Page 13 of Waste (Legendary Shifters #4)

She gazed out over the rose garden as she sat hidden under an arch covered in red roses. Somewhere out in the gardens, Frankie De Silvia toiled. Frankie’s shifted form, Frankenstein, had green fingers, and Frankie loved gardening.

Pandora was quietly hiding away.

A scent of sandalwood and pine swept over her, and a grin crossed her face.

“Luc,” she muttered.

“Pandora,” Luc replied as he sat beside her.

“I’ve missed you.”

“It’s been a few weeks. However, I was meddling with other things.”

“I understand; I was watching,” Pandora came back with a smile.

“Naughty girl,” Luc chided teasingly.

Pandora laughed. “Am I? Is it wrong to check on the man I love?”

“No, Pandora, I do the same,” Luc replied.

Pandora placed her hand over his, and Luc threaded their fingers together. “I know. I feel… lost. Everything is coming to a head. Different fates and multiple paths are starting to converge, and I’m scared we’re not ready.”

Luc nodded. “I’m tired and afraid, too. So many plans laid and too many threads. This could be the miracle we’ve foreseen or the worst disaster to hit this little planet.”

“We’re juggling too much,” Pandora muttered.

“Handle your end, my love, and I’ll ensure mine works out. Although that blasted woman…” Luc let out an exasperated sigh. There was one female who decidedly got under his skin.

“She is becoming the bane of your life.” Pandora laughed. “Are you sure Mary Worth can’t use my mirror?”

Luc squeezed Pandora’s hand. “Yes. Not even her magic could break through my enchantment. It is yours and yours alone, sweetheart.

Pandora leaned her head on Luc’s shoulder. “These are moments I cherish.” Luc smiled. “Me too. It won’t be much longer, my love; everything is falling into place. Then we can live as we wish.”

“That has been our dream for many millennia,” Pandora admitted as Luc tipped her face to his and kissed her.

“You need to look after yourself better!” he chided.

“Says you! I can tell you’ve lost weight,” Pandora retorted, and Luc laughed.

“We’re a pair!”

“We’re something,” Pandora agreed and snuggled under Luc’s arm. She wrapped an arm around his stomach as he hauled her close. Their time together was often fleeting, and moments like this were what kept them going.

Frankie De Silvia/Frankenstein

He frowned as Pandora walked through his roses towards their home. It was strange that he’d not seen her here as he toiled away. Frankie noted that Pandora almost seemed lighter, as if she had good news.

As Pandora stopped and gazed at the castle, he watched. She appeared to be wrestling with something. Pandora’s shoulders squared in determination, and she marched forward.

Yup, that was definitely strange, Frankie decided as he returned to his roses. But Pandora had always remained a mystery, and that hadn’t changed. All women were creatures of the unknown. And you tackled them carefully indeed!

Shelley

She was back on her laptop, looking for more clues about ghouls.

If these monster hunters were coming for her, she’d decided the ghoul needed to help her.

Perhaps he might warn her what to be alert for?

At the same time, Shelley was taking copious notes, and she’d created a file.

If anyone questioned Shelley, she could claim she was going to write a book. It was a rather ingenious idea.

Shelley sighed as she looked in the mirror, staring back at herself. Charlie had removed the covering despite her arguments and even gone so far as to tease her about Bloody Mary. What would Charlie say if he knew Shelley believed the legend to be real?

It was an altogether frightening thought.

Now she angled her laptop away so that if Mary Worth was spying, Mary couldn’t see what she was doing.

It was very late, and Charlie had fallen asleep on the settee while watching a cop movie.

Shelley got to her feet and limped into the kitchen.

Well, as quietly as one could with a cast on their foot and a crutch banging on the ground. Even so, Charlie didn’t stir.

Shelley felt lopsided. Her right ankle was broken.

If she’d snapped her right ulna and not her left, she’d have been scuppered.

Luckily, she could use the crutch on her dominant side.

Shelley popped the kettle on and stared out of the window.

Her gaze was unfocused as her mind whirled until she caught a flash of white.

Shelley stiffened and leaned forward. There was another glimpse of pale skin and red eyes.

Without a second thought, Shelley hobbled outside and sought out the ghoul.

“Why are you continuing your research?” the ghoul hissed.

“Show yourself,” Shelley demanded.

The ghoul appeared and glared at her. “You were warned and look at you.”

“Why do you care?” Shelley snapped.

The ghoul appeared surprised at her attitude and frowned. “I don’t.”

“Liar. From what I’ve read, ghouls are mindless creatures who feed on dead flesh; they don’t care about the living.”

“Rumours can often be founded on error,” the ghoul retorted.

“Why do you keep returning and warning me? Tell me, why did you save me?”

“Why, why, why!” the ghoul snapped. “Too many questions, human woman.”

“Then give me some answers.”

“You need to leave. The Hunters will come and question you. You’ve gained their attention. They have marked you,” the ghoul said.

“And I’m writing a book, which means I need to do research!” Shelley retorted.

The ghoul looked surprised, and Shelley grinned. “What?” he demanded.

“I’m writing a fictional book where ghouls are the baddies. Naturally, I’d study it,” Shelley replied. She was rather proud of herself as the ghoul slowly nodded.

“Clever girl. Be careful. Hunters are smarter than you imagine,” the ghoul warned and began fading back into the foliage.

“Why do you keep coming to warn me?” Shelley pressed. For some reason, she was desperate to keep the ghoul engaged.

“Because I’ve shed too much innocent blood and don’t want yours on my hands,” the ghoul replied, his eyes glowing briefly.

“You won’t hurt me!” Shelley jolted as the ghoul surged forward, and she was face-to-face with him. Up close, he was even more frightening, and his breath stank of rotten flesh.

“No?” he breathed in her face and gnashed his teeth.

“No,” she whispered confidently. She squashed her fear down deep.

“Fool,” the ghoul muttered, and Shelley didn’t know who he referred to. Himself or her.

“Be careful, foolish human. If they take you, I won’t come for you. That would only be a death sentence for me, and you’d already be dead. You’re not worth my life,” the ghoul warned, and then he disappeared.

“Shelley! What are you doing out here?” Charlie said, making Shelley jump and nearly topple over.

“I was getting some air.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Charlie replied and picked Shelley up before she could reply. Charlie locked the door and faced Shelley.

Whatever she’d been about to say faded as she took in his expression. “What is it?” she asked as fear raced through her.

“Someone was at the front door. The camera picked them up, but they were covered head to toe. They left you a message,” Charlie said gently.

His tone increased her fright. “Charlie, what aren’t you telling me?”

“They dropped a dead cat on your doorstep. Shelley, we need to get you somewhere safe. This person literally walked up, dumped the body. They stared at the cameras for a few seconds before leaving. The bastard knew we wouldn’t be able to identify him,” Charlie spat in temper.

Shelley understood Charlie wasn’t angry at her but at the intruder. She was saddened by the poor kitty who’d died.

“Please bury it,” Shelley asked, choking back tears.

Charlie nodded. “He slit its throat, poor thing. It wouldn’t have suffered.

But it’s a clear message. We need to call DI Wilson before I touch it.

This guy is confident enough to approach you even if I’m here, which frightens me, sis.

And something else, he has to be watching you.

Or how would he know you were home tonight?

” Charlie asked, and coldness flooded Shelley’s belly.

Charlie had a point. What if this madman had seen the ghoul? He was Shelley’s secret; something she had, and the rest of the world didn’t. Shelley sank into a chair as the implications overwhelmed her. Charlie made her a hot tea before heading into the living room to call the police.

Shelley turned to the small mirror on her kitchen windowsill.

“Mary Worth, Mary Worth, Mary Worth, please warn the ghoul not to return. Someone is watching my home, and he might be caught on camera. Tell him to stay away,” Shelley murmured.

Charlie returned, speaking into his phone, and distracted Shelley from the mirror.

If she’d watched a little while longer, Shelley would have seen a ghastly figure appear and quickly fade. But she didn’t; she was focused on her brother.