SWNOVELS Chapter Making the Call
Amelia tore into the old bag like a child on Christmas morning. Chloe stood behind her, watching the old garments fly. Finally, a small flower pin emerged, held in a shaking hand. Both women stood expectantly. Seconds ticked by. The only sound was the battle raging above them
“So.” Chloe glanced from the pin to Amelia and back again. “What do we do?”
Amelia studied the small flower then closed her eyes. Her face screwed up in concentration as she tried to remember what Liza had told her. Opening her eyes, she looked into Chloe’s. “I honestly have no idea.” Her shoulders slumped, matching the disappointment etched on Chloe’s face.
“Ok. Ok, wait.” Chloe began to pace. “You met with this witch, and she took you to her house and did a spell. She said this pin would call her.” Chloe’s hands ran through her hair.
“Yes, yes,” Amelia agreed impatiently. She turned, fists balled in frustration, “No, wait. There was something else. It was so long ago.”
Something heavy crashed above them. Chloe’s desperation to help in the fight caused her to pace quickly around the damp cellar.
“Oh, my, I remember.” Amelia held out the pin to Chloe. “I have to give this to you. She said I have to give it to the girl. That has to be you.”
Shocked, Chloe reached for the pin. The instant her finger touched the jeweled flower she felt a pull somewhere near her navel. She gasped as it pulled her backward. Flying through dimensions at incredible speed, Chloe shut her eyes tightly. An involuntary scream escaped her throat. Realizing she was seated and not moving, she stopped screaming. Feeling clichéd, she slowly opened her eyes. Her shock elicited another squeak, this one from surprise. She was seated in a comfortable chair in the immaculate sitting room of a large, colonial-style house. A pleasant fire burned merrily in the fireplace. From the hall, a black cat padded into the room and leapt softly onto her lap. Another gasp escaped as she realized she was whole.
“Welcome, Miss Miller,” a soft voice spoke behind her.
Turning, Chloe saw a pretty woman with flaming red hair. She seemed to be close to her own physical age, yet her eyes betrayed someone much older. The cat jumped lightly to the floor as Chloe stood. A sigh of pleasure involuntarily escaped her lips as she relished the feeling of her feet on the floor.
The woman spoke again. “I am Liza Underwood. I assume Amelia told you about me. Well, that is a silly thing to say, as here you are. So you must have at least found the pin.” A hint of a Scottish accent laced her words. Chloe instinctively extended her hand and Liza took it briefly with a smile. She indicated the chair Chloe had arrived in and took the one across from it for herself.
Chloe remained standing. The feeling of Liza’s hand lingered in her own as questions began to battle in her brain for dominance. The best she could come up with was, “Why, if you knew?” and “Why me?” Along with the questions, emotions began to fight for control. Anger was winning. For her part, Liza sat patiently, waiting. In the end it was anger that won with the question, “If you knew this was going to happen to me, why the hell didn’t you stop it?” She was glaring down at Liza, her hands clamped tightly onto the arms of the chair in which the woman sat. Realizing this, Chloe backed off, taking a step backward toward the chair she had arrived in. “Why did you let this happen?” She asked again, this time in a whisper.
“I am sorry. Please have a seat.” Liza gestured behind Chloe. “Tea?”
Chloe could see a dainty cup and saucer on a table next to Liza. She was sure, if she turned, there would be a mirror of this by her chair.
“Fear, please make room for our guest.”
A light thump sounded behind Chloe. She felt the black cat brush against her leg as it meowed. Liza inclined her head toward the cat. She thought for a moment then nodded, “Yes, you should return. They will be needing you.”
Chloe was shocked to see the cat nod then bow before scampering out into the hall. An instant of battle sounded, then only the sound of the old clock on the mantel could be heard in the quiet room.
“Please, sit. I will answer all that I can,” Liza said pleasantly.
Chloe turned in the chair, moving forward until she sat on the edge. The feeling of the cushion beneath her was indescribable after having had no form. She watched Liza sip her tea but did not even look at her own. Taking a deep breath, Chloe shut her eyes, attempting to calm the beast threatening to attack. “If you knew I would be needed for this …” Her fists clenched and unclenched, the rage beast calling for blood from her chest. With effort she calmed it. “Why did you let all of this happen?” Once she started asking, she knew she could not stop. “If you knew, you could have stopped Edgar, and none of this would be happening! Why did you let this happen? If you knew, how could you?” She found herself on her feet again, advancing on Liza.
“Please, sit. I will explain. It may not be to your liking, but I will do my best.” Liza’s tone was quiet and calming.
It did nothing to assuage Chloe’s anger. “I hate being a ghost!” she shot at her companion before returning to her seat. This time she forced herself to sink back into the soft material. Her tea was still ignored. “Make this fast, I need to help Alex and his family.”
“Oh yes, you do.” Liza smiled. “The first thing you must understand is that I knew there would be someone like you, but I didn’t know it would be you.” She smiled at the frustration on Chloe’s face. “Forgive me. What I mean is, I foresaw a young woman being killed and coming back. That is all I saw. I had no idea who, when, or where this would occur. If I had, yes, I would have saved you and never let it get so far.” She now looked sad. “It should never have gone this far. I should have stopped it in Salem.”
“Damn right you should have,” Chloe growled.
“You are right not to give me any leeway. At that time Constance had more power. She had made a deal with an ambitious demon.”
“Simon?” Chloe interrupted.
“Oh, you’ve met th’ wee bastard.” Liza’s accent escaped with her annoyance. She closed her eyes and inhaled to calm her anger and continued. “Part of her deal made her invulnerable to my interference. She was to bring a demon over, bond with it, and wreak havoc. She was able to possess poor Amelia. The child was the demon, and as it grew, Constance bonded with the child and was reborn. When the child was old enough, she would be used to give total birth to the demon while Constance retained immense power.”
Chloe stared at her for a moment. “She didn’t expect Henry to kill the girl.”
“No, she didn’t count on Henry’s love for his wife or what he had experienced in war. He had seen atrocities and sacrifice. Once he knew the path that needed taking, he strode forward along it to do what had to be done. He understood his wife was gone and the child was not of this world.”
“So he did what he had to.” Chloe exhaled. “That’s horrible, but what does it have to do with me?”
Liza sighed. “Henry was able to kill the physical but not the spiritual.” She looked sadly at Chloe. “There was a rumor about a ghost who was returned to life. Several demons heard this. One of them informed Constance. She then found a warlock who desired more power. Alistair.” She spat out the name. “He found out who you were through trickery. He found a lesser demon named Edgar and was able to get Alex’s name. Through that he found you.”
Chloe shook her head, disappointed, “Oh, Edgar, so you’re still being used by someone more evil that you.”
“And that warlock wannabe will be punished for what he did to my minion.” Kerlvin’s teeth gnashed as he spoke, causing Chloe to jump. He had appeared, seemingly from out of thin air, at her side.
Liza sighed, her annoyance clear. “You are not welcome here. You know that.” She cocked her head. “How did you get past my warding?”
“Oh, that.” Kerlvin laughed. “Let’s just say my involvement with young Miss Chloe may have something to do with it.” This caused both women to frown at the demon. “Relax. I brought in Simon, didn’t I? He may be a pompous little demon, but he has high aspirations. I have asked him to call in the deal Constance made. In return I promised to make him a duke of hell.”
“How does that benefit you?” Chloe asked.
“True, I am already an archduke, but the role of prince does have a nice appeal.” Kerlvin laughed.
Chloe rolled her eyes. “I have never made a deal with a demon, yet I seem to always be helping one.” She glared accusingly at Liza.
“Hey, I might be a witch, yet I havna dealt with a demon afore this,” Liza retorted.
“Stinking white witch.” Kerlvin laughed. “You’re never any fun.”
Liza looked about to retort when Chloe interrupted. “I don’t really care! I want to keep my body and I want to help Alex.” She was surprised to find herself on her feet again.
“Please be careful what you say in front of a demon,” Liza warned, moving to get between Chloe and Kerlvin. “This is not your true body. That one is still back at the house.” At Chloe’s sharp glance, Liza soothed, “I can reunite you.”
Kerlvin idly picked at something in his pointed teeth with one of his razor-sharp talons. “What? Oh, no need to worry, I know from long, long ...” He looked at Chloe with some disdain. “Long, long, looooong years of watching her, that she would never be foolish enough to make a deal.” His face softened. “For my part, I would never allow one to be offered.” He smiled now. “They never turn out in your favor.” He grin was full of malice.
Chloe was grateful yet repulsed by the demon’s statement. “I never know with you,” she said, causing Kerlvin to bow happily. She turned her attention back to Liza. “You say you can restore me?”
“Yes, truly,” Liza replied. “Without your help, Lord Kerlvin,” she finished icily, glaring at the offending demon.
Kerlvin did not seem to care, if he even noticed, as he was back to picking at his teeth.
Ignoring Kerlvin, Chloe shouted, “Then let’s go.”
“You must promise to help me release Henry and Amelia.” Liza stood, hand extended.
“Of course,” Chloe sighed, taking the proffered hand. They both turned to Kerlvin.
“What? I am just here for the carnage?” He answered his own question when he continued, “That and to steal Constance’s soul before Simon can collect.” He shrugged as Chloe raised a questioning eyebrow. “Oh, don’t give me that look. It’ll be fun.” His smile exposed malicious, sharp teeth.
“I don’t see how this is going to be fun,” Chloe griped.
With a small pop, Kerlvin disappeared.
Liza stared with disgust at the spot where he had been. “Come on. We have to go a different way.” Holding Chloe’s hand, they walked into the hall. Pausing at a door, Chloe could see light flashing around its edges while distant explosions sounded muffled behind the wood. “This is going to be unpleasant,” Liza warned. “You will not have a body when we return. Fear not, we shall remedy that shortly.” Liza smiled. Her hand touched the knob. Chloe felt the by-now-familiar pull in her stomach. Sound and light exploded across a battle-damaged room.