He opened his arms, and reluctantly, I stepped out of his warmth. I went to the kitchen, pulled my cell phone out of my purse, and texted Mom. A message from Zak came through as I was putting my phone away. He wanted me to come see him play again tonight. I could still feel the warmth of Alden’s embrace as I texted Zak that I couldn’t make it. I took a deep breath and turned my phone off. Alden was right. I’d made a deal to give being a Speaker a shot, and I needed to carry through with it.
When I returned to the family room, I found Alden just outside the open French door. The rain had stopped, and he was standing with his back to me, looking out over a small, landscaped yard—well, more of a courtyard, really, with a tiny sparkling pool and ornate fountain. He had his hands on his hips, and Spook was sitting at his bare feet.
“Alden,” I said softly. “You’ll have to cut me some slack. I’m really new at this.”
He remained facing away. “It’s hard to play follow-the-leader when the leader doesn’t know where she’s going. I’m spoiled. It’s usually so easy to predict your needs and follow you. I’m not being very helpful. I apologize.”
“Teach me how to deal with the bogeymen. I don’t want to be attacked by a Malevolent again.”
He studied my face. All business. The calm tutor.
“That’s a good start,” he said. “Keep telling me what you need. That’s the essence of this relationship. I’m here to help you. You are the real power. Only you can hear the Hindered. Only you can help them. Let’s start there, okay? Are they talking to you now?” He shoved his hands in his jean pockets.
I sat on the concrete surround of the fountain. “No.”
“Let them.”
“How?”
He sat next to me. “Listen. They’re always there, waiting for you to listen. Really powerful ones will break through regardless. If the timing is bad, just tell them to go away. They’re persistent, but usually they’ll obey you. The one in Kemah was rare and unfortunate. It was my fault, really. I should never have left you alone untrained.”
I shifted to face him. “Alden. That’s ridiculous. I told you to go away and leave me alone. How could that possibly be your fault?”
“Rules. There are rules. Clear, concise, concrete rules. It is my duty to inform, protect, and serve the Speaker. I facilitate your success. That’s why I exist. If you don’t get tough soon, the Intercessor Council is going to wonder what’s wrong.”
He stood and paced along the edge of the pool. “No offense, but your little hundred-year vacation caused some trouble. We did our best to cover the region, but with you gone, we got pretty backed up around here.”
“Do all people who die become Hindered?”
“No. Only those with unresolved issues. Most souls just move on.”
“Issues like my dad had?”
He stopped pacing, but said nothing. He just stared at me with those clear gray eyes.
“What if Dad is out there somewhere? I could talk to him. Tell him good-bye. Ask him why—”
Alden put his hands on my shoulders. “He’s gone, Lenzi.”
My chest ached. “But he killed himself. Obviously he had issues.”
He shook his head. “Perhaps they weren’t issues that kept him Earth-bound. Maybe they were internal within himself or maybe his death solved his problems. Not all suicide victims become Hindered.”
The thought of being with Dad again, even as a ghost, made my heart speed up. “What if he was, though? Couldn’t he still be out there somewhere?”
“Very few spirits linger, Lenzi. He would have contacted you by now if he were still here. Family bonds have a strong pull.” I could tell it was hard for Alden to discuss this with me. He spoke slowly and carefully. “He died several months ago. You hadn’t emerged as a Speaker yet. If he had been Earth-bound, he would have approached the nearest Speaker, and there isn’t a record of that. I checked. Chances are, he just moved on without needing help.” He released my shoulders and flipped the hair out of his eyes. “I’m sorry, Lenzi.”
I sat on the edge of the fountain and ran my fingertips in the cool water. Knowing Dad was at peace made me feel a little better.
He stopped within a few feet of me and met my eyes directly. “You okay?”
I nodded.
“If you’re up to it, we really need to get to work now.”
“Okay,” I said, willing my heart rate to slow. The way he looked at me made me uncomfortable—as if he could see inside me. “You want me to call out a Hindered?”
“That would be a good start, if you feel up to it. But it’s not really about what
I
want, is it?”
I rolled my eyes. I hated the hierarchy involved with this. I wanted a friend, not a subordinate. “Alden, stop with the minion crap. Can’t you just be my friend?”
“I’ll be whatever you want me to be. Define my role and begin doing your job.”
“I want you to be my friend, Alden. I need a friend.”
His expression didn’t change. “A friend it is. Let’s do this first resolution in the living room.”
“Great.” At least he wasn’t just going to act like he should be my servant anymore.
Alden made Spook stay outside so she wouldn’t bark and growl at the Hindered the whole time.
We sat on the sofa.
“Okay, Lenzi, you should focus on one voice at a time. Pick the one that’s most persistent because it will calm the others down to get rid of the troublemaker. As long as you’re resolving problems for them, the Hindered should remain peaceful. Call me if you need me because I can’t hear what’s going on in your body. I can feel the fear, but I’m not allowed to enter the vessel unless invited. Remember to ask me in when it’s time for the extra soul to leave. My entrance alone will dislodge them. The vessel can’t accommodate three souls for long. The weakest one is forced out. Malevolent are an entirely different situation, but don’t worry about that right now.
“Make it easy this first time,” he advised. “Pick one that can clearly define its needs.”
I tucked up into a ball and hugged my knees. I was terrified, but didn’t want Alden to know. I wanted him to think that I was brave and tough. I wanted to impress him—like Rose did.
FOURTEEN
I
closed my eyes and concentrated on singling out a Hindered. It was easy, really. The bogeybaby, who told me her name was Suzanne, started whining at me right away.
“Okay, I’ve got one,” I said, stifling a nervous giggle. Alden grinned. “What’s funny?”
“I sound like I’m trying to land a fish!”
“Well, reel it in, Captain Ahab!”
“I don’t know how,” I mumbled.
“Invite it in. It’ll give you a clear picture of what it wants. Let me know if it gives you any trouble, and I’ll help you.”
A jolt of panic shot through me.
“It’s okay, Lenzi. I’m right here. Go ahead. You’ll know what to do.”
I felt like a little kid about to jump off of the diving board for the first time. I reached over and took Alden’s hand. I needed his magic calm-down thing. Instead, his touch delivered a type of electric shock that caused my entire body to tingle and buzz with energy.
What the heck?
I looked over at him. “What’s going on?”
“I . . . um . . . It’s complicated. Give me a moment.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The current running up my arm dimmed and mellowed into that peaceful hum I’d experienced when he touched me before. I knew for sure now that he was doing it on purpose.
“What is that, Alden? Are you doing that intentionally?”
“Yes and no.” He took a deep breath. “Yes, I am doing that intentionally, but I’m having trouble controlling it. I’m pretty young this cycle, and it’s harder to keep it together. You’re feeling what I want you to feel. You’re also sometimes feeling what I’m experiencing myself. As I get older, I’ll be able to mask my own emotions completely and gift you with what you need. As I said, you came four years earlier than usual, and you took my hand before I was ready.”
I stared at him for a moment, baffled. “So what exactly was that?”
“It was . . . well, it was what I was feeling at the time.”
“Which is what?” When it appeared he wasn’t going to answer, I pushed harder. “You told me your job was to inform the Speaker. Well, I’m the Speaker, so inform.”
He fidgeted and then ran his hands through his hair. “Okay. Your fear is a turn-on. Protectors are stimulated when their Speakers are afraid. It’s what makes it possible to put you in harm’s way. Otherwise, our instinct to protect would trump everything and we’d never allow you to do your job, which is to put yourself in danger in order to resolve the issues that keep the Hindered Earth-bound.”
Well, that certainly wasn’t what I expected. “Get out! You’re turned on by fear?”
“And pain to some extent.” He winked and pulled his hand away.
I turned on the sofa to face him. “That’s totally sick. Whose pain?”
“It’s irrelevant.” He made a shooing motion with his hand.
I gave him my best imitation of Mom’s glare. “Whose pain, Alden?”
He leaned back and put his arms across the back of the sofa. “Isn’t there a Hindered waiting for you, Captain Ahab?”
“Help me, please! You have to help me.”
Bogeybaby sounded frantic.
“Fine. Ghost time, but we’re not finished with this discussion.” I turned my head to where the voice was. “Okay, Suzanne. I’ll help you now.”
“Tell her she can enter the vessel,” Alden prompted.
“You can enter and tell me what you need me to do, Suzanne,” I said as I took Alden’s hand again. This time his touch was reassuring.
I cried out as the Hindered entered my body. I hadn’t thought about the pain involved, or I’d have braced myself for it. Fortunately, it only lasted a second. A jolt from Alden jumped up my arm. Well, that answered my question—
my
pain. Fantastic.
“The worst part is over, Lenzi. You did great. Is she talking to you?”
I nodded as the little girl went on and on in a loud shrill voice about her sister and a cat and a Christmas tree and shots and needles and dying. I could barely understand her. “She wants to tell her sister something.” I kept my eyes on Alden. “She wants to give her something. Oh, no, Alden. She’s talking too fast!”
“She’s just a person without a body, Lenzi. Tell her to slow it down. You’re in control. Tell her what to do.”
It was too much. Suzanne was getting louder and talking faster. I stood up and put my hands on either side of my head. “I can’t do it, Alden. I need her to get out.”
He stood and pulled my hands away from my ears, holding me by my shoulders. “No. Lenzi. Listen to me. Are you listening? Tune her out and focus on
my
voice only.” I nodded and he continued. “You are in control of this situation. The Hindered need you. You must take charge. Be strong. Do you hear me?”
I nodded.
“Tell her to slow down and do what you say.”
“Suzanne, I want you to slow down and tell me the story from the beginning. Wait until I tell you to start.” To my amazement, she shut up.
He tightened his grip on my shoulders. “Good, Lenzi. Yes, that’s right.”
I made a halfhearted attempt to smile. He let go of my shoulders and sat back down. I sat next to him and curled my legs under me. It was a bizarre sensation to house another person’s soul in my body. Almost overwhelming.
Be strong like Rose,
I told myself.
“It’s all right, Lenzi. Go ahead. I’m right here.” He patted my leg.
“Okay, Suzanne, tell me slowly,” I whispered. I closed my eyes and listened as the child spoke to me about her death and what she needed from me.
“Stop for a minute, Suzanne. I’ll let you continue in a sec, okay?” I got on my knees facing Alden. “It’s a kid—a little girl—she wants to draw something for her mom. What do I do?”
“You let her have your body. Let her draw or whatever she wants. I’ll get some of Elizabeth’s crayons. Hold on.” He leapt up and strode to the kitchen, returning with a pad of paper and a handful of crayons.
I took the supplies with trembling hands. “How do I give her my body?”
“Invite her to use your hands to draw. She’ll know how to do it. Just stay close to the surface so you can hear me. Don’t retreat in too far.” He stroked my face with his fingertips. “You’re doing great, Lenzi. I’m proud of you.”
A tear rolled down my cheek. Alden wiped it away with his thumb and gave me a reassuring smile.
“Okay, Suzanne. You can use my body to color a picture if you want to.”
Oh, yay! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
“You’re welcome.”
“I’m right here,” Alden said.
My body began to move as if on its own. I knew it was Suzanne controlling the motion, but it was still weird to the point of being scary. Not of my own accord, I nibbled my lip and my shoulders slumped. Clutching the art supplies, I slid off the sofa onto the floor. Alden moved to the edge of the sofa watching with interest. Suzanne grabbed the blue crayon in my fist and began making dramatic strokes across the paper.