Dot placed her hands over me as well, and I felt heat radiating from them.
Angus started shaking a rattle over me. He made me furious. I wanted to yank the damn thing out of his hand. My nails dug in my palms.
“There is a very strong entity attached to her,” Dot said.
I heard Laria’s voice calling to me…and even though my eyes were closed, I saw her. Her face so near mine, her features just out of focus. Her lips curved in a cruel smile, and her brown eyes turned a glowing red.
Her face shifted and I saw gaping black holes where her eyes should be.
The shaman’s voice grew louder, and my body shook so badly, I was ready to vibrate right off the end of the bed.
“Get those fucking rocks off of me,” I said in a voice I didn’t recognize.
My eyes flew open and Miss Akin made the sign of the cross.
I felt my body leave the bed.
“Oh my God.” This time it was Shane.
“I need everyone to help,” Angus said to them, and soon I had hands holding me down, pulling me back toward the bed.
“Leave her alone!” Kade yelled, sounding equally furious and desperate.
“I call upon the spirit who is possessing this woman to step forward,” Dot said with authority. “Answer me and tell me your name.”
A wave of nausea washed over me, hitting me with a force that stunned me. I felt Laria inside me, like small tendrils of smoke working its way up my body, pushing from my feet upward, and I couldn’t stop trembling. “Laria,” I said, and once again it wasn’t in my voice.
“You are not allowed to torment this young woman any longer.” Angus shook the rattle over my body.
Sweat poured off me, rolling off my forehead and onto the bed.
“Leave her,” Dot said, hand pressed against my forehead. “Leave her now.”
A horrible laugh came out of me, followed by words in an unknown language.
“There is not just one within her.” Dot’s voice sounded ominous. “There are many…evil entities who practiced dark arts when they were in human form.” She took a deep breath in, closed her eyes for a moment. “His name is Randall. He is nasty. So evil.”
“What do they want?” Kade asked.
“Revenge,” Dot said abruptly. Her brows furrowed and she looked off toward the wall. “Riley knew these individuals in another life.”
“She’s talked about a past life with Ian, who was a descendant of mine,” Kade said. “I was in that life with her.”
“Ah, I see,” Dot said quietly.
Everyone went silent, and I knew they were trying to process what was being said. I was so relieved Dot was validating the truth not just for me, but for my family and Kade.
Dot’s breathing became more even and deeper. “Sometimes life does not make sense,” she said, “but you were all drawn back to this place for a reason.”
A chill rushed through me at her words. I lifted further off the bed, my body board straight, but they held me down.
“Our souls go around together, time and time again, in different capacities—sometimes within the same family, sometimes as friends or acquaintances.” Dot rested her hand on my forehead. “Riley resided in Braemar and was in contact with these individuals. Spirit tells me you were all there. All of this did not happen by chance. This was predestined. Unfinished business, so to speak.”
Screams sounded throughout the house, louder by the second, and I wondered why no one else was saying anything. Couldn’t they hear them?
“There was a double murder that took place many, many years ago at the castle where I live,” Kade said, and I was surprised he was so forthcoming. “The man who was murdered was me.”
Shane whistled under his breath.
Dot smiled. “You will all remember those lives, young man, and then release that which no longer serves you.”
I saw a vision of the table that night when Ian was poisoned, the people there. Although the faces weren’t the ones I knew in this lifetime, I suddenly saw each person as who they are now—today’s equivalent. Shane had been Duncan, Cait had been one of Ian’s sisters, Maddy had been the other. Kade’s father was a head servant, the one who had helped haul Laria out to the tree and string her up. The servants in the house were Megan, Cass, even Miss Akin. We were all there…in some capacity.
The only one not accounted for was Maggie, Ian’s mother, until there was a flash of light and then I saw Karen’s face. Ian and his mom had another chance to live a life as mother and son.
A bright light flashed, and a sense of peace came over me, rolling over me in waves.
I could hear what was happening in the room, but I saw an ethereal woman staring down at me. It was hard to make out her features because of the blinding light that haloed her. I knew that silhouette. I would know it anywhere.
“Mom,” I said the word on a sob.
I heard Shane’s quick intake of breath.
My mom’s hands were on my forehead, her face above me, and she whispered, “You’re all right, Riley. You’ll be fine, sweetheart. You are protected. The angels are with you. I am with you, and you will never have to fear those dark spirits again.”
The warmth was incredible. She felt like a warm blanket, sliding around me, comforting me, pushing out the negative. Pushing out Laria, Randall, and the others.
A kaleidoscope of colors flashed before my eyes. Beautiful shades of purples, blues, pinks, greens. Over and over again, comforting me.
“We cut all cords that tie Riley to these spirits.” The shaman’s hands were moving fast now.
Peace.
I felt so much peace, and when I opened my eyes, Angus was looking down at me, a wide smile on his face. “How do you feel?”
I blinked a few times, looked down at my body that was no longer levitating off the bed. All the anger and depression were gone. “Fine.”
Miss A had an I-can’t-believe-what-I-just-experienced expression on her face. Shane was grinning, and still talking to Dad.
Kade looked elated, and as relieved as Miss A and Shane. His hands cupped my face and he kissed me softly. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I threw my arms around him and cried. He held me so tight, I had a tough time taking a breath.
“You’re okay.” He said the words like he couldn’t quite believe it.
Tears in my eyes, I looked over his shoulder and saw Peter and Anne Marie. I couldn’t help but smile.
I owed Peter a huge apology. I’d treated him like crap, and he’d turned around and saved me from jumping off the roof.
Miss A straightened and looked in the direction I was staring. “Who is it?”
I glanced at her and smiled. “Anne Marie and Peter.”
Miss A’s hands flew to her face. “I knew it.”
“Peter. You mean the boy from the roof?” Shane asked.
“Yes.”
“Thank you, Peter,” Shane said, looking in the direction of Peter and Anne Marie.
Peter smiled, and Anne Marie ruffled his hair.
Finally, Peter was able to come to me, to my house, because he would not be kept away by fear of Laria, Randall, or the others.
Angus and Dot said a closing prayer and when they finished, they blessed and cleansed the inn, burning white sage, which they called smudging, which helped to keep the energy clean and clear.
Before she left, Dot gave me a blessed charm. “I want you to keep it…to help with protection. Those of us who work with spirits must be extremely careful what we open ourselves up to.”
She wasn’t kidding.
“Thank you.”
Dot squeezed my shoulder. “Now you have one final thing to do.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
She smiled softly. “Give her peace.”
Chapter 23
I was surrounded by my brother and our friends. Kade, Cait, Megan, Milo, Richie, and Cass had come with me and Shane to the hillside. Finally, the weather had cleared. In fact, the sun was shining, but there was a definite chill to the air. Fall was coming fast.
“We stay together,” Kade said, sliding his cell phone into his jeans pocket. “No exceptions, regardless.”
Everyone had a backpack, and as we started out over the rough terrain, I felt the presence of the others with us. Since the cleansing, I felt more like my old self, and I knew I was protected. My mom was with me, and Anne Marie was too. I saw her more frequently, and Miss A seemed to especially like the idea that her friend was around. Peter had stayed on the periphery. I didn’t blame him. Until Laria was gone, he would probably be scarce.
God willing, today was the day Laria would be stopped forever.
Shane slid his knife into the side pocket of the backpack. “I think we have everything that we need.”
We walked to the cemetery without saying a word to each other. This was just so much to take in.
I’d slept peacefully for the first time since Laria had first appeared, and I was so relieved. Relieved to know that there was resolution in sight and that life would return to some semblance of normal.
Kade reached for my hand, his fingers threading through mine. “You ready?” He had proven to me just how much he cared during the cleansing, and I knew if we could get through this, then we could get through anything.
I made a final mental note of the things we had brought along for the binding ceremony. Angus and Dot had given me everything I needed. I only hoped that I didn’t mess it up. Dot repeated several times to me that driving a nail into the grave was the physical part of the intention. It was the intention itself that needed to be clear and concise, and all of us needed to be in the same mindset.
Every single one of us wanted this over with, and I was proud of my friends for taking a stand with me.
We were heading into the woods when Maddy raced toward us.
She was dressed to hike, and even had a backpack on.
“No way, squirt, you’re not going,” Kade said, and Cait nodded in agreement.
“I want to,” Maddy said adamantly. “Plus, I can help you.”
I felt Hanway’s presence. I always thought he couldn’t leave the castle, but I wondered if he would be able to leave if he thought that Maddy truly needed him.
I had so many misgivings about her going. What if something went wrong? Then again, since she was also psychic, she would be able to see, feel, and hear everything as well, which could prove helpful.
“I’ll tell Aunt Karen and Uncle Dustin what you’re doing if you don’t take me,” she said, sounding downright bratty.
“Fair enough, she comes with,” Shane said.
Cait shook her head, but didn’t argue.
Cass looked ready for a weekend of skiing in Aspen with her fur-lined boots and stylish jacket, but far be it from me to say anything. I was just glad to have her. She had mentioned to me that she was over Johan after hearing he’d been making out with another chick in the laundry room at her party.
Maybe she was finally getting over him. I hoped she realized she deserved better.
I still think there was something between her and Tom, and I wondered if one day anything would transpire between the two.
We walked in silence for a good fifteen minutes.
Laria knew we were coming. I felt it in my bones. Felt her fury. I slid my hand in my pocket and touched the blessed charm for reassurance.
The forest had a dark dreariness to it that was hard to shake off. I could feel Laria’s resentment, her hatred toward me with every step.
“It’s over here.” There was a small pathway that led straight into the overgrown brush.
I recognized the pathway from my dreams.
Shane pushed through. “The brush is pretty dense.”
Kade removed his backpack, pulled out a knife. He went to town on the brush, making easy work of it and forging a path with the help of Shane, Milo, and Richie, who all pitched in to help.
I was impressed by the teamwork.
Following the crude pathway, we made our way deeper in.
Maddy reached for my hand, making me wonder if she was feeling the uneasiness, too. I got a sense she regretted that she had come.
From the corner of my eye, I saw a black figure rush from one tree to the next.
I couldn’t afford for Laria to get the upper hand again. It would destroy me mentally. I stopped and reached for Kade, who followed my gaze. “They’re here.”
Chanting began and I turned to Maddy to see if she heard it too.
Her hand tightened around mine.
Cait went completely still. In fact, all of us went completely quiet.
Cass took a step closer to Megan, and wrapped a hand around her elbow. “Tell me that’s not what I think it is.”
“Don’t freak out,” Shane said adamantly. “Angus said they will thrive off our fear.”
Cass straightened her spine and lifted her chin a few inches, while reaching into the inside jacket pocket with her free hand.
She pulled out pepper spray.
Cait opened her mouth to say something but I shook my head. If pepper spray gave her peace of mind, then let her use it.
“Remember that stone you were telling me about?” Kade said. “Is that it?”
We all turned toward where Kade was looking. There was the same basketball-sized stone I’d seen in the dream.
It was a grave. Laria’s grave. I was surprised by the strange emotions that rushed through me, most of all relief.
Maddy looked up at me, eyes wide. “Do you see them?”
“No, but I feel them. Do you see them?”
She nodded.
“Where are they, Maddy?” Cait asked.
Maddy motioned over toward our left. “Over there. This is a graveyard.”
I remembered what the blonde-haired woman who had been sacrificed had said to me…
You find her and you find them all.
“Hanway said that the village wanted an end to the sacrifices, so they killed all of the witches in the coven.” Maddy shifted on her feet. “They’re all buried here. The witches and their victims.”
Megan and Cass looked ready to run back down the hillside.
“Let’s do this,” Kade said, sliding his backpack off.
Everyone followed his lead.
“We’re protected,” I said to my friends, knowing that even though we were surrounded by Laria, Randall, and the other witches, we also had spirits that were guiding us.
Our team was stronger than theirs.
I suddenly felt that same sense of peace that had come over me the other night when my mom had shown up. I felt her strength, and I felt Anne Marie, too, and every spirit who had been killed by this coven.