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    The Shivery Place (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 14)
    The Shivery Place (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 14)
    The Shivery Place (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 14)
    Ebook284 pages2 hours

    The Shivery Place (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 14)

    By Merabeth James

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    About this ebook

    He had learned to enjoy the “playfully sadistic” at a very young age and was proud of his progress since then. Sadly, the many ‘gifts’ his unknown parentage had given him did not include immortality. Something he hoped to correct when he sired a son. He would be his immortality.
    He had chosen a mother for his offspring out of all those in the world. One whose exploits he had heard about in the dark, secret, forbidden places he sometimes frequented. She alone was worthy of him...of the honor he would soon bestow. The very beautiful Charlotte Ravynne. Her little sister Meg would be the leverage he needed to get her to do whatever he desired.
    He had such plans for them both. First, he would play a little game with them...test their mettle. See how they reacted to the horror he could conjure up. It all promised to be such fun.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMerabeth James
    Release dateAug 3, 2021
    ISBN9781005800239
    The Shivery Place (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 14)
    Author

    Merabeth James

    There are six things important to me...well, most important to me: To love unconditionally, to always keep a sense of 'wonder', to always be kind, to find joy in simple things, to never take myself too seriously, and to make sure I don't leave this earth with a list of "if only I hads".I've taken many 'leaps of faith' in my time and, so far, have landed on my feet or, in one case, on a dilapitated houseboat with my dog, and a lot of enthusiasm. I named her 'Sanctuary Annie' and hoped for the best. I knew nothing about boats, couldn't swim and wondered how long she would stay afloat. In the middle of the night, when my dog jumped up to join me on the antique Victorian bed I had moved on board, I would check to see if he was wet, knowing, if so, we were both in big trouble. But Sanctuary Annie hung in there, even surviving a hurricane, when others around her were not so fortunate.Living in the small marina, with the sea as my back yard, I found a profound sense of peace..and the love of my life....my Jim, captain of 'Wings', a beautiful racing sloop that flies across the water, when the wind fills her sails.I often think how much I would have missed out on, if I hadn't taken that leap of faith and followed my heart. Life is meant to be lived and I intend to keep on doing just that.

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      The Shivery Place (A Ravynne Sisters Paranormal Thriller Book 14) - Merabeth James

      This book is entirely a work of fiction…no exceptions. All characters are entirely fictitious and do not represent any persons living or dead. Product, business, location names used remain the property of any all trademark holders and do not represent an endorsement or association of any kind, either expressed or implied.

      (copyright 2018 elizabeth repka all rights reserved)

      The Shivery Place

      MERABETH JAMES

      CHAPTER ONE

      The antique clock on the mantel chimed thirteen times and kept on going. Somewhere in the depths of the manor house another and still another picked up the discordant refrain. He smiled. Time had no meaning to him. It was merely a collage of moments...snapshots bound together in an endless string stretching out to forever and ever and ever. Well, almost forever. He was mortal after all and had yet to produce an heir. A sad reality that would change soon.

      Lifting the book he’d been reading from his lap, he turned it over and studied the photo of the author on the back cover. C. Ravynne. Charlotte Ravynne known to most as ‘Charlie’. She was beautiful and very talented judging from her books he had read over and over again because it pulled her closer when he entered the workings of her mind. He had stalked her across the globe in the guise of this person or that. Whatever suited the occasion, but there had been no physical contact until he deliberately brushed up against her at the airport one day as she and her sister hurried to catch their flight. The jolt that rocked his body at her touch had surprised him when it shouldn’t have. She was his soul mate. Meant to be his from all those who populated the universe. He laughed softly. It would be a strange mating when he finally possessed her. She was the embodiment of ‘good’ whereas he was....hmmm...not evil exactly though there were plenty to disagree. Just a ‘bad boy’ sometimes with the wealth and power to do whatever he damn well pleased. She pleased him very much.

      Rising to his feet, he crossed to the fireplace and prodded the slumbering logs into renewed life watching the dance of red orange flames. He had sent his shadow creature off earlier in search of her again at Hensley Hall where she had been for some time now and an image was finally forming in his mind. The creature was sending him a vision of her as she slept in a pool of moonlight with her silver blonde hair spilling across her pillow. At some point in the night, she had flung off her covers and lay in a sprawl of long, graceful limbs. A beautiful treasure he would savor to the fullest.

      In the circles he traveled, he had heard about her exploits. The Ravynne sisters and their adventures among the other beings...the creatures of the dark and lonely places. Creatures like himself who killed to feed or mate though, in his case, it was mostly for the pleasure it gave him. Thus he had begun his quest to learn more and that quest had turned into an obsession. She haunted him as surely as any of the ghosts that lurked outside his walls.

      He strolled over to the mother-of-pearl inlaid cabinet that housed his collection of tiny glass figurines and picked up the one that reminded him of her. Holding it up, he watched the flickering flames light it from within like a beating heart. He smiled in appreciation as he turned it, slowly, studying it from all angles until he closed his hand around it tightly...too tightly. He heard a snap and felt a stab of pain. Opening his fist, he surveyed the damage with a heartfelt sigh. She was broken...crushed...and a bit of glass stuck out of his thumb. He pulled it out and flung the figurine into the fire then licked the drop of blood off his wound. It was just a piece of glass…nothing more, but there was a lesson there. He must control his impulses when he had the real thing in his grasp, or she would be destroyed. Something he could not bear to contemplate. He would never hurt her...not really...not in the usual sense. Not if she played the game. Not if she gave him the son he wanted though her productive years in that department were dwindling. He had already made the first move. The next was up to her.

      ***

      Charlie pushed her chair back from her desk and rose to her feet. It had happened again. Something or someone had taken control of her computer and typed the same message for the third time: Leave Hensley Hall. Find me or suffer the consequences. I am waiting at the bottom of the last page she was working on, so she couldn’t miss it. The first time had been disconcerting, but she and Meg had seen so many forms of paranormal activity it hadn’t done more than pique her curiosity. The third time was another matter. Some ‘being’ from the dark side was making contact...had access to her computer and was trying to scare her. Her typed questions in response produced no answers. Just the same message again and again.

      Crossing to the window, she looked down at Meg’s carefully tended garden just in time to see her sister take the path that led to Freddie’s favorite ‘squirrel tree’ where they had buried him just two weeks before. Something was troubling Meg…something more than the loss of her beloved dog. She needed to find out what was wrong. So far, she had fended off her questions. It was time to change that. A good heart to heart was past due.

      She sighed heavily. Things had been bothering her as well, and it wasn’t just the eerie messages she’d been receiving. They had been home for some time now. Home for good had sounded great for the first 6 months, but she had been feeling restless without being able to pin down the real reason. It certainly wasn’t because she missed chasing some ghost or vampire with Meg at her side. She had almost lost Meg more than once on those so-called adventures, and her own life as well. No. Her restlessness came from a deeper source. One she couldn’t name. All she knew was that change was in the wind, and she hoped it would be the kind they both needed.

      Grabbing her empty coffee mug off her desk, she headed out of her tower office and down the back stairs to the kitchen. Agnes was watering the struggling Boston fern nesting on the old brick fireplace hearth and looked up when she entered the room.

      Coffee’s still hot if you’re lookin’ for a refill. If you’re lookin’ for Meg, she jest headed out back to her usual spot, she told Charlie as her faded blue eyes swept her slowly. You ain’t lookin’ so hot yourself. Haven’t been for a spell. I can always tell when my girls have somethin’ worryin’ ‘em. Meg chatted my ear off until lately. She’s grown all quiet like, and we both know that ain’t the Meg we know. You’ve always been like that. It’s like pullin’ teeth to get anything outta ya and most of the time that’s half the story.

      Charlie’s gray eyes were troubled, but she managed a smile for the woman who had been their friend and housekeeper almost from their rocky start at Hensley Hall years before. I guess I’m just used to dealing with stuff on my own...or was until Meg and Freddie came to live with me.

      Agnes nodded. After you hauled her and him outta the clutches of that bastard husband of hers. I’d beat the tar outta him old woman or not, if I’d been there.

      That makes two of us. If Meg hadn’t stopped me going after him, he most likely wouldn’t be breathing now. I’m really worried about her, Agnes. She’s always been so...so Meg and now it’s like the light inside her has gone out.

      The light’s still there but dimmed a bit. She’ll pull through. Losing Freddie has hit her hard.

      It’s more than that. Something is going on with her she won’t talk about even to me when usually I can’t shut her up, she told her with a puzzled frown.

      Like I jest bin tellin’ ya. It’s worrisome. That’s for sure.

      Charlie sighed. When will you be leaving us?

      House has been almost emptied out. What’s left went with the sale. We’re packin’ up what we can stuff in that old wreck we drive and headin’ to Florida this comin’ Friday. The mister is all excited about movin’ to this mo-bile home park I told you about called Happy Acres. Me not so much, but I love my old man. With Constance gone now and them hired girls from town not stayin’ after dark thanks to them little ghost hooligans of yours, it’s more than these old achy bones can handle even though Meg does the bulk of it. Wants to pull her weight around here by keeping the place going while you write your books and make the real money. You might want to think about that offer what’s his name made.

      Been thinking about a lot of things lately. Let me go out and talk with Meg.

      Tucking a strand of wiry gray hair back in its tight bun, Agnes watched the young woman who had been like a daughter to her head for the door. Change was in the wind. Not just for her and her spouse of near on fifty years. There was change coming for all of them. "I can feel it all the way to my toes and them toes are seldom wrong.

      ***

      Charlie found Meg sitting next to Freddie’s grave and sat down next to her. She was holding his collar, and her eyes were red and puffy. Watching her grieve had broken her own heart...added to her own deep sense of loss.

      I still haven’t seen him, Charlie. Every night I think I will feel him jump up on my bed, or I’ll catch a glimpse of him somewhere like in the kitchen badgering Agnes...or digging in the garden...or chasing that tattered eared squirrel that loved to tease him. We see ghosts all the time, so why not him? Cloud is a ghost cat, and he appears regularly though it’s been a while now.

      Maybe he’s just getting used to the changes he’s gone through. He’ll be back. Just be patient.

      Tears gathered again in Meg’s blue eyes. I can’t help but think about all the times I left him to traipse around the world trying to keep you safe. What I wouldn’t give to have every one of those moments back if it didn’t mean losing you to some vampire or other horror.

      Charlie slipped her arm around her sister’s shoulders. He had Agnes who loved him to bits, and you know he adored her.

      Meg swiped at her tears with the back of her hand. I know, but it wasn’t the same. He saved me. I would never have been able to stand up to Mitch until he hurt my Freddie and then you came along and rescued us both.

      You made the wrong choice with Mitch. Something I know a lot about.

      You mean Zack Mallory.

      Charlie grinned ruefully. That would be one example, but that’s in the past. I want to talk to you about now. What gives with you these days? I keep asking, but you never answer me…not really.

      Meg closed her eyes for a moment as she thought about her next words. Everyone’s leaving. Agnes. Freddie. Constance and her daughter Julie along with all the other ghost children who went up into the Light. I know Timmy and Toby are thinking about doing the same but didn’t want to tell us.

      How do you know that?

      I overheard them making plans. Their hearts just aren’t into haunting any more, Meg paused for a long moment before she continued. "I’ve been thinking. We ended up here because we won Hensley Hall in that Internet contest. It was home after we dealt with a few major issues neither one of us needs to be reminded of, but it was where we ended up...not where we chose to be out of all the places in the world. We’re two aging spinsters...though I don’t know if I can be one of those if I was married once, and...."

      Charlie cut in before she could finish, We’re a bit older when we could have been dead considering some of the things we got mixed up in, so we should be thankful for every year tacked on to our lives.

      There’s nothing wrong with getting older, if we’re where we want to be in life. I’m not so sure it is here any more. When that last group of paranormal investigators came through and offered us a more than fair price for the place, I thought I would feel relieved when we turned it down, but I wasn’t.

      Charlie’s eyes widened in surprise. You’re thinking about leaving, too?

      "I want us to find a place we both pick. Not where we end up. I want us to find our true destinies. Who knows what’s in the world out there waiting for us."

      We’ve already seen a few of them...ghosts...werewolves...vampires…otherworldlies to name a few.

      Meg sighed. I fell in love with more than one of them.

      As I remember, there was a ghostly sea captain on Storm Island and a Highland Vampire in Scotland.

      And then there’s you, Meg pointed out.

      We don’t even want to go there. Bottom line is what? You’re bored with here and need something new?

      No. I love it here, but it seems something is missing. That we haven’t really found where we need to be. I think we need to sell.

      Hensley Hall has been our anchor when we needed one.

      Maybe it’s time to cut the line and set us free.

      Would that make you happy?

      Meg frowned thoughtfully. I don’t really know. I just feel like there’s something we are fated to find and hanging around here won’t bring us any closer.

      Charlie remembered the messages she’d been receiving and wondered if now was the time to tell her sister. What if what we find isn’t the happy ending you are looking for?

      I think we need to take that chance. Freddie will find me again when he’s ready no matter where we are...or so I hope with all my heart. Cloud has shown up around the world when we needed him.

      I think we both need to give this a lot of thought. A burnt bridge ends everything we’ve accomplished here.

      How about ‘one door closes another opens’ or is it a window? I’m not sure, but a door would be better than climbing through a window though we have done that a few times.

      Charlie laughed as she jumped up and pulled her sister to her feet. This is where a crystal ball would come in handy. How about we both go back inside and grab the last of the coffee while we list the pros and cons? We need to be very sure it’s the right thing for us.

      ***

      Their list proved to be of little help. There were far more reasons for staying than going, so the matter remained unresolved. It was late the same night that Charlie lay in bed looking around the room that had been her sanctuary for a long time. Moonlight streamed through the open balcony doors and cast long shadows across the floor as she listened to the sough of the wind in the trees. So many memories...emotions had soaked into the walls of this old place, she thought...hers and Meg’s as well as the others who had loved, lived, and died there. Now someone had invaded their space. Crept about in the dark. Left messages to taunt her. Who or what was he? Was his threat real? She would risk anything...do anything it took to keep Meg safe.

      Maybe she should have told her about the messages when they were making their list earlier, but Meg had a stubborn streak. There was a good chance she would choose to stand her ground. Mitch had been a bully. A bully she couldn’t stand up against until he threw the small shaggy, white dog she had adopted from the shelter up against the wall. She had defended him with all she had and never backed down from a fight since though there had been more than one occasion when they both wished they could.

      Throwing on her light robe, she crossed the moonlit floor to the door and checked the hall in both directions. Even though years had passed, she still remembered the profoundly evil Lord Hensley who had haunted the house long after his death until they ended it. There still were nights when she thought she heard the steady ‘thump’ of his cane echo down the hall. She smiled ruefully. He was gone, but not forgotten. Perhaps that was another reason to leave. Another thing they should have added to the list.

      Entering her office one door over, she flipped on the light and looked around. Everything was just as she’d left it, but a faint, unfamiliar odor lingered in the air. Something unpleasant and sour. Someone had been there recently, she thought, as she headed to her laptop. Lifting the lid, she punched the power button. As she waited for it to load, she crossed to the window and looked out at the moon silvered garden below. Movement in the shadows caught her eye. Someone was standing there watching her watch him. There was little she could tell about him. Just a vague shape silhouetted against the night sky that seemed to shift about until the darkness swallowed him. Turning back to her computer, she opened the first draft of her new novel and scanned the last page she had written. There was a new message. This time it read: Find me or Meg will die.

      She returned to bed a few minutes later where she lay thinking about all that had just happened. They had been in danger many times, but this was their home turf. This was where they were supposed to be safe once they had solved the mystery of Hensley Hall and laid its ghosts to rest. Whoever or whatever was haunting them now came and went freely. There would be no way she could stop him from harming Meg. Maybe she should ask Timmy and Toby if they had noticed anything out of the ordinary in their ghostly realm. Since there were no overnight guests for them to torment, the most likely place to find them was the old schoolroom.

      Grabbing her flashlight out of the bedside table, she slipped out of her room...paused outside Meg’s door...and opened it quietly. She was asleep and snoring lightly. Freddie’s collar lay on the pillow next to her. She was safe…at least for now.

      She was running by the time she reached the third floor and entered the schoolroom that had been left untouched, when they renovated the house. Moonlight pooled on the old rocking horse that was moving back and forth as if it had a small rider. They were there.

      Timmy! Toby! she called. There was no answer, so she tried again. I know you’re here. I need your help. Please come.

      It was Timmy who appeared first. The stable boy who had been trampled to death more than forty years before and still hung around because he liked it there even after Nell had left. He offered her an impish grin then told her. Happy to oblige since there’s nothin’ much happenin’ around here tonight. You look all funny. What’s wrong?

      There’s something going on here that you might know about. She filled him in on what was happening and waited for his reaction.

      Wow! Sounds like someone snuck in here without me and Toby knowin’. We’ll see what we can find out for you. Maybe lay a trap next time he comes.

      Don’t do anything that will put you guys at risk.

      What can he do to us? We’re ghosts, remember?

      "There’s all kinds of evil out there, Timmy. Maybe the kind that can hurt you, so don’t take any chances. Just report back to me what you find. And now that I have you here, I want to ask you a question. You and Toby.

      He appeared at the mention of his name and wrapped his arms around Charlie’s waist. She hunkered down next to him and drew him into a hug. It was an unusual display of emotion for Toby, and she feared she already knew the answer. Looking from one to the other, she asked anyway. Are you two planning on leaving us?

      Toby hugged her harder or tried to considering his nebulous state while Timmy looked down at the floor. It ain’t like we’re deserting you. Toby and me just miss our friends and family. We want to go up where they went...into this Light thing.

      Charlie stood up and took both their hands. You weren’t ready before and now you are. That’s a good thing. That’s where you belong, but we’ll never forget you. Meg and I love you both very, very much. You know that. There will always be a place for you in our hearts.

      Timmy was crying when he told her, We won’t ever forget you neither. You’ll have someone waiting for you up there...you and Meg...when you drop dead. Me and Toby and a whole bunch more.

      That’s comforting to know, she told him with a smile as she brushed away her own tears with the back of her hand. I have one more thing to ask you. Have either of you seen Freddie since he passed on?

      It was Toby who answered her. I saw him following Meg a bunch of times, but she didn’t know he was there. He won’t ever leave her for very long. He’s just not strong enough yet to show himself like we can.

      Thanks for that, Toby. I’ll let her know. That will mean a lot to her. Now I’m going to try to get some sleep. Keep a sharp eye out for our intruder and report to me not Meg.

      They both nodded solemnly then vanished. She missed them already, she thought, as she left the schoolroom and headed for the stairs as a prickly awareness traveled up her spine. She hadn’t been afraid at Hensley Hall for a long time, but she was tonight and then she heard it: A ‘thump, thump, thump’ in the long dark hall behind her. Flinging open the stairwell door, she dashed down the steps and kept running till she reached Meg’s door where she spun around and flashed her light behind

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