Holly And Ivy Read online

  I wished none of this had ever happened and I was normal.

  Or as normal as I'd been before TC.

  "Where is he?"

  The question startled me and I found the little girl was beside me again. He's in the hospital. In a coma. And it's all my fault.

  She frowned. "Did you do something to him?"

  No. But he was hurt saving me.

  "Then why are you afraid for him to see you?"

  It's not like that. I'm afraid of seeing him.

  "You've got it backwards."

  What?

  But she just bounced again and giggled and vanished.

  No smoke. No mirrors.

  Just...poof.

  Damn I hated that.

  The music changed again, and the tune returned to the previous one where it started low and then built. I didn't see Ivy again. Instead I started looking around the jewelry cases. There were so many things there...nice little trinkets I wanted to get Mom.

  Even a few I'd like to have myself. That is if I wore a lot of jewelry. But that's never been the case with me. Not much into the adornments. Kinda like wearing nail polish. I can't do that either. I can feel the polish on my nails.

  Ew.

  After creeping myself out about nail polish, I moved away from the case and meandered back up to the front where the box of bears sat. As I stared at them I noticed the music had stopped. Had the CD stopped? And with the music gone I thought I could hear the faint cadence of chanting.

  I would like to have believed it was caroling outside—but that only happened in the movies. I don't think I've ever seen actual carolers...period.

  With a sigh I figured I'd do better to just stand up front near the closest exit and price bears. I mean...what kind of trouble could I get into with that?

  The building cracked and popped, almost like pine did when burned in a fireplace. I could see outside through the window behind the counter—the trees moving in the wind. I gave an involuntary shudder as I watched and a part of me wanted to slip right out of this body and hide in a pot.

  Geez...why was I so spooked? It wasn't like I was being visited by three ghosts.

  I thought about the little girl and her clothes, a distinct indication of the past. So...if something from the present appeared. I eyeballed the bears eyeballing me.

  That's it, I'm waiting in the car.

  Now I'd seen Rhonda check that front door. I'd heard her lock it. So when the damned thing blew open as I was walking around the desk in front of the fireplace, and it slammed against the wall, dislodging a few items on shelves, I screamed like a little girl.

  It was a very quiet little girl—but I was sure they heard me on another plane.

  I also scrambled backwards for a bit, posing in fear with the fireplace at my back. Frigid, cold wind blew in and I stood there with wide, terrified eyes, shaking, as dead leaves and debris were kicked inside and the wind rattled chimes from inside the other room.

  Once common sense kicked in (hey, no jokes please), I moved forward and grabbed the door. With an effort I pushed it shut again and turned the deadbolt which I know Rhonda had done before.

  The store had an eerie, silent quality for a few seconds before—

  Zzzzzzz....

  I froze. What was that noise?

  It started as a low hum, but quickly built into something a little more deafening. I was still standing by the door, my weight pressed against it, my back to the fireplace.

  ZZZzzzzzz....

  Oh god. It sounded like...

  Snoring?

  The noise built slowly as I turned around and realized it was coming from the box of bears. They were all looking at me...and snoring.

  ZZZZZZZZZZ......

  I was sure I saw a few of them move in the pile—and if there was anything I hated—besides clowns—it was stuffed animals moving. If it ain't designed to laugh and giggle and poop its pants and then it starts doing it all on it's own...without batteries...without the battery tabs pulled?

  I was so out of there. I ran to the door which closed before I could run through. I yanked on the knob a few more times but it wasn't going to budge.

  And the bears were snoring louder!

  I moved so fast past that fireplace and back into the main store I was surprised I didn't leave my body on the floor. My heart thundered inside of my head as my imagination replayed images of stuffed teddy bears climbing out of the box and marching toward me, surrounding me, and then holding me down while they tried to make me one of their own by stuffing me.

  GAH!

  I paused in front of the window where I'd talked to Ivy. I thought about ducking in there and shutting the doors. Teddy bears were small and they couldn't reach door handles...unless they stood on top of each other and then turned the knob slowly—

  "Are you all right?"

  I did it. Screamed again. Silent but deafening as I whirled around and caught sight of a young man standing by the large windows in the magic room. The only illumination came from that window, the floodlight from the outside streaming in to cast the room in shadows.

  He was young—maybe nineteen? Twenty? And his hair was a sandy blonde and combed neatly to one side. I couldn't really make out his clothes, but he looked like he was dressed like Ivy—

  You're another ghost.

  He gave me a half smile. "Yes. And you're..." he frowned. "What exactly are you?"

  Wraith. I took a few hesitant steps toward him and waved aside any questions. Long story. Are you like Ivy? I mean, do you haunt this place?

  "Ivy? Who's Ivy?" He offered me his hand. "My name is Hal Lee."

  I came even closer and was amazed at how solid he was. More solid than I think I'd ever seen Tim or Steve manifest. I doubted my physical hand would actually touch his so I did something that later creeped my mom out when I told her. I slipped my Wraith hand out of my physical hand and was able to grasp his. Zoë Martinique. I'm not your average...acquaintance.

  His hand was firm...if not cold as stone. Once he let go I slipped my hand back into my body just like slipping a hand back into a glove to warm it up. Weird. So you don't know Ivy? This wouldn't be that odd, really. I'd learned from Rhonda over the past month that not all ghosts or shades were aware of each other. If they existed on different planes or spectrums then they were totally oblivious to other ghosts.

  Sometimes even those on the physical plane.

  He shook his head slowly. "No. I don't know anybody here. Why were you running?"

  I pointed toward the door. There are possessed bears out there.

  He raised his eyebrows. "Possessed bears? Like in Teddy Bears?" Hal laughed. "What are you really afraid of."

  Huh? I stepped closer. I'm not making that up. All those bears started snoring.

  But he just smiled. "Why are you so sad? Why aren't you happy that the light is returning? The God is born again as a babe."

  Light? Babe? Uhm... oh great. Christmas. Jesus' birth. Just my luck to find a religious ghost. A holy ghost, but not The Holy ghost. I put up both my hands and stepped back. Oh no, look. I'm not into all that, okay? I mean I'm Catholic, don't get me wrong. I believe in God, in some way I guess. But you see...I've seen things that've turned my hair white, and I gestured to the ever-present streak in my hair. And right now the only thing I can think of is whether my boyfriend is going to live to even see the new year.

  Hal nodded. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the window. "I don't think that's it."

  I blinked at him. Excuse me?

  He tilted his head to the side. "I think you're afraid—of something else. You're afraid he will wake up."

  I stared at this kid.

  "And he won't want to see you."

  Now I took a step back. No...that's not it. But there was an odd chill running down my back.

  "Isn't it? I don't sense hopelessness in you. You're a Wraith, and that takes a strong soul, one born to carry heavy burdens. And burdens can't be carried unless there is always a hope the b
urden will be lifted. Strength." He smiled. "What has you upset and sad and seeing things is that you're afraid you've already lost him."

  Oh god...this little kid...he'd hit it right on the nail. The things that always went through my head. When I wasn't listening, when I was alone, when I cried in the shower.

  I really was terrified that Daniel wouldn't see me again, that he'd reject me for causing him so much pain. Ever since he fell from the fire escape I kept replaying his expression—over and over—in my mind. Had he seen me? As a Wraith? Did he think I'd let go of him? That I'd abandoned him?

  And the truth was...I had let go. In order to save his soul.

  Hal was beside me then, almost a blinding radiance. "How another feels about you—that reflection of love—you crave and yearn for that acceptance. But what you have to believe in is yourself first. You did your best to protect him, and he will know that. Have faith." He smiled. "Have hope. You are the Ivy that protects the Holly King. You are what can make him stronger. And if he chooses not to be with you," he sighed. "Then you keep your strength, and you protect him, and others, from a distance."

  I...I didn't know...what to say.

  "Don't make who you are about someone else." He smiled. "I did that. I ran away here...because I saw the girl I loved with another man. And I'd believed there was nothing left for me. What I couldn't see was a future."

  Wait...hadn't Ivy said this?

  But he was right.

  I felt suddenly very...selfish. Hadn't Daniel been by my side through all the craziness back in November? With TC, and Hirokumi, as well as the Reverend Rollins?

  That was enough, wasn't it? That if he woke and he remembered me as Wraith, or remembered me letting him go on that fire-escape, then I had to face what came next.

  Ha...that was so not me. I was always the one to run in the other directions. Like with the snoring bears. What was there to really run from?

  He stood and straightened up, looking very serious. "Right now you feel there is no hope. That light will not return to your world. Nor love. Nor passion. You're afraid, in a sense, that hope is gone. And when hope is gone there exists a void where self-blame steps in. The Holly King represents hope, and the Ivy King represents strength."

  I stared at him, and the constant reference to ivy and holly was starting to drive me crazy.

  "Why do you think none of this will work out?"

  I looked at the ghost. At Hal. Because I've never really known love—that every man that's ever shown interest in me has vanished. I thought of my dad then, and of Barry Stephens who died because of a rapist in the park, and I thought of Daniel—

  Abruptly the light changed in the room and I realized the illumination was no longer coming from the light outside but from Hal himself. He'd taken on a golden glow. He no longer had a full body either—he was disappearing.

  What the—

  "The Yule Log is lit, and hope is returning, Zoë." He reached out to me and without thinking I used my physical hand.

  But I didn't touch Hal...there was a flash and I held in my hand a sprig of holly, gently entwined in a delicate vine of ivy. Of Hal...there was nothing.

  There was a brief spark, a flash of gold and an overwhelming feeling of warmth.

  And of hope.

  And I heard his voice in my ear. "It is easy to slip into despair—it takes little effort and no self worth. But to be a beacon and a symbol of belief, that is where the true hardship rests. Don't ever give up, Wraith. You have a larger part in this world, a destiny yet to come."

  And he was gone, and I was on my back and Rhonda was bending over me. She wasn't wearing her winter coat. Instead she was in a black robe, open in the front to reveal her jeans and Abney Park tee-shirt. "Hey, Zoë? You okay? Is it your sugar? Do I need to get you a drink? Where did you get that?"

  I blinked at her. The overhead light was on and the feeling of peace and calm was gone, soon replaced by damn-it's-cold-here-on-the-floor. I waved her away and sat up. I tried to sign "Spooky bears," to her. But I think it came out as something closer to "chafing underpants" because in my right hand was the ivy and the holly.

  I stood up and she was with me. Was it me, or was her skin kinda glowing? I reached into my pockets—and realized my pad was with my coat which was in the floor somewhere in the music area.

  "You okay?" Rhonda asked as she followed me out of the room. There was a new smell now, something spicy and kinda Christmasy. Smelled like one of mom's candles.

  And Daniel's cologne.

  I found my coat and then looked at the now-silent box of bears. Had they really even gone off? Or had this whole night been a dream? I pulled out my pad and scribbled. Took a bit but Rhonda was patient with me.

  GHOSTS. 2 OF THEM. IVY AND HAL LEE. VERY NICE. BEARS ARE SCARY. DO YOU HAVE A YULE LOG? I WANT TO BURN ONE. CAN WE GO NOW?

  Rhonda's eyes widened as she read and then she narrowed her eyes up at me. "Ivy and Hal Lee? Hallee? Holly?"

  Hal Lee. Holly.

  Oh. My.

  "Zoë, how did you know about ivy and holly, or the Yule log?" She moved to the fireplace and pointed. "See the ivy and holly there with the pine? Holly and ivy are the two strongest trees in the winter, and their leaves and branches were brought inside to adorn the house as a symbol of bringing in strength and hope to get through the tough times."

  I was watching her as she talked, and I got what she said, but I also noticed something in her expression. She was trying hard not to smile. I pointed to her and made a circular motion, meaning, "what up with your face?"

  We were close enough for her to understand the gesture. "I heard from Dags! He texted me, finally. He's fine, but he's spending a little time dealing with his new...situation."

  Situation? What kind of situation was that?

  She waved at me. "I know—I figured I'd call him later and as about that. But he's fine. And he's alive. I have my Yule wish I guess. Look, let's pick something out for Nona and get back to the hospital. Candace and the others will be upstairs in a second."

  I agreed. But I couldn't seem to leave the bears alone. I leaned in close to the nearest one and tentatively poked at it. When it didn't snap my finger off in one bite I picked it up and squeezed it. No sound. I squeezed it several times. Not a peep.

  Had they really snored earlier?

  I left a twenty on the counter for the bear and clutched the ivy and holly in my hand all the way back to the hospital. Rhonda seemed to sense I wasn't in a signing scribbling mood so we said nothing.

  Once off the elevator I nearly ran to Daniel's room. There were doctors standing outside of it and two nurses. Captain Cooper, Daniel's boss, was there and so was Holmes.

  I stopped in my tracks but mom turned and saw me. She waved me closer and then saw the ivy and holly in my hand. I gave it to her and tears glistened in her eyes. "How did you know?"

  I shrugged. I didn't know anything at that point. I was terrified that something had happened.

  She pointed to the bear. "Is that for Daniel?"

  I nodded.

  And she was holding me then, her arms around me and her soft voice in my ear. "He's asking for you, Zoë. He's asking...for you."

  About the Author...

  Phaedra Weldon is the author of the Urban Fantasy series, Zoë Martinique Investigation, published by Berkley, available for Kindle. She most recently completed the soon-to-be released Eureka novel, Brain Box Blues. Look for it in stores Winter 2010 under the name Cris Ramsay. Look for the next in the Abysmal Universe, Grimoire, ebook edition December 2010.

  © Copyright 2010, all rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, medi
a, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

  This is a revised edition.

  For more information about the author please visit her website at www.phaedraweldon.com

  Read about the further investigations of Zoë and her friends in Wraith, Out of the Dark, Spectre, Phantasm and Revenant, available in bookstores now, as well as Kindle and ebook formats. Out Of The Dark is ebook format only.

  Table of Contents

  Holly And Ivy