quiet, non-descript residential homes surrounding it, the decorative storefront commanded attention. A private residence with the store addition added on, it had to be quite a convenient setup for Robin. A decorative sign stating the store's name hung across the top of a large picture window and I thought it appropriate and charming: Whimsical Pleasures. I couldn't wait to go inside and look around.

  Kade touched my hand to get my attention before I even opened the car door. "Remember, Tess, we only have a couple hours and we still need to get some groceries and other supplies."

  "You be the timekeeper, Kade, and I won't argue when you tell me it's time to go."

  "Agreed."

  Chiming bells alerted our entry and my eyes traveled everywhere at once trying to take it all in. The shop had it all ... gems, stones, jewelry, oils, dried herbs, incense, candles, books, Tarot cards, Angel cards, you name it, the shop had it.

  A pleasant looking woman who I would guess to be in her late-thirties came through a curtain hanging across a doorway near the back of the store. She was not much taller than me, I would guess about five feet six maybe. She was well endowed and padded nicely in the right areas but didn't emphasize her assets as much as use them to her best advantage. Though she did this quite tastefully I might add.

  It was my opinion that some people loved to show everyone what they had, even if they had a little too much of it. This opinion, of course, was coming from someone mildly conservative in her dress, though I was learning to be a little more carefree. After all, I did like to see Kade's eyes light up when he saw a bit of cleavage, a glimpse of my midriff or my bare legs.

  As for Robin, she wore a lavender print dress which flowed easily around her, not restrictive and yet emphasizing her womanly curves quite nicely. She had dark brown hair that was currently piled up in a loose loopy bun on the top of her head. Her eyes were a very expressive brown, her makeup making them somewhat dramatic with heavy liner and dark shades of eye shadow. She had a wide smile, deep dimples and I liked her on sight.

  Her greeting was warm and friendly and I could well imagine she made many a friend in her first few moments of meeting someone. "Hi!" And then when she saw Kade step through the door behind me, her eyes lit up in recognition. "Hello again!" She turned her inquisitive gaze back to me. "Is this the Tess you were talking about yesterday?"

  When I nodded that I was, she rushed forward to enclose me in a hug. A little surprised with her exuberant enthusiasm for our meeting, I returned the embraced and looked at Kade who seemed amused by it. She wore a pleasant light floral perfume that I really liked and when she pulled away, her long fingered hands waved about expressively making the scent waft in their wake. "I'm so excited to meet you! Barbara told me all about you at the Chambers' After Hours get-together."

  "And what is an After Hours get-together?" I was imagining some sort of strange nighttime ritual of which I didn't even want to make a guess at.

  "It's hosted by Bucksport's Chamber of Commerce." She laughed at my guarded expression. "It's a means for us business owners to get together and talk about our business, get the word out to each other on what we have to offer, that sort of thing." She patted my arm. "There's no coven rituals going on or anything!" Her laugh was so infectious I found myself joining in.

  As our time was limited, I decided to jump right in with the purpose for our visit. "Kade told me you suggested the candles and incense he brought home yesterday. Thank you so much for assisting with that."

  Robin's smile was now more subtle as she led me toward the window display which consisted of herbs, bamboo shoots, wind chimes and various other spiritual paraphernalia. "You are brave to live there and I'm glad you have come to me. I think you should have a few more things to help keep you safe."

  I touched Robin's arm to get her attention for she was looking over her selection of bamboo plants. "What can you tell me about my house, Robin?"

  Instead of answering my question, she looked to Kade as if seeking his advice on what to tell me. I wondered why she would do that and then she asked him, "Are you going to be staying there with her for a while?"

  "Yes, I am. Why?"

  Robin's eyes met mine and they were suddenly very serious. "I don't want to tell you anything that might scare you. If you are going to be alone in that big old house, well, I just can't be the one to impart bad news. Once you know, there is no going back and that knowledge can work for or against you. Seems to me that negative information often has a way of multiplying its energy and making things worse."

  "True enough, Robin, but I don't scare easily. I find I am better equipped to deal with situations if I know all the pertinent information concerning it." I touched her arm and gave it a slight reassuring squeeze. "Barbara did tell you about my gift, didn't she?"

  Robin patted my hand and gave me a wide smile. "Yes she did and that's why you must be even more careful. I should think talking to dead people can encourage those living on the dark side to come around and raise more trouble."

  Which was exactly what was occurring in my house. I needed to know as much as possible in order to defeat it. "Believe me, no one knows that more than I do. So please tell me what you know."

  "Well, not as much as you are probably hoping." Robin took my hand and motioned for Kade to follow us as she pulled me along with her to the curtained doorway. "Let's go in the back for a little bit and talk."

  We entered a cozy sitting room which consisted of two white wicker chairs and what would be the equivalent to a loveseat. They were cushioned in blue seating pads covered in various esoteric symbols ... the Eye of Horus, moons, stars, scarabs, zodiac symbols and the like. All three were placed around a small glass topped wicker table adorned with an interesting bamboo display. The twisting, twining shoots grew from a wide oval vase filled with various crystals and gemstones submerged in clear water. A pleasant lemony scent filled the air and I saw that she was burning incense in a small pewter elephant, the incense smoke coming out of its raised trunk.

  Seeing where my eyes were directed, Robin smiled at the small burner fondly. "Elephants are great animals. They have very good memories. They are strong, loyal and faultlessly obedient to their leader. They represent strength and overcoming resistance. They are powerful animal totems." She lifted her nose and drew in a deep, appreciative whiff. "The lemongrass incense is for cleansing and purity. It enhances psychic ability and protects against harmful, negative forces. You should plant a bunch of the stuff around your house."

  I was pretty sure that had already been done but I didn't want to interrupt her so said nothing.

  "It helps relieve stress when burned as incense and since I want people to be relaxed and not bogged down by the stresses that often bring them here seeking relief, I burn this." She waved at the chairs. "Please have a seat."

  Kade took one of the chairs and I went for the loveseat. Robin sat next to me but on the opposite side from where Kade was sitting so she could see us both at the same time. Her eyes darted back and forth between us, her expression clearly expressing her interest. "Has anything happened that has made you come here to see me?"

  "As you know, Robin, the house is haunted." I figured it best to be direct and open with her, especially as we didn't have a lot of time. "I ... we ... were hoping you'd be able to tell us a little more about the place."

  "There's a small group of us that like to conduct a bit of ghost hunting in our spare time. Nothing like on those shows, we are much more serious and dedicated than that. Bucksport and the surrounding towns have a lot of haunted houses and areas known for ghostly activity. Well, your house, of course is one of the places we tried to investigate." Her hands fluttered about nervously and eventually one of them went to her rose quartz necklace, the stone shaped just like a rose, and wrapped her fingers around it. "We didn't stay but a couple hours."

  "What happened?" Kade asked.

&nbs
p; "It locked two of our group in one of the rooms upstairs and kept opening the front door. It knocked over our equipment, drained batteries, blew flashlight bulbs and at one point, a terrible stench overcame us so bad that one of the guys threw up." Her eyes, now dulled with memories of her experience, looked off into the room at large, lost in her recall. "I did a lot of praying while I was there and after the stench thing happened, we packed up and left."

  "The couple who owned the house, the Bakers, did they ever complain about things happening there?"

  Robin's hands relaxed on her lap and she shrugged. "I'm not sure. The Bakers died about four years ago and though they lived there for nearly twenty years, no one in town really had much to do with them. Harold Baker was not a nice man. He was rather unpleasant most of the time and so he was pretty much avoided when seen about town. His wife was hardly ever seen at all. Her name was Mavis and honestly, I think the poor thing was completely cowed by him."

  "Was he abusive to her?" Of course I was thinking about Kade's aggressiveness when under the influence of the Big Bad.

  Robin shook her head and shrugged her shoulders again. "I have no idea. As I said, we didn't see much of her and when she was seen, she was very quiet. It was pretty much through her children that we even knew them at all. Not that they stayed long, at least not the older two."

  "Did you know any of the Baker children?" I hoped I wasn't going to have to ask a thousand questions to get Robin to talk for already I saw Kade glance at his watch. Time was wasting quickly away.

  "I met Tammy and Todd when they came to school the one month they lived in the house. Tammy was in my homeroom class and I had a bit of a crush on her brother Todd. They were nice kids, very easy going. But it wasn't long before they started coming to school looking pale and tired. Tammy finally started admitting to us that weird stuff was happening in the house and that their dad, who was always rather strict and stern with them, was now even worse. In fact, I pretty much got the impression that she was scared of him. Todd was convinced the evil ghosts were influencing his father but you know, we were all kids, we didn't know much about that sort of stuff. I was already interested in the paranormal by then, of course, and was quite fascinated but they had me convinced the place contained evil and I wanted nothing to do with it. Those of us that had befriended Todd and Tammy told them they should get out of the house and just after a month of staying there, they came to school one day and told us they were going to live with their grandparents in upstate New York. We never saw them again."