Bite the Big Heartache (Monstrana Paranormal Romance 2)

She’d never seen anything like this. There was no crystal ball. No candles and holding hands around a table. Just an ancient-looking tray made from silver metal and inscribed with runes. The surface of the water had become almost as solid as a mirror, but what it reflected wasn’t the studio. It was something else. Something dark and swirly, like fog over a bog.

“Patience, my child.” The pink tip of Thea’s tongue stuck out as she concentrated on the water. The wrinkles in her forehead doubled. “This is an art, not a science. Our target may decide that she doesn’t want to show her face.”

No sooner than the words were out of her mouth did the fog from the mirror begin to spill into the room. A collective gasp went through the camera crew and Stasia drew back from the strange substance. Thea cackled and waved her hands over the fog, causing it to grow larger.

“Esther Okpik, murdered werewolf child, speak to Aunt Thea,” the witch cried. “Tell us your story.”

There was a long moment of silence in which no one spoke. Stasia hardly dared to breathe. The fog continued to pour from the water, but nothing happened. No ghostly figures. No voices from beyond the grave. The hole in her stomach was beginning to grow. It felt like it was going to swallow her up whole.

She had to call this thing off. It wasn’t going to work. She was fooling herself if she thought she’d ever make anything up to Billy. His love letter was like a red-hot brand in her pocket. It was going to melt into her flesh and remain there forever as a reminder of her failure.

Just as she was about to tell the cameras to cut, the fog changed. It became pure white, like fluffy clouds. The lights in the room flickered and a disembodied voice echoed from its depths.

“Who’s there?” It was sweet and feminine. Nothing at all like what Stasia expected. “Who calls me?”

“Esther?” Stasia peered desperately into the fog. “Can you talk to us? We have questions about you. And about Billy.”

“Billy?” A torso appeared above the silver tray. It was the figure of a young woman with long dark hair, a smooth complexion, and black eyes. She was translucent and colorless, but her beauty was apparent nonetheless.

“Yes, your fiancé.” Stasia scooted as close to the tray as she could get. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. “What can you tell us about that horrible night that cut your life tragically short?”

Her face grew dark and she frowned. Memories seemed to reflect in her eyes. She shuddered and looked pointedly at Stasia. “Why do you want to know? Why do you care so much about me?”

Stasia bit her lip and her breath caught in her lungs. “I...I want to know because I care for Billy. He blames himself for your death. I want to set the record straight.”

Recognition flashed in Esther’s eyes. She narrowed them and growled. “It’s you. You’re the one he loved.”

Stasia nodded her head just a fraction of an inch. “Yes. And I’m so sorry.”

“Do you love him?”

Esther’s question cut sharp and deep. Stasia inhaled a sudden breath of air and felt tears spring to her eyes. It was the question she’d been asking herself over and over again. Suddenly, in this moment, the answer came as clear to her as the occupants of the room.

“Yes, I do. More than I could ever imagine.”

Her heart sang with the confession. It had been there all along, tucked deep inside for years. She’d loved Billy since that summer. Back then, she didn’t know what love was, but she recognized it now. It made her want to dance and sing and scream all at once.

He was the only one who’d ever truly known her. A young man who hadn’t cared about her social status, her wealth, or even her physical beauty. He’d loved her first as a friend and that love had grown into the most beautiful love of all. One that was lasting and intense. One that made her feel the need to shield his fragile heart from anything. Including her own foolish behavior.

Esther observed her for a moment, her lips pressed into a thin line. Anger and jealousy wracked her face. Finally, a kind of acceptance melted away the lines in her forehead and she sighed softly.

“I’m glad to hear it. Billy is a wonderful man. He might not have been the man for me, but he was still a wonderful leader, a dedicated alpha, and a respectable man. He deserves to be happy with you.”

Stasia swallowed her nervousness and shifted in her seat. “He seems to think that his refusal to end your marriage contract was what got you killed.”

Rage flashed in Esther’s eyes. She snarled and bared her teeth. “No, what got me killed were those hunters. They wanted to eradicate us. Wipe us from the Earth. Billy’s only fault was in thinking I would follow his instructions. He couldn’t have known I would rush into battle. But I wasn’t going to let him fight them alone. It was my pack, too. I would’ve died for them a thousand times.”

Esther’s image flickered and Thea leaned forward, her thick black dress bunching at her thighs. “She’s not going to last on this mortal plane much longer, I’m afraid. Better finish up.”

Stasia nodded and cleared her throat. “Esther, I appreciate you coming tonight. I hope these words ease Billy’s soul. Do you have any last message you’d like to impart? Any unfinished business?”

“I have no unfinished business.” Esther snorted and tossed her head. “My pack is alive and I’ve rejoined my family. I’m happy. There is nothing left for me to do. I just wish that Billy will stop blaming himself for my death. If he can’t forgive himself, then I won’t be able to rest in peace. Tell the brute that he better knock it off or I’ll come and haunt his butt for the rest of his pathetic life.”

She laughed and the image faded. The fog rolled back into the silver tray as if it were being vacuumed up by a giant Hoover. Thea fanned herself with her hands and collapsed back into her chair, exhaustion showing in the lines on her face. She gave Stasia a thumbs up and then promptly fell asleep, her head rolling to her chest and soft puffs of air escaping through her thin lips.

Stasia grasped the armrests of her chair for a moment, orienting herself to what had just happened. Esther had been everything she’d hoped for. She’d cleared Billy of any wrong-doing. She’d given him her blessing. Stasia couldn’t have asked for anything better. Now, she could only pray that the stubborn werewolf had the sense to watch the program and get the message himself.

“Now you see, Monstrana,” she said breathlessly into the camera. “Billy Finley really is our werewolf hero. I hope you all celebrate him as much as I do tonight.”