Caraliza (22 page)
Authors: Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
The reporter started by first asking, if Mr. Bryant was pressing charges, and what did Shelly think if he did? The second question was, if the rumor was true – that Ms. Reisman somehow arranged a fake haunting, to get some pre-opening publicity for the tired old place. Shelly was so mad she cried in the studio for another hour.
Evan made her feel much better when he called, and asked her to come back that night. She had been by his side several days but he felt terribly faint, and needed some special attention to help mend. Then when he felt better, he could stay at her place for a few days and then…his silly cooing was not really what made her feel better.
He reminded her, they ignored the images in the chest, and it was something they would not overlook again. They would do it before dinner. She knew everything would be all right then. The clan squabbles would not matter, he would help her until she gave up herself, and she decided, she would only quit if the opening night were a total flop. Mama Bryant really showed how inexperienced she was at the publicity stuff, the more stink she raised, the more curious people would be.
Shelly made half a dozen phone calls then, to her architect, to her contractor, to her Dad, to tell him the bills would start showing up in thirty days. The Reisman Portraits was about to change forever.
She walked out of the studio into the shop with a purpose, and stepped into the darkroom closet, to prove to the building, it could do nothing to stop her. She reached into the darkness, and found the warmth she was searching for with her fingertips, guided by her heart. Shelly knew there was nothing real in this darkness she could touch, but it soothed the painful longing in her body. She knew she was hearing a lie in the whispers, but she gave in to them.
The door silently closed behind her and Shelly closed her eyes to deepen the darkness. Yousep reached to pick up the first plate as she slipped her hands underneath his shirt and pulled his warmth close to her body. The dress was in the way of the warmth, and she wanted it against her skin, not wasted on cloth. He moved just a bit, less movement than sway, less sway than a dance, and the dress slipped to the floor.
Shelly turned and pressed her cheek against his warm back and listened to him whisper her name, and the sound of it circled his heart,
“Caraliza,”
he whispered. She stood there holding him close as long as he worked in the darkness. She loved the lie this room told her. She loved the blackness that swallowed her. She prayed he would find her, feed her, and hold her. Love her. She was safe, for the first time since she was taken by coach, hungry, and unfed, in the brute’s foul company, from Amsterdam.
“Caraliza,”
he whispered. She stood there holding him close as long as he worked in the darkness. She loved the lie this room told her. She loved the blackness that swallowed her. She prayed he would find her, feed her, and hold her. Love her. She was safe, for the first time since she was taken by coach, hungry, and unfed, in the brute’s foul company, from Amsterdam.
The darkroom closet was the safest place Shelly had ever been.
CHAPTER NINE
Evan was beside himself with worry when Shelly finally came to his door. His calls around to her family had not found her, and it was getting dark, but no one seemed worried, it was pure Shelly to be late to the bathroom. Aunt Dannie offered to take her place for the evening and laughed until Evan felt very uncomfortable. But Shelly finally arrived, and looked stunning, he was impressed she had gone to any trouble for him. But her lip was bleeding, just a little. She looked like a very alluring vampire, and she gave him the same smile she had given in the toilet, under the very strange spell of immodesty. She was against him before he could close the door.
“
What happened to your lip, Sweetheart?”
What happened to your lip, Sweetheart?”
“
I don’t know.”
I don’t know.”
“
When did it happen?”
When did it happen?”
“
I don’t know.”
I don’t know.”
“
Are you all right, Shelly?”
Are you all right, Shelly?”
“
I don’t know.”
I don’t know.”
And she kissed him very slowly, very softly and she tasted his lips, tasted his neck. It took several moments to get her through the door, and it closed behind her. When he turned, she was slowly on her way into the den and clothing was not making the entire trip with her. She was at the window and opening it before he could get into the room behind her and he actually cried out, concerned she might step up to the sill.
“
God, what’s the matter, Evan, you almost made me pee.”
God, what’s the matter, Evan, you almost made me pee.”
“
You didn’t answer me Shelly, are you all right?” he could not help sounding angry with her, because he was.
You didn’t answer me Shelly, are you all right?” he could not help sounding angry with her, because he was.
“
Yes, I’m fine Evan!” This time her tone was annoyed; the smile was gone. She walked back to the couch and lay down, stretching out like a spoiled cat, wearing only her lingerie. She continued to gaze out the window, and she would not look at him.
Yes, I’m fine Evan!” This time her tone was annoyed; the smile was gone. She walked back to the couch and lay down, stretching out like a spoiled cat, wearing only her lingerie. She continued to gaze out the window, and she would not look at him.
“
You worried me.” Evan stood in the doorway watching her. She seemed in an odd, playful mood, but so distant, she hardly noticed him at all. “Shelly, I called all over the place to find you. We almost headed to the shop, to make sure you were okay.”
You worried me.” Evan stood in the doorway watching her. She seemed in an odd, playful mood, but so distant, she hardly noticed him at all. “Shelly, I called all over the place to find you. We almost headed to the shop, to make sure you were okay.”
She just looked at him, warm eyes, that smile came back, and she did not say a thing to him. No apology, no guilt, no shame.
“
Were you at the shop?” he asked.
Were you at the shop?” he asked.
“
Yes.”
Yes.”
“
Working?”
Working?”
“
Yes...”
Yes...”
“
Did you go upstairs? The closet?”
Did you go upstairs? The closet?”
“
The closet!” she purred at him. “I
was
in the closet. You were wonderful.”
The closet!” she purred at him. “I
was
in the closet. You were wonderful.”
He realized, watching Shelly, she had fallen in love with the spell the closet cast on her; she could no more stay out than he had been able to stay out of the attic. Evan heard awful things from the attic room; things that made him toss away any common sense and run up there. His fear did not protect him. There was nothing to protect Shelly, because she certainly was not afraid.
“
I was not there Shelly. You touched something else.”
I was not there Shelly. You touched something else.”
“
I know that!”
I know that!”
Evan crossed to the couch and sat down, not knowing if he was really talking to Shelly at all. He had never seen her act like this. She wiggled to put her head in his lap, gazed up to his lips and traced them with her fingertips. After a few quiet moments, being so close, he noticed the distance in her eyes faded away, and she seemed more herself.
“
What are we having for dinner?”
What are we having for dinner?”
“
We were going out, just downstairs. Appetizers in about three or four of my favorite places until we’ve had enough.” He looked at her as she licked her bleeding lip, a bit surprised when she tasted blood. “Do you still want to do that, Shelly? We can order in again if you like.”
We were going out, just downstairs. Appetizers in about three or four of my favorite places until we’ve had enough.” He looked at her as she licked her bleeding lip, a bit surprised when she tasted blood. “Do you still want to do that, Shelly? We can order in again if you like.”
“
Blechh! Did you take a bite when you kissed me, you fiend?”
Blechh! Did you take a bite when you kissed me, you fiend?”
“
No, you came in that way. Shelly, don’t you care how worried I’ve been? You should have been here hours ago.”
No, you came in that way. Shelly, don’t you care how worried I’ve been? You should have been here hours ago.”
“
Evan, I was fine.” She was not annoyed this time. She was reassuring. “But the place is more haunted than we have ever guessed. It’s alive with a lot more than just two murdered teenagers. Since we took the photograph the whole placed is changed.”
Evan, I was fine.” She was not annoyed this time. She was reassuring. “But the place is more haunted than we have ever guessed. It’s alive with a lot more than just two murdered teenagers. Since we took the photograph the whole placed is changed.”
“
And you think that’s safe?”
And you think that’s safe?”
“
No, it’s not safe.”
No, it’s not safe.”
Here was her chance to let him know how frightened she had become. She did not tell him.
“
I’m hungry. Are you?”
I’m hungry. Are you?”
He knew perfectly well she avoided saying something when she changed the subject. She was gazing back out the window again, the distance in her eyes had returned.
“
Let’s go get some dinner, Sweetheart. I am hungry,” he said.
Let’s go get some dinner, Sweetheart. I am hungry,” he said.
Shelly smiled a wee smile, and rolled back to snuggle against his stomach and she began to sing a very sleepy little song, almost a whisper. It frightened Evan.
“
Slaap, kindje, slaap
Slaap, kindje, slaap
daar buiten loopt een schaap.”
“
I think we should go on down. Get some air,” he whispered to interrupt her song. She struggled with tears and looked suddenly very surprised, as if awakening from a bad dream. “You have me very worried, Sweetheart. I can’t tell if you really are okay,” he whispered, gently stroking her brow and watching the expression in her eyes.
I think we should go on down. Get some air,” he whispered to interrupt her song. She struggled with tears and looked suddenly very surprised, as if awakening from a bad dream. “You have me very worried, Sweetheart. I can’t tell if you really are okay,” he whispered, gently stroking her brow and watching the expression in her eyes.
Shelly was drifting in and out of reality, still feeling something that held her in the closet.
“
I can’t really tell myself, Evan,” she admitted. “I need you there. You told me we shouldn’t be alone, we should always be together in there.” She sat up and shook her head a bit. “I want you to come back in with me. I need you.”
I can’t really tell myself, Evan,” she admitted. “I need you there. You told me we shouldn’t be alone, we should always be together in there.” She sat up and shook her head a bit. “I want you to come back in with me. I need you.”
“
In a few days, Shelly. I’m almost ready to come back.”
In a few days, Shelly. I’m almost ready to come back.”
She seemed relieved to hear that. He wished she had been able to tell him what she avoided, that ‘something’ she seemed desperate to say to him. He knew she had not gone near it.
“
I’m ready to go,” she said as she stood up and took he hands to pull him up into her arms. “When we come back, will you wash me? It is so wonderful!”
I’m ready to go,” she said as she stood up and took he hands to pull him up into her arms. “When we come back, will you wash me? It is so wonderful!”
“
Shelly are you awake or are you dreaming?”
Shelly are you awake or are you dreaming?”
“
I’m always dreaming when you hold me.” She smiled and walked slowly along the trail of clothing, pulling him along behind. She reached down for her top. “I just dreamed you washed me, all over. It was delicious.”
I’m always dreaming when you hold me.” She smiled and walked slowly along the trail of clothing, pulling him along behind. She reached down for her top. “I just dreamed you washed me, all over. It was delicious.”
“
When did you dream this?”
When did you dream this?”
“
In the closet today. I loved it. You know what it feels like. I love it in there.”
In the closet today. I loved it. You know what it feels like. I love it in there.”
“
You are as strange as you are beautiful, Shelly,” he said to her.
You are as strange as you are beautiful, Shelly,” he said to her.
“
Then I am very gorgeous, because I am very, very strange,” she replied as she picked up the leg of her jeans with her toes and lifted them up to her hand.
Then I am very gorgeous, because I am very, very strange,” she replied as she picked up the leg of her jeans with her toes and lifted them up to her hand.
“
Don’t you want to open the box before we go down?” he stopped in the entry before he opened the door.
Don’t you want to open the box before we go down?” he stopped in the entry before he opened the door.
“
No, we will waste time talking about what we find. We won’t be able to just glance at those images, and then walk down to eat, as if they weren’t ever important. It’s not going to be uninteresting at all, I can just feel it.”
No, we will waste time talking about what we find. We won’t be able to just glance at those images, and then walk down to eat, as if they weren’t ever important. It’s not going to be uninteresting at all, I can just feel it.”
“
What else can you feel, Shelly? Right at this moment, what can you feel?”
What else can you feel, Shelly? Right at this moment, what can you feel?”
“
Enough desire for you, for two people,” she said timidly, the first real Shelly-moment he had seen since she walked in.
Enough desire for you, for two people,” she said timidly, the first real Shelly-moment he had seen since she walked in.
“
Is the other person going to show up after dinner?”
Is the other person going to show up after dinner?”
“
When we open the box, or when we go to bed?” she asked. “Is there a barbeque within walking distance? I love barbeque.” And she pulled him out the door.
When we open the box, or when we go to bed?” she asked. “Is there a barbeque within walking distance? I love barbeque.” And she pulled him out the door.
Evan knew his neighborhood very well, and he was well known, they were watched very closely, he was actually out with the crazy girl who tried to kill him and blamed ghosts. They did just as he said, they ordered water and appetizers, but Shelly was not satisfied until his favorite spot number five. She seemed to enjoy wandering and sampling the food he suggested; they were out very late.
It was very quiet out on the street below when she was standing at his den window again, far off in thought for the hundredth time that evening. She seemed preoccupied to him at the strangest times, she would alternate between talkative and very distant, even as they were walking alone. She even moved differently all evening.
She never seemed to be concentrating on where she was going or whether she even wanted to be close to him. Several times he would just stand and watch her, to see if she were really about to walk off down the street. She would take a few steps in the wrong direction, but turn with that strange smile and come back to gaze off again somewhere else. And he could not tell where her thoughts were now at his window, it was uncomfortable, again, suddenly.
Walking back from the window towards him, she seemed about to walk out of the den, but she came to him when he reached a hand to beckon her. Curling up next to him and finding a way under his arm, she asked him if he wanted to see the plates in the box, as she playfully pushed at it with her toes. They missed the event so many times he wondered if it would be dodged again.
When she reached down to the chest on the floor and it creaked open, Evan found his breath catching in his breast; it was finally about to happen. Shelly set all the photos and papers aside and pulled the two plates out together. They rested so long in place, without being disturbed, they brought along the red cloth lying under them as she placed them in his lap.
The top image plate was indeed a brick wall. A very ordinary test image, just for the focus. Yousep measured the distance, and set the lens focus as required. Evan noticed, it found very little shadow. It must have been taken near noon, but there was no sun, perhaps it was a cloudy day. The second image had not been seen since Papa put it away, and it laid waiting in Evan’s lap, for them to remove the cover.
Shelly actually seemed uninterested again, and it angered Evan a lot. This was no small event as far as her family was concerned, but she was distant, and just toying with the second plate in his lap, hardly paying it any mind. Evan was also nervous, because of her behavior, because of what the image represented. It was the biggest secret her family seemed to have. No one but Papa ever knew what Yousep photographed on his second plate.
Evan moved Shelly’s hands away and glanced to see if she even noticed, she had rubbed one edge of the glass enough to cut her finger, and there was a streak of her blood along the plate, and on his jeans. She only reacted when she saw the blood, and returned to see him, from wherever she seemed to be gazing.
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