Chapter 10
Secrets and Lies

Nick was dumbfounded; no, that wasn't a strong enough word for it. He was so beyond shock right now it was a miracle that he was still able to function and do simple things, like remembering Zak's number.

Standing outside the Chicago club that the taxi driver had suggested to them, Nick had borrowed Evie's cellphone and placed a much needed and urgent call to Zak.

-"Hello?" Zak answered on the third ring.

-"Zak, thank fucking god you answered." Nick let out in one breath.

-"Nick? What's up man?"

-"Dude ..." Nick ran a shaky hand threw his usually perfectly coiffed hair. "I – Evie -" Nick stuttered and quickly clamped his mouth shut, knowing he sounded like a total idiot. But how was he supposed to even put into words what had just witnessed.

He heard Zak clear his throat.

-"Nick, dude, what's wrong, you sound all freaked out."

-"I am freaked out!" He yelled into the phone.

-"Okay, okay, just relax." Zak spoke calmly, but there was an edge of excitement to his voice. "Take a minute and get it together." Zak paused, giving Nick the chance to take some slow breathes. "You are in Chicago right, with that Evie chick and Keane, something bad happened?"

-"You could say that ..."

-"Well, what the fuck happened?" Zak said impatiently.

Nick inhaled in the cool night air. The cold air stung his lungs. He let that feeling sink in before he spoke again.

-"We went to the house where this ghost was supposed to have lived; Keane thought he could somehow get it to tell Evie what it wanted."

-"Yeah, I knew that part. Keane seemed to think that Evie is empathic?"

Nick let out a snort.

-"You could say that."

-"Why, what do you mean? She isn't some fraud or something, we don't have time for this shit, Nick –" Zak started to rant.

-"She brought back the ghost." Nick interrupted Zak.

Zak was silent for a moment.

-"What?" He barked.

-"You heard me, she brought the ghost back." Nick said with an eerie stillness.

-"You mean she summoned his ghost to the house?"

Nick started to pace on the sidewalk.

-"No." He looked around, to make sure no one was listening, but the sidewalk was deserted. "One minute Evie was in this weird trance, the next this dude, the ghost, Cole was standing in front of me." Nick heard the unbelievable words tumble from his mouth. "He was real, an actual guy."

Zak was silent for a moment.

-"Are you saying she brought back someone from the dead."

-"Yes." Nick said soberly.

-"Where are you now?" Zak asked surprisingly calmer then Nick felt.

-"I don't know, some club, called Legs, in downtown Chicago."

-"What are you doing there, where is this ghost?"

-"He is the one that wanted to come here."

-"You mean to tell me you let a ninety something year old ghost go to a club in Chicago?" Zak asked his calm starting to waver.

-"I didn't have a choice! He is fine; he is with Evie and her friend, Sophie."

-"Well where the hell is Keane in all this?"

-"He disappeared after Cole popped up. He seemed in shocked and just took off, left me there to clean up his fucking mess."

Zak let out a foul curse.

-"Alright man, I am coming to Chicago as soon as I can." Zak paused and hesitated for a moment. "How much do you know about this girl, Evie, can we trust her?"

Nick was silent for a moment. His thoughts turned to Evie. She was everything he was finding he wanted in a woman, strong and independent, beautiful and fascinating. But she was hiding something. He had no doubt that she didn't know about this sudden hidden talent of hers, but she also knew more than she was letting on. He really was not sure he could trust her at all.

-"I don't know." Nick answered earnestly. "But I got the feeling that she and Keane might know each other." He added quickly, suddenly feeling like a traitor.

-"Somehow I am not surprised. Just keep an eye on her; I'll be out there as soon as I can."

Zak promised to call Nick with the details of when his flight would arrive in Chicago. But as they both hung up the phone, something was bothering Nick. The fact that Evie had brought back a ghost was not only shocking but incredible. It could mean so many possibilities to a world where death often occurred all too early for some people. This could be an amazing thing, but it could also mean that she could be used as a weapon.

Nick shivered at the thought of all the truly evil people who could also be brought back if the word of Evie's power were to get out.

All those things were real possibilities. But no, what was really nagging at Nick was that his best friend, the man he had worked with for over twenty years and that he knew better than he knew himself, had not seemed surprised at all.

Zak had seemed all to calm and together. He knew him, and this was not the first time Zak had heard about this. He was left to wonder what Zak was hiding from him.

I sat in an over-stuffed booth and tried to breathe through the cloud of smoke that billowed out of the nightclub. And I don't mean cigarette smoke. This smoke was white pina-colada scented puffs that served no purpose other than irritating me. Hip-hop blared out of the one-room club, making it tough to hear myself think. There were another four booths that circled the small dance floor that was so packed with people; they only had enough room to sway in place.

To the casual observer, the other four booths would have been entirely more engrossing than ours—their occupants either making out, fighting or partaking in some illegal substance. Nick had come back in from outside and handed me my phone. He had then ordered a round of drinks, and now he and I sat in silence, keeping a sharp eye on Cole, who was dancing with Sophie and seemed about as happy as happy could be.

As was to be expected, Cole had been shocked by the Chicago of today when compared to the one a hundred years ago. He seemed to be dealing with it well enough, though, with the help of a few shots of whiskey and a toast to the death of prohibition. Nick on the other hand, didn't seem quite as happy. We sat there, in silence. Nick continuously scoured the place; as if afraid someone was waiting in the shadows to snatch Cole away.

-"So, what do you suppose happened?" I yelled, trying to beat the volume of the club's sound system. "How did I manage to bring Cole to life again?" I wondered out-loud.

Nick faced me with a small smile, so small I couldn't see his dimples and felt cheated. He leaned in closer so I could hear him over the loud base of the music.

-"I have no idea. I have never seen anything like it before. There was a brilliant light and then just like that, Cole was lying on the floor in the kitchen…alive."

-"That's pretty much what happened to me." I turned to face Nick, only to come inches from face. I swallowed thickly, trying to ignore the fact that his lips were so close that all I had to do was pucker up. "I saw a bright light too and it felt like this energy was flowing out of me or something. When I came out of it, Cole was dead ... So I started screaming."

Nick gave a nod.

-"Yeah, and I slapped you. Sorry about that, by the way." He gave me a sympathetic smile.

I wasn't concerned with apologies though. I was still caught up in the why and the how of it. Maybe I'd managed to lend some of my own life to Cole? I wasn't sure I liked the sound of that, though. I'd rather keep my life to myself. I had the distinct feeling, at the time, that I was losing some part of me. And if that was the case, I had to wonder what that meant for me. Would it shorten my own life? I certainly felt fine now, as if it had never happened. I hated having unanswerable questions.

-"What do we do with Cole now?" I asked.

-"I don't know. I called Zak and he is coming as soon as he can to help us figure this all out."

I sipped my favorite drink, an amaretto sour.

-"So, am I like a witch or something ..." I wondered out loud again.

Nick shook his head.

-"I don't know Evie. I do know you are some sort of empath."

Thousands of questions suddenly popped into my head like a swarm of locusts.

-"There are different kinds of empath? What exactly is an empath?"

Nick sighed as if he wasn't in the mood for explanations.

-"Empaths come with many different powers. Some stronger than others. Zak, he is an empath, a pretty strong one, or so we thought, until we met his wife." Nick paused with a chuckle. "She is something else. But she is not your typical one." Nick shook his head as if to dismiss something that was bothering him. "An empath by definition is someone who can feel or hear things from another person, but there are many sorts, some who feel or hear things from spirits."

Hmm. That was interesting. So what did it mean that I was able to bring Cole back? Maybe I did have more abilities than I thought. That was sort of a … nice feeling. I had always known I was different ... and I had never really excelled at much in my life. Sure, I'd been a good enough student, but I never stood out. No homecoming queen or valedictorian for me. I was just the girl next door, the one on the sidelines. And now? Well now, I did have something to feel proud about, something infinitely better than homecoming queen or class president.

-"So does that mean, Sophie and I go back to New York?" I asked, sipping on my drink.

Nick took the last swig of his double Jameson.

-"Soon ... I think Zak might want to talk to you ...Plus I am sure you probably want answers and Zak has more of those then me."

The very beginning of a smile tugged at his lips, his dimples just barely cresting. My blood warmed at the expression, and I had to look away. Although the prospect of finding answers was appealing, the truth was that I was afraid of what they might discover and worse that my past with Keane would come to light if and when they started doing some digging on me.

I downed the remnants of my sour, hoping I'd swallow my gloom at the same time. It also occurred to me I was developing feelings for Nick, and I was definitely not okay with that. Having a crush or whatever you wanted to call it, on anyone was dangerous—that whole broken heart thing was not something I was willing to go through again.

But even so with someone like Nick…I couldn't even contemplate it. True, I was a bit lonely but other than that, it wasn't half-bad. I had a nice apartment and a decent job, and a best friend. The last thing I wanted was an emotional devastation.

Yes, feelings for Nick were not a good idea.

I looked up and found Nick studying me. A flush crept up my neck like a thief in the night, and I faced my drink again, playing with the ice cubes and when that didn't sooth my anxiety I scanned the room, my attention falling on Cole and Sophie who were dancing pretty close. Oh no, tell me she wasn't going to go for the newly undead, or whatever the hell he was. Sophie amazed me. Find a good-looking guy and she was all over him. I was somewhat surprised hadn't come on to Nick more strongly then she had. He was definitely more the prize than Cole.

-"What's on your mind?" Nick asked suddenly as the music winded down and a much slowly song started, giving my ears a break.

-"I'm just watching Cole and Sophie. I'm surprised she's set her sights on him." A slightly blush crept on my cheeks as the alcohol in my system hindered the link between my mouth and my brain. "I love my best friend but she likes to come on to most attractive men, and she didn't really come on to you."

Nick chuckled.

-"She did." I looked at Nick surprised. "While you and Keane were trying to get in touch with Cole at his house, she was all over me, but I told her I was not interested."

Shocked, my eyes grew wider.

-"Why'd you do that? Sophie's a beautiful girl."

-"Yes, she is, but not one I'm interested in. I don't mix business with pleasure."

I couldn't help but recall our kisses, and my heart suffered as if Cupid was stabbing it with his little arrow. How would he explain that? It was only some silly bet I recalled ... But either way, Nick was right; it was common sense not to mix business with pleasure. I should have been thinking the exact same way.

-"Good motto." I said with a grin that didn't quite reach my eyes, as his words stung more than they should have.

He nodded, but his eyes held a vacant stare, like a mannequin. He strummed his fingers on the table and continued staring into space. I couldn't say I was enjoying this turn of events in my evening along with Mr. Lifeless.

My stomach suddenly churned with the liquor I'd forced into it and it was obvious that the amaretto sour was too much after the day I had had. My hotel room started calling my name.

-"I think I'm going to call it a night," I said and made a motion of standing, swaying with the effort.

Nick wore a look of surprise with a hint of disappointment.

-"So early?"

-"Yeah, I'm not feeling great."

Nick stood and scanned the crowd, his gaze resting on Cole. Then he faced me again.

-"I'll walk you to your room."

-"No need. I can find my way back."

-"I insist."

I already knew it was futile arguing with him and I felt to terrible to even do so right now.

-"What about Cole?"

He held my arm, as we neared the door.

-"He is pretty distracted right now; I doubt he is going anywhere."

I glanced back to see him and Sophie dancing closely together and gave a nod.

We walked out of the club, and I found myself in the rain again, the drops plastering my hair to my face until I was sure I looked like a drowned rat. Nick hailed a cab and opened the door for me as I crawled in. I was careful to keep to my side of the cab, not wanting to give Nick the wrong idea—especially after his comment about separating business and pleasure. Okay, and maybe I was slightly bitter about it as well.

The five-minute cab ride was a silent one and before I knew it, we pulled up to the hotel. A valet came rushing over to open the door for me. I ran for the lobby, not wanting the rain to further destroy any semblance of attractiveness I might have left. My hair was beyond repair, but hopefully my mascara wasn't running. Nick caught up with me and the rain dripped down his face, testing my restraint to dab the drops away.

-"Well, thanks for getting me back to the hotel," I said.

-"I'd like to make sure you get to your room, if you don't mind."

I swallowed my surprise and didn't have a chance to respond before the elevator dinged and opened its doors. Nick took my arm and led me in, hitting the button for the sixth floor as the doors closed behind us.

-"Your hands are freezing," he said and rubbed them between his.

I didn't respond, and the elevator dinged again, announcing my floor. I stepped out and watched Nick do the same. I guess he was serious about walking me to my door.

-"Well, thanks Nick," I started, suddenly feeling awkward. I quickly stuck in the keycard for the room and turned back to face him.

Nick gave me a faint smile.

-"I'll get Cole and Sophie safely back to the hotel, you just get some rest."

I nodded as I watched several droplets of water fall from his hair down his face. My fingers itched again to wipe it away. Nick smiled and leaned in closer. My heart dropped and my throat felt like it was closing in on itself. I tried to keep my breathing steady but each breath I took brought me his intoxicating aroma of his cologne, smoke and something else that was just so unique to him.

I licked my suddenly parched lips as I felt his strong chest touch my body and just when I thought he would swoop in for the kiss, he merely reached behind me and pushed my hotel room open.

To my dismay he pulled back.

-"I hope you feel better tomorrow." Nick said gently.

I gave nod, not trusting myself to speak and with that he left. I watched his retreating figure until he turned the corner and quickly reminded myself that this was business ... business.

Angrily I slammed the door shut to my room and flipped the lights on.

-"No need to be so beastly, luv." I gasped as I looked up and saw Keane lazily lounging on my bed. With a grin he patted the free spot next to him. "Come over, you and I have a lot to discuss."

Zak sighed and tiptoed into the main bedroom. He stopped at the foot at the bed and glanced down at where his wife was peacefully sleeping.

A swell of love and a strong urge to protect her bubbled up from inside him. He had never imagined in a million years that he would ever find someone like her. Despite all the craziness she had brought into his life, he would never for a moment trade it in.

He might have done a thing or two differently, but change any of it? Never. It was also why he was doing this. Or so he told himself over and over when he looked into her trusting eyes. He was doing this to protect her, to keep the woman he loved safe.

Zak walked to Ana's side of the bed and pulled at the blanket that had fallen off. He gently covered her back up and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She stirred slightly but didn't wake. He then quickly tiptoed back out of the room with his phone in hand.

He found the familiar number he had called thousands of times over the last year but hesitated before pressing the call button.

Ana was the key to releasing the Guardian from its Shadow World. Although all had been quiet and no one had tried to come and Ana away, that still remained Zak's greatest fear. He was not a man to live in fear, so a bit over a year ago he had taken action. He had to protect his family.

He had started his own extensive research on the Guardian and its mysterious world where the dead lived. Unfortunately there was little concrete information for him use. Or so he thought. One evening he had been approached by a man. Someone who worked for the government ... A special branch, much like the one Ana's father had worked for all those years ago. Except this one was not looking to release the Guardian, but looking for a way to destroy him and its world.

Zak was quick to listen to what this man had to say and soon enough he found himself working alongside him and some people that he never thought he would have been. But they all had a common goal, to destroy the Guardian and keep this world safe.

They wanted Zak to join for obvious reasons. He had the closes connection to the Guardian. Ana. But his line of work also was a great help and without the rest of the Ghost Adventures crew knowing, he always passed off their findings to his new friends, hoping they would find some hint or clue about how these spirits and ghosts travel.

Zak agreed to help, but only under one condition. That Ana was always kept safe and as far away from all of this as possible.

During his time, Zak had learned much about the Guardian and this world he lived in. He had also learned that there was only one way to destroy it. No, not a way, a person, or so the old scrolled hidden from society had said.

According to old legends the person that would be able to destroy the Shadow world was an empath. An empath that could bring the dead back to life.

Zak closed his eyes for a moment. Everything he had done was to keep Ana safe. He hated lying to her, but he knew she wouldn't approve of him working with the government, even if it was safe, unlike the one her father had worked for, and she would have been even more upset if she knew who his boss was.

Without further hesitation, Zak pressed call on the phone and waited.

-"Justin, I think I found the empath we were looking for."

A/N:

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