“Let’s go get the items we’ll need. I want to perform the ceremony outside. I have a table that will work, and the weather’s nice. We can actually use the earth to keep us grounded if necessary. There’s no way I’m inviting anything into my personal space.”
“Makes sense.” I nod my head in agreement. I let her take the lead as we move to her closet and she begins to gather her ingredients. Ten black pillar candles, and a velvet bag later, we’re seated around her mid-sized, black iron garden table.
“No matter what happens, do not let go of my hand. Once I’m in a trance, I’m a conduit. The spirits want to get out. They’ll do anything to create an opening that’ll allow them to escape into this realm, so be cautious and keep your mental shields up. We don’t want anyone or anything
hitching a ride out of here.”
“No, we don’t.”
“Okay.” She lights the candles with a thought and slips out an antique, silver-edged, circular mirror. The smoky glaze makes me gasp.
“A black mirror.” Used for scrying and contacting the other side, the item is known to amplify power and increase psychic energy. She places the mirror in the center of the circle of candles between us and draws the sigil on the center with her finger. Straightening, Hal holds out her hands for mine.
“Here we go.” We link hands, and her energy jumps up and latches on to mine. I wince. Her magic is like molasses, thick and cloying as it slides alongside my own, slithering like a snake on its belly. I grit my teeth, ignoring the sensation of tiny insect feet traveling along my skin. My magic balks. I force it to play nice and mix. Like oil and water, they float on top of each other, without real cohesion, but it’s enough. The connection between us is made. Hal hums as she slowly rocks in a circle. I’m unable to take my eyes off her transition into a trance. Her expression goes slack, and her cerulean eyes glaze over. A frost covering turns them white.
She ceases all movement. “We seek the being summoned with this sigil.” Her voice is sexless and louder than it should be as it echoes through the backyard. I can practically taste the power behind it as her call stretches out to the other side. My heartbeat kicks up a notch when the temperature drops. We’re no longer alone. My palms grow clammy, and I tense.
“Come. Do not linger on the outskirts. We demand answers. You’ve come to a realm that is not yours and caused harm and chaos. Who gave you permission to do this?” The table begins to rattle. I feel a pressure beating against our circle. I grip her hand tighter and reinforce the circle as we’re rocked back and forth like a ship in rocky waters. My teeth chatter and the air from my mouth makes white clouds. Chill bumps cover my arms, and my hands begin to feel numb.
“Speak,” Hal demands. She jerks in her seat. Her eyes bleed black. It takes every ounce of courage I have not to let go of her hands as the entity rushes into her body, bringing the feeling of pure evil with it. Not Hal cracks her neck and focuses its attention on me. The menace is rolling off her in waves, literally, cause bile to climb its way up my throat. I swallow, forcing it back down, and know I am staring into the eyes of something that was never human.
“Who are you?”
Not Hal opens her mouth. The low hum coming from the gaping opening makes me tense. Her body shakes, and the hum turns into a buzz that vibrates her entire body. A trail of blood runs from her nose and eyes.
“Hal,” I croak.
The bubble building explodes. A swarm of black flies burst from her mouth. I close my eyes as they rush past, brushing my face and burrowing into my hair. I tighten my hold on her hands, hanging on for dear life as everything in me tells me to scream. Keep your mouth closed. Keep your mouth closed. My thoughts are reduced to those four words as the being unleashes. I gather my power and toss a shield around Hal, cutting the connection between her and the being. She jerks like a marionette, pitching forward onto the table. The candles all extinguish at once. I scan her body for any signs of lingering possession. Her aura is the same pink tinged with black that it was prior, although the shade is a sickeningly dull puce. I release her hands and rush to her side.
“Hal.” I tap her cheek lightly and wipe away the blood smeared on her cheeks and over her nose with my sleeve. “Show me those blues, so I can make sure you’re the only one home.” I slap harder.
She snorts, shaking me off. “W-what?”
“Don’t talk, take a minute,” I whisper. I stroke her silken locks, grateful she’s still in one piece. I’ve never seen a manifestation like that. I rest my head on her shoulder. “Don’t you ever fucking scare me like that again.”
“Whatever it is, it’s strong, and doesn’t want to be identified,” she says shakily.
“Yeah, I got that. Let’s get you inside.” I help her stand. Slowly we shuffle our way inside, where I lead her to the bathroom. I wet a warm washcloth and wipe away the lingering blood. She seems fine. Exhausted and lethargic, but mentally sound and whole. I dart to her closet, collecting quartz and salt. I line her room?to provide extra protection?and run a bath, liberally adding the quartz and salt.
“Get in.”
“With my clothes on?”
“Yes. The residue is … bad.” I help her from the toilet into the bathtub. I scrub her with salt, and move on to the crystals, rubbing them against her scalp.
“Dunk.”
She goes under and sits up. “Betterish.” I return to cleansing, weaving my magic in carefully. I siphon the excess bad juju, filtering it out. Her dimmed aura brightens to a Pepto shade. I lean back on my heels, relieved.
“Once more, and I think you’ll be okay to finish up while I get your bedroom ready for you.”
She goes under again, and the heaviness on my chest lifts. She surfaces.
“I’m going to smudge because I’m hella paranoid.”
“When you get back, I’ll have myself together.” She reaches out and grabs my wrist. “Lou, I’m worried about you.”
“Right now, I’m my worried about you. I’ll be careful with this case, okay? I’ve seen what it can do.”