Haunting Emily

Haunting Emily

A Spirit Hunters Novel

Temperance Dawn

Copyright © 2022 Temperance Dawn

All rights reserved

This book is a work of fiction. References to events, establishments, organizations, or locations are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity and are used fictitiously. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious and are a figment of the author’s imagination. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. Though several places and events mentioned within the story are historically correct, the story is fiction that the author has created for entertainment purposes only.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or other means without the permission of the author/publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic copies and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to your ebook retailer. Thank you for respecting the hard work and the rights of this author.

Published by: Daring Light Publishing, LLC

First paperback edition 2022

ISBN: 979-8-9858761-0-9 (paperback)

ISBN: 979-8-9858761-1-6 (e-book)

Cover photo courtesy of: G-Stock Studio/Shutterstock.com

Cover design by: Maja Kopunovic

Written by: Temperance Dawn

Edited and Proofread by: Nicolette Beebe 

Formatted by: Homestead Book Services

Warning: This book is intended for mature audiences 18 years and older, and does contain explicit language, violence, and scenes of sexual content.

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Dedication

Quote

Note to my Readers

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

Twenty-Three

Twenty-Four

Twenty-Five

Twenty-Six

Twenty-Seven

Twenty-Eight

Twenty-Nine

Thirty

Thirty-One

Thirty-Two

Epilogue

Acknowledgement

Want More Temperance Dawn?

About the Author

Also By Temperance Dawn

For Chike, because there’s no such thing as a final draft.

Godspeed, my friend.

There is no reason not to follow your heart.

-Steve Jobs

Note to my Readers

Dear Readers,

Thank you so much for picking up this book. This story was previously published by me in 2020 under the title Protecting His Windflower. After a lot of consideration, I have changed the title and cover to reflect more of what this story is about. I feel the book is now truly what it was always meant to be. If you read Protecting His Windflower, this story has not changed and is identical to the old version. It has been revamped with a new title, cover, and beautiful formatting on the pages. I hope you enjoy this new version along with the rest of this series. Thank you for your continued support. Happy reading! 

Xoxo,

Temperance Dawn

One

Heavy footsteps charged up the grand stairs. Wood splintered as three men kicked the door in. Liam was pulled from bed, tossed to the ground as if he were nothing more than refuse. Whimpering sounds had him scampering to his feet only to be halted by a blow of solid knuckles cracking against his cheekbone. Blood oozed from his flesh. The scent of iron flooded his nose. Shock dulled the sting at first but quickly morphed into a piercing pain, sending stars shooting off behind his eyes. Two sets of hands lifted him from under the armpits and shuffled him out of the bedroom and down the hallway, his feet dragging behind him.

In the study, the men stepped away from him. Liam’s eyes darted around the room, spotting two burly men through his cloudy vision. His beloved was near the door. Her hands were bound behind her, and a rag covered her mouth. Each of the two men held her by an arm. Unable to fully focus, another blow to his ribs rocked him to his core. He hunched over and clutched his middle before falling to the floor. Gasping for air, he was rocked by a fiery pain hitting his temple. More blood seeped from his head, pooling onto the wooden planks beneath him, staining the rich chestnut floors. The room spun as cries echoed in his ringing ears.

Liam rolled to his side. His vision blurred when he cracked his eyelids open. The dim light sent stabbing pains through his head. Weight pressed him into the floor while his hands were bound with rope behind him. His love being restrained across the room sent his heart into an agonized panic.

Only moments ago, he had been staring into her brilliant honey eyes. The golden flecks danced in the warm glow of the candlelight. His hands had been tangled in her wavy, mahogany hair. Now, tears streamed down her cheeks in constant waves. Her luscious, rosy lips trapped behind a cloth. He wanted nothing more than to go to her, crash his mouth to hers, and swallow her pain away.

Another set of footsteps echoed from the hall. The sight of pointed toe, black boots came into view. The man donned an ornate walking stick and coat. His back faced Liam as he removed his top hat and spoke. What is this I see? his voice, deep and menacing. Liam had heard the voice many times. Only he didn’t know who the man was, couldn’t ever place his name.

The man touched his fiancé’s hand, lifting it into his, and glared at the exquisite gold ring he had placed on her finger only moments before.

Liam coughed and willed his head to rise, to look into the eyes of the man holding his bride to be captive. Don’t touch her! Liam rasped.

Does this mean you said yes? the man asked her. His hand grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him.

Her confirming nod wobbled, but her eyes held a definite and firm stare.

You know I could have given you more? All of this could have been ours. We could have lived together.

A muffled shout ripped through her, followed by a scream of agony when the man’s walking stick landed on the side of her head.

No! Liam bellowed.

Take her away! the man shouted before removing the engagement ring from her finger, placing it in his breast pocket.

Liam bolted to his feet as the two men dragged her out of the study and down the stairs. Her screams were muffled by the gag, but his movement was halted as a set of firm hands held his shoulders in place. The man with the familiar voice turned toward him. His eyes were dark and full of hatred. The sneer on his mouth was not that of a man, but that of something…evil.

Liam’s heart raced, and his mind struggled to find a solution as the room went dark.

No sounds.

No light.

Only total darkness filled his senses.

Liam frantically opened his eyes and found himself in his bedroom, sweaty and panting from the nightmare he had to endure for the hundredth time. The late afternoon light cast shadows from the trees outside on his walls, where they danced to the rhythm of the wind. His body felt lifeless, as it always did after he woke from the dream. As if the life force had been drained from him.

That recurring nightmare plagued him for all of his adult life. He suffered the tormenting dream time and time again. Lately, the dreams came more frequently, and he couldn’t put his finger on the reason. However, there was more information in this episode. The woman he loved in the dream was his fiancé. A piece of knowledge that squeezed his heart. He hadn’t been able to rescue her. The nightmare always ended the same way, in total darkness before he could reach her.

Sitting up on the edge of the bed, Liam stood and walked to the bathroom. Cupping his hands under the running faucet, he splashed his face in an attempt to wash the images from his mind. He watched the water cascade over his pale skin and stubbled jaw while staring at himself in the mirror. His eyes were red and swollen from tears.

Something was different this time. The pull felt stronger, keeping him in the undercurrent of the dream far longer than he had ever been in it before, making it difficult to wake. The woman felt more real. The pain in her eyes hit him with a force that could only be shared between two lovers, not a fantasy. It’s only a dream.

Two

Five o’clock PM. Right on schedule, Emily thought to herself as she stepped onto the pavement, glimpsing at the mass of low clouds in the distance. Clicking the key fob in her hand to lock her sky blue hatchback, she turned to the north as a breeze picked up. The view of the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance, standing tall and mighty, greeted her. A symbol, she had read, of perseverance and determination. It seemed fitting that she felt compelled to take up residence in the spectacular city.

The fog made its way into the Bay, creeping ever so slowly toward the entrance of the Golden Gate. It would glide through the narrow channel beneath the towering bridge and blanket the entire city in a thick, pillowy, grey mass. Growing up in Seattle, Emily was used to dark, damp skies and welcomed the coolness that freshened the air. Her only reservation about her new residence was the ominous presence she felt growing stronger.

Turning toward the historic Victorian home that she now lived in, Emily gasped before letting out a huff of air in annoyance. The front window to her flat swayed open in the gentle wind. A window that had continuously been opening even though she was adamant about ensuring it was closed and locked before leaving. Emily made a mental note to stop by the caretaker’s unit that evening and ask if he could take a look at it. 

A heaviness bore down on her as she climbed the steps to the front door of the old building. The house sat sandwiched between two other row houses in the center of the block. It was a typical architecture style used in San Francisco to build more large, single-family style homes during the nineteenth century. 

The charming, two-story Victorian home had been converted into two separate residential units years ago. She lived on the main level of the building while the caretaker, who she hadn’t yet met, lived in the top unit. Her front, living room window was flush with the house, but the unit above had a rounded, larger window with beautiful carving detail framing it. The traditional Victorian era, steep pointed roofline adorning the top drew her eyes up to view the majesty of the home. It was evident that the house had once been painted in bright colors of royal blue, gold, and amethyst. But time and the salty air of the city had weathered its vibrance.

Dark oak wood paneling stopped a third of the way up the walls. High ceilings showcased the same chestnut crown molding woodwork. Faded tan paint created a stark contrast between the walls and ceiling. And, a heavy, rounded wooden framed staircase greeted Emily as she passed the threshold. Above the front door, the stained glass window cast a colorful warm glow in the morning while the sun shone through—a once elegant and formal entry now worn by time and lack of care.

The door to Emily’s flat was on the right. The large staircase leading to the upper level sat halfway down the hall. A second set of stairs, through a wooden door, led to the basement.

She lifted her key and inserted it into the deadbolt when a man coming down the stairs caught her eye. He was tall, maybe six feet, with dark hair, and a closely shaved beard framed his strong jaw. Dark rimmed glasses accentuated intensely blue eyes. Though his all-black attire added to his brooding mystery, he smiled and waved as he walked toward her.

He paused, hesitating for a split second when their eyes met as he finished the last few strides to her. His gaze warmed her insides, sending her heart into a gallop and flipping her stomach until her breath caught.

The man towered over her as he approached, coming to a stop only a couple of steps from her. Hi. I’m Liam Wesley. You must be Emily Taylor.

The sound of his voice was hypnotizing. It was smooth and deep, sending the butterflies in her stomach into a frantic frenzy. Yes. I am. Emily cleared her throat while tucking a lock of curls behind her ear. I just moved in a couple weeks ago. Are you the caretaker that Phil mentioned?

Emily’s new landlord, Phil, had informed her that the tenant above her took care of all the maintenance in the building and she should contact him with any issues she may have. The convenience of an on-site caretaker only added to the attractiveness of the rental. As soon as Phil responded that the unit was available for immediate occupancy, Emily signed the lease agreement and began the moving process. 

That would be me. I travel a lot for work, and I just got back into town today. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to welcome you for the last two weeks. My work has been quite busy. It’s nice to finally meet you. He held out his hand, and Emily took it.

Very nice to meet you, Emily echoed, saying a silent prayer that she wasn’t turning beet red from the blush creeping up her face.

I’m glad to see someone finally living here. It will be nice to have a neighbor again.

Curious at Liam’s statement, Emily asked, How long was the place empty?

About six months. Phil just can’t seem to find reliable tenants. I know he was worried about dropping the rent price, afraid he’d only get shoddy people inquiring.

Oh. I can assure you I’m not shoddy. I’m a quiet person, there won’t be any loud parties or any commotion coming from my place. Plus, I don’t know anyone here in the city yet, so I won’t be having company anytime soon. Emily stared down at her keys, embarrassed that she’d already shared so much information with a perfect stranger. Albeit, her incredibly attractive new neighbor, but a stranger nonetheless. Willing the moment to pass quickly, she fumbled for her key, clutching it between her thumb and finger. 

Oh, no. Please don’t take that the wrong way. Liam took a small step toward her. Phil sounded very happy when he told me you would be moving in. Don’t worry. You might hear a couple of my friends from time to time. We work together, so we occasionally meet up here to talk business, but we’re not party animals. You said you don’t know anyone around here. May I ask, where did you move from?

Emily pulled in a breath. Seattle, she admitted.

Liam’s eyes lit up as he smiled down at her. They were the color of crystal clear waters with light and dark tones dancing together, creating a kaleidoscope effect as she gazed into them. Seattle? Really? I’ve been up there a few times. Great city.

Yes. It’s a great place to live. Seattle had been the only home Emily had known until a couple of weeks ago. She was more than ready to restart her life in a new city and forget about all of the heartache from her past. Though the darkness still lingered near her, an element she wasn’t sure she would ever be able to escape.

Actually, I’m glad we ran into each other. I was just thinking of heading upstairs to introduce myself to you.

Oh yeah? I came by to do the same a bit earlier, but you weren’t home. Do you always keep your window open when you’re gone? Liam’s ocean eyes brightened. His mouth tipped into a sexy grin.

"Umm…my front window seems to be swinging open a lot. I know I close it and latch it. I even triple checked before I left this morning," Emily giggled at the absurdity of it. She was nervous. She knew the presence around her was growing stronger—could feel the weight of it pressing down on her as each day passed. And that evening, as she entered the building, it felt the heaviest. Emily had grown accustomed to it, had perfected her ability to ignore it. But since arriving in San Francisco, she found it more difficult to brush off the ominous spirit. She only hoped it stayed hidden from Liam. The thought of it latching onto and tormenting anyone around her was unbearable. She hoped it would lighten its grip on her soon. It was a cycle all too familiar to her. During any significant life change, the spirit made itself known by overshadowing her, as if to prove who was truly in charge. 

Only this time, the presence felt more powerful than in the past. Consuming her thoughts and her dreams. But it’s open now. I saw it swinging open from outside.

Would you like me to take a look?

You don’t mind? Emily asked.

Of course not. It’s part of my job description here, Liam said casually. He gestured with his hand toward Emily’s door, After you, and she led him inside. 

Emily held her door open, inviting Liam into her flat. She hung her sweater and purse on the hook in the entry, and Liam waited in the middle of her living room. When she turned to face him, he asked, So, how do you like the place?

I love it. The neighborhood is great. And it’s quiet. A breeze blew through, causing Emily to shiver. 

 Liam turned to the window. So this window here?

Yes. I have no idea why it keeps opening.

Liam pulled the window in, closing off the outside elements, and swung the latch to lock it before giving it a good push. A breeze shouldn’t be able to open it. It fits tight against the frame with the latch in place. It should be impossible for wind to catch it and swing it open. You said it’s been happening a lot?

Emily shivered once more. Instinct told her it wasn’t a breeze causing the window to open, and her concern grew at the realization. The haunting had never manipulated her space before. Only making itself known by its presence and in her dreams. Yes. Almost daily.

Liam bobbed his head as she spoke, still observing the window. That is strange. I’ll tell you what. I’ll go grab a couple more latches and install them for you. That should keep it closed.

Emily stood staring at the window while Liam spoke. An eerie feeling washed over her, setting her on edge. Her skin pebbled as her hairs stood on end. Attempting again to ignore her reality of being haunted, she told herself it was just from the fog that had rolled in. It easily weaved itself into any void, bringing with it a drizzle that covered everything and could chill anyone to the bone. 

Everything okay?

Emily jumped. She’d been unaware that she’d drifted off in her thoughts. Huh? I’m sorry, what?

Is everything okay?

Oh, yes. I just got cold all of a sudden. Must be a draft from the open window. I’ll just turn on the heat. She crossed to the opposite wall and switched on the thermostat, but nothing happened. No clicking or humming sounds from the vent, indicating that the furnace was working. That’s weird.

What is? Liam remained staring at the window.

I don’t hear the furnace kicking on.

That is strange, he said as he turned. His crystal