Crypt keeper, p.7
Crypt Keeper, page 7
After Mags and I settled into an uncomfortable silence, Step Monster decided to make an entrance. “Molly, I would have appreciated the courtesy of you informing me that there was a guest in my house.” She snubbed her nose at Mags.
Mags had no qualms about addressing Step Monster directly. “My condolences, Evelyn, I’m sure this is a difficult time for you.” Mags didn’t seem that all concerned about Step Monster, and since Step Monster hadn’t even spared her a glance I surmised that the two of them already knew each other and the contempt I was picking up on was mutual.
“Mags.” Step Monster spat my great aunt’s name out as if it left a bad taste in her mouth. “I would prefer that you leave my home. Now that my husband is gone I’ll need to make this place more suitable for Thomas and me. That means that along with closing the first floor for renovations I’ll no longer accept guests in this house that believe that they can see, hear, or converse with the dead.” Step Monster glared at me. The bitch had known all along that my “ability” ran in my family. She probably thought the whole lot of us were crazy, including Dad.
Mags rose to her feet, then positioned herself mere inches from Step Monster. I suppose she was tired of being ignored. Heat radiated off her, not that anyone but me would notice.
“You listen to me now, Evelyn Frasier. As I hear it this is no longer your house—my nephew had some sense left inside that thick skull of his to never have added your name to the deed. It belongs to my great niece now, as it rightfully should. Why my nephew decided to bring such an unworthy being into our family is beyond me. I won’t disparage his name further as he has passed on, but you can bet your saggy ass that I will take it up with him the moment I cross, if not sooner. I bet it just eats you up that you are living in one of the few non-community property states in the country.” Step Monster scoffed and started to walk away but Mags grabbed her arm. She must have squeezed hard because I heard a distinct shriek, or Step Monster could have just been playing it up. “You remember what happened the week after you and my nephew married? This house is protected still, but not you, Evelyn. I’ve removed the protection from around you.” Mags released her and took a step back.
Step Monster looked pale, frightened even. “Molly, honey.” Her voiced quivered with pleading eyes. “You know I’ve always loved you as my own child.”
In shock I laughed. I mean really laughed. I couldn’t help myself. Step Monster was nearly begging me, but for what I hadn’t a clue. “What am I missing here?” Mags waved me off and before I could probe further my brother walked in.
His eyebrows went up in concern. “Mom, what’s going on?” He looked around the room, puzzled by the unfamiliar dynamic of his mom pleading with me.
To her credit she pulled herself together. “Thomas dear, go up and pack your bags, honey. We’re going on a little trip.”
He walked over and grabbed an apple from the bowl of fruit on the table and took a huge bite. “What, now?”
She grabbed her son by the shoulder and shoved him toward the door. “Yes, now. This is all too much to deal with. You shouldn’t have to mourn your father at such a young age. I’m going to get you away from here for a while. We’ll go anywhere you want dear. Just name it.” She gave him a shaky smile.
“Cool, can Molly come?”
“No!” she and I shouted in unison.
“Geez, whatever.” He shrugged and started down the hallway. “To have everyone get along after a death in the family is too much to ask, I guess.” He sounded solemn as his voice trailed off.
Step Monster squared her shoulders and tried her best to appear not a bit intimidated by Mags before she addressed me with a smirk. “I suppose you and this place deserve each other. The dead should never be allowed to reside with the living.”
“That’s enough, Evelyn.” Mags tried to shut that down and I wasn’t having any of it.
“Wait a damn minute here.” I took an advance step forward and to Step Monster’s credit she didn’t back down. “What are you trying to say about me?”
“Ha,” Step Monster blurted. “You don’t even know what kind of freak you really are. All these years your poor father fretted about what you were and the horrible regret he had for even bringing you into the world.”
“Evelyn.” Mags gave a low warning. “I think it’s best that you leave now.”
Sidestepping the two of them I blocked the exit. “Uh uh, she isn’t going anywhere until I get to the damn bottom of this shit pile.” The words she’d spoken stung; I couldn’t deny it. Part of me wanted to call her a liar and hold on to the fact that the pathetic bitch would say anything to get back at me. The other part heard a bit of truth in her words and I needed clarification on what was what. “Explain now or I’ll unleash all the years of pent up resentment on your sorry ass.” That got a reaction. She flinched and her courage was waning.
“Fine—you, Molly Maddison, are an abomination that should have never been born. Your mother knew and tried to abort you but you lived.” She paused as her words cut through me like a hot knife. That couldn’t be true. I glanced over at Mags who wouldn’t meet my eyes. Holy fuck! “Your father, the sorry bastard, tried to hide this all from me, trapping me into marrying him and helping him raise this thing he referred to as his daughter. But I found out anyway. He was a meticulous record keeper, and one night after he went to sleep I cracked the code on his safe—the idiot used your date of birth for the combination. There in the opened wall safe was everything in black and white. Why the old fool kept the records is beyond me. You were born three months too early, and the doctor said you wouldn’t make it so they left you there to die. I suppose your mother and father were so relieved that their mistake would take care of itself. The pregnancy never should have been possible to begin with. They provided you with no nutrients, feeling it would be cruel to let you hang on and suffer.” Her voice dripped with malice. “You just wouldn’t die.” A tear slid down my check and she laughed. Something inside me snapped as Mags grabbed her by the back of the neck and shook her like a dog. Step Monster shrieked. Fury filled my veins and I wanted to tear her apart, and would have if it weren’t for Tommy.
“This is your last warning, Evelyn. You won’t get another.” Mags growled.
“Yes, Evelyn.” I took an advancing step forward and with the sweetest smile I could manage on my face said, “Get the fuck out of my house.”
Step Monster blanched, and fear that I’d never seen before crept into her eyes. Grabbing her by the arms, I wrenched her away from Mags and flung her down the hallway and I watched her fall hard onto the floor. Something odd happened as I took in the sight of my father’s wife looking feeble and frightened on the floor. I was ashamed to admit this but her fear of me really upset me. She’d been horrible to me my entire life, not to mention the great satisfaction she took in telling me that I was never wanted. If this were a fantasy I’d totally be into it, but it wasn’t. It was real and she was my brother’s mother. “Listen.” I took a step forward, about to apologize when she nearly broke her neck scrambling to her feet and trying to back up away from me.
She fell hard on her rump. “St…stay back. Your father will be angry with you Molly, if you…” Mags speed-walked past me and thumped her hard on the head with her knuckles. Step Monster then shot out of there like a cannon ball from a cannon, running full out and down the hallway. The door to her bedroom slammed shut.
Jewels popped up beside me, leaning her arm on my shoulder. “Well, that was weird. You didn’t buy any of the bullshit she was selling, did ya?” Making a face I shrugged. Mags seemed totally unaffected by the whole ordeal and that made me wonder if there was any truth to what Step Monster had said.
“I take it you too haven’t ever gotten on well,” I asked Mags and decided I needed something a little stiffer than tea. I began ransacking the cabinets on a booze hunt. It didn’t escape my attention that Jewels stayed nearly pasted to my side. As I eyed her warily she grinned at me like a fool.
“No one can get on well with that bitch. Molly, don’t you believe a single word she spewed.” Mags grunted and rolled her neck around on her shoulders like a fighter before a match. I couldn’t think about Step Monster’s comments regarding my birth. I’d think about that tomorrow when I’d had some rest and after I ransacked Dad’s safe. Her abomination comment had stuck with me. How could I be an abomination? I wanted to help people, dammit!
Jewels bumped me with her shoulder, then pointed at Mags, who was doing some sort of calisthenics. It was a sight to see. Her short gray curls bounced around head as if they had a mind of their own. Jewels snickered. Mags was a lot more agile since her little out of body experience. I’d mentioned it to her the moment I’d noticed; she’d been hauling ass back to the house and I’d had to pick up my pace to keep up. She’d informed me that everything comes with a price, and she’d pay for using her ability in the morning. Apparently leaving your body and reentering caused some bitchin’ cramps.
I gave up the search for alcohol when I found my brother’s candy stash hidden behind the double fiber cereal. Tearing open a box of Reese’s Pieces, I poured a handful into my hand and popped the entire thing into my mouth, and then handed the box to Jewels who proceeded to do the same. She and I were unashamedly junk food junkies.
Out of nowhere Rob Zombie’s Living Dead Girl started blaring in the kitchen. “Oh, that’s my cell,” Mags cried and started patting her body down in search for her elusive phone. “Where the hell did I put it?” she said absently to herself. Jewels and I exchanged glances and I mouthed Rob Zombie. “Ah, there it is.” She pulled it out from under her dress. Jewels nearly choked on candy when she inhaled to laugh. Patting her back to help her cough it up, we both watched Mags leave the room to answer her call in private.
“Where do you think she was hiding that cell—in her panties?”
Laughing, I shook my head trying to remove the mental picture Jewels had just placed there. “I don’t even want to know.”
“The craziest shit always happens to you,” Jewels said, handing the box back to me.
“This is nothing. You missed the highlight of the day.” I began rummaging back into the candy stash for something a little more substantial. Snickers. Perfect.
We heard what sounded like a herd of elephants running down the stairs and she and I both went to investigate. Step Monster, with as many bags as she could carry, was running flat out down the staircase. She proceeded to shout obscenities as she dropped two of the bags under her left arm. Tommy, rolling his eyes, picked them up for her. “Damn, Mom, you need to chill.”
She whirled around as she reached the bottom of the stairs. “Language, Thomas.” Then her eyes met mine and she become all meek and mousy again, giggling, “We’ll be sure to write when we get settled somewhere. Do whatever you want with what’s left of ours.”
“What?” Tommy was outraged. “She can’t sell my shit!”
Slowly I began descending down the stairs. “I’m not going to do anything with either of your stuff. If you want I’ll ship it out to you or you’re welcome to come back and get it anytime you want. Tommy, you know this will always be your home and you are always welcome.” I put my hand on his shoulder. “Besides, I’m not even sure I’m going to stick around here for much longer.” Especially if my investigating turns up any evidence to back up Step Monster’s outrageous claim, I thought to myself.
Step Monster nearly shit herself. “Don’t touch him!” Her true colors began shining through. “He isn’t like you!” She snatched him down the last two steps, shocking us both with her venom. “If I had known about all this, I would have spat in your father’s face the day I met him. I should have forced him to lock you away when we had the chance. You… you freak of nature!”
Tommy smiled sadly at me as she was pulling him through the front door of the house. He mouthed how sorry he was and that he’d call me. I gave him a reassuring smile and nodded as I followed them out onto the porch. I’m not sure why I did that. Watching the both of them load up in the car, Step Monster gave me the evil eye as if I would do something or could do something to harm them. She was a twisted piece of work, and that made me feel better about her claim.
She peeled out of the driveway and for some odd reason I felt the need to wave goodbye, so I did. Tommy was the only one that waved back, of course.
“Well,” Jewels said, sitting down in one of the front porch rockers.
Leaning against the post opposite her I retorted, “Well, what?”
“I’m still waiting for you to tell me what the highlight of the day was so I can see if it tops this.” She was referring to what had just transpired.
Sighing, I answered with all honesty, “This little drama pales in comparison to what Mags and I had to deal with a few hours ago. Ever heard of hellhounds?”
Jewels was instantly on her feet. “Fuck a zombie!”
Mags strolled out, running a comb through her hair. “I wouldn’t advise that, dear. Nasty foul creatures. I don’t think you could get past the smell.” She shivered.
Jewels and I both burst out laughing as we both stared at my great aunt grooming herself like all was perfectly fine and our lives were completely normal.
After a few minutes passed I managed to pull myself together. I wondered and asked the question, “Now what?”
Jewels and Mags shared a knowing glance that disturbed me. How could they have the same knowledge about anything? Mags replied, “Now you must train.”
“Train? What the hell am I training for?”
Mags gave Jewels a dead level stare that resulted in Jewels looking like a whipped puppy. She whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” I stepped between them, becoming increasingly agitated. “What do you have to be sorry for?” When Jewels didn’t respond I turned to Mags, who was more than eager to answer my question.
“She was supposed to be clueing you in on the ways of the world, to be helping you gain a better understanding of your role in it.”
Mags continued on her rant when I raised my hand and yelled, “Wait a minute!” I thought back to when Jewels had spied me talking to my great aunt in the cemetery; she’d appeared just as surprised as I was that she could see her. She’d asked what the hag’s problem was. No, that’s what I’d heard. Replaying the events in my head, I slowed it all down. What’s Mag’s problem? she’d asked.
I turned back to Jewels. I’m sure the pain I was feeling was evident upon my face; I never hid anything from Jewels. “You knew about Mags all this time?” She started to cry, and as quickly as the pain came it went and was replaced by anger. Not saying another word I walked into the house and shut the door, leaving both of them on the front porch. Mentally I sent a warning for her not to follow me or I’d banish her. Feeling more alone than I had in my life, I suddenly needed to know if what Step Monster said was true. I made a beeline for the arrangement room.
Yanking the oil painting of two hunting dogs off the wall behind Dad’s desk and throwing it to the ground, I punched in my birthdate and voila— it opened. Empty. Well, shit!
Feeling defeated, I made my way up the stairs and into my room. Slamming the door, I crawled into my bed and sobbed like a five year old.
When I finished I took the note from my father out of the bedside table drawer and sat up in the bed. This dress was seriously way too confining. Unzipping the side I pulled it over my head and tossed it on the floor. Sitting there in my old bedroom in nothing but a bra and a matching black thong that Jewels had gotten to match the hoochie dress, I opened the letter. The introductions made my bottom lip quiver a bit.
Hello my little Molly,
I’m dreadfully sorry that you are in possession of this letter. That means I am gone and am no longer able to protect you from the family lineage and all that comes with it. First, let me say that the hardest thing I ever had to do was keeping you at arms’ length. I felt it was necessary to keep the double life I was leading private. Please understand that I only did it to protect you from this life. When you were born your Gran noticed immediately that you were special, and the family gift has skipped over me to you. I won’t lie to you; the news grieved me greatly, although in time I did adjust. I had no choice but to send you to see all those physicians. If I hadn’t you would have known that I knew what you saw and how truly real it all was. I hope I didn’t do you any harm. I wanted more than anything for you to live a normal life and be happy. My mother, your Gran, said that you would always see the dead as she had and that when you were old enough I was to locate her sister and have her help you understand your role in this life. I couldn’t do it even though I swore to her that I would. I won’t blather on any longer about what I wish as it will do neither of us any good at this point.
I’m sure you must have been surprised that I left you the old place. I don’t expect you to carry on my funeral business. Use the place for something good, a counseling center perhaps. You have such a heart for those that are troubled or perhaps just misunderstood as you were.
I’ve left a small sum of money in the secret vault; remember the one I showed you when you were a little girl? It should be enough to keep you going for a few years. I’ve left some to your brother as well. I told him about it when I knew things were becoming increasingly dangerous for me. He knows a little, not enough to endanger him; mind you, however, I did try to explain things to him. I know you love him. Try to keep an open door where he is concerned.
