Chapter Seventeen

Iris/Crina

Crina walked down the hallway, not bothering to look for Wade. The school was buzzing with the latest rumor. She smiled, stopping beside Carys to watch while police officers escorted Marsha outside.

“What’s going on?” Crina acted innocent.

Carys uncrossed her arms. “They found Molly in her locker.”

Molly? Crina thought. Did she kill a girl, chop her up, and stuff her in the locker?

Iris mentally rolled her eyes. Yeah, she’d do that at school. With everyone around. It’s a drug, moron.

“That’s unfortunate,” Crina said.

Carys noticed the smugness in her voice. “I’m sure you’re worried for her. Karma’s a bitch, right?”

“I haven’t met her, but if you say so,” Crina answered.

Carys laughed. “I hope you never do unless she’s nice.”

What am I missing? Crina asked Iris.

More than you know. Iris refused to help her anymore, but then wondered if she didn’t, would Crina do something bad to her?

“So are we still friends?” Carys asked.

“Of course we are. I couldn’t care less what Violet thinks.” Crina headed down the hall, and Carys kept up with her.

“Am I still invited to the party tomorrow night?”

Crina spotted Josh by the bathroom doors and stopped. “Yes, and you’re coming in the morning to set up, right?”

“I’ll definitely be there,” Carys said, excitement lacing her words. “I was thinking of bringing this guy from my science class, but we haven’t defined our relationship yet.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Carys opened her mouth to say something but stopped. Iris mused that she most likely was going to ask if Crina had hit her head. But instead, she said, “I think he’d rather me be a booty call than a girlfriend.”

Crina’s gaze went to Josh again.

“Pardon me, I have something to do.” Crina slipped off her sweater as she crossed the hall to Josh. “Sorry to hear about your girlfriend.”

“I bet you are.” Josh’s eyes lowered to her chest.

Why is he checking out my boobs? Iris seethed.

Because this shirt is giving him an eyeful, Crina answered.

Of what?

Your breast. What did you call me earlier? Oh yeah, moron.

Crina took a few steps forward until she was too close to Josh for Iris’s comfort. “I guess you won’t be throwing that party after all.”

“Guess not,” he said.

“I have something for you.” She handed him a tarot card, and he flinched when it shocked him.

“What’s this for?”

What card is it? What curse are you giving him?

Hush. You’re going to mess me up, Crina scolded her.

Crina ran her hand down his arm. “It’s how you get into our party. I’d love to see you there.”

“What about your boyfriend?”

Yeah. What about Wade?

“We haven’t defined our relationship.” Crina sounded so sweet, it made Iris want to barf. If she had control of her own body, she probably would have. “A girl can wait only so long,” she said. “I miss you.”

“You do?” He leaned closer to her.

“And I’m ready.”

Josh dropped the card in his hand. They both glanced down at it. It was the Tower card. He bent over and picked it up.

What curse is that? Iris asked.

You are such an annoyance. It could be literal or metaphoric. He could fall off a tower or become withdrawn.

You’re sick. How can you do this to people? Hurt people.

I’m a spirit. I care not for mortals. When you stop thinking of me as human, you will understand me better.

“What are you ready for?” Josh asked.

“I don’t want to be a virgin forever,” she whispered in his ear, a breathy one that made him shudder. She straightened and before she walked off, she said, “Bring condoms.”

Iris wanted to scream. What are you doing?

“I’ll be there,” Iris heard him say behind her.

You are not having sex with him. NO way.

Crina laughed. It amuses me that you think you have a say in what I do.

If Iris thought her nightmare couldn’t get any worse, she was wrong. She stared at the reflection of herself as Crina combed long bleached strands. Her hair! The bitch had bleached her hair.

When did you do that? Iris asked.

“While you were sleeping.”

Kill me now.

Crina smiled at the reflection. “Soon.”

Why can’t I know your thoughts like you can mine?

“You’re not evil enough. I’ve been a cursed spirit for ages.” She placed the brush on the dresser. “I can search your memories. Learn how to talk. Well, I’m still working on that one, but it will come to me in time. And the hair is fabulous. It’ll look great with my costume.”

You think I’m weak, but you should never underestimate love. I won’t let you hurt my family. My friends. Wade. Even that jerk Josh.

Crina threw her head back and cackled, her voice raspy and craggy. She covered her mouth with her hand.

Be careful there. Your ugly is showing.

She glared at the mirror as if she could see Iris within her. “Only time will tell.”

Crina stepped downstairs. “Now to find your bratty little sister. Exactly why does she want to talk to Wade? What have you two been conspiring about behind my back?”

You leave her alone. She doesn’t know anything.

“You’re a poor liar.” She stepped out on the porch.

Violet, Dena, Carys, and Lauren were busy setting up the haunted house. Two large canopies with long, dark tarps draped over them stretched across the driveway, connecting the garage and apartment to the main house.

Inside the makeshift tent, the cardboard panels with Iris’s paintings of a spooky graveyard and creepy laboratory served as the walls. Cutouts of vampires, werewolves, and other scary paranormal creatures held up by stands that Wade had constructed stood around the room. The coffins he’d made surrounded the open area. The canopy and tarps breathed in and out with the breeze coming off the ocean, and the scent of paint and glue washed over her.

Carys and Lauren busied themselves hanging cobwebs while Dena and Violet worked on assembling the blue-light lamps. They all stopped what they were doing when Crina walked up.

“Your hair,” Violet said, standing.

Crina brushed her fingers through it. “You like it? I needed a change.”

Violet just blinked. She was as stunned as Iris had been when she first saw it.

Lauren smiled brightly, but it was more forced than genuine. “Love it. It fits you.”

“Yeah, it’ll take some time to get used to,” Dena said, “but you rock it.”

“Thank you.” Crina glanced around. “This is fabulous. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like once all the pieces were put together, but it’s impressive.”

“Your art made it come to life,” Lauren said. She was so trying too hard. Iris felt sorry for Lauren. Fitting in was difficult. Everyone wanted to have a posse. Friends who understood you and who had your back whenever the bad times rolled around. Maybe she had learned her lesson. If Iris ever got her life back, she would be more like Violet and show Lauren forgiveness. Welcome her into their group.

“Where’s Daisy?” Crina asked.

Leave her alone. Iris pushed and pushed to take over this screwed-up possession thing.

Stop. Crina sounded annoyed. I’m too strong for you, and you’ll succeed only in giving us a headache.

Violet brushed some hair that had escape her bun away from her face. “Daisy’s at a friend’s house. Dad is in Baltimore until Sunday night. Remember, no one is allowed in the house. That way cleanup will be easy tomorrow.”

“What if we have to take a piss?” Dena said, draping her arm around Violet.

“I hate that word,” Violet said. “There’s a bathroom in the apartment for everyone to use.”

Wade walked up the driveway carrying two paper trays filled with coffee cups. “I’ve got fuel.” They all crowded around him like pigeons on a dropped piece of bread. He passed out the coffees, handing one to Crina. “Caramel latte for my girl.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

“How did your dad like the boat?” Dena asked, slowly sipping her coffee.

“He loved it,” Wade said. “Got all emotional. We had a good run. The wind speed was perfect today. ”

Crina took a drink from her cup, burning her tongue. “Oh, this is hot but delicious.”

“I told them extra caramel for you,” Wade said.

Extra caramel? Iris never would ask for that. She’d want to taste the coffee not the added flavor.

Wade snaked around the cutouts and coffins, inspecting the work so far. He kept glancing over his shoulder at Crina, a strange look on his face. Had Crina noticed it? Crina kept sipping her coffee down as she watched Violet.

It is strange having someone who looks exactly like yourself walking around. Did you ever feel that way? Crina slurped some more of her drink through the slit on the top of the coffee cup.

No. Iris noticed Violet sneaking glimpses at Crina, too. We’ve been together since birth. It’s all we ever knew.

Crina rocked on her feet and dropped her cup. Why are you trying to take over? We both would do much better if you’d just let go.

Iris wasn’t doing anything. She had tried but wasn’t strong enough. Daisy. Crina must have consumed something with the drops in it.

When Crina was in control, Iris felt like she was bound by ropes and chains, unable to operate her own body. It was as though she was paralyzed and disconnected from everyone. Alone. That was it. She was so alone that the darkness and silence was a razor blade to her heart. A metaphoric one, since her physical body was no longer in her control.

Crina rubbed her head as if she could get rid of the headache consuming them.

Wade hurried over to her and supported her by the elbow. “Hey, do you need to sit down?”

“I’m fine,” she snapped and tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn’t let go.

When the pain lifted, Iris was back in control. “Wade?”

He looked into her eyes. “Iris, is it you?”

“You know?”

Wade nodded. “Yes. Daisy told us. She’s with Miri trying to find a way to get rid of the curse.”

Iris fell against him and sobbed. He held her so she wouldn’t collapse to the ground. She spotted Violet and the others glancing at them.

Violet set her coffee on a coffin and rushed to them. “Iris?”

“It’s her,” Wade answered.

As Violet went to hug Iris, Wade let go.

“I was worried you wouldn’t believe Daisy.”

Violet stepped back, grasping Iris’s arms and holding her stare. “You are part of me. Of course I knew it wasn’t you. Well, I didn’t know you were possessed, just that some crazy shit was going on in your head.”

A short laugh escaped Iris. “I’m just so tired, and I don’t know how long I’ll be here. She’s going to kill me off. Take over my body. I-I don’t know how to stop her.”

“We’ll find a way. Everything to drink or eat at the party is going to have Miri’s concoction in it.” She wiped the tears from Iris’s face with her thumbs. “Keep your emotions in check so she doesn’t know. Each time you come back, we’ll work on getting rid of her. Miri and Daisy will be at the party. We can beat her. All right?”

Iris nodded. “Okay. Having you guys with me, I feel less alone. Less scared.”

Violet released her arms, and Wade immediately held her to his chest, kissing her forehead. “You’re not alone.”

She glanced up at him. “You’re amazing, you know that? And I’m sorry she’s been frustrating you. Thank you for resisting her.”

“It hasn’t been easy.” He smiled down at her, then lifted her chin and kissed her so gently that it felt like a whisper on her lips. “I love you, Iris.”

“What about what I did? You know—”

Wade put his finger over her lips. “Stop. I know everything. Aster changed our fate.” He dropped his hand. “I have to admit, I had a hard time believing it until Daisy showed me.”

“Showed you what?”

“Daisy’s a fate changer, Iris.” Violet said it as if Daisy had a serious illness. “She used FaceTime to show us her changing the fate of one of Miri’s clients. Her gift is spotty. It doesn’t always work, but she’s practicing.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Daisy can’t do it. I don’t want Crina anywhere near her. We have to get Aster. She has experience with this stuff.”

The concern in Violet’s eyes mirrored hers. “We’ll do everything we can to get Aster here, but if we can’t, we need Daisy.”

Iris doubted there was a way to stop Crina. She was spiraling, plunging into a place where there was no hope.