Orion raised his head and arched an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ambigo sighed. "It means until we figure out what the spirit inside you wants, and what he's capable of, you could be a danger to everyone. That's why I want you not to travel too far."
Orion bitterly laughed. "To watch over me, is that it?"
I folded my arms and frowned. "He's got a point."
Orion whipped his head to me and his face fell. "Et tu, Trixie?"
I shrugged. "I don't think we're going to get that spirit out of you by going into the middle of the woods and wolfing out."
A sly grin slipped onto his lips. "I'm willing to try that."
I arched an eyebrow. "We tried that before and you got the Sickness, remember?" I struck a pose with the fingers of one of my hands placed against my chest and looked into the far distance. "Besides, it's our responsibility to free this poor soul from whatever horror keeps it within this earthly realm."
He chuckled. "A reporter's duty to search out the truth?"
I dropped the pose and smiled. "Something like that. Anyway, it'll make for a great story and maybe the local rag would let me in on some future guest-reporting."
"But after your statements, and your word you won't leave town," Ambigo spoke up.
We swore on paper and over heart that Orion wouldn't leave the vicinity of the town, and a half hour later were set free upon the world. The streetlights lit the deserted streets of the quiet town.
I paused at the bottom of the steps in front of the station and checked my watch. "The Witching Hour. Think we'll find any more spooks?"
Orion smiled down at me. "The phantom Pomeranian wasn't enough?"
I dropped my hand and looked up and down the empty streets. "A good story needs a lot of scares, especially for a special Halloween edition. Are there any other ghosts we can scare up in this town to possess you?"
He pursed his lips as he gazed out on the street. "I can't really answer that. There's a lot of unexplainable things in this town."
I glanced up at him and arched an eyebrow. "You mean more than the witches, ghosts and werewolves?"
He nodded. "Much more."
I poked his arm. "You need to get me a brochure for this place."
Orion grinned. "Wanting to explore Witch's Way and Spook Cove?"
I leaned back and frowned. "I'm not sure if you're joking or not."
He chuckled. "You're just going to have to find out." His chuckle ended in a slight cough.
I arched an eyebrow. "You okay?"
He bumped his fist against his chest and nodded. "Just this fall air. Gets to me every year."
I shrugged. "Well, speaking of finding out, we've got to find out what's up with this 'Mallory' you keep mentioning."
He shrugged. "Never heard of it."
I swept my eyes over the street. "Any chance of there being some public records in the library or city hall?"
He shrugged again. "Again, no idea."
I snorted. "That's what I'm starting to suspect, but this is why I'm the reporter and you're the sidekick."
He frowned. "I thought I was the junior reporter."
I grabbed him his hand and pulled him down the street. "Nope, you've been demoted. Now I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing the library is open late."
"That I do know about. It's open from the afternoons to late at night," he told me.
I nodded. "Good, now which way is it?"
He pointed his finger over his shoulder in the opposite direction we were headed. "That way."
I spun around and dragged him that way. "I knew that."
A short jaunt down a few blocks and we arrived at the city park. It was about twenty quaint acres of grass dotted with tall, thick trees, a small stage for performances, and an outbuilding for restrooms. At the front of the park, flanked by three of the largest trees, stood the library. It was built in the same Greek-temple style as the other public buildings in the town. Large windows looked out over a small, empty parking lot. Lights from inside streamed over the yellow-striped ground and let me glimpse the long, tall bookshelves inside the building.
I glanced at Orion. "So why's this place open so late, anyway?"
He shrugged. "No-"
"-idea. I get it," I finished for him.
He grinned. "Actually, I was going to say 'no problem, I know that.'"
I snorted. "Then why is it open so late?"
He nodded at the windows. A figure of a man walked past them. "Because the Librarian is a night owl."
I arched my eyebrow. "Weird. What's their name?"
Orion shook his head. "He doesn't have one. Everyone just calls him the Librarian."
I arched both eyebrows. "Everybody's gotta have a name."
Orion shrugged. "If he did everyone's forgotten about it. You saw for yourself how old he was in the mayor's office the night you ate your apple."
I hearkened my memories back to that fateful night and furrowed my brow. "You mean that old geezer who came into the office with Darnell?"
My mate nodded. "He's the one, and if anyone has answers about everyone in town it would be him."
I tugged him toward the short flight of stairs that led up to the double-door entrance. "Then what are we waiting for? This scoop isn't going to write itself."
CHAPTER 5
I dragged Orion through the doors and into the marble halls of the library. The smell of musty books hit my nose like a bag of bricks swung by a sumo wrestler.
I clapped my hand over my nose and glanced at Orion. He had a big grin on his face. "You knew that was coming, didn't you?"
He shrugged. "Maybe."
I narrowed my eyes. "Could you warn me about these things next time? I'm not sure to the whole werewolf-nose thing."
"It's all about practice," he teased me as he led the way deeper into the large, echoing chamber that made up the library.
The uninterrupted space towered above us and the packed bookshelves did the same. There were rows upon rows of dusty tomes and fresh paperbacks. A winding staircase led up to a balcony of more bookshelves. The desk was to our right when we entered, and behind that were a few doors that led into small offices.
The front desk was unoccupied, but we heard the faint scuff of shoes and rifling of pages. We walked down the rows of shelving until we reached the wall opposite the entrance. In the row stood a cart, and at the cart was the strange little man I'd met that night.
The same spectacles graced the lower part of his nose and his wispy white hair was combed back over his skeletal skull. He wore a dark-brownish tweed suit, one nearly the same as that long night. In one wizened hand was open a large book, and his eyes scanned the pages.
The temptation was too great. I raised my hand and slapped a stupid grin on my face. "Hey! Librarian!"
Orion froze and cringed. The man raised his eyes and looked over the top of his glasses at me. He pursed his lips and shut the book with a sharp clap. "This is a library, Miss Lyal. I would have you treat it as such."
Orion frowned at me. I sheepishly grinned at him and shrugged as we walked over to the old man. "I couldn't help it."
"Restraint is a virtue," the Librarian commented as he slipped the book into an empty spot on the impeccably tidy shelves.
I grinned. "Like my mom always says, no one in our family wants to go to Heaven because we wouldn't know anyone there."
That didn't even crack a smile from his lips. Tough audience. The Librarian's eyes flickered to Orion. "How can I help you?"
"We were hoping you could tell us about a name we heard about," Orion explained.
The old man's careful eyes studied Orion and he arched an eyebrow. "Merely heard about?"
Orion shrugged. "Well, it's a little more complicated than that, but could you tell us anything about anyone named 'Mallory?'"
The Librarian furrowed his brow and rubbed his chin between his finger and thumb. "Mallory. That is a name I haven't heard in quite some time." He dropped his hand and w
alked around the cart to pass us. "If you would follow me."
We followed the Librarian back to the front desk and around the wide counter to a small door located in a niche to the far left. The other doors had windows in them, but this one was solid wood. There was also a large lock above the long, old-fashioned handle. The Librarian pulled out a ring of large black keys from his pocket and sifted through them until he found a particularly thick one. He inserted the key into the lock and turned. There was a loud grinding noise followed by a finishing clang.
The Librarian opened the door and revealed a long, dark staircase that led beneath the library. He turned to us, and his eyes fell on me. "Touch nothing. The documents are fragile, and one careless handling will destroy them forever."
Orion looped one of his arms through mine and nodded. "Gotcha."
I glared at him as the Librarian walked down the stairs. "Traitor. . ."
He grinned. "Just trying to be a good sidekick, Boss."
The stairs took a sharp turn at a landing and ended beneath the shelving. Another thick door stood in our path, but this one was likewise taken care of by one of the Librarian's keys. We stepped into the dark depths of the basement and into a world of musty, stifling air. The Librarian flicked a switch and illuminated a single large room filled with cardboard boxes, card catalogs, desks, chairs, filing cabinets, shelving, and the occasional loose book. What it didn't have were mouse traps and dust.
The long wall opposite the entrance was lined with filing cabinets. The Librarian led us over to those and walked down the row. I noticed the alphabet was stamped on the top of each cabinet. We stopped our walking at the one marked 'M,' and the Librarian pulled out the first drawer. Inside was a long row of vanilla folders. First and last names were written on the top, all in the same handwriting. Some of the folders looked ancient.
The Librarian thumbed through the front ones until he came upon a particular folder which he pulled out. He turned to us and held out the folder. "This may be what you're looking for."
"Thanks," Orion replied as he reached for the folder.
The Librarian pressed the folder against his chest and narrowed his eyes. "May I ask why you are interested in this name?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Only if we can ask why you're asking."
A small smile slipped onto his lips and he held out the folder. "In that case we will both keep our secrets, at least for a little longer."
Orion accepted the folder and turned the name toward us. It read Mallory, William. Orion made to open the folder, but the Librarian placed his palm on the front of the paper container.
"The library will be closing soon."
Orion nodded. "Of course. Thanks for the help."
The Librarian bowed his head. "Thinking nothing of it. It is my job, after all."
We exited the library. I wrapped my arms around myself and shivered. "That guy gives me the creeps."
"The Librarian's always been a little weird," Orion agreed as we stopped beneath one of the streetlights near the library. He held up the folder. "But what do you say we find out about this William Mallory?"
I grinned. "I thought you'd never ask."
I slipped beside him and Orion opened the folder. The contents were slim. There was a form with personal information, a few pages of an essay, and-
"What do we have here?" I commented as I plucked a photo from the papers.
I tilted the picture so the light caught its full black-and-white glory. The photo was faded and yellowed, but I recognized the young face of the specter. The picture showed the upper half of his body. He wore a light-colored suit and a smile on his face. Behind him stood a large tree surrounded by grass.
"That looks like-" I raised my head and noticed Orion rub his temple. I frowned. "You okay?"
He dropped his hand and smiled at me. "Just that fall air again. Anyway, what were you saying?"
I studied him a moment longer before I nodded at the picture. "I was saying it looks like we've found our ghost, but what happened to him?" I tapped the spot on the personal info form where the date of death should have been written. "No death, so he should be alive, right?"
Orion pulled the other papers out and frowned. "I don't think so."
He handed me the papers. I saw they were typed out on an old-fashioned typewriter. At the top right was the name and address for the Apple Hollow police department. The paperwork was dated October 31st, some sixty-five years before the current year. I read the juicy bits aloud.
"The above-mentioned William Mallory, resident of Apple Hollow for three years, has not been found. All searches have been called off, and he has been deemed a Runaway. Should he return to Apple Hollow he shall be reprimanded appropriately." I looked up and furrowed my brow. "A runaway? At age twenty-five?"
"That's what the hollow calls anyone who leaves the area without permission," Orion explained.
I snorted. "Dang. I missed my chance to be a juvenile delinquent again." I broached the other contents. "Missing since October 29th, no family, last scene at-" My eyebrows crashed down and my eyes flickered up to Orion. "Last seen walking to Madam Bentley's seance party."
Orion nodded. "Not just a coincidence, is it?"
I handed him back the paperwork and shook my head. "Not when it involves spooks. The only problem is where did he go, and why did he come back now?"
Orion shrugged. "No idea. The only clue we have are the two tickets."
I smiled. "The post office doesn't happen to be open this late, does it?"
He shook his head. "That's one place that isn't open until midnight. Government hours only."
My shoulders slumped and I sighed. "So this mystery has to wait for the mail."
Orion wrapped his arm around me and pressed me against his side. I looked up and he wagged his eyebrows. "I've got an idea that'll make this night go faster."
I grinned. "I'm all ears."
He chuckled and we strode toward home. "I'll find that out soon enough."
CHAPTER 6
We walked home to his humble Victorian-mansion abode. Orion tossed the folder onto his dining table and wrapped his arms around my waist. I turned in his hold and looped my arms around his neck.
"Wanting something?" I teased.
"Always, and this time I was thinking you could put on that sexy pirate outfit you've been piecing together," he suggested.
I rolled my eyes. "It's not just a sexy pirate costume. It's more like a work of art."
"I'd just be glad for the sexy part," he replied as he leaned down.
His soft, hot kisses left a trail of desire down my neck. My heart thumped in my chest as my body warmed to his touch. His hands slid to my hips and around the back to massage my butt. I groaned into our kiss.
He broke us apart and grinned down at me. "Like what you feel?"
"Only if you don't break us apart again," I insisted.
He swooped me into his arms and walked toward the stairs. "I can make that promise once we get to the right location."
"What about the couch?" I suggested.
He turned toward the living room so sharply I almost got whiplash. "Your wish is my command."
We strolled through the dark house to the large, long couch. He plopped down on a cushion and settled me so I straddled his lap.
"Comfortable?" he asked me.
I shifted and ground my crotch against his. There was a noticeable bulge in his pants that I rubbed against. He grunted and grabbed my hips to hold me still.
I leaned close to him and brushed my lips against his. My voice was soft and sultry as my mind fell into this delicious, lustful game. "Does that answer your question?"
His reply wasn't original, but it was welcomed. He caught my lips in a hard, possessive kiss. His hands slid under my shirt and groped my swollen breasts. I rocked my hips in time with our touches. His hips thrust up, rubbing himself against my hot, wet core.
Our sweat-soaked bodies strained against our clothes as our hands fumbled to take them off. My shirt
fell away, followed by my bra. He popped open my pants and slid them and my underwear over my thick hips. I wiggled out of them and sat naked on his lap. His clothes were in the way. He growled and tore apart his shirt and pants, leaving him as naked as me.
His lips nipped and suckled at my pert nipples. My soft groans filled the air, mixing with his hard grunts.
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. My tongue flicked out to wet my dry lips. "Oh god, this feels so good."
He slipped one of his fingers into my hot, wet core. I gasped and clutched his shoulders as he stroked my throbbing nerves. My hips rocked in time with his finger. I panted for air. My vision clouded. All I could see was him. All I could feel was his finger pleasuring me, instilling within me a lustful desire to be taken by him.
My words came out in a deep, pleading groan. "Yes. Oh god, yes. Faster. Please god, faster."
He removed his finger and pushed his thick manhood deep inside me. His thrusts were hard and fast. I couldn't follow. I could only enjoy the agonizingly delicious pleasure he stoked within me. He pounded away at me, taking me with the passion of an eager lover.
I felt my hands lengthen into claws. My body sprouted thick, soft fur. My breasts swelled and brushed against his hard, smooth chest.
That's when I noticed something was off. My lover wasn't changing. His deep grunts weren't the growls of a werewolf. He was still human.
I leaned away from him and caught his eyes. They were that brilliant, glowing blue I'd seen during his possession.
"Orion?" I whispered.
A bright bluish light erupted from his body and washed over me. It enveloped me in a hot blanket of lust and desire. Its tendrils stroked my flesh and penetrated my body. He continued his frenzied thrusts, and together I was swept into a paradise of sweet, sensual love-making. My body tensed and shivered as I was consumed by light and man. It was a deep, intimate penetration that warmed me to my soul.
I wanted more of it. Tingles of orgasm teased me. My flesh quivered beneath such hunger that this man and ghost stoked within me. I gasped as my body was ravaged by a delicious onslaught of sweet pleasure. My world became clouded with a bright white light.
And then I was somewhere else. I stood fully-clothed on the edge of a world covered in endless white light. An oasis of reality lay before me. A large tree towered above a grassy knoll. At the foot of the tree stood a young man dressed in a brownish suit. He raised his eyes and I saw they were full of sorrow.