Penmort Castle (Ghosts and Reincarnation #1)(131)
Author: Kristen Ashley

“It was because Vivianna told me about Alistair. It was because she knew you were the real master of this castle, that she knew he’d murdered Anthony and she knew he’d try to murder you. I behaved the way I behaved to you, and then Abby, to drive you away.”

Cash’s body froze at learning this knowledge but Suzanne didn’t notice and she carried on.

“I wanted to make it so unpleasant for you that you’d give up whatever it was you were doing all of a sudden reconciled with Alistair.” She started to take a step closer to Cash but thought better of it and stopped. “She was in the room, Cash. Vivianna was, when Abby walked in that first time. You weren’t there, she wasn’t allowing herself to be seen but I felt it the minute Abby walked in. I saw Abby, I felt Vivianna’s wrath and I knew, I absolutely knew Vivianna meant her harm. Before dinner I did what I could both to make you angry and Abby uncomfortable enough to go but you didn’t. After dinner I got out of there the first chance I could, went to my room and acted out a crying rage which was when she normally would visit me. I hoped she’d come to me instead of doing anything to Abby.” She paused, took in a breath, and went on. “She didn’t come. She hurt Abby instead.”

Cash watched as Suzanne closed her eyes and then opened them.

They focused on Cash and he saw the pain there before she whispered, “I know you don’t like me and I know the reason you don’t like me is because of the way I behaved but I had to do something, didn’t I?”

Her tone was so uncertain, so un-Suzanne, Cash didn’t know what to make of her. He’d known the woman in front of him for a year (twenty-four of them, if you counted when he’d visited in his teens) but he’d never met her.

“You should have said something,” Cash told her brusquely.

She shook her head and looked away. “Right,” she muttered and turned to him again talking now in a high, sarcastic voice. “Um, Cash, you know, your uncle killed your Dad and I’m guessing you’re next. Oh, and by the way, I know that because a ghost told me and she’s a nasty piece of work who wants to do harm to your girlfriend.” She paused before asking irritably, “Is that what I should have said?”

“Suzanne –” Cash began but her expression changed to one with which he was far more familiar.

She moved toward him but not to him. She began to walk right by him muttering, “I knew I shouldn’t have bothered.”

But Cash’s hand came up and grasped her arm, stopping her.

She looked up at him, eyes narrowed and cruel, and he warned, “Don’t go back to the bitch, Suzanne.”

“The bitch works for me, Cash,” she spat. “Trust me, I know, I’ve had twenty-five years of perfecting her.”

His voice softened and he watched her head jerk as her face paled when he said, “I’m sorry about that,” Cash let her go but got closer, tipping his chin down to look at her, he finished, “but you don’t need her anymore. Let her go.”

He could tell she was holding onto the bitch but only barely when she replied sharply, “It’s not that easy.”

“No,” Cash agreed, “probably not. But the woman who helped Abby and me last night, and the one I saw a few minutes ago, is someone I’d like to get to know. The one standing in front of me right now is one I never want to see again.”

She stared and he watched her force a painful swallow.

She didn’t speak.

So Cash did.

“Thank you for trying to protect me,” he said quietly and with feeling.

Her mouth dropped open then she snapped it shut then she stammered, “I… um, you’re welcome.”

“You’re a bright woman, Suzanne,” he muttered. “You’ll find your way.”

She stared up at him, silent.

He decided their conversation was finished and moved toward the door.

He halted and turned back when she called his name.

She had her dressing gown wrapped tight around her again and Cash thought she looked very young and very scared but even so, she had the courage to say, “I’m glad you’re safe.” He nodded and moved to open the door but he turned back when she kept talking. “And I hope you’ll be happy.” She hesitated then said, “With Abby. I like her. She’s a bit mad but she’s tough and very sweet.”

She ended on a whisper and Cash watched as pink stained her cheeks when he smiled at her, something he wasn’t certain he’d ever done.

Without another word he exited her room, closing the door softly. He moved down the hall hoping that he could make it to his and Abby’s rooms without Fenella, Honor, Jenny, Kieran, Cassandra, Angus or, God forbid, Mrs. Truman (all of whom spent the night) waylaying him.

He didn’t succeed.

As he was passing the third door from his, it opened.

Cash stopped and turned to see Cassandra standing in the doorway. Her long, dark hair was down and tousled from sleep. She wore a pair of drawstring, flannel shorts and a tight camisole likely borrowed from Honor as Cassandra was far too curvy to fit in anything Fenella or Suzanne owned.

She leaned a shoulder against the doorframe, crossed her arms on her chest and rested her heel against the side of her opposite ankle.

“I’m sorry, Cash but we did what we had to do,” Cassandra said quietly.

He knew to what she was referring, bringing back his grandmother, his father and, mostly, Ben.

Cash crossed his own arms on his chest. “You knew the circle wasn’t going to work,” he remarked.

She nodded. “Both Angus and I had our doubts. Vivianna was strong and she was smart. She’d know about the circle and she’d know how to defeat it.”

“You had it planned all along,” Cash said and watched her nod again.

“We tried the circle because we didn’t want to use Ben if we didn’t have to. But we knew we’d need to be prepared to throw everything at her. Abby didn’t want her cat involved but we brought Zee along too, just in case. Angus came up with the spell and I activated it, pulling back the veil and recruiting the trinity, one Vivianna had wronged, your grandmother; a past master, your father; and a protector of the innocent, Ben. All of them together, as well as Zee, who’s a powerful little thing, worked. They sucked her power, kept her visible so she couldn’t dematerialise and their presence rooted her so she couldn’t move.”

It was Cash’s turn to nod and Cassandra continued.