?Aha!? She held up a package of six dark red tea lights that smelled like cranberry. “We should use white candles,” Beth advised.
“White attracts good spirits. I’ll get some from the inn.? ?No, these will do,?
Kelsey said stubbornly. Dhanya set the board and planchette on the table. ?Sit down,? Kelsey commanded, while she arranged the candles in a circle around the board. Ivy gazed across the table at Beth and smiled, hoping to ease the tension she saw in her friend?s rigid shoulders. Beth shook her head, then frowned at the board between them.
The three rows of the alphabet, the row of numbers, and at the bottom, the words GOOD BYE were turned so that Dhanya could most easily read them.
The word YES was blazoned on the corner close to Ivy, NO on the comer by Beth. ?Try not to set yourselves on fire, girls,? Kelsey said, closing the cottage?s back door to cut the draft. She lit the votives, then extinguished the lights in the living room and kitchen, and sat down across from Dhanya. ?So who are we calling back?? she asked. ?Who died recently — someone famous, someone wicked — any good ideas??
?How about that girl from Providence who was murdered a few months back??
Dhanya suggested.
Which girl?? Kelsey asked. ?You remember — the one strangled by her old boyfriend. Caitlin? Karen??
?Corinne, I think.? Kelsey nodded her approval of the suggestion. ?Love, jealousy, and murder— you can?t beat that.? ?You should know the person you are contacting,? Beth advised. ?You should be certain of the name and, most important, be sure that your contact is a benevolent spirit.?
Kelsey rolled her eyes. ?Everyone?s an expert.? Beth pressed on: ?With a Ouija board, you?re doing more than just chatting with a spirit; you?re opening a portal for that spirit to enter our world.?
Dhanya flicked away the idea with a toss of her hand. ?In my experience, you are more successful when you open communication with whatever spirit is available and willing. Please join hands,? she instructed, ?left on top of right.?
Beth reluctantly followed instructions, then Dhanya rolled back her head and chanted, ?Wandering spirit, grace us with your presence. You have seen what we cannot see, have heard what we cannot hear. We humbly ask of you—?
?This sounds like church,? Kelsey interrupted. ?We?re going to end up with the Virgin Mary.? ?Actually,? Beth said, ?before starting, we should all say a prayer for our protection.? ?A prayer to who, Beth?? Kelsey replied. ?That angel statue between your and Ivy?s bed??
?I don?t pray to statues,? Beth responded sharply, then added in a gentler voice, ?to whichever angel or guardian you want.?
?If s not necessary,? Dhanya insisted. ?We?re sitting in a circle — that will protect us.? Beth pursed her lips and shook her head. When she closed her eyes as if praying, Ivy silently said her own prayer. Ivy told herself that Kelsey7 s obvious disbelief would prohibit anything beyond the five senses from occurring, but she was starting to have misgivings.
?Place your middle and index fingers on the planchette,? Dhanya told them.
?Spirit, we are inviting you to join us tonight. We have many questions for you and welcome your insights. Please let us know you are present.? To the others she said, ?We will wait quietly.? They waited. And waited. Ivy could hear Kelsey tapping her foot under the table.
?All right,? Dhanya said. ?We will move the planchette in a slow circle around the board. That helps the spirit gather the energy needed to communicate.? They moved the triangular piece in a clockwise motion, skirting the alphabet and numbers. ?Not too fast, Kelsey,? Dhanya said. Around and around they went, with circles as smooth and steady as the foghorn?s moan. Suddenly the planchette stopped. It felt as if it had caught on something. Ivy glanced up at the same time as Beth, Dhanya, and Kelsey did. Their eyes met above the board.
?No pushing,? Dhanya advised softly. ?Let the spirit take over. Let the spirit guide.? The planchette started to move again. It felt strong, as if it were pulling Ivy?s fingers with it. Ivy studied Kelsey?s and Dhanya?s hands, searching for a flexed tendon, or tensed finger — some tiny sign that one of them was moving the planchette. It was making a circle again; it was circling backward, she realized.
Ivy?s eyes rose to the faces around her. Kelsey?s hazel eyes sparkled, more with surprise than mischief, it seemed. Dhanya?s eyes were lowered; she was biting her lip. In the flickering candlelight, Beth looked pale.
The planchette made another counterclockwise circle. And another. Ivy counted the circles — six. ?We have to end this,? Beth said, leaning forward.
The planchette moved faster. ?End it,? Beth said, her voice rising sharply.
Outside it was growing windy — Ivy could hear it in the chimney. ?End it now?
Beth shouted. ?Move it to ?Good Bye’!?
Thunder rumbled.
?Move the planchette to ?Good Bye?!? But it felt as if some strong, inexorable will wouldn?t allow them to. The planchette moved faster, still circling counterclockwise, as if the force would bore a hole through the board. Dhanya?s eyes grew wide with fear. Kelsey swore. The tips of Ivy?s fingers, where she touched the planchette, felt like they were on fire.
?If s making a portal. We have to—?
Beth?s words were interrupted by a clap of thunder and flash of light. The front door banged open and closed. Glass shattered.
Beth?s mouth stretched open in a silent scream. Kelsey rose halfway to her feet, her hands still on the planchette. Dhanya pulled back, cringing in her chair. Ivy saw the three girls frozen in a second flash of blue light.
?Angels! Angels, protect us,? she prayed, hoping the prayer was not too late.
KELSEY RUSHED FOR THE WALL SWITCH. THE moment after she flicked on the light, they were plunged into darkness again. Rain beat against the windows.
A downdraft through the fireplace brought in a burning smell.
Hand trembling, Dhanya tried to reignite the blown?out tea lights. Kelsey grabbed the lighter from Dhanya and finished the candles. ?Anybody home?? a male voice called. Ivy breathed a sigh of relief. ?Will, we?re in here. Our power?s out. What happened?? she asked as he entered the kitchen. ?What was that crash??
?The cat, I think. I was headed here when the storm broke. Just as I reached the cottage, the front door blew open. I rushed in, and Dusty came flying in with me.?
The girls picked up the candles and carried them into the living room. The large orange cat cowered in the corner.
?You big wuss!? Kelsey said to Dusty. ?Look at the mess you made.?
A lamp, several dirty glasses, and a pile of seashells lay on the floor next to the sofa?s end table. Kelsey lifted up the lamp and tried to straighten its shade. Will picked up the largest shards of the shattered glass.
“I?ll get a broom,? Beth said, speaking for the first time since she had shouted at them to end the seance.
“Careful,? Ivy warned Will when he tried to pick up the smaller fragments.
He turned to look at her for a moment, his dark hair tousled by the storm, his brown eyes shining softly in the candlelight Dhanya sat on the sofa, her hands clenched in her lap. Ivy was tempted to put an arm around her but didn?t know if she would welcome it ?The storm?s already letting up,? Ivy said reassuringly.
Dhanya nodded. Ivy fetched the cat and carried him back to the sofa. He was more than twenty pounds of feline, a Maine coon, with creamy tufts of fur tipping his ears. Ivy scratched Dusty?s chin, then buried her fingertips in the lion-like ruff around his neck. Dhanya glanced at the cat, but didn?t seem inclined to pet him.
Beth returned with a broom and dustpan, a grocery bag tucked beneath her arm. Will positioned the dustpan and she swept the glass into it. Ivy couldn?t see Beth?s face, but she saw Will look up and study her for a moment, then reach to where her left hand gripped the broom handle, putting his hand over hers. ?Are you okay??
?Yeah.?
The expression on Beth?s face must not have been convincing, for Will kept his hand on hers. ?You?re sure? ?
?I?m sure,? Beth said, pulling her hand higher on the broom shaft and continuing to sweep.
