Chapter 12
Sunday Morning …
The next day Queenie woke to a cloudy sky. Memories of the previous afternoon visiting with Kirk over lunch filled her mind. It had been nice, pleasant. More than pleasant if she were honest. Almost like when they’d been dating. Even better now as they were both different people—older, wiser. Yet the connection was still there. A happy sigh escaped. It was nice.
As she lay here, something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. She jerked back to see a spider on her bedspread. “Uh-oh, it’s you again,” she said, sneaking out from under the covers. “What do you want? Why couldn’t you have been a butterfly or something a lot easier to deal with? Why a spider?”
But as the spider sat on her blanket and stared at her, she looked a little closer, studying its body and realizing it looked very similar to the one from her amusement park tent. Could it be the same one? Surely not. She’d seen dozens the other morning. She glanced around nervously. “Where are the rest of your friends?”
It was one thing to deal with them when you saw them first, but having them come out of dark corners really got her.
She knew after her previous encounters she should be more used to them, but somehow they still unnerved her.
“Just stay there until I get back,” she whispered, walking backward to the bathroom. Inside she gave her teeth a good brushing before stepping out of her pajamas and into a hot shower.
As soon as she scrubbed down and shampooed her hair several times, she turned off the water and stepped out, wrapping herself in a towel. She usually avoided looking in a mirror. For some reason, seeing her reflection, or maybe the lack of her reflection, bothered her. She knew it had something to do with her abilities. But the outline always looked blurred to her. She didn’t know what the hell anybody would say to that. She’d mentioned it once to the law enforcement mandatory doctor, more as a joke than anything. Dr. Hutchinson hadn’t taken it as a joke, and she’d apologized and then shut up. He’d monitored her mental health seasonally for all the years she’d been an advisor, and she’d seen him a couple times after that last case blew up, then once after Reese’s death.
At that point, she’d decided she was better off on her own. Not that the good doctor had done anything but try to help her, but, if she were honest, what she did was outside the parameters of his reality, and, therefore, any help he had to offer didn’t really apply.
What she wanted was to have a group of peers. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a circle of people with abilities like hers, or similar to hers, to discuss the challenges? Because, damn, there were a lot of them.
She braided her hair, then headed back to the bedroom. Her gaze zinged to the bedspread, only to find the spider had disappeared.
She pulled on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and walked out to the kitchen. There she put on her habitual pot of coffee and booted up her laptop. While both were doing their jobs, she headed out on the balcony and took several deep breaths of the fresh air. It smelled like rain, but it felt like something else, darker, like some ugliness brewed on the horizon. She frowned and stood there for a moment, checking in with her senses to see if anything was coming to her, looking for her own vision. It was much harder to view her own world.
When she couldn’t pick up anything unusual, she stepped inside and poured herself a cup of coffee, then went to the table to check the laptop. Just about to sit down, she saw the spider on the kitchen table. She glared at it. “How the hell did you get out here?”
Of course it was a foolish question. As she walked to the sink, she saw the spider again. She glanced over at the table and groaned. “Now there are two of you? So where is the rest of your army?”
She filled a glass with water only to see a third spider. She stepped back against the fridge, her gaze going from one spider to the other to the other. “If you guys have a convention at my place, just let me know ahead of time, and I’ll happily vacate,” she called out in an effort at light humor.
Maybe you should look at why they’re there instead, Stefan said quietly, his voice resonating through her head.
“You’re just as freaky, dropping in like that,” she called out. Then remembering Stefan’s earlier instructions, she spoke through her mind connection with Stefan. Can you see them?
No, I’m not in your room. I’m just telecommuting with you.
Is there a whole group of you? I would really love to connect with other psychics.
Haven’t you before? Only curiosity could be heard in his tone.
She shook her head as she stepped lightly, getting closer to the coffeepot. Watching the nearest spider, she moved her hand forward until it lifted a leg at her. She bounced back. No, I haven’t been so lucky. Is there one who deals with spiders?
You’ve asked me that before. The answer is still no. I don’t know anybody who connects with spiders.
Too bad, she snapped. If somebody does out there, I’d really like to know why the spiders are haunting me. I see visions of the little boy, but nothing I can use. Two nights ago I touched several spiders to see if they had a message for me. She quickly explained the vision she saw. But there’s been nothing since. Only this morning I’m seeing them again.
How many do you see now? he asked curiously.
Three. And then she caught herself. Unless there’s a fourth one still on my bed. I don’t know if it’s one of these guys or not.
But you had more before? Interesting.
She walked to her laptop, grabbed it with her free hand and strode into the living room. She searched the area, looking for a spider, but there didn’t appear to be any. Yeah, that about sums it up. The other night there were dozens of them. I don’t understand why they are here or what they want. That they might have been sent by someone is another curious possibility because I can’t for the life of me understand why. She sank down in her chair, placed the coffee on the floor beside her and opened up her laptop. I need a spider specialist.
I don’t know one, but I did come for a specific reason.
Yeah? What’s that? She sifted through her emails, not seeing anything of interest, though there were a couple about the website. Eagerly she went to click on one.
I need your help.
She froze. What do you mean, my help?
Remember the patient you sent to Dr. Maddy?
Yeah, of course. Do you have a progress report? She bounced to her feet and paced her living room. Because that would be freaking awesome if she could help.
Well then, be prepared to be awesomized, Stefan said humorously. She did, indeed, see him. And that’s one of the reason’s I’m contacting you. She found something … odd. There was a pause, as if he were collecting his thoughts.
She brightened. Is it a good odd? Is there anything she can do for him?
What did you see when you saw his little girl?
I’m not sure I saw anything. I did get the answer to their question, but it was basically that they needed to see Dr. Maddy.
Dr. Maddy thinks he’s being poisoned.
She gasped in horror. Oh, my God! Will he be okay?
It depends whether we can find out who’s poisoning him.
Queenie frowned. Usually there’s a certain amount of energy when I see murderous intent like that, but I’d normally have to have a connection to him, like touching him.
True. I would normally see that too. But I’m not seeing it in this case. Neither is Dr. Maddy.
So other people see it the same way I do?
I don’t know. We all see things differently. And then some people have the ability to mask what they are doing.
But, if it’s evil energy, then I generally see something.
Right, that’s what I was thinking too. So how is somebody poisoning him if it’s not done on purpose?
Chances are it’s accidental, she said cautiously. As in, giving him something they think is good for him, but it’s hurting him instead. Or maybe eating food that’s doing it? Other than that, no clue.
We haven’t found anything either. He paused. So back to the spiders. Do you have anything you can give to the police to find the little boy?
The first time I saw the spider, I thought I heard a little boy crying for his mommy. This time the boy was scared as someone approached, but he was okay in the vision. What came afterward, I can’t say as the vision stopped there. Honestly I don’t know that I want to see. I can’t handle anything bad happening to little kids.
Stefan was quiet. Are you sure you heard and saw this? His voice was very gentle.
She nodded and choked back the tears ever threatening to fill her eyes at the thought of that little boy. Yes, I’m certain. But I didn’t recognize the voice. I’m not crazy, she said firmly. And I’m not thinking it was my son or anything else like that, but obviously any cases involving terrified little boys will trigger a strong response from me. Too strong if the truth be told. What could she do to help him?
Back when you helped the police, were there any cases with missing children?
Lots, she said bluntly.
One that would be close to that age, maybe a baby back then?
She frowned and cast her mind back to the multitudes of cases she’d worked on. I don’t think there were any that weren’t solved, she said slowly. I mean, it’s possible. We certainly had enough, and I know I didn’t work on all of them by any means.
No, but for you to have heard that voice, you’d think there would need to be a connection.
But what kind of a connection? she asked. I don’t remember having had physical contact with this boy, although my abilities are changing, and I don’t always need to touch.
It might not need to be that at all. It could be a boy that you, at one time, held his hand. Maybe he was kidnapped afterward.
She made a startled sound. If you’re talking about a boy from one of the cases I knew of or worked on, that could involve any number of possibilities.
Exactly, Stefan said. How are you doing with the reframing?
She shook her head. I haven’t had much time to practice. Things at the amusement park blew up. It’s dominated my thoughts. Although Stefan was silent, she almost heard him hum. Are you reading my thoughts?
Your energy, he said calmly, as if unaware or uncaring that he might be intruding. And I’m not intruding. If you don’t cloak your thoughts, they’re open for anyone to read.
Is that how that asshole is watching me, or stepping into my world, seeing what I’m doing?
No, Stefan said slowly. That has to be something else.
Why?
Because you have a unique defense system that I’m not even sure you’re aware of.
I didn’t think I had much of any defense system, she cried out. Isn’t that why David could get closer to me? I always struggled to get rid of all these memories and the people crying out to me.
Explain.
She was coming to realize that direct curtness was just Stefan’s way. It wasn’t an order but not exactly a request. It was somewhere in between yet given in a way he knew she would answer. When I do readings for people, it’s like I’m collecting bits and pieces of them, she said, slowly trying to formulate what the problem was. So, when I wake up in the middle of the night, it’s often the messages I gave them that are running through my mind.
As if the message was wrong? Or as if you wanted to change something?
No, not like that, she said. It’s just not being able to forget them. Not being able to move on. Having them sit there in my thoughts and drag me down.
After you let go of somebody’s hand, what do you usually do?
Bewildered, she said, I give them their message. I usually give my hand a shake because it always buzzes.
So then you need to make sure, when you give your hand a shake, you’re mentally shaking off their energy too.
I do that too, she protested. But it doesn’t always seem to work.
Does it not work with any particular people?
She frowned, not quite understanding.
Is it always children for example?
She thought about that. It’s mostly children. But I don’t think it’s always children.
So maybe just the ones that touch you a little more?
She nodded. I think so. Like the little boy with the cone over his head. I’m sure he’s passed into the realm after this by now, she said sadly. But he was so full of life.
But death is not an end. We have to remember that. How often have you seen the cones?
She shrugged. Maybe a half dozen times?
He nodded. Interesting. Not very many people see those.
Why not?
That’s seeing the actual life force around a person. It’s one thing to give a message, and it’s another to see auras, but seeing that death cone is deeper than both.
Maybe, but it’s what I see, she said. I don’t have any training in this stuff. I just see what I see.
You’ve trained yourself. The more you use these abilities, the more abilities you have. They grow. They develop. They change over time, over distance.
That last one was a concept she almost grasped but struggled with. Over distance?
The time spectrum. In the energy world, time is of little consequence, as is distance. There are spaces between spaces, physical worlds related to nothing but more energy.
So you’re talking about the in-between?
What do you know about in-between?
Not much. A couple times I had some really bizarre experiences, and I wondered what the hell was going on, but I didn’t really stay long enough to see anything.
What was it like?
It was gray, almost a silvery light. I thought it was the dead zone, if there is such a thing, she said with a shallow laugh. And I know that makes no sense.
Interesting, because, if you can cross into that, there’s an awful lot you can do that you probably aren’t doing yet.
But what I am doing is already very confusing, she said. I’ve never pretended to be anybody other than somebody who could get messages.
Yet you say messages as if somebody is talking to you. Is that how it is for you?
She shook her head. No. I guess I don’t get messages. I get pictures, and I interpret those pictures into messages.
And how do you interpret the pictures into messages?
I just do, she said. It’s instinctive.
There was silence again. Then she became aware of a crawling sensation on her foot.
Don’t move, Stefan urged. See what it wants.
She stared in fascination as the spider slowly crept up her pant leg. It’s the same as the others.
It will be one of the others, he corrected. A little braver, it’s on a mission.
Could you at least tell me if it’s poisonous or not?
I don’t see any energy around it to confirm that, but every animal has a defense mechanism.
Well, I don’t really want to find out the hard way, she said. She felt herself tensing, everything inside her too. It’s one thing to see them at a distance, but it’s another thing for them to catch you unaware. Even after touching several of them. I’d really rather the messages came in the form of something less yucky.
But you’ve been seeing them for a long time, haven’t you?
She shook her head. No, I haven’t.
Remember the truth?
She frowned, her gaze never leaving the spider creeping slowly up to her knee. Of course I’ve seen spiders around, but I can’t say I recognize this spider.
This spider? Interesting. You’re picking up on this particular one?
I think you’re making too much of my words. I’m not saying anything exactly when I say that.
Of course you are, he said smoothly. Every word you say has meaning. And you know it.
Well, what is the meaning of every step this spider takes? She stretched out her leg, wishing the damn thing would fall off.
What are you really afraid of?
I don’t know, she said. It’s a creepy-crawly thing. I can’t stand it.
And yet you’re getting more perturbed with every one that you find. Why?
I don’t know, she cried out, her knee jiggling, instinctively trying to shake it off.
Don’t, Stefan ordered.
She sagged back on the couch and stared. Why not?
Push through the fear, he ordered. This spider is on a mission. We need to hear what it has to say. Don’t forget the little boy you saw. This spider could have another piece of the puzzle.
So you can see it?
If you would lift your eyes from the spider, you would see me too.
Hating to, but curious, and feeling compelled to follow his instructions, she lifted her gaze to stare at a glowing form in front of her. She frowned. Stefan?
He nodded, sending sparks flying off with the movement. Yes, it’s me. He motioned at the spider, little gold sparks flying toward it. There’s an energy about it. And the energy isn’t necessarily his.
What do you mean by that? she asked, her gaze returning to the spider. Do you think somebody is sending it to hurt me?
No, that’s your fear speaking. Look at it intently. What color is the aura?
She studied the spider, trying to separate from the fear choking her, looking at the color around a small ball. It was spotty. White, but it glows pink or lavender. The same as the others I saw.
Not quite. Take another look.
She peered a bit closer. Which was a little too easy to do because this thing was now midthigh. She could feel her heart slamming against her chest. I’m getting more terrified the longer I stay here, she said suddenly. It made no sense. She’d touched them several times now, and, although not her favorite activity, it didn’t make sense to be as afraid as she was now.
Focus on that energy, Stefan ordered.
She could feel her energies easing back, almost as if he’d done something to calm her down. As she looked at the pink around the spider, it seemed to glow brighter and brighter. She stared in awe. Why is it glowing? To her amazement the spider was no longer driving her fear higher and higher. What did you do to me so that I lost that panic?
Trying to help calm you down so you can see the purpose behind this spider’s visit.
And if I can’t?
You’ll get dozens and dozens more spiders until you do hear and understand why this is happening.
The thought of her walls crawling with these spiders was enough to make her cringe again. Instantly a calming wave rode down her spine. She sagged against her couch. That’s you, isn’t it?
Yes, it is. This is too important to not sort though.
There are layers of pink, she announced. And it completely surrounds the spider, despite every step he takes. There’s pink energy flying off.
And what about the eyes? Do you see anything in the eyes?
I don’t want to look that close, she said, shuddering. Besides, spiders have too damn many eyes.
Look in the general direction, he said in exasperation. Did you ever think somebody is using a spider to call for help?
You mean, that little boy is using the spiders? She shook her head. No idea. I was thinking it might be someone else, showing me the boy’s plight so I could help—because they weren’t in a position to. Realizing Stefan would want more explanation than that, she hastily added, Maybe so I could help him.
Mommy?
She froze, and, on the heels of his first cry, the little boy cried out again in her head, “Mommy, Mommy. Where are you?
She didn’t think it was possible to sink any deeper into the couch, but it was as if everything inside her drained out her big toe, and she was completely weak as she heard that voice over and over again. Finally she couldn’t stand it, and her maternal instinct kicked in. Mommy is here. It’s okay. Mommy is here.
She could feel Stefan’s sudden silence as everything inside him strained to hear what she heard. She wanted him to; she wanted Stefan’s take on what was happening. She held out her hand and said, I don’t know if this will help.
Stefan placed his hand on hers. Energy bolted up her arm, to her shoulder, across her chest and split, going up and down throughout her body.
The little boy’s voice morphed into a vision. The same little boy was lying on his bed, playing with what looked like little trucks and cars. His bed was rumpled. There was a window with a curtain. For all intents and purposes, he looked well fed and more or less okay—as in he wasn’t tied up or chained.
What’s the matter, little one?
He kept his head down as if not wanting to admit what the problem was.
Are you scared?
The little boy’s head nodded up and down. I am scared.
Why is that? she asked.
I wanted to find my mommy, and they got mad.
Her heart ached. How do you know your mommy is missing?
He gave a tiny shrug, the T-shirt over his small body barely rippled at the movement. I know she’s missing because she’s not here. She’s supposed to be here with me.
She could feel Stefan urging her to stay calm and to keep talking. She wondered if he could see the same vision. She felt a squeeze on her shoulders, realizing he could, indeed, see. She released a gentle breath and asked, What have you done to find her?
The little boy’s face scrunched up. He wiped his cheek, but his face was still downcast, so she couldn’t see who he was.
She searched the vision, looking for something that would give her a location for this little guy. Can you tell me what you did?
You’ll laugh, he whispered.
She whispered right back, My name is Queenie, and I will believe you.
There was silence for a moment, and then he said, I asked the spiders to find her.
Queenie froze, feeling the spiders. The one on her leg had somehow crawled up her arm, and she hadn’t even noticed. It sat on her elbow and stared at her. She couldn’t watch it and the vision of the little boy at the same time, so she kept her eyes on the boy. How would the spiders know how to find her?
I gave them some of my blood and told them to go find my mommy.
Do the spiders always listen?
Most of the time, he whispered, his voice getting fainter and fainter. But it’s hard for them.
Did you tell anyone else what you did?
His head bobbed up and down.
And what did they do?
They laughed, he said, his voice barely audible. Then they locked my door.
She could see the vision starting to fade. Do you know where you live? she asked urgently.
The little boy shook his head. No. It’s just a house.
Do you know what city? Do you know what town? Do you know what block you live on? Do you know your phone number?
The vision got fainter and fainter.
Look at me, she cried gently. Look at me.
Slowly, ever-so-slowly, he raised his face so he could look at her, his lips moving as he tried to speak, … but no words came out, … and then he was gone.
But it had been long enough. It had been long enough for her to see his face and to know her nightmare had just gotten so much worse.
She could feel Stefan wrapping her in his arms, but she was past moving; she was frozen, locked in place, because that little boy’s face was a mirror image of his father’s. Kirk. That little boy, locked in a bedroom, who’d spoken to spiders, was her own son. Reese.
The world closed down to the one solid fact she couldn’t let go of. Her son was alive. And that meant everything for the last three and a half years had been a lie. A lie somebody had perpetrated on her.
And what about the pinkish-lavender energy she’d believed in her innermost being was the spirit of her dead son?
She could feel her world closing in, everything becoming this black pinpoint of total darkness. That circle came ever closer and closer, and she knew, when it closed over her head, she would be out cold.
Her energy already so depleted, in her mind she whispered, Stefan, protect the spiders. They lead back to my son. And she fell unconscious.
*
Maddy? I need your help, Stefan ordered.
Maddy landed in the living room beside him. Can’t get a decent night’s sleep anyhow, can I? she said humorously. Her eyes landed on an illuminated figure in front of them. She dropped down beside Queenie and whispered, Oh, my goodness, what happened?
He explained the vision she’d seen, the truth that had been unlocked and how the spiders, even now, crawled into the room. And that he knew she’d lost a child several years ago.
Maddy looked around. My God! I’ve never seen this many spiders in one place.
Stefan continued. I had thought they would leave, not needed here once she got their message. But instead it’s like that connection and her request to me to protect the spiders has sent them all coming in at a run. He stared at the walls, even now turning black with spiders.
I’ve never really been one to love spiders, Maddy whispered, but I can see the energy within them. I can see the pink aura around them. Why? Is that energy coming from the spiders?
The little boy in the vision said he gave the spiders his blood so they could find his mother—so through his DNA, I presume, he said, his tone confused and yet exhilarated. Do you understand how powerful this little boy is? Of course it’s possible she’s not his mother but is simply receptive to his energy, he said, worried, as he stared down at the unconscious Queenie. In that case this will be incredibly hard on her.
What you mean is, how driven he is, Maddy corrected. He’s after his mother. And nothing on the face of this earth will stop him from achieving his goal. He can’t come to her himself, so he sent his soldiers to find her.
And he picked a hell of a soldier, Stefan whispered in awe. Spiders travel miles. They communicate on wavelengths we have no idea about. They understand things we can’t begin to. Somehow they found her. Does that mean the little boy is close by? I don’t know, he said, shaking his head. I was attached to her, trying to see the vision as she saw it. I saw more of a slice, a paler version of it. But there’s definitely a little boy in a room with a window and curtains. He was playing with trucks, but I detected his energy, weak and frail in his body.
And that could be because he’s pouring the bulk of his energy outward to his mother, Maddy said quietly. It doesn’t mean the little boy is in any danger or that he’s ill.
No. But, if Queenie is his mother, we have to wonder what happened to separate him from her.
Do you know her story?
No, not entirely. But I know somebody who does.
Well, you need to contact him, and we must get the details because I don’t know how to pull her out of this.
As they watched, spiders slowly crawled all over Queenie, almost like a blanket wrapping around her.
They aren’t going to bite her, are they? Maddy asked with a frown.
Stefan chuckled. Take a closer look.
She leaned in and then gasped softly. They are snuggled up, body against body, as if protecting her, she cried out in amazement.
I think that’s what they’re doing, now that they found their target. But they’re probably not sure what to do at this point. And that little boy won’t know either.
Her energy is very faint, Maddy whispered. How the hell did she hold that vision for so long?
I think the question is more about, how is it that she accesses these visions? Her methodology is one I haven’t seen before.
Maddy turned to study his face.
He smiled at her. It’s like she opens a corridor. Just a quick in and out. She sees something in somebody’s psyche, and then she’s out again.
So they’re not visions?
I think she taps into their memories or their current position or possibly even their future. Maybe all three. Who really knows?
So that’s how she understands the answers to their questions? Then Maddy’s features paled with shock. She doesn’t open a worm hole, does she? Maddy asked in fascination. If she’s this talented to tap into somebody’s future and into their past, no wonder the little boy is as strong as he is—if he’s hers. She stared at Stefan. If he is, that’s incredible. But, if he isn’t, that’ll be a terrible shock for her.
Oh, I’m pretty sure he’s hers. The spiders alone prove that. He pulled Maddy back ever-so-slightly. It was a good thing they weren’t in physical form because the entire floor was covered in spiders.
They’re wrapping around her like a protective suit of armor, she said in awe. I’ve never seen anything like this.
I don’t think we ever will again. This is the son’s love for his mother. This is a mother’s love for her son. A bond that was denied and broken, or attempted to be broken, he said, correcting himself. And this just proves that love does beat everything else.
We have to help them, Maddy cried out.
I know. Can you boost her energy? Give her a dose of something?
Maddy studied the woman on the couch. Oh my, I don’t think it’s necessary, she said, her voice enthralled. Her energy is already strengthening, as if the spiders are giving their energy to her.
Or giving her the little bit of her son’s that they each have. Queenie was broken over the loss of her son. Which is to be expected. But that loss affected her abilities, so, when she tried to connect with his spirit, they’d changed. She not only opened up to her abilities, but she forged new pathways. She’d always had that communication with her son. She always kept that tunnel open, and, once the tunnel was cut with his separation from her, his supposed death, she took that energy and fired it off on many neural paths that we’ve never seen the likes of before.
Well, she’s definitely one of us then, Maddy said softly. We certainly collect the odd ducks.
And the incredibly talented ones.
Maddy stepped back. The spiders are doing for her something I can’t, she said. She’s in good hands at the moment.
Okay, I’ll contact Kirk. He should have more information on what’s happening.
Right, he contacted me regarding the patient being poisoned.
He’s also involved in another way.
What way is that?
Stefan sighed. He’s the little boy’s father.
Kirk woke slowly. He didn’t know why he was so tired. It had taken him a long time to go to sleep, but he thought he’d slept well once he finally got there. When he woke, finding a stranger at the end of his bed, he bolted out of it, reaching for his holster that held his weapon. “Who the fuck are you?” he roared.
“My name is Stefan,” the man in front of him said calmly. He crossed his arms over his chest. “I suggest you look closer.”
Kirk tried to wipe away the cobwebs of sleep to deal with the fact a man stood in his bedroom. A man he’d heard of but hadn’t met. “Look closer at what?” he said.
“At me.”
Cautious, realizing the man had made no threatening moves toward him, even if he had somehow gotten into his bedroom, Kirk stepped forward, his gaze locking on the man’s features, then frowned. “What the hell?”
“What do you see?” Stefan asked curiously.
“The dresser in the mirror behind you.” He shook his head. “Am I still dreaming?”
“You, who have spent years working with Queenie, are asking that? Have you not learned anything?”
Kirk stiffened. “How do you know Queenie?”
“I just came from her place,” Stefan said. “That’s why I’m here. You need to get over there right now.”
Kirk was already pulling on his jeans from yesterday. He walked around Stefan, whose translucent body allowed him to see everything in the room through him. “Are you a ghost?” A lot of things in life had terrified him, but they were usually related to crazy men holding weapons on innocent women and children. He never imagined he’d have a ghost in his room.
“No,” Stefan said. “I’m as alive as you and Queenie are.”
“Is Queenie okay?” He pulled out a clean white T-shirt from his drawer, yanked it over his head, grabbed a pair of socks and tugged them on while he waited for this entity to answer.
“No,” Stefan said thoughtfully. “Although she is healing now.”
Kirk was in the process of grabbing his holster, putting it on. He spun and asked, “What are you talking about?”
“She saw another vision. I was there too.”
Kirk shook his head. “What are you talking about? How could you be there too? You mean, you both saw the same vision? I didn’t think that was possible.”
“We both saw the same vision. But the only reason I saw her vision was because I had joined my energy to her.”
Kirk couldn’t help himself from stiffening. That seems oddly intimate.
“Oh, it’s intimate,” Stefan said, “but not on a sexual level.”
Hating the heat of the flush that must be rising on his cheeks, and ignoring for the moment that this guy read his thoughts, Kirk shrugged it away. “And what was this vision about?”
“Spiders,” Stefan said gently. “Lots and lots of spiders.”
“She’s been completely obsessed with spiders lately,” Kirk snapped. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Well, prepare yourself for when you get there.”
Kirk grabbed his wallet and keys. He stopped and turned back to Stefan. “Prepare myself for what? Just exactly what happened during this visit and this vision?” he asked.
“If you give me two minutes, I’ll explain as best I can.”
Stefan proceeded to fill his head with something he never even thought was possible. “Her son? Are you sure she said it was her son?”
Stefan’s form nodded, bit of flashes happening at his every move.
Kirk was fascinated. He’d never seen anything like this man in front of him or his abilities. “You know it’s not possible, right?” And then he thought about what he’d said. “Or maybe her son is a ghost? Because he’s dead. We all know that for sure.”
Stefan smiled. “The longer I spend in this world, the more I realize I know nothing for sure.”
“Are you saying her child is alive?” Kirk barked, his heart shaking at the thought. “It almost destroyed her to lose that little boy. We can’t fill her head with hope and have her lose him again.” Then he realized what he was saying. “And, if he is alive, I want to know what the hell happened …”
“And again I can’t say anything for sure at this point,” Stefan said. “But, with the best of my ability, and hers, I’m going to say that little boy, whoever he is, is alive. Is he her son? I can’t say for sure.” Then he said, “And there’s one other thing you need to know.”
Kirk headed to the front door. He’d heard enough. The thought of her being covered in spiders was enough to make his stomach churn. He had no problem with spiders, but he knew she was terrified of them. For all he knew, she was unconscious, in shock.
“No, I said she’s fine. She’s not in shock. The spiders are helping her. What you cannot do is disturb her when you get there.”
Kirk flung open the door and turned to look at him. “Then what the hell is it that you want me to do?”
“Be there for her,” Stefan said quietly, following Kirk to the front door.
It was so bizarre for Kirk to look at this man whose form seemed to be fading. The hallway and kitchen were coming through him stronger and stronger. “And why should I do that?”
Stefan sighed. “It shouldn’t be me who tells you this. But I feel like I have no choice.”
When he didn’t say anything else, Kirk shrugged and said, “So are you going to tell me? I have to get to Queenie.”
“Yes, you do have to go to Queenie. You have to look after her. And you have to find that little boy,” Stefan ordered.
“I’ll do my best obviously,” Kirk said. “But you haven’t said why?”
“Because that little boy is wearing your face.” And, with that, Stefan disappeared.