Free The Crimson Key by Christy Sloat Page A

friend!” I was now standing, shouting at the only woman who held the clues to my friend’s life.
    “I will help you , but you need to be patient. Don’t let on that you know her intentions. And never talk about her in the house.” I didn’t understand why I couldn’t talk about Evangeline in my own home. What did that matter?
    “Why not?” I asked petulantly.
    “Because her spirit may reside in your house, Brylee,” Hala said matter-of-factly.
     
    We drove home as slowly as we could. I had to try to tell them both what was going on before we got to my house. Ephraim gripped the steering wheel as tightly, his concern for Lynley and I visible.
    “So , Hala said to just be careful and not talk about anything by the house. I guess the lake will be our meeting place from now on. And Lynley,” I said looking at her ghost white face. “You can’t talk to her anymore. Hala says you have to fight the promises she is making you.”
    “She isn’t so much promising me things , not really,” she said as she bit her nails. “Honestly, when we talk I feel like I am with a friend. She makes me feel better. Then when she leaves it’s like I totally forget everything she said and I feel sick. I don’t really even know what she looks like to be honest.” From what Hala told me was she was putting her in a trance-like state that was making her sick when she was near her spirit. Making her weaker and weaker. The rash she was getting from being so close to her. Hala thought it was Evangeline’s way of keeping Lynley sick. If she had a rash then she would feel like she should hide. I would be damned if this dead chick was going to take over my best friend.
    I grabbed her hand. “You have to try to ignore her. Pretend you don’t see her , okay?” She nodded and laid her head on my shoulder.
    “So what did Hala say about the curse?” Ephraim asked as we pulled onto our street.
    “She said we would talk more about that next time. I kinda hoped I could go see her before I go away.” I was leaving for my trip to California soon. It was very inconvenient, but Hala said we could get plenty done over the phone. She gave me the book that her great grandmother wrote in to read while I was there. I knew I would learn a lot about the sisters just from the book, but I was still stuck with so many questions. What were John and the other Mayhew boys doing protecting the sisters’ house? Why did Evangeline haunt my house? And why the hell did she like brushing my hair? All my questions had to wait until the next time I saw her.
    “Maybe tomorrow we can go? I would love to be free from her ,” Lyn said.
    “No , tomorrow is Brylee’s birthday,” Ephraim replied. “Remember, Lynley?” She nodded, but I knew she had forgotten. It was okay; I forgot, too. I had been so preoccupied by everything that it didn’t matter anymore. I had been too busy with ghosts to even care. I now had not only my homework from school to study but my new journal to read. It was like every time I needed to learn something about these sisters, it was in some mysterious journal. That was the way they wanted it though, I suppose. They wanted no one to know about them and their secrets.
    We pulled into their driveway and right away their mom flew out of the door. She looked pissed off. I could guess why; I knew she wasn’t happy to see me with them.
    “Where have you two been?” she yelled. Lynley instantly put her head down and looked upset again.
    “Mom , calm down we just went for a little drive. That’s all,” Ephraim told her. It calmed her down, but she grabbed Lyn protectively, pulling her inside. I didn’t even get to say good-bye.
    “Well , I will see you tomorrow,” Ephraim said as he kissed me.
    “Wait , not tonight?” I was hoping he would sleepover tonight. I needed his comfort right now. I didn’t want to be left alone with Evangeline.
    “Not tonight , babe. Bye.” He turned and went into his house. I could hear his mom start