The Midnight Within

Chapter 20

Laying in bed Kate tossed and turned until she at last sat up, throwing her covers off her legs in disgust. It was almost eleven and she was not going to be able to sleep. She'd been told by her assistant principal not to come in, that school was canceled, and that they would call her if needed. She had tried to go back to sleep but sleep was hard to find. Padding down the hall she went straight into her big kitchen, took two mugs from the cabinet, placing them on the counter before she caught herself. Swearing softly, she put back the second cup. It wasn't often, but she would occasionally find herself doing this when still half asleep.With coffee started she padded back down the hallway and into the livingroom, turned on the TV and went to the front door. Her mind was swirling with knowledge that Nick was dead and Daniel might have had something to do with it. She'd been so upset about it that her dreams had been filled with horrible images of death and her childhood, except this time she didn't escape to a better life.Opening the heavy oak door, she stepped out onto the sunny front porch. It was going to be a beautiful day. ~ Was that the smell of cloves and musk? ~ She placed her hand on the door frame as her heart jack hammered inside her chest. The wind kicked up a pile of dry leaves caught in the corner of one of the stone steps and she knew for sure that Daniel had been there, had in fact stood at the gate before moving away. Instant tears welled up in her eyes as she began to shake.Quickly shutting the door she hurried back to the livingroom and sank down into her favorite chair. On the TV and overly made up woman was talking about the farm report. She reached out to change the channel and was frozen when a picture of Daniel flashed across the screen. BREAKING NEWS, screamed the headline at the top of the frame.~ Oh Shit. ~ Was all she could think as the news lady told her about the suspected murder and the search for Nick's killer? Sobbing now she stabbed the power button on the remote and reached for her phone. Who could she even call at such an early hour? What she needed was to calm down. Just because they were looking for Daniel didn't mean that he had done anything to Nick.Forcing herself up she went to the kitchen poured the coffee then dumped it out in the sink. Turning to the cupboard she opened it and grabbed the small tin she kept the loose tea in. It was almost empty. Scowling she poured another cup of coffee and paced until she couldn't take it anymore. She drank down the coffee grabbed her house keys and coat and left the house. It was a beautiful fall morning and the short walk cleared her head. She walked past Daniel's house and the few police cars that sat in the driveway. Fresh tears welled up and she forced herself to keep walking until she was at the Pagan bookstore front step. It was an hour before they opened and she didn't know if either Will or Matty would even be there since they sometimes didn't open at all on weekends but she was in luck as Matty spotted her out front and stuck his head out the door." What happened? " His face was full of concern as he held the door for her." I look that bad? " She tried to laugh him off as she headed for the pair of chairs they always sat in when she came to visit them." You look like hell. " Will came around the corner carrying a stack of dusty books, setting them down next to a box of Halloween decorations." I'm out of tea. " Kate swiped at her tears and forced a smile.Matty nodded, disappearing into the back room. They had a wall full of lose herbs, incense, stones and other items used for Mojo bags and alters but the serious stuff was kept in the back. Even she didn't quite know what he put together for her tea but it worked and that was all that mattered." Did you hear what happened last night? " Will dug into the box and came up with a string of lights to put up around the counter." About Nick? I saw the cop cars last night but I didn't know for sure until I got a call from the school. " " Wait what! " He was suddenly in the chair next to her all wide eyed and interested." You didn't see the news? "" I saw something on my phone but was going to look at it later. I wanted to get my decorations up. So what now? They finally bust him for something good? " It was no secret how much Will was not a fan of Nicks. They had actually stood on opposite sides of several marches and protests." He's dead. " The tears were full force now as Matty brought her a steaming cup of tea and a good sized package. " Daniel's missing and they think he did it. "" Oh honey! " Matty reached for her hand and rubbed her shoulder. " I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding. Daniel wouldn't...."" He should have done it a long time ago. " Will got up from his chair to let Matty sit down and went back to unpacking the box." Have you talked to him? Where is he? " Matty let go of her hand so she could drink the tea." No, I haven't since I broke it off with him. You know how I feel about it. And anytime I saw him at school he was with Britney Carver and her pack of Jackal's. I think he came to my gate last night. I could smell him. "" Why didn't you come get some tea sooner? " Matty scowled softly at her. " Are you dreaming again? Have you made contact? Suddenly Will was back, sitting on the arm of Matty's chair. Both of them looking intently at her as if she were some bug to be dissected. It had never occurred to her that she might be actually connecting to the dream people. How could that even be possible? They were dead, her mother had told her that many times." How you could even stay in this town, . " Will speared her with a look." I love this town. I was raised here and I can't even imagine leaving. Why are you still here?" "Kate knew that Will was from California and always talked about going home but he was as much of a lifer as she was. Neither of them were going to be leaving, Disdain any time soon." That book better be returned today. " Will suddenly changed the subject and went back to his box of decorations." If I have to go to his house and get it I will. " Matty made a face at his partner's back." What book? " Kate sipped at her tea waiting for either of them to say something." It's nothing. He won't be able to read it anyway. "" Do you have any idea how dangerous that book is? " Will turned to spear Matty with another look." Not for him it's not, besides the spirit has to want to come back into the flesh, you can't force it into physical form if it's not ready. "" Making it dangerous as well. Trez should know not to mess with spirits and leave well enough alone. That kid is asking for trouble. "Kate's face whitened. So that's what Trez was doing at the bookstore last night and why he probably didn't want a ride home. Suddenly she was very angry at Matty, " You gave him what book? "Matty looked sheepishly at Will. " The book of the dead. " He honestly didn't think that Trez would get anything from it. He figured Trez would lose interest and let his obsession go. He had also thought that maybe he himself could draw the spirit to the store and Will could take care of it." Are you crazy! " Kate set the tea down hard before springing from the chair. " The last thing that kid needs is a book on how to raise the dead. What if he tries something and brings back the wrong person. "" Wasn't that a Buffy episode? " Will picked up her tea package and gave her a hug as Matty vanished into the back room. " I love you but you need to go home, crawl back into bed and not worry about stuff so much. "" I'm going to the school. I can't think straight and if I stay home I will go mad. If you guys hear anything will you let me know? "" Of course. " He walked her to the door, kissed her cheek and gave her a wave.She could already hear their fight in her head, they would fight and then make up almost every week. Kate wished she had a love like theirs. Someone to come home to every night but how could she ever tell anyone her secrets and expect them to stick around.Daniel had been different in the fact that she could tell him almost anything and it never seemed to bother him. She would have to start calling around after she got into her office. Lifting her face to the morning sun she tried to smile as she headed up the street. Glancing at her watch she realized that Rock's would be open in about ten minutes and she could drop in for a quick drink. With a few drinks everything would be fine, they always were, she just needed to stay positive even when all she wanted to do was get drunk until nothing mattered but getting drunk would have to wait until after she had gone to the school.