Sacrifice (#1 Twin's Service series) UNEDITED

Chapter 9

A cold hand glided across my face, waking me from my stupor. The fact that it was colder than my own chilled skin should've told me what was touching me. When my eyes opened, I came face to face with an old lady with sunken eyes. The clock on my side table at least said I was only a little over a half an hour early on my alarm.

"Is there a reason you're stroking my face while I'm sleeping," I asked with a little bit of snark. It wasn't their fault they seemed to be attracted to me but seriously couldn't I get just a bit of privacy. I was having a hard time with being a hybrid and now you throw these new powers on top of it. Talk about dragging me through hell. Would hell really be like this though? If so, I'd rather take a rain check on going.

"You can see me," her voice seemed as though it was spoken through a muffled phone. It was difficult to describe. Much like how their spirits were technically in the Shadow Realm- their voices drifted over from that side as well.

"Yes I can see you. I repeat, is there a reason you're stroking my face?"

"My apologies, dear. You reminded me so much of my granddaughter for a brief second," she shook her head as if dispelling an illusion. A slight frown added more wrinkles to her aged ghost skin. "There's also a sort of energy coming off of you that called to me."

There was no information that I had come across so far to explain why that was happening. From what I could tell though, I was technically seeing into the Shadow Realm and the Real World at the same time. Which meant that the energy drawing the spirits to me was on the Shadow side. Last time I'd entered the Shadow Realm I'd made eye contact with a Demon. Wasn't on the top of my to do list.

"Would you mind not standing over me while I try to sleep?"

The frown seemed to deepen as though the question had confused her. It didn't matter though, as long as she would keep from touching me as I slept. Almost immediately sleep dragged me back under.

Only to be woken again to more than just the old lady standing over me. I gave myself massive points for not screaming like a little girl.

"Jared," it came out more like a squeak than the normal pitch I had been going for.

A thump and crash came from the room next door. Through the link I could feel my brothers concern. He'd probably felt my terror down the link when I'd called out his name. Once in the doorway of my room, slightly out of breath, he swung his head in every direction trying to find the boogey monster.

"What's wrong?"

I could see him through the mass of bodies hovering in my room so I was also able to see the slight hint of annoyance as well.

"Brother dearest, our house is fucking infested with ghosts."

The ghosts in question scooted closer to me on the bed which made me cringe under the blanket with a small 'eep'. When I glanced subtly around I noticed finally that they were all naked, even the old lady who had been carressing my face earlier.

"Dear Anu, I think I've found our naked Coven."

"What do you mean? Wait! You mean they're all dead?!"

Jared rushed towards me which meant he passed through about ten or even fifteen naked bodies. My hand reflexively covered my eyes but I peaked through my fingers.

"Either dead or soulless. How many people were in that damn Coven?!" Frustration laced my last sentence as I began to see naked people walking in the hallway alongside my friend Stan. Stan didn't seem to mind our unseemly guests. At least wear clothes inside of a strangers house, common decency and all.