“I am here,” Sylvia answers and I look up just as her tall, slim frame appears, a few feet in front of me.
“Where were you, is everything okay?”
“Yes, for now. What did you find out?”
I cock a brow, tiptoeing around the large wet spot in my room. “I’m not sure he knew the leak had soaked through.”
“Who, the guy?”
“Yeah,” I shake my head, “Ascot, his name is Ascot Sideris. He’s about to come down to take a look. Not sure why he had to come right this minu…” I pause watching the room begin to brighten. The ominous sensation suddenly fades.
“Liv and Becca are gone, but not for long,” Sylvia’s deep blue eyes lock with mine. “It concerns me that they have found you.”
“Me too, but I meant to tell you…” I stop, accidentally stepping on the drenched rug without thinking. “Crap,” I hop off as a small drop of my blood soaks in.
Sylvia doesn’t notice, still deep in thought. “Up there…” she trails off, glancing at the ceiling. Her face clears, eyes locked to one side.
I follow her gaze. “That’s what I wanted to tell you,” I swallow. “Are you sensing it too? A portal?”
She slowly nods, sill fixated. “Yes,” she whispers, sucking in a breath. “And it’s extremely active,” her eyes come back to mine. “Someone is attracting those spirits, including all of yours.”
I gasp. “Wait, do you think Ascot is doing it?”
Sylvia’s lips tighten into a thin line. “I’m afraid so,” she admits, “at least that’s how it feels.”
I shake my head. “Why? Is he doing it on purpose?” I ask, buttoning my jeans as I dart to the bathroom.
“Not exactly,” Sylvia whispers, preoccupied in thought while I apply mascara. “His abilities are very different than yours.”
I pause, shoving the wand back in the tube, glancing up at her. “What are you not telling me?”
Three hard knocks suddenly sound at the door and I turn my head. “Shit, that’s him,” I whisper, looking back but Sylvia is gone.
“Be right there!” I call out, running a brush through my hair and a fast swipe of ChapStick over my lips. I take one last glance in the mirror and check my teeth.
Clear.
Rushing toward the door, I smell under my arms, no B.O, thank god, and I reach for the doorknob.
“Hi.” I smile, trying not to stare.
Good lord, his hotness is ridiculous.
“Hey,” he smiles back, white teeth just as perfect as the rest of him. “Did you step on something?” his brows push together. “Because there’s a trail of blood…”
“Oh crap,” I blurt out, glancing past him at the red stains dotting the hallway. “It was my own fault,” I shake my head, “for walking barefoot.”
“Is it still bleeding?” he asks, looking down.
I turn sideways, reaching for my injured foot and pull it up. “Hum, that’s weird,” I study it closer. “The wet spot must have washed the blood away,” I shrug.
Ascot scratches the back of his head. “You stepped in the water?” his expression clears.
“Mm, hum,” I make a face. “By accident, why?”
“Nothing,” his face twists, lips forming a tight line as he brings a hand up, carrying a small shop vac.
“Oh,” I blink. “Yeah, the water leaked in my bedroom,” I walk ahead of him, my heart about to pound out of my chest. I can feel his eyes on me and glance over my shoulder. “Sorry, I didn’t have time to make my bed.”
“I’m not here to judge, Elise,” his deep voice pausing briefly on my name. “If anything, I should be the one apologizing to you.”
I bite my lip and my face begins to flush.
Is it getting hot in here?
“That’s really not necessary, see?” I point to the large water spot in the carpet. “It’s not that bad.”
Ascot looks down and sighs. “Jesus,” he whispers. “It’s worse than I thought.” His eyes go up. “And your ceiling will have to be treated and repainted.”
“Nah, it’s fine.” I mumble as he plugs in the vacuum.
“It’s not fine, Elise,” he says, eyes locking with mine again.
Damn.
“I’ll have to come back and fix that water stain,” he lets out a long sigh and attaches something to the end of the hose.
“Really, Ascot, it’s not a big…”
“No,” he interrupts, his brilliant green eyes holding mine. “I’ll take care of it,” he runs a hand through his dark, wavy hair, “but it needs to dry first.”
“Okay, but, seriously, no rush,” I reassure him as he kneels down and turns on the machine.
I leave him to his work and try to act busy, hanging assorted t-shirts and jeans in my closet before making my bed.
Several minutes go by and the wetness begins to disappear, leaving an outline of a large ring. Ascot turns off the machine and grunts.
“Your carpet will need to be cleaned as well,” he says, frowning at the remaining water stain.
“Really, it’s not a big deal,” I repeat as he stands up, all six foot plus of him.
“I think we’ve already covered that,” he glances down at me with a serious expression. “Just bring me the bill once they’ve finished.”
I give him a nod. “Mind if I ask what happened?” I ask, suddenly curious. “I mean, our apartments are identical, what could have possibly leaked from your bedroom?”
His lips twist into a half smile and he pauses, staring right through me. “It was from an aquarium,” he admits. “After I changed the water, the glass must have cracked.”
“Humm, that’s weird,” I say, crinkling my nose. “Do you have exotic fish or something?”
He nods, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Actually, yes. I was trying to save a few Emperor Angelfish on the brink of death from the pet store.”
“Oh no, did they die?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” he shakes his head, looking back down at the leftover water stain. “Jesus, what a mess.”
“It’s okay, Ascot,” I whisper, trying to ease the tension building on his face.
He looks up at me, pausing on my lips before giving me a ghost of a smile. “Can I make it up to you?”
I blink, shaking my head. “That’s not necessary, Ascot, it was an acci...”
“I insist,” he cuts in “Are you free tonight?”
Oh my god.
“Uh, yeah, okay.”
“Good, then it’s a date,” he smiles, leaning down to pick up the shop-vac. “Does seven o’clock work?”
“Mm, hum,” I mumble as he turns and walks toward the door.
He looks over his shoulder. “You like chicken?” he catches me staring at his perfect fitting jeans.
“Sure, yeah, chicken is my favorite,” I say, mentally rolling my eyes for sounding so stupid.
“See you tonight, Elise,” he opens the door and walks out, and then abruptly turns around. “And, take care of your foot.”
I nod and watch him walk away.