Page 11 of Origins
“I’m sorry,” I squeaked out in horror. My cheeks heated as I realized how rude I probably seemed. “It’s nice to meet you. And I’m sorry about intruding on your meeting tonight. I didn’t know—”
“Hush.” He pet my hand in a reassuring manner before he sat beside me on the chaise. “It’s quite alright. Generally these meetings are boring, so you are bringing some excitement into an otherwise tedious time.”
I wasn’t even sure how to respond. But, thankfully, he didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he made himself comfortable while Miles hovered about, offering me cookies and tea.
Damen, who had regained his composure, rested his chin on his hand and leaned forward. “Dr. Stephens isn’t the type to match-make. In that case, why don’t you explain why Dr. Stephens sent you to this meeting, and we’ll take it from there?”
Chapter Four
Evaluation
I should have been able to launch right into my confession—it was what I had come here to do, after all. But I hadn’t planned that far ahead. Instead, I had been too worried about being sacrificed.
But now I was in a pickle. I couldn’t tell themeverything. I had learned that lesson a long time ago. However, I had to tell them enough so they’d agree that there was a problem and that I needed their help.
Besides, who wanted to admit to cute guys that your ankle had been grabbed while you were bathing the night before? I didn’t need anyone to barf on my account. That would be horrifying.
“It’s embarrassing,” I stalled, trying to find the words. I had to make this sound as normal as possible—or normal enough for a group of ghost hunters to believe. “And it sounds stupid…”
Julian’s mouth dipped at my hesitation, but it was Miles who spoke as he reached across the table and put a warm hand on my knee.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, “but you don’t appear to be a rash person. You also seem to be shy. It probably took a lot of courage for you to come here, seeking help from strangers. Please don’t worry, we won’t judge you. It was brave that you even came here. Just talk to us.”
Well, that didn’t help. His gaze was too distracting. So I folded my shaky hands in my lap and focused on my tea instead. “I know it sounds unreal, but hear me out. There’s a ghost at the home that I’m watching for my professor. Strange things have been happening there. They started haunting me the first night that I was there, but I can’t leave. I told my professor that I’d take care of things.”
“Why look forme?” Damen asked after I paused. I glanced up to notice that he was watching me. As our eyes met he grinned. “I mean, you are welcome to do so—for any reason, really. I’m not one to argue when a beautiful girl seeks me out. But what made you look formewhen faced with a paranormal situation?”
Of course he’d ask that. “Finn mentioned that you were interested in paranormal research.”
“That’s odd.” Damen frowned pensively. “You said that he’d be angry that you came to see me. Then why—”
“He didn’t tell me to come. He mentioned it in passing a while back,” I responded. “Finn and I meet every evening. Yesterday I mentioned asking for your help, and he said it was unnecessary.”
“Why would it be unnecessary?” Miles interjected, his hand squeezing my knee as he spoke. The calm that I felt at his touch surprised me, and I nearly missed what he said next. “Would we be in the way?” he asked. “Was he going to take care of the issue himself?”
What a strange question. Besides, wasn’t it obvious? If Finn had been willing to help, then I wouldn’t be here. But we were getting off topic.
“Not exactly,” I continued. “In any case, I wasn’t sure what to do next. So I decided to see you as a last resort. I mean—it’s trying to kill me.”
Damen started to say something, but Julian held up his hand—cutting him off. Miles ignored both of them and recaptured my attention. “Why do you say that? Why do you think it’s a ghost?”
Did this mean that they believed me?
That little bit of encouragement was all that I needed, and I put my teacup on the table and held my hands together in my lap. Someone was going to listen without judgment. Someone was going to help!
I forced myself to explain before I lost my nerve.
“It’s obviously a ghost.” I tried to keep my tone even—clinical. “The rooms have cold spots. But there are also noises around the house. Most of the time metallic banging, or sometimes even scratching.”
My skin broke out in goosebumps as I recalled the next events.
“Sometimes I feel as though I’m being touched,” I admitted. “Different places—my legs, arms, and back mostly. But sometimes it’s my hair, and…stuff like that.” Just the recollection scared me, and my fingers began to pick at the loose threads of my sweater.
Julian noticed, and held said hand in a reassuring manner. “There’s no reason to be nervous. You’re safe here—no ghost to worry about.”
I stared at him incredulously—what kind of ghost hunter was he?
“Are you sure about that?” I muttered under my breath, recalling the familiar sensation just outside of this structure. It hadn’t been evil, but there was no way that this property was haunt-free.
