She Waits

 A short story by Lorraine Carey

During a class field trip to a historical site in the Caribbean, a curious student encounters a lonely ghost who does not want her to leave.

The sun was just about to set as eight-year-old Mary Jane Eden watched its golden rays spread over the azure waters surrounding Grand Cayman as if to illuminate and warm the sea. She smiled and felt at ease as she sat in her weather-beaten rocker on the second floor of Pedro St. James Castle.  It had the best views on the island—it always did, that was until it had fallen into ruin in the 1950s. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky this late September evening. The mahogany wooden floor creaked as she rocked back and forth. The grounds people had left for the day—she knew their routine, after all, she’d been here since 1877. Since that time, she was bound to the property when she was struck by lightning on the steps of the plantation house as she and her brother went to fetch water in some buckets.

Before that, the castle was one of Grand Cayman’s most important historical properties, a place where democracy had taken place back in 1831 and later the governor of Jamaica had proclaimed the end of slavery in the British Empire. The three-story structure resembled that of a plantation solidly built with stone walls 18 inches thick. It was originally built by slaves and William Eden and his family resided there until his daughter was killed by a freak lightning strike during a tropical storm. It was then the family decided to move, leaving the castle to be later occupied as a bar and a restaurant, but only to become victim to two mysterious fires. The seven-and-a-half-acre property is surrounded by colorful bougainvillea and opulent poinciana trees.

The tourists had been sparse lately and Mary Jane wondered who would show up tomorrow. Maybe someone who would want to stay, maybe stay longer than the usual tour. Every day gave her new hope.

She wandered around the three-tier plantation checking to see if anyone was still there. She peered out of the thick louvered shutters once again checking the night sky for any hint of a storm. She went from room to room twirling around in her long white tattered dress. She decided to sit on the wooden rocking horse in one of the main bedrooms. It was a special gift she treasured from her father one Christmas. She rocked away until she became very sleepy.

***

“Now please, please, stay with your guide,” Mrs. Taylor urged. “If you get lost then it will reflect on Grand Island Elementary and we’ll never get an invitation to come back to visit,” she said, her tone firm.

She had been taking her sixth-grade class to Pedro St. James Castle for the past seven years on a field trip. It was scheduled every year by the principal urging local students and expat parents to work on the island to learn the history of the structure.

Mrs. Taylor tried to settle her students in hopes of gaining their interest, instead of posting videos on social media.

“Students, as you know in 1831 this island signed its first democracy papers and the government had been formed,” raved a tall elderly man who was the main docent for the tour. “My name is Mr. Dalton. You will first watch a movie on the history of the castle in our large theater room and then we will begin our live tour. And please remember to have your phones muted or turned off during the presentation.”

The students were all seated in the theater then the lights went out. There was only blackness as the big screen rolled down from the ceiling. A few of Mrs. Taylor’s students began to scream, but it was mostly the girls.

“Ssh!” Mrs. Taylor hissed, putting her finger up to her lips. 

“But, Mrs. Taylor, I’m scared, and I don’t like this place!” Jessa Franklin said, clinging to her teacher’s arm.

Dana Benson had her arm around Jessa, being they had been best friends since first grade. “It’s okay, Jessa. It’s just a movie.”

“I can walk her outside, Mrs. Taylor,” offered one of the parent volunteers.

“I’ll be okay, Mrs. Taylor,” Jessa said softly. “I’m going to be brave.”

“The movie will be over soon and then we’ll be out in the sunshine,” Mrs. Taylor assured. “You’ll feel better then.”

The movie began with the portrayal of the beautiful grounds that surrounded the castle as Robert Thompson, the governor from Jamaica held court inside where he issued a proclamation that ended slavery in the British Empire. Outside dark skies rolled in and thunder boomed as a fleet of pirate ships came ashore only to be met with an intense thunderstorm that now caused the castle to be shed in an eerie light. The loud booms caused the entire theater room to vibrate due to a state-of-the-art surround sound system. A misting system had been activated to sprinkle its audience giving them the full effect of the storm, not to mention the musty smell of a damp theater.

A voice echoed from the speakers, “What you are about to see is not for the faint of heart.”

Jessa grabbed Dana’s arm tightly. “I’m going to cover my eyes.”

A frightening portrayal of the storm that had taken the life of Mary Jane Eden, the daughter of William had commenced. Most of the students were silent as they watched bolts of lightning strike the child on the steps of the bottom landing as she and her brother attempted to fill buckets of rainwater.

When the movie screen rolled up, the lights came back on and everyone clapped, especially Jessa.

“Okay, students, now that you know the history of the plantation you’ll get a tour from our guides, Mr. Dalton informed.

“I’m glad, that’s over,” Jessa sighed as she wiped the sweat off her forehead while they walked outside. The bright sunlight hit their faces like a strobe light causing the students to squint. Jessa wasn’t the only one who was glad to be outside as the other students spoke of being spooked in the theater.

“Mrs. Taylor, can I use the restroom?” asked Dante Reed, the class troublemaker and attention seeker.

“Sure, and you know, I think we’ll all take a break before heading on with the tour. Please stay with your group. We’ll meet out by the main house when you’re done,” the middle-aged teacher said while pulling her long brown hair up into a high bun. She wiped the back of her neck with a handkerchief.

“Ya know, Dana, for some reason this place really gives me the creeps. Do you believe the stories about the slaves they kept in the basement and all the strange things that went on here?” Jessa asked while scanning over the lush grounds.

Continue reading in the Anthology

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Malevolent Mermaid of the Caribbean

 Santianna will take your soul

The Inspiration:

Many legends come out of the Caribbean, with many that still believe in spirits, evil mermaids, voodoo, and other local tales. Living on the island of Grand Cayman for nine years, I have heard many of these, which sparked my interest, and most of all, listening firsthand about a paranormal experience from a woman who was renting a condo in the same complex my husband and I had rented for a year.

Not many would listen to her accounts of a strange entity taking possession of her body and soul. She found me, and I was one she seemed to trust. I had made recordings of her incidents and many notes, knowing that I would someday write a story that had been based on some of these accounts.

Santianna:

This exotic beauty is a legend among the people of Jamaica and the Caymans, yet some would only get to know her when they were fighting for their lives or happened to be victims of her next feeding.

Having been scorned many years ago by her fiancé, a seaman who jilted her, Santianna threw herself into the sea but was rescued by a family of Mer People who saved her life only to transform her into an evil mermaid who would become immortal by taking the souls of males. Right after Hurricane Ivan hit Grand Cayman in 2004, the waters unearthed her presence, and with her powers intensified, she set her sights on a small resort on the east end of Grand Cayman.

The Rescue of Tessa Malone:

Tessa and her husband had booked a suite at Paradise Palms in Grand Cayman for their honeymoon and were snorkeling out by the reef when Tessa lost sight of her husband and hit her head on the reef. Beginning to drown, she found herself being saved by Santianna—or at least she thought she was.

An Excerpt from Night Mistress of Paradise Palms:

She could see a faint white mist in the distance and feel a slight breeze picking up. Hearing what sounded like someone humming a tune caused her to muster enough energy to raise her head to see if it was a storm. The white mist took on the form of a waterspout and moved at a steady speed toward her. The humming became clearer but was subtle—one that reminded her of a lullaby she remembered hearing when she was a child. As the mist came closer, Tessa could see it emerge into the transparent form of a woman encased in a golden aura. “Don’t fear my lady. I am here to save you.” The apparition seemed to float on the water as she was now about two feet from Tessa.

“Who... who are you?”

“I am Santianna,” answered the apparition. I was in the water when your husband drowned you.” Her body wavered as she spoke, her long dark locks moved like serpentine snakes in the breeze. “I’m so sorry what happened to you.”

“No! He couldn’t! Not my Joe! And why didn’t you try to save me if you were there?”

“I could not. I couldn’t change your destiny, my dear. All I can do is promise to keep your spirit alive until you have found a way to cross over. You have unfinished business here; your life was taken too soon.”

“Are you an angel?” Tessa asked.

“You may have heard of me. I’m more of an enigma. I am a Sea Goddess. I hail from Jamaica. It’s been eons ago that I was murdered in these same waters, by a man, whom I thought loved me too. Now I help souls in need who meet an untimely death. I’m not sure you’ve heard the legends.”

Santianna positioned herself next to Tessa. Her body had now solidified into a full female figure, but one far from normal. Her bluish skin and radiant golden eyes belonged to that of a creature not of this earthly realm. Santianna moved her long slender hands over Tessa’s body while golden sparks shot off from her heavy bronze cuff bracelets on each arm. She hummed that same calming tune Tessa was familiar with. It was haunting, yet comforting. “You should be feeling the vibrations now, my lady. Relax, and let them come. Accept this gift.”

Tessa was too weak yet to comment but closed her eyes and succumbed to Santianna’s commands. What felt like piercing needles under her skin soon turned to a radiant heat that ran from her head down through her toes. Her pale skin began to take on some color. She found herself strong enough to sit up fully, taking in more of her surroundings and trying to comprehend what was happening. She glared at this apparition trying to figure out what kind of spirit she was. “You... you are doing this for me because...”

“Because I have been wronged long ago, just as you have my dear. You will join me in reclaiming justice.”

“But if I’m dead, I want to cross over! When will that be?” Tessa locked eyes with Santianna. Her mind was still a blur over what had happened.

“Once you have captured the souls of seven males. This will be your fuel to enable you to pass on. During that time, you will be bound to this area and will cleanse this place of years of wrongdoings. It’s the only way.”

“But if I’m dead, I want to cross over! When will that be?” Tessa locked eyes with Santianna. Her mind was still a blur over what had happened.

“Once you have captured the souls of seven males. This will be your fuel to enable you to pass on. During that time, you will be bound to this area and will cleanse this place of years of wrongdoings. It’s the only way.”

Tessa gave Santianna an incredulous look. “Just how long will that take?”

“It’s up to you. There are many guests at the Trade Winds. You can steal one each night or take as long as you need.”

“And how do I go about this?”

“It will come naturally. You are now in spirit form and a sexual enchantress. Your victims will view you as a transparent being whom

they will desire to have their bodies ravished. You will find this to be rejuvenating for you. With each soul capture, you will gain more strength which will help you cross over more easily. Your power has been gifted through me.”

“And what about Joe? He needs to suffer. What will happen to him?” Tessa voiced concern.

“That my dear will be taken care of. Justice will come, trust me.”

“So, I’ll remain out here at sea for all this time?”

“Yes, just as foam on the water until darkness falls and you will find your nourishment in the night off a living male. You will come to enjoy it—you will see.”

“And where shall you be? Will I see you again?”

“I will be here, but you will not see me until your journey is done. I’ll be the one who will be escorting you to the other side. Until then, my sister, find solace in the sleep you so need to begin your journey. Praise be the goddess!”

Read this story in its entirety in the Supernatural Thriller Night Mistress of Paradise Palms. Available in eBook and print.

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That long-awaited tropical vacation may hold a few extra surprises you never expected!

A page-turner Supernatural Tale that is richly woven with local legends, mysterious happenings, heated love scenes, and non-stop action.

What could be better than a holiday on tropical Grand Cayman Island at a Five-Star resort?

There are beach parties, cocktails, and local food to delight your senses, but you better be on your guard when the sun goes down.

A young bride's ghost is under the spell of a malevolent Sea Enchantress, whose spirit lurks in the waters, demanding the price for crossing over. The locals fear the Night Mistress, but there are always new guests who are unknowingly at risk of becoming her next victim.

There's always a vacancy at Paradise Palms-and for good reason.