Reborn (Shadow Falls: After Dark #1)(38)

Cold air caught in Della’s lungs. She looked at Kylie. “You still think I’m crazy?”

“Shit,” Kylie said. “This can’t be good.”

Chapter Eleven

The feathers flew around the room for another few seconds. Huddling on the bed, their fear hanging in the cold air, they didn’t say anything until the last feather dropped and the room warmed up.

“Is it gone?” Miranda pulled her knees up to her chest, her eyes wide with panic.

Kylie nodded. They all cautiously stood up and moved into the kitchen, got drinks, and settled around the table. No one talked, as if afraid it would bring the dang ghost back.

“Is he still here?” Della finally asked Kylie.

“No.” Kylie turned the Coke can in her hand, then looked at Della. “Him? Do you think it’s a him?”

“I don’t know. You said you thought it might be my uncle.”

“I was just guessing.” Kylie bit down on her lip. “I think we should call Holiday.”

“No,” Della said.

“Why not?” Miranda and Kylie asked at the same time.

“Because she’d want to know who we thought it was and then we’d end up telling about my uncle, and then if this isn’t him then she’d tell Burnett and then if he’s not registered…”

“You don’t know she’d tell Burnett,” Kylie said.

Della made a face. “They’re married. They tell each other everything. I bet you tell Lucas everything.”

Kylie sighed and nodded. “I see your point. But—”

“Aren’t you the one who says no buts?” Della asked.

“Yes. But…” She closed her mouth for a second and then continued, “However, Holiday might know better how to handle this.”

“No,” Della insisted. “Look, Holiday told me that she felt I had a quest and she understood that I didn’t want to talk about it. She told me to work on it, but not to take any stupid risks. And that’s what I want to do. Remember when you were dealing with that creep that was after you? Well, you handled it yourself. Both of you have dealt with your own problems instead of running for help.” She saw some understanding in her friends’ eyes.

Miranda slumped in her chair. “She’s right. We all kind of want to take care of our own issues sometimes.”

“Okay,” Kylie said. “But let’s just make sure we do as Holiday said, and watch out for stupid risks.”

“We?” Della said? “You two don’t—”

“Please,” Miranda snapped. “To quote someone I know, ‘Bullcrappers!’ We’re a team. We work together.”

“She’s right,” Kylie said. “That’s what we do. Help each other.”

A tightness filled Della’s chest again. “Okay, here’s to no stupid risks.” Della raised her Diet Coke. As they all clicked cans, Della added, “And to good friends.” She didn’t want to sound too sentimental, but for the life of her, she didn’t know what she would do without her best buddies.

“Now, how do we go about finding out if your uncle is alive?” Miranda asked. “We need a plan.”

Yup, without them she would be lost. Completely lost.

“I think we start by reading the obituary,” Kylie said, still holding the piece of paper.

Della nodded. “Derek also asked me to see if I could find out where he went to school when he died. I’m sure it’s the same place my dad went. I guess I could ask my mom. If she’ll talk to me.”

“Why wouldn’t she talk to you?” Miranda asked.

“She was pretty mad at me when she dropped me off. I’m not sure she said one word to me the whole trip.” The memory of it still sent pain rolling around Della’s chest.

“Yeah, but she’s your mom,” Miranda said. “She can’t stay mad at you forever.”

Della shrugged. She wished she could believe that. Then again, she recalled Holiday saying her mom called about once a week. That meant she cared, even though she didn’t always show it.

“Do you want me to read it now?” Kylie asked, holding up the folded paper.

“Do you think it’s safe?” Della asked, squeezing her soda can. The coolness of the drink felt odd in her hands, reminding her that she still might have a fever. “It almost seemed like the obituary is what got the ghost stirred up before.”

Kylie glanced around the room as if searching for ghosts. “It’s not here now.” Kylie’s words hadn’t completely left her lips when a lone feather came twirling down from the ceiling and landed slowly, eerily, in the center of the table.

“Are you sure?” Miranda asked.

They sat there in silence for a few minutes, waiting for the feather to get up and dance again. When it didn’t, Kylie spoke up in a low voice, as if afraid they weren’t alone. “Jenny’s called me twice to check on you. I think she really likes you for some reason.”

“Why do you act like that surprises you?” Della asked.

Miranda snorted.

Della shot Miranda a go-to-hell look and then went back to watching the feather to make sure it didn’t start moving.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Kylie said. “I just meant she seems to admire you.”