The Ghost Files 4: Part 2

by Apryl Baker

  I look to Eli and he nods, the glow around him dimming to a point I can actually look at him. “Ever since the day at the cemetery, I haven’t been able to go more than a few miles from the hospital for very long.”

  And he resents it. He doesn’t need to say it. The flinch I’d seen earlier when Silas made that remark…that said it all.

  And just like that, it clicks into place for me. Silas tested him. He knew Eli left earlier, walked out when I told him I had demon blood in my genealogy. Silas needed to make sure he’d still protect me.

  “You do please me, Emma Rose. So very much.”

  The glare I shoot him is hot enough to scorch the flames licking the inside of his eyes. “That was unnecessary. I can take care of myself. Always have, always will. Mattie Hathaway needs no one to protect her. Got it?”

  He slinks to the head of my bed and pats me on the head like a small child who’s throwing a tantrum and he’s indulging me. “Yes, my darling girl, I know you can take care of yourself against most things, but Deleriel is not most things.”

  “Deleriel?” Eli’s voice has gone back to its normal tones, and when I glance his way, he’s no longer glowing, but his eyes are still bright, intense.

  “Yes, Deleriel.” Silas strokes my hair as he speaks, and I find it oddly comforting. My mom used to do it when I was scared, and it would always make me feel better. No one’s done that since I was five. “He’ll be coming for her soon. I may be one of the most powerful demons among the Nine Circles of Hell, but even I am not a fallen archangel. My protection spell won’t last much longer.”

  “Deleriel feeds off children. Why would he want Mattie?”

  “He grows tired of his prison, and she is the key to his freedom.”

  “I don’t understand.” Eli crosses his arms, watching Silas like a hawk, like he expects him to do something to hurt me at any second.

  “Because she possesses the one gift he covets, the one gift that will allow him to breach the veils between the planes of existence and stay here on Earth. He will be able to come and go as he pleases, no laws or restrictions to hinder him.”

  “Her reaping ability?” Eli asks, clearly confused. “If that was the case, couldn’t he go out and find any reaper?”

  “No, young hunter, it is not her reaping abilities he is after, it is something else entirely.”

  “Then, what?” Eli growls. “I can’t keep her safe if I don’t know what I’m dealing with.”

  Silas warned me to tell no one about my gift. And I followed that advice. Dan doesn’t even know. Eli already sees me as an abomination. Telling him this could put the nail in my coffin with him.

  “He’s right, child. He needs to know. Now that I know he will protect you, it’s safe to tell him.”

  Silas actually reminds me of Zeke right now. He’s being very family-oriented, soothing my nerves by stroking my hair, acting all concerned about my welfare. If I didn’t know him any better, I’d think he cared.

  But I do know him.

  “My blood can breathe life into images.” I sneak a peek at him, and he only looks more confused than before.

  “I don’t understand, Hilda. What does that mean, exactly?”

  “Silas, will you please hand me my sketchbook?” I point to it sitting on the little tray they put your dinner on. Josiah had brought it to me, thinking I’d like to have something to do while I was here. I’d spent the last several hours sketching the man I’d seen lying on Silas’s table.

  When he hands it to me, I flip it open to that particular image. It’s a perfect replica of him. It shows his pain, his fear, all that emotion is etched into the lines of the drawing.

  “Your talent is remarkable.” Silas leans closer, examining it. “Once you figure out how to see past the outward mask to what resides below the surface, you’ll be ready.”

  “I still have no idea how to do that.”

  “But you will, my darling girl, you will.”

  I ignore his cryptic promises and look around for something to draw blood. Realizing what I need, Silas takes my hand in his and uses one of his claw-like fingernails to puncture my index finger. I almost tell him thank you, but why would I thank him for drawing blood? Instead, I pick up my charcoal pencil and dip it in the drop of blood that has welled up.

  With the image of the man firmly in my mind, I add a little more detail to his eyes, and when I’m done, I lean back and look down. The picture has done exactly what I expected it to do. It starts to move, to come alive. The eyes so expressive I can feel the pain radiating out of them. The image is alive, his essence trapped there for an eternity.

  Eli sucks in a breath when he sees the lines of the drawing move and bend, the emotions forever trapped on the surface of the paper. His eyes devour the image, and he sticks out one finger, about to touch it, when Silas slaps his hand.

  “Don’t touch.” Before either of us can say anything, he snatches the sheet right out of the pad and folds it before tucking it into the pocket of his suit coat.

  “How does this help him to stay here, though?” Eli sits at the foot of my bed, clearly disturbed by the drawing, but willing to push it down until he gets answers. “Not to say that it isn’t amazing, but it’s still just a drawing.”

  Silas shakes his head, irritated, but Dan answers for him. “It’s not the drawing, but the intent behind the drawing. If he can draw a doorway with the intent to leave it open, and bind it with his blood, then he can do as he pleases.”

  Silas beams at him. “Clearly, young Officer Dan inherited the brains in the family.”

  Dan moves into the room, and I see a subtle change in him. His aura is different. Brighter, more intense. Just as intense as Eli’s was a moment ago, but more controlled, more contained. Dan’s is actually scarier than Eli’s little display of power, because of how subtle it is. I look closer, and much to my surprise, I see the outline of a sword strapped to his back. The Sword of Truth? I know he gave it to Mr. Malone to keep it safe, but I can clearly see it. Does he even know it’s there?

  Silas does, though. He retreats to the window.

  “You okay, Squirt?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be? I mean, I have my Guardian Angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. Every girl’s dream.”

  “Don’t be snarky.” Dan leans down and ruffles my hair. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine, really.”

  “What are you doing here, Silas?” He leans against the railing of my bed, arms crossed, much like Eli had earlier. Only when Dan does it, it’s much more intimidating. Maybe it’s because he’s older than Eli, but I don’t think so. I think it’s more to do with Dan’s new status of Warrior of God, holder of the Sword of Truth.

  “Coming to make sure our girl doesn’t die, of course. These pesky seizures are going to be the death of her.”

  Dan’s eyes narrow. “You can heal her?”

  “Yes, but only for a price.”

  “We’re not making any deals with you, demon.” Eli snarls.

  Dan stare at Silas, his expression measuring. “You can heal her, though?”

  “I’m not making a deal with him, Dan, and neither are you.” I will not let him make a deal with a demon. I don’t care if it could save my life. He’s not selling his soul. “If you do, I swear to God, I will never speak to you again. Promise me, Dan. Promise me right now you will never make a deal with Silas.”

  He purses his lips. “But if he can help you…”

  “I mean it, Daniel Aaron Richards. Promise me.”

  “Fine, I promise.” He doesn’t sound at all happy about it, but I sit back, satisfied. Dan won’t go back on his word. It’s not in his nature.

  “He forgot to mention he already told me he’s not going to let me die. He needs me.”

  “For what?” This piques his curiosity.

  “To stop Deleriel for him.”

  Dan’s face falls, and I know something’s wrong. “What happened?”

  “We found Kayla Rawlins.”

&
nbsp; “No.” All the breath whooshes out of me. That little girl is a kid I know, someone I took time out to play with. She was such a sweet kid. Her grandfather and her mom must be devastated.

  “We have less than twenty-four hours to find the human he’s using before they take their next victim.”

  “If they haven’t already,” Eli mutters. “Hold on. Did you say the human he’s using?”

  “We are off topic, children.” Silas claps his hands to regain our attention. “We must focus on stopping Deleriel before he finds Mattie. She needs to learn to use her gift, to unlock the last door in her mind that will allow her to truly see.”

  “The last door?” Dan pulls up a chair and sits. He’s wearing that patented bored look of a police officer, but I know better. He’s taking in every detail.

  “Emma Rose is the perfect trifecta of power. I made sure of it. She’s unlocked her reaping abilities, thanks to Amanda, and she opened herself up to her demonic side, thanks to you, Daniel. The very real idea of losing you ripped that door off its hinges and it gave her the power she needed to fight off a full-fledged reaper. There is only one other door, and I’m having problems unlocking it.”

  Our conversation from the dream comes back. “Earlier, you said Melissa was just a vessel for my mother. What did you mean?”

  “Georgina Dubois, for all physical intents and purposes, is your mother. You are made of her flesh and blood, but that is where it ends. You remember I told you Georgina came to me seeking help to deliver what Deleriel needed? I told her the same thing I told you. What she wanted could not be born of any creature on this plane of existence.”

  “But what does that mean?”

  “That, I cannot tell you, Emma Rose. It is something you must discover for yourself.”

  I swear I want to throw something at him. He can’t just toss out little cryptic pieces of information and expect me to accept it.

  “Is she like us?” Eli asks. “Part angel?”

  Silas barks out a laugh. “Gods, no. What Emma Rose truly is, is more powerful than anything that’s walked this Earth in millions of years.”

  “Why won’t you just tell me?” It would be so much easier.

  “Because I can’t. I would if I could. I made promises, Emma Rose, and as I’ve told you before, a demon’s word is his bond.”

  “Okay, so is there anything you can tell us?”

  Silas nods. “I approached the being and explained to her what I needed. She owed me a favor and had not been on this Earth for a very long time, and so agreed.”

  “Did she know what Georgina wanted with a child?”

  “No.” Silas looks horrified at the thought. “She still doesn’t know her child was meant to be a sacrifice.”

  “And if she did know?” Dan asks.

  “You don’t want to know. There isn’t a rock Georgina could hide under.”

  “Could she stop Deleriel?” If she can, why hasn’t Silas approached her?

  “I honestly don’t know.” He shakes his head. “I have tried many times over the last few years to contact her, but she’s gone into hibernation. It is what they do when they suffer a wound so deep, it devastates them. Meeting Ezekiel, giving birth to you, staying with you for the first year of your life, then to have to leave? It was more than she could bear, I think. She loved you, but she had to give you up. That was the deal. And deals cannot be broken.”

  My mind whirls with questions. Zeke said he had no doubt Melissa loved me. He told me she would sit and watch me sleep for hours as a baby. Then she slowly changed, and he began to fear for my life. She changed because she was no longer the same woman. She wasn’t Melissa anymore. She became Georgina Dubois. The woman who was going to sacrifice me to save herself. It all makes sense now.

  “So it’s the gift she inherited from her…mother that will defeat Deleriel?” Eli shifts on the bed, turning so he can face Silas. I know he doesn’t like having Silas in a positon where he can’t see everything he’s doing. Simply being in the same room with him and not trying to kill him is a task for him. His family hunts down ghosts and demons and God knows what else. He’s behaving…at least for the minute.

  “No.” Silas rubs his fingers together in irritation, the sound screeching through my already pounding head. It reminds me of the sound Eric used to make when he tried to scare me, like nails being ground up and crying out in protest. “Did I not just say she is the perfect trifecta? She must be able to use all three of her gifts to defeat Deleriel.”

  “And you can’t tell her what the third gift is?” Eli grouches. “Don’t you think it would be so much easier if you told her?”

  Again, he’s repeating what I thought, what would make me happy. This bond has my feelings for him all confused. If it was just the bond, though, why do I feel like someone’s crushed my heart into a thousand tiny pieces and then fed it through a wood chipper? There have to be real feelings there.

  In a flash, Silas is right beside Eli. He’s moved so quickly none of us saw it. He has Eli by the throat and lifts him up off the bed. “My patience is wearing thin with you, young hunter. If you keep making me repeat myself, I will punish you.”

  “Put him down.” Dan leaps from his chair and has his sword in his hand. I don’t even think he’s aware of it, but Silas is. He drops Eli like a hot potato and backs away.

  “Easy now, young knight.”

  Dan advances on him, the single intent to harm written in every bunched muscle of his body. It’s scary as heck. Silas throws up a hand palm outward, and I feel energy flow out of him and into us. It’s enough to slam every door in the room. Eli goes flying backward, but Dan keeps advancing.

  “If you kill me, the protection spell on Mattie goes away, and Deleriel will be in this room within seconds.”

  That makes Dan pause. He glances my way, and it’s all the hesitation Silas needs. He poofs. As is his habit. He just poofs away. Leaving a very angry Knight of the Sword in his wake.

  Eli approaches him slowly. “Dan?”

  Dan whirls, his sword held out in front of him.

  “He’s gone, Dan. You can put the sword down now.”

  “I’m not going to hurt you, little brother. I might want to, but I won’t.”

  “Then put the sword down.” Eli’s voice is soothing, but he’s alert. He can’t believe Dan would hurt him?

  “Sword?” Dan looks down and realizes he’s holding the sword the angel gave him the night Meg died. Confusion swamps his expression, and he lets it clatter to the floor. “Where did that come from? I left it with your father.”

  “It kinda just appeared in your hands,” I tell him. “Wicked cool, by the way.”

  Eli relaxes as soon as Dan drops the sword. “Dad says it will always be there when you need it. All you have to do is reach for it.”

  “I…” Dan shakes his head, shocked. “It felt weird. I felt weird.”

  “It’s the sword,” Eli explains. “Dad says it causes its wielder to crave righteous vengeance. That’s why I was a little worried there for a minute. You’re mad at me for a lot of reasons, Dan. You have every right to be, but I don’t want to end up as shish kabob because of it.”

  “Eli, no matter how weird that sword makes me feel, I wouldn’t have hurt you. For a second there, I wanted to, but I know you’re my brother, and there’s not a force on this Earth that can make me hurt you. You’re family.”

  Eli nods solemnly. He’s right. Dan has every reason in the world to hurt him. Eli was the one who called the cops on his mother. Not that Dan wouldn’t have done the same thing, but it was the way Eli did it. I know he wants to make it right with Dan, but I think in this case, it’s going to take time. Dan already forgave him; he just needs time to get past it.

  “Uh, guys, not to interrupt your Hallmark moment, but what are we gonna do with the sword? Nurses will be in shortly to take vitals, and the Cranes won’t be gone much longer.”

  “Maybe pick it up and see if you can will it away?” Eli suggests.

&nb
sp; Dan gives him a dubious frown, but picks up the sword. The moment his hand touches the hilt, I see the change in him. So does Eli. It’s like an entirely new person emerged from beneath his skin. The sword gives him strength, confidence. I feel the power oozing from him. The sword is a part of him now. It’s like an extension of him, settling into him like a cat curling up on her master’s lap. Dan is the sword as much as the sword now is Dan. He looks downright scary, to be honest.

  He straightens and tests its weight, turning it in several different directions. He even tries several jabs with it, and I know I’m right. That sword belongs in his hand. They’ve melded together, I think.

  He looks at the sword, concentrating. “I don’t think that’s going to work,” he says after several long minutes.

  “Maybe try to put it back where it came from?” When he looks at me questioningly, I explain. “You pulled it from a sheath on your back, so maybe try putting it back there?”

  “I do not have a sword sheath on my back.” The ire in his tone is unmistakable.

  “Yeah, you do, trust me. I saw it when you came in. Just try it. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.”

  He’s doubtful, but he dutifully tries and almost stabs himself in the head in the process, which produces a giggle from me. Eli barely suppresses his own laughter. Again, it doesn’t work.

  “See? There’s nothing there,” he grumbles.

  “I think it’s more or less you have to learn how to use the sword.” Eli pushes off from against the wall he’s leaning on. “Just stick it in the closet for now, and then I’ll call Dad and see if he can bring over something to come get it in.”

  Dan nods and puts the sword in the small closet provided in each hospital room. “Caleb is bringing the case files over for me and Mattie to go over. Your dad also wants me to work with a sketch artist.”

  “Sketch artist?” Eli takes a seat in the chair Dan vacated earlier. “Why does he want you to see a sketch artist?”

  “Because I saw the guy working with Deleriel. When I touched Kayla’s bear, I saw him take her.” He hesitates for a second, looking directly at me. “I told him I wanted to see if Mattie could do it first, and if not, I’d call his sketch artist.”