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The poltergeists swung into full force. Havoc ensued. The filing cabinets opened by themselves. Folders flew in the air. The chairs slid out of the room, of their own accord. The printer spewed paper from its tray. Everything on Dr O’Bannon’s desk became airborne.
It was pandemonium.
Sweet Jesus Christ.
Maddie leapt from her seat and darted towards the door.
She had to get out of there before Dr O’Bannon, or anybody else in the office, got seriously hurt. Spirits or poltergeists rarely hurt her. They liked to play, tease, and so far none of their hauntings had managed to put her six feet under. Thank God for that. But it didn’t guarantee people around her wouldn’t get scratched. Dr O’Bannon was yelling in confusion when she skidded past the door. She hoped the poltergeists would follow her instead and abandon Dr O’Bannon.
Maddie ran into the elevator and slammed her palm on the ground button. O’Bannon’s office was located on the seventh floor in the Folsom building, which housed several law and financial firms in upper levels, retails and boutiques on the lower stories. The elevator’s door whispered shut. Maddie flattened her back against one wall, bracing herself so she wouldn’t fall. As she’d predicted, the poltergeists followed her into the elevator. Maddie only had two minutes of respite before her shoes were forcefully taken away from her feet. She lost her balance and fell.
“Fuck!”
Maddie groggily reached for the elevator buttons. She slammed on five and hoped she could get out before she was in deep shit. Taking the elevator down was proving to be a bad idea. She should have taken the stairs instead. If they decided to tamper with the elevator, people could seriously get hurt. If she’d taken the stairs, the only person to watch out for would have been herself. One of the poltergeists tugged at her purse. Maddie quickly snatched it back and barked, “Leave me alone!”
It meant nothing to them. They knew she couldn’t do anything about it. She was as helpless as a squealing infant. They yanked her purse back towards them. Maddie pulled it with all her might. Her wallet was in there. She didn’t have much money in it, but if it got lost, she wouldn’t have a train fare back to her apartment. They gave in and blew a long raspberry at her. The others started to pull her hair and her clothes. Her heart plummeted. Poltergeists didn’t usually behave this way. They loved wreaking havoc around her. Not to her.
The elevator shuddered to a halt and the door opened. Maddie bounded from it like a junkie on PCP, looking for the nearest exit. Luckily, there were no people in the hallway at this time. Or she probably would have run over them. Dr O’Bannon had scheduled her for a late interview because he didn’t have the resources to make his appointment in regular business hours.
Maddie dashed to the left, following the emergency exit sign. She barely ran past half the corridor when the poltergeist tripped her. She stumbled like a fallen tower. They got the hem of her pants and started dragging her towards the elevator again.
“No!” She writhed, abandoning her attempt to be secretive. “Help!” And she really needed help. She thought she could handle them like she always had. But this time, she couldn’t. This gang of poltergeists wasn’t like any she’d encountered before. Maybe this time they would try to kill her. Maddie tried to grab on to something, anything. There was nothing to grab on. “Help me!”
Maddie squirmed, trying to shake them off. It was useless. They were too many and too devious. They gave a hard yank and she sort of flew to the end of the corridor. “Help!” She blindly grabbed above her head. This time, she caught something. A foot. Boots.
A man.
She heard somebody bellow, “Be gone!”
For a moment, she thought the shout was directed to her. Then, she found out the man was shouting at the poltergeists.
Wait a minute—he could see them?
The poltergeists scattered with scampering shrieks.
Maddie took a good look at her saviour. A pair of black boots filled her view. Then a pair of strong, long legs wrapped in black leather pants, followed by his black leather coat. His body was mostly obscured by his trench coat, but he was built like a truck, solid and powerful. He was handsome. Devastatingly handsome. Unruly copper hair framed his features. He had a strong jaw, an aquiline nose, lush eyebrows, and piercing eyes.
Maddie’s heart started to race again. His eyes were glowing red.
The man wasn’t human.
* * * *
Jean-Luc Berthier was amused.
He hadn’t stepped into Maison Plaisir for the relaxation he desperately needed, but he hadn’t expected to find some entertainment by the establishment’s front doors. A gang of poltergeists had tried to molest a human female.
He narrowed his eyes, looking closer. Make that a pretty human female. Fine ass, too. He bent down and helped her back on her feet. She shrank in fear as he was about to touch her. A few stray hairs obscured her beautiful face.
“I’m not going to hurt you. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay,” he told her.
She took a step backward. “I’m fine,” she squeaked.
“Doesn’t look like it.” Jean-Luc inched closer, curious. Not every day he met a mortal who could see the Unseen. He studied her with great interest. This woman was one sweet delight. Even though she was dressed in slacks and a blazer, the allure of her femininity dripped from her every pore. “Name’s Berthier. Jean-Luc. What’s yours?”
She eyed him as if he had sprouted a second head from his neck. “Thanks for your help, Mister. I need to go.”
“Do you have a name?” he pressed.
