Lucky Stars (Ghosts and Reincarnation #5)(103)

Belle grew concerned when she didn’t come out of her sudden, weird trance and Belle’s hand gripped Cassandra’s more firmly as she lost her shyness and moved closer.

“Are you all right?” Belle asked but Cassandra didn’t answer. She just kept staring at nothing, vacant, looking lost.

Angus got close and whispered, “Cass?”

“What’s happening?” Joy asked, her tone concerned.

“Cassandra,” Belle called when Cassandra still didn’t focus. She got closer, her hand squeezing and Cassandra’s hand squeezed back, so hard it caused pain. “Cassandra!” Belle called again, sharply. Now she was worried. “Are you okay?”

“Cass!” Angus bellowed, putting a meaty hand on Cassandra’s shoulder and shaking her.

All of a sudden Cassandra’s eyes widened and she yanked her hand from Belle’s like Belle’s hand burned.

Then she stared at Belle, her eyes full of something Belle couldn’t read but whatever it was, it made Belle’s worry intensify.

Significantly.

“Bloody hell, mate,” Cassandra whispered.

“What?” Belle asked in a breathy voice.

Cassandra opened her mouth, her eyes dropped to Belle’s stomach then she closed it. Her gaze swung to Angus and Belle could tell she was trying to communicate something but Belle didn’t know what.

“Is something wrong?” Lila was now close and watching Cassandra.

“Nothing, just that, I think there’s a complication,” Cassandra answered, backing up and away from Belle.

Angus, however, stayed close.

“What complication?” Yasmin asked. She, as well as Belle’s Mom and Joy had also closed ranks.

“I can’t say for certain, right now. I need to…” she stopped abruptly, her head jerked then her face went pale.

Belle felt the blood run from her own face and she glanced at her Mom when Rachel snapped, “What is it now?”

Cassandra came back into the room swiftly and announced, “I need to stay here. In the castle. So does Angus.”

Belle felt Angus grow still beside her but it was Joy who spoke. “Why? Is something –?”

Cassandra cut her off, “I need to do some readings.”

“What kind of readings?” Joy asked hesitantly.

Cassandra started moving toward the door. “I’ll explain later. I need to get set up now.” She stopped at the door, turned and asked suddenly and bizarrely, “Do you have a cat?”

Joy shook her head but said, “We have dogs. German Shepherds, two of them.”

Cassandra wrinkled her nose in disgust and dropped her eyes to the floor mumbling, “Dogs. Bloody useless.” Her gaze went to The McPherson and she declared, “Angus, we need to chat.”

Angus ambled to the door saying, “You got it, lass.”

Lila followed them determinedly insisting, “Wait just one damned minute.”

Both Cassandra and Angus halted their exit and looked at Belle’s grandmother.

“What, exactly, is going on?” Lila demanded to know.

As Belle, with her mother on one side, Jack’s mother on her other side and Yasmin close, stared at the three at the door, Cassandra’s gaze levelled on Gram.

“I can’t be certain and I don’t want to alarm you but I think there aren’t two ghosts in this house.”

“There are,” Joy blurted. “I’ve been seeing them for forty years!”

“I saw them too!” Rachel added. “And so did Belle.”

Cassandra shook her head but stated, “There aren’t two ghosts.” Her gaze took in everyone in the room. “I think there might be three.”

Joy gasped.

Lila’s head whipped around to look at Belle.

“Bloody hell,” Yasmin whispered.

“Oh lordy,” Rachel breathed.

Belle talked around her heart which was lodged squarely in her throat.

“Three?” she asked.

Cassandra’s eyes settled on Belle. “I don’t know, mate. I’m sensing something.” She turned her gaze to Lila. “Let me do some readings. I’ll let you know the minute I know.”

“How long will that take?” Lila enquired.

“I don’t know. It could take an hour. It could take five days. He might not want to be sensed, might go into hiding,” Cassandra answered.

“He?” Joy asked.

“He,” Cassandra replied and then took in a breath. On her exhale, she tried to calm them all. “There’s nothing to panic about, not yet anyway. Just let me get to work.”

“Go! Work!” Rachel demanded sharply.

Cassandra gave Angus a look, Angus nodded and they both left the room.

Everyone in the room was silent.

Then Joy’s body jerked and she rushed forward, muttering, “I need to get some rooms ready.” Then she left the room.

At her words, Belle’s terror intensified and she looked at her mother.

“Mom –”

Rachel took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Nothing to worry about, honeypot. We’ve got the Ghost Helpers on the case. Everything will be fine.”

Belle turned to her mother. “That’s what I’m worried about. They’re going to be staying here.”