“Well, you boys are all set. I could give you that tour now if you’d like? Maybe I can come back another night and make you all a welcome home dinner?” she simpers, turning to look at Alpha and not so subtly pushing her chest out.
Something starts to slither through my body as I stand, my hands clenching into fists from the power coming to life inside me. I look down at them, momentarily confused at my body’s sudden involuntary responses, but my focus is drawn back to the group below when I hear his voice.
“I don’t think that will be necessary, but thank you for getting everything set up here for us,” Alpha says, taking a step back.
She smirks. “Oh, it was nothing.”
Obviously not put off by his easy dismissal, she steps toward him and lifts her right hand to his chest. She lets it drag down slowly until it stops on the waistband of his jeans. “I’d be happy to give you a…private tour…if you’d prefer?”
Before he can respond, a sudden blinding rage sweeps over me. A red haze covers my vision, and my entire body begins to tremble in response to the overwhelming level of power, the likes of which I’ve never experienced. I try to calm myself down but have no control over the tide of emotions assaulting me - one of which feels a lot like jealousy.
“Guys. I’m not sure what’s happening, but I’m feeling some serious anger building,” Thor states with a worried look on his face just as all the lights start to flicker wildly. “I can actually feel the fury growing stronger by the second.”
Alpha looks his way, only to swing his gaze back to the blonde leech who has suddenly attached herself to him with both hands on his chest, taking fistfuls of his shirt.
She looks afraid, and that only brings a sinister grin to my face.
Placing my foot on the first step, I start to make my way down the stairs.
“Shit! I can feel it getting closer. Everybody move away from the stairs.” Thor slowly backs up, attempting to avoid the clutter on the floor around him.
Again with this ‘it’ business. Another rush of frustration and anger floods me.
I take one more ridiculously slow step, wanting to draw it out. For the first time in years, I feel powerful, as though I’m in control of something other than a shitty pity party. I’m in control of my surroundings. Of my own fate. The fear permeating the air makes something inside me come to life. It wants to revel in the chaos I’m creating. Wants to rejoice over the growing panic in the room. I lift my hands, glancing down at the pretty pink sparks of electricity pulsing off my fingertips. That’s new. So is the desperate need for release from this riot of feelings consuming me, which is as intoxicating as it is alarming. I know I should be terrified of what it all means, and a part of me definitely is, but not enough to give a damn at the moment.
As I descend another step, the power leaking from my hands suddenly shoots out. A pair of light bulbs burst inside the light fixtures in the foyer, directly below where I stand. All six people in the foyer drop down, covering their heads at the sudden explosion of noise and glass.
Well, that was…unexpected.
I must have powered up in the poltergeist world because this shit has never happened so effortlessly. I’ve always had to work my ass off to demonstrate my paranormal proclivities. A ghost girl could get used to this.
Alpha jumps up, grabbing Agent Barbie’s arm and tugging her away from the stairs. The action sends another wave of rage crashing over me, and any curiosity I had about my newfound abilities is washed away. In its wake, I feel nothing but the intense desire to make her pay for touching what’s mine. The thought has me pausing momentarily, but the emotions roaring through my body insist that I keep moving - my sudden possessiveness all but forgotten.
The others follow Alpha and rush back toward the door.
The stairs beneath my feet pass one by one, the progression of bursting bulbs following me as I descend. The sound of feminine whimpering brings a manic smile to my face.
I keep moving. Bulbs keep exploding in my wake.
Alpha pushes the now crying agent behind him. “Knox, what do you feel?”
“Still feeling this extreme rage. Maybe some jealousy and satisfaction mixed in. Something set her off, and we need to figure out a way to get her to calm down!”
“Her? You’re sure about that now?”
“Definitely a female. She feels threatened. And pissed. Really, really pissed!”
“Macklin. Any ideas?”
I see the thoughtful look on Sexy Nerd’s face just as I reach the bottom of the stairs. A table and a shit load of equipment are all that stand between me and the group of people that have royally destroyed my peace. A wicked smirk still tilts my lips as I tip my head and wait to see what he comes up with before I make another move, my curiosity temporarily getting the upper hand on the plethora of emotions rolling through me.
“I have a theory,” Sexy Nerd, or Macklin, mumbles. Clearly lost in his own musings. “Cole, put your arm around Mandy.”
Alpha’s eyebrows go up questioningly.
“Just…bear with me and let’s see what happens.”
My eyes narrow as I watch Alpha, or Cole, grab Agent Barbie’s hand and pull her alongside him. His left arm wraps protectively around her shoulder, and she buries her tearstained face into his side. His other arm comes up reflexively, wrapping her in an embrace.
I’d like to say that I saw the act for what it was. A way to goad a response. That I am a mature, adult ghost and could ignore the emotions creating a tsunami inside me. I’d like to. Really, I would. But I can’t. Nope. This ghost girl can apparently be just as immature and irrational as any other living, breathing, warm-blooded female on the planet that’s had a run in with the green-eyed monster, otherwise known as jealousy.
A low growl startles me for a second until I realize it’s coming from me.
Huh. That’s interesting.
“What the hell, Macklin?” mutters Knox. “Not a good idea, guys,” he warns, shaking his head.
Smart guy, that one. They really should listen to him. Especially considering the sheer level of energy coursing through the room. Maybe it’s time to throw in something special from my ghostly repertoire.
Doors slam shut throughout the house, and the clatter has everyone looking around, waiting for what will happen next.
“That theory, Macklin. Now,” Alpha shouts.
“It’s just as I thought. The few times we’ve been able to get a reaction from the entity were always when Mandy was touching one of us. If I had to guess, this entity really does not take kindly to that.”
Oh, just peachy. First, I was an it. Now, I’m an entity. What’s a ghost girl gotta do to get a little respect up in here?
Aretha really had the right idea.
My mind zings back to Macklin’s words. Why don’t I like Agent Barbie touching these guys? I don’t know them. I certainly shouldn’t feel so possessive of them.
Fuck!
What the hell is happening to me? The panic I’ve been keeping at bay begins to creep back in. The power, though diminished, is still buzzing at my fingertips.
Just as I’m about to turn around and find a place where I can calm down and work through all of the craziness, I hear Cole hushing Agent Barbie – because no way in hell am I calling her by her real name – and whispering to her just low enough I can’t make out the words. Her head tilts up, and she stares into his eyes, his shirt once again clutched between her perfectly manicured fingers. For a split second, I think they’re going to kiss and am hit with the strongest sense of déjà vu, like I’ve seen this play out before.