Chapter Fourteen


"We're heading to property that once belonged to the serial killer that once haunted you." Edward was well aware of how stupid he sounded, basically repeating what she'd said. He couldn't help himself. The information had the chance of being off the charts scale big to him, to her.

Them.

"Yes, though none of his victims were found there. The leads on the case believed that the victims were killed in a different location and then taken to their homes to be found. They didn't find the property during the investigation until he died. I haven't heard if they confirmed that he killed them there, only that they found evidence that he was the killer. Vicky doesn't remember much about the where, just his face, and that it was considerably dark when she woke up. The police had the place locked tight, according to this news article, so it's possible."

"But we have nothing to worry about, right? Even if he killed them there, he's gone."

"He's gone, there's not a doubt in my mind about that," Bella whispered, and he caught the way she shuddered at whatever her words had conjured in her mind. Fear had her shoulders curling inward, her arms wrapping tightly around her middle. Whatever she'd seen when she sent the bastard through the veil had to be horrible, something he couldn't imagine.

Edward had to know what had happened the day she confronted a killer and won. He hoped he the tentative trust between them would allow her to tell him soon. It seemed to eat away at her.

"It's the seven other victims that are a different story." Meaning, that like her friend Vicky, there was chance the other victims roamed the property.

"Fuck." His hands tightened around the steering wheel as the gravity of the situation turned up a thousand notches. He'd never dealt with more than one spirit at a time, as far as violent ones. Forget off his chart big, from the worried look in Bella's eyes, this had the potential of being nuclear.

.

.

.

Edward ran around the car and opened Bella's door, the shoulder she dislocated was still sore. It should be more than that, but according to her, healing was a side effect of phasing. He still needed to come terms with that information and had promptly changed the subject when she brought it up.

"You ready?" She looked up at him from beneath the hood of her jacket once they were geared up. They were strapped with cameras, each holding digital recorders designed to capture electronic voice phenomena, or EVPs. Edward was also armed with an electronic and magnetic field detector (EMF) that doubled as a thermal reader.

To Edward, Bella appeared ready, but there was a twitch over her right eye that indicated otherwise. That perhaps she was scared. Him on the other hand, he'd love to just go back to the house she was staying at, play pool and forget about reality for a few hours at least.

"I'm getting there," he said. Honesty was the only thing he had to offer, because not knowing the truth about anything important could be bad. "I kind of feel like I've gone from amateur to horror level ghost hunting overnight though."

She cocked an eyebrow, a corner of her mouth lifting up. "Edward, you kind of did." The tip of her finger slipped into the front pocket of his jeans, tugging him closer. "I have some of my own equipment, but at home. We can head over after this, go over the videos."

His hand ran down the length of her arm, his fingers curling around hers. "No, after this, we're taking a small break from all this. Go back to the house and veg out like we've got nothing to do."

The crooked smile remained on her face. "That's all we'll be doing?" From the infliction he heard in her voice, she sounded unsure.

"I don't know. I'm hoping to convince you to make it naked vegging."

She laughed, her free hand settling on his chest, her fingers spreading out like if she owned him a little. It was fast, but he had a feeling she did, at least a small part that was growing with every minute spent together.

"That sounds like the best kind of vegging," she said, looking up at him with kiss me eyes. His hand lifted to shift some hair from her face before he dipped down to press his lips to hers. It wasn't long before he heard the slam of the door coming from the main house on the property. "Show time."

Flushed down to her chest, she cleared her throat to talk. "I'm not great at first impressions." It was delivered as a warning and one he understood. He had already told her about Jasper's perception ability. Not at their level, but it was there.

He squeezed her hip, wishing he could stay in the bubble for a while longer. "I don't know about that. You impressed me when we first met."

"Me or the car?" She was teasing him, heard it in her laugh. Her car was damn impressive.

"Honestly, when you climbed over the console to get your phone, not only did you give me a tantalizing view of your ass, but I got a look down your sweater on the way back."

She tried to act all huffy about his words, smacking his gut a little. To protect himself and just because he wanted to, he hugged her hard enough to make her squeal.

It was too bad the crunch of gravel behind them intruded too soon. "Hey, Edward." Taking a deep breath, he turned toward his friend, Bella's hand in his. Jasper's ice blue eyes were not on him though, or even their clasped hands, but on Bella.

"This is Bella. Bella this is Jasper."

Jasper said nothing, assessing. Edward found it remarkable that Bella remained still as Jasper literally studied her with his eyes. It wasn't creepy like some people had a tendency to do when they stared, but seemed to be important. The wind picked up, sending Jasper's fine, sandy blond hair blowing around. His hands remained in the pockets of his jacket, not because he was rude, but due to his reluctance to touch people. Something he had warned Bella about, and something she understood, too.

"What are you?"

"That's the first thing you have to say," Edward said, rolling his eyes. He looked at Bella, a fire was sparking in her gaze. It was best to prevent an inferno. "He said the same shit to me when we met." It was true, to be fair it wasn't long after his accident.

"He can see auras." It was all she said.

"What, he can?" Edward glanced at Jasper, his nod confirming Bella's words. "You never said anything to me."

"I don't go around announcing that I can see basically see people bleed out color. They'd think I was crazy." A lazy grin slipped into place, making Jasper look more approachable. "I see you can read minds."

"Not exactly," Bella stated with a shrug. "It's more like jumbled, out a sequence images." She pulled her jacket tighter around her. "I don't know what I am, Jasper. You're not the first to indicate that I was something other than human. Right now, let's concentrate on why we're here."

Jasper nodded and from the more relaxed set to his shoulders, Edward knew he was more at ease with Bella's presence. Not an easy feat for most people other than his cousin Alice, Jasper's girlfriend of two years.

"Do you feel it?" Jasper asked, glancing at each of them. Edward shifted away from his friend, but kept Bella by his side. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to relax enough to focus on his surroundings. Bella's fingers started to tighten around his almost immediately. The thickness in the air had the tinge of decay and untold horrors, a scent too hard to describe. Most would take one whiff and would run the other way without knowing why.

"The authorities confirmed he killed them here, didn't they?" Bella said, swaying toward Edward. He was quick to keep her steady. She hadn't been kidding when she once said that she'd pass out if she visited a hospital.

"Yes, today."

Offering Edward a smile that didn't reach her eyes, Bella stepped toward the house on her own, her shoulders squared, determined to find answers. The closer they got to the main house the more the air crackled with an unknown, dark energy.

"Oh my God," Bella cried, her eyes rolling back. Edward stepped closer, in time to catch her from falling. "Oh my God." Her eyes met his, her hands gripping his arms tightly. "Call Detective Riley on my phone. Tell him to get out here now. There's not only seven spirits here."

Jasper cursed behind him. "I knew it, I felt it the moment I stepped in the house. How many more, Bella?"

"At least two dozen more," she gasped, her back arching in Edward's arms, closer to his chest. As if she was trying to get away from something.

Edward didn't get a chance to respond, watching helplessly as her eyes closed, her body going limp, tears falling from behind closed lids.


AN: Bella's fine, just overwhelmed, yes I'm aware my cliffhangers are evil. I wanted to give you all one chapter before the holidays, before the holiday madness. I might squeeze one in tomorrow, too.

Some of you might be aware that I hit a bad luck bus (very bad luck), and I was at the point that not only presents for Christmas were canceled, but also a trip out to see my sister. Thanks to the generosity of members from this awesome fandom, we don't have to cancel the trip and our movie date, yes Star Wars, lol. The kids are even getting a couple of gifts from my besties. I know, I'm well aware of how awesome they are, and all of you. Thank you for sticking by me and continuing to read my stories.