Author’s Note: One swear word.
The moon was still in the sky when the sun rose the next day. Strangely, looking out the hotel room window, what I saw reminded me more of photos I’d seen of the moon’s surface than of Egypt.
In the same way, I felt at odds with myself. It didn’t seem I was the same person now as the one who’d lived with Beckett.
Quietly, I slipped into the bathroom. The last thing I wanted to do was wake up Xalen since he’d been by my side without sleep for so long. He hadn’t left me once even though I’m sure he was frustrated that I hadn’t given him many details.
He kept saying he wanted to take me to the police station so this could be reported. He wanted whoever had done this to pay a price. It was admirable of him but all I wanted to do was push this behind me. I didn’t want to think about it ever again because every time I did, I felt like I couldn’t breathe – like the air was being pushed right out of my lungs.
This was the first time I’d been alone since my fight with Beckett. I shivered a little bit as I looked at my puffy, red eyes in the mirror and began to remove my now chipped nail polish. The lacquer Beckett had said he liked.
“Marty?” a woman’s voice said on the other side of the door.
Reluctantly, I said, “Come in.”
As I’d thought, the voice belonged to Xalen’s colleague Shelly Bingham.
“I apologize for barging in on you like this. Do you remember me?”
Slowly I nodded. Everything I did seemed sluggish as if I was trying to control someone else’s body, not my own. “Yes, Shelly.”
“I know you’ve been through a lot – ”
” – Where’s Xalen?”
“He went out for a few minutes and he asked me to check on you. He thought maybe it would be easier for you to talk to me… uh, a woman. I know we don’t know each other very well, but I’d like us to be friends.”
It would be nice to have a friend right now. I knew that, deep down, so I motioned for her to come further inside.
“I’d like that, too,” I said. “And Xalen definitely deserves a break.”
She smiled then and appeared to be more comfortable now. “I hope this wasn’t too presumptuous of me, but I brought you an outfit from my closet. I think it will fit just fine. Oh, and I’m prepared to take you to town for some shopping and to get your hair done if you want to, that is.”
My eyes filled with tears again. Although I wasn’t crying outright, I couldn’t seem to control what my eyes were doing. In a way, Shelly’s kindness felt too good for me. Was I worth her attention after the way I’d acted? At one point, Xalen had suggested we call my mom and dad. But I had refused. How could I ever tell my parents what I’d been through or what I’d done in response? They’d raised me to shun violence and I was certain they would be ashamed of me.
All of this was swirling around in my head in crazy tornadoes, thoughts going this way and that until my brain felt like a tired, jumbled mess.
“Marty?”
Realizing I hadn’t answered her, I responded candidly. I still couldn’t believe how kind she was. “You would be willing to do all of that with me?”
“Well, sure,” she said, her voice encircling me with warmth and friendliness.
“Thank you.” I managed a little smile back even though inside, I didn’t feel like it.
“You’re welcome,” she said.
It was that genuine friendliness that put me more at ease and made me more open to talking to her. Xalen had been right, as usual, about things. At the moment, I felt if I just leaned on him a little and followed his advice, I might quiet my mind and get through this in one piece.
Over the course of the day, I found out that Shelly worked at the Neptune Foundation with Xalen – well, I already knew that. But the weird part was, she was just as secretive about her work as he was, not even telling me exactly what it is she does there.
“How did you meet Xalen?” I asked as I sipped the coffee we’d stopped for.
She smiled as if remembering a fond memory. “I was already working in the field when he hand-picked me for the Foundation.”
“Hand-picked you?”
Nodding, she stirred some sugar into her coffee. “Yes, everyone at the Foundation is hand-picked by Xalen or his father before him. He has this way of finding people with very special… abilities.”
“It all sounds so ridiculously cloak and dagger.”
“I suppose it does to you. Someday, I’m sure you’ll understand.”
“So what are your special abilities?” I asked.
Shelly paused a moment as if she didn’t want to answer. “It’s difficult to explain.”
She provided some more vague answers about the artifacts the Foundation had collected yet nothing she said brought me any closer to the answers I was looking for.
Finally, I asked her the one question that had been burning in my mind since I’d met her. It was the one inquiry I hoped would have a definite answer.
“So, are you and Xalen…. involved?”
This brought such an eruption of giggles from her, I started to feel kind of silly for asking. “Good heavens, no,” she said between laughs.
“What’s so funny about it?”
Looking right into my eyes, she very seriously said, “He’s so in love with someone, no one else could ever measure up.”
Saying my heart sank would be the understatement of the year. I did manage to ask, “Who is she?”
Shelly’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. “Oh, he has never admitted it to himself. He keeps his feelings very close to the vest and sometimes, I think, he is afraid he’ll lose control if he acknowledges them.”
“How do you know so much about what he thinks and feels then? Are you a mind reader?”
She smiled softly at my joke. “Call it intuition, if you want.”
Fact is, I wanted her to say it was me Xalen was so in love with and I didn’t care how she knew it. Reading the things I just wrote to you, Diary, I sound half crazy. I don’t know what’s become of me but I hope I get back to how I was soon.
Before this thing with Beckett, I was sure of myself and no one told me what to do. Now, it seemed like I was desperately hoping someone would order me about just so I could get through this without having to think too much. Thinking hurt too much and so did my heart.
I was still wearing the sundress when I got back to the hotel later that night. My intention as I stood in front of the main counter was to get my own room so Xalen could have his space back. However, when I began telling the clerk what I wanted, my throat closed up and my pulse quickened.
What if I moved into my own room and Beckett came here looking for me? He knew this was the hotel my team was staying at when we weren’t in the field, so I’m sure he would check this one first if he wanted to find me. What if all he had on his mind was getting back at me? After the things he’d already done to me, I was sure he was capable of anything.
It was getting late, so mostly ashamed of myself, I went back to Xalen’s room. How could I move forward if I couldn’t even stand to be alone yet?
When he opened the door, I was not expecting what I saw.
“OMG, you’re not wearing anything.”
“I told you a long time ago that I don’t sleep with a tie on but you didn’t believe me.”
“D-did I wake you?”
“No, no. I was reading in bed. Are you coming in?”
As my cheeks flushed red, I quickly came into the room, Xalen closing the door behind me.
“I-I tried to get my own room. It was the plan, you know.”
I couldn’t tell if he was smiling out of patience or if he was simply trying to make me feel better.
“Why are you so nervous? It’s okay, Marty. You can stay here or with Shelly as long as you like. There is no rush.”
Forgetting myself was easy to do as grateful sobs escaped my lips and I fell into his arms.
“Who did this to you?” he whispered into my ear. “You must tell me.”
“Shh… just hold me.”
He did as I asked. My fingers found their way to the soft hair at his nape and I relaxed against him.
He held me long after I stopped crying and I knew I was safe. His strong arms were the only place at the moment that I knew no one would dare hurt me. I hated being so weak, yet I loved exactly the spot I was standing in.
All I had to do then was to let myself go. To just enjoy the moment. The feeling of him holding me, the smell of his soap and his hot breath at my ear.
I kissed his cheek first, then his lips. They were soft and seemed to welcome me. Our kiss wasn’t heated and animalistic like it had been with Beckett. There was still a passion, though – an overwhelming passion – that struck me like lightning from my head to my toes.
Xalen’s kiss was tenderly yearning, gentle yet fiery. Hard to explain.
All at once, he held me at arm’s length, his eyes searching mine.
“Marty – ”
” – I need you. Please don’t tell me no again.”
I saw conflict raging through his eyes and it was almost as if I could read his thoughts… He was afraid he was taking advantage of poor little Marty; I couldn’t possibly know what I wanted right now after so brutally being attacked. On the other side of the coin, I wanted him and his body, pressed against mine so tightly, was ready.
“Are you sure?” he whispered with a groan.
Nodding, I drew him toward the bed.
It was the sweetest experience of my life, making love with Xalen. He was thoughtful and passionate. He didn’t rush toward his own end, excluding what I might need. If I ever doubted I loved him, that doubt was now washed from my mind as if it had never been there in the first place.
We talked deep into the night.
Later, after he fell asleep, I showered and dressed in the borrowed sundress again. Because I couldn’t sleep, I’d been staring at the ceiling, my mind racing. Maybe I should have gone to the police after all because I was sure Beckett would be home right now.
Maybe if I’d been brave enough and reported him, he’d be in jail where he belonged and I could get into his house without him ever knowing.
As I stared at myself in the mirror and at what Beckett had done to me, I felt a determination well up within my heart. I wanted back into that house. I wanted to know what the ghost wanted and who she was.
Pacing the floor, I almost thought I could hear her crying now. Of course, it was in my head. Just thinking of how bereaved she sounded gave me the shivers. But it also made me want to figure this out all the more.
“Are you all right?”
I hadn’t even realized I’d awakened him. “Yes, I’m fine. Go back to sleep.”
“No there is definitely something wrong. I can tell.”
“There’s something I’ve gotta do. I’m just not sure how to go about it yet.”
He paused for a moment, taking in what I said. “So, you’re not up because you have regrets?”
I think my eyes grew two times their size as I gazed into his worried eyes. “No, of course not.” Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of how much I loved him. “We were perfect together. I could never regret it.”
Relief washed over his features, softening them, yet his eyes were still filled with concern. “Then what is it?”
“I don’t know how to tell you. I don’t see how you would ever believe me.”
He took my hand and brushed it against his lips. “After what we shared, you can tell me anything.”
Sighing, I could only hope he was right. “Okay… but keep an open mind.”
“I will try.”
He stood there without expression as I told him about waking up in the night on several occasions because of the wailing woman. He seemed very interested as I got to the part where I searched and searched for her, then finally, one night, saw her.
“Who was she?”
“That’s the thing. I don’t know and I want to find out.”
“Well, what did she look like?”
Shuddering, I said, “She was scary! The first time I saw her, I screamed and dropped my flashlight.”
Raising a curious eyebrow, he said, “It almost sounds like you’re talking about a ghost.”
“See, that’s exactly what I’m trying to tell you! It was a ghost! A real life, freaky as shit ghost! And now you think I’ve lost my mind, right?”
The strangest thing of all was that Xalen didn’t appear surprised in the least. “No, you have not lost your mind.”
“You believe me?” I gasped. “I mean, I can think of a thousand reasons why you shouldn’t, but you do?”
“Despite all that has happened to you, I trust your instinct,” he said. “I believe you one hundred percent and I will help you with this.”
“Oh okay, so you’ve done this kind of thing before?”
He smiled softly at me as if I was some kind of simpleton. “You know, it is your feisty, sarcastic side I find so endearing. And yes, actually, I have.”
“You have?”
“That is what I said. Now, I take it this ghost resides in what’s-his-name’s place? That is why you aren’t sure how you are going to see the apparition again?”
With the most astounded and dumb look on my face, I merely nodded. Had I just entered The Twilight Zone? Was this an everyday thing for him? Who was this guy?
“Close your mouth. Everything will be fine.” I jumped when he clapped his hands together as if he was excited to go on a huge adventure. “I’m going to take a shower but I will only be a minute.”
Life is weird and that’s all I have to say about it at the moment. In a jiffy, Xalen was showered, dressed and urging me downstairs to the lobby. The sun wasn’t up yet but would be soon.
We stood huddled together for a few minutes, deciding how we would approach our little outing.
“You do realize that if I am to help you, I will have to know his name.”
Slowly, I nodded. “Yes.” This was one thing I had actually thought ahead on. I still felt reluctant to share any more details than I had let alone the perpetrator’s identity. But if we were going to find the ghost, I had to tell him at least that much.
“Well, here you are!”
As soon as I heard Beckett’s voice, I about jumped out of my skin. I spun around, my legs literally shaking and my breath catching in my throat.
Xalen turned around with me and I couldn’t read his expression. But I could see plainly enough the fear in Beckett’s eyes when he saw Xalen.
When Xalen saw how I reacted to Beckett’s presence, he placed himself between us, shielding me from my attacker.
“What are you doing here?” Beckett managed to croak out.
Not wavering in his gaze, Xalen said, “Your father called me and I brought my team in to investigate.”
“Wh-what have you found out?”
“I know the remains belong to Aria,” Xalen steadily answered. “How is it that you’re back in Egypt?”
“Father put me in charge of the expedition.”
Now Xalen did show some surprise. “Well, that is unusual.”
Beckett’s eyes narrowed at me and his voice was full of accusations. “What are you doing with my uncle of all people? Is this who you were cheating on me with, you whore!”
“Your uncle?” I stammered. Once again, I felt several steps behind and was struggling to catch up.
“Keeping it in the family?” he yelled. “Playing us both so you could get your hands on the money, were ya’?”
“That’s enough!” Xalen stepped closer to Beckett, inches from his face. “After what you’ve done to her, you had better watch your step!”
“Oh, that’s rich! She deserved everything she got after the way she treated me! I trusted her! And I trusted you! But that’s over!”
“It’s too bad my brother-in-law never got it through your head that you never lay your hands on a woman. Only a coward behaves that way, Beck. Speaking of your father, he wants you to turn yourself in immediately.”
“Turn myself in?” he sputtered.
“Yes. My team is nearly ready to have you arrested for Aria’s death, we are only waiting for one more thing. In the meantime, I spoke to Douglas and he wants you to do the right thing and turn yourself in.”
“And I want my boots back!” I furiously added.
“She wants all of her things back,” Xalen agreed.
“You know what? I don’t believe you have anything on me because I didn’t kill Aria. How could you accuse me of killing my own sister?”
“The evidence points to you. I have been looking for her since she disappeared and after speaking with your father, I suspected it was you. I always told Douglas not to play favorites yet there was something in you he could not abide. Anyone who is around you for any length of time eventually sees it.”
“Do not put our family through any more turmoil, Beck. Do what is right. I will go with you.”
This totally threw Beckett over the edge. “Oh gee, thank you, Uncle Xalen. Thank you for never treating me the same way you treated my sister. Thank you for always taking my parents’ side in everything and making me feel like a failure all the time. Thanks for wanting to put me in prison, and thanks so much for screwing my girlfriend behind my back! You’re the hero of the family!”
“Why can’t you see I am only trying to help you?”
“If what you’ve given me is help, then why am I so screwed?”
“You are impossible!” Xalen growled.
“Yeah, well you can try your best to have me put away, but it won’t be that easy! I’m out of here!”
I stood in stunned silence as Xalen watched his nephew flee the room.
“I don’t know what to say,” I said quietly. “I didn’t know any of that… that you were related, that you think he killed your niece.”
Xalen returned to me, putting his arms around me and nuzzling his face against me. “I know. I was surprised it was Beckett you were involved with, but I am not shocked it ended the way it did. He has a history of bad relationships.”
Suddenly, it dawned on me. “Do you think our ghost is Aria then?”
His expression turned downcast and he sighed. “I think it very well could be. We should go find her if we can.”
“But how will we get into his house?”
Xalen smiled slightly and said, “We’ll use my key. It isn’t Beckett’s house. It belongs to my side of the family.”
We hurried to Beckett’s and I was happy to see he wasn’t there. Of course, he could have been lurking around somewhere in one of the many rooms, but his car wasn’t there and it was dark.
Xalen said we needed to hurry because the best time to see the ghost would pass by soon. So, after we slipped inside, I showed him exactly where I’d seen her. On the way up the stairs to the attic, we paused.
“Do you hear her?” I whispered.
She was moaning so loudly, I pictured all the windows breaking out kind of like they do in movies when a soprano hits the high note.
“Yes, I do. Loud and clear.”
As we crept upstairs, the sobbing grew louder and louder. It made me wonder if she knew Xalen was with me this time and I got goosebumps all over just thinking about what might happen.
We came into the darkened room without flashlights but I wasn’t worried about that because the ghost was so bright last time, the room lightened when she appeared. I motioned to Xalen that we were in the right spot and we waited for what seemed an eternity.
Gradually, the howling ghost appeared and I heard Xalen gasp.
“What is it?”
“That is not Aria!”
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I had to laugh when Marty’s first comment on the whole murder situation was that she wants her boots back.
This is a lot to digest tho.
So I wasn’t that far from the truth in my speculations. Cool.
You were definitely on the right track. 😀
You know, at first, I didn’t see a romantic relationship for Marty and Xalen, but I’m glad it happened. I think they’d be good for each other, and he is exactly what Marty needs. Interesting name, Xaen. I don’t think I’d ever heard that before.
OMG, when I saw the screenshot with beckett, I was like, “Ohhh snap! This ain’t gonna be good.” My theory was that Beckett was this serial killer with a lot of victims under his belt, maybe even some still missing ones. Nonetheless, he’s still a bad dude who needs to be locked away for good.
Since I’m coming back to comment after having read ahead several chapters, I know who the ghost is. 😀 It was such a twist, and I was like, “OK, who is she and what does she have to do with this?” Maybe Marty and Xalen can help put her to rest. I’m sure they’ll try like heck nonetheless.
I really hope this getting together with Xalen is the right thing to do. I hadn’t realized he was that much older than Marty. If Beckett’s his nephew he’s old enough to be her dad. I hope Beckett doesn’t get away. He deserves to be locked up for life for killing his sister. It also explains why he didn’t go to the police after what Marty did to him. I wonder who the ghost woman is. I have a feeling it’s Aria’s mom.
I totally agree about Xalen and what you said. I picture Xalen as younger than Blue and Matt yet, old enough to be Beckett’s uncle. If that makes sense. lol
Beckett definitely deserves to be locked up. Let’s throw away the key, too, while we’re at it. lol
You just might be right about the ghost! You’ll find out soon, if you haven’t already. 😀
It’s just that you said he’s only a year younger than his sister, Beckett’s mother. So he’s plenty old enough to be Marty’s dad.
Oh yeah, I forgot about that. lol Good point!
Xalen is Beckett uncle ? What a new that chocked me really. Both are so different.
Thank you. 🙂 They are very different, for sure. 😀
Indeed, too much different. But poor Marty she might be chocked too.
Yes, I think you’re right about that.
If I were her, I couldn’t felt well.
Adrenaline!!
LOL Thank you 🙂
So only a little bit of my theory from last time was right even though I didn’t get to share it cause of the dark happenings of it, but I really did suspect Beckett of killing Aria even though I didn’t consider them to be related. I was a bit shocked that Xalen and Beckett were uncle and nephew but I also did consider that they could be long lost brothers so there is that. Now there is just the mystery of the lady in the attic. My only theory is that Beckett also killed the lady who is in the attic now, as a crazy, jealous, abusive boyfriend might do.
Yeah, you were closer by guessing a family connection! I’ve really been enjoying reading your theories, they are very cool!
OMG!! The plot thickens!
Thank you so much! 😀 It’s gettin’ crazy! LOL
I need to know who that ghost is!!!
Hahaha! 😀 I’m writing it now! 😀
I don’t know how I am going to wait until Saturday. The suspense is killing me!!!
Only one more day! 😀
I’m finally all caught up, and now there’s a cliff hanger? 😀
Man, I saw none of that coming. Such good writing.
Thank you so much! <3 I'm so glad you like the story. I'm so sorry about the cliffhanger. haha 😀 😀
Not Aria? He killed even more women? OMG! I can’t wait to read who the ghost is… and to learn more about the the institute… then… how come Xalen is not surprised to hear about a ghost?… He maybe he knows when he meets someone special … someone that can see ghost too? Like Marty?… So… the institute may be some sort of paranormal research group… or even ghostbusters??? Can’t really wait!!! A very thrilling chapter, really! ♥
Thank you so much, hafuhga! 🙂 I’m so glad you are excited to learn more! Luckily, a lot of the answers will be told next week. 😀
Whaaaat O: If it isn’t Aria, who is it?! I’m sure I had a thousand other things to comment but that totally threw me and wiped all the other thoughts out of my head xD
Xalen totally deals with the supernatural, he has to, to be so cool about the ghost stuff. And with what his co-worker was saying about special talents and stuff… I’m really interested to find out more about this guy! At first I was really against those two getting together (since any kind of teacher/student relationship has that position of power even if they’re both over the age of consent) but now that the situation is different I think they’d be a great team.
Thank you so much! Woot! I am so thrilled you are back! 😀 It hasn’t been the same around here without you. 😀
You may not know who the ghost is right now, but you will know next week! I can’t wait till everyone knows.
Your thoughts about Xalen are right on track, although, more about what he and his team do might not come out until a little later.
I totally agree about the teacher/student thing and definitely didn’t want to go there. Now, they are equals professionally, I agree they’d make a really good team.
I love this one!!! So many things happened, and I loved every moment! I need more! lol
Thank you so much! 😀 I am so thrilled you need more! lol If only I could write faster. haha
OMG.. I haven’t even read very far, but I had to come down and comment right away! “Although I wasn’t crying outright, I couldn’t seem to control what my eyes were doing.” is exactly what it feels like sometimes! I hate that feeling.
Oh goodness, I hate that feeling, too! I’m glad this is relatable, but very sad it happens to anyone at all. Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
Talk about problematic family ties! I had no idea Xalen and Becket could be related. Too different.
Something tells me the ghost is Becket’s mother.
Thank you, Violincat! 😀 Problematic is right! lol
As for the ghost, that is a great guess! Next week, if I’m on the ball, you’ll find out if you’re right or not.
Wow! Definitely a packed chapter! I also like Marty’s hair, and it was hilarious that she mentioned wanting her boots back!! =D That’s still our Marty! It would seem that Xalen is in the paranormal business, or something that relates to it. He certainly had no trouble accepting the ghost as real, and was very anxious to see her. I think he knows who it is, and we will know next week! The relationship between Xalen and Beckett was a real surprise!! Xalen acted like he was surprised to see him, but he had a message for him from his father? Beckett made his dad sound like a horrible person, but I am afraid our little psycho has got some very deep-seated problems! And if it’s his sister’s bones they found, what was SHE doing at the dig??? I doubt Beckett can get too far very quickly, as they are in a fairly remote area, it seems. Lots of things to look forward to next week! Oh yes, I am SO happy Marty and Xalen got together! He is such a sweet guy, and loves Marty for who she is, too. I hope that works out for them, they would make some purty babies!! =D (as in ‘heirs’, of course, just thinking about the storyline! =D ). Can’t wait until next week!
Thank you so much, Marj 😀 Yes! She had to have her boots back! lolol That definitely was pure Marty right there.
You are right that Xalen as something to do with the paranormal. The extent of this won’t really be made known until a bit later, but you get the idea there is something there with how excited he was to track down Marty’s ghost.
Xalen wasn’t surprised to see Beckett in Egypt as he knew Beckett was there. What he was surprised about was that this was Marty’s attacker and that Beckett had been put in charge of the expedition by Xalen’s brother-in-law/Beckett’s father. More on that later. 😀
You are totally right about “our little psycho!” hahaha I love that line. He has deep-seated issues whether how he feels about the family is true or not. More on that later, too.
I’m so glad you’re happy about Marty and Xalen. I do like the idea of them, too. 🙂 Can’t say yet if it will work out for them or not, but even if it doesn’t, I think they will always love each other. They would have purdy babies, wouldn’t they? 😀
Wow! What an amazing chapter 😀 I had no idea that Beckett and Xalen would be related. And hmm, so the ghost isn’t Aria. Who else has Beckett hurt? I’m so glad Marty ended up in Xalen’s arms; although he seemed a bit suspicious and secretive in the beginning, I think I understand why now! They are so sweet together 🙂
Thank you so much, Raymond. 😀 I was hoping you wouldn’t realize until today that they are related. I know someone in a previous comment on one of the chapters guessed that Xalen was Beckett’s father, so I was panicking a little that I’d given something away. lol
Yes, now you know why Xalen was on the secretive side. And if he’d said anything to Marty when he first met her about the paranormal, I think she would have slowly backed away from him saying, “uh huh.” lol
I am glad you like them together because I do, too. 🙂
Well Ditto on all the comments above. Can’t wait for next week! In the meantime, Marty looks amazing in short hair. Very cute style!
Thank you so much, Jolie. 😀 I can’t wait for next week, too! lol I was really surprised when I tried that hair on Marty as I thought it looked cute, too. Maybe she’ll keep it! 🙂
Wowowowowoooooooow!
I’m super happy about Xalen and Marty! They are honestly so good together, and their love scene was really sweet.
Beckett… sigh. I can’t believe you made me feel even a bit sorry for him, but here we are. Whatever problem he has with his family playing favourites, however, is absolutely no excuse for being an abusive jerk. I will be happy to see him in jail real quick!
Oooo when I learned about how secretive the Neptune Foundation is about their work, I thought it might have something to do with the paranormal! This is very exciting, I can’t wait to see how everything is connected, including the ghost.
Awesome chapter 🙂
Thank you so much, Lila! 😀 I’m super happy about Xalen and Marty, too. I’m also so glad you liked their love scene. I’m always wondering if I do that sort of scene justice. lol
It’s okay to feel sorry for Beckett. I know I did. But you are right that his upbringing is no excuse for his actions. He needs some therapy and quick! lol And jail, yes. lol
Ah, so you were on to me! lol I had this storyline a long time ago and I really can’t wait for this part of the story! Eep!
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! He’s his uncle! He killed his sister!? OH MY GOSH!!! I need the next chapter now, lol. Very good, like always!
Thank you so much, Rosie! 😀 Yes! Xalen is the uncle! Yes, Beckett likely killed his sister! Well, I think we’re safe to believe he did because Xalen is the one who said it and he would only say it if he was certain. :O
“I told you a long time ago that I don’t sleep with a tie on but you didn’t believe me.”
Hee hee
The Xalen and Marty love scene was so sensitive and perfect. I loved the way you worded everything. Thank you!
Wait…hold on…she told Xalen about the ghost, and he agreed to help her even though that meant confronting her attacker and he didn’t suggest going to the police?? This IS the Twilight Zone LOL.
Uncle? Aria? Is she…his sister? I suppose that would explain why his father disowned him…but still, not lol.
AHA! The sister! *chair dancing*
Wait…he just let him leave? LOL, Beckett must be easy to track. Oh wait…I just realized they met at the hotel not the house lol.
Not Aria? Gaaaah! “Tune in next week!” <— my best announcer voice 😀
P.S. I like how the teaser said “Marty goes after the right man” as in the final man as in no more craziness as in YAY! LOL (don’t mind me…)
Well….. I don’t think I can promise that there won’t be anymore craziness…. This is Marty we’re talking about. haha
Well, yeah LOL. I meant crazy as in no more crazy man problems? Oh boy… 🙂
Oooooooh! I should have realized that. LOLOL Well, in that case….. I still can’t say the craziness is over. lol 😛
LOLOL Thank you so much. 😀 You crack me up so bad. haha
I’m glad the live scene was good, I never know if I’ve crossed the county line and stepped into Cheeseville.
LOL I think right now, everything about Xalen seems like The Twilight Zone to Marty. It’s crazy, I know, but he was all “let’s go!” Did his zeal for the paranormal take over? Or, was he hoping that at last, he would know who the attacker was? Maybe both. haha
I don’t think Beckett will get far, he just thinks he will. lololol
I like your announcer’s voice! It’s very professional if you ask me. 😀
Oh good because usually my announcer’s voice is cheesy! 😀
LOL 😀
UMMMM yay for Xalen and Marty and that is all I can say well cause you know why 🙂
LOL! Thank you, Lil. I’m glad you’re happy for them. 😀
There’s already a lot of Xalen and Marty love in the comments, but let me just add my own voice to the others: SQUEEEEE! 😀
I honestly thought the ghost might be Beckett’s mother or something. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s going on 😀
Hahaha! Thank you so much, Louise! 😀 I’ll take that SQUEE and squee with you! LOLOL
I remember you saying that about the ghost and it’s a great thought! Luckily, if all goes as planned, you’ll find out next week. 😀
Oh man, it’s a good thing you remember my old comments, because I sure don’t. Haha!
LOL! I do remember that one. 😀 😀
This is so good !
Thank you, Cathy! I’m so glad you liked it. 😀
Aaaaah Xalen and Marty!!!!! That was so awesome, I just can’t!! 😄 <3 <3 <3 I loved how you wrote that scene, so full of emotion! <3
Beckett disgusts me, but I have to admit that for a moment there I felt sorry for him. On the other hand, maybe he had a distorted image of his family's behavior towards him in his head, who knows really. The fact that he's Xalen's nephew blew my mind!
I wonder who that ghost is… things keep getting more and more interesting! 😀
Thank you so much! 😀 I’m so glad you loved that scene. <3 It was easy to write because I wanted them together for so long.
I can understand you feeling sorry for Beckett. Whether he is right or wrong about how he thinks he was treated by his family, it's still his perception, so it's his reality.
Well, as far as Miss Ghostie is concerned, you will learn her identity next week if I'm on the ball! LOL
OHHH this is getting crazy!
Right? LOLOL Thank you, Lisa!
Ohhhh… goosebumps! 😳 so Xalen is into the paranormal. I wonder if that is Beckett’s mother, Xalens sister maybe…
I’m so happy Marty and Xalen found their way back to each other. ❤️
Thank you so much, Audrey! 😀 Yes! Xalen is into this kind of thing. That’s a great guess about the identity of the ghost. You will find out very, very soon! Like next Saturday! lol
I’m glad you are happy about Marty and Xalen. <3 I love them together, too.
Yes – he is so sweet to her! They are awesome together. Yay for next Saturday! Haha!
LOL I can’t wait, too! I’m glad you’re excited!
Wow, Kym, you sure know how to throw a shocker out of the blue on us all! This is…wow.
Xalen and Beckett are related! I know Beckett’s awful, but when I heard about playing favorites and how Beckett was always a failure..that made me feel slightly sorry for him. After all, no one suddenly turns evil without a reason and nothing in life is truly black and white.
But yay for Xalen and Marty! Maybe they can have their happily ever after after they sort out the ghost case and get rid of Beckett. But if she’s not Aria, then who is she? I feel like Xalen knows her…Can’t wait to find out.
Thank you, Jowita. 😀 Yes, they are related! Xalen is Beckett’s uncle! Aaaaaahhhhhhh! lol
I know what you mean about feeling sorry for Beckett. You are 100% right that he didn’t just roll out of bed one day and decide to be the way he is. Everyone, no matter how awful they are, has a story.
I’m so glad you are happy about Xalen and Marty getting together. Marty is thinking it was about time! hahaha
This ghost case is going to be solved very soon…. but will there be others? You just never know. hahaha