Indwell (Chasing Natalie's Ghosts) (22 page)

Once we reached the solitude of his apartment I raced for the bedroom and closed the door. Thankfully he didn’t follow. He allowed me my space. He knew I would eventually confront him. He waited patiently for me. I changed and rested on his exquisite bed and stared at the painting of the woman in the black robe. She was young and as I looked closely I realized she was very strong. Her muscles were very well defined for a woman, but not in a vulgar way. They fit her body perfectly. I wondered if I would look more like her if I decided to accept this role and all the benefits that came with it. What did I really have to lose? My family wasn’t close. I would still be able to see my mother. She wouldn’t question me. I did want to finish high school someday. I guess I could in my own time, if it’s true that I won’t age. If it wasn’t for Hayden I really don’t know where I would have ended up. I have no ambitions for college or a particular career. There really is no decision to make here. I just need some more answers from Hayden.

I walked out into the living room wearing Hayden’s robe again. I had one of my silk gowns on underneath. I felt strong and comfortable. I was ready for his answers. My face was blank. I didn’t want to show him how afraid I still was. He looked anxious but pleased I was coming to him. He moved so there was room for me on the sofa beside him.

“Hi,” he said simply. I could hear the anxiety in his voice. He was worried too. This made me feel better.

“I have some questions I need answers to before I can continue any further. I don’t think the answers you give me will change my decision but regardless, I need to know,” I told him keeping my face blank. His lips curved at the edges, wanting to smile but knowing he shouldn’t.

“I will truthfully, tell you all I know,” he replied gravely.

“Good,” I stated, gathering my thoughts together in my head.

“The first question I need an answer to is the one I have already asked. I need to know how old you are.” He took in a deep breath, glanced at me then stared straight ahead.

“I was born in 1873,” he answered in a low voice. I couldn’t hide my shock. I swallowed in a lot of air, my head felt dizzy. I looked at Hayden and had to look away. I stood and walked to the balcony. I felt the cool breeze sober me. I walked back in and sat beside him on the sofa.

“Continue,” I said, trying to remain calm.

“I began working for the Seekers in 1895. I haven’t physically aged since then,” he continued. His face paled as he spoke. I wanted so badly to scream and run, but at the same time I just wanted to grab him and hold him tight and tell him I was not afraid of him, that I loved and needed him no matter what. A single tear rolled down my cheek. Hayden slowly reached his finger to my cheek and so gently, barely touching my skin, he wiped it away.

“Well, I knew you were older than me but I just didn’t think it would be more than a century,” I whispered, grinning at him.

“I’m sorry, I age well I guess,” he smiled sheepishly, playing along with me. I squeezed his hand, restraining myself from touching him more.

“I need to know how long they have been aware of me. I need to know what they think they know of my history,” I still felt like I needed to know more.

“They have been aware of you since you were very young. One of the phantom's that was captured by a Seeker told them about you. The spirit was in a small mountain village when he heard that two children had fallen to their deaths. He followed the children, watching as they visited you before they left this world. Clive had to know more about you. They all wanted to know who this little girl was that could talk freely with spirits. They knew it was more than just sensing, so they sent out scouts to watch you over the years and report back with any new developments. You would not have seen them. They can be miles away and still hear you if they need to. They reported back about Elizabeth and the others in your closet when you were a little girl. She had wanted to be your mother. I don’t know if you were aware then about her intentions. They considered tracking her and having her brought in, but you moved so they let her be.

Then the reports of Cheveyo came in. The Seekers were so in awe of you and Cheveyo. Your relationship was so sweet and so unheard of. They didn’t want to step in. They knew he would never hurt you. What surprised them the most about your relationship was the way it ended. As soon as Cheveyo found out that you were leaving he was able to see his mother clearly. She was able to reach him and show him how to follow her out of this world. Apparently it was quite captivating and beautiful to watch.

Then even more spectacular, years later you introduced us to Anton. What an amazing story you told and a beautiful soul. He really did love you. You saved him from an eternity of loneliness attached to a rug that was totally forgotten. I know the memory hurts you and I am sorry for that. It was because of you that his parents were able to finally see him and show him how to follow them home. He must have been so torn. He didn’t want to leave you because he knew that you needed him still. He was afraid you would be physically hurt again and the idea frightened him. When you told him you had to move he wanted to go with you but his parents told him that you would be okay, that you had to continue on without him to reach your true potential. I believe they knew what you would eventually become and told Anton this. He was so grateful to you for helping him find his way. This was witnessed by other spirits that were eavesdropping, you were so engrossed in Anton leaving that you didn’t sense the company you had. They vanished as soon as Anton left you. Of course I met you at this time as Millicent told you. I witnessed firsthand your interactions with Bradley. That’s when Clive, the leader of the Seekers, told me about you and your past experiences with spirits. I was captivated by the fact that you didn’t recognize him as a ghost,” he sighed.

“Then of course, there was Adam. That was a huge mystery to all of us. I told you we were amazed with your friendship with Cheveyo but this relationship with Adam was even more shocking. He loved you so much that his boundaries changed. Before he met you he was being pulled back to his boundary in the city. He was not an evil ghost but he wanted to be. He tried but he was not very good at it. His friends, Millicent and Joshua, wanted him back home and he was losing the fight. My abilities had no effect on Adam once he met you. His friends could no longer reach him. It was unusual because he wasn’t breaking any rules yet his boundary no longer existed. He was able to stay with you. He was free to fall in love with you. We were shocked that you returned his love.

Unfortunately the shockers didn’t end there. The fact that he was able to make love to you stunned us. If this information was to get into the wrong hands, who knew how many phantoms would try and copy him. He had to be stopped. I just couldn’t do it. I decided to protect him instead. I wouldn’t allow any other spirits near you after that. It was becoming a full time job and honestly it still is. That is why I have to leave so often. They are drawn to you more than you know.

Do you see now? It is because of you that these phantoms are being released from their bonds to this world. It is a good thing, trust me. Your power is deeply respected. It is because of your ability that you are wanted so badly by the Seekers,” he paused, waiting to see my reactions to all he had said. I had gone through so many memories listening to him talk about my past like he was there watching me. I know that they weren’t really there, but they must have been close enough or other spirits were there. I guessed it was similar to how I knew the story of the couple dancing in the restaurant and the picnic horror scene. I didn’t know how I felt about Hayden knowing everything about my life. Did he know everything about my family too?

“I wasn’t spying on you, if that is what you’re thinking. A lot of the information we have is from our Seekers and what the spirits allowed them to know. I met you the first time at Shelly’s. When I decided to introduce myself to you at that party, I had to cloud your memory of me. I didn’t want to scare you and I knew I couldn’t lose you. I did see you a number of times with Adam, I am sorry for that. I was as captivated as he was. I couldn’t take him away from you. I didn’t want to hurt you. I knew you would never forgive me if I did,” he explained.

I appreciated this answer to my unasked question. We sat in silence for a long time. I knew I had more questions but I couldn’t put them into words right now. Adam was on my mind. As much as I loved Hayden now, Adam was my first love, my beautiful savior. I missed him. I pulled myself together knowing he was gone from me now. That’s when my questions returned to me.

“Who are these Seekers?” I asked. He nodded understanding my interest in whatever he could tell me about them.

“The Seekers have been around for as long as there have been humans dying. They were just unorganized and unaware of what they were supposed to do. Over many years they have gained control of their abilities, gathering people together with the same talents. Some of them are very old, very wise but very old. We still don’t know for sure how long we can actually live so we are constantly looking for new Seekers. You have been chosen. We need you to add young blood to our assembly. Your talents are better than any of ours. We need to know how the light will help you. What more will you be able to do and see?” he paused as he looked into my eyes. He seemed excited but I wasn’t too sure if I really wanted to see more.

“The center of our operations is situated in South America. They are in a very remote area, deep in the woods. Access is only available by plane. The light is held and protected there. It is stored hundreds of feet underground. Access is limited to only a few. If word got out that this light could make you strong and young forever we could have a battle on our hands. The gift is only given to a precious few that can be trusted, aside from benefiting in the harvesting of light they have to be true to the mission and not let any information leak to the wrong people. I know I said they questioned your emotional stability, but they don’t question your gift. They need you. I hope you will accept their offer,” he explained.

“If I do, what will be the next step?” I asked.

“We will travel to them. You will be sworn to secrecy and given the light. Upon your return home our orders will be sent to us occasionally when the need arises. Sometimes we will have to travel. All costs and accommodations are taken care of. They update our passports and provide for transportation, anything to make our job easier. Trust me Natalie I will always be with you, for as long as you want me to be that is,” he said looking down. I wanted to hold him but I couldn’t yet. I still needed to know more.

“How do you capture them?” I asked standing up, trying to ignore his plea for reassurance about us.

“Once we identify our phantom targets we watch them, as I’ve said to determine how aware they are of their strengths and boundaries, if any. We watch for how they create havoc and we look for their weaknesses. They all have one and that’s what we use to trap them. We then insert a Kris, which is a thin curvy knife, into their sides. It actually doesn’t really matter where on their bodies you stab them, because obviously they don’t have vital organs or blood anymore. The reason we use a Kris is because it is believed to be possessed and sacred. There is a long story to it which I will tell you eventually. Once the Seekers hand is on it and it connects with the phantom then they are subdued by the slight transfer of the light from us to them. The Seeker then has control and can see the phantom only as a globule or an orb. Once in this form we can transfer them safely to a GTV or a Globule Transport Vehicle, were they are sealed for travel. A call is made and they are picked up or in some extreme cases we have to personally escort them to the center. As far as the extracting of their light, that cannot be explained in words. You will have to experience that first hand. Trust me it is not painful or scary to watch. It is quite spectacular actually and I know you’re wondering about the souls of the captured. You will soon see that it sets them free. They are happy to leave this world. Again their binds are broken, all their hatred and anger is released and they are left unburdened and blissful. That’s not to say they will not be held accountable in the next life for I am unaware of what happens to us truly after death.”

I was satisfied that he had told me as much as he could. He was looking at me, searching my eyes for a reaction. A stared at him, noticing his deep blue eyes had little specks of grey in them. Why had I not noticed that before? His dark hair even seemed lighter, softer. I couldn’t resist him anymore. I couldn’t ignore my desire to touch him and hold him any longer. I slowly reached my hand up and ran my fingers through his hair. His eyes closed as he gently held his hand on top of mine. I ran a finger down his cheek, outlining his high cheekbones and defined chin. I touched his lips with my fingers. He held the back of my head carefully pulling me towards him. I couldn’t resist even if I wanted to. I kissed him. His enthusiasm matched mine as he swiftly pulled me onto him. We belonged together. The decision was made long before we met. Who was I to change our fate?

15. THE JOURNEY

I awoke the next morning to Hayden lying on his side watching me sleep. He was smiling and stroking my arm. I sighed, feeling very content. He grinned at me as I snuggled closer to him. He was staring at me as if he wanted to take in every moment. He inhaled deeply and then rolled over on to his back.

“We have to prepare to leave today Natalie,” he told me.

“Where are we going?” I was nervous now. Why did we have to go? I was relieved that he did say we though. I couldn’t imagine being away from him now.

“We will be leaving tonight after I have secured their newest request.” He was looking up at the ceiling as though he had more on his mind than he was telling me.

“Do you need my help?” I asked already knowing his response.

“I can’t allow you to help me yet, as much as I wish you could. You have to meet me when it’s over. I will give you a detailed map and have you drive there later this morning. I need to gauge how long it will take you and you’ll need to know exactly which route to take to get there.” I frowned at his plan.