Shadow Keeper (32 page)

I paused in front of the bathroom mirror. Hand prints smeared the glass. I looked closer, half expecting to see my father’s imprint next to mine, but there were too many finger smudges to distinguish.

I flipped on the shower faucet and closed the glass door. While the water heated, I brushed my teeth. As soon as I jumped into the tub, I noticed the adjustable head. I cranked it to the hardest setting and let the hot water beat on the muscles in my back. Between fighting a demon in my nightmare and getting tackled on the football field, my body ached.

I searched for something to wash away the sweat. A variety of body cleansers and shampoo bottles, along with pink and purple scrubbies, littered the windowsill and corners of the tub. The first bottle I opened smelled like peaches. A nice fragrance for Lisa, but not me. I wanted something neutral. By the time I finished opening all the bottles, the steaming tub enclosure smelled like a hot house for exotic flowers. I settled on the sliver of white soap I found tucked behind a bottle.

Clean and energized, I hopped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. I jerked open the door, hoping to dash back to the bedroom without being spotted, but Monica, wearing red silky looking pajamas, stood by her bedroom door.

“Good god.” Her hand pressed to her chest. “You startled me.”

“Sorry, Monica.” I hurried past her. “I didn’t know anyone was up.”

“What is that?” She was hot on my heels. “Are you injured?”

“I always have bruises after a football game,” I said before shutting the door.

The bedroom door flew open. She stood in the doorway. “That is not a bruise.”

“Monica!” I held the bunched up towel in front of me with one hand and grabbed the open door with the other. “I’d like some privacy if you don’t mind.”

“Who gave you that mark?”

Lisa appeared in the doorway and looked over her mom’s shoulder. “What’s going on?”

“How did you get that red mark on your chest?” Monica demanded.

I tried to shut the door, but she leaned against it. To close it, I’d have to use two hands, but that meant the towel would drop to the floor. “Do you really want Lisa seeing me like this?”

“I’ve already seen it.” Lisa took a step back when her mom gasped.

“Good god! What have the two of you been doing behind my back?”

“He doesn’t know what it is, Mom.” Lisa chewed at her lip. “And he doesn’t know how powerful it can be.”

“I sure hope you’re both talking about this scar on my chest.”

Monica’s head snapped around and she glared at me. “Get dressed,” she ordered before slamming the door.

Their bickering voices faded down the hallway. I yanked on jeans and a tee. Attending church this morning no longer seemed like an option. I grabbed a pair of rolled up socks and both shoes before heading to the living room.

“Yes, Mom. I saw it on him when we first met.” Lisa sat in the recliner, holding a glass of orange juice. “I didn’t tell you about it because he doesn’t know what it is.”

I flopped down on the couch. “I suppose you want to ask me about this scar.”

Monica paced across the rug while I tied my shoelaces. “Lisa told me that mark on your chest is a result of a burn you received as a child, and you have no idea of the importance the symbol represents.”

“I’m beginning to get a feeling it’s important to you.”

Her lips twisted together. “According to studies of certain Native American culture, that symbol is only worn by very powerful medicine men.”

“I’m not a medicine man.”

“But you are Native American.

I nodded. “My great grandmother was full blooded on my father’s side.”

“What tribe?”

“I don’t know. My mom won’t talk about it.”

“Exactly how did you get that mark?”

“I don’t remember the incident.” I didn’t want to tell her more until I talked to my mom. Without her help, I wouldn’t be able to do anything. “I was only two years old at the time of the fire.”

“And you’re telling me you have no idea the significance of the symbol?”

“Charles Bishop told me a little about it. He thought the demon was intimidated by the powerful influence of the symbol and showed his scabby face last night to frighten me away.”

“Oh, god. Last night.” Her hand covered her face. “I was so afraid I’d have nightmares about that thing.”

“I have nightmares every night. That filthy demon shows up and attacks me. I don’t know how to prevent him from invading my dreams.”

One dark eyebrow lifted. “You don’t have someone to help you? Perhaps a relative, or someone on your father’s side who has certain abilities?”

“I suspect my grandfather, and even my father, had knowledge of the dream realm, but they both died several years ago. And unless I have the ability to conjure up visions from the spirit world, I don’t see any other way to communicate with the dead.”

Chapter Forty

I walked to the church and waited for my family to show up. When Mom drove by, everyone inside the car spotted me and waved. She maneuvered the car into a parking spot on the other side of the street. I stepped off the curb to join them, but stopped when a car turned the corner and headed in our direction.

“Brendon,” Stevie shouted.

“Wait.” I held up one hand to stop him. When the road was clear, he met me in the middle of the street.

Stevie went into his karate stance. “Hiya!” With his fingers ridged and both hands held in front of him, he kicked and chopped at my legs and body.

I blocked each attempt to do me mortal injury. “You’re getting good. As soon as you put some muscle on your bones, you’re going to be awesome.”

Krystal climbed from the booster seat and ran to me.

“Hey, sweetie.” I picked her up in my arms and gave her a kiss. “You sure look pretty. Is that a new dress?”

“No, but my shoes are new.” She lifted her foot for my inspection.

“Nice.” I carried her to the sidewalk and set her down. “Stay off the wet grass so you don’t ruin those new shoes.”

Grandma met me at the curb and patted me on the cheek. “How was the Halloween party last night?”

“Scary.”

“Isn’t that what Halloween is all about?”

“Guess so,” I said, although Grandma had no idea how scary last night got.

The high heels Mom wore slowed her down. I waited for her to reach the sidewalk. “You look nice. Do you have on something new also?”

“Not hardly. I dug out a few of my winter clothes. It’s getting nippy in the mornings.” She tugged at the waistband of the gray dress. “I think I might’ve put on a few pounds since last year.”

“You don’t look it.”

“You’re sweet.” She glanced at my tee shirt and jeans. “What happened to your good clothes? I thought you took them with you yesterday?”

“Something’s come up.”

Her eyebrows furled as she stared at me. She glanced at everyone gathered on the sidewalk before turning to Grandma. “Would you take the kids into church? I’ll be right there.”

Mom could read me too well. This wasn’t just a request to play hooky from church and she knew it. I nodded across the street. “Let’s go back to the car.”

We walked without talking until we reached the other side. Mom leaned against the front fender. “What’s wrong?”

“Maybe you should sit down.”

She grabbed my arm. “What happened?”

“Nothing bad.” When she let out her held breath, I continued. “I saw Dad last night.”

“John?” Her eyes closed. She pressed her fingers to her forehead. “How…was he?”

“He looked great. The same as he always did.”

“Of course.” Her hand dropped to her side. “I suppose he would appear in your dreams the way you last remembered him.”

“This wasn’t a dream, and it wasn’t a vision. He was real and stood on the other side of the mirror. We talked for several minutes.”

Her gaze locked onto mine. “What did the two of you talk about?”

I wished I could say Dad asked about her and said he loved her. I knew he did—he loved us all, but if I said anything other than the truth, Mom would know I lied. I glanced at the pavement. “My future.”

“Hmm.” She turned and walked to the back of the car. “Your college education, no doubt.”

“Come on, Mom.” I followed her around the car. “Why are you making this difficult?”

“This is about Lisa’s father, isn’t it?”

“How’d you know?”

“The day after I met her, I started doing some checking. I learned quite a bit about her parents.” She turned back to me. “Did you know her father is in 3B North?”

“Yes. I visited him there.” I glanced away from her. “He tried to attack me.”

Her hand was back on my arm. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, but he knocked Lisa and her mother around.” I looked into her eyes. “Her father is possessed by a demon. If I said this to anyone else, they’d think I was crazy, but you understand. I’ve had the same nightmares every night for a month about this filthy creature. I’ve also had visions of her father, or at least, the shadow of her father. He asked me to take care of his family.”

“Lisa knows about your gift.”

I shook my head.

“She has to. At the picnic, she asked too many questions about your father and the kind of work he did. She also knew he kept a journal.”

“She’s seen my scar, but that’s all.”

“What about her mother? Has she seen it?”

“Yes, but neither one of them knows about my gift or the visions.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“It doesn’t matter. Lisa’s father is possessed by a demon. He asked for my help. I can’t stand by and do nothing.”

“There’s nothing you can do. You don’t know how.”

“Dad showed me what I need to do to prepare for an exorcism, but he told me I can’t do it alone. He said to ask you, and you would help.”

“He’s wrong.” She turned away. “I won’t help you.”

Mom was hurting. I didn’t need a special gift to see her heart and know the pain she suffered. She didn’t want me involved in the same thing that took my father from us.

“I understand.” I put my hands on her shoulders and leaned around to kiss her on the cheek. “I’ll be home for dinner.”

She whirled around. “Where are you going?

“No where. Just taking a walk.”

“You’re going to see Lisa.” It was a statement, not a question.

“I won’t lie to you. I’m going to her house.”

“She’s just taking advantage of the gift you possess. She’ll get you killed. I told you that already.”

“Mom, she’s not taking advantage of me.”

“You can’t see it because you’re too close, but she is.”

“Is that why you won’t help? Because you think Lisa is using me just to help her father?”

She shrugged. “Partly, and the fact that I don’t want you to get killed.”

“Without your help, I probably will.”

She grabbed my arm. “Then don’t attempt it.”

I took a deep breath and let it out with a huff. “I’m stuck in the middle of this, and I don’t see any other way out. I want to help Lisa and her father, but I also want these nightmares to end. If I do nothing, I’m afraid that ugly demon will torment me forever.”

“It won’t be forever.”

“Mom.” I shook my head as the frustration mounted. “That’s not much consolation, and not just for me. Lisa and her mother suffer also. Can you turn your back on them?”

“That depends. There’s a difference between helping, and being used.”

“You think I’m using you?”

“Not you. Them.”

“So it comes back to that.” I leaned against the car. “I’ll make you a bargain. Come with me and talk to Lisa and her mother. Ask them anything you want and decide for yourself.”

She made a chuckling noise. “They could always lie.”

“Maybe, but not Lisa. Her emotions show on her face. She’s real easy to read. If she’s lying, you’ll see it.” I gave her a fake punch on the arm. “This ought to be a piece of cake for you. You’ve been reading me for years, and I’ve never been able to put one over on you.”

“That’s because you’re a good kid.” She patted my cheek. “Lying doesn’t come easy for you.”

“The same goes for Lisa. Come talk with her. If you still believe she’s trying to use me to help her father, I’ll walk away and that will be the end of it.”

Without speaking, she paced the blacktop.

“Is it a deal?” I asked.

She reached into her purse and pulled out the car keys. “You drive.”

Chapter Forty–One

The ride to Lisa’s house took less than five minutes. Mom jumped out of the car and beat me to the doorbell even in her high heels. I figured she must be anxious to get this over with.