Fighting the Flames (Firefighter Romance #1)(61)

“Sorry. That was just sound effects for your benefit. I like to give the newcomers something to worry over when they first get here. Darkness, wind, shrieks, moans and groans—that's just standard protocol here in the box. The souls I drained last week are long gone.” The man flashed another impish smile. “Besides, I'm bored. I need stimulation.”

Toby debated a moment, trying to figure out what the man's game plan could be. How much havoc could he create outside the box? If he was a threat, at least Toby would have the ability to control him, but only if they were both outside of the prison. In the end, he nodded his head. “Fine. What should I call you? Keeper of Souls doesn't exactly make for a good introduction.”

“Just call me Gabe,” the man said. “You ready?”



****



“Wake up.” Jacqueline fluttered her eyes, blinded a little by the harsh fluorescent lights of her kitchen. She became aware of the cool tile beneath her and the splitting headache digging its way into the back of her head. “Wake up.”

Someone slapped both of her cheeks.

“Stop,” she moaned and opened her eyes. “My head…”

“I bet it hurts like a son of a bitch. That was a real humdinger of a fall you took.”

Jacqueline sat up and focused on the woman squatting next to her.

“Matilda? From Merlyn's Bar?” Jacqueline stared. “What are you doing here? What happened?”

“I was looking for Toby.” Matilda hacked a deep, raspy cough. “I need him to open up shop.”

“So you came here?”

“Well, yeah. I followed his smell.”

Jacqueline rubbed her head, confused. Smell?

“What are you? A dog or something?” Jacqueline joked and managed to stand up with the help of the kitchen chair.

“Yeah.”

Before Jacqueline could respond, she spotted Toby's body on the floor.

“Oh my god.” Jacqueline rushed to his side, disturbed by the lifeless blue eyes staring back at her.

“Oh, he's dead,” Matilda called out, unconcerned. “You killed him pretty good.”

You killed him.

The words ripped at Jacqueline's heart, and she tried to remember what had happened before she blacked out. Her gaze went to the silver box on the table.

“Don't open that,” Matilda advised. “It's bad for your health.”


“We should call 911.” Jacqueline glanced to her phone on the table.

“Wouldn't do a bit of good. He's dead.”

“Don't say that.”

“Honey, I'm just telling it like it is. At my age, you have to.” Matilda coughed again, the rasping noise of a longtime smoker. “Besides, you didn't mean to do it. It was an accident, right? How are you supposed to know what the Box of Souls can do? It's not like it comes with instructions.”

“How do you know about it?” Jacqueline caressed Toby's face. Cold. His cheek was cold. Her fingers trembled.

“You hang out at Merlyn's Bar long enough, you hear things. I've been a regular patron there since Toby's father owned the joint back in 1963.”

Matilda's words barely registered. Jacqueline couldn't believe that Toby was dead or that she'd killed him. She had a memory, though, a memory of an overwhelming power rushing through her. It had come from that silver box. How had it opened?

“So like I was sayin', I came to get Toby because I need a drink.” Matilda walked over to Toby's body. “You think he has the key to the bar on him? Sometimes when I get desperate I go to his house, and he lets me open the bar up myself.”

“Don't you touch him,” Jacqueline warned as Matilda reached forward to search for the key. “He's dead and all you can think about is the damn key to the bar?”

“He ain't completely dead,” Matilda told her with a small smile. “I can smell life in him, and it's getting stronger.”

“You're crazy,” Jacqueline whispered. “You're a drunk, and you've lost your mind.”

“Hey, now. Let's not go name-calling, sweetheart. I may drink a little, but I never get drunk. And I sure as hell haven't lost my mind.” Matilda tapped on her nose. “This honker never lets me down. I tell you that I smell life, there must be life in him.”

“And what”—Jacqueline gritted her teeth—”does life smell like?”

Matilda sniffed. “Peanuts and beer.”

Toby reared up gasping for air.

Both Jacqueline and Matilda screamed.

Matilda leaned forward. “Where's the key to the bar?”

“Matilda. Stop that.” Jacqueline admonished the elder woman. She shifted toward Toby, who looked at both of them; confusion settled in his eyes. “Are you all right? I thought you were dead.”

“I'm… okay…” He rubbed at his head. “Where is he?”

“Who?”

“The Keeper of Souls.” Toby looked around her. “He was coming out with me.”

Jacqueline eyed him, raising a brow as Matilda sniffed deeply.

“Hmm… you're right. There is another presence here.” Matilda wrinkled her nose. “It smells sort of musty.”