The Cimmerians

By Theresa Jacobs

***Note special free short "The Followers" at the end of the book, approx eight pages. This story can be read before as a prologue, or after for fun.

When Emersyn fled the big city for a quieter life in the Midwest, she left all her troubles behind – or so she thought. She quickly discovers her quaint new home has a past of its own. Ten years prior a young woman killed herself inside the front door. Since that fateful day, the locals avoided the house. Not one to believe in the supernatural, Emersyn, along with a new friend, take it upon themselves to conduct a seance for answers.
They get much more than they bargained for when they awaken an ancient evil. The same evil that haunted the past resident.
Now they must scramble with little time to stop it. When Emersyn's past comes back to haunt her, and innocent people get hurt, she has nowhere to turn. Until a police officer inserts himself into her life, together they will do what they can to put an end to the deadly shadows forever.
Can evil this powerful ever truly die?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Theresa Jacobs
• Release date: Oct 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463562284

Theresa Jacobs

Theresa Jacobs believes in magic, fairies, dragons, and ghosts. Yet she trusts science and thinks that aliens know way too much. When she is not at work she spends her time, reading, writing, exercising her dog, and binge-watching TV shows, with her longtime partner and fiancé.She is also a big movie buff and a sci-fi nerd at heart.

Book preview

The Cimmerian

© 2017 Theresa Jacobs

All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by Canada copyright law. All characters in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Cover Art by

Mar Garcia-Amorena

https://art.tt/3gfx

Edited By

Gari Strawn

This one is for all my co-workers who egg me on to do more and support my dreams to leave.

In loving memory of Debbie Pagendam, gone, but never forgotten.

As always to my husband Duane, my bestie Aimie, and all my family.

And my special beta reader – Jackie - Thank You!

When the clock strikes midnight

and the clouds blanket the moonlight

Cimmerian shadows shift

From their ethereal rift

Waiting in the wings

With the patience of all dead things

Seeking the light of living souls’

Angst and neurosis their deepest goals

Aching to be free of the tenebrous veils

Only the strongest hearts shall prevail

Don't let the Cimmerian shadows in

For if you do

Chances are

They will win

Table of Contents

1. Red Door

2. Billy & Madison

3. Game On

4. Séance

5. And Then

6. Look What You Did

7. Witch Doctor

8. Can of Worms

9. Cleaning House

10. The Fresh Start

11. Riley

12. The Cop

13. Searching for Answers

14. Cimmerians

15. Try again

1. Red Door

Orientation complete, Emersyn moved quickly to the lunch room. She didn’t want to appear lazy on her first day but was in desperate need of a strong coffee. She perused the selections of mugs. Taking a large yellow one with the company logo emblazoned on it, she thought, Might as well show support from day one. As she began to pour the fresh scented brew a trio of women entered, and she struggled to keep her hand still and not pour hot coffee on the counter and floor. She let the corners of her mouth lift slightly and was contemplating whether she should say, ‘Hi, hello, or what’s up?’ When they brushed past her to the counter and huddled together talking in low whispers and giggling, Emersyn felt her throat tighten and her stomach drop. She was transported back to high school, and she wished she could walk out, get in her U-Haul, and go back to New York. But that was not an option. Trying not to clear the ball of shame from her throat, she made her coffee and turned to leave.

Hola!

Ah. Emersyn’s coffee sloshed over as she jolted to a halt. Oops, sorry.

I didn’t mean to scare you. Here, the young woman with massive waves of cocoa brown hair rushed to grab some paper napkins. It’s your first day, right? I’m Jacqueline.

Hi, thanks. She stepped back as the other woman wiped up the coffee. I’m Emersyn, and…

Your name is Emersyn, oh my god, I love that name. Jacqueline whirled about the break room, tossing the wet papers, opening the fridge, running soap and water over her cup, while chattering away. People call me Jackie, do people call you Emmy? It doesn’t matter if they do. I love Emersyn, and that’s what I will call you from here out. The other three ladies had quit talking and then left without a word. Ah, don’t worry about them. Jackie waved them off. They are not fans of newbies, but they’ll warm up to you soon.

If you say so. Thanks. Emersyn raised her cup. I’d better get back out there, after all, it is my first day.

Naw, come on I’ll show you around and introduce you to people.

Unsure what her next best step was, she followed Jackie out into the main office and was relieved when her new boss waved them on to tour the building.

…and this is my office. See, we’re neighbors, Jackie pointed to the small rooms that were their respective workspaces. Where did you come from?

I just moved here from New York City. I’m looking forward to the change of pace to a small town. Emersyn nodded along with her smile, hoping it didn’t look too fake, quickly adding, I found a cute house on Baker Street for a steal…

Jackie stopped short, almost spilling Emersyn’s coffee again, her eyes widened from perfect almonds to dime-like. NO! Please don’t tell me it has grey slats, with a red door?

What’s wrong with that house? I know it was cheap, but the inspection came out like a charm.

Come in here, Jackie whispered and hauled Emersyn into her office, closing the door. About ten years ago, there was a teenaged girl named Madison King, she claimed to start seeing ghosts following her or something. But rumor has it she was loco. The cops found her boyfriend and his family brutally dismembered…ugh… Jackie shuddered hard but continued, then she slit her own throat, right by that front door! Her mom wasn’t hurt. But, of course, it devastated her. I mean, who wouldn’t be messed up after that? Ms. King moved out, and the house has been on the market for years. No one, and I mean ninguno, in this town wanted to buy it!

Well, isn’t that great, why wouldn’t the realtor tell me that? Emersyn held up her hand. "Rhetorical question. Obviously, I know the answer.

Jackie inhaled sharply curling her top lip. What if it’s haunted?

Oh, come on, now. Emersyn opened the door. I do not believe in ghosts, but I do believe in keeping my job, can we? She nodded out into the corridor.

Sí, vamos entonces.

Pardon?

Jackie laughed, tossing her hair. Lo siento, I’m sorry, I was born and raised in Montevideo Uruguay, and I tend to flip between Spanish and English sometimes.

I was terrible in Spanish class.

Alight, I’ll try to maintain for you. I had said, ‘Yes, let’s go then’.

Just than, a head popped over the cubicle wall. Jackie maintain? Doubtful! The young man had jet back hair flipped up in an old-style pompadour with full cherry lips and eyelashes for miles. Emersyn thought if it weren’t for the deep coal eyes, he’d be a second Elvis Presley.  

What do you know, Riley? Ignore him, he just thinks he’s cool. Let’s go introduce you to the other women. Jackie led Emersyn away, and Riley blew her a kiss then slipped behind the cubicle again.

Emersyn had a great first day. Meeting Jackie was the best thing that could have happened to her. She was super nice and helpful, she got Emersyn settled into her new role as a credit adviser and even invited her out for dinner. She was not ready for that yet. She had only arrived at her new house the Sunday before work, she had to unpack and get her house livable. Jackie did not offer to come and help her, however, Emersyn guessed it was because of the ghost story that morning. She wasn’t concerned though, rumours never held a grain of salt. She finished her first day and drove the quiet, unhurried streets of the little nowhere town. Hmm, I should get a bicycle. She decided, seeing as there was no traffic, and she lived only a quarter mile from work.

Turning into the driveway of the little grey house with a single dormer, that she originally thought was adorable, her stomach tightened. The windows reflected darkness as twilight hung over the horizon. The single birch tree sat stoic and barren on the front lawn mocked her with its skeletal whiteness as the wind rattled the branches. Shutting off the car, Emersyn sat in the silence staring at the red door and watched the shade deepen as darkness encroached.

Thanks a lot, Jackie, she muttered, took a deep breath and gathered her purse and lunch bag. There is nothing to be afraid of. Forcing her thoughts to the next workday, she rammed her key into the deadbolt, spun it open, pushing into the house. Her hand reached immediately to the right, and she flicked on the living room light. She made a mental to note turn the porch light on before leaving in the morning. As winter closed in it would get darker sooner. Once inside, the sight of all the jumbled piles of boxes brought her back to reality. She sighed, pushed herself to leave her stuff on the small table by the door and get to work.

Thank god for satellite, she muttered, tearing open the box marked TV. Knowing herself well enough, she had pre-ordered Time Warner Cable so it would be ready as soon as she arrived. She perched it on a large box, okay